Da Hadez Family/Balian

The House Da Hadez originates in the realm of Darka on the continent of Atamara.

Balian Da Hadez

Background

Balian Da Hadez was the eldest son of the respected Darkan war hero Luthor Da Hadez.

Fiery, opinionated and somewhat bloodthirsty he was a fierce warrior and a formidable foe.

His mother Luessa, a stern woman of noble blood, died from an infection contracted during his birth. Although Luthor and his second wife, Lillith, doted on his eldest son and gave him the happiest childhood possible Balian eventually grew to despise them both. He blamed his father for his mother's death and accused him of betraying her memory by remarrying. The strain of this family conflict drove a wedge between Balian and his beloved half-brother Severn. Events came to a head when Balian attempted to assassinate Severn whom he thought, incorrectly, was trying to usurp his claim to the Da Hadez legacy. Balian was foiled and was forced to flee to Norland where his straightforward approach to warfare stood him in good stead. With his exile to Norland Balian's scorn for his family grew into a burning hatred that would be quenched only by his return to what he saw as his rightful place at the head of the Da Hadez family. Balian worked his way up the ranks of the Norland militia, initially as a scoutmaster then as a front-line commander. His bloody-mindedness, refusal to back down from apparently hopeless battles, penchant for leaping from the walls and charging enemy armies and his uncanny ability to survive such bloody encounters earned him both the respect of his Norland brethren and the dubious nickname of 'Deathwish' Da Hadez. For considerable time he was appointed Baron of Moramroth and on numerous occasions was involved in desperate defense of the strategically vital, but inhospitable, mountain region before stepping-down to allow it's rightful Baron, Peny, to return. Later he was appointed Count of Ashmoor, a position he held until his death although he was rarely away from the front lines long enough to enjoy his lands and was able to spend only a few scant days there. A founder member of the much feared Army of Thor's Hammer and a long-time member of the Norland Military High Command and The Althing (Norland's high council) Balian was eventually granted the position of Marshal of the Army of Norland; acting as second-in-command to the newly appointed Minister of Defence; the legendary General Derack the Daring. As Marshal he played a key role in organising Norland's army during it's long, hard war with Eston. Balian was part of the infamous raiding party that wreaked havok in the heart of Eston towards the end of that conflict (a raiding party comprised mainly of Norland's civil and military leaders who had decided on a 'hands-on, heads-off' approach to the war). Separated from the raiding party he and his five remaining soldiers, in a savage but hopeless show of bravado, attacked Eston troops at the almost impregnable city of Massillion. Despite the tales that grew up around this foolhardy act it is probably not true that this attack contributed to the Dutchy of Masillion seceding from Eston the following morning; an event that resulted in the fall of Eston's rulers and led directly to Norland's victory in the war as Eston's new rulers immediately sued for peace. The conclusion of the Norland-Eston war brought with it the retirement of the greatly respected Minister of Defence Derack The Daring. Balian was seen as his natural successor and took on the role with little fuss or fanfare. He oversaw the rebuilding of Norland's military infrastructure during a long period of peace until the start of a bitter war with Minas Ithil; a war which he fought without compromise or doubt. The veteran of countless battles, Balian Da Hadez had a wealth of scars and wounds from his many battles and duels and was missing more than one finger and an eye. In rare moments of levity he claimed to be reaching Valhalla 'in instalments'. Balian Da Hadez died a hero's death leading his realm's army in the defense of the newly occupied region of Winwich. Faced with the entire Talerium army and the survivors of the Minas Ithil army, which he had crushed that morning, his tired and ill-equipped force stood their ground against the numerically superior enemy; making them pay in blood for every inch advanced in one of the bloodiest battle in Atamarran history. Despite the odds Norland claimed a vital, if costly, victory. Balian Da Hadez, however, met his end in this battle; he had leapt from the walls with a handful of men to delay the enemy advance and buy time for his archers to bring their bows to bear on the approaching troops and siege engines. The tactic was successful and turned the tide of the battle in Norland's favour though Balian and his men were slain as hacked their way through the enemy lines in an attempt to reach and slay their commanders. Though his death was observed by many witnesses Balian Da Hadez body could not be identified among the vast field of remains following the battle. While his spirit surely resides in Valhalla his body is presumed to rest in an anonymous mass grave in the fertile soil of Winwich.