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Darien was born into the royal house of Avan in 514 MR to Veladin Avan and his wife Katheryn Dieme. Raised within sight of the City of Anuire, Darien believed that he would one day reunite the shattered Empire. His father and mother sent him to study in Diemed, where he became adept at swordplay under the tutelage of Armand, the Diemian swordmaster, and then he mastered equestrian pursuits under the knightly Benfrase family; in his cousin's house in Avanil, he mastered military strategy and developed his since of Chivalric duty; and in Alamie, he learned and mastered the use of political strategy and developed his innate charm to manipulate and influence people.
He grew up in a fractured empire in which the house of Avan was embroiled in a power struggle for the Iron Throne with the noble house of Boeruine. It was during these wars between the houses that Darien, at the age of twelve, lost his father and became the crowned Prince of Avanil in 526 MR.
An anonymous chronicler of the time quoted:
De quoy Salemon dit: dolente est la terre qui a un enfant i seigneur !
“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child!”
Fortunately for Darien, Veladin Avan built a strong legacy for his son. He secured his eastern border and increased the influence of Avanil in Diemed, mostly through his marriage to Katheryn Dieme. Veladin took advantage of Boeruine’s long running decline by securing the allegiance of Brosengae. Veladin’s armies battled across Anuire, helping to repulse an attack by the Gorgon on Mhoried, inflicting crippling losses on the pirates in the Straits of Aerele, repelling an emboldened Rhuobhe Manslayer and participating in Taeghas’ numerous succession wars. It was during these succession wars that Boeruinean and Avanese armies clashed, resulting in the death of the both the Arch-duke of Boeruine and Veladin Avan. The Archduke’s death marked the end of a long period of Boeruinean influence in Taeghas.
Darien’s mother, even though she was busy tending to Darien’s sibling, Bannier Avan, born a year before Veladin’s death, saw to it that her son’s realm would not fall into ruin, as Darien was not yet in his majority; Katheryn acted as Regent in his stead, however, involved him in the governance of his birthright so that he would learn to rule. She assigned a privy council of nobles to help the young prince govern his realm wisely.
Darien was given over to the care of Ruormad Woodvyn, a staunch and loyal supporter of the Avan’s, a man whom her husband had trusted with his life. He would see to Darien’s education in the knightly arts, and when Darien reached his majority, the prince could take the reins of power and continue to build on his father’s achievements and make them his own.
At sixteen, Prince Darien married Adeliza Deseirain of Alamie, who was the last direct scion of the Deseirain family. The match was arranged by Darien’s mother when Darien was fourteen. While not a love match, Darien grew to love Adeliza. He was heartbroken when she died giving life to their only daughter, Aubrae Avan.
Some years later, Darien remarried to Lady Teaghan Mierelen, a cousin of the Duchess of Brosengae. They had met during a hunt and tournament, Teaghan, as the "queen of love and beauty" at the tournament, had shown favor to the prince. Darien was smitten. Struck down by Cupid's arrow; he loved her the moment he saw her, soon they were wed and eventually Darien overcame some question in his court which advocated a better match chosen for her diplomatic value rather than strengthening ties with a lesser realm. With his true love by his side, Darien soared to greatness.
Being the shrewd politician that he was, when Heirl Dieme died unexpectedly in 551 MR., his second son, a young man who was being trained as a paladin of Haelyn, assumed the throne of Diemed; Madoc Dieme. The young man was of marriageable age and as a man who was destined for the church, had no previous marital arrangements; Darien seized the opportunity to acquire the Diemian duke and arranged for Madoc to meet his daughter Shannon Avan, at a tournament held in honor of her sixteenth birthday. A bevy of suitors were invited, but Darien was only interested in one regent and things couldn't have gone better, Madoc was smitten with Avan's youngest daughter. A year later, the two were wed. As part of her dowery, Darien offered Seaward in Mieres in return for Madoc's oath of vassalage for that province. Trade and alliances were agreed to; the then duke of Diemed would prove to be a steadfast and loyal ally in the wars against Aeric Boeruine.
Avanese influence expanded into Tuornen and masses of nobles in Taeghas and Brosengae began to defect to the Avanese cause, believing that it would bring them closer to someone who seemed destined to take the Iron Throne. In the last 25 years, Darien has managed to secure the loyalties of Brosengae and Taeghas as vassals.
During the late wars with Boerunine, the Count of Taeghas was killed when Mage Innis razed the count’s tower. The land chose an Anuirean knight, a Diemian who had served both the house of Boeruine and the house of Taeghas loyally. When Darien rose to the Iron Throne, he recognized Rhys Peveril, and upon his marriage to a foreign princess, elevated Rhys to the rank of Duke. Though he inherited much from his father, Darien has amassed a greater portion of wealth and power than any though possible.
In 553MR, Darien and Teaghan had their second child, a son, and heir to the principality of Avanil, Aedan Avan. This was seen by some court astrologers as a good omen and that soon the wars of Imperial succession would fade, especially when Darien's daughter, princess Aubrae had committed treason against the human race when she conceived a plan to do away with her father's primary rival and consorted with Rhoubhe Manslayer. She was barred from the throne and exiled.
Today, Darien Avan rules the Anuirean Empire, having ascended to the Iron Throne in 556 MR after his son-in-law, Madoc Dieme swore fealty to the throne, renouncing Diemed’s claim to the Iron Throne, bringing about a fundamental shift in Anuirean politics and a change in Darien. Dosiere noticed this change and recognized Darien as the ruler of Anuire. In 557 MR, the new empress gave birth to Darien’s second son, Thaddeus. It was viewed as a divine sign and Darien finally achieved the dream of the Avan dynasty.
Description:
Possessing golden blond hair, Darien is strikingly handsome for a man in his late fifties. The streaks of silver in his hair have only added to his charisma. His blood abilities only serve to increase his natural abilities. The most remarkable feature of Darien’s physical appearance is the dragon birthmark that runs up the left side of his neck and face, a trait that seems common to all of the Avan family linage.
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