Von Katzing Family
The Von Katzings are a germanic family, sworn to fight and die for their chosen realms. The family creed values honor and self-sacrifice, and defence of the weak. However, female members of the family are often treated in classic medieval fashion. Marelda ran away from an arranged marriage, and found prosperity and glory in the Far East. Ulric was the legitimate son of his father, Ulli, and Alaric was the older, but disinherited, bastard. Both Ulric and Alaric are typical Von Katzing Males, and both are capable of fanatical devotion, and at the same time incapable of commitment in relationship terms. Marelda has the same fire and courage as her cousins, but she was raised to be a manipulator, a machiavellian powerplayer. She frequently finds herself struggling between her instinct to manipulate and to simply be herself. She claims distaste for war, but more likely, given her heritage, she fears its possible effect on her. She has no wish to develop the same bloodlust as her elder cousin.
ULRIC VON KATZING
30, TEMPLAR SENESCHAL AND MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE
Ulric, the eldest, and head of the family, has done well as a warrior, but he senses something lacking in his blood drenched life- ambitious, battle-weary, and honorable, Ulric has endured much, and bears terrible scars, physical and magical, along with a dark secret- once a month he turns into a ravening beast, a curse inflicted by a mysterious encounter with a being known as the Lord.
Athelas the Healer and his brother are the only 2 Healers who can stave this condition off, and prevent Ulric from devouring flesh and blood in a maddened rage. They accompany his retinue and him everywhere, asking only for their usual fee and total discretion.
Ulric is currently weary of Abington, but battle, honour and ingrained duty forbids him to even consider doing anything but obeying his realm. A part of him longs for peace and a plot of land to call his own, but another part lives only for blood and destruction, particularly of the Ashlanteans((ASI)) and their allies.
It is this part he seeks to ruthlessly suppress, and has dedicated himself heart and soul to the Templars, whose code of chivalry and morality he abides by strictly, and encourages others to follow. His vociferousness over looting has earned him some critics, and his old-fashioned ways, particularly in backing friends who are unpopular with the rest of the realm, suggests that perhaps Ulric has lost touch.
The recent death of long time friends Deschain and Elantus, and the Treachery of Gabriel, has pushed Ulric over the edge, and now he is tired of bloodshed, weary of war and the slaughter his hands have wrought in the name of vengeance. He stubbornly continues to hate Ashlanteans, Darkans and Tarans as subhuman vermin with no honour, and frowns on any concessions or mercy shown to these peoples.
However, he still clings tenaciously to Templar virtue, and even in his increasingly fevered mind, he still refuses to harm the innocent. Ulric has put out a call for marriage proposals, and hopes to follow his longtime friend Gauihu's example and settle down with a wife, and start a family to continue the Von Katzing line.
Alongside his enormous talent as a commander and warrior, Ulric is also something of a would-be bard, though he would punch anyone who called him that, and has often punched those who call themselves bards. His martial songs and speeches have roused many a desperate army, although he has not written many recently.
Ulric's "marching songs" include "Battle Hymn of the Kingdom", "Over the Walls and Far Away" and "Battle of Chasnoff Hill".
Ulric's few friends include Archpreist Gauihu of the Oliks.
ALARIC VON KATZING
30,HERO AND FOLLOWER OF THE WORD KNIGHT OF PORTION
Alaric is the illegitimate half-brother of Ulric, and has made a name for himself, and is utterly devoted to the Word, a religion based around a strict dedication to Lukon and its precepts of Honour and Duty. He counts himself as one of its chief worshipers, and, indeed, despite being betrayed by its founding Prophet, Luciver, Alaric was one of the few who could see beyond his betrayal and make the Word a true religion. Fanatical, courageous and valiant, Alaric has forsaken his ex-mercenary life, when he roamed the seas between Atamara and the Colonies, to become a paladin for Lukon, his new home realm.
He hoped, once, to make the Followers of the Word a real Guild, and to spread them across the Colonies. However, this dream has died, and now Alaric finds himself old, weary, and fighting heroically merely for survival and loyalty to his adopted home. Alaric fears he has no future, and throws himself into battle grimly, hoping to wash away his many sins with the blood of enemies. His most hated enemies are the Lich King, and Outer Tilog. His one regret is never having fought the Fallen Prophet Luciver, instead the Prophet simply vanished one day, and his death was faked by the Followers to cover his removal from this plane of existence by a higher force. Despite being illegitimate, he has inherited the Von Katzing skill in war, and has also tried his hand at martial and religious hymns. So Far, his Song of Origins and "Onwards Lukon Soldier" are his first efforts, but more are likely to come. Alaric has left the Colonies, and finds himself now fighting the last days of the Final War for Caligus's Survival in the East Continent, a war which they are losing. He had left in search of a quiet realm in which to retire, but instead finds himself committing even greater acts of warfare and violence in order to survive. He is tormented by a haggard conscience, and regularly dreams- or has nightmares- of the Fading Spirit of the True Word. It was this spirit that led him to this land, but for what purpose is as yet unclear.
Alaric's few friends included Lord Shadow, Ghorta'thul and Sodom. Now he has no friends, but he seeks camaraderie with those who he fights beside, desperate to stem the tide of Invaders.
MARELDA VON KATZING
25, COUNTESS OF DSIANANAS
Marelda has undergone many changes since she first ran away from home at the age of 16. five years later, she is a count of a small rural region in a turbulent theocracy on the far side of the world, and has grown up dramatically from the naive, heart-scarred and shy noblewoman raised and trained to be a good wife to a noble selected by the head of her family. Now she finds herself enjoying the politics and intrigue of Lunaria, and has personally invested much time and resources into the shaping of her elite archer regiment, the Ravens, all local Disianas men totally loyal to her, and clad in black leather armour with raven-feather arrows for their long-bows. She was neutral in the Lunarian Civil War, and is pro-Sanctum of Casshern in the current debates. She is ignorant of the Lunarian Faith, and is only vaguely aware of its existence in the realm, but that will soon change.
She is also developing an intimate friendship with the Pontifex of Lunaria, Ziode, who she initially struck up a friendship with to further her ambitions, but finds herself struggling to maintain her political goals, instead becoming genuine friends with him, and forgetting her attempts at formality and political manipulation. It is possible she may feel yet deeper feelings for him. Reecently she has begun working to reform Lunaria's military, and occasionally trades with Palnasos and Mashakon.
Recently she went to Zonasa to gain a better understanding of that realm, and promote trade between it and Lunaria.
A Full Log of Marelda's Life through her eyes can be found below. Life and Times of Marelda von Katzing