Arundel Family/Alice

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Queen Alice Arundel in her youth.

Humble Beginnings

Alice Arundel was born in Poryatu, Pian en Luries, in the Arundel Manor. She was raised there by her parents, Clavicus and Jemma Arundel, for the duration of her childhood. Her parents molded her personality after their own, instilling dedication, temperance, loyalty, and serenity from a very young age onward. Into her teenage years, she resisted recklessness and curiosity, and remained an ever so diligent and well mannered lady. When she came of age, she witnessed her cousin become Queen of Pian en Luries. The chaos that would ensue said event 15 days later would alter much of Alice's life.

Into the Dark

After Katerina Arundel's death fifteen days after her coronation, the Arundel family was forced into a dire situation. Solaria had overtaken Poryatu some time ago, but with the death of the family's most likely hope for salvation, many were forced to flee. While most traveled to other continents, Alice decided to flee nearby to Luria Vesperi. On her journey there, she claimed to have witnessed atrocities of war. By her account, soldiers from Luria Nova and Solaria butchered peasants and administrators alike, without mercy. This formed a hatred inside Alice because her inaction at the time marred her own sense of loyalty. She swore to take revenge upon those responsible. After several long days and nights of traveling through the war torn realm of Pian en Luries, Alice made it to Luria Vesperi unharmed. She began life anew as an independent, high born noble.

Deeper Still

It seemed as though all would be well. Alice settled comfortably in her new estate in Thar Gortauth, and made herself known to the local nobility. Her lord, Hendrick Madigan, seemed like an honorable man. As time passed, she joined Aetheris Pyrism, and advocated its teachings when she could. Lord Hendrick soon began taking a liking to Alice. He continuously tried making advances on her, until he finally got what he wanted, albeit at to high a cost. To the surprise of many, Lord Hendrick surrendered to insanity as a result of unsatisfied desires, both politically and personally. He found little fulfillment in his position as lord; even Alice, the supposed love of his life, was not enough. He began tormenting Alice, and confined her to his manor. He also set in motion a plan to take over Luria Vesperi by force of arms. When the time came for his long awaited rebellion, Alice, his battered fiancee, followed him blindly. In the end, they were unsuccessful, and both were banished from the realm. They fled to Solaria to start life anew.

New Beginnings

Arbiter Malus Solari was the last person Alice thought would be her liege, and yet there she was in Askileon Purlieus swearing him fealty. She was supposed to hate him, loathe him, and subsequently kill him. However, she soon became familiar with the man he truly was, and eventually came to admire him. He first appointed Alice Countess of Nid Tek, then Imperial Representative soon afterwards. Alice was granted a form of independence that she was unfamiliar with: a life with power, titles, and responsibility. She was also able to visit her family in Poryatu, and finally reunite with her parents. However, her dependence on Lord Hendrick continued as she maintained close ties with him.

The two eventually performed the lover's ritual, a form of religious union, and vowed to remain together until the end of time. All the meanwhile, Alice was ascending in a religious capacity, earning the position of senior priest within her faith. It only became a matter of time before her Prophet, Lord Torpius, would catch on to her husband's affliction. When he did, he offered Alice a way out, and tried ridding Hendrick of his insanity once and for all.

Luria soon fell into civil war (again.) Luria Vesperi supposedly broke Luria's Imperial Charter, inciting war against Luria Nova and Solaria both. Not too long after, Torpius decided he longer belonged in society, choosing to live a life of isolation instead. Alice, who at the time was the faith's only priest, was chosen as his successor, assuming leadership as Vicar of Flames over Aetheris Pyrism. She relinquished her secular oath to Malus, with his permission, and left to perform missionary work in the Grand Duchy of Fissoa.

A Test of Faith

In a bid to consolidate her authority, Alice tried issuing a number of reforms with Aetheris Pyrism while maintaining a strict atmosphere among her peers. Neither endeavor panned out in her favor. She then tried to convert nobles in Fissoa, which turned out to be minimally successful. A lack of confidence quickly consumed her as a result of her failures, urging her to head north, back to Luria, hoping to regain her former life.

And so she joined Luria Nova. At this point in time, Duke Malus had altered the allegiance of his duchy, which comprised most of his former realm (Solaria), to Luria Nova. His successor, Arbiter Sevastian Guile, could not maintain a healthy relationship with him, and chaos ensued. Oddly enough, chaos in this instance did not sow the seeds of war. Instead, chaos brought order: Luria Nova and the majority of Solaria were united under one banner. Twas a unity reminiscent of decades past.

For Alice, however, her struggle continued. She quickly fell to desperation, and in an irrational bid to "reconnect with the gods," she crudely blinded herself. The retelling of this very story can be found here. Nothing resulted from her rash actions, aside from her new condition. Alice subsequently opened her eyes to reality; she passed on religious leadership to a successor, and decided to focus on the world of politics again.

From Ashes to Glory

Within days, Alice earned the title Shinnen Purlieus, and began reintroducing herself to the political scene. Forty days later, King Fulco D'Este stepped down as King of Luria Nova for the fifth time to give the opportunity to another (again.) He declared Duke Malus his favored successor, and the realm stood behind him. Yet t'was not to be; Duke Malus suddenly became ill and confined to his bedchambers, unable to announce his candidacy before the realm. Alice, who personally thought herself Duke Malus' spiritual successor, took the opportunity to announce herself as a candidate. She rallied King Fulco and his supporters to her cause, and when the elections were over, Alice became the first Queen of Luria Nova.

The flux of responsibility was a lot for Alice to handle. A disgraced religious leader now turned queen of the very homeland she and her family loved dearly. She had a lot on her plate, but refused to relent. The first issue at hand was the ongoing war with Luria Vesperi. Within three weeks, Alice forced its surrender. A week after that, she forced D'Hara to sign for peace. Things were looking good for Alice and Luria Nova. But like wildfire, hate began to spread throughout Luria and D'Hara. Old claims, new grievances, insults all around. A new rivalry was born, made personal by Alice and D'Hara's Prime Minister, Rynn.

Immediately, both parties went fighting over Fissoa. Fissoa wanted to invade the Falkirkian Freesate for quite a while, but lacked the support to do so. Now that two realms competed for their favor, Fissoa was free to go ahead with their plans. Thus the southern war began.

More to be written