Calsifur Kcrune

Calsifur I Kcrune was well loved by his people, and very respected by the noble families of Raventiva. His death sent shockwaves through the Kingdom, and though his son, Georgio I Kcrune, has risen to his fathers title, it has done little to asway the feeling of sadness that still reigns.  

Appearance and Character

Calsifur was always smartly dressed, in a similar fashion to his father Aloisio II Kcrune he possesed a great appreciation for clothing. Calsifur's skin was a deep grey, with purple undertones, his horns were of the same tone, though slightly darker. Calsifur kept his hair short, and though for most of his life and reign his hair had been a sleek black, in the last five years of his reign his hair had begun to be flecked with grey. His hair and beard were both well maintained and they were a subject of pride for the King.

History

 

Early Years

  Calsifur was born as a twin, three minutes following the birth of sister, thus making him second born in the eyes of Raventivan law. As such Calsifur was not educated specifically in statecraft for much of his life, and avoided the severe expectations of his father, which were solely focused on his sister. Despite the almost uncanny difference in treatment by their parents, Calsifur and Vera were very close, and came to be just as close to their younger brother Artio, who was born four years after them. Growing up Calsifur had three close confidants, whom he would remain close to for the remainder of his ife, specifically Simona Cearvi (his future wife), as well as Claudio D'Amore and Hessian Lupa.

Calsifur, unlike his twin, had mostly free reign in regards to how he spent his time, and what he spent that time doing. Calsifur was incredibly interested in archery, as well as hunting, and dedicated a great deal of his time in his early teenage years to learning the art of the bow. Calsifur would even eventually surpass his sister in terms of skill in archery, something that would lead to the festering of resentment from Vera towards her twin, their relationship became strained, though a series of months later it would return to its prior state.

"The Plucking of Wings"

In the summer of 1081, King Aloisio planned on announcing to whom he intended to grant his daughter's hand in marriage; however, Vera had other plans. She and a collection of other nobles and soldiers that she had gained the loyalty of over the course of her life left the capital. Among her retinue was her close friend Anjelica Sartagori, the future duchess of House Sartagori (as well as her later husband, Alfeo Rosiello ), her sworn sword Cecillio Voight, Thorello and Marta Fontanna, Ser Eric Salt, and Dame Giola of Marshtown. Their lack of presence at the summer solstice festival became a political disaster, as Aloisio had intended to announce the engagement between his daughter and a young Aroldo Ferrante. In addition to the political tension created due to the solstice, none of the members of Vera’s retinue alerted their families before leaving and refused to give any information as to their whereabouts. During this time, the young Calsifur took on a great deal more responsibility within the court and, in the early autumn of that year, temporarily served as his father's Hand while the King and his hand attended an incredibly important diplomatic summit to prevent the breakout of war between Reoyce and Wesier.   Early during his time as regent, Calsifur approved the construction of a second, larger university in Ravensroc, as well as the dispersion of grain and other foodstuffs to combat the Famine of 1082. Calsifur’s regency also saw a kingdom-wide break on the taxation of food items until the famine had ended. This declaration enraged the nobility, especially that of Calsifur’s own family, the Acardi’s, who at the time were ruled by a cousin to the royal heirs by the name of Luin Acardi, who refused to adhere to the crown's orders and would be ordered by the Prince to attend court in the capital. After his cousin had arrived in the Ravensroc Court, Calsifur ordered that a third of the House’s yearly yield be given up to its subjects. Although Luin attempted to refuse Calsifur’s order, he was then stripped of his ducal title, which was then granted to his cousin Edine Acardi, who was more than pleased to oblige with the Prince’s order. Calsifur’s actions during his first length of rule ingratiated him to the populace; the people of Ravensroc began to call him “Calsifur the Good.”   Some four and a half months later, following her initial departure from the court, Vera returned to the capital with those who remained in her retinue, as well as the newborn Lucianna Kcrune. Her return to court was, to say the least, an incredibly chaotic and messy affair. King Aloisio was enraged at his daughter and her blatant disregard for her duty and her, in his words, “sullying of her body.” Calsifur sided with his sister against the ire of their father, and after some time, the king calmed and took in the young child with little qualms. She was reintroduced to court some weeks later on 57 Tioth 1082 as Calsifur brought his sister to a ball hosted by House Sartagori in Brigthaven and formally reintroduced her to court. During the event there was a brief confrontation with Aroldo Ferrante, but he was quickly dispatched by Artio Kcrune, who had come to court in honour of his sister's return. There are many paintings and art pieces about that night, the most famous of which is entitled “Reunification,” by Leonora De Luca, which depicts the trio in dance, laughing jubilantly. Following Vera’s reintroduction to the court, Calsifur and Artio began to take primary care of the young Lucianna, though they were assisted by Simona Cearvi, who was, in reality, the most responsible role model for the young girl. The three were not isolated in their care for the girl; however, many of Vera’s chosen companions were also involved in her childhood, those being Voight, Salt, von Mashtown, and the Fontannas, as well as, of course, the crown princess herself.   In the weeks leading up to winter solstice, tension was at its most potent between the princess and the king, which would eventually culminate in a very public explosion of emotion from the crown princess. During a meeting of the king’s small council, Vera stood against her father on a matter of defence and security. Aloisio, who was paranoid about an impending invasion from Uelkai, stalled in putting armed forces along the border, while Vera pushed for the armament of the border. After the conversation had spiraled into fierce argumentation between the two, Vera swore at her father and declared that she was done being subservient to his dreams, his wants, and his choice for her future before swearing off her inheritance as crown princess. This enraged Aloisio, who degraded Vera by calling her a consistent disappointment to their family and the kingdom. Calsifur attempted to intervene but was shut down by his father at every turn. The king then told Vera to “leave the small council, the palace, and the capital; go wherever it is you pissed off to and had that bastard girl!” The room fell quiet for a moment before the princess spat on the table and left. Calsifur tried to follow her, but she told him that the kingdom would be his now, what she called “his fate, not mine,” and left the capital by herself. The events of Breyfall 1084 came as a shock to the court and to Calsifur himself, as from that very day he found himself thrust into the position of crown prince.   The rest of Calsifur's first month as crown prince was spent largely in seclusion from the court, as the announcemet of his selection as heir caused a great amount amount of chaos amongst the Great Houses and the court at large. The reacton from the Ravensroci did not assist in the calming of tensions as the word of Vera's banishemnet spread like wildfire. Vera had long been held in high regard by the people who, due to her frequent and non-formal visists to the city, believed her to truly care about them and their interests. Riots broke out in ashtown and beyond, which were only peacefully resolved due to the direct actions of CAlsifur himself. He, as well as his close friends Hessian Lupa and Claudio D'Amore, took to the front steps of the very university Calsifur had ordered to be built and gave a speech to the populace. He spoke of hope for the future, of a Kingdom shared in equal part with the common and the noble alike. He spoke of the potential within all of the Raventivan people, a divenly given spark, one that would allow them to do great things. Finally, he spoke of his appointment, of his duty as the "steward of your city, your lands, your kingdom," and his intention to fan those sparks into flames. The Prince then declared that, as his duty demanded, he would begin a tour across the Kingdom to hear of the people's grievances with law.  

The Tour of 1085

Accompanying the PRince on his journey was Alessia Logia, the niece of the "Golden Man" and master of coins Rico Logia. Calsifur recrutied the Lady Logia due to her financial expertise and her knowledge of taxation laws that he thought would pertain to the people's plights. THe pair, who had become close over a shared childhood, began preperations for theri tour during the final weeks of 1084 and left the capital as a part of the Solstice Festival on the first day of 1085; they were followed out of Ravensroc by many nobles and commoners alike.