Crimson Wayward

Crimson Wayward was the first female Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm, causing the Third Holy War. Crimson is known as the Cloud Saint and being the first person to participate in the Ten Acts of Faith tour. She died in 382 SM, after drowning herself in Grove Lake outside of the Hearts Grove.

## Appearance and Personality

Crimson was timid, quiet, and bullied as a child for her average brown eyes and upturned nose. The only thing that was different about Crimson was the bright red hair she was born with—which earned her her name.

## History

### Childhood

Crimson was born at the White Gate Fort in 328 SM. She was the only child of Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm, Durlan Wayward, and his first wife, Maylee, a commoner. Maylee died during childbirth and was buried at the White Gate Fort by Titus Myster, even though Durlan commanded otherwise.

Less than a year later, Durlan married the widowed Lady Rosaniya Myster, Titus’ younger sister. Rosaniya was married to Lord Janik Fair and had one son, Morgan, who took on her House name instead of his father’s. Morgan stayed in Bear’s Creek, traveling to Maryere several times a year. In 330 SM, Kharis Wayward was born.

Although Crimson and Kharis were step-siblings, they got along exceptionally well and became best friends, much to the displeasure of Rosaniya. To separate the two, Rosaniya shipped Crimson to Shadow’s Peak in 338 SM to become a Savant. Upset that she was away from her family, Crimson stayed in the library at the Citadel of the Owl, creating Crimson’s love for literature.

In 339 SM, Eventide, Crimson’s half-sister, was born, and Lord Durlan accepted the child into the Sun Keep to be raised as a Wayward. Upset that Durlan had been unfaithful, Rosaniya attempted to kill the child several times but did not avail. Rosaniya ultimately gave up on killing Eventide, instead pretending like the child didn’t exist.

In 340 SM, Lord Durlan called for Crimson to return to Maryere. From 340 to 345, Crimson and Kharis learned how to become Lord Protector under their father. To Crimson and Kharis, it was clear that Durlan wanted Crimson to become the Lord Protector after his death, but it was never declared.

### Rise to Power

In 345 SM, Durlan Wayward died, and Rosaniya swooped in, immediately declaring that Kharis would become the next Lord Protector. On the day of Kharis’ coronation, he banished his mother from Maryere and crowned Crimson the Lord Protector of the Mountain Realm, much to everyone’s surprise. The northern Mountain Realm houses accepted this transition of power, while the southern houses created an alliance and plotted to overthrow House Wayward.

Crimson immediately made Kharis her advisor, listening to everything he suggested. Kharis first proposed calling all houses to travel to Maryere and pledge fealty to her. Crimson agreed, and one of the first houses to accept Crimson as Lord Protector was House Seamann of Accrid. When Lord Agnim Seamann traveled to Maryere to pledge loyalty, he brought gifts of jewels and animal pelts, impressing Kharis. Kharis suggests that Crimson marry Lord Agnim. Crimson was still determining but ultimately married Agnim during the first moon in 346 SM. Nine moons later, she gave birth to her only child, Tobias.

### Third Holy War

Although the Third Holy War’s first battle didn’t happen until 347 SM, historians point to the Holy Alliance’s creation in 345 as the beginning of the war. Rosaniya, who returned to Bear’s Creek after being banished from Maryere, controlled the alliance—the alliance’s singular objective was to remove Crimson from power.

#### Attack on the Crimson Queen

In 347 SM, House Myster invited Crimson and her family to Bear’s Creek to negotiate the emerald mines that surrounded the city. Although Kharis disagreed with going, Agnim convinced Crismon to travel to Bear’s Creek, hoping to make amends with Rosaniya and House Myster. Everyone but Eventide left Maryere to stay in Bear’s Creek.

Lord Protector Crimson arrived at Bear’s Creek during the early summer moons of 347 SM. Crimson made amends with House Myster and allowed Rosaniya to babysit Tobias while negotiating with Morgan. While Crimson was in Bear’s Creek, she stayed in a cottage outside the confines of Bear Castle.

On the final night of her stay in Bear’s Creek, unknown assailants attacked her family. During the investigation, Crimson claimed that the assailants burst through the front door and immediately attacked her handmaiden and friend, Aerith. At the time, Aerith was breastfeeding Tobias, so when the assailants stabbed Aerith in the back, the sword went through her chest, ultimately striking Tobias and killing him. One of the assailants was quoted as saying, “Lady Myster said not to kill the baby.” Crimson dropped to her knees at the sight of someone murdering her son and friend. Agnim then engaged in battle with the assailants. Kharis picked Crimson up as she sobbed and carried her to the back of the cottage where a horse was grazing. Her brother then threw her on the horse and slapped its backside, causing it to gallop immediately. As Crimson got away, she watched the assailants stab Kharis multiple times, completely breaking her. An archer attempted to stop the horse, but Crimson maneuvered away from the arrows and escaped.

This disaster was named the Attack on the Crimson Queen, the first significant event during the Third Holy War. After this attack, the Holy Alliance officially declared war against the Lord Protector and began to act as a separate sovereign, with the capital being Bear’s Creek.

#### Battle of the Bear

From 347-350, Crimson plotted her revenge. After garnering military support from House Seamann and House Embrus, she marched to Bear’s Creek in 350 SM, catching House Myster off guard and destroying the city. Crimson wanted to eradicate House Myster, but her advisors warned against it, citing Bad King Rickard’s reputation. Instead, she exiled Morgan Myster to Shadow’s Peak and took Rosaniya and Morgan’s first son Divian to Maryere as prisoners, creating a ten-year peace period.

#### The Crimson Bear of Peace

In 351 SM, Crimson’s advisers convinced her to release Divian and make him her ward since she was currently childless and without an heir. Crimson treated Divian as if he was her son, and the two had a friendly relationship.

Eventide gave birth to a boy in 355 SM she named Narrik, and Crimson fawned over her nephew. In doing so, Crimson forgot about Divian’s birthday, which arrived a week later, causing Divian to resent House Wayward.

In 357 SM, Crimson heard rumors that Rosaniya was planning a coup while imprisoned, using Divian to contact Klyn Myster, Morgan Myster’s second son. Crimson arrested Divian and sentenced Rosaniya to death. Crimson beheaded Rosaniya in 358 SM, her last words being, “The bear in the creek roars louder than any golden bear in the forest.”

In 359 SM, Crimson sent Eventide to Riverhold to stay safe, believing no one would attack.

#### The Advance of the Holy Alliance

In 360 SM, Klyn Myster rescued Morgan Myster from Shadow’s Peak in response to the execution of Rosaniya. The Holy Alliance remobilized and began to take the land as they made their way to Maryere. Upset over this and after much consideration, Crimson executed Divian and her old advisors. She then named Lyari and Bemere, her handmaidens, her new advisors, and made her way to Bear’s Creek.

During the fall of 360, Klyn Myster took Riverhold and held Eventide as a prisoner. Eventide predicted this and sent her son away to stay safe. At the end of 360, the two armies met at Riverhold. Crimson demanded the release of Eventide, and Klyn demanded the release of his brother. When Crimson informed Klyn that she had executed Divian, Klyn beheaded Eventide in front of Crimson.

Crimson Wayward wailed openly at the sight of her sister’s execution and wanted to take immediate revenge. She called a battle that lasted for three days, with both sides losing many men. Her advisors preached patience and pulled back their troops.

Crimson left Riverhold at the beginning of 361 SM, telling Lyari and Bemere to create a fake agreement where the Holy Alliance didn’t cross the Embrus River. The Holy Alliance agreed to sign the Treaty of 361, also dubbed the Fake Treaty.

When Crimson reached Maryere in the spring of 361, Narrik Wayward awaited her. She was relieved that her last relative was still alive but extremely nervous that the Holy Alliance would realize the fake treaty. To protect Narrik, she shipped the boy to Embrita.

Crimson then aligned herself with the Rangers, creating the Art Alliance. She was the first Wayward to contact and support the Maras.

#### The End of the Third Holy War

In 366 SM, Crimson finally started her revenge, attacking Riverhold, Alaric’s Holdfast, and Bear’s Creek, leaving no highborn survivors but sparing all commoners. House Myster was hiding at the Citadel of the Owl, aligning themselves with the Preservers of the Cleansed Race (PCR). Aligned with House Wayward, House Tudor of Shadow’s Peak was unaware that House Myster was at the Citadel.

In 372 SM, the Battle of Heavenfield occurred, the final battle of the Third Holy War. The struggle started near Hearts Grove and lasted for over two moons. The battle, however, ended in a stalemate, and the two sides agreed to stop fighting in 373 SM by signing the Agreement of the Cleansed, effectively giving the PCR unlimited power in the Mountain Realm.

After the Agreement of the Cleansed was signed, Crimson stepped down as Lord Protector and gave the title to her nephew, Narrik Wayward.

### Ten Acts of Faith tour

There are ten acts of faith in the Chapel of the Sun and the Chapel of the Clouds doctrine: confession, justification, enlightenment, creed, penance, charity, protection, prosperity, reflection, and forgiveness.

Each act of faith lasts a year, making this form of apology last ten years. Completing the Ten Acts of Faith tour is seen as the ultimate apology throughout the world.

In 374 SM, Lady Crimson Wayward began her Ten Acts of Faith tour. Her Ten Acts of Faith tour was her apology to the Maras she betrayed by signing the Agreement of the Cleansed. Before she left Maryere, she worked with Narrik and converted the private Wayward Library into a public library, naming it the Grand Library.

She left Maryere with Lyari and Bemere and visited villages, settlements, and towns, openly confessing who she was, what she did, and what that meant for Maras. Her confessions warned the Maras about the PCR’s assault, possibly saving millions.

In 375 SM, she visited Hearts Grove and built a castle on the battlefield that ended the Third Holy War. At Hearts Grove, she gathered peasants and commoners, explaining her actions during the war - thus reaching justification. At the end of Crimson’s explanation, it is said that all the souls that died on the battlefield finally traveled to the Clouds.

Crimson visited Shadow’s Peak in 376 SM, seeking enlightenment, and the High Cyts explained why they sided with the Holy Alliance and brought the PCR into the war. They agreed that a woman should not become the Lord Protector. When Crimson countered with Queen Rayleen’s legacy, they explained that she was a Saint while Crimson was not. Crimson spent the rest of the year learning about Saints and the gods in the Citadel's library.

Crimson declared her faith in the gods in the Clouds in 377 SM, being one of the first highborn to denounce Unmos as a dark god for his actions in the War of the Gods. This declaration was revolutionary but highly accepted by the people. Other religious organizations hijacked Crimson’s ideas, once again making Crimson a political target.

She hid in Accrid in 378 SM, writing several books and poems about her prayers and interactions with the gods. She also began exploring the possibility of other dark gods and a dark world opposite the Clouds. She called this place the Underworld.

In 379 SM, Crimson documents that Lyari and Bemere brought a Volki to Accrid from the Valley of Smoke. This Volki named Olaitan explained to Crimson about the Anointeds and Saints, heightening Crimson's interest in the gods. During the summer of 379 SM, several archived sources stated that Crimson went to Accrid’s city square, stripped naked, and walked into the woods, never uttering a word.

Denying herself from her past life marks when Crimson started her journey to becoming a Saint.

At age 52, Crimson traveled with Olaitan, Lyari, and Bemere and met the Flame Saints, who ruled over the Valley of Smoke. She met Pele, the Golden Flame Saint, who agreed to train with Crimson. Having a military background, Crimson thrived under Pele’s harsh leadership, impressing the Volki. After six moons, Pele dipped Crimson in the Lava Springs, where she exited the lava unharmed, proving she had what it took to become a Saint. Pele informed Crimson to go home and continue her apology with her newfound knowledge and strength.

In 381 SM, Crimson returned to Maryere to meet with her nephew, Narrik. She explained the journey she had been on and asked for Narrick’s help in ending the massacres of the Maras, promising prosperity for the entire realm and its people. She showed this prosperity by teaching the people of Maryere ways to awaken their Art, explaining that the Arts were not something to be ashamed of but something to embrace. Terrified of the PCR and the Citadel, Narrick refuses and banishes Crimson from Maryere.

## Death

She then returned to Hearts Grove, where she continued learning about the gods. She had Lyari and Bemere find books relating to the gods that she could study. As she waited, she reflected on her life. She wrote *Eventide’s Evening* and *Cries for Tobias* during this time, two poems lauded by all the academies. After meditating, she exited Hearts Grove, walked to Grove Lake, and drowned herself in 382 SM.

The people coined Crimson Wayward the Saint of the Clouds or Cloud Saint. The Citadel was the last establishment to accept Crimson’s ascension to sainthood. Since Crimson never showed signs of being a Mara, she revolutionized what qualities are considered for sainthood.