Castellan Abner

"'As a leader, I prefer to orchestrate from the shadows rather than bask in the spotlight. My name may not be uttered, but the echoes of my commands will resound for all to hear. Including you.' - Castellan Abner to Karol Velky, 3rd CEO of Vanguard."In Eldham, there exists a figure known only as Castellan Abner - a shadowy and enigmatic presence whose power and influence are felt throughout the land. He is the Lord of Lords Port, Shield of Ashai, and Warden of the Industries, titles that signify his great authority and the fear that he inspires in those who cross him.

Despite his reputation, Castellan Abner is rarely seen in public, preferring instead to operate from the shadows, orchestrating events and issuing commands to his men. His ventures, including the Arcane, which as Maester Aldous describes "We all live under it, influenced by it, yet very few of us know of its existence", Standard XP, and previously Vanguard, have made him one of the most powerful individuals in Eldham, with a reputation that rivals even the most fearsome of warlords.

Those who have encountered Castellan Abner speak of his cold and calculating demeanor, his piercing gaze and the sense of dread that accompanies his presence. Yet despite his aloofness, his influence cannot be denied, and his power continues to grow with each passing day.

Early Life
The origins of Castellan Abner are shrouded in mystery, and few know the truth of his early years. It is said that he was adopted by a maester in the long-lost nation of C.O.G, located in the far reaches of the northeastern region of Eldham.

Legend holds that as a baby, Abner showed a fierce and willful spirit, biting the finger of the maester who took him in. This act was seen as an omen of the great power that Abner would come to wield in the years to come.

The First Duty
As a young man, Castellan Abner was granted a great honor - the position of Master of Coin for the newly liberated C.O.G. This kingdom had previously been held by the Uraka, whose tyrannical rule had oppressed the people for seven long years.

With Abner's ascension to power, however, the shackles of oppression were thrown off and a new era dawned. His unwavering determination and formidable presence quickly earned him a place among the most powerful figures in all of C.O.G., feared and respected by all who opposed him.

But Abner's ambitions could not be contained within the borders of C.O.G., and he soon saw that he must strike out on his own to achieve the greatness he craved. In a moment that would change the course of history, Abner cast off his allegiances and became a man without a home, a wandering figure with no ties to any nation or any lord.

This move would prove to be the turning point in Eldham's power struggles, setting in motion a chain of events that would shape the continent for years to come. And though the true motivations behind Abner's actions remain a mystery, his impact on the world of Eldham cannot be denied.

Leaving COG
With his unyielding drive and shrewd business acumen, Abner quickly rose to power once again after leaving the C.O.G, this time as the founder of Vanguard, the largest financial entity in the history. Through his dealings with notable figures such as the renowned mercenary Derp, the powerful emperor Healy of Imperium, the King of Irulan Dvusi, and the enigmatic Ender, Abner's wealth and reputation continued to grow. It was said that Abner's net worth soared to an unimaginable amount, an amount which maesters fail to even calculate, a staggering sum that he had amassed in a mere three years of labor without any inheritance to aid his ascent. With such vast resources at his disposal, he quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the known world, and his influence spread far and wide across Eldham. Many whispered in fear of the power he wielded, wondering what his next move might be and who would fall under his gaze next.

The Show-off of Power
Despite Abner's meteoric ascent to the upper echelons of power, there were still many ignorant fools who dared to challenge his authority, only to meet their untimely ends. The sheer magnitude of these instances defies enumeration, yet among the most notable were those that spelled the doom of EMF - the longest-standing financial institution of its kind, renowned for its vast stock and bond exchange, people say they called him a "tyrant" to which he didn't stand up-to, and till last they threatened him saying things such as - "We would shut-up or exchange for you, and your joke would fall to rubbles." Legends say they didn't see the next dawn.

Abner's once-mighty Vanguard empire was ultimately undone by his inability to secure a worthy successor, and by his own weariness in the face of mounting pressures. In a stunning turn of events, he abandoned all that he had built and vanished to a remote island, situated in the far reaches of the known world, with no assets to his name. This sudden move had devastating consequences, with millions of currency being lost, loans going unpaid, and the entire financial industry brought to its knees.

The Arcane
Following a period of repose that lasted several years, Abner emerged once more, with his sights set on dominating the financial industry once again. Despite the passing of time, his name had not faded from the collective consciousness, and he promptly founded a new enterprise - Arcane.