Alpha Kaerfels

Alpha Kaerfels, or his royal name, Aelvar I Kaerfels is a Daelyrian noble, former High King of Daelyria, Archon of Duskyon, Aenyn of Tyraxes, engineer and the builder of his town Frostarch. He was former High Prince and before that Master of War, and served as former Hand of the King to Miksa Silverhand in Mithra. He is the head of House Kaerfels, a major noble family in Daelyria.

Appearance and Personality
Aelvar is relatively short for a 31-year-old Daelyrian. He has pale skin, typical for Northern Helmians and long brown hair. His olive green eyes are marked with a scar acquired from the Battle of Adwa. He usually walks around with traditional Midlands clothing (white cloth shirt, navy trousers, leathern greaves), a grey gambeson and a yellow hood, also wearing shoulder plates.

He is a kind, understanding and caring person, especially for family and friends around him, but he is not afraid to stand up against people opposing him. His wisdom is - especially in arguments - his strongest weapon, as it allows him to stay objective and true most of the time. Thusly he can use these traits to mediate conflicts between individuals. His peaceful attitude is a major consequence of his time as a politician in Helmia, even though he knows how to defend himself in combat as well.

Background
Elyria Kaerfels and her husband Siegfried Eichenbach were successful architects in the newly founded Daelyria, which at the time was facing huge population increase from expansion to the mainland of the Helmian continent, so they made a living from constructing housing in the city of Illerya. They bought a ruined estate near the already burnt down city of Hilbor from the Grand Duke of Duskyon, Dusk Synderys. They renovated the ruins, putting their engineering skills to use. They lived there for several years, and had two children, Spoken Kaerfels and a few years later Aelvar.

Childhood
Aelvar's childhood is as chaotic as it could get. While he spent his first years at home in the estate, educated by his wealthy father, it wasn't for long until bandits and marauders started attacking the place, in hopes of loot from the ruins. Though beautiful in construction, the parents did not plan any defenses of the estate whatsoever, so they were defenseless when a group of bandits came together and attacked simultaneously. Once the guards of Illerya hurried over to help, they only saw smoke in the distance. It was already too late. At 9 years of age, Aelvar had already experienced an attack on his home.

Elyria and Siegfried told their children to jump out of their kitchen window and run, which they did accordingly. Aelvar noticed that Spoken wasn't anywhere around. Another mystery, which hasn't been solved to this day, is what happened to their parents. Rumors say they were killed, but the two simply couldn't believe that. Aelvar, now in the wilderness, had to survive for a few days on his own in the wilderness. As the taiga was full of berries at the time, survival was not the main issue: The issue was how to get back. Wandering back in the forest, he stumbled upon a path known to him. The path to Duskopion, which was a very young and flourishing city, like Illerya was during the founding of Daelyria. He went there with his parents when he was younger, to help them out with construction plans. Aelvar followed the old path and eventually saw signs leading to "Dusk'epion" (Daelyrian: Dusk's mountain), confirming his thoughts.

Growing up in Duskopion
When he arrived in Duskopion, he was welcomed by a warm, but worried population. They have heard of the incidents a while ago and were relieved to see the boy alive. Aelvar made friends with several other Daelyrians in the town, including Deskest and the son of Duskopion's Duke, Enzo Whiterose. And so he spent his time living in the homes of friends in Duskopion, without his own home, since housing was short and prices were as high as never before. While growing up he was also fascinated by the stories told in the Draconist shrine of Duskopion, and converted to Draconism. In his twenties, he started to generate some wealth with a shop stall selling all kinds of woods he has encountered in his lifetime, as the demand for building materials in the ever growing Duskopion was high. On top of that, he was serving in the Daelyrian army, even though he was terrible with the blade.

All of these factors allowed him to accumulate a small fortune. Aelvar's plan was to honour the family's name, and learn from their mistakes. He started drawing up schematics of potential parts of a castle using the basic techniques his father taught him form work experience in the Hilbor estate.

Castellan
Main Article: Frostarch

Asking Grand Duke Dusk Synderys for permission, in 25 A.D. (July 16th 2021) he proposed the construction of a keep northwest of Duskopion, an outpost of sorts to protect the local population in between the three major cities of Illerya, Duskopion and Vhagaria from attacks. Upon further research and reconnaissance, he has found out about a fortress quite close to the construction site of Frostarch called Duskfang, which was run by "Spoken Thorne". He was shocked to see another Daelyrian called Spoken near his home town, and was reminded of his brother who he was still missing. The two met up in a visit. When they looked each other in the eyes, they immediately recognised each other. It was in fact his brother Spoken who had similar plans as Aelvar did. Spoken changed his last name to Thorne to break with the past and get over the potential loss of his brother and parents.

With new hope after the reunion, they sought to reform the Kaerfels name in Daelyria. They became nobles like their parents were and were back on their feet. Together with the tavernkeep of Shamrock tavern in the north of Duskfang and Frostarch keep, SkyRox, they formed a geographical union and were essential to the formation of the Midlands as a cultural centre of Daelyrian tradition. In addition to that, they wanted to make the Midlands a beautiful, but safe place from the horrors of bandits, as the fate of their childhood was still engrained in their memory. Aelvar was working on defensive engineering for the castle, utilising drawbridges, machicolations, crenellations, arrowslits and strategic location. It was a sign of power, but also art and it quickly became popular around the country.

Frostarch saw quick expansion, both in defenses on the mountainscapes, constructing 3 additional forts in the hills, and civilian expansion in the valley where the first markets and houses popped up. Aelvar Kaerfels, now a Duke, started working on other construction projects like the Wyrmpit on the ruins of New Hilbor and helped out in smaller projects around Islerion. Even later Frostarch managed to expand into the valleys of Old Hilbor, connecting Vederya, the Wyrmpit and the Keep into one large city.

Political Career
All the while Aelvar was gaining influence in Daelyria. He became Duke of the Midlands as a region of Duskyon and took over several jobs in the government. He was the main protagonist on the Daelyrian side of the Halondian rebellion, using Frostarch as a close frontier to the rebels. The wars fought in aid of the Volos tribe traumatised the still young man, but gave him experience in handling political conflicts.

In Aestyria and Arcovel he had hold the position of Master of War because of his defensive strategy skills and re-organisation of the entire structure after the chaos of the rebellion. The new military structure served as a foundation for several alteraltions taken in successor states in Helmia. His time as Master of War also lead to great improvement of his combat skills, setting the standard for ranking along with a few others. During the Mithran succession crisis, he became Hand of the King under Miksa Silverhand's short reign and witnessed the irreversible downfall of Mithra. The several "Join-or-die" threats made by the Bardonian Empire at the time were disruptive, but the highly patriotic and nationalist Kingdom of Mithra did not surrender. They faced their doom shortly after the Battle of Adwa on January 8th 2022.

Battle of Adwa
The events of the Battle of Adwa coined Aelvar's mentality permanently. After the promising start of the attack on Adwa with forces from Mithra and the Sapphire Commonwealth (mainly Simulami), the attack failed and the underequipped soldiers fled back to the castle of Frostarch, where the war was declared from. Surprised by their speed, Ulfaeng forces attacked Frostarch before any defenses could be readied. Hundreds died in the pointless defense. In the midst of the battle there was Aelvar, standing behind barred doors in his keep. he heard people opening chests and men getting slaughtered all around him. He collapsed just before the battle ended and woke up afterwards, realising the events of the war and quickly checking the leftovers of his town. The castle was raided clean, walls and towers were in shambles, animals were slain and the dark silence of death that has swept over the city could almost be felt on his skin. A few of the survivors watched him walk though his burning city, the city he had worked on for nearly a decade, the city that meant everything to him, the city that has been destroyed. Aelvar cried constantly while walking through the city, and even lost his nephew Shade Eptaskia Kaerfels who moved away after the war.

Following the events of the day he has completely retired from politics, as they have exhausted him and even taken his city in the collapse of Mithra. This caused a wave of sorrow and sadness around Helmia, before agreeing to the integration of Bardonia's vassal, Kyydrosil, forming the Helmian Federation.

Seclusion
After the war, Aelvar has regained his joy in spending time on his home. He has laid out the plans to construct a new district in Frostarch, which will make it the biggest town in Daelyria. He focused on his family, and rebuilding what he had lost. Soon after though, the shortlived Dominate of Helmia was established by Murad Demus after the Second Battle Of Illerya, which Aelvar had refused of taking side in. Yet another town had fallen to the wrath of war. The Dominate was dissolved shortly after, initiating the rebirth of Daelyria under a Blackfyre crown.

New beginning & marriage
While rebuilding his dreams, Aelvar met Faern Vièn de Relmont, a Lorentish vampire that grew up in Frostarch before travelling the world and becoming Lutheress of the Lorent. They found common interests and made new friends, adoring each other's common culture despite being on the other end of the world. It was at that time when the two became closer and got enganged.

Sanguine craze
During those years, the name of Segra became a lot more widespread in Rathnir. Followers all around joined in to the call to eradicate several "weak races", the Helmians being in that list as well. Aelvar was confused as to why the Helmians were considered weak. They survived several wars and invasions and stood vigilant after all that. After hearing news that his fiancé Faern followed the ways of Segra, or the "Chaotic Lotus" as it was also called, he was shocked and in fear. His own fiancé would turn against him in a struggle to wipe out his people. He sent letter after letter asking for understanding, his handwriting becoming worse and worse with every line he wrote. He was torn between love and nation. As a consequence Aelvar isolated himself in Frostarch Keep for almost an entire year, which made him hallucinate and crazed. He imagined Balerion appear flying around his castle. Balerion declared to him that Segra was not a threat; She was a servant and champion of his to return balance to the world. Aelvar followed him and has become crazy. He and his brother started consuming Shade of the Evening regularly, and the blood lust of the Kyrepion cult to sacrifice to Balerion has cost a few lived in the city.

After having heard of the news, men of the Blackfyre Guard under Maekar I. have taken care of the situation and have helped Aelvar to return to normality.

The Wedding
A handful of years after these events, the wedding ceremony was held in Frostarch and Illerya in 97AD. It also formed an alliance between Lorent and Daelyria.

High King
Maekar's death in 101AD has shocked the nation, there was no Blackfyre Heir to take over the throne. A council meeting was called in to decide the legitimate heir: As most noble families descended from the Blackfyres themselves, they all had common blood; The Kaerfels were found to be the closest. It was then when Aelvar was crowned High King of Daelyria with Faern as his queen consort. During the coronation they were blessed by an Aestdracarys from the Northern Gate. Henceforth the capital was moved to Frostarch.

The two ruled over the country, bringing industry, prosperity and culture to the realm. The Mitharnas was a construction project under his rule, so was the Caraxeum in Cliffton. The kingdom regained a strong military and armoury under his reign, rebuilding from the crippled war machine that was left behind as the shadows of Mithra. A few years after the coronation, Faern gave birth to Rhaegar Kaerfels. Aelvar's reign had the kingdom at peace and stability. Tournaments across the country were held, the workforce grew and so did the urban population. In 115AD Aelvar gives power to High Prince Dusk Synderys as High Regent, as he had been hurt while hunting.

Under Dusk the country was militarised more and more, worsened relations with Credia and prepared for a war. Aelvar, who still hasn't recovered yet, did not like where Dusk was taking the country, and shortly after a war with Halge has been ended, he ended his regency and gave the crown to Tonic of House Mahale, the second in line, as his son has not yet come of age to rule. Aelvar couldn't have continued ruling in a manner he did not want to. To make matters even worse, a few days after he gave up his political power, Faern divorced him. Aelvar was in both sadness and anger: Losing his wife was as bad as the fact that she was only after his power.

Aelvar has since then been living a calm life in Frostarch, helping out his friends every now and again.