Deryn Yearn

**Deryn Yearn** was the king of the petty kingdom of Gwen in modern-day Stiletto. He was known for his piety and religious nature. Despite his unusual ascension to the throne, he ruled his kingdom well, until he was betrayed by one whom he called friend and his lands were devastated by Stigari invaders.

## Deryn Yearn

### Aliases

"The Abbot-King""The Pious"

Petty King of Yearn

### Relatives

Kara Yearn (Daughter)Aeron Yearn (Father)

Several elder brothers

Elissed Powyes (Cousin)

### Affiliation

Petty Kingdom of Yearn
Luvi Coalition (Briefly)

## Biography:

### Early life:

Deryn was born the youngest son of King Aeron Yearn of Gwen as the youngest son of a rather large family. He was quickly shipped off to a Halmar monastery to become a monk.

He learned well the tenets of his faith and filled his mind with knowledge and ancient wisdom from his fellow monks.

His father however was a warrior at heart and was consumed with ambitions for power, having already subjugated many of the local Luvi tribes. He declared war on the neighboring realm of Luvinford attempting to take his Powyes kinsmen's crown. He would gain some early victories including killing the crown prince of Luvinford in single combat, but during the siege of the capital, he would contract a deadly disease that spread through his camp and later back home to his keep.

The sickness would turn out to be an epidemic of the infamous Green Death and it would kill most of his sons while leaving Deryn as his only heir.

### The Abbot-King:

Upon his father's death, Deryn was recalled from the monastery and put upon the throne of Gwen. Though awkward at first, he quickly got used to administrating, building many temples and schools acros his realm. He would marry the daughter of one of the local tribes and though cloistered for all his life, and thus unaccustomed to the ways of a married man, he loved her deeply and together they bore a single child, his daughter Kara.

He was also known for his peacemaking, ending the war with Luvinford and helped it’s young king Elissed Powyes to secure his throne. Later he joined Elissed and King Dyfed Deranburger of the petty kingdom of Dyzak in forming the Luvi Coalition to end the petty conflicts among their people and to fight off foreign invaders.

### Year of God's Grief:

And foreign invaders did come, specifically in the form of Ivar Harading's great Stigari invasion of 865. Quickly his brother Haestin took over the peninsula of Domaria leaving the Luvi quite worried. Deryn would advise that they ally with the battered King Arthur Peredhil of Kamalear and though Dyfed was infuriated at allying with a non-Luvi and to top it all of, one who followed the Elvanas Church, they soon marched to Kamalear's aid.

They clashed with Ivar's host at Peric's Ford where Ivar and Arthur killed each other. Ivar's horde broke up between his brothers, who each took a chunk of his territory and made their own conquests.

Unfortunately, one of those was Haestin who ruled from nearby Domaria. He set his eyes on the Luvi lands, and their coalition that would have stopped him soon came to an end. Dyfed, angered at fighting for outsiders, soon turned on his Kamalearan allies, attacking their lands, and quickly ordered the deaths of anyone not of Luvi heritage in his kingdom; Dyzakian rivers were crimson with the blood of innocent.

To stop this senseless violence, Deryn declared war on Dyfed, breaking the pact that formed the coalition. He called his friend and ally Elissed for aid in this war, but instead of hearing a reply with troops, he instead received a letter declaring that Elissed had bowed before Haestin after the coaliition's collapse and advised Deryn to do the same. Deryn however refused to simply give up his land and people to these pagan northmen. As he could imagine what would happen what would happen if he bent his knee, he refused, resulting in Elissed declaring war on behalf of his new master, showing his true colors, forever staining his name as "the Betrayer".

Deryn gathered his army and invaded the lands of Dezak and finding its capital aflame and Dyfed prepared for his last stand. This resulted in a battle between the two, resulting in a victory for Deryn who slew Dyfed and offered the surviving members of his host the chance to protect their land from the invaders.

And so Deryn with his allies and the conscripted forces of Dezak marched against the forces of Haestin and the traitor Elissed. They met outside of the village of Lazak where they made their final battle. Though the men of Luvi fought bravely, they were soon overwhelmed by the numbers and ferocity of the Stigari. In a last attempt to stop his foes, he charged against Haestin, trying to kill the warlord and scatter his host as his brother did at Parrc, but he was waylaid and mortally wounded by Elissed’s host. He was dragged from the battle by two of his remaining allies, Alfred Alderman and Gael Maddox, but soon died from his wounds with a final prayer for his people’s safety.

### Legacy:

Elissed didn’t get away with his betrayal for long; soon Deryn's daughter Kara returned with a great army which slew Haestin and brought the Luvin traitor to justice.

## Personality:

Deryn was known for his piety and wisdom in rule and life. He cared deeply for his people.

## Titles:

 Aeron Yearn
 Aeron Yearn
 Dyfed Deranburger
 Dyfed Deranburger

## Relationships:

#### Friends:

Elissed Powyes: He was close friends to the petty king of Luvinford, before his betrayal at least.

#### Rivals:

Dyfed Deranburger: He and the pagan king of Dezak hated one another despite their coalition.

Haestin Harrading: He was a bitter enemy of the Stygari warlord due to him wanting his lands.

## Trivia:

* Is based on a character Elvenkin made for a Viking Age server.