The History of Leonia
Once Leonia was the central nation, the brightest star that out shone all others. This was in the time of magic.
Leonia was the fountain from which all magical energies were born. It was the greatest source of etheric power, it was the birthplace of the two Great Mythical Birds - the Stormcrow and the Phoenix.
The Stormcrow was born amidst the Thunder Mountains of Worldcap, birthed in storm and lightning. Once men could look upon the Stormcrow as a physical being, and those with enough power even knew it by its true name – Ullinor, the Lord of Lightning.
The Stormcrow fed half of the world’s magical essence, drawing its energies from the very air and sky. Through its power great mages could control the weather, summon savage storms to consume an enemy, and even move mountains. The Stormcrow was the embodiment of the tempest, the greatest of all beings. Bar one.
Ullinor had a brother, a twin, the Lord of Fire – The Phoenix.
If the Stormcrow was the yang then the Phoenix was the yin, equal halves to one majestic whole.
Where the Stormcrow embodied the dark, the Phoenix was the light, a roaring inferno amidst an endless forest of kindling. Born from the ashes of the very Earth, Aidracil was the equal of its brother in all ways, drawing its energies from the heart of the planet and burning the heavens with its esoteric light.
One supposes it was inevitable. That two all-powerful beings of such incredible magnitude could co-exist without viewing the other’s greatness with jealousy and avarice is perhaps unthinkable.
No man remembers the spark that ignited the conflagration, but a war to end all wars was fought between the Great Birds and their followers. Thousands perished, yet neither being could gain an advantage over the other. The Phoenix’s armies of warriors, mages and mythical beasts crashed incessantly with the equally tremendous hosts of the Stormcrow, but despite decades of bloodshed an unending stalemate ensued.
Until one day, when men feared that the war would last for all eternity, one warrior, Calagath the Betrayer, the mightiest of champions, forged a weapon of insurmountable destruction. The Deadstar – a weapon designed to end all life.
In their final battle the Deadstar was unleashed, and with it the Phoenix and the Stormcrow were banished from all existence forever.
With the loss of the Stormcrow and the Phoenix their magical essence was extinguished. All magical creatures, who were sustained by their power, fled the Earth leaving mankind to face the new age alone.
But man was no longer able to fend for himself. Without magic to fortify them, their great cities fell, their empires crumbled and their people were impoverished. Man fell into a new era of darkness and for two centuries they scrabbled to bring themselves back from the abyss.
There was one nation of man who flourished in this time of adversity. The Winterhearts, a clan of savage warriors from the North, had forever shunned magic, preferring to live a simple existence in the frozen northern mountains. With the collapse of mankind’s power the Winterhearts and their followers struck, grinding south and burning and butchering all that stood in their path. Enraged at centuries of perceived slights, the Winterhearts took satisfaction in carving a path of slaughter through their once magical masters.
With strength of arms and savage brutality, the Winterhearts crushed all opposition and established themselves as Lords of Leonia. The Winterheart kings ruled with tyrannical might and mankind was ushered into a further age of misery.
Two households, the Stormborns and the Fenrirs, once the mightiest of Leonia’s families and close to the essence of the Great Birds, finally took a stand. Uniting their forces they precipitated a great civil conflict and the soil of Leonia once again drank the blood of its people in their thousands.
In a war that would claim the lives of the mightiest heroes, Romulus Fenrir and Eadred Stormborn eventually cast down the old Winterheart King and sent the remnants of his forces crawling back to their frozen northern home. Lacking the strength to fully eradicate the Winterheart lineage, the world was once again poised on a knife-edge as the rebellion’s two great leaders looked to prepare the realm for a New Age. In a stroke of noble gallantry, Eadred Stormborn stepped aside and handed the reins of power to Romulus alone, thus ending the civil war that had torn the kingdom asunder.
Romulus became the new king of Leonia and carried the sole burden of uniting his melting pot of fractured alliances and war torn citizens into some semblance of a unified kingdom.
It is on this delicate stage that the Rise of the Stormcrow is set…
Character Biographies
Brand Stormborn
Brand is the first born son of Eadred and Sarissa and heir to the Lordship of Stormhold. Nicknamed 'Brand the Beautiful' by courtly maidens, Brand is a likeable, charismatic young man with exceptional martial skill.
Brand is one of the pivotal characters of the book. His chapters are entitled - The Light Bringer.
Eadred Stormborn
Father of Brand and married to Sarissa, Eadred is the Lord of Stormhold, the most powerful province in Northern Leonia.
Eadred’s father, Cuthbert Stormborn, fought alongside the Fenrirs in the brutal civil war against the Winterheart kings. In the victorious aftermath of this conflict, Eadred renounced any claim to the throne, passing the crown to the Fenrirs and preventing any further hostilities. In order to bind both families to the throne however, Romulus Fenrir offered Eadred his sister’s hand in marriage.
Eadred is a trusted friend and loyal advisor to King Romulus and is another central character in the book. His chapters are entitled – The Storm Lord.
Sarissa Stormborn
Sarissa Stormborn, formerly Fenrir, is married to Eadred and is the mother of Brand. She is also sister to Romulus, King of Leonia.
Sarissa is a devoted wife and mother, an intelligent administrator and a key figure in the daily governance of Stormhold and its lands. She is headstrong and willful, with a compassionate heart and a kind nature. She is another central character, whose chapters are entitled – The Shardbearer.
Romulus Fenrir
Romulus is King of Leonia and the brother of Sarissa. Under his rule Leonia has known peace for the first time in recent ages.
During the early years of his reign, Romulus met and fell in love with a foreign princess, Alana. They married and had a son – Tibus – who at the start of the novel is still a small babe and heir to the throne.
Ryper Kilstroke
Ryper is the first knight to the King, achieving the honour after saving Romulus’ life in battle against the Winterheart’s great champion, Urses.
Ryper is a conflicted character, seemingly cold and stern. Hailing from Distania, he was squire to Romulus’ father and earned a name for himself as a brutal and relentless warrior. He commands the castle of Deadswatch and also holds a pivotal role within the story.
His chapters are entitled – The Traitor.
Erin Pyke
Erin is the commander of the Judges, the law keepers of Leonia, nicknamed ‘Owl Knights’ due to their distinctive owl shaped helms.
Erin is an astute and intelligent lawbringer, but his often aloof manner can make him appear supercilious. He is well born and is a trusted advisor to the King, something he does not fail to proclaim to the other great Lords of Leonia.
Erin is another narrator of the book, whose chapters are entitled – The Owl Lord.
Jared Fontaine
Jared is the Lord Chancellor of the Realm. He is a key administrator, financier and advisor to the King. He is highly astute and wields considerable power at court.
Jared is often referred to as ‘The Wildcat’, in part due to the emblem of his House; in part his watchful, catlike eyes and imperious nature.
Gray Doon
Gray is the consummate killer, one-eyed and fearless. He is first knight to Jared Fontaine, and watches over Fangthorne Castle in his stead.
Gray is a mighty bloodthirsty warrior, although he is haunted by a hidden past. Little is known about the history of the man behind the patch. His chapters are entitled – The One Eye.
Baleon Greywater
Baleon Greywater is first knight to Eadred Stormborn. Noble and courageous, despite his advancing years he is widely recognized as one of the greatest warriors in the North.
Alongside Lucian, Baleon is Eadred’s most trusted advisor. Baleon’s chapters are entitled – The General.
Lucian Silverhand
Warden of Stormhold, Lucian is the left hand of Eadred, where Baleon is his right.
Lucian is another man whose past is shrouded in mystery. Said to have served Eadred’s father, Lucian claims to be a half-elf, born in a time before the end of magic. His great vitality and keen intellect, despite his advancing years, are apparent testament to this fact. Often acting as a teacher to the younger generations of Stormhold, Lucian shares a strong link with the legend of the Stormcrow and the Phoenix.
Lucian’s chapter is – The Guardian.
Allen Poutain
The young squire to Jared Fontaine, Allen was born to a poorer branch of the Fontaine family. Sired a bastard, Allen has learnt great skill with a blade, a result of his constant years of ridicule from his peers over his parentage. Bold amongst his friends, but shy and retiring in the face of his elders, Allen longs to become a knight and to see the House of Poutain rise to glory.
Allen’s chapters are entitled – The Squire.
Alana Fenrir
Alana Fenrir, captivated Romulus’ heart and he married her for love over any political benefit. Demure and exquisitely beautiful, Alana embodies courtly nobility and fragile strength.
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