Coins of the Sartar Dynasty (preview)

Katrin Dirim has done some amazing art depicting coins dedicated to various members of the Sartar Dynasty. I thought some of my notes on each might be interesting.

So when we think about characterising the Princes, we have:

• Sartar the Founder. He’s middle-aged, powerful, and on his way to deification. He’s our template for the ideal Prince.
• Saronil was depicted younger and vigorous – became Prince at 23. He was Prince for 32 years, so we could depict him at any point in that range.
• Jarolar is in his thirties. He became Prince at 33 and reigned until he was 38.
• Jarosar was young and impetuous – he became Prince at 22 and died at 26.
• Tarkalor is a hero figure. He became Prince at 38 and died at 59. He’s King of Dragon Pass, lived part of his life in the Holy Country and is cosmopolitan, brave, and thoughtful. He’s like Sartar as a real person.
• Terasarin became Prince at 34 and died at 52. He’s rich, and closely tied to the Holy Country.
• Salinarg is 39 when he becomes Prince and dies at 41. He’s a warrior, married to a werewolf and nobody expected him to become Prince.
• Temertain was 43 when he became Prince and 55 when he died. His coin probably looks very similar to a Lunar silver coin. He is a scholar, not a warrior.
• Argrath was 31 when he became Prince and 33 when he became King of Dragon Pass. His coin emphasizes his break with the past – he is free to change and able to make new things. Sometimes the Princes are depicted as warriors, wearing a helmet with rams horns or with weapons.

Meanwhile of the lesser sons and daughters: 

• Sarotar is our perfect young man, handsome and noble – he died at 28 like a rock star.
• Eonistaran was there forever. The guy lived to 75. A bearded scholar. Always an advisor, never a Prince.
• Onelisin the Cat Witch is a central figure in loads of stories. She’s the sister of two Princes, the mother of the Three Sisters (through her husband) and also the King of the Werewolves (through her werewolf lover).
• Kostajar the Wolf Champion is a werewolf and a king in his own right. He should wear a wolf’s head.
• Dorasar is an adventurer who founds his own principality – he might even be a model for Argrath. He was young, dynamic, and exciting – becomes a self-made ruler in his 20s, and rules until he is about 50.
• The Household of Death are divine children. The oldest is 8 and the youngest 6. They are children of Doom!

For those few who are curious about horns on princes and gods, the Orlanthi have plenty of horned gods – Orlanth (ram’s or bull’s horns), Storm Bull (bull horns), Ragnaglar (goat’s horns), Eiritha (herd animal horns), Heort (deer antlers), and of course the Horned Man (various horns – antlers, horns, whatever). Sartar is depicted with ram’s horns to show that divine connection and plenty of other princes did as well.