Ellavaine
Last Queen of Rhone | The Crusader Queen
Last Queen of Rhone | The Crusader Queen
Queen Ellavaine Rhuanon
Queen Ellavaine is the last known descendant of the direct line of Rhuanon. Her father, Prince Ariam passed away when she was only three years old. At that time, her grandfather, King Tharyion, still ruled in Rhone. When he passed, a Regent held the reins until Ellavaine reached the age of inheritance at 17 in 5BL.
Queen Ellavaine's reign was unremarkable as most of the kingdom rejoiced at the return of a descendant of Rhuanon to the throne. There were few, if any, crisis that arose and the kingdom coasted on the strong example set by the Regent over the earlier years. Queen Ellavaine was a bright and attractive young woman who had little true counsel in matters of statecraft, alliances and marriage. She became involved with a northern knight, a member of the guard, and brought him into her residence. This caused much gossip but most folk tended to wave away such 'youthful indiscretions'. It was not until 3BL, when she brought into her service a half-blooded self-proclaimed seeress, that the Queen took an active interest in her kingdom and the activities of the High Church.
In 3 BL, the Queen, who had brought the seeress into her deepest confidence over the past year, started speaking of the PROPHECY and her role in it. While the High Church had often questioned its authenticity, the Queen had scholars from all over the Westlands poring over it with the aid of her seeress. It was not long before Ellavaine came to believe that she was this 'Bright Star' that would put an end to the Black Moon for all time.
In 1 BL, she gave a royal announcement that the Enemy of Man lay across the Eastern Waves and vowed to lead the Crusade that would end the threat for all time; ushering in a Golden Age as prophesied. Most skeptical voices were simply drowned out by the applause and admiration. A Crusade that was worthy of the knights of Rhone, the masses shouted. The call went out and it seemed that all were caught up in the fervor.
The people of Rhone were driven beyond inspiration into almost a fever pitch of readiness and volunteerism for this Crusade. This was only heightened when the Queen revealed that she was carrying a child that would continue her line and, one day, sit upon the throne as their sovereign. While there were some who pleaded with the Queen to await the arrival of the child, for succession as well as health reasons, the Queen referred them all to the astrological calculations that had determined the departure date of the Crusade if they were to be victorious. There was no dissuading her.
In the year we now know as 0 BL, the Queen and the majority of the knightly and warrior class of Rhone began their march to the Eastern Shore where royal messengers and emissaries had already procured the building of a massive fleet of vessels to carry them across the misty, turbulent waters of the Eastern Waves. The Crusade was joined by warriors, knights and smallfolk from every land that they marched across as if the inspiration and fervor were a contagion.
On a rainy day in the Autumn of 0 BL, the last glimmer from the last ship's lantern of the Queen's Fleet disappeared into the ever-present mists that bedevil the wide expanse of the Eastern Waves. And the years began to pass and the throne sat empty...
Queen Ellavaine's reign was unremarkable as most of the kingdom rejoiced at the return of a descendant of Rhuanon to the throne. There were few, if any, crisis that arose and the kingdom coasted on the strong example set by the Regent over the earlier years. Queen Ellavaine was a bright and attractive young woman who had little true counsel in matters of statecraft, alliances and marriage. She became involved with a northern knight, a member of the guard, and brought him into her residence. This caused much gossip but most folk tended to wave away such 'youthful indiscretions'. It was not until 3BL, when she brought into her service a half-blooded self-proclaimed seeress, that the Queen took an active interest in her kingdom and the activities of the High Church.
In 3 BL, the Queen, who had brought the seeress into her deepest confidence over the past year, started speaking of the PROPHECY and her role in it. While the High Church had often questioned its authenticity, the Queen had scholars from all over the Westlands poring over it with the aid of her seeress. It was not long before Ellavaine came to believe that she was this 'Bright Star' that would put an end to the Black Moon for all time.
In 1 BL, she gave a royal announcement that the Enemy of Man lay across the Eastern Waves and vowed to lead the Crusade that would end the threat for all time; ushering in a Golden Age as prophesied. Most skeptical voices were simply drowned out by the applause and admiration. A Crusade that was worthy of the knights of Rhone, the masses shouted. The call went out and it seemed that all were caught up in the fervor.
The people of Rhone were driven beyond inspiration into almost a fever pitch of readiness and volunteerism for this Crusade. This was only heightened when the Queen revealed that she was carrying a child that would continue her line and, one day, sit upon the throne as their sovereign. While there were some who pleaded with the Queen to await the arrival of the child, for succession as well as health reasons, the Queen referred them all to the astrological calculations that had determined the departure date of the Crusade if they were to be victorious. There was no dissuading her.
In the year we now know as 0 BL, the Queen and the majority of the knightly and warrior class of Rhone began their march to the Eastern Shore where royal messengers and emissaries had already procured the building of a massive fleet of vessels to carry them across the misty, turbulent waters of the Eastern Waves. The Crusade was joined by warriors, knights and smallfolk from every land that they marched across as if the inspiration and fervor were a contagion.
On a rainy day in the Autumn of 0 BL, the last glimmer from the last ship's lantern of the Queen's Fleet disappeared into the ever-present mists that bedevil the wide expanse of the Eastern Waves. And the years began to pass and the throne sat empty...
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