Idriane Forgecrown-Heltharn

Idriane Forgecrown-Heltharn is the youngest serving member of the Conclave in its history.

She was born in 1364 to Thoryn Forgecrown (1334-) and Anaubryl Heltharn (1346-) in Sarschel, first of what would become five surviving children including two boys. She and her brother Cyrus Forgecrown sought the path of knighthood; she passed the Trials Three in 1380.

Though she served with distinction, she never guessed she would become a lord of the Conclave, as her aunt Cassandra Forgecrown was being groomed for that purpose. But in 1385, her great uncle Haelimbrar Heltharn (1328-1385) passed away, leaving no knight of the name Heltharn to take his place.

The Conclave had considered the possibility, and had hoped Rendrar would survive until a descendant of King Liam would take up the mantle, but they had a contingency plan in place. The highest-ranking knight descended from a Heltharn happened to be Idriane. They ruled that, although unprecedented, the accession could occur, provided she agree to claim the name of Heltharn in addition to the name of her father.

And so was Idriane sworn in as a Lord of the Conclave, though, critically, she was not elevated beyond her current rank of Knight Lieutenant, making her the first and only sitting member of the Conclave not to be of the rank of Knight Lord. Her formal style of address is still "Lady Ser" in deference to her seat, but it is a courtesy title.

Not unnaturally, her appointment has caused much consternation, as it breaks several precedents, in what appears to be an effort by the Conclave to preserve the name of Heltharn against the inevitable dying of the house. Though the great houses largely support the measure, preferring to keep the 12 houses constant, many lesser houses, presumably hoping for a chance to break into the highest circle of nobility when House Heltharn finally went extinct, have challenged the measure. As the Conclave itself is the highest court that can rule on it, it seems unlikely their challenge will succeed.

For her part, Idriane has bravely stepped into shoes too large to fit her, and has faced the scorn of her newfound peers for her youth, inexperience, and questionable claim to her seat. She has, notably, come under the wing of Lady Ser Rilaunyr Borca, and naturally has the patronage--if not friendship--of Lord Ser Simgar Forgecrown.