Beltram Ventis

Disputed Duke of the Upper Bloodwine and Count of Palevine and Greenfield, Beltram Ventis was a war hero of the Battle of Elderlan during the War of the Sorcerer King. Originally arranged to marry Morganne sil Kyliande, his betrayal when she instead fell for Alvarion Duskwatcher was the last straw for him to begin resenting the elvenization of Lencenor.

Once lovers, the Beltram and Morganne have become bitter enemies since that fateful day. From a young age they walked the vinyards and of the Upper Bloodwine together and grew to love each other as they became adults. Beltram was of the Ventis, vassals of Morganne’s family, and was trained as not only the heir of his lands but also as a valiant warrior.

Since the arrival of the Remnant Fleet carrying the elves in 1000, Cannor has changed, the Upper Bloodwine not spared of that change. The Lorenti began to adopt the culture of the Elves, and as Beltram and Morganne grew up their two families drifted apart from the change. Morganne’s family emulated the elves, while Beltram’s remained proud of their Lorenti culture. Despite the growing gulf between the families, Morganne and Beltram were bound together to strengthen the dynasty: in case of death leaving one of them as head of the family, they were to be married.

Growing up during the War of the Sorcerer King was a tumultuous time: their parents told them of a great battle upriver at Lorentaine in 1000, spooking them by saying the Bloodwine turned the same color as it’s namesake. Beltram’s father was present during the battle and was celebrated as a hero, but it is known that there would have been no heroics were it not for the arrival of the Elves. Beltram yearned to follow in the steps of his father, and in 1018 at the Battle of Elderlan. The League of Free Realms had broken through the White Walls of Castanor and was on its way to Castonath when it was met by a fierce attack that almost resulted in a rout. Beltram rallied his Lorenti kin against the Black Castanorians and won the battle, but in the aftermath found his father dead. He returned home to Lorent to find his mother had expired to disease.

Morganne ruled the Upper Bloodwine for nearly two years before Beltram arrived home in 1019. A bittersweet celebration was planned, for as the survivors of their family they were to be married. The marriage was planned to happen on the first day of 1020, until then they had ruled jointly the duchy of Upper Bloodwine. Morganne was apprehensive about the return of Beltram: he was different from the boy she fell in love with, mean and resentful. She also felt threatened that her rule over the duchy was questioned by her betrothed, when before she could make her own decisions. Meanwhile the war was approaching its end, with more of the Lorentish men returning. Among those who arrived at the court in Kyliande was a beautiful Elf by the name of Alvarion, on the very eve of the wedding. The bride walked through the moonlit gardens that night and glimpsed the tall figure tending to a rose; Alvarion handed that rose to her. Before the evening was over Morganne had fallen for the enchanting Alvarion. And Beltram snuck to her chambers in the night before the wedding and saw the two.

Beltram knew what this was all about: the elves thought they could steal their land, and now even their wives! If they are so much better than us, then how has our land grown and prospered without them? Why should he let his land be overtaken and the legacy of my father be squandered by this foppish elf and his fancy mannerisms?

Beltram left Kyliande for his home of Palevine and restored rule over it for himself. He proclaimed far and wide of Morganne’s betrayal and of his claim to the duchy, for she was the one who broke the pact created by their parents that had promised their marriage. Many in the duchy agreed with his words and flocked to his banner, having followed him in the war or being disgruntled with the elves, but many pledged loyalty to Morganne as the duchess of the Upper Bloodwine. She claimed that the duchy was her birthright as daughter of the late duke, and that as ruler of the duchy she had full authority over whom she could marry.

The Queen-Regent Ioriel has so far mediated the peace between the quarrelling couple. The two sides have fortified their holdings over the Upper Bloodwine, almost clearly separated between the old Lorenti and the elven-aligned Lorentish. The duchy would have been split were it not for Beltram’s pride and rage: for he had insulted the Queen-Regent’s son Rean, calling him a halfblood bastard. Although she resents this biting remark she cannot take immediate action, for his claim is as valid as Morganne’s and his popularity as a war hero.