King Alfred I

After the Kingdom of Hartgard was split in two by King Alfred I and his brother, King Richard III, 26 years ago, and King Alfred I began his rule of the Kingdom of Nerthelm, ambition in the young king soon grew into greed, and envy, and eventually, cruelty and tyranny. Quietly his name is cursed by the commoners that live beneath him, though such treason is harshly punished. The nobles that serve him do so either through fear, or greed and ambition of their own, dazzled by the promise of the contents of the vault beneath the palace in Milnar's Crossing. It is rumoured that King Aflred I has been heard uttering worship to a so-called 'Midnight Lord', and horrid screams have been heard from his chamber some nights, but such nonsense can surely be nothing but rumour.

War against the Kingdom of Mygard
It is said that King Alfred I simply coveted his brother's throne, when he came to power. Perhaps he believed that he had a stronger claim to the crown, or simply that he deserved it more, or even that he would be a better king. Speculation aside, he elected to bribe, threaten, or persuade many of the nobles of the realm, earning their loyalty, and led a surprise attack against his brother at his palace in Milnar's Crossing.

Though King Richard III escaped, the city was lost, and most of the northern territories with it. As months and years went by, the two men, who both called themselves King, formed their own Kingdoms with the lands they had secured or conquered, and settled in for a long war, as any attempts at negotiation usuallys ended with diplomats losing their heads or being sent home and executed for their failure (It was always Aflred who went to such lengths).