Arthos ap Morwyn is, outwardly at least, everything one would expect from the scion of one of the wealthy houses of Uen. Heir to the vast ap Morwyn fortunes and political/economic machine, he is educated, sophisticated, and charming. But unlike many of the pale and pasty sons of the Uen rich, he has spent his life in hard work and service.

Standing 6’ 2" in his bare feet, Arthos build is impressive. He could easily be the strongest man at the Academy, able to spend hours in heavy armor or similar impressive feats. Despite his busy scholastic schedule, Arthos continues to run two miles per day, practice at the pells for two hours, and ride an hour a day to maintain his physique.

Arthos hair is a dark brown color and he usually wears it somewhat long, ( almost shoulder length) his only concession to modern fashion. Otherwise, he is well formed and might well be considered handsome, as his face is pleasant enough to look upon and he is so well built. His eyes are green, flecked with golden brown. They are set in an honest face, though Arthos has much practice in the courtier’s art of not betraying his true feelings.

Arthos has been a passionate smith since his youth and has found his true calling in the fashioning of weapons, armor, and jewelry. Able to create weapons of true beauty and power, Arthos work has begun to spread throughout the Academy as gifts and is rapidly becoming sought after. To date, his experiments with forgotten techniques from before the Dark Times have paid off well and he has fashioned some truly magnificent pieces.

Since the tender age of eight he has been trained to take his place as an Uen Roug in the tradition of his forefathers. Weapons, tactics, strategy, diplomacy, ethics, and leadership have been his bread and butter for as long as Arthos can remember. His Bonding to Skyfire, and the family ceremony that followed, have secured him as the next member of the family to assume power.

Recently, Arthos has fallen deeply in love with Emily, another Academy student and fellow Roug. Since that time he has spent less time in the forge and more time with her than any other person excepting Skyfire. It is only Emily, of all those at the Academy who know Arthos, who has some insight into the loneliness that Arthos has lived with all his life. Even she has only begun to understand that the rigid education he received has created a part of him geared more toward the horrors of battle and responsibilities of command than the joys of peace and pleasures of family life.

With the rise of demonkind in the north, Arthos is preparing for what he intuitively knows is going to be the battle of his life, fulfilling his family’s century old enmity with the invaders from the Netherrealm. His great grandfather’s sword, fashioned during the battles of the Dark Times by techniques long lost, still bears the stone that Ulric ap Morwyn pried from the crown of the defeated Demon King…..

A large, hulking grey stallion whose size, regal manner, and fire and ice temper make him perhaps the most intimidating unBonded; nobody messes with Skyfire without living to regret it. Not that he's cruel - unicorns are incapable of being cruel - in fact he is often the first to volunteer to lead campus tours or to help organize events. Skyfire is just not a very congenial unicorn, and the fact that he is still unBonded as a 6yo tends to isolate him even more from his fellows. His talent, incidentally, is generating lightning - and when his usually cool, collected manner explodes into a fiery temper tantrum, you had better bet the entire school runs for cover. Of course, he can only keep such a power going for a few minutes at best, so he's spent what free time he's had brushing up on his combat skills, which are considerable. He's always powerful and precise, though not always speedy.

Heraldry: The badge of this house is one of the few that is almost entirely black. Details are completely picked out in silver and are as follows; a black field quartered. In the top left, a silver unicorn rampant; in the top right, a silver five pointed star; in the bottom left, a silver five pointed star; in the bottom right, a silver unicorn rampant. The symbols represent the families ties to the founding of Uen (and thereby the authority of the Csar) and its ties to the Uen Roug (which organization its oldest sons join as early as possible)

History: Several hundred years ago, the area that is now Morwynvale was notorious as a hiding place of outlaw bands, strange viscous monsters, and other ill doers. At that time, the Ap Morwyn family had become distinguished both through its service to Uen and the age of its origins. Because of the great trust in the family, the reigning Csar asked them to civilize the area, providing them with troops, authority, and the promise of several lucrative monopolies for the area. Among these was the promise of total control of whatever mineral wealth might be found. This last guarantee has been regretted by many a Csar, as an
abundance of precious metals have been discovered in the area.

By the beginning of the Dark Times, the family ap Morwyn had firmly established itself in the area. There were many draws to the area, not least of which was the great wealth to be won there. The ap Morwyns added to this with an extremely lax grip on the areas economy. Because of their prominence, the ap Morwyns of gained governorship over the area and the family quickly became an institution in itself. Able to tap the area’s natural wealth they also were able to maintain a firm footing in Pallahade itself.

As the Dark Times came to a violent end, Uther ap Morwyn found himself in an enviable position. Not only was he a founding member of the Uen Roug, but he also had proven himself beyond doubt to the Csar, who granted him further powers in Morwynvale and made him a personal councilor. Though Morwynvale had provided huge amounts of material and manpower, the area itself was relatively untouched by the fighting (though it should be noted that during one local battle, Uther’s wife and all but one of his children were
killed).

With most of his fortune intact (and a healthy addition from war spoils) Uther returned home to rebuild his life and the Roug. Inefficiencies and corruption’s were stamped out with ruthless efficiency. Morwynvale began to hum like a crack military unit. It is to Uther that Morwynvale owes its current prosperity, but it was his son, Edgar, who is responsible for its people’s solidarity and loyalty.

It was Edgar’s contention that, with all his wealth, he should be assisting everyone he could. Every employee of the ap Morwyns is guaranteed a home, a decent lifestyle, education, and protection from lawlessness. Planned communities surround the logging camps, mines, and workshops that the family owns. Edgar even instituted a pension plan for retiring workers. It is no idle boast that in Morwynvale everyone goes to bed with a full stomach.

Perhaps most impressive is the lack of crime in Morwynvale. Part of the family’s original charters require them to keep the Csar’s law in Morwynvale and this they do. A private police force of mounted infantry hunts down bandits, thieves, and brigands, bringing them to justice. Capital punishment is rare, except in cases like rape, murder, or kidnapping. Criminals may be offered a place within the very armed force that brought them to justice.

Other information: (this should be interesting) In addition to the ‘Morwynvale Irregulars’, as their police force is known, the ap Morwyns are one of the few Houses Major who are able (both financially and politically) to maintain their own House Guards. These are the best of the Irregulars, men and women who have proven themselves through service and actions to be loyal and devoted to the family. They are known to be well trained, fanatic, and extremely difficult to trick or elude. It is rumored that many of the ‘House Guards’ also operate as intelligence operatives both in Pallahade and throughout the rest of Uen. Whatever the truth, the ap Morwyn intelligence network is known to have infiltrated almost every governmental
organization, trade house, and military unit in Uen. (In other words they haven’t the slightest idea just how well we’ve done)

Ariana ap Morwyn: No talk of the ap Morwyn intelligence operations can exclude Ariana ap Morwyn. Gifted with several wyn powers, this powerful and articulate woman has ruled in her husband’s stead for almost twenty years. (Edmund ap Morwyn suffers from the degenerative effects of the Feeblepox) Though she can seem charming and innocent, this woman is no less courageous and protective of ‘her people’ as a lioness is of its young. She is notoriously protective of her only son, Arthos. Arthos is one of the best protected young men in Uen, only fitting for the only child of such a family. A student at the Roug Academy in Pallahade, Arthos is the shining star of the family and much of the family pins their hopes on
the young man.

Homes: The family has two main residences in addition to hunting lodges, etc. They are:

The family members actually number in the thousands if one includes cousin’s, etc. Many of these are employed by the family, in one function or another. Perhaps only 500 to 1000 are actually in positions of importance and are regarded as both competent and trustworthy by the family heads. With a strong emphasis on education, the numbers of ap Morwyns serving in the governmental beaurocracy here in Pallahade is a constantly growing percentage. Because the family has always been fiercely loyal to the Czar, they often find employment in the highest levels of government.

Summary: This is surely one of the most powerful and wealthy families in all Uen. We can be thankful that they are so loyal to the present government and continue to promote its interests. In addition, their constant efforts have made Morwynvale one of the most loyal provinces in the entirety of Uen and such efforts must continue to be rewarded.