You lot may or may not have seen such threads on the Vanilla CK2 part of the site. Essentially, I would like to compile a list of interesting characters (in our limited amount of bookmarks) along with motivations for the player. While some folks just enjoy the difficulty of tiny counties and unfortunately heretical characters, I know other like to play people who are interesting as a result of their history or what they were known to do in the period. Sadly, we can't call on the entire breadth of European history like Vanilla Kings, but we do have a startling amount of lore for Elder Kings.
Imperials
Colovian
Crowhaven, County of
---Ignas Olo, Count of Crowhaven, 3370: Ignas is descended from the mythic Colovian hero-figure, Bendu Olo, King of Anvil and Admiral of the All Flags Navy who sank the Sload Island Kingdom of Thras in response to the Thrassian Plague. Despite his storied ancestry, Ingas Olo possesses only two baronies, neither of which is Anvil. In fact, it would appear his brother, King Sorex, was killed by the current King of Anvil, Arctur Dralgoner, during the conquest of the city. As such, you start at odds with the King of Anvil (a large neighbor), and your heir is your conniving half-brother who will almost certainly of worse stats than Ignas himself. This character gives you a concrete goal: retake Anvil, and a challenge: fight much larger neighbors. Eventually, you could take control of the Colovian Estates as its next High Admiral?
The Colovian Estates, Kingdom of
---Ilnori Aquilarios, King of the Colovian Estates, 3461: The Aquilarios line briefly occupied the Imperial throne (according to ESO). Varen Aquilarios defeated the grandson of Durcorach the Black Drake and took the throne with the help of his Five Companions. So, easy goal -- disrupt the Cyrodiilic Empire, take it for yourself, and marry a Tharn.
---Roderic Dor, Count of The Colovian Highlands, 3461: Descended from the Imperial Cyrodiil dynasty of the 2nd Era, Roderic Dor would naturally be indignant at a common Reachman declaring himself Emperor. Help the Colovian Estates take down Durcorach the Black, or declare independence, swear fealty to the Reachman, and destroy him from within (hello, Independence Faction!).
---Hieron Hassildor, Baron of Lipsand, 3370: As you are no doubt aware, in Oblivion the Count of Skingrad is no longer a member of the legendary Larich dynasty, but rather a particularly vampiric Janus Hassildor. Try to birth a Master Mage named Janus, make him a vampire, and take the seat of Skingrad. Then, try to keep your vampirism a secret.
Nibenese
The Heartlands, Kingdom of
---Velanius Umbranox, Baron of Nikel, 3370: You may recognize the last name as the eventual Counts of Anvil in the Third Era. Help your overlords in the Heartlands overcome the Colovian Estates, or declare independence (survive, somehow) and make your way to Anvil. Who says you have to wait for a Septim to put you on the throne?
Cheydinhal, County of
---Abnur Tharn, Count of Cheydinhal, 3370: The Tharns always lusted after the imperial crown. Abnur is a famous (or infamous) mage and necromancer and was a member of the Five Companions of ESO fame and a companion to Mannimarco, the King of Worms. Walk the path of the necromancer, like Abnur, and make your way to overlordship of all of Nibenay, as seen in the later bookmark. Bonus points for becoming a Lich and making friends with Mannimarco.
Mer
Altmer
Balfiera, Principality of
---Ancotar Direnni, Prince of Balfiera, 3370: The Direnni were the last elven rulers in the human lands of Cyrodiil, and once were hegemons of most of High Rock. Return High Rock to its old state as an elven dominion of the Direnni, independent of Alinor.
Unlanded
---Mannimarco, King of Worms, 3461: Unlanded, so you'll need to start the game as the King of Alinor and land him (easy enough when there's a rebellion in 3461). Leave your people in Alinor as soon as possible, setting up shop anywhere in Tamriel (though Iliac Bay may be the most logical, given Elder Scrolls II). Become a Lich, raise armies of the damned, befriend Abnur Tharn (if you feel you -must- recreate ESO), and spread the Cult of Necromancy before Vanus Galerion can find you.
Maormer
Pyrrahn, Kingdom of
---Orgnum, High Fane of Pyrrahn, 3370: Orgnum the God-King is an infamous character in Elder Scrolls lore. An immortal Maormer famous for many raids over the centuries on the southern parts of Tamriel. Unite Pyandonea and use your bottomless coffers to launch raids on the southern coast of Valenwood. Be sure to make slavery legal, and take slaves from the foolish Bosmer and Khajiit. Finally, once you've established yourself on the coasts, invade Alinor and remind them why Orgnum the God-King is feared. Bonus points for enslaving your fellow elves at every opportunity.
Bretons
Reachman
Markarth, Minor Kingdom of
---Rodvar Tankarrth, King of Markarth, 3370: A one-county Kingdom surrounded by stronger neighbors, all of whom are your culture and can launch conquests. And if you manage to survive, you'll be surrounded by even stronger devotees of the Eight Divines who will hate your Old God-loving ass. Remind the Nords why the Reachmen are to be feared by uniting the Reach and launching the Reachman Invasion yourself, from the historic seat of Markarth. Bonus points if you grab Dwemer Artefacts before doing so.
Well, there you have it. Part of my making this list was also in the hopes that someone else might provide me with interesting characters/motivations to play, as I'm looking for something fun and new.
Imperials
Colovian
Crowhaven, County of
---Ignas Olo, Count of Crowhaven, 3370: Ignas is descended from the mythic Colovian hero-figure, Bendu Olo, King of Anvil and Admiral of the All Flags Navy who sank the Sload Island Kingdom of Thras in response to the Thrassian Plague. Despite his storied ancestry, Ingas Olo possesses only two baronies, neither of which is Anvil. In fact, it would appear his brother, King Sorex, was killed by the current King of Anvil, Arctur Dralgoner, during the conquest of the city. As such, you start at odds with the King of Anvil (a large neighbor), and your heir is your conniving half-brother who will almost certainly of worse stats than Ignas himself. This character gives you a concrete goal: retake Anvil, and a challenge: fight much larger neighbors. Eventually, you could take control of the Colovian Estates as its next High Admiral?
The Colovian Estates, Kingdom of
---Ilnori Aquilarios, King of the Colovian Estates, 3461: The Aquilarios line briefly occupied the Imperial throne (according to ESO). Varen Aquilarios defeated the grandson of Durcorach the Black Drake and took the throne with the help of his Five Companions. So, easy goal -- disrupt the Cyrodiilic Empire, take it for yourself, and marry a Tharn.
---Roderic Dor, Count of The Colovian Highlands, 3461: Descended from the Imperial Cyrodiil dynasty of the 2nd Era, Roderic Dor would naturally be indignant at a common Reachman declaring himself Emperor. Help the Colovian Estates take down Durcorach the Black, or declare independence, swear fealty to the Reachman, and destroy him from within (hello, Independence Faction!).
---Hieron Hassildor, Baron of Lipsand, 3370: As you are no doubt aware, in Oblivion the Count of Skingrad is no longer a member of the legendary Larich dynasty, but rather a particularly vampiric Janus Hassildor. Try to birth a Master Mage named Janus, make him a vampire, and take the seat of Skingrad. Then, try to keep your vampirism a secret.
Nibenese
The Heartlands, Kingdom of
---Velanius Umbranox, Baron of Nikel, 3370: You may recognize the last name as the eventual Counts of Anvil in the Third Era. Help your overlords in the Heartlands overcome the Colovian Estates, or declare independence (survive, somehow) and make your way to Anvil. Who says you have to wait for a Septim to put you on the throne?
Cheydinhal, County of
---Abnur Tharn, Count of Cheydinhal, 3370: The Tharns always lusted after the imperial crown. Abnur is a famous (or infamous) mage and necromancer and was a member of the Five Companions of ESO fame and a companion to Mannimarco, the King of Worms. Walk the path of the necromancer, like Abnur, and make your way to overlordship of all of Nibenay, as seen in the later bookmark. Bonus points for becoming a Lich and making friends with Mannimarco.
Mer
Altmer
Balfiera, Principality of
---Ancotar Direnni, Prince of Balfiera, 3370: The Direnni were the last elven rulers in the human lands of Cyrodiil, and once were hegemons of most of High Rock. Return High Rock to its old state as an elven dominion of the Direnni, independent of Alinor.
Unlanded
---Mannimarco, King of Worms, 3461: Unlanded, so you'll need to start the game as the King of Alinor and land him (easy enough when there's a rebellion in 3461). Leave your people in Alinor as soon as possible, setting up shop anywhere in Tamriel (though Iliac Bay may be the most logical, given Elder Scrolls II). Become a Lich, raise armies of the damned, befriend Abnur Tharn (if you feel you -must- recreate ESO), and spread the Cult of Necromancy before Vanus Galerion can find you.
Maormer
Pyrrahn, Kingdom of
---Orgnum, High Fane of Pyrrahn, 3370: Orgnum the God-King is an infamous character in Elder Scrolls lore. An immortal Maormer famous for many raids over the centuries on the southern parts of Tamriel. Unite Pyandonea and use your bottomless coffers to launch raids on the southern coast of Valenwood. Be sure to make slavery legal, and take slaves from the foolish Bosmer and Khajiit. Finally, once you've established yourself on the coasts, invade Alinor and remind them why Orgnum the God-King is feared. Bonus points for enslaving your fellow elves at every opportunity.
Bretons
Reachman
Markarth, Minor Kingdom of
---Rodvar Tankarrth, King of Markarth, 3370: A one-county Kingdom surrounded by stronger neighbors, all of whom are your culture and can launch conquests. And if you manage to survive, you'll be surrounded by even stronger devotees of the Eight Divines who will hate your Old God-loving ass. Remind the Nords why the Reachmen are to be feared by uniting the Reach and launching the Reachman Invasion yourself, from the historic seat of Markarth. Bonus points if you grab Dwemer Artefacts before doing so.
Well, there you have it. Part of my making this list was also in the hopes that someone else might provide me with interesting characters/motivations to play, as I'm looking for something fun and new.
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