Adran I - The Judge

King of Lysandus Adran Ebenwald (a.k.a. The Judge)

Adran Ebenwald (or Adran the First) was the second King of Lysandus who reigned from 1A 5521 to his assassination in 5537. Known as Adran the Judge, many contemporary chroniclers note him as a reformist. His most crucial works was restructuring old tribal law into a structured judicial system. His creation of a centralized government under his reign also set the Kingdom of Lysandus as a rigid legitimate state, one that would be recognized by it's neighbors.
Though an unpopular king during the time of his life, he was regarded as a fair and wise ruler of the land in the years following his demise. A statue of him still stands in Ebenwald, in front of the Golden Palace, recognizing his efforts on peace and law.

History

Early Life

Adran was born as the oldest son of Aethel Lysandus under Duchess Eta. As a child he was infatuated with his father's commitment to the unification of Lysandus. As he began to become a teenager, his father took time to teach him the traditions of the land as chieftains. Adran would become trained in the blade, though he expressed disdain to being a warrior and was more interested in being a diplomat. As such, when he was made a Prince at the age of 19, he focused on diplomacy with the angered Dwarven cities taken by his father. In fact, he ended up marrying a Dwarven Princess named Frela in one of the negotiations. (Which was a topic of controversy at the time and ultimately proved as a political thorn on his side for opponents to twist.)
As his father aged before his eyes in the Age of Prosperity, he egged on his father about the Dwarves who had been crushed under his reign and wanted consolidation. As such, Aethel gave his sons his plans on reforms for the new Kingdom. According to Adran himself:

My father wanted the dwarves to challenge me when I would eventually rule to earn their city back. I knew this would be ruthless, as their armies had dwindled while his prospered. I turned away from his counsel and turned to chronicles of the Kings in Tallia to see what diplomacy they would be involved in. I knew I had to reform this nation beyond it's comfortable tribalism.

As Aethel suffered a foot disease, Prince Adran began his preparations for the throne, first gathering law men of the cities in Lysandus whom he deemed qualified. The last act of his father was pushing legislation for the building of a courthouse in Ebenwald by 5519. Adran would use this as his primary base of operations well into his kingship.

Reign

Adran was crowned king of Lysandus a few days after his father had died, at an age of 39 years old. Very quickly the public would find a more reclusive king, hardly ever touching the throne but discussing laws with his judges. His first law passed was consolidation to the Kingdom of Boldurun, a move that immediately made him unpopular with his people. He proceeded to allow the former Dwarven Lords to rule the taken cities still in the deserts near Babash, albeit under his guidance.
In 5523, Adran would get involved in a political showdown with the new King of Boldurun, Furi. The King publicly denounced Adran and his father's Kingdom, deeming it as warmongering regime. However, Adran would find his strength in negotiations. That same year he traveled to Babash in a carriage and gave Furi a sword turned toward himself, telling the Dwarven king that he was not his father and only wished for peace. Furi was surprisingly moved by Adran's hospitality and offered him a decade of peace.
Adran would proceed his main reforms with that decade. Adran disposed of the laws of combat and conquest so held dear by his father in 5524. Adran instead enacted legislation with the building of churches, courts and the construction of a House of Chiefs in 5525. There, the chiefs of cities would be gathered to give their votes on legislation and taxes, to which Adran would oversee himself. Though a messy system, Adran had confidence that it would bring fair law onto the people.
Indeed, in 5526-5536 much of the reforms that came to the land began to be enforced by the chiefs themselves. Proper law charters were issued to the cities in this kingdom. There was also the formation of a comprehensive system of roads to make travel easier in the fields of these lands. To this day, the roads are named "Adran's Path".
Because of these reforms, in 5536 King Furi would visit King Adran in Ebenwald and offer his sword, noting that he recognized the legitimacy of the state. Adran gladly took the sword and declared peace with Boldurun. This gesture angered the Chiefs of Keller, who would chastise Adran until the end of his life for this gesture.

Assassination

Adran's reign would be cut short. During a harvest festival in 5537 he would find himself to become phenomenally ill. He had to leave the sight of the people in Ebenwald. After a few hours into the festival, his life came to an end. As the clerics of Amagus inspected his body, they realized he had died from poisoning. The clerics would never find a perpetrator, and to this day the true suspect has never been uncovered.

Mental characteristics

Accomplishments & Achievements

Ultimately, Adran I was successful in his efforts to centralize the Kingdom and give a set-in stone law. The creation of the House of Chiefs was possibly one of his most signification and important pieces of legislation to come. His construction of roads in the kingdom was also notable.
Many Bards nowadays praise Adran I for his diplomacy with Boldurun, arguing that though he proved to look weak to his people, to the world he proved the kingdom was not a warmongering regime, but one of a pristine and dignified people.

Failures & Embarrassments

Adran I despite his good legislation had poor image to his people. Though he loved his Dwarven wife, it was seen as an act of treason by his contemporaries to marry her. His compassion to the neighboring kingdom made him appear weak to the citizens of Lysandus, who feared he would hand the lands back to the Dwarves.

Personality Characteristics

Likes & Dislikes

Adran I surprisingly liked watching fencing and jousting, despite not being a man of much war himself. He testified that he was also fond of plays. He even hired a court minstrel to sing him songs, believing it would remind him of the need of culture in the land.

Vices & Personality flaws

Despite his good nature, Adran I was a coward and a push-over. Over the years he would admit to his advisors that he constantly feared public opinion and feared Dwarven power more. He had a hard time making decisions, as well, often taking weeks to contemplate smaller pieces of legislation. It got to the point where he had to hire judges to overlook the laws for him.

Social

Religious Views

Adran I was an advocate for the Church of Amagus, just like his father was. In fact, under his reign he ordered the building of churches for the religion. Some consider him more pious than his father, as he respected the devotion to law and order that Amagus seemed to push.

---

Sources:

• Dynasty of the Oncetts, by Oslafa of Kirkwall. Date of writing: circa First Age 5800.

• The Hundred Year Reign, by Reuel the Chronicler. Date of Writing: circa First Age 5600.

• The Chronicles of Lysandus, by Aedweld. Date of writing: First Age 5750.

Honorary & Occupational Titles

King of Lysandus, Head Justice of the Court

Life

5482 ME 5537 ME 55 years old

Circumstances of Death

Poisoning

Birthplace

Brymoor, Lysandus

Gender

Male