Nestled within the snowy human kingdom of Pyrithia, the firstborn, bastard son of excommunicated General Lanthys and a married noble was born. Because of the scandalous nature of his birth, Casimir was deemed a bastard and raised away from the novelties of the palace. His childhood home became the Court of Earth and Blood.
Forged with the brawn of his father and the aesthetic of his raven-haired mother, Casimir was granted the natural work ethic of a well-bred soldier and the charm of a royal courtier (which was often hidden under layers of grime and dust). Feeling the weight of judgment from his father’s transgressions, he’d train relentlessly to surpass him, hopeful that one day he might redeem his family name and become a knight for the kingdom.
Around his 13th birthday, he ran into the prince, Cardan, who had slipped away from the palace in favor of exploring the city. They became unlikely friends — despite both not knowing who the other was. Casimir began sparring with the prince whenever he would visit. On Casimir’s 15th year, Cardan extended the invitation to become his eldest sister’s personal guard. Shocked, but not foolish enough to deny the young royal’s request, Casimir accepted.
Rhaenyra, his charge and the oldest princess of three was no less terrifying than the dragons he had dreamed of in his youth. Stubborn and sharp-tongued, the two would constantly argue, getting into bouts that sprawled across days or even weeks. To Casimir’s surprise, Cardan enjoyed the excuse to ruffle his sister’s feathers, and Rhaenyra never quite succeeded in getting rid of Casimir’s leech-like presence. He was too dedicated and too steel-willed to just dust off like the rest of her previous guards.
Upon Casimir’s late teens and after years of serving as a young member of Kingsguard, he was named General, and everything he had worked to accomplish was finally gratified.
Eventually, after many years, even Rhaenyra and Casimir would arrive at an impasse; they no longer saw each other as open enemies, but formidable allies. However, soon after and upon the cusp of Casimir’s 23rd birthday, war reared its ugly head — and Casimir was sent to lay siege along the front-lines.
For two years, Pyrithia fought the neighboring kingdom. For two years, Casimir slowly became known as the night incarnate, each slice of his blade — nightbringer — sending those that it felled to an endless darkness. And when the war ended with Casimir’s dragon crushing the threat of their last offenses, he earned the title of shadows triumphant.
His return home was ceremonious, but the exhilaration of winning couldn’t have prepared Casimir for Rhaenyra. In his absence, she had declined considerably, so used to his presence that she had not realized what it would feel like to suddenly have it all ripped away. Casimir, too, had suffered without the princess. Weeks, even months were spent consoling her to the best of his ability. Reminding her that he wouldn’t leave again. Promising he wouldn’t abandon her.
That all came crashing down when the thief appeared, searching for the crown. Caught in-between an unexpected battle and an effort to keep the youngest princess safe from harm, Casimir was inadvertently stabbed through his lung, effectively incapacitated on the cold, marble floor of the throne room. He died there, gurgling blood and delirium, and was transported to Canis through a blinding flash of light.