Roelstra's Line
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Roelstra's Line are characters in Melanie Rawn's fantasy novels of the Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies. The characters of Roelstra's Line include the High Prince Roelstra, his daughters, grandsons, and great-granddaughters. Roelstra's descendants' spouses are also included here.
Princemarch is the seat of the High Prince. Roelstra ruled the Continent from Castle Crag, which was home to all the members of Roelstra's Line (except Chiana) at some point in their lives. Its color is violet, and its banner is a leaping brown deer on violet bordered in gold.
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[edit] Roelstra
| Dragon Prince character | |
| Prince Roelstra of Princemarch | |
|---|---|
| Race | human |
| Birth | 653, Castle Crag, Princemarch |
| Rings | Princemarch amethyst |
| Titles | High Prince, Ruler of Princemarch |
| Princedom | Princemarch |
High Prince Roelstra was born in 653. Little is known of him before he became High Prince and ruler of Princemarch in 665 other than that he had probably poisoned his father at the age of ten and that he had married Lallante of the Mountain. Lallante was of the diarmadh'im, though Roelstra did not know this. Lallante bore him four daughters (Naydra, Lenala, Pandsala, and Ianthe) before dying in 679. Roelstra never remarried, but he took many mistressess and fathered a total of eighteen children; all were daughters.
Roelstra was a powerful and cunning ruler and few dared to cross him. Those who did usually wound up mysteriously dead or with a Merida blade in their back. Roelstra also discovered that the drug dranath could be used to enslave his Court Sunrunner, Crigo. Crigo was used to spy on other Princedoms and Keeps for the High Prince. He was caught spying on the new Prince of the Desert, Rohan, by the Sunrunner Sioned. The Desert had always been a thorn in the High Prince's side; its past ruler, Zehava, distrusted and disliked him and had been strong enough to withstand his plots. Anxious to remove this thorn, Roelstra offered his daughters in marriage to the young Prince Rohan, whom all accounts attributed a fool. Roelstra hoped to rule the Desert through his daughter's marriage to Rohan, and then, when an heir was born, dispose of him.
Rohan had been greatly underestimated. At the Rialla of 698, the young Prince did indeed seem the fool, but Roelstra grew to realize that it was merely an act on Rohan's part; beneath the young exterior lurked a dangerous opponent, one who thought with more than his sword. The young Prince had wrested a number of treaties out of Roelstra as the High Prince wished to fascillitate a marriage between their lines - and he figured he'd get everything from the Desert through Rohan and his daughter's son. The oung Prince also wanted the Desert's boundaries recognized by the other Princes, something that led into a debate about permanent princedom boundaries for all. A large part of Roelstra's power lay in playing the Princedoms against each other, so he let the debate heat furiously to the point where war seemed eminent, then accepted Lleyn of Dorval's proposal to gather records and await te next Rialla. Roelstra then proposed that in the mean time there would be peace between all Princedoms and if any one Princedom should attack another, then all Princedoms would unite behind the High Prince and go to the attacked Princedom's aid. Some were wary of this proposal, but all agreed and signed.
Also during this Rialla, Roelstra formed an interest in Sioned, the Sunrunner who had caught Crigo's spying and who was rumored to be Rohan's intended bride. Aside from the fact that she was involved with his enemy, Sioned was a beautiful woman and perhaps could give him a Sunrunner son - the goal, he assumed, of Andrade, Lady of Goddess Keep, in regards to Sioned's marriage to Rohan, who was Andrade's nephew. Roelstra managed to lure Sioned into his tent and cloud her mind with dranath, but a furious Prince Rohan swept to her rescue and proved once and for all that he was not the weak imbecile he had seemed. Soon thereafter Roelstra was told that Palila, his mistress, had borne him his long desired son. When he arrived aboard his barge, however, he discovered not a son, but two daughters and a plot to switch out his heir had one been born - or to switch in one. He also discovered that Palila had given Crigo too much dranath as she tried to get the drugged faradhi to warn Sioned away from Roelstra. Angered by his treasonous daughters and mistress, Roelstra was readt to execute them all, but Andrade convinced him to give Pandsala and little Chiana, which means 'treason' in the Old Tongue, over to her keeping. After the others left, Roelstra mocked Ianthe with Rohan's choice of bride: Sioned. Seeing the hatred burning in his daughter, he granted her Feruche Castle and promised her revenge. He then turned to Palila, whom he knew feared fire, and set her bed and hair on fire. The entire ship caught flame andby morning burned into the river.
Three quiet years passed, then the plague broke out, sweeping the continent. After many had died, including four of Roelstra's daughters, a cure was found in dranath, which only grew in the Veresch Mountains of Princemarch. Roelstra gathered the herb and sold it at high prices to the other Princedoms - sending some conveniently late as he awaited the deaths of opposing Princes. Prince Rohan of the Desert, who seemed to have infinite stores of gold, bought the drug en masse and distributed it to the other Princedoms. This made the other Princes look favorable toward the Desert. It was time to permanently remove the Desert thorn from his side.
Roelstra ordered the Merida, who were hiding in Feruche with Ianthe, to capture Rohan. Roelstra himself went to Syr in order to teach young Prince Jastri 'military maneuvers.' The Merida were to wait to attack Tiglath until Desert forces were split between the south and Feruche, but they attacked too soon. Roelstra held his and Jastri's armies back until Ianthe was pregnant. The War of 704 was long and fierce, though Roelstra's men outnumbered the Desert's southern forces nearly two to one. The biggest blow to Roelstra's army was when his elite horsemen wandered into a dragon feeding ground and were nearly all killed. Shortly afterward the Desert staged its last attack. It ended with a duel between Roelstra and Rohan, surrounded by the High Prince's own guard and lit by Sunrunner's Fire. Roelstra was assured of his victory here as the younger Prince was wounded, exhausted, and defeated in spirit. A starwoven dome suddenly formed around him and the Rohan, blocking the throwing knife aimed at Rohan from one of the High Prince's men. Sioned, Rohan's Sunrunner Princess, was somehow protecting her husband from miles away with starlight. Roelstra and Rohan fought, Roelstra appearing the clear victor as Rohan dropped first his sword and then his boot knives. Roelstra taunted the 'princeling' with what he had planned for Sioned - and Rohan's son. That goad was the High Prince's last as a new fury spurred Rohan to his feet, knife in hand, and then through Roelstra's throat. Roelstra fell. The war was ended. Rohan became High Prince.
| Preceded by Rinhoel |
Ruler of Princemarch 665 - 704 |
Succeeded by Pandsala (as Regent) |
| Preceded by Rinhoel |
High Prince 667 - 704 |
Succeeded by Rohan |
[edit] Ianthe
| Dragon Prince character | |
| Princess Ianthe of Princemarch | |
|---|---|
| Race | diarmadhi (unknown) |
| Birth | 676, Castle Crag, Princemarch |
| Titles | Lady of Feruche |
| Princedom | Princemarch |
Ianthe, Lady of Feruche, was Roelstra's favorite daughter as she was the most like him, both cruel and cunning. She was born in 676 to the High Prince and his only wife, Lallante of the Mountain. She was his last legitimate daughter. Like her sisters, Ianthe wanted to get out from under her father's iron rule as he did not let them out of Castle Crag. She also wanted to ensure that she got her inheritance - something that would not be guaranteed should Palila, Roelstra's pregnant mistress, bear a son. Ianthe hatched a scheme in which she and Pandsala would switch the possible male heir for a daughter.
The Rialla of 698 was Ianthe's first chance at freedom. She did not want it to be her last. Her best chance of escape seemed to lay with Prince Rohan of the Desert. Ianthe knew that her father wanted one of his legitimate daughters to wed the bumbling Prince and to rule the Desert through them and their sons. Out of her sisters, Ianthe was regarded as the most beautiful and the most intelligent; she knew she had a better chance of winning the Prince than the others. Ianthe played a sultry game and managed to spark at least some of Rohan's interest - for her cunning in awarding gems at the races - before she disgusted him by climbing into his bed. In fact, Ianthe was sure she would have one his hand - and his land - if it weren't for the Sunrunner witch, Sioned. Toward the end of the Rialla, Palila went into labor. Instead of sticking to the plan she had outlined to Pandsala, Ianthe told Palila she bore a son, then waited for her sister to arrive with a girl child. When Andrade and Roelstra caught both Princesses holding girls, Ianthe pretended ignorance of any schemes and presented her father with yet another daughter. Though it was unclear whether Roelstra believed her story, he condemned Palila, Pandsala, and his new daughter, Chiana. He then mockingly told Ianthe of Rohan's intentions to marry Sioned. Ianthe truly learned what it meant to hate and the power that hate could provide. Thrilled by the hatred and need for vengeance he saw in her, Roelstra granted Ianthe Feruche Castle. Together father and daughter hatched a plan that would bring Rohan, Sioned, and the entire Desert to their knees.
Over the years Ianthe worked secretly with the Merida to hastle the Desert. As she did so, she also took various lovers and bore three sons: Ruval, Marron, and Segev. Ianthe seemed to care for her sons, but she was not satisfied; she wanted Rohan's son and she wanted the Desert with him.
Three years after the plague struck - during which Ianthe had closed Feruche and had executed anyone who showed signs of the disease - Ianthe sent a party of Merida to capture Rohan, who was looking at the dragons between Skybowl and Feruche, dragons which Ianthe had made sure Rohan heard about. They were successful. Rohan had been injured in the battle and had caught a fever; Ianthe also kept him drugged on dranath. Pretending to be Sioned, she seduced Rohan, then laughed as she revealed her identity. Furious with her and what he had done, guilt-ridden for listening to her taunts about bearing sons and trying again, Rohan finally snapped and took Ianthe fiercely. Bruised but triumphant, Ianthe left Rohan to stew in his misery and disgust, promising to release him as soon as her pregnancy was confirmed. He raged and made as if to kill her, but Ianthe merely laughed; he wouldn't kill her. He wanted an heir. When Sioned attempted to free Rohan and instead was captured herself, Ianthe was ecstatic. She took Sioned's faradhi rings and emerald, then had Sioned thrown into a lightless dungeon cell. Ianthe sent soldiers to rape her past rival. A few weeks later Ianthe laughed as she released the Prince and Princess of the Desert; she laughed at their defeat and for her triumphant pregnancy.
She laughed too soon. When Rohan's child was born, Sioned returned to Feruche with Tobin and Ostvel. She claimed Rohan's son as her own and set the Keep ablaze. She would have killed Ianthe with her faradhi gifts - something strictly forbidden to a Sunrunner - if Ostvel hadn't stabbed Ianthe before she burned.
[edit] Ruval
| Dragon Prince character | |
 |
|
| Lord Ruval of Feruche | |
|---|---|
| Race | diarmadhi |
| Birth | 700, Feruche, Princemarch |
| Colors | amethyst, ruby, and garnet |
| Rings | wore ten mockingly |
| Princedom | Princemarch |
Ruval was born in 700, fathered by Chelan. He survived the plague and the burning of Feruche and was taken in to the mountains of Princemarch along with two of his younger half-brothers, Marron and Segev. The three brothers thought that Ianthe's youngest had burned with her. Ruval, Marron, and Segev were raised by the sorceress Mireva, who was a kinswoman of their grandmother, Lallante of the Mountain. Mireva taught Ruval to use his diarmadhi gifts and fuelled the fury of revenge inside him. She molded him to be the Sorcerer High Prince, his place by right of birth. In 726 he and Mireva went to Swalekeep to join Marron, who had infiltrated Chiana's guard. While their Ruval found an ancient diarmadhi mirror, which Mireva used to ensnare Chiana, who would later be made to wage war on Dragon's Rest, Pol's palace.
Two years later Ruval and Marron started to kill dragons. As intended, Desert Lords went to investigate. When Pol finally caught up with them - Ruval had hold of their third dragon - Ruval announced his name and his right to Princemarch. A battle ensued, during which Sorin, the new Lord of Feruche, was killed by Marron. The half-brother's escaped to Cunaxa and enlisted Prince Miyon's aid in getting them into Stronghold. Ruval and Marron disguised themselves in sorcery and rode with Prince Miyon's entourage to the Desert's royal seat.
As Ruval planned his challenge he gathered items, which belonged to Hollis and her children; he wanted their deaths because Hollis had killed Segev nine years earlier. After Marron's death and Mireva's capture, Ruval challenged Pol for the right to Princemarch. They duelled using both faradhi and diarmadhi skills. That Pol knew diarmadhi skills and could use them well, surprised Ruval; as did the revelation that Pol was, in fact, his youngest half-brother. At first Ruval and Pol seemed fairly well matched, but then Mireva escaped and aided Ruval. Pol faltered, but managed to survive and gain the upper hand; he called Sunrunner's Fire to the Desert. Both men were injured and growing desperate, when they heard a dragon roar. Ruval grabbed the dragonsire with sorcery and tried to make it kill Pol. Pol's mind battled with his and the dragon's, but then Pol let go. With him went the dragon, which turned on Ruval. The dragon, later to be bonded with Pol and named Azhdeen, killed Ruval, ending the duel and the last threat to Pol's rule of Princemarch and to the next High Prince.
[edit] Marron
Marron was born in 701, fathered by Evais. He was Ianthe's second son. Marron was not Mireva's favorite like Segev, not was he High Prince Roelstra's heir like Ruval. He was the middle son and he did not like it. While pretending to support Ruval as the rightful heir, Marron plotted behind his half-brother's back. He planned to become the High Prince himself. He travelled with Ruval to meet up with Prince Miyon of Cunaxa's entourage. Along the way they killed dragons to catch Rohan's attantion and killed Sorin, the young Lord of Feruche, nephew to the Sunrunner witch, Sioned, who had killed their mother, and Pol's cousin. To challenge Pol before Ruval could, he burst into the Great Hall of Stronghold and stated his claim to Princemarch. He also boasted about killing Sorin. When his challenge was dismissed, Marron grew angry and began to gather his sorcerous power; Andry, Lord of Goddess Keep and Sorin's twin brother, turned Marron's spell back onto himself, trapping Marron in flames and killing him. Sorin's death was avenged, but Andry was banished from the Desert for killing Marron using his gifts.
[edit] Segev
Segev was born in 703 fathered by Athil. He was the favorite student of Mireva, the sorceress kisnswoman of his grandmother, who raised Segev and his half-brothers. Mireva sent Segev to Goddess Keep in order to spy on Lady Andrade and the Princes at the upcoming Rialla. Arrogant Segev went along with Mireva's plan, but added his own goals. He wanted to be the High Prince, not just the supporter of Ruval. He felt that he was more powerful in the diarmadhi arts and more cunning besides.
While at Goddess Keep, Segev went by the name Sejast and put on a rural, innocent, mountain-boy routine, fooling most of the Sunrunners into thinking him harmless. He befriended a blond Sunrunner named Hollis, whom he thought beautiful. He began to imagine her at his side after he became High Prince. Segev, who already had been trained as a Sunrunner would, quickly earned his first faradhi ring. As the Man-making ritual drew near, Segev learned who his Sunrunner tutor would be. Hoping to get Hollis instead, he sabotaged his Sunrunner tutor, injuring her. The night came and Segev, who thought he'd been well trained by Mireva, was amazed by what the Sunrunner woman showed him. He imagined blonde hair and gave the woman some dranath laced taze. Over the next few days he watched the Sunrunner women for signs of the drug and was pleased, when they appeared in Hollis. He was doubly pleased when he discovered that Hollis was romantically involved with Lord Maarken, Prince Rohan of the Desert's nephew.
At the Rialla Segev continued to drug Hollis, gleefully amused by the confused hurt - and even jealous - expression on Maarken's face. Hollis eventually discovered that she had been drugged, but by that time if she resisted him or told anyone, he would withhold the dranath and she would die from the withdrawal. During the impostor Masul's challenge, Segev used sorcery against Maarken, who acted as Prince Pol's Champion. Segev had fun tormenting, Maarken, but was so concentrated that he didn't notice Hollis come up behind him. She stabbed him with an iron knife, killing him, and freeing her love from Segev's spell - but not before Maarken was badly hurt or Andrade, the Lady of Goddess Keep, died.
[edit] Pol
Pol was born in 704, fathered by Rohan, Prince of the Desert, during Rohan's capture at Feruche. Claimed by Sioned shortly after his birth, Pol did not learn that he was Ianthe's son until 728 after Ruval challenged him for the right to rule Princemarch. Rohan finally told him the truth. At first Pol was greatly disturbed, but he came to realize that Sioned truly was his mother, no matter who birthed him. It took Pol longer to accept the facets of his nature inherited from his birth mother's bloodline.
[edit] Meiglan
| Dragon Prince character | |
| Princess Meiglan of Cunaxa | |
|---|---|
| Race | human |
| Birth | 710, Gracine Manor, Cunaxa |
| Titles | High Princess, Princess of the Desert, Princess of Princemarch |
| Princedom | Princemarch, The Desert |
Princess Meiglan of Cunaxa was born in 710, she was Prince Miyon of Cunaxa's bastard daughter. She was not privvy to her father's plotting, but she was bait for Pol to fall in love with. She was a delicate, silk flower come into the harsh Desert sun, and Pol was instantly drawn to her, wanting to protect her. Meiglan fell in love with him easily; he was her fierce, brave, golden Prince. He was glorious; her very dreams come true. Until he let loose his temper, thinking she had deceived him. He did not harm her, not physically, but he yelled at her and that frightened and hurt her. When he realized she was innocent, he begged for her forgiveness and asked her to become his wife. Meiglan forgave him and gladly became his wife. In marrying Pol, she was safe and surrounded by many strong women. Meiglan, or Meggie as Pol called her, wanted to be strong too and a Princess people would respect.
In 730, Meiglan bore twin daughters, Jihan and Rislyn, both of whom had diarmadhi (and/or faradhi) gifts. Meiglan would sing to them and play the harp, which she loved and did beautifully. She lived happily and serenly with her family in Dragon's Rest, a beautiful Keep on the edge of Princemarch and the Desert, though she was terrified of the dragons, whom also made the valley their home or whom soared overhead.
As a Princess, Meiglan was very different from Sioned and Tobin. She was quieter and less obtrusive, which led to her often being overlooked. As a result other Princes and Princesses would loosen their tongues around her, enabling Meiglan to gather information in a way Sioned could not. Meiglan also started the fostering of noble daughters out to other courts. She did not want her daughters - or any girl - to be treated as she had been.
Seven years later Meiglan's life was turned upside down. The Vellant'im attacked the Continent. Meiglan feared for her husband's life, knowing he would go out and fight the enemy. After Pol's father, Rohan, died, Sioned stepped down as High Princess and bequeathed the title to Meiglan, along with Princess of the Desert. Striving to be a stong High Princess like her forebearer, Meiglan ordered the execution of three of her half-brothers, who had attacked Desert forces. She was badly shaken by the order. Meiglan tried to protect her daughters and be a pillar of strength for them, but was captured with Rislyn. However, during her captivity, Meiglan showed her bravery and intelligence; she asked to sew Pol a funeral blanket, on which she embroidered clues so that Pol would know the High Warlord of the Vellant'im's plans and where to rescue her and their daughter.
Rislyn was rescued, but Meiglan remained captive, held by the High Warlord's side. Until the very end of her life, Meiglan believed Pol would save her; he was her shining hero. She died looking at him with a smile upon her face.
| Preceded by Lallante |
Princess of Princemarch 728 - 737 |
Succeeded by Jihan |
| Preceded by Sioned |
Princess of the Desert 737 - 737 |
Succeeded by Jihan |
| Preceded by Sioned |
High Princess 737 - 737 |
Succeeded by Jihan |
[edit] Jihan
| Dragon Prince character | |
| Princess Jihan of Princemarch | |
|---|---|
| Race | diarmadhi |
| Birth | 730, Dragon's Rest, Princemarch |
| Princedom | Princemarch, The Desert, Cunaxa |
Jihan was born in 730 to Pol and Meiglan, and was diarmadhi gifted. She was the older twin and was always more outspoken than her sister. She was the heir and seemed more confident, stronger, but also less wise. Jihan was separated from her mother and sister during the war, but stood proudly at her father's side once the year long fighting had ended. Once she and her twin were reunited, Jihan acted as another set of eyes for Rislyn, who had been blinded. Taking care of her sister gave Jihan the maturity and compassion she had been lacking.
| Preceded by Meiglan |
Princess of Princemarch ??? |
Succeeded by ??? |
| Preceded by Meiglan |
Princess of the Desert ??? |
Succeeded by ??? |
| Preceded by Meiglan |
High Princess ??? |
Succeeded by ??? |
| Preceded by Miyon |
Princess of Cunaxa ??? |
Succeeded by ??? |
[edit] Rislyn
Rislyn was born in 730, twin to Jihan and daughter to Pol and Meiglan. Rislyn had always been the quieter daughter, more like her mother than her father. She often seemed outshown by her vibrant - and sometimes obnoxious - twin, but Rislyn held a quiet strength. When she and Meiglan were captured, Rislyn was blinded. She held on, strong and brave with her mother until she was rescued. Born with diarmadhi and halfling faradhi gifts, Rislyn was able to reach out to a dragon and bond with her. She was able to see again using her dragon and her faradhi abilities.
[edit] Pandsala
| Dragon Prince character | |
| Princess Pandsala of Princemarch | |
|---|---|
| Race | diarmadhi |
| Birth | 675, Castle Crag, Princemarch |
| Colors | sapphire, diamond, amethyst, and topaz |
| Rings | five |
| Titles | Regent of Princemarch |
| Princedom | Princemarch |
Pandsala, Regent of Princemarch, was born in 675 to Roelstra and his wife Lallante. She had been confined to Castle Crag throughout her childhood and youth, until the Rialla of 698. Like all of her sisters, Pandsala was desperate to escape her father's leash. The prime man available on the marriage-mart was Prince Rohan of the Desert, so she set her sights on him. She was clever, but Ianthe more so. As Roelstra despaired of ever fathering a son, his mistress, Palila, grew with yet another child. Ianthe told Pandsala that they would switch Palila's son for a daughter should she bear a male heir; Pandsala expanded on this plan, deciding to switch a daughter for a son should Palila help her win Rohan's hand. At the Rialla Ianthe and Pandsala caught Rohan's attention, though he also seemed oddly disinterested in a Sunrunner witch named Sioned. When Palila went into labor aboard the High Prince's barge, Ianthe watched over the mistress and Pandsala oversaw the four other pregnant women they had brought along - and induced into labor with herbs. Only one of the extra women had borne a child by the time Palila's child came. Pandsala decided to revert to Ianthe's original plan as her bargain with the mistress would be useless if Palila truly had a son. As Pandsala took a baby girl up to Palila's room, she called to Ianthe - who was standing with a suspicious Lady Andrade. Roelstra had been summoned and had been told he at long last had a son - only he found two daughters presented to him instead. Ianthe feined innocence in regards to the whole plan and accused Pandsala of trying to switch the babes on her own. Roelstra, furious, nearly attacked his older daughter, but Andrade convinced him to let her take Pandsala and the new daughter, Chiana, to Goddess Keep.
Pandsala tried to escape the Sunrunners' care many times the last day of the Rialla, and then acted like a woebegotten, captive Princess when she first arrived at Goddess Keep. Pandsala's tempermet improved greatly once it was discovered that she could be trained as a Sunrunner. She earned three faradhi rings over the next six years. During this time she also took care of her youngest half-sister.
In 704 a war loomed between Princemarch and the Desert. Andrade was eager to lend her aid the Desert, but Goddess Keep was surrounded by enemy forces kept to keep her 'safe' within. Pandsala volunteered to use her position as the High Prince's daughter to escape the Keep. Disguised, Andrade and Urival followed her as servants. Pandsala left the Lady of Goddess Keep and sought out her father; she offered her sunrunning services to him. While gathering him information and viewing the layout of the Desert troops, she also aided the Desert by passing Sioned information and suggesting her father's troops pass though a dragon feeding ground.
The war ended with Roelstra dead and Rohan becoming High Prince. Instead of claiming Princemarch as his own, he gave it to his newborn son, Pol. As Roelstra's last unmarried, legitimate daughter, and the fact that she had helped him, Rohan named Pandsala Reagent of Princemarch until Pol was of age to rule it. Pandsala was more than grateful and swore fealty to Rohan and utter loyalty to the young Pol. In order to ensure that Pol's claim on Princemarch went unchallenged, Pandsala sought to eliminate others within Roelstra's line. Secretly, she killed (or had killed) five of her half-sisters (Cipris, Nayati, Pavla, Rabia, Rusalka), and also Ajit, Prince of Firon and husband to Pavla, Inoat and Jos, heirs to Ossetia, and Obram, heir to Isel, because she wanted Pol to inherit those princedoms as well.
At the Rialla in 719, she told Rohan all she had done for Pol. She told him that she was glad that his heir, whom she referred to viewing as 'their' son, would rule in Princemarch as High Prince and not one of Roelstra's line. When Rohan discovered what she had done out of her twisted sense of devotion, he was aghast. Laughing bitterly at the horror of it all, he told her the truth of Pol's birth - that Pol was Ianthe's son. Pandsala was horrified. Rohan made sure that Pol did not gain from any of Pandsala's murders. Laric of Dorval became Prince of Firon, Ossetia was Gemma of Syr's dowry, and Arlis later inherited the joined Princedom of Kierst-Isel.
During the challenge between Maarken and the pretender Masul, Pandsala realied that she was a diarmadhi as she could feel sorcery burning the rings on her fingers. Recognizing Ianthe's son at last, Pandsala confronted Segev, only to be struck down by him. She was accorded all the Burning rights as befitted a Princess and Regent of Princemarch.
| Preceded by Roelstra |
Ruler of Princemarch (as Regent) 705 - 719 |
Succeeded by Ostvel (as Regent) |
[edit] Naydra
Naydra, Lady of Port Andi, was born in 673 to Roelstra and Lallante. She was his oldest legitimate daughter and would have been considered his heir if she weren't also considered slightly simple in the head. Naydra, like her sisters, showed an interest in Prince Rohan at the Rialla in 698, but unlike the others she was not affected by his disinterest. Seven years later she married Narat, Lord of Port Adni, and lived quite happily for many years. She lived through Pandsala's eradication on Roelstra's line by the fact that she was barren and no threat to Pol's inheritance.
After her husband died in 737 and the Vellant'im invaded, Naydra helped Pol contact the diarmadhi hiding in Veresch, the mountains of her mother's birth. Naydra too had been born with the diarmadhi gifts and she aided her High Prince and nephew as best she could.
[edit] Chiana
| Dragon Prince character | |
| Lady Chiana | |
|---|---|
| Race | human |
| Birth | 698, Waes, Meadowlord |
| Titles | Princess of Meadowlord |
| Princedom | Meadowlord |
Chiana, Princess of Meadowlord, was born in 698 to Roelstra's mistress Palila; she was his youngest daughter. She was taken with Pandsala to Goddess Keep after her mother, Palila was executed by fire aboard Roelstra's barge at the 698 Rialla. Roelstra had named her 'Treason' in the Old Tongue for her mother's crimes and her half-sisters' plottings. Chiana lived at Goddess Keep, a little hellion, until she 'escaped' in 704 during the war between Princemarch and the Desert.
In the 719 debate, Chiana was one of the strongest supporters of Pol's claim to Princemarch. She supported him, not out of loyalty, but due to the fact that if Masul were regarded as Roelstra's heir, then she would be naught but a servant's child. Eventually the pretender was proven false and Chiana's place assured, though aftrewards she always felt the need to prove she was indeed the late High Prince Roelstra's daughter and deserving of the title 'Princess.' At that same Rialla she married Halian, heir to Meadowlord. In 722, Chiana's dreams - and ambitions - came true: she was a Princess, the Princess of Meadowlord.
Mireva, Ruval, and Marron, all diarmadh'im, used Chiana in their plans to challenge Pol. Marron infiltrated the Meadowlord guards and rose in rank to get close to Chiana. After he had won her 'trust' with the aid of some sorcery, he brought Mireva to her as a type of fortune teller. Mireva brought a large mirror with her, which Ruval had found. Through the mirror, Mireva ensorcelled Chiana and used the Princess to stage an attack on Dragon's Rest. Chiana's desire to step foot in Castle Crag and to see her son Rinhoel rule it, aided Mireva's sorcery. In 728 Chiana led the Meadowlord army into Princemarch with the aid of diarmadh'im and a disgruntled Lord Morlen of Rezald Keep. Ostvel and his Sunrunner discovered the army and went to Dragon's Rest to defend the Keep. As the army marched into the valley Andry, Lord of Goddess Keep, formed a ros'salath, a sorcerous wall of horrors, to send the soldiers reeling. Knowing that the army was defeated, Mireva made Chiana smash the mirror, which released the Princess from the spell.
Chiana bore two children, Rinhoel and Palila. Rinhoel was her little darling; she spoiled him rotten. He grew into a greedy young man, and in 737 he murdered his father, impatient to be Prince himself. Chiana helped him hide the murder and together they tried to save their own necks by aiding the Vellant'im. For their betrayal, Pol sent them with their allies, the Vellant'im, across the sea.
- Rinhoel: Born in 720 to Chiana and Halian, he was the heir of Meadowlord. Coddled by his mother he grew greedy and arrogant. He went to train at Remegev in the summer of 735 as most young Princes and lords do, but he was not well received. Impatient to take his place as Prince and angered at his father, Rinhoel slew him in 737, in the midst of the Vellanti war. Chiana helped hide what he had done, and the two of them aided the Vellant'im against High Prince Pol's forces. To their disbelief, Pol defeated the Vellant'im. In punishment for their betrayal, Pol banished Rinhoel and his mother with their Vellanti allies.
- Palila: Born in 723 to Chiana and Halian, she was named after her grandmother, whom Chiana had never known. It had once been questioned whether Roelstra and Palila were actually Chiana's parents; Palila's naming was further proof that the past questioning had made Chiana insecure and unsure of her place in the world.
[edit] Roelstra's other daughters
- Lenala of Princemarch: Born in 664 to Roelstra and Lallante of the Mountain, Lenala was one of Roelstra's four legitimate daughters. She attended the 698 Rialla with her sisters and tried to gain the attention and affection of Prince Rohan. She was considered to be the dimmest of her four sisters, and failed in her half-hearted pursuit. She died of plague in 701.
- Gevina: Born in 679 to Roelstra's mistress Vamana. She died of plague in 701.
- Rusalka: Born in 680 to Roelstra's mistress Vamana. She was killed by Pandsala to ensure Pol's claim on Princemarch.
- Alieta: Born to Roelstra's mistress Vamana.
- Nayati: Born in 684 to Roelstra's mistress Vamana. She was killed by Pandsala to ensure Pol's claim on Princemarch.
- Kiele, Lady of Waes: Born in 681 to Roelstra's mistress Karayan. She married Lyell, Lord of Waes, and became the mother of Geir and Lyela. In 719 Kiele and her husband were executed for treason and aiding Masul, the pretender.
- Lamia: Born in 683 to Roelstra's mistress Karayan. She died of plague in 701.
- Moria: Born in 684 to Roelstra's mistress Surya.
- Cipris: Born in 687 to Roelstra's mistress Surya. She was killed by Pandsala in order to ensure Pol's claim to Princemarch.
- Pavla: Born in 692 to Roelstra's mistress Palila, Pavla married Ajit, Prince of Firon. She and Ajit were killed by Pandsala so that Pol could inherit the Princedom of Firon.
- Jelena: Born in 692 to Roelstra's mistress Palila. She died of plague.
- Moswen: Born in 692 to Roelstra's mistress Palila.
- Rabia: Born in 693 to Roelstra's mistress Palila. She married Patwin, Lord of Catha Heights and bore three children: Izaea, Sangna, Aurar. She was killed by Pandsala in order to ensure Pol's claim to Princemarch.
- Danladi, Princess of Syr: Born in 694 to Roelstra's mistress Aladra. Fostered at High Kirat, Danladi was befriended by Gemma of Syr; the two best friends later became sisters, when they married brothers, Kostas and Tilal, respectively.
