Straid Stale-Heart

""Starry starry Silent Night, till it swallowed all of us. Rentless struggles have been made, and the cycle goes again. It means yet another day, death will breed a new life." "

- Straid Stale-Heart

Straid Stale-Heart is a Nord Necromancer and the founder of Staleheart Covenant, the former governing power of Bruma before it was taken over by Cheydinhal out of his request. He's a selfless giver who tends to overachieve his goal, as such, he's kind to his ally and cruel to his foe, as evidenced that he's responsible to the Silent Night incident, where he shut down the gate of Markarth and bombarded the citizens for the Forsworn. During his rulership, he developed various arcane art technologies as well as selective alliances, to a point even when Bruma is defunct, he's still remember by his followers. After Bruma's defunct, the citizens are evacuated to Wellspring Cave, while he and his spouse Harena Sarothril resided at a book shop.

Biography
Straid was born in a local farmer family in Bruma, and he got elected as the leader of Bruma at the age of 20 due to his unique insight to the art of Necromancy, as well as his hard work and considerate personality. He combined the military and governmental department for a better management, the elite task force, known as the Staleheart Necromancers, are therefore created as both the officers and diplomats, although they took approximately four years just to have 40 people successfully trained, their combat experience have compensated the weakness. Besides the task force, he's also proficient with the art of Soul Trapping and Reanimation, to a point he can launch an assault without sending soldiers whatsoever (although it was only seen once before his demise, and they did not reveal their full potential). As a result, Bruma's Mage Guild was revived by Straid in a rapid growth, primarily serving the Forsworn and their successors, Cheydinhal Kingdom.

Silent Night
Straid himself was fully aware of the Forsworn's origin, upon knowing their culture was being oppressed, he decided to help Madanach VI to reclaim Markarth from the people who stole their land, he tried to negotiate with the Markarth government in person, about to purchase the land of Markarth, however, the people in Markarth took this opportunity to rob the diplomats and assault them in an alley. This resulted in the Silent Night incident. Straid proceeded to scotch the land of Markarth with artilleries and catapults at night while leaving the front gate shut in order to eliminate the population there. The operation was a huge success and he has built up a permanent alliance with the Forsworn. Although Straid was deemed a genocidal maniac by the others, as long as he has a stable alliance with a faithful nation, and the stable supply of crops, he's willing to carry all the sin for his people and his allies.

Straid actually had the intent to bury both Markarth and the Forsworn before knowing Madanach and the people in Markarth, the Exploding Undead Raven was therefore made a debut appearance to spy on Madanach. It was eventually halted by Harena, prior to that, they didn't know each other. And something more, he actually evacuated and spared the non-combatants in Markarth prior to the siege, this led to Straid's paranoia.

Whether this incident or Straid's decision of forfeiting the city led to the demise of the nation was remained as a huge debate outside Cyrodiil.

Volkihar Incident
A year after his return, he and Madanach VI actively trade their resources together, it were once the most stable alliance. It was then interrupted by Volkihar Clan. The leader of Volkihar, Kain, has sent a letter to propose alliance with Straid, at the cost of vampirism. He then approached the land of Northwatch, and faked his death to Bruma. He then lived under the alias "Sid Artorius", named after an Imperial Archimagister. He was seen wandering between Northwatch and Wolfskull Cave as a vampire wearing Abysswalker Set (Silver Orcish Armor) and carrying his greatsword Darkbinder with left hand. He was supposed to serve Volkihar in order to maintain the alliance with Volkihar and Bruma, until Harena approached him on her own and cured him with a Black Soul Gem. They both stopped the Volkihar together by launching a Black Soul Gem toward Kain's chest, although it didn't kill Kain, the effect of the Soul Gem has absorbed Kain's soul from the vampiric body, thus rendered Kain unintelligent and acted more aggressive indiscriminately.

The event wasn't record by any other nations not involving with this, and it not only didn't separate Straid and Harena, it pulled them together and greatly strengthened their relationship. After the event, the Blood Soul Gems, which are unique soul gems created by plunging a vampire's heart with the gem, have therefore created, in short, controlled vampirism is now achieved by Straid and Harena.

Falkreath Paranoia
Prior to Bruma's demise, Straid was extremely paranoid to the refugees and Falkreath government, especially when they're Arkay worshipped and Straid being a necromancer. He even made an attempt to ambush them at Riverwood, this resulted in a critical failure and a major loss of his men.

The Downfall of Bruma
5E 132, the land of Wayrest has allied with four nations to destroy the entire Bruma while killing all the civilians, shortly after the failure at Riverwood, Straid evacuated all the populations of Bruma to a wilderness as he predicted a huge siege would occur. He also commanded an army of unmanned artilleries and Exploding Ravens to take down Falkreath and Solitude if Bruma received any attack. However, Straid, under a huge regret for his merciless act, had spared Falkreath and Solitude by disabling all artilleries and ravens. He and Harena were the only two remained at Bruma. They both remained at the balcony, watching the city got blown up into nothing, a fireball landed onto the balcony and they're blown away toward a waterfall, until then, they both are no longer be seen.

Eventually, Bruma was occupied by Cheydinhal and Staleheart Covenant was defunct.

Aftermath
It is lately revealed that both Straid and Harena survived the siege with a sewer system suggested by Harena, since then, when Kale revived the nation at Wellspring Cave into a primitive tribal nation, Straid and Harena is now living together at a book shop, selling various books to the people from Cheydinhal, from simple cooking guide to arcane art materials, but what bring the profit would be their work on erotic books, notably an illustrated version of "The Lusty Argonian Maid", and Straid's original work "Fifty Scales of Greybeards"

Personal Life
Beneath the dark appearance, he's actually a peaceful person who prefers friendship over war, without any nations interfering, he wouldn't even act aggressively. His spouse is Harena Sarothril, a cheerful Bosmer girl who supported him throughout his life, they stick together and overcame many hard tasks, various hilarious and romantic moments can often be seen between the couples. Unlike most couples, who only seek short term pleasure, Straid is different, he prefers a long term relationship, and that's what makes their relationship very stable.

Combat and Skills
As an Archimagister and veteran Necromancer, he's proficient on spellcasting, reanimation and massive effective tactic disregarding moral issues, it was said if he wasn't halted by his hesitation, he could've conquered and united the entire Skyrim. Under full potential, he can reanimate a massive amount of Exploding Undead Raven and perform carpet bombing. As for melee combat, he's left handed and his weapon, the Darkbinder, can Soul Trap the foes upon hit.

Trivia

 * The name Straid means "Street" in Irish language.
 * Despite being a Necromancer, he utilizes the power of flame much more often than the art of undeath, many people have deemed him a pyromaniac.
 * A similar Draugr sharing the same name also appeared in 4E, both could be named after the person with the same name in 3E, who was once also a Necromancer.