Nobles The governance of the Empire is divided into five regions of responsibility that are known as 'Shires' - derived from the British term used to denote a small area that is governed by a local lord or council. These are the Hamil Shire, Hawke Shire, Plymoth Shire, Cante Shire and Dun Shire. Rulership of the Empire switches between shires as the control of the Empire shifts between the rulers of the various shires. Only two of the shires are currently held by sidhe rulers, Hamil and Plymoth. Duke Morlyn of Ailil The Duke Tarrod Morlyn is the current ruler of the Empire, having his seat of power in an Eyrie atop Mount Egmont in the Plymoth Shire. He came to power in late '99 and has held a tight grip on the land since then. He is personified as highly unseelie and known to have a bodyguard of Thallian at his disposal, but despite this he is a fair ruler and a great tactician. During the filming of the Lord of the Rings in the central plateau of the North Island he staged a battle against the forces of Duke Rhynn of Hawke Shire, using the cover of the fantasy film to bring real armour and steel onto the battlefield as well as chimerical. Shortly after this he killed Rhynn in a formal duel (citizens of the Empire do not follow the rule of High King David, though some acknowledge the soveriegn rights of mother England) and moved to conquer Hamil Shire. Rather than risk a bloody conflict, Althea, Duchess of Hamil Shire abdicated from primary rulership of the Empire, turning the riens of power over to Duke Morlyn. Duchess Althea of Gwydion Originally a commoner in Hamil Shire, Althea's talents for leadership and her natural charisma led her to become one of the council of Hamil Shire. As she approached the end of her wilder years, she was elevated to the position of high councillor of Hamil and from there she was enstated as the first formal ruler of the Empire. Her honour, sense of fair play and the adoration of her subjects kept her in this position for 11 years until the Duke Morlyn siezed enough power and support to overthrow her rule. Seeing that the younger Duke had a strong personal unseelie code and mind far sharper than hers as a tactician, she has turned the Empire over to unseelie rule in the hopes of bracing it for the long winter. Despite the death of her brother, the former Duke Rhynn, she seems to bear no ill will against Duke Morlyn. "Winter must run its course ere spring returns." Duchess Althea still rules in Hamil Shire, though her subjects fear that her time in this incarnation is growing shorter. Duke Rhynn of Gwydion Although deceased, the legacy that Rhynn built in Hawke Shire remains strong to this day. Begining as a lowly squire under a trollish knight, Sir Tybrius of Fiona, Rhynn grew into a young knight under the command of the former Duke Dirk Gwydion of Hawke Shire. Cutting his teeth against unseelie raiders commanded by the former Earl of Plymoth, Stephen the Grey (A highly unseelie Nocker), Rhynn matched blades with the younger Sir Morlyn numerous times and they gained a healthy dislike of one another. The rivalry continued into the anual tourneys where they would battle with niether besting the other. Rhynn's capacity for leadership soon saw him elevated to Duke of Hawke Shire as Dirk lasped into the last stages of grumpdom, and he dispensed protection and justice in the name of his sister - several times thwarting Sir Tarrod's parts in the plot to dethrone Althea and restore unseelie rule. After desposing of Earl Stephen, Sir Morlyn proclaimed himself Duke of Plymoth Shire and he and Rhynn finally met on the dueling ground to battle as equals at last (Empire duelling rules state that one may refuse a duel with one of lower rank). Upon his death, Rhynn's former tutor, Sir Tybrius has taken his place as Duke of Hawke Shire. Duke Tybrius of Fiona The current ruler of Hawke Shire is a stolid fearless fellow of great girth and dry humour. Though running to fat as grumpdom progresses, Tybrius holds his Shire together through wit, friendship and the stubborn will of his kith. Hawke Shire is primarilly dominated by trolls and shares a rivalry with Plymoth Shire that stems back to the days of Earl Stephen and Duke Dirk. His hatred of Duke Morlyn is well known, though he will grudgingly admit that the Ailil's rule has yet to damage the Empire in any signifigant way. Appart from housing the training grounds for much of the Empire's knights he also serves as the primary means of contact between the North and South Islands of the Empire.