Ridder Family/Grey Phoenix Ridders

Mathias:

Mathias Ridder

The eldest son of Wilhelm and an infamous noble in Dwilight Mathias has taken part in many rebellions, having started two and helped to plan three. It is because of this that many do not trust the man. He has held many titles amongst some are the Rebel King, Traitor of Traitors, and leader of the traveling rebellion.

Mathias would befriend a fellow noble by the name of Katayanna who would convince him to join her in her colony effort in the west. Together along with many other nobles fleeing Pian en Luries they landed in Shadovar and would end up being held there until the Tyrant Edelstien felt that the refugees debt had been paid. However Edelstien's mistreatment of the refugees would lead to much hatred between the colonists and the Shadovarians. This would lead to Shadovars downfall since Edelstien would eventually ban Katayanna once her usefulness had passed. Enraged by this action Mathias rallied the colonists and a few disheartened Shadovarian's in order to lead a rebellion against the tyrant. The rebellion would be successful after a few short battles between the loyalist and rebels, and Mathias named the new King of the Tomb Islands. Though this wouldn't last long due to internal strife during the reorganization of the realm and Mathias would end up abandoning Shadovar in favor of the new realm formed from Port Raviel, D'Hara.

After the islands were reunited into one country Mathias was granted the township of Nebel for his efforts in the war. Eventually Mathias would gain the dukeship of Port Nebel and begin work on spreading Sanguis Astroism to the islands, nobles, and peasantry. It was because of his support for Sanguis Astroism that a rift began to form between him and his old friend Katayanna who he had supported during his travels across Dwilight. This rift would continue to grow until he was banned unjustly banned from D'Hara. This unjust ban would be one of the major catalysts that would lead to the Dragon Rebellion and the exile of Katayanna.

He would later play an intricate part in the plan to invade Paisly, a city he had long claimed since the times of the traveling rebellion. However after the successful invasion and capture of the city Mathias went missing. It was later revealed that he was kidnapped in the middle of the night by an old woman who lived in the forests of western Dwilight. She would ended up killing Mathias and leaving his corpse out in the wilderness after he had given her a child.

Humphrey:

Humphrey Ridder

Humphrey was the second child of Wilhelm and once he came of age he decided to head to the Far East in order to look for information involving his fathers fate. Humphrey could remember as a youth when his father abandoned the family that he always spoke of the great wars being waged in the Far East and the wealth that a mercenary could amass there.

Upon arrival in the Far East Wilhelm decided to join the realm situated in the north on what was called the Dark Isle, Arcachon. However after arriving he noticed that the isle was full of barbarians and savages, its nobles only slightly better than the people themselves. He would eventually become disgusted with the constant looting, raping, and pillaging of a much weaker realm. It would come to be that Humphrey would contact the smaller realm of Sartania and begin to act as an informant for them. However only a month after he began work as an informer he would go missing. No one has heard from him since, and it is presumed that he died.

Wilhiem:

Wilhiem Ridder

The third child of Wilhelm decided to search for news of his father on the East Continent. Joining the realm of Ibladesh he decided to take up preaching thinking it would get him more exposure to the populace, and by default more exposure to news about his father. He would remain there for about a year preaching. However he would eventually be attacked by a crowd of enraged peasant’s that he was preaching to and they nearly beat him to death. During his recovery he had a dream about his brother Humphrey in the Far East. Assuming the vision was given to him by Sartan he decided to leave for the Far East to help defend his land against the barbarians he saw in his vision, and to hopefully figure out what his brother was doing in the vision.

Upon arriving he was quickly recognized by the ruler as being of the Ridder family, and was informed that he had had interactions with Humphrey. Quickly coming to the decision that his brother was dead, Wilhiem decided to remain in Sartania, and aid in its defense. It was here Wilhiem would make a small name for himself fighting for Sartania in its last days against the Arcachonian's and the Kingdom of Arcaea.

Once Sartania fell the people of the realm split for a short time. Wilhiem would end up with the group that fled to Papania here he would remain until the call was given out to all Sartanians in exile to rally in Soliferum and it would be from there that they would begin their journey to retake their stolen lands. Elated by the news that he along with his other brothers and sisters in arms would be able to retake Niel, and deal a humiliating blow to the northern aggressors, Wilhiem immediatly headed answered the call and headed south to Soliferum.

The following wars between north and south would have many names, but would culminate in what was called by the northerner's, the Great Crusade. Having fought in most of the battles of the war, from the early victories, to the eventual losses, as more and more allies left Soliferums side to join the Arcaeans, Wilhiem began to lose faith that his dream and the dream of many Sartanians would ever be fulfilled. However towards the final days of the war, as it became more and more clear that Soliferum was losing the war, Wilhiem would meet his untimely end at the hands of his enemies.