The seaport of Ardivent was founded many centuries ago as a route for the
Great Northern Trade route out of Alastari going west. Begun as little more than
a cluster of shacks along the piers, it slowly grew into a bustling town which
was then christened Wi'iek, for the merchant who opened the first permanent
store there.
Wi'iek was a quick, enterprising and thrifty merchant who literally turned
around ideas about trade. He began the concept of double-entry bookkeeping,
enabling him to keep a constant jump on his competitors; he opened a private
bank for the city to counter the influx of foreign moneys, and kept a firm grip
on the local harbor, creating a series of fees and tariffs on imported and
exported goods. For many years, he virtually owned the town and most of the
surrounding area (his descendants are still one of the most influential families
in the city).
For many years Wi'iek was a wild "frontier" town, lawless in most matters but
iron-fisted in the matter of trade. It held no firm loyalties to any lord,
although it retained friendly ties with Kaltos in the bay.
Three hundred years ago, law and order began to assert themselves in Wi'iek.
Wanting to give themselves the same respectability as the kingdoms to the north
and south, the informal trade government formed a consensus and the original
Wi'iek's great grandson, Errivan, was given the title of Baron. The town had
become a city, and the city was renamed Ardivent, for the great Ardiventi River
it stood beside.
The Ardiventi Barony continued to expand east, taking into its jurisdiction
many small villages and forestry communities, finally settling the eastern
border of influence on the new, struggling town of Caer.
About this time, the Mordanti first marched against the Aruaki Clanhold.
Unfortunately, the Ardiventi Barony was in the way. The small town of Caer was
laid waste and the armies of the Barony were nearly wiped out before the Baron
broke down and called for help from the Frafrejan Emperor. In those days the
Frafrejans, though fallen from the height of their power, were still a force to
be reckoned with. In exchange for allowing Frafrejan armies to be permanently
stationed in Ardiventi territory, the Emperor formally confirmed the legitimacy
of Baron Errivan's title, and granted him several subsidiary titles which are
now borne by the heirs to the Barony. Frafrejan and Aruaki forces came south and
helped beat back the Mordanti menace. Afterwards, the Barony joined forces with
the Empire. Caer was fortified into a city.
The Baron Errivan died childless, and was succeeded by a cousin, Arin Rehinda,
thus bringing that family into power. Arin's son Tiriath was a restless, roving
man. He disappeared on his sixteenth birthday and was presumed dead for
years--however, he returned on his twenty-first birthday, bringing with him a
strange woman of obviously elven descent. She never gave any name but Aelfa
(which translates to "female elf" in the common tongue of Ardivent), and the two
were married the next year. Subsequent generations of the family have maintained
ties with the elves, and several other elves married into the family later. The
current generation of Rehindas are mostly half-and three-quarter elven, smallish
of size; commonly dark-haired.
The Ardiventi Armies are currently led by Lord General Vriil. Fighting men
and mercenaries from all over the League and some Free Cites are represented in
the infantry, and the cavalry is one of the greatest on Alastari, surpassed in
skill only by the Khalhani. The city itself, being a seaport, is fortified only
on the southern and eastern sides, with the trade route entering from the north
and exiting by the sea to the west. By and large, Ardivent has rarely considered
the threat of the Delarquans seriously; they've been friendly with Kaltos for
too long. The strength of the army is merely in answer to the call from the rest
of the League; often His Majesty Rylian sends troops to fortify the border
guard.
Rulers: BARON VRAALIAR REHINDA, the Baron of Ardivent. He is going on 60, a
hard-bitten half-elf with reddish-brown hair and dark grey eyes. Although he is
a small man (5'2") and appears fragile, he's a commanding presence. Due to his
elven blood, he appears to be a much younger man. Vraaliar is not a stunningly
intelligent man, but he is possessed of extreme cunning and a great deal of
native wisdom. He knows the ins and outs of his Barony in great detail and is
never taken in by double-talk. He knows how to rule and he does so without any
ceremony. He is loyal to King Jorian of the Aruaki Clans and of course to the
High King, but because Ardivent is so far south, he often will "look the other
way" on Delarquan/Andorian dealings. Ardivent and Kaltos have been friendly for
centuries out of necessity (they share fishing rights in the bay); the fact that
they are "the enemy" is often quietly dismissed among the rulers of both cities.
He is, and has been, married to Giarra for nearly 45 years. Their seven children
are T'yrian (44), Vriil (42), Syrria (33), T'rryil (30), Aylaiin (26), Samarra
(20), and Gionn (16).
T'YRIAN REHINDA, one-time heir to the Barony of Ardivent, gave the
inheritance over to his oldest sister. Commander of the Inner-City Guard.
T'yrian is a devil-may-care man, restless, reckless, daring. He's a crack-shot
with the bow, an excellent swordsman and a minor magician, able to communicate
with animals, cast minor fire-magics and spy on people telepathically. T'yrian
is 5'4", black hair and blue eyes, very elven in appearance. He's a quick and
brilliant thinker, strategist, and tactical commander. He is often sought for
advice by the commanders of the various other forces, including his younger
brother Vriil (who would rather die than admit it publicly).
D'AIIR REHINDA, LORD ADMIRAL. Brother to Vraaliar, Commander of the Ardiventi
Navy.
SYRRIA REHINDA, highly ambitious, definitely the better choice for the
Barony, and she knew it and went after it actively. She respects T'yrian, but
knew her frivolous brother would never be the leader their father is. She is
tallish, standing 5'7", with reddish brown hair and grey eyes, but the fine
elven features. Striking, handsome woman, but not "pretty."
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