Mortimer the Great
King of Lysandus Mortimer Darius Oncett
Mortimer Darius Oncett, referred to as Mortimer the Second or The Great, was the sixth King of Lysandus who reigned from 5681 until his death in 5710. During his reign, he retook the throne from Erik Ebenwald and battled a resurgence of the Dragon Crisis.
History
Early Life
Mortimer Darius Oncett was born in the city of Ebenwald in 1A 5639 under his father, Mortimer Oncett Jr, and his mother Duchess Asheli. He would grow up learning statesmanship from several of his father's advisers. Thus, he watched his father's reign, and began to realize the many mistakes he made. It would not be long before he would see the aggression of the Dragonlords toward the thrown. Then, when he was 13, he watched Erik Ebenwald and the Dragonlords overthrow his father. He would be escorted to the city of Miweck by his mother, Asheli, and his mentor, Master Gylan.Midst of the Gothai Crusade
Master Gylan used his understanding of magic to hide Mortimer's presence, as he feared Erik would try to kill any opposition to the crown as he grew more in power. Mortimer Darius would grow into a man discouraged by the throne and feeling as if it was not right for the nation to live under one ultimate power. Thus, he went on a pilgrimage to Orwood at the age of 19 to find answers from Amagus. He would be found in the middle of the Gothain provocation of the city. He would attempt to flee the city, but the Gothain soldiers stopped him in the middle of his tracks. Thus he was restrained in the city to watch the crusade commence. Mortimer Darius studied government and conquest in the Temple of Amagus. He would even observe the battlefields in the distances on horseback, looking at the formations and watching the flaws of the generals. Then, in 5661 he would be caught riding away by the Gothain General, Leuswig. General Leuswig was curious to his intentions, and then realized he was the heir of Queen Dariah. At first he contemplated taking Mortimer Darius hostage and to be held for ransom, but the thought made him contemplate the exact reason for the Crusade. Leuswig would lead Mortimer Darius out of Orwood, allowing him to ride home peacefully while he investigated the matter. He also gave Mortimer a Horn of the Danen, as a sign of peace.War of the Dragonlords
Mortimer Darius quickly returned home, reuniting with his mother and his mentor. At home he would court a peasant woman, much like his father, named Hilda. But he would not use his time unwisely. He studied combat and began to get close to the Dragonlord of Wiweck, Lord Peregrine. Peregrine became a second mentor, but Mortimer did not reveal his identity to him, going under the name "Ealdwig". One day, he would overhear Lord Peregrine discussing with other nobles the treachery of Erik in 5677. He would barge into the meeting, sounding the Horn of the Danen to get their attention."Discontent fills thy heart? Let it pass, noblemen, for the true king is not on the throne! Before you is Mortimer Darius, the grandson of Queen Dariah, and true King of Lysandus!"The nobles at first were angry at the proposition that Mortimer Darius had given. However, he convinced them his claim was legitimate, and that the Danens had recognized it, hence his horn. Strangely enough, the horn swayed them. Lord Peregrine would meet with the other Dragonlords in 5678 and officially allied with Mortimer Darius. The Dragonlords proclaimed to King Erik that Mortimer Darius should be king, and Mortimer attempted travel to Brymoor to begin his campaign. But along the way, he would be captured by King Erik, who intended to execute him for treason. But he would be saved. Nearing his day of execution in 5679, a riot overtook Ebenwald, where he was imprisoned. Then, a group of infiltrators helped Mortimer Darius escape the city. He came to Brymoor and gathered troops along with the Dragonlords in order to restore the Oncetts to the throne. Mortimer Darius used his military knowledge to dwindle the armies of Erik, making him relive the failure in Gothai. Then, in 5681, he would break through the city gates of Ebenwald, hardly secured, and storm toward the palace to capture Erik. Erik Ebenwald would be captured. In a historic moment, Mortimer Darius only took the crown of the forsaken king, and gave his first decree to Erik:
"Your blood will not pay for my father's. I only ask that you go forth."
As King of Lysandus
Being crowned King by the Dragonlords, Mortimer's first act was to renegotiate with the Dragonlords with how the government would be run. Drafting "A Constitution of Lords", Mortimer gave much of his power to the nobility in the now-reinstated House of Chiefs. Now, he would serve as a moderator and control which taxes would be given. However, he would soon regret this decision of decentralization.The Remnant of Crises
Mortimer II was faced with two crises in his reign, both left by King Erik. The first was the occupation of Gothai. Mortimer went to the King of Danen in 5682, one of the Gothai Confederation Kings who took control of Orwood and Obesfeld after the Crusade. He presented the Horn of the Danen. However, the King of Danen did not budge, finding Lysandus to be improper to rule their people. Mortimer II would lead a beaten and tired army to try several assaults on the Danen forces, but has not been able to budge. In 5684, the Knights of Black Dragon became more and more hostile to the countryside. Mortimer II placed the cities on high alert and has tried to take the tax money to arm cities. While the Knights have been driven away from major cities, they have attacked army outposts, proving to be a burden on Mortimer II's army.The Second Dragon Crisis
In 5689, the Knights of Black Dragon created an alliance with the Danen and began their assault on multiple cities throughout Lysandus, particularly Silver Town, Kirkwall, Feller's Rock, and Keller's Coast. Their leader, Lady Qenlynn Millerstone, desired to become a dragon and take over the nation. A group of adventurers, named the Dragonblazers, began to fight these villains and eventually slew dragons throughout the month of May. Thus, King Mortimer deemed the Dragonblazers as Dragonlords, commending them for their bravery. The Dragonblazers joined King Mortimer in the beginning of June at Amagus Tower, which the Black Knights and Danen had claimed. King Mortimer, with the combined forces of Bolderun Dwarves and the ghostly army of King Beorhtric, broke through the Danen and Black Dragon lines. Qenlynn Millerstone was slain by the Dragonblazers, and the army of Lysandus proved victorious. This battle was thus deemed the Battle of Amagus Tower.
Post-Dragon Crisis
Evidently, the Danen refused to leave the lands of Keller even after their decisive defeat. King Mortimer thus hired Wulfric Dragonbane, one of the Dragonblazers, to assist him. In the year 5690, they reclaimed Obesfeld, and then they led further military campaigns the next year to reclaim Orwood. By 5692, all of Lysandus' lands were reclaimed, and Wulfric Dragonbane became a "sentinel" of the land so that Lysandus would not be attacked again. In 5699, Prince Adran died of a bout of plague. The mourning of King Mortimer led his health to decline, and for his son, Prince Jacob, to start taking a greater role in governing the country. Despite this, King Mortimer II had the Dragonblazers advise him with the Council of the Round Table, and the nation saw relative peace throughout the rest of his reign. There was even an artistic renaissance started in Silver Town. Finally, in 5710, Mortimer Darius began to feel ill, and would evidently pass away in his sleep. A grand funeral was held the month after in the capitol Ebenwald, with the nation celebrating his reign and the rescuing of their nation from ruin. At the funeral, his son King Jacob and the Dragonblazers paid homage to the king. Reuel the Bard also sang a song of Mortimer II, proclaiming his leadership saved Lysandus from the verge of destruction. There he was deemed "Mortimer the Great".
Legacy
Evidently, the song of Reuel would be transferred in further works of his, becoming a penultimate legend "Will of the Dragonlords", detailing the Second Dragon Crisis and the bravery of the Dragonblazers as well as King Mortimer Darius' leadership. Unlike other kings in Lysandus' history, Mortimer Darius has very little criticism, many lauding him for the rescue of Lysandus. The only criticism he faced was the decentralizing of the nation, thus weakening the army, but even in that, his efforts led to Lysandus' borders growing stronger by leaving powerful Dragonlords in charge of their region. A few decades after his death, a statue of Mortimer Darius was erected in the city of Ebenwald, along with his predecessors, keeping his visage remembered in the line of Lysandan kings. You can still see it to this very day.Sources:
- Dynasty of the Oncetts, by Oslafa of Kirkwall. Date of writing: circa First Age 5800.
- The Chronicles of Lysandus, by Aedweld. Date of writing: First Age 5750.
- Will of the Dragonlords, an epic by Reuel the Chronicler of Ebenwald. Date of writing unknown.
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