Effalreich looks physically wasted and pale from his days in the dungeon. More wasted, in fact, than a few days in even this pit would do to as strong a knight as he was. Despite this wasted appearance, when he turns to Dragos and snarls there is a light in his eyes.
"This kingdom was great once because great rulers led it. They were strong and led by example. The people of this land were strong because they had a strong example to follow. This slice of wilderness on the edge of civilization was stamped by men with names like Bron and Arda. What if we could have those men back? Not men like them, but those men? Men whose courage and competence was matched only by their love for the nation and its people. What if we could have Arda back on the throne? Instead of their weakling descendant who inherited the comfort their strength created and has grown weak for it!!"
Arda III ruled Bronwend well over 100 years ago. Legends of his rule survive today that Belithar would have heard as a child. He ruled for an unnaturally long period of time. He was said to be obsessed with finding ways to extend his life. His rule was quite bloodthirsty. And, famously, he exiled the Sword Templars in the later years of his reign. It is said that their return to Bronwend is what finally deposed him, not death. Though his ultimate fate is unclear. Did he die? And, if so, where was he buried? Or was he exiled? And to where?