Koucey

## Family Members

### Spouse

Deceased (died of a fever.) She’s never named, but it’s mentioned she is of House Rieran.

### Siblings

A younger brother named Remalan, who died of his injuries in the aftermath of the Boval Castle siege.

### Extended Family

Sir Cei is a distant cousin. Sir Olvey (in Koucey’s inner counsel during the siege) is also a distant relative.

### Additions

During the Goblin Wars 300 years ago, Koucey’s Great-Great-Grandsire and his forces committed acts of genocide against the Gurvani in Northern Alshar. He slew a revered shaman while under a flag of truce (an act that decisively ended the conflict and drove the remaining goblin tribes into the mountains.) For his service, Duke Parguin of Alshar rewarded House Brandmount with Boval Vale— which his family has held for generations, under the expectation that they would quell any future goblin uprisings in the area.Sire Koucey first met Minalan the Spellmonger during the Farisian war. Both their units took part in the long march down the Farisian coast, and they bonded over their shared hardship. A few years after the conflict ended, they had a chance meeting in Castal that ended in Minalan choosing to relocate to Minden’s Hall as a Spellmonger.

The device of House Brandmount is a white cow on a green field.

## Book Appearances

### Books

Spellmonger, Warmage, Magelord, High Mage, Arcanist

## History

### The Lord of Boval Vale

His ancestors participated in driving the goblins from vale, as such they were rewarded with lands and with the plundered treasure Boval castle was built. His brother, Sire Remalan, dies at Inarion after fleeing with the refugees of Boval.

*See also: Boval Vale*

## Personality and Characteristics

When his native Alshar got involved with the Farisian Conflict, Sire Koucey volunteered for duty as a matter of honor. He commanded a force of 100 Wilderlords, who were equally eager for battle. There were two major armies mobilized— one who were to arrive by land, the other by sea. Like Minalin, Sire Koucey and his men were chosen to go by land, which proved to be unimaginably perilous in every way. Those who marched with him saw him as an example of “true noblility,” when compared with the behavior and disposition of the other Knights on the long march. During some of the worst experiences a man can endure, Sire Koucey remained optimistic and encouraging throughout— keeping morale up as best he could.

Koucey proved courageous, magnanimous, and friendly to everyone— and did his level best to meet the needs of the soldiers under his command; though he had very few resources to work with. Despite losing a third of his Wilderlords, he acquitted himself well, with far fewer casualties among his men than most.

## Summary

Sire Koucey was Lord of Boval Vale until shortly after the Gurvani invasion. He first met Minalin during the war in Farise. Both take part in the long march down the Farisian coast, part of a force of 6,000 designed to draw attention away from an attack by sea. Unlike Min, Koucey was a volunteer in the war effort, and he led a unit of 100 Wilderlords through hundreds of miles of wild, unforgiving territory.

Despite being terrorized by plague, disease, harsh weather, and random attacks, Koucey kept a positive attitude— encouraging his men and others to endure the hardship the best they could. He was one of very few Knights who didn’t constantly complain, despair at the poor conditions, or balk at the lack of food and medicine. His good humor, paired with his ability as a well-loved, competent war leader (and talent for drinking) earned respect and even admiration in Minalin’s eyes. Throughout the entire ordeal, Koucey kept his troops organized and as healthy as was possible— though a third of his men perished before reaching the city of Farise, he did his absolute best to keep them going.

After the conflict ended, he and Minalin went their separate ways— but fate, fortune, (or the luck of the gods) intervened, and they had a chance meeting 3 years later. After reminiscing of old times, Koucey invites Minalin to settle in his small domain of Boval Vale. Nestled among the Mindons mountain range in the northernmost point of Alshar, Minalin pays a visit— and finds a picturesque, happy fief that has flourished under House Brandmount’s benevolent guardianship. Enchanted, he settles in Mindon’s Hall and, with Koucey’s blessing, opens up shop as a simple village Spellmonger.

### Spellmonger

Sir Cei, Koucey’s castellan and distant cousin, faithfully cared for House Brandmount’s domain while most of their Knights were in Farise. He is in charge of supply and organization during the siege of Boval Castle and, though that position hardly makes him popular, he executes his charge admirably! (Minalin credits their survival to Cei’s stalwart dedication to duty.)

During the Seige of Boval Castle, Koucey starts off leading with the competence and dedication that Minalan expected of him… but, as time passes, his demeanor begins to slip. Whether caused by stress, magic, the circumstances of their situation, or some combination is never directly addressed, but slowly— Sire Koucey’s previous air of calm confidence lapses into belligerent outbursts and sudden hesitation to act. Part of this change is due to Garkesku— who begins bending Koucey’s ear in a (shortsighted) bid to turn him against Minalin for his own benefit— and another part is due to the arrival of so many new allies who are far more loyal to Minalin than Koucey himself. They may have turned a previously hopeless situation into a chance for survival (and potential escape.) To Koucey, it’s a death knoll for his once prestigious role as Lord of Boval Vale— and a signal that he failed to live up to his ancestral duty.

At his worst, Sire Koucey dissociates completely, and forcefully rejects the reality of their plight. Instead, he jovially moves about Boval Castle, chatting amiably with his baffled subjects as though they’re not all a hair’s breadth away from a tortuous death. Meanwhile, the Gurvani are becoming more aggressive by the day, the Old God is quickly approaching their position, and the tensions forming in such a brutal environment are boiling over. Rather than boosting castle morale, his manic descent into madness leaves the Bovali peasants confused, and unsettles those who know him best.

As the situation spins out of control, Koucey’s paranoia finds fertile soil, and he sees traitors at every turn. In the midst of his breakdown, Koucey culminates his mismanagement of the situation by arresting Pentendra. Ostensibly, her arrest is for refusing to submit her troops and personal guard to the Lord of Boval Castle for disposition— but in reality, it was a bit of political maneuvering by Garkesku that convinced Koucey to hold Penny, chiefly as ransom against Minalin’s good behavior.

Pentandra’s arrest proves to be a turning point in the siege, and Minalin is forced to stage a peasants revolt against Sire Koucey. Minalin sees it as the one way to take charge of what diminishing chance for survival they have left— Koucey sees it as confirmation that Garkesku was right about the Spellmonger.

After Koucey is deposed, he seems to reclaim a bit of his usual self. He proves quite helpful and —indeed— seems almost relieved he is no longer in charge. After Penny is released from her cell, she and Minalin (along with Gurkarl) speak to Sire Koucey, who tells them of the existence of a sacred Gurvani cave —The Cavern of Karumala, an unparalleled site of spiritual significance to goblinkind— which lies directly under the castle their foes are currently laying siege to.

Minalan finally gets some much-needed explanations, and things fall into place for him. With this new knowledge, he and the other magi form an unorthodox (but surprisingly effective) plan for escape. They successfully relocate the Bovali out of harm’s way, before mounting their own escape effort.

Instead of fleeing with his people into a life as a refugee, Koucey chooses to remain behind. It is an old man’s final, foolish bid to defend his homeland and die gloriously in battle— and, unfortunately, it backfires spectacularly.

Before the magi take to the road, Koucey, former Lord of Boval Vale, entrusts Minalan with several items of importance: the disposition of two family heirlooms, the deeds to Boval Vale and his other properties, a large box of tax and tribute money to aid in the resettlement of the Bovali, and the family jewels and signet ring of House Brandmount. He also bids Minalin to give Count Olode of House Rieran a letter and an heirloom belonging to his wife’s family. In an uncommon show of vulnerability, Koucey apologizes for his actions and begs the Spellmonger to take care of his people in his stead. Min agrees to try, and in the years to come, he does his best to live up to that promise.