Elu Frantzi

 

History

Fourth Age

Elu was born in 1132, at the castle towering above the city of Sjudr Aaholm. The second son of baron and baroness ancestral lines, he is an intriguing blend. His father was half Markian, a quarter Moss’Ari and a quarter Mermerant. His mother is half Vular and half Common; her mother’s mother is half Mermerant, a quarter Markian, and a quarter Ljost Alfar. Some jest their line is so complex that even the vampire marks have no clue of the Frantzi origin.

But the Frantzi’s know, for centuries, parents have passed their secrets to their eldest, and they hold their roots in high regard despite their choice of siding with Mermerants above indigenous people and wanderers. Centuries of being in power had made them masters of the political arenas. Thus, still an infant, Elu was being told the ups and downs of schemes.

As years grew on ears and mind, he developed an impressive awareness, memory, and patience. ‘Never rush things’ was the first phrase he ever heard. Repeated over and over, they settled strong. Thus, some of the more impetuous at court found him extremely annoying, but just as time passed, so did they.

When not practising with some art master, rehearsing with sages, or present at court, he spent time travelling as secretly as he could around their region to figure out what went on outside the courts’ mouths and ears. Especially regarding wanderers and N-erectus, as these two groups were the farthest from their own circles.

In 1156 he went as far as the western border; some say he went into Exicota, where he met Thom Duihol. They killed a Gaji-Kulat; hence, Elu received King Merillos’s Silver Cross, and Thōm gained the ivory for his strange sword.

Then in 1177, some rebels made quite a fuss down south, and the Frantzi banner was summoned. So, Elu went south and began fighting the rebels. As the fights went on, Elu foresaw a problematic outcome and sent envoys to Nicaraz. Swiftly he had a clearance returned, signed by Garrett. So, when the usurpers fled into Nicaraz, Elu’s contingent pursued them deep into Nicaraz and killed them.

In 1192, Nefius of Efron came at their southwestern border with a large contingent of armed forces to discuss a merge of powers. Much to his surprise, as the forces of the green king crossed into Anadak, his elder brother did what they both had been told a thousand times not to do. They rushed things and attacked Nefius, resulting in the loss of Elu’s brother and a large army contingent.

Nefius gaining an upper hand and Elu becoming the heir to their house, with the information that reached him, he knew that a head-on revenge against the green king would merely cost him many lives, including his own. Nefius had to be circled, used, and outclevered by long-term plots and sharp wits if he was to be defeated.

In 1199, as Elu went southeast to Obran to discuss with local Mermerants, he got caught up with the troubles of some local Clovincas who openly spoke of monsters killing and eating their cattle. Knowing Clovincaz never complains or moans to outsiders unless he is in very deep trouble, he decides to look into it.

A few days later, at an outskirt tavern, he met Citrine, Ann Beahaug and Bergon. The group was so out of place and unevenly numbered, he thought. As he approached them, they at first were reluctant to talk. But Citrine found Elu sort of enigmatic, so she persuaded the others to let him bench for a couple of mugs if Elu cared to order. Grinning, he agreed, shouted for mugs to the entire room, and benched himself.

The two experienced bladeweavers were much less impressed by Elus’s stories than the young, ragtag skjald. But, eventually, they decided to aid him in this monster hunt, as it might bring them some exciting loot, said Ann, or magic shards, said Bergon. So, the next day the four of them set out to find the monster and solve the problem.

It turned out to be a special monster, as they suddenly faced 20 or so Pigryn with a large waggon and dragging along some cattle. Unsure about them and the cattle, they called out and were immediately attacked. This was bad odds, and despite the group’s skills, it became a pressured fight, with Elu seeing himself encircled by three very large foes ignoring every slash he delivered.

Eventually he took a severe blow to the head, and all became a blurred haze, through which he eventually heard some new voices shout a charge, then silence, and he passed out. As he regained his senses, Aamarti Ansin and Feradör presented themselves. As they had seen Elu’s group gain the attention of the thieving Pigryns, they had decided to aid fellow humans.

‘Not that your group had need of us,’ said Feradör and gestured at all the dead Pigryns. It was first then that Elu noticed every peregrine’s eyes were burnt, smoking holes. Dropping his jaw, he asked, ‘Who did that to them?’ Ann laughed and told him it was all his work. The situation and the smack on the head had triggered his fate seed and a spectacular fate awakening.

‘”Smack on the head,” Elu said, touching his temple. Feeling the pain and seeing his fingers soaked in blood, he passed out. Waking up, he found himself leaning on Aamarti. Bergon noticed he came awake and said it was quite spectacular; it’s a shame so few of us see our rebirths. But I tell you, the yellow ones sure have pumped you hard; I’ve not seen sparks like that in a long time.

As the group and strangers explained what they knew about ‘seeds of fate’ and the ‘fate awakenings’ that birthed a hero. Feradör suddenly said that they maybe should not have joined. To which Ann said that if that would have been fate, they would not have been here in the first place. This comment created a moment of silence, after which they all laughed.

All 6 of them dragged the cattle and the waggon loaded with loot back to the Clovincaz. Well, Elu more or less just staggered along as he still suffered the effects of the fate awakening. His mind sort of kept expanding, sharpening coordination of his senses and physique; he almost felt drunk. This was especially true because he was now eagerly absorbing all the previously ignored impressions.

When they had delivered the cattle and handed over the loot as repairs for the losses the Clovincaz had taken. They were offered rewards, but as they had already looted and gained several magic shards, gems, and coinage, they declined. The Clovincaz insisted on rewarding Elu and gave him a token to be handed in down south at a tribe in Braburg.

Although he took the token, it had to be done later, as he still had a task to complete. The entire group travelled along, and it became quite a travel. Citrine, at that time a Skjald, stated she found this group exceptionally potent; hence, she stayed so long with a single gust of times’ wind. When Elu reached the Mermerants, they all parted, and two days later he went home.

On his way back, thinking about this last year of the century, he reached a rest stop at the Obran border. There he saw Chisty Cystal and the Herdsman. He immediately recognised power in their auras, and, intrigued, he sought them out, asking for a seat. ‘You must be Elu,’ said the Herdsman as Cistly nodded a welcome. “How?” asked Elu. Cistly grinned and said, “Oh, we are friends of Amarti and Feradör.”

They travelled with him all the way back to Sjudr Aaholm; they stayed there for a week and then travelled on. Although Elu had appreciated their company, the increased perception he had gained revealed so many hints about court matters that he had felt limited being a host of treasured guests.

Seeing them ride out the western gate, he turned. As he walked to the throne hall, he began to plot a large clean-up. A year later, in 1201, King Black Oak of Ye Olde Zephyrs came by to discuss a plan for a future grand realm. As Elu saw the 1st Alliance as quite useful in mitigating the force of Nefius, the green king, he eagerly joined their cause.

Years passed, and he held several tournaments and made several journeys to meetings of the 1st alliance. In 1209 he met Giry Tusmez and Baldur as they passed through his lands. He found their company so exquisite that he travelled with them to Dalip, and as he had stayed there for some weeks, he met Maili Brijia, who came to visit his lands in 1211.

Then, in 1214, as he rode in a hunt, he met Gabz and Loiz D’Himanz out there in the wilderness. At first stating they were merely travelling by, but learning who he was, they admitted they were to find some rare combat herbs, and he told them of good spots.

In 1227, he heard two strangers discussing their involvement with the green lord. Realising they were agents of Nefius, He figured out a plot to deceive Nefius and strengthen the position of his own house. Capturing the two, interrogating them and then disposing of them, he astravelled to find Nefius.

As he stepped out of the astral, he stood face-to-face with two people; one of them he recognised as Nefius, and the other was some rather jumpy fellow. The group stood silently, staring and evaluating the situation. Elu finally broke the tension and drowned them in a flood of words. Then, all three went back to Anadak. Nefius left three days later, and Tobiy Boiten, the other one, stayed for a month before leaving.

A year later, in 1228, Elu went to Vizirgina to visit Tobiy. On the route he met two elderly men, well, one man and one Dwarven. Gasse Grozol and Drumin Minol, who was there to find and excavate resources at Rhûdallar Sink. Asking where they knew about those from, they introduced him to a female alchemist, Ewia Ewitz.

In 1230, looking to the east of Anadak, he came across rumours about things brewing in Skium, where the City of Muldum seemingly had prepared to disrupt the power balance. Intrigued about what was going on, he went to Muldum. Where he met Mino, Menni Jes, known as the Mayor Menni of Muldum, or Mayor Tri-M.

In 1235, Dogil and Regarir visited to discuss opening a branch of their holy order to benefit the poor in Markeoy. Intrigued about them and how their presence could aid his house. He helped them establish themselves at the other end of Anadak. During their meetings he also met Aragon, Gizmo, Kalmo, and Bergon.

The following year, Lionel arrived at his castle. He wanted to meet the person who opposed Nefius, aided the Holy Stars, and supported those in Muldum. They came to discuss combat herbs and if Elu could ensure harvesting some special ones from Rhûdallar Sink. Surprised, Elu almost burst into laughter. Agreeing, they discussed transport to the shores of Braburg, and Elu remembered that old token gift.

Thus, in 1136 he travelled to Braburg, seeking out those clovincaz, showing the token; he was taken to a sacred Clovincaz and Moss’Ari site. There, a really old shaman gave him an ancient Clovincaz artefact, ‘Arr Nuhildir’s Armbands’—a pair of old leather and Ljostari bronze greaves boosting the wearer’s dexterity and intuition.

There he also met Ye-asperr, who had also received a gratitude gift for his aid. Discussing events, the Clovincaz, and the world in general, they left for the nearest astravel site, which they reached the next morning. Unpacking their shards, Ye-asperr completed his travel setup and left.

Then a broad-shouldered, broad-faced man approached, grinning; he yelled, “Hello, I’m merely to travel to Anadak, not to rob you.” Elu was quite surprised about the stranger’s destination, but it turned out he worked with the Triad Traders. Nefius and Lionel had told him to go there and seek out someone called Elu Frantzi.

Grinning, Elu presented himself, and the man’s face split in the broadest grin Elu had ever seen. Then he presented himself as Urai Gjallar. Elu interrupted, ‘Oh, Urai the Kinoblin-crushing Kaosfrog?’ Urai replied, “Yes, I’m Kaosfrog; that’ll do as well.”

It became an intriguing trip, and two weeks later Kaosfrog set out for Rhûdallar Sink. As so many heroes had shown interest in combat herbs, Elu began studying them. Especially those of Rhûdallar Sink, and found out that the disrupted layers of soil and rock offered good growing conditions for wiinclam, an extremely potent healing herb.

In 1240, Ye-asperr and Thom came by again, each leading a large group of men. They came to convince a certain common nobleman to stop supporting the torch. Elu knew the count and agreed to aid, as it would clear out one of his obstacles and create an area for expansion. As they rode out, they noticed all three wore similar armbands and came to discuss the Clovincaz shaman.

Unaware of the situation across the isles, Elu found himself amidst the brewing civil war of the 1st Alliance. And the next 10 years became quite hectic, forcing him to travel quite a lot and leave governing to his court. And when he, in 1250, attended the coronation of the high king at Grimsborg, his little brother usurped the crown Elu had secured for their house.

Despite his little brother, Mosi Frantzi, having been coaxed into the takeover, Elu could not let it pass. He hurried home and gathered trusted allies and powerful friends. In a fierce fight, where he was slightly wounded and knocked out, although safely guarded by Ye-Asperr, he swiftly retook control over his court and their lands.

Annoyed by the odd neck wound he had gained, two dart piercings, reminding him of his brother and him, the two last members of their family. He decided to make a governing point, although risking their houses’ grip and their line. So, he ordered the traitors, his brother among them, executed by beheading.

His house now controlled more of Anadak than they ever had, but as he was the sole bearer of their line, he began searching for a wife. Initially, many women were interested in him because of his position, but within weeks, the candidates who were presented included highly esteemed and powerful noble ladies, exceptionally wealthy merchant daughters, house heads, and highly capable mana manipulators.

In the end he settled for Matria, an extremely powerful arcane mana manipulator, a noble lady of Markian origin. Head of a massive mining company, she was as rich, if not more, than him. He later stated he had been intrigued by the Clovincaz necklace she had worn when they met the first time, more than her beautiful, well-endowed figure and merry mood.

1252 saw the birth of twins, and in 1254 another pair came along. This situation kept him from attending the second grand fair of the realm. When the third pair of twins came in 1256, he openly expressed his worry about why he was so blessed. To which the midwife merely said that he and his wife seemed to her to merely be a perfect match. These words reminded him of something someone had once said.

A few days later, he remembered what had been said and who had said it, and within hours, he was astravelling to the Grey Crevasse to meet with Wrekazi. While discussing his situation, Wrekazi asked the crucial question: ‘Was she also marked?’ ‘”I don’t know,” he replied when Wrekazi asked if she was also marked. Wrekazi explained, and he told her it had been impossible to discover. When they met, long curls and grand puffy shoulders had covered her neck.

He had merely focused on the amulet and, well, you know, he said, looking down. Wrekazi smiled, both at the comment and knowledge of female power, which she then decided to test, as it would most likely work smoothly and it had been a while since she had utilised her powers.

The next day she took him to the closest astral site, and setting a long travel, he was sent to meet Kanziganthir. There he discussed his knowledge of his own markings, the uncertainty about his wife’s, and his triple twins. Agreeing to the midwife’s statement, Kanziganthir said, ‘Most likely paired yes, but only time will tell if it is of significance.’ ‘Go home and keep things secret, all things regarding this trip,’ he grinned.

Elu went home, and in 1257 a grand thing happened for many of the nobles of Markeoy. The hot temper of Nefius, the herb-chewing green king, seemingly had gained an upper hand on him. It’s a fit; he had made the high king fall, triggering one of the high king’s protective artefacts. Unaware that the high king was unharmed, Nefius had disappeared before Black Oak had returned.

Leaving his empire without a head, Nefius’s daughter had quickly seized the official part. Nefius’s partners had each taken whatever they could manage to grab. Even Kaosfrog had manoeuvred cleverly and was now ranked among the powerful in Braburg. Elu was quite satisfied, as this situation allowed him to elevate his family’s power greatly.

In the early spring of 1258, a fourth set of twins arrived. But as Matria died in the labour bed, he stayed home from yet another grand fair. Governing, the quartet of twins, settling control of his former wife’s company and wealth with her little sister Meajian was fatiguing. But amidst all the travel, he was informed that the king of Anadak had elevated him from Baron to Count.

This gave everything a new light; he even proposed to Meajian to keep everything together. His new status in mind, she accepted eagerly, and in 1259 he married her. Kanziganthir attended their wedding, and upon meeting the four sets of twins, he remarked that they were an interesting group before excusing himself due to urgent matters back home.

Then Kanziganthir astravelled right there. Elu had never seen anyone do so without utilising a site. Later that year Kanziganthir and Wrekazi showed up uninvited, bringing along someone called Zisu 778. They apologised for the intrusion, but as they were passing by, they could not be impolite and not give their blessings.

Slightly blushing, Elu welcomed them, had dinner, and proudly showed off his quartet of twins. He noticed that when the trio walked out, they intensively discussed something. He also wondered why powers like them walked at all.

In 1261 Nefius came by, attempting to regain position, as his daughter and the high king’s pet boy were now legal regents, as Nefius had been thought dead. Aware of Nefius’s lack of former friends and allies, he is no longer a threat to Adnak but is still compelling. Elu had no reason to aid him, so he declined aid or to associate himself.

As his second wife bore him no set of twins or children at all. He travelled to Wrekazi again. Surprised to see him, he merely replied he was just passing by and couldn’t be impolite. Sending him a broad smile, he asked, ‘Oh yes, regarding smiles and embraces, did ours…’ Wrekazi interrupted him with a no. We weren’t a pair, so never mind.

Sensing something odd, most likely due to the armbands, he travelled back home. He assembled all his twins, and as he sat there studying them, their yellow auras began to blur and hues changed. Suddenly their eyes widened, and he felt a large hand on his shoulder. Recognising the rings on Kanziganthir’s hand, he gestured that all was well with his children to relax; their aura colours were now clearly visible and unmasked to him. As they relaxed, their auras changed back to yellow.

Entering a separate room, Kanziganthir cast another grand spell. Then told Elu he should never again try to break that protective seal Zizu, Wrekazi, and he had cast, as it would endanger them, him, Meajian, and new children should such come and maybe all living. However, neither Kanziganthir nor his fellow grand lords had ever seen anything like Elu’s twins before; all eight were of different colours, and each pair was their exact opposite. Allele had surely made a good match.

In 1266, he decided to go to the grand fair as Black Oak was resigning. His second visit to Grimsborg became as disruptive as had the first one, as he got news his castle had burnt and his wife had died. Struck with grief, a few other heroes offered to travel with him home. So, Kruz A’Dez, and Laradaka joined him in Anadak, where he found his castle ruined.

Although grieving, he ordered it rebuilt and then heard his peers had, as the grand fair had concluded, granted his family the title of duke. Thus, he was given vast amounts of land from Anadak’s king and some from some nobles being revealed as supporting the torch. Overseeing his domain, the reconstruction, and studying bladeweaving, magic patches, and combat herbs then took all of his time.

With children coming of age since 1267, some of them became adults, but he was not fully aware of who they had become. What stood most clear to him, though, was that each and every one of them competed with the others in breathtaking, daring, and stunning performances. Many a master hired had soon quitted, as these children were too talented, too eager, and too wild for anyone with a head on their shoulders to stick around.

When the great invasion came in 1277, he was at East Fjella visiting Zizu. So the Pigryns, Romasai, and Sproblins that suddenly swarmed their lands were faced by his eldest. Birne and Byrne, aged 25, were both slain in that first skirmish. As he returned, his new castle once more was aflame, and he had lost one of the second pair and one of the fourth pair.

Although grieving, he looked around and saw many who also had lost dear ones, so he bit his tongue. In the following years, he fought a hard defence of their lands and people. Often close to giving up, he fought on. Losing both third twins and the last of the second in a Gaji-Kulat surge in 1279. Only Milpert of the fourth pair was left.

In 1281, he separated from Milpert because the high king had decided to lead an attack on Grimsborg to eliminate the invasion leaders, who were reportedly camped there. The torch fed false information to the outlanders during the 2nd Alliance’s assault. A cleverly built trap. His third time at Grimsborg almost made it his grave, but they managed to break the enemy ring and flee.

They fled for months, and he gave up hope for their house, his children, and the future of the isles. When they were at the battle of the weeping plains. With the help of the favoured eight, many different N-erectus-like beings, including Alfar, Dwarven, Kobold, and friendly Sproblin, defeated the invaders and seemingly a descending contender god as well.

Then they, he amongst them, swore the cleansing oath, and he became part of the cleansing crusade. A crusade he is still on as he abandoned his two-times, twice-ruined house. Unaware that Frantzi colours were once again restoring their grandness.

“So much joy and eagerness for life, spoilt by divine feelings of being scorned.” 

~Skjald Sigurd

 

Organisation

Publically supporting the Mermerant cause, Elu is a duke of Anadak.

Thōm Dūihol and Ye-asperr have also made a brotherhood called Circle du Faramer.

“Raising one self from baron to count and then duke. It takes a special individual, effort, and time. Elu was just that dual trinity.”

~Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

Special

He borders on the limits of what’s mortal capable regarding intuition and dexterity.

“Clovincaz artefacts were taken from Arisen and given by liches. Sure elevates something.”

~Skjald Valgrif