Conrad Read
Duke of the Capital Province
His supporters consider him to be a staunch loyalist, military mastermind and accomplished player of Evadrin’s political game. His opponents prefer to describe him as ‘traitor’, ‘weasel’ and ‘puppeteer’. I suppose both agree that he at least knows what he’s doing.
- Matthian Osswad, sage of heraldry at the Wyminster Institute of Learning and Teaching
Introduction
Those that do not respect him, fear him.
There are few individuals within the Empire of Evadrin that cause as much contention as Conrad Read. As the right-hand man of emperor Arryn Lancaster and one of the dukes that stood by his side as Arryn went against his father’s orders (or lack thereof) during the Dismal March, there are many who consider him to be a hero, but there are also those that consider him and the current emperor traitors. Furthermore, being married to Janey Astley, the sister of the former prince of Lothlorin and aunt of its current ruler, princess Wynne Astley, has earned him very little favour with the Evadrinian nobility and populace. Despite it being a purely political marriage that Conrad had very little to say in himself, many look down upon the duke that married the traitorous Lothlorin royal family. Conrad cares not for the opinions of anyone that is not Arryn Lancaster, however. He serves the Empire and the emperor dutifully, sternly and ruthlessly.
The duke became a famous tactician during the Dismal March but has since also proven to have capabilities far beyond the military. Often considered to be one of the greatest players of Evadrin’s political game, Conrad is constantly weaving all kinds of plots. With his fingers in many pots, his influence can be felt throughout the empire, both by the most powerful nobles and the lowliest peasants. Many of his political opponents have died as a result of these games, though the duke has skilfully been able to avoid anything ever leading back to him. Nevertheless, everyone knows what Conrad Read is capable of. It has become a saying amongst the nobility that “those who do not respect him, fear him”.
As the duke of the capital province, Haupttron, Conrad is simultaneously the most and least powerful duke in the Empire of Evadrin. On the one hand his power over the province is greatly diminished, as he effectively has to share much of his rule with the emperor himself. On the other hand he is so close to the emperor that his power and influence can be felt all over the Empire.
Conrad and Janey Astley have four children: Pedro Astley, a cleric of Ryher born in the year 460 5A, Nicholas Astley, a paladin of Ryher born in the year 462 5A, Zuriel Astley, a wizard born in the year 465 5A and Moreen, born in the year 470 5A.
Background
Youth
Conrad Read was born in the year 433 of the Fifth Age to Otto Read and Inge Read-Schuster, the duke and duchess of one of the Empire’s northernmost provinces known as Kalden. Conrad would’ve followed in his father’s footsteps to become the ruler of a duchy that was of relatively little importance and not all that much respected by the central and southern nobility. Destiny, however, took an important turn for him. Being of similar age as Rohan Lancaster’s son and heir, Arryn Lancaster, the two always went to the same academies and followed similar courses. In their early twenties the two young men were both studying in the Cynebald academy. While they were already acquainted, it was here that Conrad Read and Arryn Lancaster began to grow a strong mutual respect for one another as they realised each other’s competencies as well as their similar visions on major topics.
One of these topics was the possibility of the independence of the island province Lothlorin. The idea alone disgusted both men. Rohan Lancaster, however, who would become emperor around this time, was far more amicable to the idea. It would quickly become apparent that this possibility was becoming a certainty. Arryn Lancaster was unable to change his father’s mind, though he wasn’t entirely powerless. As negotiations with Barnaby Astley concerning the Lothlorin independence progressed, Arryn proposed to his father to mend the wounds between both nations with a political marriage: a powerful Evadrinian noble with a member of Lothlorin’s future royal family. It would be a message of goodwill from both sides, grant both sides considerable influence over the other side and would bring two high nobles to the negotiations whose greatest interest was an agreement that was beneficial for both sides. Rohan Lancaster thought this to be an excellent idea and Barnaby, ever the diplomat, could not refuse such a gracious offer. Of course, Arryn had entirely different plans for this marriage. By getting a powerful and loyal Evadrinian noble in the Lothlorin royal family he wasn’t so much creating a neutral party as he was planting someone who was entirely on his side, allowing them to pull some important strings. Furthermore, by mixing Evadrinian blood with the blood of the Astleys, there was a good chance future rule of the nation might end up in Evadrinian hands. No noble was suited better for this task than the future duke that Arryn had grown to trust, Conrad Read. With a combination of political manipulations and use of his imperial power, Arryn maneuvered Conrad Read to become the duke of the capital province of the Empire, Haupttron. This move installed a loyal ally in the most important province of the Empire whilst simultaneously removing the Erhards from that position, a family of nobles that favoured Rohan Lancaster and his ideas. Conrad would thus become a much more powerful duke than he normally would have been, though in exchange had to marry a Lothloriner, a cost Conrad deemed to be a heavy but necessary one.
Marriage and Lothlorin Independence
Barnaby Astley had two children. His eldest, a son named Renias, would be the first in line to rule Lothlorin and would never be offered to marry someone from the Empire of Evadrin. His youngest, a daughter named Janey, was a much more suitable candidate for a political marriage. Conrad Read and Janey Astley would get married in the year 459 of the Fifth Age, 9 years after negotiations concerning Lothlorin independence began, yet two years before they would be finished and Lothlorin would become a largely independent principality. A year after their marriage their first son, Pedro, was born. During these final years of the negotiations Conrad played his infiltrant role beautifully, though his impact remained limited due to Barnaby Astley’s suspicion towards him.
In the decade to come Conrad would spend half his time in the Principality of Lothlorin and half his time in the Empire of Evadrin. Despite being duke of the capital province, and a very young one at that, Conrad was now married to the royal family of the Principality meaning that he had the lower title and thus had his obligations to his wife. Despite four children being born to Janey and them growing up in the principality itself, it was clear that Conrad still resented the independence of Lothlorin and remained loyal to the empire of Evadrin and Arryn Lancaster. He spent as much time in the Empire as possible without forsaking his duties to Janey and his family, often taking the eldest sons with him when they were old enough. Even in the Principality he continued his work for the empire, with Arryn often taking over his duties and responsibilities whenever he wasn’t in the Empire. It was clear to both Conrad and Janey that their marriage was a purely political one that both sides gained benefits from. Despite their differences, they did try to make their marriage work. Janey’s aversion to politics and apathy towards political games likely being the only reason that they were somewhat successful in it. Conrad did not, however, get along with Barnaby Astley or the son he granted the title of prince, Renias Astley.
Dismal March
By the end of the year 469 of the Fifth Age there had been rumours of strange monsters appearing in the Wailing Wastes, occasionally reaching the northern edge of the Kingdom of Orthond or the Empire of Evadrin. Rohan Lancaster had become a recluse and refused to believe there was any threat. His son, Arryn, took the reports far more seriously. He wanted to act, but in doing so would have to defy his father, the Emperor, an act that could be considered treason. He called upon all the powerful allies he had, including Conrad. Ever loyal to Arryn, Conrad departed immediately. Soon it would become clear that the reports were not overestimating the threat. The Dismal March began, overwhelming the entire northern part of the Empire of Evadrin in weeks. Despite this, Emperor Rohan Lancaster still refused to act. Arryn would defy his lack of orders and take control of what remained of Evadrin’s military. Conrad followed, and would over the course of the next 5 years become known as the right-hand man of Arryn Lancaster. The damage of Rohan’s inaction had been great and the years were rough, yet slowly but surely Arryn and Conrad were able to fight back the monstrosities bit by bit. Many amongst nobility and common populace alike would praise Arryn Lancaster and Conrad Read as heroes of the Empire and great military strategists. However, there were also those that considered their defiance of Emperor Rohan Lancaster to be treachery. Arryn and Conrad on the other hand would always say that anyone loyal to the empire would and should have followed them.
The Dismal March had weakened the Empire’s military, the greatest on the continent, severely. After working so hard to free Evadrin from the invading monstrosities, little remained. Only with the aid of the alliance organised by the Legacy Shield were the Dismal Monstrosities ever fully pushed back to the Wailing Wastes in a massive counterattack. In the year 475 of the Fifth Age, the invading forces seemed to finally have been defeated, and Conrad returned home after nearly 6 years of military campaigns.
Right Hand of the Emperor
Six years of absence did not have the most positive impact on Conrad’s relationship with his family. While his wife, Janey, did understand, especially since the Principality had served as a haven for refugees, it was hard for his children to have missed him for that long. His youngest daughter, Moreen, was born in the year 470 of the Fifth Age, when Conrad had already left for the Empire. Now five years old, it was the first time she saw her father. Conrad had meant to mend the relationship with his family, but mere months after returning to them he received an urgent summons to the Empire. Rohan Lancaster had died. Arryn Lancaster was the new emperor, and he needed his right hand man. Conrad had to choose between his family and the duty to his nation. He chose the latter and departed instantly.
From that point on the relationship between Janey Astley and Conrad Read began to sour somewhat, as Conrad spent progressively more and more time in the Empire of Evadrin. As the right hand of now Emperor Arryn Lancaster, the two of them started rebuilding the destroyed northern part of the Empire and began implementing some major reforms. Arryn and Conrad wanted to bring back the Empire’s strength to what it was like in its glory days, before Rohan Lancaster. Their efforts were largely successful, but not without criticism. Many loyalists of the former Emperor had not forgotten the treasonous disobedience of Arryn and Conrad, and this resentment began to steadily grow as they began their reforms. The new rulers quickly became known as capable but ruthless. Conrad, who had never been fully present within the Empire ever since he became a duke, surprised many with his incredible skill of Evadrin’s political games and became a lethal opponent.
Conrad’s manipulations did not end with his political opponents. As relationships with his family grew worse, Conrad enlisted Pedro to the Cynebald Academy when he was 16 years of age. He said that the Cynebald Academy was the most prestigious and elite institute of learning on the entire continent and only wanted the best for his child. While this is true, it was also clear that he wanted to pull his eldest son away from his mother, reducing her influence over him while increasing his own. Nicholas would follow a mere year later, and Zuriel would follow a few more years after that. Only Moreen, his only daughter and the youngest of all children, would never be forced to attend the Cynebald Academy. Despite this, Conrad still visited Lothlorin with the sons attending the academy on a regular basis, though much less than before. Conrad and Janey’s relationship was far from good, though they were able to keep up the facade of a happy family for a while longer. This would change completely in the year 483 of the Fifth Age. Janey’s brother, Renias Astley, the prince and ruler of the Principality, died in suspicious circumstances. The Principality had very vague laws of succession, and the only thing that was clear was that someone of the Astley bloodline should become the next prince or princess of the Principality. Renias Astley had one daughter, Wynne, who was 25 years old at the time and considered to be far too young for such a position. Especially since the current Emperor of Evadrin opposed the Lothlorin independence and was sure to try and take it back. Thus many looked at Conrad’s wife, Janey Astley, as next princess of the Principality. Conrad thought this would be perfect. While he himself would never hold any real power, his children were very likely to be next in line should Janey take up this role, as they would be of appropriate age by the time she would pass away. Unfortunately for him, Janey refused to become the princess, and thus it would be the very young Wynne that would have to take up the role as ruler of the Principality. Conrad was furious. He saw a future in which his children, partly Evadrinian, would become the next rulers of the Principality, collapse. A future in which he and Emperor Arryn Lancaster could ensure that the Principality would fall back into the hands of the Empire. From this point on it became clear to all outsiders that all was not well in the marriage of Conrad Read and Janey Astley. Conrad now completely refused to spend any time in the Principality with his wife, and he ensured his three sons were kept so busy in the Cynebald Academy that they could never go home either. Only once or twice a year Conrad would take his sons and visit their mother. The rest of the time he spends in Evadrin, dedicated to Emperor Arryn Lancaster.
Personality
While straightforward, Conrad is never predictable.
Conrad is known to be calm, collected and very serious. He never raises his voice, but is known to be able to make threats in such an unusually calm way, making them all the more terrifying. Conrad considers duty to be of paramount importance, though it is clear that his own duties to his nation and emperor have grown to outweigh the duties of his own family.
While Conrad is far from malicious, he is known to be ruthless towards those that oppose him, or the empire. He is feared throughout the Empire of Evadrin and takes no issue with that. He merely believes he does what has to be done. As the right-hand man of the Emperor, how could he be wrong?
Lastly, Conrad is also known to be cunning and a capable manipulator. Despite spending much time in Lothlorin, he has grown to be a master of Evadrinian’s political game. While straightforward, Conrad is never predictable. More than one opponent has found their end thinking the Duke plays his cards openly.
Faith
Like most within the Empire, Conrad considers duty and loyalty to the Empire, or at least to Emperor Arryn Lancaster, to be more important than the tenants of one or more gods. This nevertheless does actually fit very well with the God of Order, Lox, one of the Empire’s prime deities. Above all gods, Lox is also the one that Conrad worships the most, though he will never let religious beliefs or rules come before what he considers to be his duty.

Year of Birth
433 5A
54 Years old
Children
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Short graying brown hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Fair
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