Rýdal alrí Kárisen, Count Palatine (Armálnîr) of Áthamas, is an elderly man of 76 years of age. He is one of the oldest nobles in the region, and one of the most powerful. The Counts of Áthamas exercise both feudal and royal authority within their domain. The Count is essentially Sheriff of Áthamas, and appoints Constables and other officials to manage the courts and other functions within the Palatinate. The Counts also sponsor the Order of the Knights of Kirisónè, a secular military order devoted to the defence of Áthamas. They are thus easily the second most powerful force in the realm after the royal house.

Rýdal has been Count since he was 24, having inherited the title in 668 when his grandfather (Count Yvéndar III) was killed by a stray arrow at the Siege of Álsinon. His father Bárvalen, a Knight of the Laránian Order of the Crimson Tower, had been killed in 665 during an earlier stage of the Sènedâlo War. His wife of 51 years, Aláwyn, was the aunt of the current Count of Pálganir; she died only 2 years ago, depriving Rýdal of one of his key advisors.

Rýdal’s living descendants include two sons, three daughters, and ten legitimate grand-children and great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, he has a very low opinion of both of his sons. The eldest, Rúden, is technically élgâr of Túronès, but spends most of his time in the flesh-pots of Párahal, Méngovik and Hárigol. His second son, Úlsan, is a simpleton who appears to be only interested in music, and has no issue.

His eldest daughter, Mirícha, is married to the Count of Leshónes, and is the mother of his four children; but they are all members of clan Eláreneles. His youngest daughter, Saráela, fled the family for the Peónian church.

It is his strong preference that Trávalen al Kárisen, his eldest grandson by his second daughter Míryha (whose husband Báreth has been adopted into the Kárisen clan) inherit the County. Trávalen is a knight in the Order of Kirisónè, and part of his grandfather’s personal guard. Interestingly, there has not been a direct father-to-son inheritance of the title of Armálnîr since 557, which some term the ‘Curse of the Kárisen’.