Ryker Dolan

Ryker Dolan
King of the Kingdom of Men
Reign	1 Flamerule 1385 DR – Midwinter 1392 DR
Successor	Rodryck Dolan
Born	17 Kythorn 1353 DR Salosa, Omelon
Died	Midwinter 1392 DR (aged 38) Cardye Tower, Reegate, Kingdom of Men
Spouse	Alyson Dolan

Ryker Dolan (17 Kythorn 1353 DR – Midwinter 1392 DR) led the Morning Crusade to victory and founded the Kingdom of Men, which he ruled until his death in 1392 DR.

Early Life

Ryker was born in the city of Salosa during the reign of the Shadow Tyrant. He was the only son of a cartwright who planned for Ryker to apprentice under him. However, a patrol from the orc garrison in Salosa burned down his father's shop in 1369 DR, pushing Ryker towards a growing resistance movement.

In 1373 DR, Ryker met with members of Salosa's resistance, who in reality did little more than complain about the Shadow Tyrant and his orc army. After a year of meetings without action, Ryker began to travel the area looking for more active resistance groups.

In Yahill, he found a group who poisoned water supplies used by the orcs. He found a group in Fystead who actively skirmished with the orcs (which subsequently led to the areas north of the River Fye to be free from orc patrols). In Heapool, he found pirates who openly raided orc ships and coastal encampments. These groups had people of the right spirit, but they needed someone to bring them together.

The Morning Crusade

After six years of travel, Ryker decided that he could unite these small resistance groups into a force large enough to challenge the orcs. However, he knew that these groups alone would not be enough and that helps from the other races would be needed. He had met Hamraeg Dimhelm in Salosa many years before and knew that the paladin had a strong hatred for the orcs and the Shadow Tyrant. He traveled to Bilgunar to meet with Hamraeg and see if he would be willing to rally dwarves to compliment Ryker's humans. After a few days of discussion--and many nights of drinking--Hamraeg agreed.

Ryker spent the following year convincing the various human resistance groups to join to his cause. Many groups stood ready to join, but some of the leaders convinced Ryker that they would need the help of the elves in order to win.

In 1382, Ryker traveled from Heapool to Nafnor, where he met with members of the Council of Nine, the elven ruling body. The Council was reluctant to help, having mostly been ignored by the Shadow Tyrant due to their insular nature. They told Ryker that the elves would not aid his cause. Ryker left for Bilgunar to inform Hamraeg of the news, but was found and stopped by Adsalor Silverfrond and his company of rangers who wanted to put an end to the Shadow Tyrant. The company followed Ryker to Bilgunar, where they began training with the dwarves. The following year, the elves joined the war effort.

After another year of planning and training, Ryker gathered his forces and began the march against the orcs. Over the next year, the combined forces of men, dwarves, and elves battled the orcs and took the fight to the doorstep of the Shadow Tower. Together with Hamraeg and Adsalor, Ryker climbed the tower and slew the Shadow Tyrant.

Founding the Kingdom

Ryker returned to Salosa victorious. After meeting with the leaders of the other resistance groups (and a number of prominent leaders who didn't participate in the Morning Crusade), Ryker was appointed leader of the new human kingdom: the Kingdom of Men.

It was decided that Reegate would be a good capital, as it had both a central location and already had a castle. He was crowned there within the month and his wife, Alyson gave birth to an heir two months later.

Death

Ryker contracted a plague in 1392 DR and died four months later on Midwinter.