Editing Valkor (section)

==Well-known Templars==

===Katrina Lohengrin===

Katrina Lohengrin, a human woman, currently controls most of the power in Vaerlon. Ten years ago, she was the chief of the guard of Gradon Tensldor, son and heir of Tegiv Tensldor, the former Khan of Vaerlon.  When Tegiv was assassinated, alongside his wife and son, Katrina managed to save Morgan from the assassins. To prevent the kingdom from drifting into chaos, Katrina assumed command of the Army of Vaerlon and proclaimed herself a deputy governor until the heiress Morgan Tensldor has reached the age of majority. 
 
Katrina has proven herself to be a determined, brave and strong-willed woman, though she is not very sophisticated as a ruler. Katrina has a reputation for being a loyal and honorable soldier, and her position has been recognized by most khans. Still many court members wonder if she really plans to relinquish power when Morgan reaches the age of twenty-eight in thirteen years.
 
Katrina is about forty years old; she is in top physical shape and her intelligence is sharper than ever.  She has numerous scars on her face and hands, from battlefields and bar brawls (she is known to become nasty if drunk). She wears the simple clothing of a soldier, though covers her face as required by the noble court etiquette. She has made a statement indicating preparations are being made for war against the Eskarans, though some will whisper that it is only a blunder and the real target is Maelyrra Maerlith-Madris.

===Maelyrra Maerlith-Madris===

Maelyrra Maerlith-Madris is a sophisticated Templar, elite from the brow of her elite elven brow to the soles of her elite elven feet. Even at the age of over 800, she easily breaks the hearts of young men (and possibly women) of the court. 

Her every movement and word conveys a sense of aesthetics and beauty, whether it is her home, her company or her body.  Her tall, dark-skin body is always dressed in the most fashionable clothes and stylish jewelry.  Maelyrra has never married, but recently she said she has finally found the ‘one’.  She has not gone so far as to identify her intended.  
 
Maelyrra has sworn to her loyalty to Morgan Tensldor, Heir of Vaerlon, but has refused to recognize Katrina Lohengrin's role as deputy ruler.  With Templar politeness, she has hinted that Katrina Lohengrin holds the heir hostage. 

Maelyrra is said to have the widest and most skilled network of spies and blackmailers in the entire valley, and many khans are said to have secretly sworn allegiance to her. She is suspected of plotting against Tegiv Tensldor, the former khan of Vaerlon (father of Morgan Tensldor).  Other people have believed she attempted to kidnap Gradon Tensldor (former heir, brother of Morgan Tensldor) with the intent of entering into a forced marriage.  There are more than a few people who believe she is responsible for the assassination of Tegiv and Gradon Tensldor.  

Bandits are a constant scourge in Maelyrra's world and she is looking for a way to defeat them, especially in her province of Knightsword (near Vaerlon). A less cunning Khan would probably use force and collective punishment, but Maelyrra does not want to risk the serfs' rebellion in the current turbulent political situation.  So the unrest in Knightsword has been allowed to build.  

===Tuatha Khazakul===

Tuatha is a member of the relatively powerful Khazakul dwarf family and is a controversial figure in Vaerlon. He is not humble in the way a dwarf representative of the court is expected to be, and otherwise violates the label blatantly and repeatedly. An example is that court etiquette requires that love matters be handled subtly. However, Tuatha flaunts his numerous (short- and long-term) romantic relationships with elves rather than hiding them discreetly. 
 
Tuatha does not seem to have any political ambition of his own. He is possibly the best duelist in the whole of Valkor, and the Khazakul's family decision-makers are happy to use him as a tool against their enemies. More than once they have manufactured a situation where they claim defamation that can only be resolved by a duel. It is said that none of his opponents have been able to face the stare of his eyes in the duel, but they all have had to turn their gaze aside. 
 
Tuatha himself dreams of a chance to test his skills against Fauldron the Bandit. He would also be happy to encounter pagan protagonists and heroines on the battlefield, but so far the chances have been low.
 
Tuatha is a short and heavy dwarf, a little over 200 years old, His face is, in a word, ugly, and his hands are big and coarse. He wears very plain and simple clothing, preferring a black scarf to cover the lower part of his face, often it has the image of  a red screaming monster. Only rarely is his rough voice heard cutting through the air, and then his words are usually as sharp as his axe. 
 
In battle, Tuatha is completely unrestrained. He does not follow traditional fighting styles or rules, but punches his opponent with the back of his axe, his elbow or knee, or even with his head. People have not actually accused Tuatha of ‘witchcraft’, but he is still known to have been subjected to the so-called seven strikes of pre-mothers while in battle.