Suntown has always been in the hands of the Sun Dome Templars. Varthanis Brighthelm, a lord of the Yelmalio county which held lands downriver, aided Dorasar and received the right to have a small palace within the walls: one of only two fortified places within the walls. Many other Sun Domers came with Varthanis, including the Eiskolli family, who originally came from the village of that name in Sun County about 20 km south of the Sun Dome Temple.
When Varthanis became Count of Sun County in 1567, he kept control of the palace and Suntown. When his son Varthanis II became count in 1593, he too kept control of the palace and Suntown. Shortly after the surrender of the city in 1610, Count Varthanis II gave the palace to the Lunar commanders–under duress, some say–and since then the city influence of the sun people has been less powerful. Count Varthanis was murdered in 1612, and the unrelated Solanthos Ironpike became count.
The Eiskolli family replaced the Varthanis family as the rulers of Suntown after the Lunar conquest. They still have lands and influence around the village of that name, but their primary residence is Suntown. They have influence over the politics of the Sun Dome Temple but are not considered likely candidates for rule of the county. They are led by Haloric Glowbrow, who commands the Sun Dome Spears.
Was Count Varthanis killed by vengeful Orlanthi for giving his palace over to the Lunars? No. His conflict was with the Lunars. Or more precisely, they had a conflict with him.
