The Previous King Bertram & the years leading up to the regency
How the successful annexing of Arinn territory almost turned into a doomed war with Veloria.
About 25 years ago, in the early years of King Bertram’s reign, @Thelidor launched a bold campaign against the Kingdom of @Arinn to its west. @Queen Isolde of Arinn had recently ascended the throne after a contested succession, and her court was fractured by rival nobles and merchant factions. Bertram saw an opportunity to secure Thelidor’s western border and expand its influence over key coastal trade routes.
The war began with skirmishes near the River Vire, where Thelidorian scouts clashed with Arinn’s border sentries. @Edric Longe, then a young and rising military strategist, was tasked with planning the campaign. His crowning achievement was the Siege of @Grey Harbor, Arinn's only port city. Using terrain manipulation and psychological warfare, Edric cut off supply lines and sowed dissent among the defenders, forcing a surrender without breaching the walls.
However, when Bertram proposed a new march from Grey Harbor to the Theocratic nation of @Veloria, Edric refused. He argued that the Arinn's weakness would not last, and invading an additional kingdom would have dire consequences as time went on. That, and an invasion of Veloria was much different than Arinn, for Veloria was a divine kingdom. It would provoke wrath from Stella Maris, whose temples dotted both coasts. Bertram, furious, branded Edric a coward and sidelined him politically. The war ended with the Treaty of Broken Tides, granting Thelidor control of Greyharbor and several trade routes—but leaving Arinn humiliated and vengeful.
The war’s legacy is still felt. Veterans whisper that Edric’s campaign saved thousands of lives, while Bertram’s ambition nearly doomed the realm. Queen Isolde survived the crisis and later consolidated her power, turning Arinn into a more unified and dangerous neighbor. Some believe she still seeks revenge—not through armies, but through diplomacy, marriage, and shadow agents.
Edric Longe
Edric Longe is a former military strategist to King Bertram, now a recluse. Stoic, weathered, and quietly brilliant. Edric lives on a vineyard near the cliffs of Thelidor, tending grapes and avoiding politics.
Once hailed as the architect of Thelidor’s border defenses, Edric fell from grace after refusing to support Bertram’s plan to preemptively strike Veloria. Disillusioned by the court’s thirst for power and betrayal, he renounced his titles and vanished from public life.
Edric keeps a hidden archive beneath his vineyard’s cellar—maps, letters, and war journals that about Bertram’s final years few know about. Rumors say he still receives secret visitors, and some believe King Liam may seek him out.
The Years Before Liam's Ascension
King Bertram’s Final Decade: Bertram was a pragmatic but increasingly paranoid ruler. After surviving an assassination attempt (suspected to be orchestrated by @House Durnmere agents), he grew distrustful of his court and leaned heavily on @House Caelthorn for military counsel and border defense. His withdrawal from courtly life created a vacuum that @House Halebrandt and @House Durnmere rushed to fill.
The Treaty of @Stagge Hall: A failed diplomatic attempt to unify @Thelidor’s noble houses for the kingdom's stability. Caelthorn proposed a joint military command, Halebrandt demanded martial supremacy, and Durnmere insisted on economic oversight. The treaty collapsed, but its memory still haunts the regency council.
The “Lion’s Wedding” (3 years ago): @Lord Godric Halebrandt’s daughter @Lady Fiona Halebrandt was nearly betrothed to a Durnmere cousin in a bid to unify the houses. The match was sabotaged—rumors say by @Dowager Lady Eveline Dunmere herself—leading to a bitter feud and Fiona’s vow never to marry for politics.
The Merchant’s Rise: @Lord Bastian Durnmere ascent was meteoric. He brokered trade routes with @Arinn and @Veloria, enriching Thelidor’s coffers but also binding it to foreign interests. His influence grew so rapidly that King Bertram began to suspect him of plotting a coup.
The Sudden Death of Bertram: Officially a hunting accident. Unofficially, whispers of poison, sabotage, or even a cursed falcon gifted by an emissary. The regency council was formed within days, with each house claiming a right to guide the boy-king.