XIV. A week after the fall of Culgarost, envoys were spread across the kingdoms telling of the King's passing and summoning all Prince-electors to the capital. The sentriary were the first to arrive, which is odd even to this day, since their capital is geographically the furthest away from Culgarost; among them were; Hernos, the elder, of Alcobos, Lord of Guerbanza—the elderly father of Elreck's wife and most senior member of the house—he was accompanied by his cousins, Sir Martid of Parma, Sir Vedmo of Sudos and their distant kinsman Lord Osguald Guelmo.

Lord Osguald was a bald man of high stature and pale skinned, his cheeks hung over his neck and his eyes were swallowed and obscure. He was the most respectable auditor in the Realm and deeply connected with the businesses of the Bank of Neldor, some even called him the Banker of Nations; he was seen always about Medrios—a youth of red hairs and milk-pale skin—he was lord of Arthalyon, prince-elector of Ardor and officially at least, head of House Sentriary, though in the practice Hernos was a truer patriarch, for Medrios was a boy not older than ten and seven, yet the legitimate heir of the wealthiest family in the Realm and most importantly, Elreck's closest ally. The Harad-king was confident in his friendship and bond with house Sentriary; lord Hernos had been good friends with his father, and what's more, Medrios and Martid had spent many a holidays in Ceor with his children.

The Durne came after them, almost petted by their Ardorian neighbours; the shamed general Draulin escorted the fallen from grace Horoglas, lord of Villadel, prince-elector of Mallerin; and later came the sombre Nillöre, a potential great ally to Elreck, the nillörian hate for the Sovarós was the Haradking's trump card with them; Nochax Jex was a famed Neldorian sorcerer and highest advisor to his master, Mendal Nillöre, lord of Beltos, prince-elector of Colmeth, head of the house with the largest fleet, they patrolled the Mallen Sea and thus often regulated maritime communication among the kingdoms. Mendal's allegiance would have been most beneficial to Harador yet their discontent for the Sentriary was also of a difficult nature. The houses of Rumiel and Nyensore came after on from their northern halls: Senthaig the plain, lord of Hannos, elector of Fenland, and Gunder the rock, lord of Kristock, elector of Brand. This last two were oftentimes of lesser significance in the power machinations of the Realm yet their votes were still of some meaning.

Last of all houses to come was the house of the rampant griffin, The Sovarós; Jaerech of Fitz, full of grey hairs and shrouded by wrinkles, did not fear to bring his proud face to the capital after his family's humbling, he was of his house the most senior member after his late brother. With him came too his cousin Carathuel, lord of Beardt, with whom Elbracht had conversed much during his stay in Fyore, being of one mind on several matters, especially those of war and Neldor. Antuel, the younger, also came along his brother Hadril, former auditor to the King and now, lord of Fyore, prince-elector of Thindur. Many of the newly arrived at the capital were eager to meet not Elreck the 'king-conqueror' but rather his son, the true victor of the civil war. For the same reason Elreck prohibited his son from even approaching the capital and was instead sent back to Ceor.

The Harad armies were still stationed all about the city, still the time of the vacancy in the old Realm was never one of turmoil in the military sense for the election of the King of Men was the most sacred of traditions; a time in which for the sake of harmony and the perpetuation of humankind a new King had to be elected and crowned from among the seven prince-electors, heirs to bloodline of Belyus*(1). The custom was first established following the passing of King Elorio I; a dark time of war in man's history, when the 20 children of the King killed and waged war against each other for dominion over the land until only seven survived and agreed to choose amongst themselves a high king of the realm. The wars for the throne (or the 'Kin Strife' as it was known) came to an end with the crowning of Aurio I, the first elected-king and founder of house Sovarós. Due to the weight of history and Neldor's eye ranging over the capital, Elreck could not force any of his homologues to vote him king, even if that were his desire.

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Most people take for granted his intention of becoming high king among men notwithstanding no scholar, historian or bard can say whether this is true to his character. For though is true that he rebelled against Elorio III out of will to amass glory for himself, the throne of Adein*(2) did not ensure any grand laudation other than the status of the title, in many ways the crown of Adein enslaved the man on the throne to both the will of the Order and the wishes of the court, at the mercy of the great houses like any other vassal lord. Only one who could command awe among his followers respect among his peers and fear among his foes could fully exercise the powers of the title, and since Elreck was either disliked or held in contempt by the great houses at the time, not for standing in opposition to the late king, but for taking the city of Culgarost, and putting his armies and banners in display as if were he the master of them.

General Caradon in his time at the humbled capital, recalls by the time of the election the many assemblies, meetings and audiences he held with representatives of the Sentriary, the Nillöre, the Durne and even clerics of the Sagrary. Caradon makes mention of how damaged his liege lord's reputation and status was among his peers, being rejected from customary banquets, secluded from gatherings and even denied entry into Belyus' basilica at one point.

There was a particular exchange which took general Caradon a whole scroll to describe; it was a private audience between Elreck and Lord Gunder 'the rock' of Kristock, which took place a week before the election in the Regency library. The general reckons the first contact being cold and ghostly. Gunder had quelled himself many treacheries against him back in Brand—the lords of the mountains were famous to be the most unruly of the High Men—this was a talk of a general to a general; he made him understand that then was not the time for warrior to occupy the high throne. This moment took Elreck off guard as if his toil and efforts were for naught, he was told he was expected to renounce his crown and humble himself before the next elected king, it was also likely that he would have to pay reparations to the Sovarós. Elreck sensed in him the tongue of a snake yet from whose designs these devilries against him were, he did not know. Caradon was told by his master to leave the room; the general understood, the Elreck had persuaded Gunder to spit some truths, still the nature of what was therein spoken, he could not guess. To this day it remains undiscovered what agents were involved in the corruption of the election, though it is evident to scholars and sages, like myself, that much was discussed behind closed doors, many hands were shaken beneath tables, and queer figures of foreign speech were seen in public and in private in the companies of various personalities herein above-mentioned.

XV. It seemed obvious to many, apparently, that in Cartary (the tenth month) Medrios of the Sentriary was elected by the princes as King of Men; his influence in Neldor and his renowned wealth posed a desired prospect for a king at the time, all hopes were passed down to him, in need of a permanent solution for the century-long crisis of gold. Medrios II was the youngest man ever to sit the Throne of Adein thus his future was most promising, for his right hand and most trusted advisor was no other than the banker of nations himself.

Many historians do not seem to speak of about the reign of Medrios with any prejudice and often refer to it as brief rule of prosperity and growth, many of my homologues, however, would strongly agree with me, when I state, that Medrios' reign was not a period of grand pith or significant merit. Other than preventing the total bankruptcy of the realm, which many at the time considered prestigious enough a feat to be titled 'the great', the redheaded king had little else to add to his name. To this day, the house of Senn the Brown*(3) continues to praise their ancestors (King Medrios II) as one of their most formidable rulers. One must protest though as to the accuracy of this claim, for while it was true that substantial progress was achieved within the parameters of what was considered praiseworthy by the commonalty at the time, 'tis naught compared to the immense renown and merit his successor amassed.