The Reign of King Nathan Coldstone

Traceroo

Rogue
Study of the history of this great kingdom is a particular lifelong passion of mine. Thus, as a member of the Loremasters Guild, I am pleased to share with any who share this interest of mine a report that I have prepared for the guild's general use...


The Reign of King Nathan Coldstone
Prepared for the Loremasters Guild of Acarthia
By Dame Katherine Albright of Rivervale
September 416


Acarthian history credits the reign of His Majesty King Nathan Coldstone as the greatest period of expansion in the kingdom. The first duchies and baronies of the kingdom were founded at the command of King Nathan, thus expanding not merely the physical borders of the kingdom, but its internal structure of governance as well.

His Majesty King Nathan Coldstone reigned for about 25 years in Acarthian history, from at least the year 210 to sometime in the early 230s.

In the year 210, the Kingdom’s boundaries blanketed most of what is now known as the royal fiefs around Acarthia proper (the kingdom’s capital city), and the barest north of Rivervale down to Foxglove Hollow, and out to the west to New Acarthia as the smallest and most remote outpost of the kingdom. We cannot know what strength of influence the Acarthian Kingdom exerted over its remote boundaries to the west, and into what is now modern Rivervale, for these were wild areas indeed! King Nathan encouraged expeditions into the west and the south, and around the shores of the Starfall Sea to expand the borders of Acarthia.

Rivervale was the first barony founded in the entire kingdom, not merely in what is now the Duchy of Acarthia. Sir Corbin Raef, a human knight of the equally entirely human royal court, was a builder who lead military troops to rid the southern woods of goblins, and established solid trade routes into the area that is now the estate of Emberwatch in northern Rivervale. That area in the far north of modern Rivervale was already tamed for more than 200 years, and Sir Corbin is remembered as a man of calm demeanor, more of a politician than a warrior. His Majesty King Nathan founded Rivervale as the first barony of the kingdom in the year 223 with Sir Corbin Raef as its first ruler. Eventually, the first baron would adopt the name of his new land as his surname: Baron Corbin Rivervale. Whether he adopted this immediately upon his elevation, or acted for some time as Baron Corbin Raef is not recorded even within Rivervalean history. (As a further note of interest to my fellow scholars of Rivervale history, the first Knight of Rivervale was the Baron’s squire, Richard Morrison, who became Knight Champion in the year 229. Baron Corbin’s eventual successor, Dame Sabrina Ramsey whom history loves so well, was a knight of the Royal Court. She would have been born sometime early after the founding of the barony, and alas, was not a player in such events of the age.)

Most of what is now the Barony of Rivervale was embroiled in a war with goblins which suffered its worst from 218–223, but would continue further largely until near the year 260, referred to simply as, “The Goblin Wars.” Goblins were much more populous during that time period, and a feared opponent in their excessive numbers. To this day, goblins remain one of the few monstrous predators found in the Rivervale interior. During the reign of King Nathan and at the founding of the barony, goblins would have been considered a serious threat.

Shortly after the founding of Rivervale in 223, another royal knight, Sir Istan Tiatar lead the first serious expedition to the southwest of the kingdom’s borders, following the shore of the Starfall Sea. The party made it to the junction of the Silverhawk River, to an area that would now be included in the estate of Starfall in Tiatar. On the return northward, Sir Istan’s party encountered hostile ogres which killed the good knight. The fallen knight’s squire and good cousin, Squire Tremont Tiatar, assumed command and managed to lead the party from danger. His Majesty the King honored Tremont Tiatar with his knighthood, and quick elevation to follow as first Baron of Tiatar, which was founded shortly after the year 225. It had only one estate established, with the town of Homestead which is on the western shore of the Starfall Sea. Homestead would have been the only destination port on the seashore from Emberwatch in Rivervale, Dockside and Aldridge on the north shore. Tiatar was considered the wild frontier of the time – but opportunities there for trade and industry must have been very tempting for the bold! With its unique contact with the stone elves and exchange of magical knowledge, and lucrative trade potential, Tiatar quickly became the center of cultural and social diversity in an otherwise very much predominantly human kingdom. As Tiatar expanded on the southern shores of the Starfall Sea, equally its neighbor to the east, Rivervale expanded down the eastern seacoast. That newest barony fought what is known as the “War of the Yards” for 30 years from 227–257. Records are unclear, but it was probably fought against the various forces still present in the Howling Woods today, mainly ogres.

As a sidenote, the name Richardson is noted as being a political contender against Raef and Tiatar in the time, and might well have been named instead of one of those two worthies had events proceeded differently.

To be clear: the Baronies of Warchester and Bayenna would not be founded for many years following the end of King Nathan Coldstone’s reign. Even exploration unto those untamed areas was probably unheardof during the time.

With two baronies then filling out the growing kingdom, the time had come for His Majesty the King to delegate leadership over the frontier areas. He appointed his wife’s brother as the first Duke of Acarthia. The first was Duke Zachary Cosgrave. Historically, the King’s family of Coldstone, and his wife’s family of Cosgrave have more often than not been considered rivals in society and commerce. A Coldstone monarch choosing a Cosgrave as his spouse is significant in terms of political connection and alliance of the times. That the King chose to name a Cosgrave as the very first Duke – at the time an unprecedented position of honor and power – shows us that King Nathan Coldstone probably owed the Cosgrave Family a great debt in that time period. That information may be politically significant in interpretation of the events of the time.

All of this expansion and conquest was costly for the kingdom not merely in coin, but moreso in the lives of its footsoldiers. The War of Yards in Tiatar, in particular, is written to have been brutal and costly indeed in lives. King Nathan was in the precarious position of needing to recruit more extensively to support the expansions. It’s suggested that by the late 220s, His Majesty expanded the practice of conscription in many unwelcome directions: younger toward even children of the time being pressed into service, as well as those previously thought too wealthy, or too powerful to be caught in the net of conscription. Some records indicate that His Majesty’s conscription plan may have been universally unpopular among noble and commoner alike, as they saw their children disappearing into the wilds with an Acarthian tabard on their backs.

The late years of King Nathan Coldstone’s reign are one of the darkest and most shameful periods of Acarthian history. By the late 220s, Acarthians rose in rebellion began against their king! What records exist suggest that it was only the common people who rose up against their ruler although the King was hard pressed by the revolt, and his very life was threatened. It is my interpretation of history that peasants of the age, armed only with farming implements and crude weaponry could not threaten a king in a stone castle on their own. Surely, I believe, the nobility and some of the Old Families of Acarthia must have supported that rebellion in some measure at least with wealth and material resources if not also with soldiers and tactical leadership. History is quick to forget the transgressions of the wealthy and honored, and at ease to remember the nameless involved in such a harrowing chapter, I believe.

It is said that His Majesty King Nathan Coldstone of Acarthia dared try to use his power of the landbond to strike down the Acarthian rebels! The Land itself refused to heed the King’s call! It would not strike down Acarthians at the King’s command. King Nathan lost the power of his bond with the land, and thereafter did all nobles of Acarthia. From thence forward, it is said that the landbonds ceased to answer to Acarthian nobles. The kingdom ceased its practice of tests within the Cave of Chivalry until the year 414.

By the year 230, the rebellion had breached the walls of the King’s castle. His Majesty’s life was under imminent threat. Spinners have shown a vision of The King meeting in the throne room with a mysterious advisor whose appearance was shrouded by robes and hood. The King feared for his life, and bargained with the advisor who was apparently in a position to offer assistance. The price the advisor asked was steep: That the King would give over his only child, Princess Laura Coldstone, who was about 10 years-old at the time. In exchange, the advisor had the power to save the King’s life.

The King agreed.

At that moment, the advisor is said to have produced an entirely inhuman noise, maybe even avian in nature. The shrouded advisor encircled the young Princess Laura in its arms, and together they rifted away. That was the last that Princess Laura Coldstone was ever seen.

King Nathan Coldstone survived the onslaught against the castle; the rebels were repelled. Not long later, the King’s wife, Lady Clarice Coldstone, died of grief over her daughter’s disappearance. King Nathan lived several more years… until a second, more successful rebellion eventually claimed the King’s life. It is the only recorded act of regicide in Acarthian history, a dark shame upon the kingdom. The Old Families of Acarthia bonded together to form a council, and from their own chose a successor monarch from the Aldridge Family. History does not record that king’s first name. That was the end of the Coldstone Family’s royal reign, and King Aldridge was the first Acarthian monarch from another family. King Aldridge died without children, the tradition of succession at the time, and the crown passed to a third family at that time.

As a sad and mournful coda to this tragic tale of rebellion and regicide, there are some who claim that the ghost of none other than Lady Clarice Coldstone was seen during All Hallows Eve in 415. They say that the ghost has searched all of the realms of the dead for her daughter Laura, and has never yet found her. Lady Clarice Coldstone’s ghost still wanders the land, searching for reconnection with Princess Laura, whom the royal ghost does not believe is dead at all....
 
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Further to the subject at hand, I have also prepared a companion piece on the styles and traditions of the time period:

Titles and Forms of Address During the Reign of King Nathan Coldstone
Prepared for the Loremasters Guild of Acarthia
By Dame Katherine Albright of Rivervale
September 416



Modern forms of courtly address have their roots within ancient forms. The newness of certain titles such as Duke and Baron would have styled customs somewhat differently during the Reign of King Nathan Coldstone, c. 210–230.

Race
Of cultural note is that the founders of the Kingdom of Acarthia were human. Contact with other races such as elves and stone elves was not commonplace even among privileged groups until the reign of King Nathan, around the 220s. Acarthia would not grow comfortable with the placement of other races among its nobility and squires until many generations later. In particular, history suggests that wilderkin may have had a particularly difficult time socially among human settlements during this time period.

Without question, history would in no way consider ogres, orcs, goblins, trolls, kobolds, gnolls, and other denizens of the modern Howling Woods to be counted as “races” or “people” in the farthest stretch of the imagination. The mere suggestion that the dreaded monstrous enemy of the time, goblins, might have been capable of learning chivalry or acting in a manner that Acarthia found to be civilized, would have fodder for an accusation of madness. In such a time, there would have been no implication that such creatures were capable of education, honor, peace, or civility – saying so surely would have been “fighting words” in the Court of King Nathan.


Gender
The early history of Acarthia was very strongly dominated by tales of the works of human males. Expressions such as, “Son of…” rather than a family surname were not uncommon in use at the time. To suggest that a man was “worthy of his father’s name” was a compliment of some high praise. The knighthood was open to women from the very founding of the kingdom and its earliest generations, so to be sure, there were women among the knighthood. It would not be until the year 259 that Acarthia named its first female Baroness. A woman of the time might not necessarily have expected to be insulted or denigrated for her sex, however. I simply note that most tales of early Acarthian heroes are tales of men. The great tales of Acarthian heroines would have to wait for a later, more enlightened time in history.

Therefore, one may extrapolate that manners of the time may have been especially genteel in respect to women: To open the door for ladies, to rise to stand when they enter the room or join a party, to be extra careful to address women of all stations, however low or high, as, “My Lady.” Ancient customs of chivalry may have assumed women to be of the class of inherent weakness which one must defend – and believe me, I can barely drag my own quill to pen those words myself in this modern age, but that is my belief of the benighted ideals of the time period.


Hereditary Rule of Monarchs
King Nathan was the last of the Coldstone monarchs. Thus, address such as, “King Coldstone” is not descriptive enough, as there have been many. His Majesty the King of Acarthia is usually labeled familiarly in conversation such as, “King Nathan,” or the full, “King Nathan Coldstone,” in greater formality.

That stands true to this day. There have been many King Moorefields. His Majesty the King of Acarthia is thus described as, “King Nigel,” or “King Nigel Moorefield.”

As is true today, one would have been expected to kneel fully in the presence of the King, and remain kneeling until the King departed or gave his motion to rise. One is never informal in the presence of the King – not now, and not then.


Lady Clarice Coldstone
Only those who have passed the Tests of Chivalry may wear the white belt. Only those who wear the white belt are eligible for titles of higher nobility – even the King and Queen of Acarthia. This has always been true. Lady Clarice Coldstone was not a belted knight, and thus was never bestowed the title of Queen. Her proper address was thus, “Her Majesty Lady Clarice,” or the full, “Her Majesty Lady Clarice Coldstone.”

This rule stands true to this day. Her Majesty Lady Rosalie Moorefield does not bear the title of Queen of Acarthia, and is thus spoken of as, “Her Majesty Lady Rosalie.”

Incidentally, this rule is why it is redundant to add a knight's title to that of higher nobility. One need not say Duchess Dame Ilianna Tiberion, as only a knight can be Duchess. Just saying "Duchess" implies the rest.


Duke Zachary Cosgrave of Acarthia
As there was only one duke within the Kingdom of Acarthia at the time, it is unlikely that the variant, “Your Grace” had yet come into style. That esteemed figure was most likely abbreviated simply as, “The Duke,” for there was no other.

Without knowledge of any variant, one may assume that formal manners such as kneeling in the presence of the Duke was demanded within the time.


Barons of Rivervale and Tiatar
The style of “Your Excellency” may not have been adopted so early, but it is of sufficiently innocent stature that it would likely not have been noticeably inappropriate if used. “My Lord Baron” was surely the typical form of address.

In modern style, it is always appropriate to address higher nobility by the name of their land. One can only guess when this became stylistically appropriate in history. Perhaps the family and exact address of “Baron Tiatar” may have prompted Baron Corbin Raef to take on the surname of Rivervale for symmetry!

In the modern day, proper manners in Tiatar call for address by surname until one is familiar enough to be invited to use a first name. This is an aged tradition in the lands of Tiatar. Thus, that baron was surely, “Baron Tiatar” to all but his closest confidantes, and never the familiar, “Baron Tremont” under any circumstances whatsoever. Were there any early nobles, squires, or even well-placed common leaders such as guildmasters from Tiatar, the same social nicety would have applied to them as well.


Knights and Lords
Surely the timeless forms of address, “Dame Knight” and “Sir Knight,” and the properly pronounced “My Lady” and “My Lord” must have been in use during the time.

In the modern age, courtly manners do not call for one to kneel or bow before the lower nobility (knights and lords) – but that may well have been the custom during the reign of King Nathan’s court, when they were fewer in number. If one hoped to avoid giving offense, bowing might have been the safest course of action.


Commoners
It was a more dangerous time than our own, and perhaps thus one holding less respect in address for the commonpeople. I suspect that the modern form of “Milady” or “M’Lord” for commoners may have been of noticeable over-abundance of courtesy in such an age. One who was overly solicitous to the commonpeople might well have drawn notice for it during such a violent and harsh age.
 
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