2nd Generation: Alaric Bloodstrong

You are Alaric Bloodstrong, firstborn son of Lord Eland and Lady Mira Bloodstrong, heir to Redstone Keep and the legacy of House Bloodstrong.

Your parents’ story is one of love, a tale whispered with admiration among the castle’s halls. Your father defied tradition, choosing his childhood friend, the steward’s daughter over the highborn ladies presented to him. It was a choice born of the heart, and for years, it has shaped the life you’ve known.

Your parents had a loving and happy marriage. You and your younger siblings had happy childhoods, sheltered and warm. You grew up under the loving gaze of your parents, surrounded by the wisdom and strength of your family. Steward Lewin, your maternal grandfather, taught you to govern with a keen mind, while your paternal grandfather, Lord Alder Bloodstrong, shared gifts and tales of the family’s proud history. Even your sharp-tongued grandmother, Lady Jenna Bloodstrong, instilled in you a sense of duty and the finer points of nobility.

Yet, for all the love and lessons, you are not blind to the realities of your house. Your mother’s common birth brought little in the way of wealth or influence to House Bloodstrong. Under your father’s rule, the house has neither risen nor fallen. A steady hand, but not an ambitious one. Redstone Keep holds its place in the royal court of Anglia, no more, no less.

Now, on the day of your eighteenth birthday, the mantle of responsibility begins to shift onto your shoulders. You are a man grown, and the future of House Bloodstrong will soon rest in your hands. The decisions you make, the alliances you forge, and the woman you choose to marry will determine whether your family rises, falls, or simply endures.

The question weighs heavily on your mind: who will you marry?

Will you follow your father’s path, choosing love over politics? A marriage like your parents’ promises joy and companionship, but offers little in terms of power or wealth. Or will you take a different road, one marked by strategy and ambition, seeking out a noblewoman whose dowry and connections could elevate your house’s standing? Perhaps your thoughts wander to something more unconventional - an exotic bride, someone from beyond Anglia’s borders, a match that could bring both scandal and intrigue to your house.

Who will you choose, Alaric Bloodstrong? The fate and legacy of House Bloodstrong lies in your hands.