Duke Aidan Romyn Kincaid III - The Tales of Daeren

Aidan was born in the year 182, to the relief of Duke Daemon and his wife, Duchess Asrella. Although he did not know it, he was the source of peace in the House Kincaid when he was born. By his appearance in the world, his father could relax from having to constantly defend his title from those of his own House greedy enough with ambition to challenge it. Aidan would be subsequently followed by four more brothers and two sisters, securing their linage for decades to come.

Due to being the Heir of the Household, Aidan wasn’t granted much time for child’s play as it were. He was raised on a strict regime of education and training, having some of the best mentors in Mobrin at the time help him with his studies. By age seven he had a real sword in his hand and by the time he was of age to squire, he was sent to the Royal House. There he served as a squire until he is recalled by his father.

When he arrived back home, he found out that he had been betrothed to a girl from House Crawford. Even at such a young age, when he first saw Isys, he had no problems with his betrothal. She was a beautiful girl and he was grateful to his dad for the arrangement.

Over the course of the years, he would be at his father’s side, learning the demands of the position and the needs of being a strong leader. He became aware of the personalities in his family as well as the connections House Kincaid had with the rest of the great Houses as well as outside sources, considering the Duchy was heavily reliant on trade.

In 198 2E, an ambush against his father proved to be a difficult battle to survive indeed, but Aidan proved that all those years of demanding training paid off when he saved his father in the throes of battle. He was recognized for the deed once they had retreated to safe ground. He was knighted shortly after. Aidan would grow a reputation from this point onward of being an amazing swordsman, ruthless in the heat of battle.

Only a couple years after saving his father from such an ambush, Daemon became ill in year 200 2E. He died not much longer after taking up ill, despite the best attempts of the healers. There was idle suspicion that poison might have been involved and once again, the Kincaid succession had taken place. Aidan was distraught at his father’s loss and for the first year in his reign as Duke, his three uncles constantly bombarded him with advice and action plans. He was lost without his father and fell into the trap of doing what he was told.

Had it not been for the strong marriage to Isys Crawford, he would’ve remained a puppet to his uncle’s demands. She literally slapped the sense into him and shook his world, turning it upside down, or maybe right side up. He was the Duke. He had to stop mourning his father and get on with being a Duke. She was right of course and he became to understand the depths of his uncle’s influences. It would be a long delicate struggle to reassert that he was in fact the Duke. He became extreme in some instances, becoming calculated in the ways that he would unravel himself from around their fingers and instead wrap them around his own – all the while his young Crawford wife would be encouraging him.

It was around the time that he produced an heir to the duchy with Hadrian, that Aidan really started to shine and show his power. He forced Hayton into retirement, for one. It was over the matter of the Rangers and it had almost been because of Hayton that Aidan nearly exiled ‘Rangers’ from his lands forever. Advice from his wife, uncles, and other members of the family persuaded him against the idea, even so, the fact that he had such authority as to hang men or threaten to disband their order made his statement loud and clear. He was the Duke of Lakeshire – no one else.

Aidan and Isys would have three more children, Aemys, Bowen, and finally Lynette. Aidan, while he was strict and demanding of the boys, would often spend a little more affection on his daughters. Even so, when it seemed that Aemys was getting out of control, he married her as fast as he could and to the best House he could secure for her – Ruxton.

Hadrian would get the brunt of Aidan’s method of training, the very same in which his father used to shape him. Hadrian was weak though and would break to the methods. It infuriated Aidan to no ends that his Heir was a fragile and pathetic boy. As he did to his uncle Hayton, he shuffled the boy off as soon as he could. And as if to slight the boy’s fragile nature, he sent him to the Rangers rather than to squire with a great House – against his uncle Peterson’s advice. Even his wife could not stir him from this course.

Bowen was not necessarily a success either. He was too aloof from matters of importance and while Aidan sent him to squire with the Royal House, as he once squired there, he worried that the boy would be nothing more than a fool.

Lynette was the baby of the House and she could do no wrong in his eyes. Except for all her stealing away to ride horses like a man. Despite his best efforts, he could not keep the girl walled up for long. Like her sister, Aidan is on the watch for marriage opportunities for the girl before her wild side will get the best of her.

Through wars, battles, politics, economic losses and gains, Aidan was never exactly prepared for the day that his lady wife would lose her life. She had become pregnant again, much to his surprise. It had been a dangerous pregnancy from the get go, even the doctors had said as much and secluded her to the bed for the last two months of her pregnancy. Despite that, her body could not put out to bare another child. Something went wrong and she lost her life and that of the baby within. While Aidan is often seen as a stern figure, he was nothing more than a wailing child when she passed. He would wear black for two more years, until his own daughter gave birth to two healthy babies. Only then did Aidan take off his black and leave the memory of his dear wife behind.

While he became exceedingly more intense and demanding in those two years following Isys’s death, the Duchy flourished. Only the threat of war has him calling in the banners and securing the borders of his land, while he makes for Darfield. While there are certainly matters of war to address, personal matters, such as having three unwed children and being unwed himself, are hopefully in the cards to play. Afterall, he’s not entirely sure he can trust either of his sons to take over once he’s gone.

"You are a man of strong feelings, sir. You don't develop feelings easily or often, but when you DO feel, you feel with the intensity of a Kundari sandstorm. You feel hard. Fast. Dominant. But… those feelings are hard to see through. The sand gets in your eyes, sir."
- Oxley Crawford

Behavior

Aidan is known as an driven individual. He's a respected academic mind and an economic leader in the lands of Mobrin - this is due to his quick and calculated actions, such as jumping on the Chocola opportunity before anyone else did. Men that do well by him earn well and live well - except the Rangers, those rumors of men being under paid here could be true. He pays his dues to those who pay their fealty - perhaps he believes the Rangers have quite a bit of debt in that regard.

He is strict when it comes to pushing his sons to meet his expectations, being particularly harsh with his eldest, Hadrian. In the same breath, he is an educator. He teaches his son's and the rest of the family to be smart about everything they do and often encourages openness with one another so that they can all benefit from one another's opinions on certain matters or circumstances. Still, Aidan does not tolerate foolishness or risky behaviour. Aidan is a perfectionist and a protectionist.

On the bright side, he does laugh! And behind closed doors, he has an affectionate heart for his family. His sons may never know it, but he is proud of them. It's the same as how his father treated him, affection was from a distance so to harden the man his sons had to become. He does dote on daughters, though generally out of sight of those who look up to him as a leader. He becomes less serious in their presence and at Aemy's announcement of having two healthy babes, he sent her a care package from Lakeshire and intentions to visit as soon as he can.

He's also a very passionate man behind closed doors, becoming quite the Casanova none would ever suspect him to be. He treated his wife like a goddess and should he ever marry again, it's easy to say he will afford her the same care. He craves such companionship - witty banter, playfulness, affection, laughter and relaxation - something he equates with his loving partner. He doesn't do well at being single and the two years since his wife's death have proven as much. A woman's touch seems to temper him if not guide him. He did not show much physical affection in public, beyond what was expected - a dance, a kiss to the cheek, a 'my wife' or my dearest…

This too, seems to come from his father's teachings. In public it is a matter of business and propriety. Behind closed doors, his heart is his own.
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Quirks

Addicted to Chocola - Since Aidan became a quick importer of Chocola at the onset of it's discovery, he's developed a taste for it. He starts or ends his day with a cup of Chocola.

Bad Music Unnerves - Any sort of butchery to song or music grates his nerves to the point that he will lose his temper or remove himself from the performance, his disapproval always HEARD loud and clear. He's been known to smash instruments or abruptly interrupt a singer if the music is off key or terribly sung.

Falconer - Aidan began his interest in this field when he was squired to the Royal house. He has since kept it up and only has one bird at a time, tending to not train another until the current is deceased or he has freed it. Currently he favours a small female red kestrel. He always has the bird with him when the opportunity is given, typically on long rides or hunts.

Academic - At 17 he became the Duke of Lakeshire, which meant that he spent a vast majority of his time learning the economy, politics, warfare, history, science, law, religion and various philosophies. He's regarded as a highly academic individual.

Superstitious - Kincaid's are very superstitious and following family superstitions, he believes in Kincaid Chess as well as the Guardian of the Lake. The lucky charm he keeps in his pocket, is an example of his superstitious beliefs. During the last chess game he played with his father, before Daemon was poisoned, Aidan won his first ever chess game against his father and Daemon placed his 'Fate Piece', a knight, in Aidan's hand. He was told never to forget the power that a knight has. That piece remains in his pocket and several times during the battles he has seen in his life, a knight has been there to deflect a mortal blow that would've struck Aidan down dead. He doesn't let it out of his sight.

Parental Alienation - Parental alienation is a social dynamic, generally occurring due to divorce or separation, when a child expresses unjustified hatred or unreasonably strong dislike of one parent, making access by the rejected parent difficult or impossible. Parental alienation is seen as a breakdown of attachment between parent and child. In this case, the break down is between Hadrian and himself, to the extent that Aidan can sometimes make frustrated statements about his eldest son to the point of public disapproval. He cannot get through to his son and thereby is not confident in Hadrian's abilities. He is looking for alternatives to seeing Hadrian as the future Duke of Lakeshire, trying to find excuses to bestow the honour on Bowen, one of his brothers, or with a third son (should he be able to marry and produce another).

Kin

My Heart's Song : First time I saw her, she took my damn breath away. I felt like that young knight again seeing a queen for the first time, asking Robben who she was. It wasn't until the Queen passed that Nylie came to my doorstep, asking me for help but instead, as it turns out, helping me by providing me tea leaves to sleep off my illness - an illness of the heart as it was then. My Queen, passed away suddenly, and without much of an upset to the rest of the world. It seemed as if I were the only one who had loved her and so, the sickness of my heart drove me to restlessness. Nylie provided me the cure. A cure that inspired me to write her back. And those letters… they helped. I asked her to meet me for a day together and from there, it wildly spun into a reality that I couldn't even dream of. Our garden escapades did not win me the like of her brother, but it endeared me to her and I couldn't help myself but to bend a knee and propose. My lady accepted. And she has wrapped herself around what I have left to give, my soul embracing the hope of our marriage and the happiness I found in those letters. We're MARRIED! Haha, cease the day! The Gods did not strike me down dead before we could wed! We finally got to embrace as man and wife and how she turns me into a young man every moment I am with her. I fear I cannot keep my hands off her for too long, as if one day I will awake and she will be just a dream. She is my dream, what I always dreamed of. I have her now, as wife, as lover, as partner, as my everything. Yet, she is hurting. Her sadness is my sadness. Her cousin's death, my King's death, has taken a piece of her that perhaps one day I can hope to restore. I love her so, if only I could just block out the world's need for war and tend to my wife… I fear she will long my absence should I need to fight…

Rest Peacefully My Love : Isys Kincaid nee Crawford was my first wife. I married her at 18. My father arranged it, when he realized my eye was wandering to a woman that would never be mine, but instead a Kilgour's. Isys proved to be a devoted wife and saw me through some of my darkest hours, to which I would eventually come to love her for. She gave me four wonderful children and died attempting to give me a fifth. She was a Duchess the people will miss, but I think my children will miss her more. She died in year 226 and it took me three years to mourn her loss. But finally, I feel with my marriage to Nylie, I can finally let her rest.

My Heir : Over the years I have hoped to see something in him that would inspire hope for Lakeshire once I am gone. His anger and resentment toward me is unmistakable and not unfounded. I have been harsh with him, to make him hold up against all that society will throw at him. Yet he cannot even contain his anger with me, it destroys him. If he wilts underneath the pressure of a father demanding more of him…what will he do with a world demanding him to be a Duke? Will he not take hold of the gifts I have given to him? The tolerance of pain. The foundations to be a leader? … Recently I've noticed a change in him, I've been able to… talk to him and share a moment with him. Perhaps we can heal my mistakes of the past… perhaps he is the man I've always wanted him to grow up to be.

Aemy Ruxton nee Kincaid : She's done her family proud, bringing her husband two children at once. If she's anything like her mother, she'll give him plenty more, securing our line all the more. I do miss her and I intend to visit as soon as time wills it.

Little Bowen : Bowen seems to have matured only enough to prove he can take some things a little more seriously. I'm convinced he's still not realizing the weight of the world and the implications of his actions. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO ADOPT

Sweet Nette : My baby girl… She has grown so much into the likeness of her mother and eases me to know that Isys still lives on in Lynette. She has thus proven herself to be open to what life puts in front of her and instead of breaking loose from my Halls in some manner of defiance for the topic of marriage before her, she has stood with her chin up and walked proudly to the opportunity. I do not have much time left with her, before she is wed and no longer in my Home. I feel some manner of remorse for this and regret that she should leave my side, but as her mother before her, she has strength and love to give and I alone cannot keep it. She deserves to find her own way in this world and she has chosen to do so at the side of a Kerrigan.

A Son of Lakeshire : My brother in arms and in life. Arlen is my most dutiful brother and after Desmond died, we've had to rely on one another a lot more. While I ride him about Senga and we argue like brothers do, the man is my other half out there. He's quite snappish lately. I think we've been too long at this game brother. We've had to be fathers and grown men since we were young, since I was 17 and you were 15… and Desmond 14. It is understandable that we can still grate on one another's nerves, after all these years. Desmond was always able to pull us together though. I miss him and I see you do too, brother.

My Brother's Wife : Senga suits being a Kincaid. She's driven and fierce, but at the same time very poetic and proper. However, I always suspected her of finding other company to keep when my brother was away. In any case, she is one of us and I will help her pursue greatness if I can - even if I suspect she will not need it.

Albino Fire : My Strange Niece. She's caused me nothing but trouble, constantly getting involved with people who would take advantage of her. At least, I hope to keep her busy with an important project.

Donnal's Son : Kierne! Ahh, Donnal is an idiot not to see what I see in you!! A champion. A fighter. A knight born of our House. Kierne, you make me so damn proud, I cannot wait until you return to serve our House as a knight. I was almost tempted to Knight you myself at the Tournament. I cannot help but smile around you boy. He's certainly made me proud.

Keven's Sorcha : Of all the cousins… I get to watch over Hayton's son's daughter. Yes, well. At least I can make sure she isn't going to get into too much mischief. She's timid at times, but, when I pushed her to do what I asked, she did not hesitate. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO ADOPT

My Squire : If the boy had his head screwed on straight, I might feel more comfortable about his future. I'll straighten him up sooner or later. More belt lashings required I think. Recently he has astonished me. He came for our usual game of chess, but instead of playing entirely, he spoke freely toward me about Nylie. It was shocking to hear him grasp who I was so thoroughly and entirely. I have either given him the tools he needs to assess who people are, or I have mistaken the lad's ability far too long. I will see how he works at my side during the war and battles to come.

Vassals

The Inventor : He's done work for our House and I plan to give him more. He's our good Baron of Ashenward…. I plan to see him married soon, if all things go accordingly.

Brother's servant : My brother's servant. She's easy on the eyes but when I teased him about her, he got all grumpy.

My Cracked Champion : There is not much I can do to save his mind. It is thoroughly cracked from the torments he has suffered… and worse, I've witnessed some. I refuse to let him go back to Ruxton in the state he is in now. I have asked him to stay on with the House and serve if he can survive our ordeal. He has endured to keep me protected, very much in a time that I needed a knight.

A New Knight : Seems this one was just raised up and somehow I had forgotten as much? Am I truly that old not to notice the faces of the young men knighted before me? Perhaps one of my brothers did it, it would make sense for Malakai to press upon me another of the Conwy's. He best prove his worth in the Tourney to come.

Conwy Knight : A proven knight. He's of Household Conwy. I do not know him as well as I should.

Ranger Lee : Kaylee has proven herself valuable to our Household. I have intentions of asking her to fully stay on and serve our Household.

Porter Girl : Ryiah is one of two daughters that I took from Ashton Porter for his failure to bring back my brother's ashes back to Lakeshire, so that Desmond could lie in the hall of his ancestors with the Guardian. He also failed to tell me about it for years afterward. For punishment, besides stripping Ashton of his title and lands, I took Ryiah and her sister Maia to serve in my household. Ryiah is the eldest. NPC

Porter Girl : Maia is one of two daughters that I took from Ashton Porter for his failure to bring back my brother's ashes back to Lakeshire, so that Desmond could lie in the hall of his ancestors with the Guardian. He also failed to tell me about it for years afterward. For punishment, besides stripping Ashton of his title and lands, I took Maia and her older sister Ryiah to serve in my household. I haven't really paid much attention what has happened to Maia, other than seeing her time to time, scrubbing the floors. NPC

Laniveer Kid : Mutth's son. Mutth was a warrior that nearly claimed my life up near Lensa Creek. Molyn, whose about ten years of age, jumped on my back and would've killed me had he a knife, as I didn't see him coming. I've taken him in, as there's no possible way to determine where to send him, as his father is dead. He's starting to come around, thanks to the Porter girls. He doesn't gnash his teeth every time he sees me now. Unavailable, too young to adopt. NPC

Aemy's Husband and Lakeshire's Weston Son : I've secured our relationship with the Ruxton's through marriage of Robben to my daughter Aemy. We can hope such a relationship will keep the gates into Lakeshire open, amongst benefiting both our lands greatly. He's a good lad. Again, too bad he isn't mine.

The Lady Forrester : Harmon's sister, she seemed very timid and shy when I first met her. She seemed very intimidated by me, until I brought her Sir Fluffy Pants… fuzzy pants… oh what the hell, the orange kitten I picked up for her. She's a gentle woman and I would like to find out more about her. Since I've managed a smile and a laugh from her, I see more potential in her and in the Kincaid future. Though exactly what yet, I do not know. Since the Queen's death, she has tried to see to my comfort… and the more time I spend with her, the more I begin to think of her as a potential wife. Although she would have loved me without question… another took my love and so, I had to be honest with Nimue and tell her that I did not mean to mislead her and that I had been viewing her as a potential wife for my sons… She deserves a younger man with a full life span to give her. Yet even such possibilities elude me, now that her brother has told me to back off. So I have and I hope… she eventually ends up happy with someone.

Lord Scout : While I don't necessarily agree with this Lord Scout business, much like my son's ambitions, I do find him to be a rather honourable man. He supplied me well with Sky Herb for Hadrian, though I've enjoyed a few puffs myself, as my son doesn't deserve all of it. As for Trevian, I found him to be very laid back and a very humorous story teller. We shall see what the future will bring for both our houses.

Haravean's Bane : While I find it extremely amusing for the rise Avi's presence causes of the Count, I've far better things to consider where Avi is concerned. I was warned to not trust him but until he betrays that trust, I believe we do have some sort of agreement made to aid both our lands for the futures to come. I've earned a strong boon out of trading with him for the House, the ships called carracks and caravels will soon be ours to enjoy. Avi is truly a pleasure to strike a contract with. He was polite and pleasant, and strictly professional when it came down to it. I hope to deal with his people again in the coming years to strengthen our bond.

Lord Kerrigan : The old man was a sly devil. He knew what he wanted when he first came to me about those trade agreements. He wanted my daughter for his son. He got it, the old bastard. But not for free old man. Our Houses are once more linked in an alliance that cannot be torn asunder. You will come to my aid when I need it and you will know the prosperity that being a friend to my House brings.

My Kerrigan Son : He is to wed my youngest daughter Lynette. He's been such a surprise and the embodiment of what I would've hoped for in a son myself. All around me, other Houses are so fortunate to have good son's. At least I can hope for them from marriages. I look forward to seeing what Sir Shepard will do in his time and what happiness he can give to Lynette.

A Fellow War Veteran. : I offered to find his sons a place on a Kincaid Ship. There is more to this than that, but it is a start that perhaps needs to be addressed.

The Good Count : There's no bad blood between us. I would see our houses secure another strong alliance in the future. Harmon, like his brother, is quite fond of story telling and it amuses me. I need to ask him over more often.

My Nephew by Marriage, Sutherland's leader : Ronan and I are at odds currently. After so much that I have done for him… he has dishonoured me publically and for that, I am not sure if I can forgive him. But I want to… He is young… and being a diplomat is not naturally a skill that comes easily to everyone.

Brother Bird : Brother to Emma, he has also been included in the offer for sup. He's chosen to wed a Haravean. What a waste - it figures he would be pushing so hard for the relationship between Aldren and I to patch over when he's got invested interests to see as much. Young man, you have much to learn to conceal your cards.

The Bird : What can I do to offer some apology for seeing her spill from her horse into the waves of a frozen ocean? Invite her for dinner of course and replace her clothes! Hadrian has his eye on this one… though I have not officially allowed for marriage, though, it wouldn't surprise me if Hadrian went around my back on this one too. We'll see if this family is willing to pay us to make this little bird a Duchess.

Wenna's apprentice : She congratulated me at the battle of the bards. I do believe she's a commoner, but immediately she put me off by announcing being tutored under Wenna. Heaven's forbid that woman has her claws in just about everyone, hasn't she?

Royal Ranger : Betrothed to that other commoner, Eliylw I believe. I remember him taking the first shots at the tourney and setting the bar high, as he aimed and struck all the difficult targets. Nylie spoke of him to have better skill behind his bow, though I have yet to see such prowess.

Impressive, for a Ranger : It would seem that he may just yet be the Tourney champion. He certainly impressed me enough to invite him to meet with me personally.

Lady Rivermist. : Soon to be wed to Count Harmon.

Lady Ruxton : A good sister to my daughter Aemy. I haven't seen her since she was 15 and I'm not sure even then I had spent much time acknowledging who she was. It will be interesting to see how she flourishes in court.

The Painter : She was introduced to me by the late Queen. She has considerable talent and I had hoped to show her Lakeshire. She is apparently betrothed to Logen… and from I hear, not a lucky match.

The Voice : We have parted for once on good terms. He has accepted that I am his sister's husband. I do not know where this will lead us in the course of the future, but we have been able to manage some business and keep our tempers checked long enough to hurry through matters. Yet, that was one visit. Anything is possible. I have not yet been able to call him … brother.

Unlikely Partner of … In? Law : We'll have to work together now, as we'll share a certain amount of responsibility where it comes to the matter of the Kingdom's Laws. This… should be interesting.

The Tales of Daeren

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