Lontan Kaulden

**Lontan Kaulden**, also known as **Lontan the Great**, was the man who united the Drahanim tribes into a single nation, and was the first King of Nordain.

The Kaulden bloodline stems from Lontan, meaning his descendants have almost always sat upon the throne of Nordain, with the exception of the Maudesian occupation during the Eighth Age.

## Background

Lontan was born in **5A10** as the third son of a Seaworth merchant on hard times. He was sent as a squire to Ser Gromard, a distant cousin of Lontan who was a knight in the service of Baron Jorcch. At that time, wars of unity took place often in Nordain, with many barons and jarls constantly fighting in order to determine who would prevail and become the first king of the nation. One day, Baron Jorcch was besieged in South Hill by the forces of Baron Myrddin. Myrrdin called Jorcch out to parley, but Jorcch sent Lontan to impersonate him in his stead. Myrrdin intended to kill Jorcch during the meeting but Lontan disobeyed his Baron's orders and revealed his true identity. Myrddin was impressed by Lontan's courage and honor and asked him to become his own squire. Lontan refused on the basis that since Myrddin intended to betray the right of parley, he was no man of honor. Eventually, Lontan was permitted to return to the castle before Myrrdin launched his final assault in which both Jorcch and Gromard were killed. Myrrdin himself, however, was bested by Lontan in single combat. Lontan spared Myrrdin and in turn Myrrdin swore himself to Lontan's service. The lands of the late Baron Jorcch were given to Lontan and he was named a Jarl.

The following years Lontan won victory after victory and more allies flocked to his banner including Avenarn, the famed mage and former consultant to Baron Jorcch who became Lontan's chief advisor, his faithful squire Ser Istann, and the legendary warrior Lady Furwen, both of whom became close friends of the future king. By **5A33**, only Kvesgar, the infamous Jarl of Dersoden stood in the way of Lontan. At Avenarn's suggestion, Lontan went to the Umbradal Forest to recruit the Ashcloaks to his cause, but when he returned he also brought with him the Templars and Institute mages. The Institute also crafted for him a silver armor which repelled both arrows and blades. According to legend, Lontan's armor was crafted using the waters of the lake located near Droskyn Hold that allegedly possesses magical properties. The myth claims that as long as Lontan stood on Nordish soil, he could not be wounded.

Avenarn was outraged that his friend would betray him by what he saw as condoning the oppression of mages, since Lontan made contact with Ministry, inviting it into the nascent Kingdom. Avenarn chastised Lontan for allowing the Institute to be put in control of the mages. He soon left in a fury. In spite of Avenarn's absence, the battle against Kvesgar was a victory. Jarl Kvesgar nearly killed Lontan but Lady Furwen saved him and killed Kvesgar, though was greatly injured in the process. In the 33rd year Lontan became the Jarl of Dersoden. Later on, Lontan moved through the Thaneholds and successfully laid siege to Erencliffe Castle; becoming one of three men who was able to do so. Unopposed by the year **5A42**, Lontan convened a Allsmeet and was crowned as the first King of Nordain with his wife Aelareid, the daughter of Baron Myrddin, as its first Queen.

The peace did not last however as Lady Furwen, who had secretly been in love with Lontan, seduced him, allegedly with a love potion given by a witch which was later revealed to be Kvesgar's sister. Queen Aelareid discovered them and fled to Myrddin who threatened to revoke his support and spark a new civil war. Lady Furwen confessed to Lontan that she had manipulated him with forbidden magic, but Lontan still refused to have her executed, infuriating Myrddin. Lady Furwen, against Lontan's instructions, went to Queen Aelareid to plead for peace but was slain by Myrrdin. Lontan regretfully challenged Myrrdin to a duel and slew him to avenge her death, sparking outrage amongst the other barons and nobles. As the threat of a new civil war loomed over the young kingdom, Lontan issued a proclamation abdicating his throne to his unborn son whom Queen Aelareid was carrying and would eventually begin the Kaulden Dynasty in earnest as King Rorlan I. After that, Lontan vanished, never to be seen again. Supposedly he tracked down Knudgrim the Elusive, Avenarn's last apprentice and convinced him to reveal where his old friend had gone and then went in search of him. Neither Lontan nor Avenarn were ever seen again.

The Ministry named Lontan one of the Anointed in **7A88**.

### Orcimar Interpretation

The Orcimar have their own version of Lontan's rise to power. Like the Morgaean historians claim, he was born in destitution, being a common dog handler, with no real strength. But he was always ambitious and struggled to gain knowledge that might bring him power. He made many bargains to trade stories upon stories, until at last he gained from a certain scribe a powerful secret that he would use as payment to a certain witch, that would start him on the path to power. The witch led him to a cave where a Great dragon lay dying. Lontan used his dagger on the ancient creature and drank some of its blood, gaining new strength that made him undefeatable in battle. A measure of this strength was passed on within the Kaulden family from that time onward, and it allowed Lontan to conquer all of Nordain and establish his bloodline as royalty, which would endure into the Ages.

## Known Descendants of Lontan

* King **Rorlan I**
* Queen **Fionne Kaulden**
* Aelaide Drysdale and her descendants
* King Gauren Kaulden
* King Arnedrin Kaulden
* King Bersnal the Defeated
* Naranna the Rebel Queen
* King Baylor Kaulden
* King Renley Kaulden