DOMESTIC FACTIONS
The King, Louis VII, is a bit of a ditherer; the common belief is that he’s more suited to the clergy than to the throne. Despite this, his power is unquestioned and he holds the allegiance of the majority of the kingdom. Now a man of 46, he has ruled France for nearly 20 years. His only male heir, Phillipe Augustus (Dieudonné) was born six months ago. His wife, Queen Adele is his third wife. His children are married or betrothed, except for his fourth daughter Alais (currently six years old) and Phillip Augustus. Priests gain a +2 Standing bonus with him.
Enemy: King Henry II (Angevin)
Henry, Count of Champagne. One of the most powerful nobles in the realm, he’s married to King Louis’s daughter Marie, eldest daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Henry could have taken control of Blois on his father’s death, but close Champagne instead, transforming it into a commercial powerhouse. He is known to be a friend and sponsor of wizards and relations with him governs relations with all wizards in the realm. Mages of 6th level or higher gain a +3 Standing bonus with him.
Enemy: The Unseelie Court
Theobold of Blois. A powerful lord of Blois and Chartres, Theobold recently married King Louis’s second daughter, Alix. Henry, Count of Champagne is his brother, but the two are not close. He’s a hidebound traditionalist and otherwise unremarkable. For some unknown reason, the Seelie Court doesn’t like him. He likes tournaments and paladins of 6th level or higher gain a +3 Standing bonus with him.
Enemy; The Seelie Court
Queen Adele. King Louis’s third wife, Adele is a capable and remarkable woman who’s an able politician. Because of Louis’s monkish tendencies (and because she’s far more subtle than Louis’s first wife Eleanor), Adele has been allowed to seize more power than many women of her period. She is a patron of female characters, and women gain a +3 Standing bonus with her.
Enemy: Henry of Beauveax
Henry, Bishop of Beauveax. A scheming, unlikable man, Henry is the king’s brother. Despite his title, he’s far more of a politician than a cleric. King Louis likes him, but the affection is not mutual.
Enemy: Queen Adele
Raymond of Toulouse. A minor count, like many others, but considered a good friend of King Louis, who unexpectedly defended him from Angevin attack in 1159. He and his wife Constance have been linked to the Cathar movement (see Secret Societies), which is likely to bring him into conflict with the Church at some point in the near future.
Enemy: Henry II (Angevin)
FOREIGN RULERS
Henry II of England. Ruler of Anjou, England, Normandy, and also titular King of Jerusalem, Henry, head of the Angevin house, clearly covets the crown of France. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is King Louis’s ex-wife. He has sympathizers throughout France and despite their conflicts, his son Henry is betrothed to Louis’s third daughter Marguerite.
Enemy: Louis VII.
Thierry, Count of Flanders. Known for his many pilgrimages, Flanders (Holland/Belgium) has expanded under his rule. He’s clearly ailing after his latest journey to the Holy Land, and his son Phillip seems well-suited to be his successor.
Enemy: Hugh, Count of Burgundy
Hugh, Count of Burgundy. A bellicose young man who’s recently ascended to his position, Hugh is a vassal of Louis, but chafes under his authority. He is married to Alice of Lorraine and has strong ties to the Angevins.
Enemy: Thierry of Flanders
The Lombard League. An alliance of cities in Northern Italy who are currently fighting the Holy Roman Empire. They back Alexander III.
Enemy: Emperor Frederick
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The Holy Roman emperor, an expansionist who’s waging a series of wars in Italy to establish Paschal III as pope. France doesn’t like him, but they are too busy with their own affairs for open conflict.
Enemy: The Lombard League
POPES
Alexander III: Recognized as Pope by King Louis, he wants to reform the church hierarchy.
Enemy: Anti-Pope Paschal III
Paschal III: Recognized as Pope by Frederick Barbossa, he wants universal acclaim as Pope.
Enemy: Anti-Pope Alexander III
COURTS
The Seelie Court: These are the “good” faeries, ruled by Oberon and Titania. Haughty, proud, tricksters, they sometimes steal himan babes and replace them with their own; these changelings are half-elves.
Enemy: Theobold of Blois
The Unseelie Court: Ruled by the malevolent goblins, these are the bad faeries. Half-orcs are their changelings. They have a grudge against Henry of Champagne, who has made it his life’s work to stop their advances in the mortal realm. They are evil, but not as bad as the Dark.
Enemy: Henry of Champagne.
The Dragon Court: This alliance of good dragons (of all colors and metals) seeks to atone for the sin committed by the first serpent, Satan. Their whereabouts and motives are mysterious; some scholars declare that they’re actually angels, citing certain legends of the seraphim, who seemed to take on draconic form.
Enemy: The Dark
The Dark: The Dark are the forces of Satan in the world. Composed of demons, devils, evil dragons and other monstrous creatures, they seek to corrupt mankind and slay whomever cannot be corrupted. Their warlord is the monstrous demon Baphomat. This faction may NOT be a preferred faction for the PCs.
Enemy: Dragons.
See also:
Races and Ethnicities
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Character Generation