The Platinum Throne

The Platinum Throne is a massive high-backed seat, carved from the black heartwood of the Ironspine Cedars—trees now extinct. Its imposing frame rises like a jagged crown, each armrest carved into the snarling heads of an ice bear -- creatures no longer seen beneath the Gray Mantle Mountains.

From base to crest, platinum filigree twists and coils, tracing words in ancient Vyrum. The inlays gleam cold and pure, immune to rust and untouched by time, glinting like moonlight even when the Hall is dim. Along the seat’s back, a wide sunburst medallion of platinum displays the sigil of a forgotten House, but now taken to mean the new day that dawned with Fergus the First. 

The seat itself is padded in a storm grey hide from a creature unremembered, though rumored to be dire wolf.  Fifty-five Platinum studs dot the leather, each one hammered in during the coronation of a new High King.

The Throne rests upon a block of flawless white onyx, its surface smooth as frozen water, its pale body veined with subtle currents of grey and pearl. By torchlight it gleams like hoarfrost, and in the morning sun it glows as if clouds had been trapped in stone. None now know from where it was quarried it, though the rumors say it was hewn from the mountains at the top of the world, where it is too cold for any man to remain and where the daylight lasts for an entire year.

The Platinum Throne was a gift of the Lod People (an ancient and diminutive race far to the North) who visited Fergus the First on the occasion of his coronation.

Histories of the High Kings of All Westrun: VII - The Modern Era

The Modern Era

5211 Aleranus II of Bolden

5231 Dane III of Saklan

5263 Halinard of Bolden

The History of Larcus IV

This is the history of Larcus IV the Liberator.

Larcus of Rath was sentenced to the high throne in 4950ey succeeding Gelder II.

Larcus ruled while his father, Larcus III, still sat upon the throne of his own realm, Rath. This remained a source of great controversy throughout his first sentence, for while his father had first abdicated in favor of the son, once the latter was seated upon the High Throne the father took up his crown again. This lead many to assume that Larcus IV would be a puppet of the designs of the King of Rath. It was not to be, however.

Larcus proved himself a fair and just High King, brokering great peace with the Eastrun bandits and opening trade to the many princes of Southrun.

Larcus sired but one child, a son. He ruled through three sentences until 4980ey. He was succeeded by Dane Gladfiolas.

Larcus died along with his father in a tragic hunting accident in the year 4986ey after having returned peaceably to Rath.

The History of Gelder II the Less

This is the history of Gelder II, oft called the Less.

Gelder II of Bolden was sentenced by his fellow monarchs in 4946ey, succeeding his father Gelder the Wise, upon the elders death.

Gelder the Less showed none of his fathers able skill at administration, nor in dealing with the pride of his vassal monarchs. A bitter disappointment to all, Gelder II was said to be likely to suffocate without a valet to remind him to breathe.

Gelder sired three children but no sons, though he married no fewer than eleven times and survived each wife's untimely death. He ruled until the election of 4950ey, finishing only his father's reign before being deposed by after a lengthy seige of Peakshadow by the Southern Kingdoms and Rath in the Winter's Rebellion. His reign was but 4 years long. He was succeeded by Larcus IV.

He died in relative anonymity while enjoying a sort of retirement enforced by his younger brothers, who had seized most of the power in Bolden.

The History of Favian III

This is the history of Favian III, called the Severe.

Favian of Bolden was sentenced by his fellow monarchs in 4901ey, succeeding Marten the Good.

He inherited a Throne which was deeply in debt from the prosecution of Marten's twin wars against the Northruner and the Goblins. While the defeat of those two armies meant a time of great peace and prosperity for all of the Eight Kingdoms, Favian's inability to tax this prosperity directly put the treasury in dire straights.

Favian eventually went to war over the issue of debt with his principal lenders, the principalities of Vyruma Serpentis. After seven years of battles, placed them all under his subjection and greatly expanded the borders of Westrun, such had not been seen since the annex of Collonia.

Favian sired six children and two sons with his wife who died birthing his last. Favian ruled until the election of 4920, making his reign 19 years long. He was succeeded by Timaldus I.

Favian died on the throne of Bolden shortly after the sentencing of Timaldus in 4922ey.

The History of Marten I

This is the history of Marten the Good, also called the Pauper King.

Marten Rigel was King of Collonia until he was sentenced to the Throne, the first of that realm to have done so. He ascended to the High Throne in 4850ey, succeeding Milytus II. It is said that his great popularity was due not only to his own benevolence but in surrounding himself with lords and generals of great ability and benevolence of their own.

While his reign was long it was financially strained by the prosecution of two wars -- one against the Northrun clans and another against Goblin Hordes. Marten is credited with healing the rift that had separated Balduren from the other realms and by enlisting the help of the Lances to his aid. He also gave aid and succor to the Rangers of the Fraternity and was able to bring them into the cause of the High Throne.

Marten is also sometimes called Marten the Mason, for he commissioned the Great Wall which began to be built on the Northern frontiers of Collonia and was to stretch to the Narrow Sea.

He died, old and infirmed, just one year into his sixth sentence in 4901ey and was succeeded by Favian III.