Kaulden family

The **Kauldens** are the royal family of Nordain. The Kaulden bloodline stems from King Lontan, meaning his descendants have almost always sat upon the throne of Nordain, the exception being during the occupation by Maudet in the Eighth Age.

## History

The first notable Kaulden was undoubtedly Lontan. He became Jarl of Dersoden in **5A33**. By some feat of skill or luck, he convinced the Insitute of Magic to craft him an enchanted suit of silver-white armor, which seemed to deflect both arrow and blade. He then became the first person to successfully lay siege to Erencliffe and conquer it. Following this feat, he presented himself to the Allsmeet flanked by Ashcloaks and Institute mages and declared himself king. Every lord and lady present bowed before him. He blazed through Nordain, uniting the entire land behind him as king.

Following Lontan's conquest, the Kauldens ruled Nordain for over three hundred years, until in **8A44**, the Maudesian Empire conquered Nordain and deposed the ruling Kaulden king, Bersnal son of King Arnedrin Kaulden. An Maudesian puppet king was installed on the Nordish throne, answering to the emperor in Ducailles. In the latter years of the occupation, that king was Alain Renauda, first cousin and alleged spurned lover of Emperor Maxence.

The deposed King Bersnal Kaulden unsuccessfully continued fighting the Maudesians, until his death. During the Maudesian occupation, Naranna Kaulden, daughter of the overthrown King Bersnal (commonly known as Bersnal the Defeated) inspired and led the rebellion, along with several rebel lords. She was betrayed by a group of thanes who had pretended to support the rebellion, and was murdered in **8A96**; a crime that was avenged three years later. Her head was mounted above the doors of the Royal Palace. Despite never being crowned, Naranna was well-loved and well-respected among Nordishfolk, remembered fondly as "The Rebel Queen".

Naranna's son, Baylor Kaulden, took up his mother's rebellion, despite heavy losses suffered by the rebels. He waged war alongside a skilled farmer named Ornand of Croftdale who saved his life, and Rowan, the daughter of Baron Terund Argander, and the woman to whom he was betrothed. Baylor led the army to a victory at Dhunne, and again managed to defend the town from Maudesian forces, despite the significantly reduced numbers of the rebel army. The turning point however, came when the rebels were rallied at Tolamir River, and a major victory against Maudet was won at that battle.

The rebellion successfully pushed back the occupiers for three more years, before laying siege to Dersoden, where the usurper King Alain was personally slain by Baylor atop Fort Volantus in **9A02**. Baylor was dubbed "Baylor the Savior", and was later crowned.

King Baylor married his betrothed, Rowan, with whom he had one child, Renley. Renley ascended the throne after his father was lost at sea in **9A25**, and married Rhealla Dhunne, daughter of Ornand (made Jarl of Dhunne for his part in the rebellion) who had helped to raise Renley.

## Known Members

* **Lontan the Great**
* 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