Karlyr 'The Bull' was the last Earl of the Larches. He grew up a very spoilt
young man, being the only son of Earl Rykar V. He showed great prowess
at sport and hunting but his favourite occupation was bedding the local maidens.
When his father was assassinated in 1311 a local merchant was implicated
although many thought he was innocent and there were whispers that Karlyr, who
had been recently upbraided by his father for his dissolute lifestyle, was
behind the plot. In any event Karlyr's lifestyle became even more lavish after
his succession to the Earldom and few
civic improvements were done during his time, as the income of the Earldom he
used for his own pleasure.
In 1333, however, at the age of 40 and still unwed (although he was rumoured to
have produced over 200 bastards) he became enamoured of a beautiful (and
apparently young) magician named Daretta. Those who complained too loudly about
Daretta's influence had a
very short life expectancy. An increasing number of Daretta's associates
trickled into the Larches, many being given important posts both within
Rykarsburg and elsewhere in the Earldom. Gradually by eliminating all who
opposed her, Daretta took over the goverment from Karlyr who remained blissfully
smitten by his current consort. On the first day of the Yule celebrations of
1333 the townsfolk of Stonebridge awoke to see Daretta's standard flying over
Rykarsburg. The retainers of Karlyr who had remained loyal to him could be
seen hanging upside down from the battlements.
Karlyr himself was regularly tortured for several weeks until reputedly he
took his own life. Daretta, however, even humiliated him after his death,
animating his corpse, dressing it in his finest clothes and treating it with
exaggerated respect.