King Biddacrow 'the Heart of Eremere'

King Biddacrow Syrincore

King Biddacrow, known as the Heart of Eremere or the Uniter, was a legendary ruler of Thendanor in the 6th century EL. Famously, he combined forces with his father-in-law Corman Whitemount of Dregonvell in order to conquer all of Eremere. In 555 EL he became the first king of Eremere, and established its status as a kingdom. He founded House Syrincore and adopted its current insignia. He also founded the city of Crow's Rest, the kingdom's capital.

Family

Biddacrow was born to the high chief and high chieftess of Thendanor, but due to the accomplishments of their son, little is known of them. Biddacrow had a brother, Midah, whose death sparked Biddacrow's conqeust. In 521 EL Biddacrow married Morgana Whitemount, whose father was Corman, High Chief of Dregonvell. The two had four children. Ladramar was born in 523 EL, followed by Biddacrow's heir Midah in 533 EL. Crakbar followed in 535 EL and Coralyra was born in 536 EL. Midah, who became King Midah I, married Diamor Tarnell in 550 EL, though they were betrothed from his birth. Crakbar married Reoette Brawnby, with whom he had a daughter, Lina. She became queen when she married her first cousin and Midah I's son, Midah II.

Unification of Eremere (528 EL - 555 EL)

The Assassination of Midah (528 EL)

Biddacrow and his younger brother, Midah, were inseparable as children and remained close friends as adults. Unfortunately, where Biddacrow was shrewd and responsible, Midah had a reputation as a free spirit who saw little point in being anything but his misguided, hedonistic self. While usually up to harmless antics, in 528 EL Midah was caught in the bed of High Chieftess Alguith of Lylelor. Her husband High Chief Ligdor Royce sent assassins after Midah, and they dishonourably stabbed him as he bathed in a whorehouse. In response, Biddacrow raised his army.

The Siege of Lake Town (530 EL)

Biddacrow's well-drilled army led by capable commanders such as himself cut through Lylelor like butter. By 530 EL they had already reached the gates of Lake Town, the seat of High Chief Ligdor. Within weeks, the discontent people within the town rose up and captured Ligdor and his family, handing him over to Biddacrow. Ligdor watched the execution of his sons before he too was tortured and executed. In 531 EL, High Chieftess Libetta of Springmore, Stone King Rogdar of the Rocklands, and High Chief Bragor of Arkenstead signed the Great Pact, a defensive alliance aimed at combatting Biddacrow's expansion.

Greater Invasion (534 EL - 549 EL)

Insulted by the alliance made by three of the great leaders, Biddacrow organised further invasion with Corman. Biddacrow split his forces into two; while he led the troops to Springmore, a separate invasion force travelled by ship to the Rocklands.
Meanwhile, Corman led his army into Arkenstead in 534 EL. Unlike Biddacrow, almost all of Corman's army was on the Arkenstead front, but battles often resulted in stalemates. Eventually, it took Corman's son and heir, Greygor, commanding at the Battle of Burnam in 540 EL. This paves the way for Greygor's army to march on Oak Hall, where they laid siege. Seeing the futility of continuing the fight, Chieg Bragor surrendered to Greygor, and as a sign of good faith offered his daughter Nadasee's hand in marriage. She and Greygor wed that year.
In Springmore, the battles were harder fought and Biddacrow's sustained far more losses than he had in Lylelor, largely due to his split manpower. However, his forces ultimately overcame the forces of Springmore and High Chieftess Libetta surrendered and swore fealty to Biddacrow in 549 EL. As for the Rocklands, frequent raids ensured Rogdar could not march on Corman's unprotected lands to the east, and Biddacrow's fleet successfully distracted his Rogdar's army until Corman can join the fight. With a far greater invasion force, Biddacrow and Corman push Rogdar back to his castle of Shearstone in 547 EL, but its defenses and provisions ensure that he is safe inside for some years.

The Siege of Shearstone (547 EL - 555 EL)

With the armies of Dregonvell and Thendanor finally combined, Biddacrow's victory was inevitable. Shearstone was surrounded and the Rocklands firmly subdued. Still, however, Rogdar refused to surrender and remained unreachable in Shearstone. After eight years of relentlessly laying siege, Biddacrow grew impatient. Against the advice of Corman, Biddacrow launched an incredibly costly assault on Shearstone. Over a third of his forces perish in the attack, such was the prowess of Shearstone's defences. Nonetheless, Biddacrow overcomes the castle and meets with Rogdar. In single combat, Rogdar is slain. With Rogdar dead and his children imprisoned, Biddacrow installs the fallen king's brother, Hagrod, to the high earldom of the Rocklands. Persuaded not to execute the children of Rogdar, Biddacrow soon regrets this when, in 557 EL, they escape and flee to the Blackdron Mountains, where their inbred descendants still reside by 998 EL.

Aftermath (555 EL)

With every state of Eremere subdued, Biddacrow considered his conquest complete and began to consolidate his kingdom. He already had a healthy royal family with his queen, Morgana. Through his firm ally Corman, he was also linked to the Beresitches of Arkenstead. The Royces of Lylelor were removed from power and replaced with the loyal Tarnells, whose daughter married Biddacrow's heir Midah, while Libetta's daughter Reonette was married to Biddacrow's youngest son Crakbar. Only the Rocklands' loyalty was questionable, causing them to be held at arm's length for most of Eremere's history.

House
House Syrincore
Spouse
Morgana Whitemount
Issue
Ladramar Syrincore
King Midah I
Crakbar Syrincore
Coralyra Syrincore

Life

498 ATD 573 ATD 75 years old

Children

• Midah I Syrincore