The head of house of an influential and wealthy noble family in Emestria, General Tiernan did not serve in the military prior to his appointment. Traditionally, Emestrian generals achieved the rank after promotion within the military. Although he did attend an Emestrian military academy and showed an astute tactical mind, General Tiernan sent proxies to war in his place and managed his family’s sizable fortune and land holdings.
General Tiernan was appointed to his position by the cabinet of nobles after a two-thirds majority vote which the king was unable to veto. He has overseen the war against Rouke although he has only gone to the battle lines a half-dozen ocassions. General Tiernan believes a general’s place is within the safety of the capital, dictating orders to lesser men. He thinks the idea that previous generals served on the front lines and even entered battle is fool hearty.
Despite his non-traditional appointment, General Tiernan considers himself a traditionalist when those views align with what he thinks should happen. He was and still is a vocal opponent of Bronwyn Amyna’s appointment to captain of the guardcorps. Although there was never any law forbidding a woman from leading the corps, and the guardcorps was one of the few ways for women to serve in a peach keeping or military capacity, General Tiernan campaigned viciously to have Captain Amyna demoted from her position and possibly expunged from the guardscorps.
Although King Bryant and General Tiernan generally don’t let their heated debates escape the confines of the war room, King Bryant vocally advocated from Bronwyn Amyna to be given the position considering she bested all her competition in the tournament to determine the next captain of the guardscorp. This led to many rumors of a romance between the two, rumors that General Tiernan either started or fanned.