Thats right. The bad guy in the storyline for Rivenspire is actually fighting for what is, by all means, his birthright. What makes him the bad guy in all of this, would be how he goes about it. And its all High King Emerics fault.

If you know anything about the backstory to the Daggerfall Covenant then you know Ransers War was not a footnote but instead a catalyst for the rise of the Daggerfall Covenant. And without Ransers ego, its quite possible the Daggerfall Covenant wouldnt exist as a major player in the Three Banners War. Or at the very least, it wouldnt look the way it does today. Before Ranser decided Emeric had to go, the Daggerfall Covenant was just a trade alliance. It was Ranser that forced the Kingdoms of High Rock to become the Military Alliance it has become. But there is more to this story than just a hot headed king starting a foolish war. Ranser himself has his own backstory that paints a very different picture of Rivenspire and its current conflict in 2E 582. Especially anyone who doesnt understand the recent history of Rivenspire.

You see, Ranser wasnt supposed to be king as he was a child of marriageless conception between King Hurlburt and a young Tamrith girl, a cousin of the core Tamrith Family. It was Ransers brother, Phylgeon and legitimate son of King Hurlburt that was meant to inherit the throne. But King Hurlburt died while Phylgeon was still quite young. Ranser being much older, and having established quite the political ties with numerous Houses (with much to gain with a King other than a Montclair upon the throne) moved to throw his name in the lot to be declared king. Forcing the nobles of Rivenspire to meet at the Council of the North and decide the rightful heir. Now Phylgeons claim was unquestionable as the Codicil, an ancient text, declared the descendants of Howse Mont Clayre the royal family of Rivenspire. But when Phylgeons supporters went to retrieve the Codicil it was missing. And when the Council met Ranser and his supporters produced another ancient text. One claimed to have been a long lost Direnni decree declaring House Branquette their "Royal Breton Delegates". Without the Codicil, Ranser was declared King of Rivenspire by the Council and Phylgeon was lucky to keep his head.

But it doesnt end just there. Because as you should know Emeric courted Ransers daughter, Princess Rayelle, before marrying Queen Maraya in 2E 566 (Yes, the Daggerfall Covenant is the oldest of the Three Alliances). Ranser, the hot head that he was, set out to lay siege on Wayrest and extract some vengeance on Emeric. Now what many might not know is that Phylgeon was ever present in all of this attempting to bring Ranser and Emeric together to make peace. But Ranser refused to listen to reason and Phylgeon donned his armor and set out to fight on his brothers behalf regardless of how foolish his brother was acting. Now there is no mention of whether Phylgeon fell in battle during the war or if he survived. But we do know that Phylgeon had a son, Baron Wylon Montclair. Whom, after the war would become one of the Triumvirate along with House Tamrith and House Dorell. King Emeric was too fearful of placing Phylgeon or Wylon on the throne and so he created the Triumvirate. Of course it was not until Baron Wylon Montclair, taking after his uncle in many respects, befell an unfortunate accident that he decided to finally lay claim to his birthright. But it was always his birthright.

For as much as King Emeric likes to talk himself up in his autobiography, the guy is quite indecisive for a king. His fears were mostly unfounded and even when he had the perfect replacement, and rightful heir to the throne, right in front of him. He could not bring himself to return that birthright to Phylgeon/Wylon. Leaving Rivenspire stewing in the aftermath of the war with a leadership that would be in-able to restore the kingdom to its previous glory. Even if Wylon had never found himself cursed by Vampirism, the civil war was inevitable. If not now, the next generation would surely have had to dealt with the injustice of Ranser and Emeric.