Malveus III Karthmere

Highlord Malveus III Karthmere

Malveus's portrait, painted in 302 AC

### Most known for

Being the subject of ridicule as Highlord, but also the subject of many rumors regarding theories that he poisoned his father, among others; being the father of Dalan I Karthmere and potentially inspiring in him the hate for House Dragomyr

**Malveus III Karthmere** was the Highlord of Thyllanor from 291 to 309 AC, an eighteen year reign. He is the father of Dalan I Karthmere, Tyralt Karthmere, and Malveus Landrocaster, grandfather to Dalan II Karthmere, Adrian Karthmere, Eleysiea Karthmere, Richard Landrocaster, Vele Landrocaster, Rollick Karthmere, and Allistair Karthmere, and great-grandfather to Emelia Karthmere and Richard Landrocaster's expected child.

In life, Malveus was one of the first Karthmeres who began to depise the rule of House Dragomyr. He had longed for an independent version of Thyllanor, but hadn't quite wished for it to be a kingdom. His craven personality (hence his nickname Little Lion) ensured that Malveus wouldn't ever be a threat against the integrity of the nation, although he did begin to instill these ideals into his sons. Dalan became the revolutionary, and being a polar opposite of his father, sought to restore the Kingdom of Thyllanor fully when the time came. Malveus is not typically looked at in a good light by many common folk for his personality, but he is cited by many as the indirect start of the movement that would eventually result in the deposition of Aegor IV.

## Early life

Malveus was born to his father and not yet Highlord Vicede II Karthmere on January 3rd, 262 AC. A wound inflicted from a bully using a sharp rock when Malveus was eleven left a scar on his lip that would remain there for the rest of his life. He went to the Academia Faercrest, graduating in 282 with specialization in arithmetic and history of the Five Paragons. He never wanted to be a ruler, but he knew as the only son of his father, he was going to be required to do so. He fathered a bastard child with an unknown woman in 283 AC, naming it after himself; Malveus. In 285 AC, he was betrothed to a Shorewoman named Lyssa Dorwont; they had two children together, Dalan and Tyralt. The marriage was reportedly unhappy, and they divorced with permission from the Pentarch in 291 AC.

## Reign

As a ruler, Malveus was cautious, patient, but cowardly. There was rarely a time he didn't meet a dignitary in person, afraid that he'd upset his relations with a local ruler if he didn't.

Malveus's reign was marked by little activity; he was named after his grandfather Malveus II in hopes that he would be a great diplomat and administrator like him, but Malveus turned out to be bluntly average in every field; however, he did have a penchant for guile, and was an effective plotter. Some have attributed Malveus's sketchy and nervous behavior to the fact that he knew many secrets and was simply afraid of his knowledge, or perhaps the man was far smarter than credit was given to him, allowing people to see a glimpse of a mentally frail man while he plotted in secret. Whatever the case, Malveus was not highly respected nor hated.

His father, Vicede II, died in late 291 at the age of 52 from an undisclosed illness; just two years prior, he was in good health and on the battlefield with the other Andorasi as they repelled the Meyronians in the Mournare Nights. Malveus ascended the throne not long after, and rung in the new year with a feast. It was at this feast that Malveus's submissive nature was first observed by many of his vassals, who silently mocked him. He could rule effectively, however, and so there was no real resentment for him.

He died on January 9th, 309 AC, and was succeeded by his son, Dalan I Karthmere, but not long after his bastard son Malveus returned to the front and started a succession crisis for the crown, which Dalan would win and eventually lead Thyllanor to participating in the 326 AC rebellion against Aegor IV Dragomyr.