Karl Astilor

Introduction
Karl (Arthur) Astilor is the first biological son of Charles Astilor and his wife Revna Astilor (Hrafn), he was born in 284TE on the banks Farmcona river when his mother was unable to reach the castle in time as she delivered him just getting off the Astilor riverboat. He has piercing blue eyes, a genetic trait of his mother, and thick grey hair, a known trait of Astilors. Karl has the middle name Arthur named after his deceased uncle who Karl's father, Charles, owes his life.

Birth and Secret Upbringing
Charles Astilor and his wife Revna were a happy couple, and even though Charles was very old, there would be good years left in him. When Charles learned that his wife was with child he was overjoyed and as he prepared letters to announce the good news, he took a sip of his fine wine and began to choke. Revna who had went to take a nap in their bed heard Charles in his study and called for help. The known sorcerer Jebediah, who had worked with Charles in the Sorcery Guild was rushed to the castle. Utilising some of his latest potions and taking prayers for Greigen to heal Charles with his sorcery and alchemy, poured healing elixr into Charles' constricting throat. In a few days, Charles was back to normal health but the attempt on his life left him furious and paranoid. In order to ensure the safety of his wife and his future child, he sent her away back to her home in Stormgova to be attended to by her family and under the protection of her kin, Emperor Felöks Zeno Hrafn. Using coded letters Charles kept up with his wife her health and the health of his unborn son as the nurses gossiped. Eventually, she was advised if she wanted to return to Ludenstadt to Charles could be present at the birth she would need to leave now. However, the nurses miscalculated and as Revna was departing the Astilor river boat into the Raghrena port, she gave birth to her son Karl. Charles missed it by only a few moments but was there to hold his son as he was just born. Robert Astilor followed behind and also held his baby cousin, suggesting the name Karl to Charles who had been unsure (as well as Revna) on a name.

Karl was rushed into the castle, and given his name and was officially recorded into the Astilor family tree in secret. Friedrich Aulian the Patriarch of Soledom faith was called in secret to bless the child and be their for his official naming. An agreement was struck with Friedrich that the child would live in secret in an Astilor manor out of the way of the castle, and at the age of seven be given to Friedrich to be taken and trained in Aulian ways and also tutored by the wisest in the Imperial College. It pained Charles and Revna to plan the departure of their child, but they both knew it was in his best interest as an Astilor son, a true heir to the might of Charles would be a target. So it was that Karl was taken and raised in Drako's Keep, the castle of Robert Astilor who looked after the boy when his parents weren't present and sometimes when fate called upon it pretended that Karl was actually his son whom he had adopted from a foreign war, although the sharpest of guests couldn't help but notice the distinctive grey hair of an Astilor and his Hrafn blue eyes.