Etienne Reverdin

Etienne Stéphane Reverdin, born 1:1069, was king of Valonde. He ascended the throne in 2:01 after his father, king Lambert, had passed away unsuspectedly. Etienne was convinced his father was murdered and his rule was marked by the fear of suffering the same fate. The people of Valonde often refered to him as the 'Mad King' due to his paranoid nature. During his elven year rule, Etienne executed 75 people from the castle staff because he was convinced they conspired to have him killed. In year 2:12 Etienne was set to marry lady Claudia Asselineau, daughter from a prominent Valonde family. Etienne, however, never arrived at the wedding. It was later discovered that he, ironically, had been assassinated the night before the wedding and by his body was found a thorny rose. This marked the rise and fame of the Covenant of the Black Thorn.

Who it was that hired the Covenant was never discovered, but it was rumored that it was lady Claudia because she couldn't stand the thought of marrying the 'Mad King'.