Breland+After+Boranel

=BRELAND AFTER BORANEL:=

What Now?
Many thousands of Brelish are asking this question as they strive to comprehend the death of their beloved ruler these past 37 years, **King Boranel ir'Wynarn**, the "Old Bear of Breland."

While none dare question the King's battlefield prowess, love for Breland or his thirst for lasting peace that directly led to the Thronehold Accords of 996 YK, some now question his wisdom, for ruling so long without naming an heir from among his eleven surviving children (not counting **Prince Boramil**, just 19 when he died in the Battle of Marguul Pass in 970, or **Princess Borann**, a renowned warrior-general who was deep inside Cyre when The Mourning came).

A closer look, however, shows that among Boranel's children and the other heirs further down the list, few have the ambition to rule, and fewer still have the ability to follow in the Old Bear's mighty pawprints. The King's younger brother and current Regent, **Prince Kor**, may end up serving as a caretaker King. Or someone else entirely may have the crown thrust upon them.

The 'Cubs:' Children of The Bear
Most of King Boranel's children (collectively called The Cubs by wags in Sharn) have held some ceremonial post or title in the Court at Brokenblade Castle -- positions that require little of them in terms of work. Several Cubs joined the Brelish Army during the Last War, and one is currently an officer in the King's Citadel. Two are ineligible due to marriage, two are currently in Karrnath, one was last seen in Xen'drik, and one is missing and presumed dead.

//__Prince Bortan:__// Bortan ir'Wynarn is the late King's eldest surviving son, born in 958 YK to Boranel's first wife, Lady Chaaseva ir'Maasat of Cyre, during the couple's exploits in Xen'drik. Since the end of the War Bortan has served as Royal Steward, officially in charge of Breland's borders and the Crown's finances -- but he announced his resignation days before his father's passing. During the War, Bortan joined the Army, rising through the ranks based on lineage and swordplay more than competence as a leader, and always overshadowed by his sister Borann (956-994). In 988 YK, Bortan was promoted to Colonel and given command of a regiment stationed near Sylbaran on the north shore of Silver Lake in the Eldeen Reaches. Bortan personally led several Brelish raids into The Gloaming and the southeastern foothills of the Byeshk Mountains. Claims that the raiders burned villages and put captives -- including many druids -- to the sword have never been proven, but the Wardens of the Wood later indicted Bortan for war crimes, presenting sealed evidence to the Thronehold Tribunal. In 989 YK, Bortan attempted to break a siege of the Brelish garrison at Greenblade, but his troops were beaten back with nearly 50% casualties, and Greenblade was recaptured by the Reachers. Facing an inquiry into his actions, the prince resigned his commission and settled at the Wynarn estates near Fith'Hagen. Since the autumn of 997 YK, Prince Bortan has been traveling extensively on a private airship, visiting New Cyre and Sterngate between sitting in on sessions of Parliament. He was in Wroat when the King became ill, and was said to be "incensed" that he was passed over for Regent by his Uncle Kor, the King's 70-year-old younger brother. It is rumored that he resigned as Royal Steward in protest (though the resignation will not become official until Parliament reconvenes). On a more practical level, cross-border raids from Droaam and Darguun have increased during his tenure as Steward, despite a large increase in armed Deputies, wardens and Bailiffs under his command, not to mention the floating fortress Argonth.
 * // Prospects: // Between his Cyran blood, conduct as Royal Steward and questionable battlefield record, many doubt Bortan will succeed his father as King. On the other hand, he has friends in Parliament and the military, and may prove the best of numerous poor options. He also appears to be the only one actively seeking the job.

//__Baroness Florimel "Flora" Deneith:__// A year younger than her brother, Flora's path has been quite different. In 980, while studying at Morgrave University in Sharn, she fell in love with the dashing Major Mossimo d'Deneith, commander of a Blademarks company assigned to Sharn's garrison. Their marriage two years later was the social event of the season. By the end of the Last War Mossimo had risen to the rank of Baron in charge of all House activities in Breland, and Flora gave up her royal title and family name to follow her husband.
 * // Prospects: // Under the Korth Edicts (reflected in the Code of Galifar and reaffirmed by Brelish law), by joining a Dragonmarked House Florimel is ineligible for the crown. Still, her influence with House Deneith, and Deneith's influence in Breland, mean that her opinion will be heard. But so far she has been silent.

//__Princess Deardra:__// Born in 962 YK, a year after Boranel's coronation, Deardra was also his first child by his second wife (an arranged marriage to a noble from northern Breland). As much as the new King didn't love his wife, he showered affection on Deardra, favoring her above her elder half-siblings. Well-educated, artistic and compassionate, after her mother died she was sent to Flamekeep in 988 during a time of relative peace between Thrane and Breland. There, she fell for the youngest brother of Blood Regent Diani ir'Wynarn, figurehead leader of Thrane's deposed royal family. Deardra converted to the Silver Flame, and has not returned to Breland since her marriage.
 * // Prospects: // Princess Deardra is a Thrane by marriage, and thus ineligible to rule Breland.

//__Prince Cleon:__// Born in 967 -- the last year Shavarath was coterminous with Eberron -- Cleon is twin brother to Princess Fiona. Both siblings have spent most of their adult lives in Sharn, and have developed a reputation for decadence. There are many rumors about Cleon and Fiona, most of them too outlandish to be taken seriously. These include hints of aberrant dragonmarks and secret links to the Boromar Clan, the shadowy House Tarkanan or even the monstrous Daask.
 * // Prospects: // Cleon is, at best, a decadent wastrel -- and at worst, an organized crime figure with an aberrant dragonmark. Neither choice fits the profile of Breland's next King.

//__Princess Fiona:__// Prince Cleon's twin sister, Fiona is thought by some court observers to be even more decadent than her brother.
 * // Prospects: // See Cleon.

//__Prince Brask:__// Born in 971 and named after the King's great-uncle (the Regent of Breland from 922-927), Prince Brask was both a good student and a good soldier, well-liked by teachers and peers (in marked contrast to his half-brother Prince Bortan). Brask's unit was on the Cyran border southeast of Vathirond, awaiting the call to reinforce the Thrane-Brelish push into Cyre's heartland (led by Princess Borann), on the Day of Mourning. Brask and his men assisted several dozen people fleeing the approaching dead-gray mist, and then the Prince sent scouts into the mist to find more survivors and contact his half-sister. When they failed to return, the next day he took his unit into the mist -- making him among the first outsiders to enter what would become the Mournland. Out of nearly 200 men and women, less than 40 emerged from the mists a week later. None, including Prince Brask, would speak of their experience. Brask soon traveled to Sharn and dropped out of sight. Many think he enrolled in the Sovereign Host seminary, intending to become a priest of Boldrei the Hearthmother.
 * // Prospects: // If he yet lives and is able to overcome his Mournland experience, Brask may be the kingdom's best hope.

//__Princess Audrina:__// Of all King Boranel's children, Princess Audrina (first child of Boranel's third and final wife, born 973), better known as "Syra," has come closest to following the Old Bear's lead as an adventurer and treasure hunter. Despite her relative youth, she has already been on three expeditions into the wilds of Xen'drik as a member of the notorious Blackwheel Company (under the assumed name Syra), and is said to wield considerable sorcerous power. She used her wealth to purchase a small elemental airship, which her half-brother Bortan has borrowed of late.
 * // Prospects: // Unknown. As Syra, Audrina spent most of the last five years based in Stormreach, and other than a rumored ongoing feud with the Brelish consul Lady Rusila ir'Clarn in Stormreach (sister to the antimonarchist Parliament leader, Lord Ruken ir'Clarn) she has shown little interest in Brelish politics or palace life. Loaning her ship to Prince Bortan may indicate her attitude is changing.

//__Prince Aejar:__// Boranel’s fourth son, Prince Aejar was sometimes referred to as “the scarred” due to the claw marks on his face and neck—the result of a childhood mishap with one of the King's pet Ghost Tigers. He lost an arm in the same incident, but the loss didn’t deter his zest for adventure as he tried to measure up in his father's eyes. In Zarantyr 998 YK, just before the King fell ill, Prince Aejar disappeared while attempting to climb Mount Herrian in the mysterious Blackcaps range. After more than three weeks of searching, Aejar and his entire expedition were declared missing and are presumed dead.
 * // Prospects: // None, unless he is found alive by some miracle. Of note is that the mountain is not considered a treacherous climb, but is dotted with ancient Hobgoblin ruins dating from the Dhakaani Empire.

//__Prince Julian:__// Born in 977, Julian was closer to his cousins -- the children of Prince (now Regent) Kor ir'Wynarn -- than his siblings. This may explain why Prince Julian joined the King's Citadel, which his uncle has commanded for many years. He remains in active service, but the Citadel will neither confirm nor deny the whereabouts of any of its agents, let alone those of noble or royal birth. Some reports place the Prince on the Graywall frontier, near the border with Droaam. Other reports have him serving on board the floating fortress Dejarn, the Citadel-controlled sister to the mighty Argonth.
 * // Prospects: // We can neither confirm nor deny that Prince Julian is alive, or has ambitions to the Crown.

//__Princess Borina:__// Born in 979, Princess Borina is currently in Karrnath as a guest of King Kaius III, just as her second-cousin Haydith is a guest of the Brelish crown in Wroat. Court observers in Korth consider Borina to be a little dull.
 * // Prospects: // Borina has shown no interest in palace politics, perhaps because of her current role as a hostage helping cement the Karrn-Brelish peace.

//__Prince Halix:__// At 17, Prince Halix is the youngest of King Boranel's children. His mother died in childbirth, and the King never remarried. Like his sister, Halix is in Karrnath as a guest of King Kauis. The young prince has been a hit in the Karrn court, showing a broad understanding of culture and a maturity well beyond his years. Two days before his father's passing, Prince Halix enrolled in Karrnath's most prestigious military school, the Rekkenmark Academy.
 * // Prospects: // Prince Halix stated he will not attend his father's funeral services, citing a need for at least one member of the royal family to be in a safe location. With eight eligible older siblings, Halix was unlikely to gain serious consideration in any event.

Other Options
//__Regent Kor:__// Considered a good man and a quiet, but competent leader, Kor had been his brother's staunchest ally. As head of Breland's secret police and intelligence services, Kor is also said to "know where the bodies are buried," and claimants to the throne are well-advised to curry his favor. In many ways it would be easy for Kor to simply crown himself King; though this would surely anger his nieces and nephews (Prince Bortan in particular), many members of Parliament and senior military leaders would be content to serve a man almost certain to follow Boranel's policies. However, at age 70 most think he would last but a few years as King, leading to yet another succession issue in the near future -- complicated by claims to the throne from Kor's own children.
 * // Prospects: // If he does not take the crown, Kor could remain as Regent indefinitely, until one of Boranel's children steps up or he dies. This "status quo" option appeals to those who crave stability, even if it leads to stagnation.

//__Lord Lujaad ir'Wynarn:__// Kor's son, Boranel's nephew and now 25th in line of succession, Lujaad has gained quite a reputation among the people thanks to a serialized recounting -- in //The Korranberg Chronicle// among other publications -- of his exploits as the dashing "Sky Pirate" of Xen'drik. House Lyrandar, whose ship Lujaad commands, is said to be actively promoting his availability and interest in the vacant monarchy if no one else is found more worthy.
 * // Prospects: // Unlike his older cousin Flora Deneith, Lujaad has neither renounced the ir'Wynarn name nor joined House Lyrandar in an official capacity. He is an independent contractor, or "privateer," which only adds to his popular appeal. On the other hand, there are 24 others with a greater claim than Lujaad (25 if Prince Aejar is found alive).

//__Nobody:__// Breland has a strong democratic tradition, and many across the country feel it is time for Breland to depose the monarchy in favor of a truly representative Parliament, with an elected Prime Minister as the head of government. Chief among these "antimonarchists" is **Lord Ruken ir'Clarn**, a member of Parliament who led the no-confidence votes in the previous First Speaker and Lord Chancellor, and is expected to be picked as the next Lord Chancellor of the Chamber of Nobles when Parliament convenes again...which may be a while under the circumstances.
 * // Prospects: // Given the paucity of strong claimants to the throne among the Cubs, the democracy movement sees an opportunity. Unfortunately, there are fringe groups -- such as the Swords of Liberty -- that also see an opportunity for violent action against the monarchy or those they perceive as Breland's enemies, such as the growing number of Cyran refugees settling in the Yedan's Expanse region.

Original "Mourning in Khorvaire" material and specific House Rules -- © 2007-2017 Herb Helzer. All Rights Reserved. "Eberron," "Dungeons & Dragons," "d20 system," etc. -- ©1995-2017 Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.