3. Count Æesahather Coutler

Count Æesahather Coutler


  • Account: Dish_wash
    Character: Count Æesahather Coutler

    //Mainly writing this biography for reference. It is a two part tale so please don't lock it until the next installment.

    South of Damara, due east of Narfell, within the town of Dalesport stands the Coutler estate. Housing over 35 guards, servents, butlers and musicians; the large courtyard, stables and stone walls could perhaps define the estate more like a small castle. The estate maintained several other facilities such as a learning center, a library, minor combat training area and so on.

    Dalesport has more warmer climates unlike the cities towards the north of Damara and especially the coldlands of Vassa. The farmers harvest were prosperous and, besides from the winter wolf seasons, they supplied a good supply of food towards the town. Dalesport was the place to be until, of course, the trouble ripped through the whole of Damara.

    For centuries, the Coutler generations made their wealth mining Bloodstone from the Galenas mountains, which standing tall towards the east of Damara. The Blood-red stone with the hint of black and green was shipped out towards other states, even Narfell, bringing back it's weight in gold. This was their basic-stable earning income but some say the Coutler's also dealt in other goods such as wines and horses.

    Things started to take it's turn however when the Witch Kings armies started to pour throughout the country, Damara. The Coutler's estate started to take it's toll when the miners came back reporting the foul ghasts they had witnessed within the Coutler mines. Agasted by such a comment the head of the estate at the time, Count Frederick Coutler, sent some of his royal guards towards the mines. None of them came back sending chills throughtout Dalesport, and Damara.

    Trouble were only brewing however. Dalesport was dependant on the Coutlers wealth. As the estate began to only have a decreasing budget every year, Count Frederick started to spend less on luxury items and purchased large quantities of food hording them. This had meant shops were earning substantually less income with many having to close down.

    The Winter Wolf, a season of intolerable coldness, spread throughout Damara the very same year. Crops and animal died from the frostbite caused by the low temperatures and harsh winds. It wasn't long before the entire town of Dalesport were begging the Coutler's estate to at least ration some of the huge horde of food to the community. The gates were barred shut to them and a simple "no" was given to all who tried to even come close towards the doors. It wasn't long until the citizens started protesting and giving hate towards the Coutlers. Betrayal within the estate was even starting to arise throughout the guards and servants. Several servents were executed for giving food and gold to the people outside in pity.
    Was it a terrible deed that Count Frederick wanted to horde his greed? Was it greed to only look after those within the estate? Is it greed to do anything to make sure you do not have to suffer stavation? Is it greed to horde food when the entire town could have gathered as much food when wealth was at the high within the nation?

    It was a much argued topic which the secret council of Dalesport debated on while Coutler eyes were not watching. But they knew one thing.
    "The town of Dalesport will not starve when there is an abundance of food so nearby."
    One sentence was all it took. In the following night over 200 citizens stood infront of the coutler estate. Humble Farmers holding their pitch forks in rage, pleasent merchants carrying blazing torches and even young children, armed to the teeth with stones stood infront of the estate, ready to tear down the place.

    Tear they did, and slaughter they did. The commoners of the town had no skill compared to the trained guards. But what good is a dozen guards to a hundred men?
    Within his quarters, Count Frederick told his maid to gather all the servants and guards she could, take his wife and child, Æesahather, to the basement and lock the door. His wife begged him to come but he knew the mob would not be satisfied until they not only had his stores of food, but also his head. Crying and trying to break free from the maids hands, who was washed in tears with sympathy, his wife begged. Count Frederick ignored withdrew his Greatsword and waited.

    The banging on the wooden door sent tremors throughout, his clench on the blade stiffened. The mob raided into Frederick's quarters and quickly, before he was given any chance to fight back, disposed of the "dreadful, greedy" Count. The mob did not cheer with his fall for there was no glory. The guilt shivering down their spines like an icy hand; but what was done was done. It had to be done to save Dalesport. The commonfolk gathered the corpses they had slain for proper burial, cleaned the estate from the terrors of the night, placed everything the way it was and plundered the hordes of food from the estate. This saved the town.


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  • Or so the town had thought. The town was saved from starvation, but it was not safe from the other dangers which befell Damara. With King Virdin, the last of the royalty of Damara, slain by the Witch King, the towns were turned upon each other. No longer with a leader to control the Baronies, the towns fought with each other. This was part of the Witch Kings plan to weaken his enemies. Towns, such as Dalesport and cities of Damara burnt each other to the ground leaving nothing but rubble.

    It wasn't until at least a decade after with the forces of Gareth Dragonsblade defeating the Zhengyi did Dalesport start to rebuild. Using the underground stores of the Coutler Estate, hidden from the ransack which now happened over 15 years back and the pillages from neighbouring towns, did Dalesport start rebuild themselve from the ruins. Farms were seeded, houses were built and an economy started to prosper once again. Remember their past misdeeds the villagers of obliged in honour to the son of the slaughtered Count. Æesahather was respected throughout the building town. As he was the only living Coutler noble he inherited the Coutler estate, and more or less inherited the whole town.

    The first years were tough on the town indeed. But after the extended manual labour was finished, the place begin to wrap up more easily. The town was building at a steady rate. Within another ten years the town was beginning to reach it's former glory. The farms were prosperous, schools were raised, churches, harbour and markets were rebuilding Dalesport to the way it use to be. None of this could have been possible from the wealth made from the bloodstone. After the Witch King's defeat, Æesahather sent dozens of miners to the Coutler mines within the Galenas in hope the ghosts which once haunted the mines had passed. It was not clear if the forces were gone but the miners came back alive and encumbered to the bone with the bloodred stone.

    Things started to turn yet again for this town as Damara began to have a new trouble. Many nobles and baronies throughout the coldlands had thought the Dragonsblade family had wrongfully seized the throne of Damara. With King Virdins fall, Gareth tried to unite the whole of Damara under his rule. Generations had passed and the current King, Darius Dragonblade, still struggles for power within the land.

    It is uncertain which side Dalesport, Count Æesahather, undertook. Whether they supported the usurper or protested. But no doubt the opinion conflicted with the nearby town Withermeet. In one brutal night, where the winds were sharp and cold, Baron Thrann of Withermeet invaded the town slaughtering all he could.

    The town was once again beaten. Unsure if the economy of Dalesport will ever reclaim itself from the fatel night, the Count requested from any living traders. He packed necessities into a small pack and left with them the next morning. He put his trust into Sir Gunthar Hales, his loyalest knight, to keep his charge while he was gone. The surviving villagers looked at the Count with some confusion on why he would be fleeing from the town but he assured them that things were going to be alright.

    With the traders next to his side, he followed them through the Giantspire mountains, towards the city of Peltarch.


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  • Reviewed - XP Pending.