Aelias Vysoren
"The Gilded Falcon"
"Many call him corrupt, undevouted, and a liar. All because he refuses to allow Ecclesia to dominate his kingdom. And yet the man is one of God's most devouted worshippers. I wish to one day meet him to understand why." -Eckard Stone, Chosen of Sanctum
Aelius Vysoren was once the 32nd in line for the throne of Verelyn. But when his grandfather, Edrick "The Even-Handed" Verelyn died, a brutal war of succession erupted. Brother fought against brother, father fought against son. The war lasted several long years as Aelius watched from the sideline until the war's closing moments.
Aelius's own brother, Eymeir, had been the last man standing, leaving the entire male line of House Vysoren eradicated other than Aelius, Eymeir, and Eymeir's newborn son, Ormund. This was when Rykard Korrim, a low ranking duke, who had been given Aelius as a ward prior to the war, declared for Aelius.
After Rykard's declaration, the war was quick. Rykard's rested, well equipped armies obliterated what was left of Eymeir's armies, and Aelius found himself bearing a crown at the age of 11. This declaration of war had made Aelius a monster in the eyes of Verelyn, but what came next was even worse.
Aelius, after speaking to Duke Isolde, Lord of House Isolde and the Right Hand of Verelyn, decided to showcase what would happen to all who did not heed the word of their king.
In what is now known as "The Gilded Betrayal", Aelius executed every noble who had declared for him in the war, including Rykard Korrim, the man who started it all. Aelius's reasoning was that those nobles spilled blood against the will of their king.
Aelius has now ruled for 14 years and is very close to his own death due to a sickness that he contracted when he was once kidnapped and taken to the Corrupted Lands, where he was later rescued by Duke Isolde's son and heir, Drystan Isolde.
Aelius is now within the last few years of his life, all while trying to keep the wolves at bay and ensuring that his heir, Ormund, is ascend to the throne.
