Difference between revisions of "Arylon Family"

Revision as of 23:49, 22 March 2007

Introduction

Currently, the only known remaining members of the Arylon family are the twin brothers, Taran and Fisc Arylon. Their parents, as well as two sisters and another brother were all killed in the constant warfare experienced by the citizens of the south-east island. Their father was slain in battle defending the stronghold of the city Toren, and their mother and siblings were soon wiped out by the invading armies.

Both boys had been sent off to the Atamara Continent to receive an education at the time, which is the only reason anyone from the Arylon line survives. Once each learned of what had happened to their family, the two brothers began to take very divergent paths.

Arylon family crest

The elder (by 6 minutes) brother Taran had always hated living on the south-east island, and viewed it as a haven for barbarians and mindless warfare. He took the tragic events as a sign that he should never return to the island, and as such, he stayed behind in Atamara to finish his education and pursue the paths of political power.

His brother Fisc on the other hand, felt nothing but bloodlust for revenge. All attempts by Taran to appeal to Fisc's logical mind and draw him away from vengence fell on deaf ears. Fisc decided as soon as he was old enough to effectively fight, that he would return to the south-east island and begin to work for the annihilation of those who had killed his parents.

Unbenknownst to the surviving brothers is that they have two older brothers named Jaden and Nexis, both currently on the continent of Beluaterra.

Family History

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Origins

The Arylon family's roots are actually from the Nardil area of the Atamara continent. Taran, Fisc and Jaden Arylon were all born there, as was their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Mannix Arylon's early years

Mannix Arylon, the father of Jaden and the twins was a minor noble in the Cagilan Empire. When he was 20 years old, he took a wife named Genesis, and they had a child, naming him Jaden, then later that year, another named Nexis. Three years later, Taran and Fisc (twins) were born of Genesis, growing the humble Arylon clan to a respectable size.

As time wore on and his eldest sons grew older, he began to grow tired of only being exposed to Cagilan, he, his wife Genesis, and sons Jaden and Nexis (both now old 10 and enough to strike out with their father) traveled to The Colonies in search of a way to carve out some new territories for the Arylon family. The twins were left behind to continue their education in Nardil as their father struck out for new lands.

Upon arriving at the new lands, Mannix demonstrated his immense potential as a leader. He was able to grow his forces and lead them to several important victories, carving out part of the colonies for his himself and his family. Over the next year, he had grown quite respected, not only for his troop performance, but for his personal abilities as a warrior.

All of that changed, however, upon the great assault. Three smaller and weaker factions allied themselves together temporarily to deal with Mannix. At a coordinated time, all three struck into the Arylon territory on seperate fronts - taking the commander by complete surprise. Despite the fact that he was able to rally his forces quickly and effectively to respond, the sheer force of the invaders was able to overtake Mannix quite quickly.

Mannix was captured, and his forces were slaughtered. In the fighting, Mannix saw his wife and son pursued down a dead end corridore. He heard her scream as he was pulled away, and he believed he had just seen his wife and son murdered.

He was then kept in a cell for 3 months, treated extremely poorly. It was clear his captors intended to torture him, and leave him to die at some point. One late night, Mannix heard footsteps approach his cell, and he prepared himself for another beating. When the door opened however, the guard presented him with release papers, and told him to walk outside.

As he left the facility, a man in a long grey coat was waiting for him. He introduced himself as a noble from the south-east continent nation of Toren, and explained to Mannix that he had purchased his freedom. Apparently the noble had heard of an extremely efficient leader and warrior who had recently fell to a coalition and was being held captive. As the nation of Toren was facing enemies on all sides and constant warfare, the man was sent to seek Mannix out and recruit him to help the war effort.

Mannix did not want to go - he had heard of the island of war, and had no interest in taking part in the effort. Instead he wanted to stay and avenge his wife and son's death by attacking the ringleaders of the effort against him. The mysterious stranger who had bought his freedom did not care, and informed Mannix if he did not go with him to Toren, he would revoke his payment and have him thrown back into jail.

Reluctantly, Mannix agreed to go with the stranger.

Genesis Jaden and Nexis

More information coming soon.

Mannix in Toren

More information coming soon. Mannix reconnects (via post) with his sons, and arranges for both to visit him in Toren. Will tell the story later.

Death and legacy

More information coming soon. Mannix sends both sons back to Nardil, and he dies in Toren upon a major invasion in Toren. How does it effect the family and the following events.

Taran Arylon

Taran Arylon in his newly created shrine. Painting the work of Matrim Gannon

Vital Information

Age: 18
Height: 6'2"
Weight: Roughly 190 lbs
Eye Color: Green
Hair: Brown, short
Class: Priest
Honour: 12
Prestige: 2
Continent: Atamara
Realm: Abington

Personality

Taran is a highly educated, cerebral person - concerned with the use and application of political power. He has a sly and relentless sense of humor that has more than once caused him to be labeled a troublemaker. He values knowledge, cunning, cleverness and ingenuity above brute strength. This has caused some friction with his brother Fisc, who has always believed that true power, flows from the use of strength.

Taran also has the reputation as a lover of women. He is charismatic and witty, which has served him well in matters of love. Intellect and confidence seem to ooze from his very pores - along with a fair amount of arrogance.

He also has a rather cavalier view of life, believing that life can only truly be lived if one lives in the moment, and attempts to extract as much from each moment as possible. This has led to many excesses in his life - too much drink, too many women - but has only solidified his belief in taking advantage of all of life's advantages.

Taran believes in a universal human moral code. It is this belief in a moral authority higher than the world of men that led to his abandonment of his ancestral home, the Cagilian Empire. His loyalty was to his beliefs, and when it became apparent that his nation and those beliefs were incompatible he defected.

Recently, upon his conversion to Aristoi Atamarism, he has become more introspective, subtle and reflective. His extraverted nature is now being somewhat tempered by the seriousness of his faith. He now has also found peace, as the tenets of his new religion have satisfied his need for allegiance to a higher set of morals.

Early History

The library at Nardil Academy, where Taran received his early education.

Taran grew up in the Cagilian Empire, receiving a very aristocratic education. He learned much of philosophy, art, science, mathematics as well as theology. At the same time he observed, learned and practiced the specific uses of political power. He saw nobles use the law, the system, the military and the church to gain and use power. He noted mistakes that were being made when people obtained power, and resolved to learn from them and not repeat the same mistakes when he was old enough to wield authority.

When he was 17, Taran received word that the island nation of Toren was over-run by its enemies, and that his parents and siblings had all been killed. Infuriated by his father's insistance on fighting rather than thinking, and blaming him for the death of his entire family, Taran swore never to return to his birthplace in Toren, forsaking a purely militaristic life.

His brother, Fisc, disagreed and was filled with such rage that he returned to the island to fight for Toren, in vengeance for his family's death. The brothers parted on an icy note, though both swore that they would remain loyal to each other, being they were the only members of the Arylon family left.

Life in the Cagilian Empire

Taran was of age to make his own life at this point, and traveled to Nardil, a small region on the outskirts of the Cagilian Empire. There he met several young men his age, and he recruited them to serve him in the Cagilian Empire military. He was reluctant at first to pick up a sword, but also felt that to not learn to fight would leave him at a disadvantage politically.

He promised his men action. What he found, however, was quite the opposite. In the ensuing months, Taran was continually disappointed - not only by the lack of any real battles to fight, but at the incoherently bureaucrat nature of his country. Contradictory orders were given, often times making little sense. Halfhearted attempts at marshalling an organized, elite-fighting force was made. Goals that were short sighted and small minded were pursued, and action that could barely keep Taran's sword sharp.

Taran grew increasingly frustrated with what he referred to as "running in sand". Cagilian Empire was going nowhere, its leaders seemed to think of themselves on an ivory tower, and its nobles seemed content with mediocrity.

Defection to Abington

The Shrine of Sudfern constructed by Taran. This was his first - and greatest - construction project.

It was at that time that Taran received word from an old friend of his from childhood. Aeryn Arete, of Abington sent a courier to meet him, bringing greetings and updates of her own life. The two would send letters back and forth for a month, and each time Taran read of her exploits, he saw something he coveted - a realm that suited him. She would speak of the simple, direct, orderly and coherent nature of her nation's exploits. But more than that, she spoke of her new religion, that of Aristoi Atamarism, and the effect it had on her.

More and more he grew longing of a life he could lead elsewhere. Finally, he arrived at a decision - to move out and abandon the land of his childhood in favor of a new world that more suited the way of life he desired to lead. He informed his captain of his intentions and the troop moved out the next day.

The journey from Cagilian Empire to Abington was not an easy one. Along the way Taran lost more than 10 men, as more than one skirmish claimed the lives of his people. Clever trails, traveling in darkness and ordering his men to evade anything resembling another troop did pay off however, and he arrived in Abington in under a week. The 13 men that arrived with him had the benefit of experience, and were extremely highly trained. Taran initially expected to use them to help the people of Abington deal with their enemies.

New life in Abington

As he began to acclimate to his new land, Taran increasingly paid attention to the plight of the religious peasants in his adopted home, especially the followers of Aristoi Atamarism. He found himself increasingly wanting to help, even despite the fact he still belonged to The Order. Upon speaking further with his good friend Aeryn, he made the decision to officially convert to Aristoi Atamarism - a move that would have lasting implications for Taran.

As time wore on, and he spent more time studying his new religion, he found himself consumed by matters of the spirit, rather than of the physical world. He was fundamentally changing as a person, becoming more pensive, reclusive, quiet and thoughtful. Taran began to wonder if he was any longer suited to command a unit of soldiers. When Aeryn formally requested he become a priest and work to expand Aristoi Atamarism across Abington, Taran formally disbanded his unit and immediately enrolled in the priesthood.

His newfound purpose was well served. Once becoming a priest, Taran traveled to the northern lands of Abington to preach the good word among the commoners. After many successful preachings in the north, it became apparent that more pressing needs were in the south-western regions of Abington. It was there that he became the mastermind of the great shrine of Sudfern - a holy crystal shrine to the faith of Aristoi Atamarism, created with a reflective pool intended to enhance the beauty of the shrine. It stands as Taran's greatest contribution to Abington to date, both in the effect it has had on the faith of his religion, but also on the architectural uniqueness of the realm.

Taran is currently preaching in the south-west, attempting to expand his faith to a new set of commoners.