Fawrchar I

**Fawrchar** (c. 15 AD - 83 AD) was an Altryanese political and military leader who would become the de-facto ruler of Mon Altrya from 45 AD until his death. He was the son of Levendese statesman Ardur of Ezraineges. As the fourth son of Ardur, Fawrchar left his homeland as a youth with a band of warriors and travelled north seeking fame and glory.

## Early life

Little is known of Fawrchar's youth, other than he was the fourth son born to Levendese statesman Ardur of Ezraineges. As a fourth son, he was expected not to inherit anything of significance from his father, so he left his homeland as a youth with a band of warriors and travelled north seeking fame and glory. Much of his travels and adventures have been recorded in the Chronicles of the Hammer, a book written by Hedradian, the son of Fawrchar's companion, Gaddadur.

Hedradian writes that Fawrchar's band of men had traveled the length of North and South Orentia and came by the settlement of Anderium, where they planned to camp for a number of days. The Chief of Anderium, Vadis, convinced Fawrchar to stay for the winter months and helped defend the village from raiders in exchange for food, shelter and coin. That winter saw numerous raids by neighbouring clans and Fawrchar was hailed as a hero for his heroic deeds in defending the village and Chief Vadis made Fawrchar his heir and 'Sword of Anderium.'

Fawrchar would turn the small village from a small farming community into a powerful town and gone were the days that Anderium would suffer raids, for Fawrchar's band of warriors became the most fearsome raiders in the region. By 40 AD, villages far and wide would pay protection taxes to Anderium and by 45 AD, Fawrchar was crowned King of Mon Altrya.

## King of Mon Altrya

As King of Mon Altrya, Fawrchar continued to expand his borders, defeating or absorbing tribe and clan by the dozen. So fearsome was his reputation by 60 AD, that clans would either pledge their allegiance, or migrate far away. But whilst he was a fearsome warrior, he was said to be a fair and honourable man.

In 50 AD, he founded a military camp, which quickly grew to become the important regional town and capital, Altrya. By Fawrchar's latter years, Altrya had grown almost too rapidly, with a constant influx of settlers, seeking sanctuary in the most important centre of commerce in the north. Whilst Nul-Agan as the successor to his father, was the most famous son of Fawrchar, it was his fifth son, Aldarra the Builder, who would be remembered for the successful governance of Altrya's founding years. Aldarra is said to have been born with club foot and a hunched back, but whilst his body was incapable of matching his father's heroics deeds, his brain and statesmanship were exemplary. He oversaw the design and construction of the great Hammer Hall, which would sit atop of Farran Hill overlooking the settlement, whilst five wooden spiked palisades were built atop great earthen mounds.

## Later life

In Fawrchar's later years, he had grown tired and restless of the day to day ruling and bureaucracy that went with being a King and delegated much of his powers to his sons, especially Aldarra. In 81 AD Fawrchar announced the 'Final Campaign,' an offensive military campaign to expand the eastern borders, which due to his advancing years, he did not intend to return from. Fawrchar set out at the head of his army along with five of his sons and over the next four years oversaw countless victories against tribe after tribe. It was in 85 AD that Fawrchar finally met his end in battle, and it is written that it took over twenty men to bring down the great warrior King, who fell to his knees wounded, grinning and heckling the enemy warriors had hacked and stabbed at his body.

## Legacy

Fawrchar won the warriors death that he so desperately wanted and was succeeded by his eldest son and heir Nul-Agan. His body was returned to Altrya by his sons and warriors and his death was not only mourned but celebrated. In death he would forever be known has Fawrchar the Hammer and King of Kings.