Wilhelm Arieits

Early life
The origins of Wilhelm begin in a forgotten land purged by a deity known as the Shroud who Burnt down the entire city due to a lack of sacrifice from the king of the city. The castle destroyed, the people all but slaughtered, the land scorched and tainted for the dark mist that sends a man insane.

He was no noble, no royal blood, he was simply a priest but a born leader, infact he was the last priest thus placing him head of the faith. leading what was left of the city away from the chaos, the people followed him and trusted him as he placed them above all else.

Wilhelm led his people across the realm of Eldham until he came across a ruined fort in a desert of a far away land. The people were tired, starving, wounded and dying surrounded him looking for help and answers. As much as Wilhelm knew it was a risk they had to rest, tend to the sick and wounded before its too late. he assembled a small group of able fighters to man the walls in case of danger as he knew the shroud was not done with the people yet, he could still here to evil laughter of the dark creature in his mind, it was taunting him, and it knew exactly where they were for as long as Wilhelm was there.

After days had past, the people had made the lands fertile for farming and gathered livestock from the surrounding lands for food. Wilhelm could not be found as he placed himself in seclusion as the madness had began to settle in, the shroud was trying to take his mind as it had already claimed his soul. He would prey using the arcane rituals he had learnt from his elders to subdue the shrouds influence on his mind enough to keep control of himself.

The old bells of the fort rang, Wilhelm awoken from his meditation, clothed himself in his rags, grabbing his sword and ran to join the people outside as over the walls in the distance could be seen a wave of mist surrounding the fort, the people armed themselves and manned the walls, barricaded the broken gate as well as they could. Fear spread like a plague among them, they looked to Wilhelm for advice. as he walked past them they fell silent awaiting his word.

The mist was the very same that covered their home, the same that spread dread and madness among all who step in it, it was dark as night and had glowing orange sparks fly around in patterns unknown to any scholar. Before Wilhelm could form a word the roaring screams of the damned marched towards the fort in full sprint, glowing orange eyes and charred flesh they cackled and screamed as they smashed at the walls and gate climbing their way up were they were repelled by the men at the wall. Wilhelm rushed to the gate with as many able bodies as he could and prepared for what was about to enter, fear now the norm. As the gates flew open a ghast of mist flew in as the glowing eyes flood through smashing into the men around Wilhelm.

As Wilhelm hacked and slashed his way through the damned he didn't realise the whole fort was covered in the mist as echoed screams could be heard from those fighting for their lives. Then above the fort with an evil chuckle the Shroud appeared as he once did. Wilhelm now on top of the wall facing the shroud as it floats above the death and conflict. he grabbed a crossbow he found on the floor and released the loaded bolt as the dark lord, it had little to no effect as the shroud reached out his arm at Wilhelm grabbing him with a force unseen lifting him up and pulling him to the shroud. the shroud opened his mouth and began to pour itself into Wilhelm's soul, with the intention to corrupt his mind. With the little control Wilhelm had he drove his dagger into the dark lords neck as it dropped him in a moment of rage.

As Wilhelm fell he broke through the poor structure of a building into what seemed like a crypt. He recognised the runes on the Crypt, it was a seal, a prison, one he could use against his foe to send him back into slumber. Wilhelm began to read out the ancient words of the tomb as they echo along the land. calling against the shroud and his powers, dragging the mist and itself down into a sealed tomb. the roaring anger from the shroud grew in aggression as it clawed at the ground to stop itself from falling into the tomb.

With a final breath the shroud whispered some rite which split half of his and Wilhelm's soul, intertwining them into one. The shroud let go of his grip at the ground with a small laugh letting himself fall into the tomb, with that Wilhelm stumbled out of the crypt to those who remained from the conflict. he rose to see his people gathered to bow to him, with that a small smile appeared on his face for the first time.

Life in Valreach
As Wilhelm has progressed up the Ranks of Valreach he has gained many friends and just as much enemies. before then, it has been 2 years since the events at Shroudsfort, not long after the Imperator of valreach invited Wilhelm to run the city which he swore absolute loyalty to the crown and its people for helping him save his people.

Wilhelm formed the Noble House Arietis-Sanguine which is currently the largest house in Valreach and a loyal vassal to the Aulian dynasty, He has has many children before his wife passed of an illness which seemed familiar to the arts of the shroud, however Wilhelm was in denial as the shroud still slumbers to this day. He has made it his duty to serve the realm and his house, after leaving Shroudsfort he gained territory in the lands of New-Asteri as well as being placed in control of the whole Saafir region, the region that hold the shroud and the city of Shroudsfort. He has given the cities of these lands to his children in trust they will run the lands he has worked for in good spirit.

Battle of Comphain
The lands under the houses of Comphain and Arietis came into conflict. The battle went as stated in a documented account of Wilhelm Arietis:

As I marched with my army from new-Asteri to Bjørgsvin, The pipers playing along with drummers as the sounds of brave Valreans angered around me ready for blood. The proud fighters of Arietis fear no man nor fire. As we marched with horse and cannon rifle at the ready the sounds of distant cannon fire began to fill the air and the city had began its defence with little to no intention of surrender and the hearts to win the battle no matter the cost. calling my men to halt I asses the battle ahead calling the pipers to a stop and begin the march for the wall, as our own cannons stationed behind began a return fire set to the city. The sounds of muskets filled my ears as distant screams could be heard, as I look around me I see smoke from the muskets in rows along the walls as well as from my own force along the ground below. The time for talks was over and it was clear that neither side had any intention of giving an inch away to their foe. Just to the left of me a man is shot giving me the realisation of the battle ahead.

Valrean blood on both sides will spill. As we reach a perfect angle I call a halt and for my men to join our the fight and begin to fire its first volley, as the ladders I call my men to fix bayonets as I draw my blade we race up the wall met by a formidable stopping force Bullets flew and swords clashed as I saw my rival Ludvik upon the wall we engaged in conflict seemingly equal as I draw out my side arm and fire into his chest. he falls back off the wall looking me in the eyes as he goes. From the wall I hear the sounds of trumpets blowing as my men storm down the wall met by volley fires that they quickly retaliated with their own. After the fall capture of the wall and push into the city a white banner was flung into the air as @Floki Comphain | House Comphain had ordered a full surrender of his army, the shed of Valrean blood being far more than either had anticipated. Upon surrender we entered his badly damaged keep in hopes to discuss his full surrender, on this day House Comphain was annexed by House Arietis Sanguine

lectiones in sanguine non discendae cito oblitae sunt!

Documented account of the battle from Wilhem Arietis Sanguine

The Death of Wilhelm and his letter of sorrow
The absence of Wilhelm was noticed by all who are seated in his court, it was no secret that the Arietis had dark and twisted ties to the Shroud, However after discovery it was seen that they reinstated the rituals of old in the name of the god of war. All blooded members have held this effect with a growing lack of sanity and an ever growing hunger for control, all at the heart of Wilhelm's greed many decades ago. the curse of his young age came at the cost of his own mind of which the shroud had been winning over more and more, from the days of his rule he could be seen arguing with himself, frantic panic attacks, delusional actions, all effects due to his connection to the Shroud, though many brushed it off as no more than stress, the grip Wilhelm had was truly lost, in his final moments of sanity he denounced the Shroud for all he has done, forcing back the entity for a brief time, enough time for the regret for all he had done. The death of many at his command, the darkness was not taking over him, he realised, no. The Darkness was apart of him, the delusions of a mad man left ignored. What was seen as insanity and tyranny was nothing more than a man losing his way, losing himself. With this new found clarity Wilhelm, shaded by hallucinations, ventured out of his keep, one last time, one last sunrise. one last tear, one last goodbye. A letter left on the seat of the throne laid under the crown

'" My beloved Valreans, Friends. In the desolation of my reign, I put quill to parchment, not to offer solace but to acknowledge the irreparable damage wrought by my misguided rule. The crown, once a symbol of authority, now sits atop a head bowed in shame, and the throne has become a grotesque reminder of the despondency that permeates this forsaken kingdom. As I survey the ruins of my aspirations, I see not just crumbling structures but the shattered remnants of your trust and optimism. The sceptre, wielded with arrogance, has left scars on the very fabric of our existence, and the once-vibrant tapestry of our realm is now tattered and stained with the ink of my failures. The weight of my inadequacies hangs heavy in the air, choking the life out of any lingering hope. The dreams I once promised to nurture have withered, starved by the harsh reality of my ineptitude. There are no silver linings in the storm clouds that gather above; only the relentless downpour of despair. I make no plea for forgiveness, for I know it is a luxury I do not deserve. Instead, I implore you, my disillusioned subjects, to cast off the shackles of false optimism. Abandon the notion of redemption, for the stains of my rule are indelible. May you find a semblance of survival in a world stripped bare by the consequences of my misguided reign. By the gods, what have I done....may Solaris forgive me.' "

From the accounts of the people Wilhelm could be seen stood by an old tree struck by grief and yet relief in the final steps of his ending journey, withering away, The curse of the shroud had been lifted and the age of death Wilhelm had cheated finally caught up to him, many beg the question of to how this came to be and why...either way Wilhelm never got that last sunrise.