Willem Wade (Wayward)
Willem Wade was a High King of Dorne along the Greenblood in Dorne. His moniker 'the Wayward' came from the tragic end of his reign, which involved a disastrous invasion of the Yronwood realm, followed by loss of land, and a stroke that claimed Willem's life.
Personality[edit]
Willem was the sort of man who never needed to draw a sword or raise his voice to wield authority. It came naturally to him, as did the arts of wit and words. Willem was renowned for his self-discipline, especially in regards to the desires of the flesh; food, drink and women.
History[edit]
Willem was born to Arik and Verona Wade in Deadglade Keep, in the outer lands of House Wade. He was a bright and charismatic young lad. He spent his youth alongside his father in the Court of High King Raymun at Greenseat who was serving as the King's steward. It is here where Willem was able to rub shoulders with many of the most powerful folk of Dorne as he entered adulthood, building lifelong friendships and alliances. He also had access to the Greenblood's most respected Greenkeepers who taught him much about the histories of the sacred river.
Life at court taught Willem much about the duties of a Greenblood King, maintaining the safety and stability of the people and ensuring the River's blessings are repaid through worthy offerings. After the passing of his father, Willem found himself offered a position on the Green King's council as the King's chancellor. This assignment sent Willem up and down the Greenblood regularly on the King's behalf. He would meet with the local leaders to ensure the Nobility were fufiling their duties to the people and river. On these travels he met and married his wife Beliona in the sacred waters of the Greenblood, eventually fathering three children.
41 Floods into his reign, King Raymun died in his sleep at the age of 68 and a new assembly of the Great houses of the Greenblood were called. There had been an exceptionally long run of Kings in recent assemblies. Many nobles supported a return to River Rule, where there was no central authority in the Greenblood besides the River itself. However, the ever present Yronwood threat loomed large over the meeting, a strong leader was still needed. A compromise was made between the two sides and Willem Wade, well known and respected by both sides was elected King. He promised to pursue peace first and foremost but promised to never give an inch in defense of the River and its people.
In 20 A.I., Willem Wade was elected by the noble houses of the Greenblood to be their next High King of Dorne. He was the reigning king during the onset of the Coming of the Andals as a few intrepid adventurers began to claim lands at the tip of the Broken Arm. During the later part of his rule, he attempted to reconquer the headwaters of the Greenblood, so as to capitalize upon the perceived weakness of the Yronwoods following the death of the Bloodroyal Olyvar Yronwood. However, the war ended in failure, with the Mountainmen not only repulsing the Greenblooder armies but taking several border castles. Willem died shortly thereafter of a stroke, at the age of four and sixty. He as Lord of Deadglade by his son, Devlin Wade.
It was Willem's favour to live up to his promises of peace, and never surrender land that led to his own personal undoing, and the earning of his nickname 'Willem the Wayward'. Despite all his promise, skilled diplomacy, personal discipline - he could not keep his promises.
Reign[edit]
20 A.I. - 46 A.I.