Carleon Blacktower

**Carleon Blacktower** is a descendant of Venac the Arrogant and was the leader of the Count's League.

## Biography

### Early Life

Carleon Blacktower was born into an ancient imperial house 30 years prior to the Greentide in 1391. Although his family had once been one of the more prominent houses in the empire, and had been infamous for Venac the Arrogant, one of the acolytes of the Sorcerer-King, their possessions had long been lost, relegating him to minor nobility. Although his martial skill was evident even early in his life, due to his station he was unable to truly apply himself until the coming of the Greentide.

### The Coming of the Greentide

As the orcs poured out of the mountains, he was able to rise to a certain amount of prominence after leading several successful engagements against the orcs, such as the Battle of the Silver Bridge where he was able to surround and slaughter a large orc raiding party in northern Castellyr, though none so great that he could prevent the fall of Castellyr. He, along with many other nobles, retreated with what people and forces they could gather to the fortress of Oldhaven, forming the Count's League. Whilst Carleon was not even considered for leadership due to his low rank in the noble hierarchy, he was hopeful that the League would strike out against the orcs and retake their homeland. Ultimately the League fell into infighting and decided to cower behind Oldhavens walls.

### The Long War

Disgusted, Carleon gathered what forces would follow him and began campaigning against the orcs, winning several victories over the years, though never dealing the crushing blow he needed. Attrition whittled down his army, forcing him to use more Guerrilla tactics as the years wore on. The rest of League mistrusted his ambition and disliked his low status, some calling for his execution as they believed his actions would bring the horde down upon their hideout, making him a maverick and an outcast. During his long and gruelling campaign, news continued to filter back to Oldhaven of his daring exploits, and more and more of the younger nobles began to idolise him as a hero of the Empire whilst his peers grew more and more distrustful. This state of affairs continued until Carleon, on one of his many raids into orc territory, encountered a woman by the name of Corin.

### Meeting Corin and Rise to Power

Carleon was impressed by the young woman's skill and conviction, as well as the character of her companions, and offered them sanctuary in Oldhaven. There, Corin laid out her plan to defeat Dookanson and the orcs, Carleon immediately pledged his support. The other nobles saw this as another threat to their position and used Corin and her companions as an excuse to remove Carleon, claiming that Lothane Bluetusk was a spy for the horde. Carleon stood to defend the half orc, just as the League's leaders expected, then they tried to have them all executed in a trial by combat. It was at this point that the young and military nobility of the League, who were sick of spending their entire lives behind walls whilst their home suffered, openly revolted against the League's leaders. Carleon was made the League's new leader and, when Corin called her allies to fulfil her plan, he lead the forces of the Count's League against the Greentide.