Many factions are vying for control of Zizerax in its weakened state. You’ll choose one and take the lead in their great battles.
Leaders
Prince Magnus – Heir of the People
I never envisioned myself on the throne, but then again I never envisioned my father dying. Now I wake up from nightmares of my brother ruling this country and I know what I must do.
One of the deceased king’s three children. Prince Magnus grew up generally disinterested in the throne. Most of his time before the king’s death was spent sparring and hunting. Now that his father is dead, he is taking the idea of ruling the country seriously for the first time, not in part out of fear for how his brother would run the country were he put in charge. Magnus has the support of more factions than his brother, but is technically no the first born. Magnus is seen as the only potential monarchy who would continue his father’s plan to gradually free the serfs.
Prince Remus – Heir Apparent
What question is there about who should sit on the throne? I am first born. It is my right. It is my destiny. Zizerax shall be a compass and I will be its north star.
Prince Remus is far less popular amongst the people of Zizerax than his brother Remus, but has far more knowledge of how the country works, and has spent much time currying the favor of important figures in the church and bureaucracy. Remus has the support of high ranking officials, but generally lacks popular support. His singular interest in power and bent on aggressively increasing Zizerax’s dominance in the region has given him a tarnished reputation
Princess Alexia – The Forgotten Heir
The right to be monarch shouldn’t be decided by a birth that was two minutes earlier than another. I still draw breath. I am as much an heir as either of my brothers. And with what I learned in exile, I will be a powerful contender.
Princess Alexia was the third born of the three triplets. Knowing that the chances of her ever taking the throne were slim, Alexia quietly left the country as a teenager to study magic in a foreign land. Now, for the first time in many years, she has returned to the country. Though she came with no thoughts of taking the throne, seeing her brothers fight for it have reignited her ambitions. Though she is supported by magic users, most of the country believes a rumor that she died in her teenage years or believes she is unfit to rule because of her long absence.
Mage Queen Sera – Avatar of Turbane
I have no qualms with the people of Zizerax and no interest in their petty squabbles. I’ve come here only to insure that one contender does not see the throne. And when she’s been dealt with, I’ll return to my valley and to my people.
No one knows how old Sera is, but she has ruled her home country of Turbane for over one hundred years. She is generally considered a benevolent ruler, and is widely considered one of the most powerful mages in the realm. Turbane is distant enough to Zizerax that it has little connection, any yet, she has brought an army to its door and is demanding assurance that Alexia will not take the throne. What her connection with Alexia is, we do not know.
Aerin the Druid – Defender of the Wilds
I don’t care if there’s a war going on, or if it’s the end of days. If you burn a single branch on a single tree, I will show your armies the full power of the wilds. If you hunt in my lands, I will hunt you.
Aerin abandoned his human form as soon as he was able. For many years he has lived in the forests of Zizerax, communing with the wilds and protecting them with his life. As of late, the trouble that’s brewed in Zizerax has boiled over into his forests, and the wilds have suffered devastation from battles that spilled into them. Aerin’s defensive posture has turned aggressive as he has sought to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to the natural world.
Allysandra of Tablal’Nok – Expert Mage & Hunter of Relics
They’re here somewhere, in some hole or crypt. I don’t care how much of this place I have to dig up. I’m going to find them and reveal their true nature.
Allysandra was abandoned in the harsh Troll-lands of Tablal’nok when she was a child, but, miraculously was taken in by a mystic guild of Trolls and taught their ways. Early in her studies at the guild she read that mages in Zizerax had hidden relics of great power around the country, and her desire to find these relics has, over the years, festered into an obsession. The former king denied her entry into the kingdom, but now, with the country in turmoil, they lack the resources or organization to keep her out. She’ll fight whoever she needs and tear up as much of the country as she has to to find the relics.
Carthwas the Banished – Tactician & Traitor
Can the people really put their faith in a monarchy that falls apart when its leader dies? Surely there must be a better form of governance and surely there must be a man to lead it…
Carthwas is considered by most in his native country of Aoul to be the greatest traitor in history. He hatched a plot which, had it succeeded, would have seen the king dead and the country thrust into turmoil. His plot was thwarted and he was banished forever. He made his exile in Zizerax, where he sought the ear of the king in hopes of stirring up conflict with his home country, but, finding deaf ears, he has patiently waited for the crisis of succession, and plans to make himself a contender for the throne.
Mikel and Omari – Harmonious Diarchs of Baghan
We come to Zizerax in the spirit of brotherhood, to restore order and maintain it. We would simply like to extend our prosperity to you, and make you our special partner for years and years to come.
Much to their credit, the nation of Baghan avoided the crisis Zizerax now faces by forming a diarchy, where two kings reigned as one. Their rule has been a stable and benevolent one. But what it hasn’t seen is expansion, or, much in the way of respect from any other nations, least of all Zizerax. Now that the former king is dead and the country is in disarray, the two kings see an excellent opportunity to come in and put a king on the throne who would be more ‘receptive’ to their partnership.
Ogre Lord J’Anpa – Destroyer of Nations
Grassy country good! More for smash here! Brothers! Come and smash here!
Ogres select their kings purely on the basis of strength, and Lord J’Anpa is one of the strongest and dumbest Ogres to ever live. Through his horrible leadership, the Ogre homeland of Orgim has been reduced to ash and rubble. Now, looking for a quick solution, he has decided to trample his way to Zizerax to claim it as a new homeland for his people. How long it would last under his tutelage is a good question.
Meignar the Farmer – Hero of the Serfs
Our last hope died with the king. I’m not going to wait around for whoever takes his place to decide whether he thinks we deserve freedom. I’m going to take mine, and whoever wants to take theirs should grab something sharp and follow me.
Under the former king, Zizerax was on the cusp of freeing the serfs, but following the kings death, the likelihood of that happening has become slim. Meignar can wait no longer and won’t take any chances with the next ruler. With nothing but farm tools and an inspiring presence, he’s caused a revolt in his home county, and is rallying the serfs in other counties to join his cause. His goal: a new state where Zizerax stood, ruled by the formerly oppressed.
Mire Incarna – True Lord of the Mire
…
The blight of the Mire and the destruction is caused is one of the few events that caused the nations of the realm to band together with a single purpose. Through their cooperation and the sacrifice of The Ten Clerics, it was believed that the manifestation of Mire was defeated forever. But bodies have fallen in the turmoil in Zizerax, and for the first time in generations, some of them have risen again. Little is known about Mire Incarna, other than that his presence signals the return of a great evil.
Queen Amira of Amira – Last Friend of Zizerax
I knew the king since we were children. I never had a better friend. I’m not going to let what he built come to ruin because his children can’t be civil. I won’t let this place fall apart.
In life, the king had no greater friend or ally than Amira of the kingdom of Amira. Now, in death, she remains his greatest ally. The righteous queen has seen the situation in Zizerax and is determined to prevent the nation from falling into pieces, or into the wrong hands.
Lizardus Maximus Esquire – Gatherer of Herbs
…and before I knew it, I’d wandered 700 miles from home and had collected twelve thousand rare herbs! But it appears I’m in a war zone now, and I for some reason appear to be leading a faction in it.
He came to Zizerax just after the death of the king, completely unaware of the political situation. His only interest is in gathering new medicinal herbs to write papers about them in his home country of Lizardstan, and he’s remained almost entirely oblivious of the conflict happening around him. He has three arms because he accidentally regrew one in the wrong place, and has never dealt with it.
