Astolfo

Astolfo, Royal Field Marshal of the United Blodn'dahl Confederation

## History

### Early Life

Eldham's first historical mentions of Astolfo were recorded shortly after the fall of the Vulperium, which shows that he was adopted into a lower-middle class Vulpur family as an infant from the streets of Vulthalla. While not much is known about his birth family, his adoptive family were very charitable towards Astolfo. It is recorded that Astolfo's adoptive family included a mother, father, older brother, and older sister. His father was a hard working merchant who would oversee air-boat shipments sent to and from Vulthalla. His mother stayed at home to help raise Astolfo and his siblings, who always seemed to get along well and would frequently play games by the harbor.

### Military Academy

At the age of 6, Astolfo was enrolled a private military academy in which he was taught rudimentary geopolitics, military strategy, swordsmanship, magic, alchemy and music. Astolfo excelled in his studies and was quickly recognized by his headmasters as a young prodigy in the art of war. Over the course of his first year at the academy, Astolfo increasingly spent more and more time in his academy's library studying other languages and reading about the other cultures of Eldham. At the age of 8, Astolfo was enrolled into a special espionage course where he would study covert operation and exfiltration after recommendation of his headmasters. At the age of 10 Astolfo, began his study of sea faring, in which he would travel to and from the island town of Celestium. During this time he would meet Maurad Al Jabbar, owner of the Celestial Trade Company and mayor of Celestium. At the age of 14, Astolfo graduated from the academy and was sent to Celestium for his first assignment.

### Celestium

Celestium was a quite bustling island town within the nation of Eros with a strategic position within the Celestial Sea. Astolfo's first assignment there was to help develop housing for the disenfranchised population of Celestium. He would create a few housing projects and even terraformed the mayor's private property. Upon seeing the quality of his work, Maurad al Jabbar would take Astolfo under his wing in a apprenticeship program. In this program, Astolfo would learn how to properly manage a town and what the weight of responsibility being a mayor actually was. After two short years in the apprenticeship, at the age of 16, Astolfo became the effective mayor of Celestium. Under his lead, new developments began including the start of a new market and a massive underwater dome for beekeeping.

### Isle Varen

During this time, Astolfo would also continue his hobby of sailing and exploring the local territories of Celestium. On one stormy night, at the age of 17, Astolfo would be lost at sea. He would eventually wash up on the shore of the secluded island of Isle Varen. He was rescued by Artemis Varen who would provide him with food, water, and shelter until the storm passed. While waiting, the two came under agreement that Astolfo would help develop the island in exchange for mining rights at Isle Varen. Astolfo happily took this offer not only because he was glad to repay Artemis for saving his life, but because he saw the potential for greatness on this seemingly desolate rock in the middle of rough seas. Astolfo would continue to visit the island and help wherever Artemis needed it.

### A.W.E. vs Eros War

Unfortunately not long after he established himself in office, the A.W.E. declared war on Eros. Astolfo had to postpone peace projects and begin the production of war materials. Using knowledge gained by his time spent in the academy, Astolfo infiltrated the A.W.E. and was able to relay sensitive information back to Eros officials regarding supply line and troop movements within the A.W.E.'s military. In addition to gathering intel, Astolfo would gather ingredients to begin mass producing war potions for the upcoming battle of Winterose. Though he did not have a combat role within the battle of Winterose, he would soon find himself at the battle of Steigenbirge with the many allies of Eros. The battle of Steigenbirge was a collective victory for the allies and would soon lead to the dissolution of the A.W.E..

### United Varen Confederation

After the success of his first ever battle, Astolfo would return to Isle Varen to deliver the good news to Artemis Varen. Upon hearing of the success that Eros and her allies achieved at the Battle of Stiegenbirge, Artemis Varen declared the creation of the United Varen Confederation with the intent of making a peaceful place for all those affected by war could seek refuge. Astolfo was made the Royal Field Marshal of the United Varen Confederation, where he advised Artemis that the newly found confederation should declare war upon the remnants of the A.W.E.. Though the Senate was split on whether or not war should be declared by the UVC, Artemis ultimately made the decision to finish off the war mongering state. Days later, the A.W.E. officially announced that they would be balkanizing and it's former territories would be returned to their neighbors in a peaceful transition of power.

### United Blod'ndahl Confederation

Following the newly found nation's first victorious war, the political leaders of the UVC gathered to celebrate. During this celebration, Artemis's mother Mel entered the meeting hall unannounced with her Blod'nd bodyguards making ominous remarks about the United Varen Confederation's relatively fragile existence in a world of hawks, looking to snatch up easy prey. Therefore, Mel came to offer Artemis a deal to merge her nation with the newly founded UVC. While not much is currently known about Mel and Artemis's discussions, the United Blod'ndahl Confederation would formally be created shortly thereafter. Though Astolfo was wary about Mel's intentions, he trusted in Artermis's decision and drank the uneasy feeling away for the remainder of the night alongside Strenor and Pluto.