King Eric Carver

King Eric II of The Canton Kingdom
Class	Fighter
Race	Human
Hometown	Danberg, Pineborough, Canton Kingdom
Gender	Male
Height	6'1"
Weight	189
Alignment	Good
Deity	Garret

King Eric II of House Carver, is the current king of the Canton Kingdom. He was born in 1387 DR, to Allen Carver, a Red Rose in the Danberg militia, and Célia Alcantara, a Danberg barmaid. Allen raised his son with a deep sense of responsibility towards others, and to speak only when there was something worth saying. In 1397 DR, Allen died during the Great Pandemic, an outbreak of disease that spread across the Windman continent, and Eric was forced to move in with his mother. With her, he worked at his grandfather's bar. At the age of 15, he found himself the victim of the workings of the Danberg underworld. Returning home from a delivery late one night, he found his grandfather dead, and his mother being brutally raped. He drew another's blood for the first time, killing the attackers with one of their own swords. His mother, bloody and beaten, did not survive to morning, and Carver found the responsibilities of running the establishment squarely on his shoulders. He quickly discovered his grandfather's connections with smugglers, and that many of the deliveries he'd undertaken in his years working for his grandfather had been to move around these illicit goods. Eric resolved to put an end to this, and retrieved the one item his father had left to him - his now rusted sabre. He then reported what he found to the authorities and, with with his father's weapon, spent the next few months fighting off assassins and cut throats who had been sent to silence him until the band of smugglers had finally been rounded up, and their noble backer executed for treason. It was this incident when Duke James Smythe took notice of the resourceful young man. For the next six years, Carver spent all of his time maintaining the bar, but had little skill as a brewer. On top of that, the Pandemic several years before had a negative effect on the economy, and after burning through most of his savings, was eventually faced with having to close the establishment. On what would be the last day he spent as a bar keep, an old man hobbled into the tavern and sat down, ordering just a light cider. The man then told a tale of a great treasure on an island to the south of the Aeg continent. After reciting his story, the man slumped over on his bar stool, and died. With that Carver shut the bar down, and made a visit to the Duke, who, after hearing the tale of the treasure, paid Carver's debt and gave him a small sum of money so he could quest for this treasure. On this quest, Carver met several others who had also received the same cryptic message in a similar way. First, a Gallantrian Colonel named Louden Stirling, who had told his lord, Viscount Thomas Hayze, of the tale, and as a reward was attacked and nearly killed. Stirling was now racing Hayze, while simultaneously running from him, in a quest for the treasure. Also, the sisters Maria and Ladia Weller, half-continental elf women and traveling minstrels who also sought the treasure. His journey was arduous, but eventually he and the others made it to the island that they had been told about, finding Hayze had beaten them all, and was scouring the land for the treasure. He quickly found it, and a great power coursed through his body. With the merest snap of his finger, he was able to destroy the other's ships and left them on the island to rot. During his six months on the deserted island he and one of the Weller sisters grew rather fond of one another. Eventually, the group of them resolved to get back to the mainland, and, building a crude raft, were able to return to southern Aeg. Immediately they knew something was wrong. Aeg, a very dangerous continent to being with, now seemed infested with all sort of foul creatures. After fighting their way back to the windman continent, Eric and his crew discovered what had happened in Seamouth - Hayze had landed near Dallaall with a large force of foul creatures from Aeg, and had begun conquering all he set his eyes upon. He wielded a great power, and was laying armies low everywhere he went. Feeling responsible, Carver and his allies put all their resources into fighting against Hayze. Carver, after his dealings with the Insel Elves and Dallaall were able to enlist their aid. Together they were able to retake Andel Boum and then Danberg, freeing Duke Smythe from captivity. From there they traveled to Gallantria, where Stirling was able to assemble tattered remains of the Gallantrian military and enlist the aid of the dwarves of Gallantria, to liberate Gallans. The Weller sisters traveled to the Great Forest to appeal to the continental elves. This all culminated at the Battle of Windfall, where Carver and his allies lead the combined armies of the Windman Continent in a final attack on the tower Windfall, Hayze's base of operations. Carver and his crew fought their way through the armies and assaulted Windfall directly, where they confronted Hayze and defeated him. With his defeat, the armies under his command scattered.

Duke Smyth, now king since he was the only living member of his family at this point, appointed Carver as his replacement in Danberg. Eric and Ladia Weller were married later that year, and Allen, their first child, was born in 1413 DR (age 28). Allen currently travels abroad leaning the finer points of the caravan trade. Two years later, their fist daughter was born, Laresh (age 26), who is now queen of the small kingdom of Loshmere in the far west of the windman continent. After that Richard (age 21), now a Paladin of Lykora, was born in 1420 DR, and finally 6 years later, Krysta in 1426 DR.

Carver is thought of as a generally fair ruler during his reign. Having been born a commoner, he is more sympathetic to their plight. He is known as a patron of the arts (though no where near as free with his money as Duke Piondargas of Andel Boum), and a capable military commander. During the recent attacks on Danberg, he would frequently be seen at or near the front lines (despite protests by his White Roses), directing soldiers and looking for weaknesses in the line. He is a capable fighter, though mostly out of practice. When going into battle, he tends to fight with lance and saber from horseback. When not on horseback, saber and shield.

Ascension to the Throne

A ducal council was formed upon the death of King James Smythe, who had no heir. Initially many thought the selection of Carver as the next king would be swift. King James had frequently stated his intent for Carver to succeed him, however he had made no official decrees. At the meeting of the council, Regent Richard De Agueda produced a document, signed and marked by King James, indicating that another duke, Ferdinand De Agueda, Thomas's cousin, was the James's chosen heir. The Ducal Council was deadlocked for a week, with Regent de Agueda constantly blocking any move by the council to vote on succession.

During this time, The crown jewels were stolen by a group of thieves. Carver's seneschal, Bendroden Lightbringer, sent a band of mercenaries under his hire to investigate the theft. Thus, Carver's men found the jewels and returned them.

Next, Carver found his house directly under attack. His youngest daughter, Lady Krysta Carver was abducted while wandering through the market place. Luckily, that same band of mercenaries were witness to the abduction, and were able to give chase and recover the girl before any harm came to her.

The drama surrounding the Ducal Council finally came to a head when, moving on information provided to him by the Captain of the City Guard, Duke Eric sent his men into the lion's den of the seedy underworld of Canton City. They assaulted the headquarters of the Canton Underground, a thieves guild, and gathered evidence of Richard de Agueda's treachery. The Regent had bankrolled the Canton Underground to steal the jewels and kidnap the Eric's daughter. After the Regent's arrest, the remaining supporters of Duke Ferdinand stormed out, and the Dukes that were left held a quick vote to recognize Duke Carver as the rightful heir of King James, appointing him King Eric II.