Byron Grimolt (born August 6th, 323 AC) is the current Highlord of Raunerre, a nation long known for its naval prowess, its technological feats, and its strong Edrossian heritage -- at the navy's peak, the Raunerrians are able to blockade all but their own ports for months on end, thanks to reforms that Byron has brought into the fold and made law. Byron Grimolt and Dalan Karthmere of the Realm of Thyllanor are long-time rivals due to ancient feuds between their house, and recent events that have transpired between them, such as their argument during the assault on Dragonspire City during the Civil War and the War of Embers that soon followed, over both who should rule the former land in the Kingsland, and perhaps who should be the new King of Andoras (though it is now considered a defunct title).
History[]
Byron Grimolt was born in Stormholme on the 6th of August, 323 AC, the only son of Blaine Grimolt. Blaine was merely five years old when he was crowned Highlord of Raunerre, and was immediately thrust into the oft-subtle and potentially violent court politics of Stormholme; a culture which had developed from generations of increasing opposition to the Grimolts and their closest allies. Blaine's regents managed most of his administrative affairs, but he was still expected to make a showing as Highlord. Blaine found that his brothers Theron and Darius constantly vied for his power, and sought to take it before Blaine became too powerful and cemented on the throne in the public eye. This was an unsuccessful effort on their part, but they arranged for Blaine's death and had him assassinated in 328 at the age of 40 -- this was not known until Byron revealed it many years later. In a cyclical fashion, much like his father, Byron inherited the throne at five years old and was subject to much of the same treatment his father had received; this time, however, his uncles alternated as his regent, effectively utilizing the power of the throne to establish their hold on the nation.
Byron was quietly deposed without his knowledge and his eldest uncle Theron took the throne two weeks after his coronation, due to a clause in Raunerrian law that allowed young rulers to be removed from power without incident and replaced by their heir if they are deemed sufficiently inadequate for the role by someone close to them, such as a regent -- though not outright stated, the law was meant for deposition of mentally ill rulers, created around the time of Nobilis Karthmere's reign in Thyllanor. A judge who was likely paid off by Theron and Darius had ruled that this clause still applied to Byron, as he was too young to truly comprehend his duties. A clear conflict of interest emerges (which Byron later addresses following his acquisition of the throne) where the title passes to the heir; Theron was Byron's closest relative and the older of his two uncles.
With much of the court intrigue still unknown to him, Byron was given a typical noble's education, as well as the ways of the sword, becoming fond of a single edged blade perfect for cutting through flesh and bone and thin armor. Raunerre participated in the 326 AC rebellion during this period, assisting the crown in subduing Thyllanor and its ally, the peculiar democratic Farrowhalt Freehold. Theron, with his health becoming progressively worse and finding the throne to not be as he imagined it to be, abdicated to his younger brother Darius in 331 AC, having reigned only three years. Darius, though a fair ruler, was subject to the same machine that Blaine and Byron had been privy to; many of the allies Theron had acquired in the government took a disliking to Darius, and he had a hard time winning favor in the nation.
As Byron came of age, he became aware of the inherent political corruption in Raunerre, as well as his position as the rightful heir of the nation. In secret, Byron used all the time and resources he could get to establish a plot that would see him on the throne and his uncle removed from power. There were, thankfully, many who acknowledged the existence of the corruption and agreed that change was needed, but also those who were leery of Byron simply repeating history, and usurping the throne in a way not far off from how his uncles acceded to power. Darius's support of Aeganar IV Dragomárus was also growing increasingly unpopular, as the Tentative Years's autocratic mandates were taking their toll on Raunerre's economy. The image of Darius Grimolt as a status-quo, lame-duck ruler only gave fuel to Byron's underground movement to overthrow his uncle.
With his budding entourage and his promises of change, Byron began the Stormholme Coup in 343 AC, quickly removing his uncle from power and installing himself as the rightful Highlord. He began a long process of removing from the government those who were against his rule, either stripping them of their titles or banishing them if it was applicable. This process soon became very involved and difficult, as the roots of this corruption had taken him outside of Raunerre and to bizarre, far-off places such as the city-states of Doras Edrossi or the island of Deimia. Byron had finally reached at what he deemed an acceptable government, but not long after, he was contacted secretly by the lords of Faercrest to seek his participation in the coming war -- the last straw had been reached for many regarding the tyranny of Aeganar IV Dragomárus, and another rebellion was at its boiling point. He joined House Karthmere's independence faction and fought in the Civil War against House Dragomárus, with Grimolt and his formidable navy standing toe to toe with the armada of the Dragomárus fleet; with the support of the other realms, they were able to secure naval victories, but were often outnumbered, having to rely on strategic means to win naval battles. Byron revealed during this war his talent for admiralty, and continues to serve in this position in the present, alongside pursuing his penchant for a strong government unified in purpose.
Present[]
He is now fighting against Thyllanor in the War of Embers for many reasons, though the war is currently in armistice due to a heated and eventful peace summit in Vicarshall -- informally, the War of Embers is for the land in the Kingsland which now is fragmented and ripe for the taking, but officially, it is for the right to declare their respective nations the supreme authority of Andoras in the absence of the now-deposed Kingdom of Andoras. Byron hopes to come out on top, and from what little is known of the usually-quiet man outside of his personal circle is that he has high ambitions should he and his nation succeed.