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Joe Manganiello as Duke Ronan Crawford |
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Full Name: |
Duke Ronan Crawford |
Age: |
24 |
Kingdom: |
Mobrin |
House: |
Crawford |
Position: |
Knight of the Rioga, Duke of Sutherland, Royal Marshal (Commander) of the King's Military. |
Place of Birth: |
Trueborn Keep |
Father: |
Pallow Crawford (deceased) |
Mother: |
Amelia Crawford nee Ruxton (deceased) |
Siblings: |
Cedric (deceased), Caitlyn (deceased) |
Spouse: |
Duchness Roslin Crawford nee Kilgour |
Children: |
None yet. |
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Background
Duke of Sutherland, Knight of Rioga, and now Royal Marshal (Commander) of the King's Military.
Born in the year 204, Ronan was the second son of Pallow and Ameilia Crawford, and younger brother of Cedric, the elder brother of Caitlyn. When Ronan was old enough he served as page at Trueborn Keep and was later squired to the best Knight in all of Mobrin of the time, Lord Sir Connelly Kincaid, whom resided for the most part in Lakeshire when he wasn't otherwise engaged as Rioga on the King's business.
In the autumn of 223 Laniveer invaded Jadda and the rumblings of war spread south into Mobrin. By the following spring, King Callem invaded Laniveer after the execution of two of his Royal cousins. Ronan was 18 years old when he rode to war for his King with Sutherland forces. There were heavy losses on both sides including Sir Connelly.
Later that same year of 224 Laniveer invaded Mobrin and the fighting was difficult. Ronan's father, Sir Pallow, led one third of Sutherland forces in the King's name against the Laniveer. The Duke of Sutherland was slain, out flanked, and half of the Sutherland forces he had brought north were decimated. Some broke and fled for Sutherland but Ronan, newly knighted and then 19 years old, gathered all he could of his father's men and turned them for Weston. He would not forsake his King in this desperate hour and at the Battle of Westgate, young Sir Ronan Crawford and the remaining Sutherland force came to the aid of Lord Sir Roane Leask.
Ronan himself was sore wounded but alive by the time additional Mobrin forces arrived to rally the day. King Callem was so impressed with the young Crawford's tactics and military prowess that Ronan was elevated to Rioga.
In 228 when Ronan was 23 he was away in the north along Mobrin's troubled borders. His sister Caitlyn became entangled in a scandal with Prince Logan Kilgour and the couple were forced into marriage. Not long after an unknown force came by sea and sacked Trueborn Keep in Sutherland. Ronan's brother Cedric, his wife Terrwyn, their unborn child, and most everyone in the Keep was put to the sword by the invaders. The Keep itself was looted and burned ere the raiders departed.
It took long weeks before word reached Ronan in the far north - his family had been murdered and as the last direct line male of House Crawford, he was now Duke of Sutherland. Ronan rode south but by the time he arrived there was little by way of leads to chase. It looked as though someone inside the castle had let the raiders in. Who were they? Laniveer colors it is said but not all accounts agreed. That they could come against a stronghold manned by some of the best knights in all the Kingdom, destroy them utterly and get away again, it was a blow not only to Sutherland but to all of Mobrin.
Now aged 24 years, Ronan deals with his new responsibilities as Duke. He works to rebuild Trueborn Keep and to seek those who murdered his kin. The Mines in the Pine Mountains must be carefully guarded and managed, the precious Sutherland horses protected, men to be trained for war. And in the midst of all of this, Sir Ronan Crawford must learn to play politics and get himself a wife and heir.
The winter of 228 was spent in Darfield and a miserable, frustrating winter it was. Ronan butted heads in the King's Court, a bold man used to action who found himself mired in politics. Every little bit of progress he could manage would be undone repeatedly until the end of winter finally found him forging an agreement with his uncle, Duke Aidan Kincaid of Lakeshire, for the ships and shipwrights Sutherland needed that Ronan had been unable to secure from the Royal family nor through marriage. An unexpected windfall finally brought him the hand of Roslin Kilgour, the King's daughter, whom Ronan took to wife in the spring.
With the death of King Callem Kilgour, and the succession of his son, Tyrel to the throne, Ronan was elevated to Royal Marshal; Commander of the King's land military forces.
Character Features
A man with a bold eye, Ronan stands six foot, five inches tall and broad of shoulders. Black hair is finger combed out of his dark eyes most of the time, giving him a rogue's look when not. His build is that of a fighting man; stout and strong with a short beard to line his jaw. The sun and wind has weathered and tanned his exposed skin, no stranger to spending his days in the saddle and working with the blade.
Clothing varies depending upon circumstances and might be. Check in character descs.
Behavior
Ronan is a man who likes to get things done. He has little or no patience for excuses and a drive for efficiency. Trained as a knight rather than intended to become Duke, he is a man with a military mind set, a fighting man. Some think he is overly blunt, bold, stubborn and impatient. He most certainly isn't a man who is very good at the subtleties of Court politics. He is honorable, keeps his word, and means business.
Quirks
Courageous Passionate Stubborn
On the Grid
Known Associates
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Kilgour of Darfield |
Liege and Royal House to whom my own House Crawford is sworn to as vassal. This house has ruled Mobrin since the fall of the empire and my house backed them to take and hold the crown. House Crawford has many times shared inter-marriages and has strong past blood ties with House Kilgour. |
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King Callem Kilgour : I never did have the chance to get to know the King well for he locked himself away from his people much of the time that I was in Darfield. Nonetheless, he put me to a test to make marriage alliance with the Kundari and though Sutherland loathes them, I set myself to do it for Mobrin. You can imagine my surprise when the King and Queen offered me the hand of their daughter when the Kundari alliance looked to fall through. Callem attended our wedding and then was to wed the Princess Nima of the Kundari for himself. And odd twist of fate that the Gods don't seem to have approved of for our King died soon after when assassins breached the castle in early spring of 229. |
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Queen Laetitia Kilgour : A many layered, sometimes fickle, but very strong willed woman. Quite a Queen. I delt with her over the winter while her husband, the King, tended to seclude himself. She seemed intelligent enough and trying to cope with the King's strange ailment that was leaving everything hanging. It was she who arranged for my marriage and for that, no matter the troubles that passed between us, I thank her for. Her death was a very strange incident for supposedly she drowned under mysterious circumstances. |
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Crown Prince Tyrel Kilgour : He was close with my brother, Cedric ere I became Duke. Seems a capable man for the most part - though I need to know him better. I'm told he's a military man and in that I hold some hope. What little I have gotten to know him we mostly get along well enough. Yes, I was right. He is a capable man and will I think be a good King. Time will tell - he does have a tactical mind and that I like. |
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Princess Ciarrah Kilgour : I have not gotten to know her well but we got off on a good foot and I like her. She gifted me with Aberdeen wine and I her, with Sutherland wine. I've heard this former Aberdeen Princess is a good wife to our Crown Prince and has given him twin sons! Bravo and well done. She always seems to be of good heart and a fine, admirable woman. |
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Princess Roslin Kilgour : Tyrel's sister and one of Callem's youngest daughters. Sharp enough, we have become friends. She's opinionated and has some fire - that's better to me than someone who doesn't know what they think, are timid, or won't say. She's so very young, yet often seems mature for her youth. I've been drawn to her since we first met and despite my trying to keep some distance, I … find, I can't keep her off my mind. In a very strange twist, the King and Queen have changed their mind about the Kundari marriage and offered me to wed this daughter! Roslin surely would refuse me, I'm certain of it. And yet, somehow she has not… I could not be more pleased to make her the Duchess of Sutherland. |
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Kincaid of Lakeshire |
Like House Kilgour we have shared blood ties through several past marriages with House Kincaid. Lakeshire and Sutherland are also joined by trade. We do more mercantile business with Lakeshire than any other area. Southerners stick together and we have each other's backs. The Duke's children are my cousins and my own knight, when I was squire, was a Kincaid of Lakeshire. |
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Duke Aidan Kincaid : A fine man, my Uncle by marriage. His late wife was my Aunt. Many a month I have spent in Lakeshire when I was but a squire and younger noble son with fewer responsibilities. An experienced man, we share many basic beliefs in common. I look to him for advice and more recently, he promised aid to House Crawford. I have counter pledged to support House Kincaid in turn that I shall pass down to my children until it is repaid. Alas, Aidan and I had something of a falling out at Tournament when I thought he did not conduct himself honorably. He apologized later, in public at the closing ceremony, and sent me a fine axe for gift. I hope the rift between us can be mended in time. |
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Young Lord Hadrian Kincaid : Aidan's heir and many an ill thing I have heard of him. I know my cousin not well but he does seem overly brash, impetuous, and quick to anger or argument. He prefers the company of women to men as far as I have seen. Despite him being a Ranger I haven't been impressed favourably yet. I keep holding out hope that he'll straighten himself out. For the sake of Lakeshire if none else. |
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Squire Kierne Kincaid : My squire and a good lad coming into his own as a man. He's already seen battle and the uglier side of it though he was too young to do much fighting at Westgate. Nonetheless Kierne will no doubt earn his spurs in the coming war - if it doesn't kill him. He won the Sword on Foot at Duke Aidan Kincaid's tournament! Boy drinks too much and hides things from me but I know he's got a good heart. I need to find out what's eating at him though. |
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Haravean of Greenshire |
Sutherland has long gotten along well with Greenshire. We Southerners stick together and watch each other's backs. What they lack in Knights we can lend, and should Sutherland ever want for longbow men, I know Greenshire will send if they can spare them. We have excellent trade and lack only stronger inter-marriages. |
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Count Aldren Havarean : He has both a brain and a sense of humor. I think I like this Count. To top it off, he's fair with the axe and bow. If ever I can dig up my still living cousins I would be pleased to arrange a marriage with this House. As a token of friendship, I gave unto him the axe my uncle had gifted to me - I prefer the sword myself. I know Aldren and Aidan are not friendly and I did not do it to rile my uncle's wrath. I did it because Aldren knows better than most how to use an axe and in the coming war, he shall put it to good use. So long as he does not use it against any of my Kincaid kin. |
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al-Milan of Kundari |
The Kundari have long harried Sutherland with raids, brought by sea by the Laniveer. For generations there has been hatred between our peoples. My own mother died because of them and we do not forget, nor forgive, easily. |
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Rania Nima Yasmine al-Malin : Despite my hatred of the Kundari, and my outrage at my King insisting I make marriage alliance with them, this woman has surprised me. She is … nothing like I expected. She is gentle, well educated, intelligent, and Gods.. beautiful. I have steeled myself to make a match with her for the good of Mobrin but there are many concerns that Sutherland may reject her and any children she gives me. Now my King has released me from that alliance. Half of me is relieved, and yet … Gods and my ancestors forgive me, but I was starting to want the union. A most remarkable woman. Now I am concerned with whom will the Kundari ally in this war, if not with my House? |