History of the Ashford Family

The Ashford family is an ancient and storied line, one of the oldest noble houses in the Kingdom of Valemire. Their roots go deep into the kingdom's foundation, with their bloodline intertwined with the fate of Valemire itself. Known for their exceptional leadership and their commitment to maintaining peace and power, the Ashfords have ruled the kingdom with both wisdom and an iron fist for over a millennium.

Generations of Ashfords have sat on the throne, each adding their own chapter to the kingdom's history. The most recent monarch, King Alistair Ashford, succeeded his father, King Barthold Ashford, who had ruled the kingdom for nearly thirty years. King Barthold was known for his incredible political strategies and his ability to unite the various factions of the kingdom, but his reign ended quietly, and the transition to King Alistair was smooth.

King Alistair's father, King Barthold, had inherited the throne from King Riordan Ashford, who had ruled during a time of prosperity and growth. It was King Riordan who first established the kingdom's stronghold in Solgrave, the capital city. With each generation, the Ashfords maintained their dominance, shaping not just the fate of Valemire but also the lives of those who lived within its borders. And so on and so forth, with each Ashford monarch inheriting the legacy, leadership, and burdens passed down from their predecessors.

But amidst the powerful legacy of the Ashford kings, there is a shadowed past that surrounds the current Queen of Valemire, Queen Evelynn Ashford, the wife of King Alistair. The Queen's family is a story of deep devotion and unshakable faith. Her lineage, known as the Valemire Temple Clan, has a history of being one of the most revered and religious families in the kingdom. The Temple Clan's beliefs are rooted in the faith of the Cleansing Light, a doctrine that reveres the eradication of evil and the rejection of anything that could taint the pure heart of the kingdom.

Queen Evelynn was betrothed to a man from this family—her cousin, Leonardo Velere, the heir to the Temple Clan. Their union was arranged long before their birth, a political and spiritual match made by the elders of the Temple Clan. For them, this marriage would serve to unite not only two powerful families but also to ensure that their faith and purity would remain firmly entrenched within the royal family. The marriage would ensure that the monarchy and the faith were forever bound together, maintaining order and divine protection over Valemire.

However, fate had different plans. Twelve years ago, just before their wedding, Leonardo, Evelynn's fiancé, mysteriously disappeared while on a pilgrimage to the distant mountains. Rumors of dark forces and demons arose, but the truth was never revealed. Some said that Leonardo had become a victim of the dark forces he so fervently sought to destroy, others whispered that he had betrayed the Temple Clan. Despite the circumstances, the marriage to King Alistair Ashford was arranged shortly after, and the union was one that would change the future of both families.

The Ashford and Temple Clan marriage was now sealed, and King Alistair Ashford married Queen Evelynn. Their union, though born of duty, would become one of love, albeit strained by the lingering shadows of the past.

The Royal Palace of Valemire

At the heart of Valemire stands the Valemire Grand Palace, a towering monument to the kingdom's centuries-old rule. Built centuries ago, it was designed not only to be a royal residence but also a fortress. With twelve floors and over four hundred rooms, the palace contains not just the royal chambers but also secret war rooms, libraries of ancient knowledge, and training areas for the kingdom's elite.

The Ashford family has occupied this grand structure for as long as anyone can remember, each monarch's rule adding layers of history and significance to the palace's walls. The chambers of the King and Queen are located at the heart of the palace, offering them the best views of the capital and the sprawling lands beyond. The King's chamber is luxurious and expansive, filled with treasures from his ancestors' conquests, while the Queen's chamber, though regal, is a reminder of the Temple Clan's austere values — adorned with sacred symbols and artifacts, it remains a reflection of the deep-rooted faith she holds.

The royal family consists of two sons: the elder prince, Draven Ashford, and the younger prince, Ronan Ashford. The palace, however, treats them differently, and the divide between them is as clear as day.

Draven's room is everything one would expect of a future king. Large, elegant, and filled with symbols of his potential future as the monarch of Valemire, his chamber is a place of prestige and greatness. His room is adorned with relics from his battles, trophies from his hunting expeditions, and various keepsakes that reflect his future power and importance.

Ronan, on the other hand, lives in a far more modest chamber. His room, though still spacious, lacks the grandeur of Draven's. This is a result of his mother's insistence, as she could not bear to see Ronan treated in the same way as her elder son. Ronan, the son cursed with the demon's mark, has always been a source of strife for the Queen. While the King saw potential in both his sons, Queen Evelynn saw Ronan's bloodline as a mark of shame, a reminder of the curse that her family had sought to avoid for generations.

Her refusal to treat him as a proper prince was reflected in the modest nature of his chamber. It is a room fit for a prince, yes, but certainly not one deserving of the title of heir to the throne. It stands as a symbol of the tension between the mother and her son, where love is mixed with disdain, and the bond is strained by the very blood that runs through Ronan's veins.

Ronan's Struggle and the Royal Lineage's Future

Though Ronan feels the weight of this separation, he knows he must live up to the expectations of his father, who, despite the whispers of demons and curses, treats him with love and care. But Queen Evelynn's hatred of what he represents lingers, and every glance she casts his way carries the weight of the family's beliefs.

The tension between mother and son, the marriage of duty between King Alistair and Queen Evelynn, and the strained relationship between the brothers form a complex and uncertain future for the Ashford family. Ronan's journey, though marked by hardship, will determine not only his fate but also that of Valemire itself. As Draven's destiny as the king-in-waiting seems set in stone, Ronan's path remains shrouded in mystery and danger, a path that might one day lead him to break the chains of fate that bind him.

And so, the story of the Ashford family, of the kingdom of Valemire, and of the two brothers — one favored, one cursed — continues to unfold, with a future full of uncertainty, power, and the weight of a long and storied past.