Armagand Kor

Name: Armagand Kor
Appearance Age: 38
True Age: 151
Sex: Male
Personality: From an early age, Armagand Kor had developed a distinct and clear viewpoint on life: if you want something, you must be strong enough to take it. Armagand is a very outspoken proponent of the philosophy of “survival of the fittest”. There is nothing he dislikes more than weakness, and he believes that strength and power are the only true measures of a person’s worth. With this attitude, he has risen high in the ranks of the Oculi Draconis, bulldozing any that got in his way, and while his bullish and aggressive nature have earned the ire of many of his peers, his sheer might has earned begrudging respect from those same detractors. He has few friends, even fewer that he trusts in any way, and he prefers it that way. His distaste for those who he perceives as “weaklings” has bestowed a reputation for ruthlessness and coldness, and he inspires fear in all those who serve under him. Armagand is boorish, belligerent and arrogant, with a short fuse. He does not indulge in idle talk or negotiation, being a man of few words outside of battle. Once battle is joined however, he becomes much more vocal, shouting his challenges and insults to anyone who can hear, which is a lot of people generally due to his booming, sonorous voice.

Completely confident in his own abilities, Armagand is also a firm believer that the Asentari are the strongest of all the races on Asmir, due to their Dragon blood, which leads him to be even more ruthless against weakness in his own ranks. In his mind, any Asentari who does not possess obvious power and strength brings dishonor to themselves and their race, and he has executed underlings for displays of cowardice in the field. This is not to say that Armagand holds any sense of honor in himself. He sometimes spares weaklings only because he is bored or he believes the opponent is not worth his time. He has expressed on multiple occasions his desire for his people to be more assertive and to stamp their authority on the world, and his impatience with his government’s inactivity is only growing with each day. To Armagand, the Asentari people should be at the very top of the food chain, given their heritage. Beneath this frightening exterior however, there is a deep-seated anxiety, a need to be stronger than the rest. Armagand is a stereotypical bully, all steel and strength until that strength is rendered ineffective and his fear takes over.

Armagand is immensely proud of his family bloodline, allegedly being able to trace it back to the great dragon Onyxus. As such, he believes that this bloodline demands great strength from its scions. His parents were strong people, and Armagand believes that he himself is living up to his family’s name. Behind all of the boastfulness however, is a deep protectiveness of said name. This has manifested in a strong sense of loyalty to his mother. Nylara Kor is a massive influence over Armagand, with her son’s presence and rank allowing her indirect access to the military, as well as shielding her while she grew in power, while Armagand is protective of his mother to an almost fanatical degree. Whenever Nylara develops a new agenda, she knows with confidence that Armagand will always be at hand to carry out any task she requires of him. He would like nothing else then to continue the mighty Kor line, but his only child so far has failed to live up to her heritage in his eyes. As if it wasn’t already bad enough that fate provided a daughter rather than a son, Eliza Kor has turned out not to be strong enough to be worthy of the family name. She tries her hardest to impress her father, even inheriting his bullish stubbornness, but Armagand has essentially given up on his daughter. He is not openly hostile to her, but he is completely dismissive of Eliza and her feats. The reality is, while Eliza is still a skilled and competent fighter in her own right, she is simply not good enough, and despite her best efforts he will not be convinced otherwise.

When it comes to combat, Armagand is perfectly at home. He loves nothing more than fighting, especially strong opponents. He begrudgingly respects the strength of others, though he will never openly demonstrate that respect. In fact, if he is repeatedly unable to best an opponent, he will become frustrated and angry. This is especially true of smaller or weaker seeming opponents, as he sees his inability to defeat them as a dishonor and embarrassment. Regardless of this he constantly seeks strong opponents, believing that only the strong deserved to share the battlefield with him. As mentioned, unworthy opponents bore him, and his attention in the field is likely to wander if he is not entertained enough. This attitude has caused problems in the Oculi, with his reputation for being an unpredictable maverick making many in authority anxious. He also operates very much like a blunt instrument, forgoing strategy and planning in favor of using his might to win the day. To Armagand, strategy is just a way for the weak to feel strong, and the truly mighty have no need for it.

As mentioned, Armagand believes his race to be the strongest race in the land. The Asentari are descended from Dragons, which makes them a race of warriors. He admires the inherent strength and ruthlessness of Heanta, though he believes that they spend too much time with internal squabbles and scheming to make the most of their natural gifts. Armagand regards Humans with pity, lamenting their lack of strength compared to the other races. He dismississes even the mightiest Humans as still being inferior to the Asentari. He is unsure what to make of the Eldari, as they possess both powerful magic-users and warriors. The Magi are of no consequence to Armagand, relying on their parlor tricks to fight, but powerful Warriors could be an interesting challenge, even if they too seem to lack the sheer power of the Asentari, and Armagand himself.

Likes:

• Fighting: Armagand’s natural inclination is towards fighting. He is perfectly at home in the middle of a battle, proving the might of himself and the Asentari.
  
• Challenging Foes: While he loves fighting, Armagand deeply desires to fight Asmir’s best, for there is no better way to prove his might. He lives for the challenge a mighty foe brings.
  
• Training: Armagand’s passion for fighting extends to his everyday life. He trains so that when the day arrives that he meets a worthy challenge, he is ready.
  

Dislikes:

• Weaklings: Armagand believes that might is the true value of a person. People that appear to be weak, are simply not worth his time, either on the battlefield or otherwise.
  
• Bureaucracy: While he has great belief in the might of the Asentari people, Armagand also believes this might is being oppressed by the weaklings and fatcats that are in charge of the government. He clashes with authority often, believing that two people on a battlefield can get far more accomplished than a Senate.
  
• Humans: Armagand believes that Humans are bugs to be crushed. They lack strength, and he thinks that the First Contact conflict proved that the pathetic Kingdom of Mondolin were fearful of the Asentari, and rightly so.
  

Fears:

• His Own Weakness: Armagand considers himself among the mightiest warriors currently walking Asmir. The very thought of being any less than that fills him with dread.
  
• Death: Though Armagand desires a challenge most of all, he secretly dreads the day that he meets a challenge that defeats him to the point that he has no hope of even surviving. He wants to be entertained, not killed.
  
• The Seas: Armagand will fearlessly cut his way through any enemy he comes up against, safe in the knowledge that they will not be mighty enough to kill him. However, he knows of one foe that can slay him without even denting his armor. The sea.
  

Height: 7’ 6”
Weight: 337 lbs
Appearance:

Armagand appears as a towering mass of a man, imposing in stature and with a glare that would freeze your soul. He has piercing crimson eyes and an intimidating facial arrangement that seems incapable of smiling. He wears his black hair tied back in a bun, with short wisps poking out the sides. He is tall and muscular to the point of absurdity, allowing him to dwarf most warriors, and his body is covered in scars from combat and training. His Asentari heritage is apparent through his slitted pupils
Clothing:

While he spends almost all of his time in his armor, Armagand does begrudgingly use a simple outfit for formal events. He wears an assortment of Eastern-style robes, with a preference for purple and black with white on top, combined with comfortable boots.

Fighting style

General Fighting Tactics:
Armagand is a very single-minded fighter, and he has had no reason to change his game-plan thus far. When engaging the enemy, be they singular or plural, Armagand utilizes a style that accentuates his strengths and hides his weaknesses. He is not particularly fast or agile, so he uses his mass, power and endurance to overwhelm his opponents, battering them relentlessly until victory. He favors very much the halberd which has become his trademark, which he can even use one-handed to an extent, though he is competent enough with other weapons. However, if disarmed of Sky Piercer, Armagand is most likely to fall back on his extensive hand-to-hand training, utilizing his divinium gauntlets to pummel an enemy or choke them out. His stamina means he can rain down heavy-impact strikes on a foe for a long time, and very few can stand up to that. He can get caught up in the heat of battle, however, and he is prone to venturing forth on his own and challenging anyone brave enough to face him. He also does not retreat, unless he gets bored with the fight or it becomes clear he will die if he doesn’t.

From a tactical point of view, Armagand does not utilize advanced tactics or ploys, believing them to be a cowardly waste of time. This makes it very difficult to plan around him, as he is likely to disregard plans and go looking for a fight. Because of this stubborn arrogance, Armagand is likely to fall into traps and ploys, believing his might will prevail and foil the schemes of the cowards. He does not use his powers much, partly because of his relatively low Magical Power, and partly because he prefers a straight-up contest of martial skill over a flashy magical display. He will use them occasionally, in particular his Asentari breath attack, though this is more because it is a display of his people’s heritage and power than out of necessity.

Combat Stats-

Strength || Very Good
Speed || Poor
Agility || Poor
Durability || Very Good
Stamina || Very Good
Magical power || Poor

Strengths:

• Halberd Skill: Though he has trained to a competent degree with all of the weapons used by the Asentari armed forces, Armagand’s skill with his Sky Piercer halberd is almost unrivalled. He has the strength to wield it one-handed if necessary, and he can move it at scary speeds for a weapon of its size.
  
• Hand-to-Hand Skill: Armagand is a pure combat enthusiast, so he has trained to excel in combat without a weapon as well. He uses a strike heavy style, with his divinium gauntlets allowing him to inflict heavy damage with punches and backhands, though he is also an accomplished grappler, favoring the dragon sleeper and rear naked choke holds in particular.
  
• High Pain Threshold: Armagand has trained himself to push through the pain barrier and prove his power to the world. He is able to ignore pain for the most part, though he is still fully aware of any damage he takes.
  

Weaknesses:

• Lack of Range: Armagand does not generally utilize his powers extensively, and even when he does he lacks the range to cause anybody outside his halberd range any problems, except for his dragon element customs.
  
• Lack of Discipline: Armagand’s belief in the toughness of both himself and his armor is such that he will forgo any kind of tactics or strategy in battle, preferring instead to simply stomp his way forward to the fight. To compound the issue, once in combat he will not stop fighting until he feels he has been entertained, or he gets bored, even if ordered by a superior. This arrogance and pigheadedness can be exploited by a wily opponent.
  
• Weakness to Cold: Armagand takes 25% more damage from cold-energy attacks.
  

Primary Equipment
Name: Sky Piercer
Type: Halberd
Description:

As imposing as its wielder, Sky Piercer is an Eastern-style halberd that measures 8 feet from base to tip. The head consists of an 8 inch spear head tip, 12 inch crescent blade on one side and a short tapered blade on the other side. The base of the head has a mane made of kelari fur, permanently stained red from the blood of Humans he killed during the First Contact conflict. A long golden dragon figure snakes around a 3 foot stretch of the middle of the handle, which serves both as adornment and extra grip. The base of the handle is a heavy metal sheath, 6 inches long and weighted to balance the weapon a little bit, though it still remains top-heavy.
Enchantments:

Name: Overwhelming Might Type: Offensive/Support Damage Category: None Description: Similar in principle to the Eldari Warrior’s first level of the Smash Logic elemental ability, this enchantment doubles the weight of the weapon for all but the one wielding it. As well as providing extra force to strikes with the weapon, this ability also allows Armagand to smash the weapon off the ground, generating a shockwave out to a radius of 10ft, causing no damage but knocking enemies and objects away from the center of the wave. The shockwave can be done once per use of Overwhelming Might. Duration: 2 posts Cooldown: 4 posts

Secondary Equipment
Name: Armagand’s Gauntlets
Type: Gauntlets
Description:

A pair of divinium gauntlets, used by Armagand to smash people and things without breaking his hands. They are a typical pair of medieval knight gauntlets that extend halfway up the forearms, with protruding plates to enhance the fearsome appearance of the wearer even more, as well as smashing in faces with forearm strikes.

Extra Equipment
Name: Armagand’s Armor
Type: Heavy Armor
Description:
Armor:

Helmet:

Armagand’s signature outfit. Like most heavy armors, it consists of plates over an underlayer of mail. The armor is made with a striking draconic motif, which emphasizes Armagand’s heritage and that of his people. The armor is predominantly black in color, the only exceptions being the gold on the dragon breastplate, and the striking red tendrils that protrude from the helmet and extend right down to the back of the thigh. The tendrils are meant to intimidate, as well as highlighting Armagand’s location on the battlefield.
Cost: 1500


Element: Fire

Name: Dragon Breath
Type: Offensive
Description: The Asentari can breath out a powerful blast of their element. Generally speaking, the stronger the Asentari, the more devastating the attack, but this is their most powerful racial ability. Armagand’s flames are a deep crimson color.

Rank	Damage Catagory	Cone range	cooldown
1	Average	25ft * 10ft cone	3
2	strong	35ft * 15ft cone	4
3	Very Strong	45 * 20ft cone	5

Name: Dragon’s Inferno
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: Average
Description: Armagand displays the terrifying power of a Dragon by slamming the ground with either his weapon or his fist, causing a powerful inferno to erupt around him. A crimson fireball billows out from point of contact, expanding out to a radius of 15ft. The fire has no kinetic force behind it, but anybody caught in it for more than an instant will suffer Average fire damage. The attack is precipitated by fire emitting from Armagand’s eyes and either his weapon or his fist, whichever he is using, so quick characters will have time to evade it if they are alert. Armagand himself is immune to the fire produced.
Cooldown: 2 posts


Name: Dragon’s Roar
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: Weak
Description: Armagand roars defiantly, causing an explosion of force that knocks away and damages nearby foes. The blast has a range of 10 ft, and although it inflicts only Weak damage itself, the concussive force is considerable, sending smaller characters flying up to 30 ft, while larger enemies will not be knocked back as far (character owner’s choice).
Cooldown: 2 posts

Name: Dragon Attack
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: 10x Very Weak
Description: Armagand charges either his weapon or his gauntlets with fiery energy. The chosen equipment becomes cloaked in a crimson fire aura. His next ten attacks deal Very Weak fire damage in addition to the normal weapon damage. Charges are still expended even if his attacks are blocked or parried. Lasts for 2 posts or after the 10 attacks are spent.
Cooldown: 3 posts

Name: Dragon’s Shield
Type: Defensive
Damage Category: Average
Description: Armagand emits an aura that protects from an incoming attack. The shield lasts for the post, or until an attack of Weak damage or higher hits it. Up to 10 Very Weak attacks can hit before the barrier breaks. If the attack is stronger than Average, it smashes through and hits Armagand unimpeded.
Cooldown: 3 posts


Seal appearance:

Armagand’s seal takes the appearance of the Kor family crest, a heavily stylized depiction of the Black Dragon, Onyxus. The seal is located in the center of his chest, and is roughly the size of a trash can lid.
Transformation method: Armagand lets out a mighty roar that breaks the seal
New appearance: A fire aura begins to emanate from Armagand’s joints, and his eyes turn into pools of amber flame. Black scales spread over his chest and across his shoulders.


Name: Dragon Beam
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: Strong
Description: Armagand fires a beam of pure heat energy from his hand. The beam is a foot in diameter and has a range of 20 ft. Anybody hit by it will take Strong fire damage, and any flammable materials on the character may ignite, subject to their owner’s approval.
Cooldown: 4 posts


Name: Limit Breaker
Type: Support
Damage Category: None
Description: By drawing on extra reserves, Armagand can extend his Power Point reserve for the post by sacrificing power on the next one. He gains 1 Power Point for the current post, but loses 3 Power Points on the next post.
Cooldown: 3 posts

Name: Dragon’s Toughness
Type: Defensive
Damage Category: Varies
Description: Armagand channels the pure might of his draconic ancestors into his armor. The next attack that hits him has its damage halved. On top of this, for 1 post he becomes impossibly resistant to kinetic force, meaning attacks that knock people back or stagger people with force will have almost no effect on him, though he will still take damage from it.
Cooldown: 5 posts

Name: Dragon’s Strength
Type: Support
Damage Category: None
Description: Armagand uses draconic power to augment his already considerable physical strength. He gains +1 to Strength for 3 posts.
Cooldown: 4 posts

Boosts: Strength +1, Durability +1, Stamina +1, Magical Power +1

Draconic Seal Lvl 2

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Dragon Element Custom

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History:
Born in 850 AII to the noble Kor family, Armagand Kor was born with a very pronounced opinion on the way things should be. The strong should be in charge of the weak, and matters of foreign affairs should be dictated by military power rather than diplomatic skill. His family, he was told, were descended from the great dragon Onyxus, and thus should command great respect among his people. Like most of the noble families however, the legitimacy of such a claim is murky at best. There is in fact, no hard evidence linking the Kor family to Onyxus, but if you declare something loudly and often enough, people will eventually begin to believe it. Armagand proudly continues this tradition, keeping up the appearance of nobility and power that his family had cultivated for centuries. The noble upbringing he received has instilled the strong sense of entitlement and a very pronounced hauteur, especially when dealing with the “lower classes''.

Armagand’s parents were typical for a noble house. His mother, Nylara, was an active socialite, marrying into the family for purely political and financial reasons. His father, Malagand, was a brutish sort who would’ve been a thug on the streets had he not inherited his family’s name and fortune. Malagand was completely blind to the true motives of his wife, happily fueling her coffers while he wasted away with drink and excess. He died not too long after Armagand was born, but Nylara took good care of her son, given that he was the sole blood heir to the family estate. Where Malagand was essentially worthless to her, Armagand had the potential to be a powerful asset to her plans. She cared for him, made sure he knew that his place was above the plebeians below, and strengthened his loyalty to her so that he would do her bidding and use his power to safeguard her own place in the grand scheme of things.

As Armagand grew up and began to excel at his martial studies, Nylara also grew in power behind the scenes. The young Kor scion was fearsome in stature already, compared to his age group. However, his long devoted hours to combat resulted in great skill complementing his natural gifts. He was top of his class, and he wasn’t afraid to show it either. While Armagand enjoyed his meteoric rise to fame and notoriety, Nylara was busy making provisions for herself. The exploits of her son granted her a new source of fame and power. Armagand’s fearsomeness helped to ward off potential challengers, allowing her to operate in relative peace. She made investments, acquired contacts and cultivated a mini-empire in the shadows. The relationship worked for both parties, as Nylara in turn used her shadier contacts to keep her son in the limelight and away from any dissenting elements.

Armagand attended a private academy, the same one his father had attended. At Nylara’s behest he quickly established a kliq, comprised of people who gravitated to his forceful personality and family name; and others who just gravitated to the popular kid. He actually cared very little for these “groupies”, seeing them as weaklings who couldn’t stand out on their own, as well as distractions. He humored them though, as his mother insisted that it was important to have followers, though Armagand himself could never see why.Though he had little time for the more theoretical subjects, instead favoring the physical and combat-oriented ones, he still managed to put just enough effort in that he graduated to the armed forces. It was here that his natural affinity for combat really shone.

Armagand had stood out from his peers due to his combat prowess, and he was seen as a potent weapon for the Oculi Draconis, should he make it to them. However, he also began to display a rebellious streak, as well as a strained relationship with authority. He was impulsive, bullish and reckless, relying on his gifts to get him out of scrapes. But it was believed that the Oculi would knock that out of him, so he climbed the ranks of the military quickly nonetheless. When he had gained enough experience, Armagand was invited into the Oculi Draconis, accepting a position in the Elite Guard. Once there he immediately established himself a mighty warrior and a fearsome leader. He demanded nothing but the best from his unit, coming down very hard on them if he thought they weren’t up to scratch. He personally selected who would make it into his unit, and his new position also allowed his mother even greater influence and power for her own agenda.



Blind to his mother’s machinations in the background, Armagand continued his work in the Oculi, training himself to be the best. His attitude towards inferiors became even colder, and his regiments became more punishing. Things intensified when he achieved the rank of Dux. Armagand began a reign of terror, one that lasts to this day. His demands are high, and the cost for failure even more so. Only the best, most ruthless warriors made it into the upper echelons of the Elite Guard. Tales of the cruel conditions were widespread, but Armagand’s methods were never questioned due to the high standards that the unit maintained. Armagand continued forging his own reputation, but he constantly had an eye on Styrus' seat, knowing what he could do with that power. Nylara took note of her son’s aspirations, and secretly set about getting her son to his goal.

In the meantime, Armagand also set about another goal of his - the continuation of the glorious Kor family line. To this end, he used his mother’s connections to forge an agreement with another high-ranking noble, Keldon Tallus of the Tallus family. The agreement involved Kor family support in Tallus affairs in exchange for the use of Narissa Tallus, Keldon’s eldest daughter, for the purpose of mothering an heir for Armagand. In 976 AII, Narissa gave birth to a child, but it was a daughter rather than a son. Armagand was disheartened, and immediately broke the agreement between the two families, stating that the Tallus’ failed to honor their end of the deal. Nylara saw potential in the child however, and raised the young Kor herself, naming her Eliza and convincing Armagand to train the young girl to be as good as she could be. Nylara knew that Armagand was nearing the peak of what he could offer, so she was secretly preparing the next generation.

Armagand, for his part, reluctantly agreed to be a part of Eliza’s life. Though he could not see the strength he desired in the young girl, he still trusted his mother’s instinct. Despite this, he still treated Eliza dismissively in public, though he stopped short of actual hostility. She still possessed Kor blood after all, even if she did not deserve it. Nylara played the gentle presence in the young girl’s journey, comforting her after each day of cruel and endless training with her father. Eliza was always assured that even though her father was outright cruel to her, he just wanted her to be strong for the family, which caused Eliza to develop an obsession with proving her worth to her father. She trained hard, and became incredibly resilient in both body and mind, but her father was impossible to please. Still, she was a Kor, which Armagand wouldn’t let anybody forget, even if she lacked the ruthlessness and sheer arrogance of her father.



Things would change drastically as Asmir approached the end of the Second Age. Very little effort had been made to explore beyond Edia’s borders, as the Asentari lacked the chronic curiosity of Humans or other races. However, this insulation was never going to last too long on the chaotic continent of Ka’Lesa. The Humans that lived beneath the floating islands of Edia had been a relatively peaceful lot, and had remained under Asentari protection since the days of the Dragons. Most saw them as innocuous fauna, whereas those with similar viewpoints to Armagand saw them as vermin. When a group of Humans emerged from the Vultani Jungle and abducted some of the denizens of Lower Edia, Armagand saw it as an opportunity. An opportunity to prove the might of the Asentari to these maggots that dared to violate their territory. He didn’t care in the slightest about the captives, just the glorious retribution.

Armagand’s unit was the first group on the scene, and they were the ones tasked with retrieving the abductees. They followed the trail through the Jungle, venturing into the Free Lands for the first time. The trail eventually went cold, though aerial units spotted a settlement on the horizon, occupied by Humans. With no other leads and his hunger for combat not satiated, Armagand gave the order to attack. Advancing rapidly, the Asentari force immediately overwhelmed the tiny Human militia. A small force of soldiers, led by a Knight of Mondolin offered a little more resistance, but they too were quickly dispatched. Armagand spared the civilians, if only because it was a waste of effort to kill them, but ordered his troops to scour the village for signs of their original quarry. As it turned out, the kidnappers had been there, but they were already long gone by the time Armagand’s unit got there.

Unsure of how to proceed, Markus Styrus, who had traveled with the unit to witness the new Humans in person, ordered half of his force, including a reluctant and belligerent Armagand, to report back to Edia with word of what had transpired. In the meantime, another village was detected not far from the one they had just attacked, so they began moving towards it. Even with only half of his original force, Styrus' unit overran the village. However, they would run into trouble days later. En route to another village, the Asentari force was intercepted by a Mondolin skirmishing unit. This unit was much more organised and disciplined, and the fatigued Asentari soon found themselves on the back foot. Styrus ordered a retreat to Edia, a decision that Armagand never forgot. He had made a move of his own however, and his initiative all fit into Nylara’s plan.

While Styrus was still out in the field, Armagand briefed the Primoris Rex on the situation, embellishing the story in places. He then requested permission to amass the full might of Edia’s military, in order to dissuade the Humans from attacking again. His embellished story had swayed Alura, and when Styrus had reached the Vultani Jungle he rendezvoused with the Asentari army. The Mondolin force that had pursued Styrus pulled back, taking full stock of the might that the Asentari brought to bear. Soon, Edia received reports that the Kingdom of Mondolin had mobilized for war, and had dispatched a large force towards them. The Primoris Rex ordered the Edia forces to advance out of the Jungle, and the two armies met at the East Undine River. A parlay phase commenced first, with the Humans denying any knowledge of the kidnappers, while the Asentari demanded the Humans let them pass to search themselves. Armagand waited eagerly, knowing that the Humans would not back down. He had a massive opportunity to prove his might against a new foe, and he was not going to let it slip.

Negotiations soon reached critical mass, and the inevitable conflict broke out. Armagand followed Styrus into battle. The fight began promisingly, with the Humans putting up a stiff resistance. However, like the Humans below Edia, they were still just vermin, and Armagand began to assert control over his area of the conflict. He ignored Styrus' orders on numerous occasions, instead looking for the strongest foes to fight. He found the Knights of Mondolin to be the biggest challenge, though his own might meant that any challengers did not last long. The Humans were persistent and numerous though, and Armagand found himself fighting side-by-side with his daughter at times. She displayed considerable skill, which did inwardly impress her father. However she also utilized a more tactical approach, and once her unit came under heavy attack from Mondolin crossbowmen and she called a temporary fall back, Armagand’s disappointment returned. When you were as mighty as he was, tactics were irrelevant.

Despite his efforts though, neither side gained any real headway. The cost was beginning to mount on both sides until a third force arrived consisting of units from Edaria and the Order of the Sun. The newcomers intervened in the battle, forcing both sides to call a temporary ceasefire. The order to retreat was given by the Primoris Rex, which angered Armagand incredibly, though he still followed the orders. A new negotiation was opened between Mondolin and Edia, this time mediated by Kairi Thorne, representing the Order of the Sun, and Aline Drexara, the ruler of Edaria. It was revealed that Drexara was actually an Asentari, though she had concealed it while ruling her city. A peace agreement was eventually reached, when it was revealed that the Order had actually managed to capture the kidnappers near Karem, and they were currently being held in Edaria. The Humans from Lower Edia were returned to the Asentari, as well as the kidnappers in order to face whatever punishment Edia saw fit. The leader, Rasmus Talir, would remain in Mondolin however, in order to stand trial for instigating such a costly war.



Once the Edia forces had retreated back to their home, Rasmus’ accomplices were tried and executed for their crimes. Armagand was becoming increasingly impatient, as reports from the new scouting parties the Oculi had sent out returned with reports of the other races that populated the continent, namely the Eldari and Heanta. Those two were long-lived peoples who were renowned for their military prowess, given that they were constantly in conflict with each other. Armagand wanted nothing more than to test himself against these warriors, to finally prove himself as the greatest warrior the land had seen. He read up on tales of Dalrodir Shor and Ren the Hornless, as well as the ancient wars that had occurred on the continent in centuries past. Armagand couldn’t wait to challenge such storied foes.

One obstacle that stood in his way, however, was the cowardly leadership of Markus Styrus. The Imperator had expressed relief in the First Contact conflict ending so soon, believing that peace was a satisfactory outcome. This viewpoint angered Armagand to his blood, and so he enlisted his mother’s help to do something about it. Nylara’s influence in the nobility had now spread to the Senate, and so she used this power to destabilize Styrus' own influence base. Rumors of Styrus' cowardice and incompetence became widespread, but the hammer blow fell when Nylara managed to implicate the Imperator in a plot to sell Oculi secrets to traders in the Free Lands. She managed to have agents plant false evidence in the Imperator’s office, and he was charged with treason and exiled from Edia.

The result of this scheme was the appointment of Armagand as the new Imperator. There were quiet suspicions about the timing of the appointment, but they were quickly silenced. He actually got wind of his own daughter asking a few questions, but he beat her severely when he found her and she abandoned her line of inquiry. Once that matter was seen to, he immediately got to work on toughening up the Elite Guard. He increased both the frequency and intensity of training, and became far stricter on admission to “his” division of the Oculi. He initially declined his own daughter’s admission to the Guard, but he relented at Nylara’s behest. He showed the complete opposite of favoritism, pushing Eliza far harder than the others, sending a message that even his own blood was expected to be the best. The Asentari were the mightiest warriors in the world, and he was going to make sure the Elite Guard proved it, at any and all costs.
Side notes:
Rp example:

Approved A-5

seconded.