King Arelden

Andalhar (Cousin)

Baljeet (Brother)

> "I do what I must, I do what a king must do."
>
>

King Arelden is the current ruling King of the human land of Estrosia.

## Biography

Arelden was born to Anduin and Shaeza, members of the royal family of Estrosia, but was unable to take the royal throne, due to his cousin Andalhar's parents holding the throne, and Andalhar was next in succession. Instead, Arelden began his intense military training to become general of the Estrosian army, and led his own band of elite knights, The Lionguard.

When Arelden was age 16, he was deemed old enough to fight in the Estros-Plegia war, in which he befriended the Elven tactician Xul'Rathma, his future advisor. After the death of Xul's sister, Arelden became concerned for his friend, and suggested he keep a journal to get his feelings out. After Xul was captured, Arelden led the charge to free him, after three years of searching. Finally, in 807, the war came to an end, but Andalhar, Anduin, and Shaeza had been assassinated. As Arelden was the last known surviving member of the royal family, he was chosen for succession. Needing to assemble a new royal court for himself, he chose Xul'Rathma to be his advisor, unaware Xul was a sleeper agent for The Underking. When the Risen began to appear across Estros, Arelden had Xul recruit the Heroes of Palaven, who had slain Nezznar two years prior.

### Song of the Nightingale

#### Palaven Timeline

When the heroes arrived, with the bard Nightingale, Arelden told them of the plight of his people, and requested they act as his champions. Their first task was to investigate the ruins of Crow's Keep.

Days later, Arelden received word of suspicious figures sighted around the Estrosian lighthouse, and sent his champions, as well as the newly recruited ranger, Granzeid to investigate. When they returned, Arelden was angry to learn The Dark Royalty cult's leader had emerged and that he wasn't there to fight them, and was heartbroken to learn of the deaths of his people at the lighthouse, and personally wrote to their families, offering condolences. Arelden personally organized a funeral for the lighthouse workers, and left Xul to give the heroes their next assignment, which was to investigate the lost town of Alexandria. When they returned, Arelden learned of their second encounter with The Unnamed, the figure who had attacked the lighthouse. Just then, Xul entered the room, with news of the cult's leader, who had revealed himself to be The Underking.

Eventually, the Estrosian army would come into conflict with the Orcs of Taz'Rogar hold, and Arelden decided to hold a peace summit with the Orc Chieftain, Taz'Grim. Bringing his champions for protection, Arelden and the heroes climbed the Garamut mountain range, fighting cultists along the way. Arelden was challenged by Taz'Grim in an ancient duel, in which each leader would send their strongest champion to prove their side's strength and honor. Arelden sent Johnny as his champion, and Johnny won. Upon returning, having settled the peace summit, Arelden was called aside to investigate matters regarding the cult.

The next day, Xul began to wretch up, and pushed away Arelden when he tried to help. Xul, having succumbed to The Underking's influence, vanished from the castle, leaving everyone in a panic. Calling his heroes back, he gave them Xul's journal, in an attempt to find out what had happened, but at that moment, the Risen horde had arrived. Arelden sent his champions to the Cathedral of Lost Souls, while he and his guards would protect the city for as long as they could. What happened next is unknown, but Arelden was confirmed to have survived the onslaught, and was dubbed the Lion King of Estros for his bravery and tenacity in defending his people, even in the face of almost certain doom.

#### Akrenar Timeline

In this timeline, Arelden did not send for the heroes, but they came to him nonetheless, after failed assassination attempts were made on their lives by the Dark Royalty cult. These heroes, Arelden hired on as mercenaries to work for gold, rather than risk his soldiers. The rest played out about the same as Palaven's timeline, until the heroes returned from the Tower of Reflection. This time, the heroes met with Anzu first, and then proceeded to Lake Garamut. In this timeline, Estrosia did not enter conflict with the orcs, as everything was happening faster than usual. Now, when Xul disappeared, he left Arelden with the knowledge of the cultist's base. Sending the heroes there, he drew his sword, and rushed into battle. Fighting through hordes of the undead, Arelden swore to buy as much time as he could so the heroes could face The Underking. Eventually, Arelden forced open the gates of Estrosia, to prevent any more undead from entering the city, he and a group of Lionguard stepped out to face down the horde, but were instead met with The Underking, now using Xul's body. Arelden apologized to his old and dearest friend, in case there was a piece of him still in there, and rushed into battle, dueling The Underking. When it seemed the fight was lost, The Underking suddenly vanished, to lie in wait for the heroes, leaving Arelden to fight off more of the horde.

Eventually, The Underking fell, and the horde turned to dust. Like the other timeline, Arelden was dubbed the Lion King, and continued to rule Estros for decades to come.

### Liberation of Eldraine

One day, Arelden was visited by his brother Baljeet, and the new heroes of Akrenar. Implored by Baljeet to assist in the battle to retake the shores of Eldranor, Arelden agreed, gifting Baljeet the shield of their father and scimitar of their mother, as well as personally leading a task force of Lionguard along with The Nameless One and Captain Renault.

## Personality

Arelden was a member of the royal family of Estros, but this did not make him arrogant or believe his station made him better than anyone. He was kind to his people, but unrelenting in crushing anyone who would threaten them, grabbing his sword and rushing into battle when the horde attacked Estrosia. However, Arelden was impatient and annoyed by the nobility of Estrosia, as they would often come to him asking him to settle petty squabbles or offering their daughter in marriage for more power. Arelden also loved to meet heroes and great warriors, especially from other countries, and to hear their stories. Arelden might have also possessed a lot of self doubt, believing he was unworthy to lead the people of Estros, as he was more of a warrior than a diplomat, but this was overcome when paired with Xul, who was a natural tactician and knew how to talk to people.

## Abilities and Equipment

Arelden was a warrior at heart, and even when he was king still sported his heavy plated armor, and carried with him a large greatsword. He had no other special abilities, but this did not stop him from rushing into battle. In battle, he was feared by his enemies, and renowned for being an exceptional fighter, fighting through the forces of the undead that had entered Estrosia on his own while his guards protected the people, and managed to hold his own against The Underking when he revealed himself on the battlefield.

## Appearance

Arelden was regarded as handsome by the women of Estros, and the men looked up to his strength. He did not have much fashion sense, and kept his brown hair messy and long, and his beard untrimmed, giving him a rugged look, though this was offset by his polished white and gold armor, accented with green markings, and sported a long, flowing white and gold cape. On his head he wore a gold crown with a ruby inlaid in it, though he would often take this off when not in court, as he felt it was too pompous looking.