Like Donovards, the people of the Empire of Rugenhav trace their origins to some of the first Brintilian colonies of the Old World and share many of the same rigid beliefs about honor and reputation. However, their lineage became much more mixed with the local natives, a heritage they proudly embrace, unlike the Donovards. Rugen society is built on a highly structured system where tribal pedigree and military service is bedrock, resulting in one of the largest standing armies of Pemonia.
The flag of Rugenhav—a wolf’s head and five crowns on a field of blue—represents the empire’s wars of unification of five old kingdoms, its origins as a maritime colony, and the high regard that Rugens hold for their well-trained wolf-dog breeds. The emperor sets the Meteor Law, a reference to the authority seen in his skystone crown, and delegates power to wardens who govern the provinces.
Although the Rugens typically present a gruff and dour exterior, they enjoy sour fruit beers, forest bathing to meditate and rejuvenate in all seasons, and walking among preserved tribal architecture to honor their ancestors. Gambling is strictly forbidden and rigorously enforced, with the sole exception of annual wolf-dog tournaments.
Theudamer
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Ingother Theudamer, Emperor of Rugenhav, matches his wolf-headed throne’s imposing stature with his uncommon height and dark gaze. His armor and grotesque crown, crafted from hammered meteoric iron, complete his unearthly form. Despite his appearance as a demigod of war and his unremitting brutality when brought to full anger, Theudamer is a contemplative strategist. He is discerning, pragmatic in his decisions, and confident in carrying them out.
Theudamer sees war looming on the horizon beyond the collapse of the Empire Alliance. He views this as an opportunity to revive his empire’s former expanse. The simultaneous pregnancy of Empress Evorelune with their first child is, for him, a most welcome omen of his empire’s rebirth.
To achieve his aims, Theudamer values a balanced court of advisors that includes his favorite pacifist Herzol, several warmongering generals–particularly Graf–and his niece Meliamour, a cleverly neutral spymaster. Unlike the generals and Herzol, who advocate for or against certain plans, Theudamer knows Meliamour’s counsel always aligns with his own thinking, as she takes every opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty to his wishes. He will use all of their talents to realize his ambition and carve his name in the bedrock of a greater Rugenhav.
Graf
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Graf, Warden of Havelburn, is one of Emperor Theudamer’s most aggressive generals and an exceptional knight. Anticipating war if the old Empire Alliance falters, he has made it repeatedly clear to Theudamer that he wishes to lead the invasion of the Kingdom of Donovan on his behalf, to the occasional irritation of the emperor’s more gradual strategic thinking style.
Despite the widely held view that Theudamer is a decisive leader, Graf thinks the emperor moves too slowly. He is careful to be as outwardly loyal to the emperor as possible, but he harbors a deeper loyalty to the Rugen Empire itself. This private view, that emperor and empire are separate entities, is traitorous, but Graf has never voiced it to anyone.
Graf favors launching the war as soon as possible. Aside from rushing the emperor’s planning, this puts Graf in natural tension with Herzol’s pacifism and Meliamour’s cold neutrality during council sessions. This doesn’t bother Graf, as he is happy to continue pushing the emperor to act more quickly. Given the chance, Graf would see the empire conquer the entire continent of Pemonia, and perhaps realms beyond.
Meliamour
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Meliamour is spymaster to her uncle, Theudamer, the Emperor of Rugenhav. Though unusually young for her post, she excelled at the Widsemer Academy in Karnool. Forced by her uncle to withdraw from the school early, she apprenticed under Theudamer’s aging spymaster until he unexpectedly died. Thereafter, she ascended to his council.
Ever eager to demonstrate her loyalty to the emperor, Meliamour has deployed her best assassins and saboteurs, the Wosmoks, across western Pemonia to arrange every advantage for her uncle as the Empire Alliance threatens to collapse. She sent most of her Wosmoks into the Kingdom of Donovan, Rugenhav’s ancient enemy, to prepare the way for her uncle’s armies, should war come.
Meliamour’s only worry is her older sister, Vesamune, who serves as the imperial ambassador to Donovan. She is concerned that Theudamer does not adequately provide for Vesamune’s protection while she is in the Donovard’s capital of Eglamour, and that they could imprison Vesamune if war breaks out. Although Theudamer has assured her of Vesamune’s critical role in the foreign capital, Meliamour fears he would be willing to sacrifice her sister—something she must make plans to prevent.
Wredegar
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Wredegar, one of Meliamour’s best Wosmoks, was deployed to the Kingdom of Donovan on a dangerous mission that went awry. A survivor, he makes his way to the capital of Eglamour where he seeks refuge with Vesamune. He resents the ambassador for many reasons, not least because she makes him hide in the cellar of her estate. She is too busy for him, given her flurry of meetings with Donovard officials as the Empire Alliance begins to crumble, and neglects him as he waits for new orders from Meliamour.
Wredegar has made no secret of his distaste for the Wosmok life. He considers himself an honorable knight, first and foremost, and is the son of Emperor Theudamer’s favorite counselor, Herzol. While Wredegar endures the assignment on his father’s orders, he longs to return to Rugenhav.
Until then, Wredegar does his best to find his next target and consider how to best subvert Donovan from within. However, the revival of Candlestone, which shares many of his objectives for different reasons, will present Wredegar with a new challenge—one he is ill-prepared to manage on his own.
