Sayana's Diary
I, Lady Sayana of Temeria, formally Kintegyn Sayana, Royal Emissary to the Kingdom of Temeria, Loyal subject to the rightful ruler of Temeria; King Foltest, have taken it upon myself to document the current day events as they take place. As an honest soul, it is my aim to document events as accurately as possible, without the slant of bias, yet I humbly accept that it is my perspective that I record. I cannot know everything as I am but one soul, I cannot always attest to absolute truth in my documentation of events, as much of what I document will be the word of others.
Introduction
We live in interesting times. The bulk of The Empire has fallen, and its influence has receded. Calradia is once more divided among the numerous clans of the current era. Old nations have been resurrected and new nations have been born. Cultures that have long been stifled by the Empire have now seen a resurgence throughout Calradia and an uneasy status quo rests over the continent. This time of relative stability is largely driven by a mutual need to rebuild and maintain law and order in the vacuum left by the Empire’s demise. Looters, bandits and even raiders from across the vast oceans to the north and west have assembled in their hundreds, sometimes even thousands, waiting at river crossings and in mountain passes for the largely unprotected merchant caravans to pass through. As the Calradian clans regroup and reform, a great deal of time and many hundreds of thousands of denars are being spent to address this issue.
A Brief History of Kintegyn Sayana
And so I begin with a short account of my story so far, memoirs if you will. Although I am of low birth, noble blood does run in my veins. My grandmother was born into the Neretzes dynasty, though at the time she chose to shun her noble status and instead married my grandfather, a simple steppe nomad. I was born to Kinteg and Alte, simple sheep farmers in a fairly remote part of the steppe, a location so remote in fact, that even the closest village was half a day’s ride from the farmstead. This relative isolation meant much of my childhood was spent either helping at the farm, learning to read and write, or, more often that not, exploring the wider area around the farm with my brother: Jatu. Jatu was older than I by almost two whole years, and he never failed to better me in any competition involving raw strength or physicality, that was until the day that Kinteg deemed us old enough to accompany him to the nearest large town, Odokh.
It was several days' journey, and Kinteg took great care in teaching Jatu and I the fundamentals to survival, should we ever find ourselves lost and on our own. We stayed at other farmsteads along the way, so these skills were not necessary at the time, however Kinteg believed we should be independent from as young an age as possible. His own experience of the world had been a harsh one, and though he refused to talk about it with Jatu and I, Alte had alluded to his past once or twice. It would seem that after a harsh upbringing, he had somehow got himself involved in an uprising that was swiftly crushed by The Empire.
My first time in Odokh was the first time in any city, the sights, the sounds, the smells. All of it overwhelming, all of it a new and delightful experience. Though the city was vast and unfamiliar, Jatu and I were given free reign to wander where we pleased within a certain area set out by Kinteg, and being the free spirited souls that we were, we explored every nook and cranny.
I suppose the most memorable part of it for me was the time we spent at the archery range, where for the first time Jatu and I learnt to draw a bow. The highlight of my whole day, and perhaps even my entire life up to that point was the archery contest that took place in the afternoon, freely open to anyone who would care to join. Not only did I consistently beat Jatu in accuracy, I was also by far and away the best aspiring archer at the range that day. This annoyed Jatu greatly, I had never beaten him at anything before, and at last I had found where I excelled, not in brute strength or raw physical performance, but in finesse and good technique. Kinteg bought us a bow each and the competition between us continued, all the way home. I was always victorious.
Many days passed, and many archery competitions ensued, but Jatu could seemingly never get the better of me. This vexed him greatly, to the point that our excursions into the wilderness ended entirely, and, mixed with the fact that it was lambing season, we barely found the time to speak with each other at any length. I began to grow restless in these days. Our short visit to Odokh had opened my eyes to the multitude of opportunities that life had to offer. I could not spend my entire life farming sheep in the middle of nowhere.
It was at about that time that we received news that the empire no longer held any jurisdiction in the local region. This was not entirely unexpected however, as its waning influence had been evident for quite some years. As a result, law and order became an issue for the local clan leaders. They did not have the resources, nor the expertise of The Empire when it came to enforcing it. The highways and byways between our farmstead and Odokh were becoming increasingly unsafe, and only the most necessary journeys were attempted, always with the utmost planning and forethought.
​
Now, It was not uncommon for Jatu to disappear for days at a time at this point, in spite of Kinteg's insistence he stay put. Both Jatu and I grew increasingly restless, as being bound to one place was not compatible with our adventurous nature. On occasion, he would give way to the constant urge to practise with his bow, but would not want to do so in my presence, as he knew to do so would draw scorn and derision from me at his constant failure to improve. At the time I did this with relish, as he had always poured scorn on my efforts to beat him at anything else, but in hindsight, this is something I greatly regret now that I am older and a little wiser.
One day however, Jatu did not return form one of his excursions. We searched for days on end, we even suspended all but the most essential work at the farm so that we might spend the time searching. We checked with every neighbouring farm, and asked around at the nearest village. We searched farther and farther afield, but found nothing. It seemed that perhaps Jatu did not want to be found. My father and mother were greatly worried and distressed because of the heightened risk of travel at that time, and in their minds it seemed more and more likely that Jatu would end up dead.
Kintegyn Sayana of Nowhere
The disappearance of Jatu was a tipping point for me. I cant help feeling that his disappearance is at least partly my fault, that I had goaded and derided him to a point that he could not stand to be with me anymore. Now I was fifteen years of age, and was considered a young adult in the eyes of my parents. Though I knew I would miss them greatly, I said my goodbyes, and turned my back on my former life forever. I had to get away, I had to see the world and most of all, I had to find Jatu, or at the very least, what had become of him.
​
I wish I could say that the next few years of my life involved the joys of exploration and discovery that I desired, but they did not. Though I was often travelling, more often than not this was driven by the need to find my next source of income, rather than satisfying the insatiable wanderlust that had initially inspired me to seek new horizons. I spent much of my time wearing men’s clothing and with my hair kept short or tied up, so as not to draw unwanted attention to myself, and it seemed for the most part that all life had to offer me was hard grind and harsh life lessons. It was necessary for me to learn many new skills, for example, being of lesser stature than the average man, I would often find myself having to handle situations by skill of speech, rather than bodily strength or by the help of accomplices. I could also be found bartering at the market stands and sometimes even persuading complete strangers to act in my favour. My search for Jatu bore no fruit whatsoever, and after many months had passed I had all but given up the search.
Of course, now, as a write this, I have the resources to conduct a more comprehensive search for Jatu and I fully intend to do so. I greatly desire some sort of closure to the whole matter.
His Majesty King Foltest of Temeria
As I begin this diary, I do so within the relatively safe confines of my own bedchamber. I have to pause for a moment to digest this as I write, I have my own bedchamber!. I could almost write an entire diary entry describing it and the castle in which it is located. Nevertheless, I feel it more appropriate to document the events that led to this complete change of circumstances.
It was late in the summer of the third year of my travels. I had now ventured so far west, that I found myself deep in the Imperial heartlands. The harvest was plentiful, and I had little difficulty finding work at a small farm outside of Zeonica. Morale among the workers was extremely high that day, we gossiped, laughed and sang as we worked, making light work of an extensive harvest. I remember thinking at the time that all the unnecessary commotion would most likely draw more attention than I would have liked, and sure enough I spotted a nobleman riding in from the direction of Zeonica. No one else seemed to notice this at first, and I had time to watch the workers as, one by one, they realised what was happening, ceased their singing and laughing, and stood to attention. I was not impressed. I had come a handful of nobleman on my travels, all had seemed imperious by nature, none had shown the slightest interest in a commoner such as myself.
I elected to continue my work, however he rode over to me and introduced himself as King Foltest of Temeria. I was greatly taken aback and initially lost for words, yet somehow words came to me and I was able to maintain a courteous air as we conversed. Apparently something about me immediately impressed him, as to what exactly I could not say for sure at the time. After while, he invited me to accompany him back to his homeland. Once again this caught me off guard. No nobleman had ever once given me more than a furtive glance, let alone a heart to heart followed by an invitation. I must admit that in my state of shock I accepted, perhaps without giving it proper thought. Regardless of whether the decision at the time was one of sufficient prudence, I do not regret it in hindsight
​
As we journeyed to Temeria, we struck up a conversation which must have lasted more than half of the journey. We discussed a wide variety of topics, ranging from such trivialities as the games of Gwent and Chess to topics of great depth and substance, such as politics and warcraft. It was as we approached the gates of the Temerian capital that His Majesty King Foltest, apparently thoroughly impressed, pledged there and then to make me a Lady in his court, and that he did, the very next day. Thus Kintegyn Sayana of nowhere became Lady Sayana of Temeria.
He is a king, yet he seems a kindly and thoroughly reasonable man, more than capable of compassion and one who conducts himself with honour and grace. In spite of his many quirks, I respect him for his core values and virtuous outlook.
A Scourge on Calradia
It is both an honour and a privilege to be assigned my first task for the betterment of Temeria and the wider area around the kingdom. As I write this diary entry, I find myself on the road once again, this time patrolling the north and eastern regions of Temeria. The bandits are not only more numerous here, they are becoming more and more brazen. I do not consider myself bellicose by nature, however these opportunists do not possess a shred of honour, and live only to exploit and murder innocent people for their own gain. Therefore, it pleases me a great deal to put an end to them, once and for all. They are a scourge on Calradia, a thorn in the side of all who consider themselves righteous and good.
Today we were hailed by a messenger, a servant of a bordering nation. Her liege was in trouble, struggling against an overwhelming number of bandits. Not only were we victorious this day, we have also helped a neighboring noble survive to fight another day. I consider this a double victory! If the bandits are good for one thing, it is their ability to unite the various kingdoms against them as a common foe. Alas I fear this status quo between nation states is only temporary, nevertheless, it is sweet while it still lasts.
A Servant of the Temerian People
So here I am, in a position of incredible privilege and responsibility. I am duty and honour bound to serve an entire nation, and yet, with a snap of my fingers I can summon a servant to do my bidding, have a guard punished for almost any reason, or even have someone executed in the name of the king. I ride with a band of soldiers ready to fight and die at my command, and my horse, who I have named ‘Thundersnow’, is one of the finest in Calradia. I have more than I could have ever dreamed of as a young girl and I have it in abundance! And yet… it is so easy to take it all for granted.
Yesterday, the king and I travelled to a local farm together. We were to inspect the progress there, as the king had recently invested in its refurbishment. It was quite evident upon arrival that the local peasantry had not been keeping to the schedule outlined. I was quick to point this out and poured scorn on the efforts of the local labourers, only to be met with sheer resentment in their expressions a moment later. Others returned my gaze with outright contempt. What had I just done? Am I to rule with a rod of iron and coerce the king’s subjects into productivity? I turned to King Foltest. He seemed to be patiently waiting for me to make the right choice. This is not who I am, this is not the Sayana I was brought up to be!
I dismounted from my horse and approached the largest group of peasants. They explained that they had been searching for a boy who had gone missing, and that this had hampered efforts to keep things on track. In light of this, I forgave them immediately and asked they forgive my outburst. I promised instead that a search party would be sent out with immediate effect, so that they might focus their efforts on the task in hand once again.
Surely my duty is to the people first, and in my position of incredible privilege, this should be my ultimate goal. Everything I have gained, even if by my own blood sweat and tears, is a means by which I can help others, not only to keep Temeria a good and lawful kingdom, but a pleasant place to live. We who have charge over many men, are nothing without them. This is a lesson I will not quickly forget. To see one's subjects thrive is a source of great joy and does incredible good to the soul.
Appointed as Royal Emissary
It is with great pride that today I accepted the position of Royal Emissary. The king has shown an ever increasing trust in me of late, to the point where I cannot document all that he has shared with me, lest any enemy of Temeria should find this diary.
Alas, In spite of my respect for the king, I fear there are some in his court who I will never see eye-to-eye with. They treat me with contempt because of my low birth, and are driven by a jealousy perpetuated by how quickly I have outranked them. One such courtier found great pleasure in whipping my dear horse, Thundersnow. Upon finding out, my initial reaction was to have the man whipped in return, but I elected to follow my better judgement and stick to the judicial processes set in place according to the the laws of Temeria. I very much hope that, from now on, I possess all the wisdom, courage and prudence required to act as a diplomat for an entire nation. One can never be too sure how one may react in the heat of the moment.
The Curious Case of Genghis Cat
I find great pleasure in the fact that now, as emissary, I spend at least as much time in conversation as I do in combat, though only the latter applies to the common miscreants that infest Calradia. Their selfish minds do not revolve around anything other than money and thuggery. A swift end to their pitiful existence is all that is required. However, in the case of nations or factions, a more cautious approach is appropriate, lest any rash action cause offence leading to an escalation that brings about the unnecessary harm of many innocents.
​
Recently, on a visit to Zeonica, I came upon a commotion outside of the gates. As I approached, it became apparent that several horsemen were extolling the name of ‘Genghis Cat’. On closer inspection, I recognised one individual as Gumo Kahn, a nobleman who had recently aided me against a large group of Bandits outside of Makeb. He had mentioned Genghis Cat then too. I thought in that moment that perhaps to them, this Genghis Cat was some sort of deity, worthy of worship
As a child of the steppe, I am well accustomed to both spiritual and supernatural folklore, and the many stories that surround such things, thus my curiosity was aroused. I enquired further. One thing led to another, and before long I found myself deep in conversation with Ithraim Kahn, a nobleman in a similar diplomatic role to mine. As it turned out, the loyal subjects of Genghis Cat were eager to establish diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Temeria, and Ithraim and I set about laying the groundwork for what I hope will amount to strong diplomatic ties.
It was not until consulting with the king today however, that I became aware of the bigger picture, for this Genghis Cat was not entirely what I had imagined.
Some time ago, before I had even set foot inside of Zeonica, a cat was put up for sale on the market there for a very high price. This particular cat must have been something exceptional, because it quickly caught the interest of a number of notables, including a noble from the mighty House Galdendine, who had his heart set on this furry prize. Unfortunately for him, this sacred cat was snapped up by our new found friends from the east, who prized their beloved ‘Genghis Cat’ more highly than all the gold in Calradia.
Various members of House Galendine were incensed by this turn of events, and even went as far as to threaten war. I am uneasy. Perhaps in making a friend, we are making an even greater enemy.
The Mysterious Wanderer
Now that I have grown more accustomed to the ebb and flow of my new lifestyle, I find that every so often I have a little time to myself. Time is precious of course, and I have not wasted it. I have spent much of that time either overseeing the buying and selling of goods for profit, or facilitating the transfer of cargo between nearby cities.
My experience as a part-time merchant has taught me that the availability of products in the various Calradian marketplaces is subject to trends, trends which are to some extent driven by a mysterious individual know only as: ‘The Wanderer.’
They say of The Wanderer that he practises a form of alchemy that allows him to turn unremarkable everyday items into artifacts of great value. I am not entirely convinced that this particular anecdote has any merit, however I have bartered with The Wanderer on a number of occasions. Truly he is a mysterious man, who comes and goes as he pleases, and although happy to discuss trade, refuses to reveal the secret behind his bountiful acquisitions. Though I have tried to weave the subject into our discussions, he never gives anything away. Where does he acquire such fine goods and why does he peddle them at such affordable prices? One can only speculate at their origin. Perhaps this man is a thief and a scoundrel, or perhaps he is merely a generous merchant, who wishes to redistribute wealth to those of lesser fortune.
One thing I can always be sure of however, is that, after one of his visits, the marketplaces will be awash with whatever it is he had to offer, even for many days after he has left.
Mabons the Careless
When I was a child, I would occasionally help heard the sheep with my father and my brother. We would always know their total number, and should any sheep ever go missing, it would not be long before we found out and took action. In those days, we didnt have much, and what we did have was precious to us. Thus I have never neglected to take good care of the possessions I happen to be blessed with.
Though I have never met Mabons, I fear he has never learned this valuable life lesson. It seems that he has left copious notes, diagrams, maps and even entire volumes scattered about the land. Surely he lives in constant regret at his own negligence, because these notes almost always outline the rough location of what he himself calls ‘lost treasures’. Sometimes these are of significant value, yet they are always guarded by ragtag band of thuggish brutes.
Perhaps instead of negligence, it is a more nefarious ploy, a deliberate attempt to draw greedy souls into a bandit lair, so that they might become easy prey for its denizens. Does Mabons perhaps hold some sway over the bandits in the land? I sincerely hope that this Mabons can be found, for I have a multitude of questions I wish to ask of him.
King Octavius of House Galendine
There are some aspects of my new life that I am yet to fully adjust to, one being the frequency with which one rubs shoulders with influential and powerful individuals. Today I spoke with one of the most powerful men in Calradia, King Octavious. His ability to rally nobles to his cause is unmatched, the number of Vlandian houses united under his rule is beyond impressive. One would be forgiven for thinking that he might consider himself above everyone else, that this might come across in his manner and speech, yet this is not the case, in fact he is a most amiable personality, pleasant company and easy to talk to.
I must admit I am impressed, the man has the charisma of a great leader, yet addresses his vassals and subjects as equals, Instinctively knowing when to listen and when to exercise authority. We discussed his methods of leadership and he explained that keeping the nobles occupied and involved was the key; a sense of purpose within the hierarchy and a reason to belong. Whatever his secret really is, it seems to be working, for now.
When I mentioned the increased likelihood for disputes and dissent among so many nobles and vassal houses, he merely laughed it off. Perhaps his confidence is well founded. Perhaps all of Vlandia will stand united and strong against its many potential rivals. If King Octavius’ confidence is anything to go by, this is all but assured, however only time will tell what the future holds for this particular alignment of interests.
Naturally our conversation turned to the topic of diplomatic ties. King Octavius assured me that only incursions on Vlandian lands would lead to armed conflict. Though I did my best to hide it, I must admit I felt incredibly anxious at that moment. Where will our diplomatic ties end up? I know my liege, King Foltest, will never bend the knee to him as so many sycophants have already done. Temeria will always be an independent nation, free from any aspiring emperor's grip. Who's to say that Temeria and House Galendine will never come to blows, should some conflict of interest arise between us
​
Calradia's Corner of Chaos
It is far too easy to settle on one's haunches and become accustomed to a stable Calradia. Even when the status quo lasts only a handful of harvests, one begins to let one’s guard down and expects it to last forever. One is no longer vigilant, and it is all too easy to become blissfully unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. This mindset is a mistake. I have had many days to contemplate this diary entry, as, due to recent events, I was unable to write whilst I recovered from my injuries.
The fragile peace in Calradia could not last forever, yet it did not last even nearly as long as I'd hoped. Until recently, the clans in the southern lands had enjoyed a relatively easy ride back to stability, with precious few organised bands of miscreants to deal with. Perhaps this led to a complacency that would become their downfall, or perhaps I am merely projecting my own failings on the misfortune of others. Whatever the case, law and order within these southern desert lands, now known as ‘The Wildlands’ is determined only by the largest party that rides through them. No self-respecting Emperor, king, lord or even deity lays any permanent claim to this place, unless perhaps a deity of chaos.
Such a land is a breeding ground for the depraved and the villainous, and I believe all of Calradia’s most prominent rulers have shown an interest in the area, if for no other reason than to tame it, and in so doing protect the southern borders of more civilised nations.
Thus we arrive at my own complacency and lack of preparedness that I intend never to repeat. As I entered these lands for the first time, I did so alone, with less than one hundred men at my command. My duties as royal emissary often keep me away from battle, and on this occasion I was especially eager to join in with the Temerian and Cintrian armies, so that together we could rid this land of its unruly populace. Thus I hastily set off deep into the Wildlands in search of them.
After half a day’s ride, scouts reported a small army to the southwest. These were not common bandits. They appeared to carry the flag of an established clan, though they did not represent any nation or clan within Calradia that I recognised. I assumed they would pass me by as a show of good faith between honourable nobles. I was wrong. Even if they could be considered nobles, they were without honour, for without any clear reason or prior quarrel they attacked, outnumbering my loyal band three to one.
My men fought bravely to protect their liege, as is always the case it seems. I have never known them to flee from battle, even when faced with insurmountable odds. Alas we lacked numbers, and were it not for the relative proximity of my allies in the area, I may have been captured or killed. I’ve been foolish and yet I was lucky. Next time I will not leave my own fate down to luck. I lost many good men to this blunder.
I am told some of my assailants were punished for this act. Apparently King Foltest was incensed by the whole affair, and pursued them to the edge of the Wildlands. The majority of them escaped but some were outmaneuvred and outmatched by my allies. Good, although I hope to exact retribution upon them on the battlefield myself one day.
War is Upon Us
It would seem that our presence in the wildlands has become rather more problematic than any of our most experienced strategists had anticipated. Alas, what should have been a triumphant eradication of malfeasance and villainy has become a clash for dominance in the area between many of Calradia’s more prominent clans. Though motivations vary, it would appear that almost every clan diligently strives to make their presence known in these otherwise untamed lands.
This has triggered a ‘contest of arms’ in the area, a situation which, as was always my worst fear, has spilled over into full-blown conflict between nations. Aside from the initial skirmish I outlined in the previous entry, Temeria had been enjoying relative success in these lands. That was until Galendine clashed with the Fallen Mercenary Consortium. Temeria was at this point bound in a defensive pact to aid the aforementioned mercenary consortium, and though our overall involvement in this particular conflict has been light, I have heard through the grapevine that we took many unnecessary casualties.
This initial conflict with Galendine was promptly solved by the voiding of the defensive pact. Though Temeria had honoured this pact for many years, it had long outlived its usefulness to us, and was abandoned, not as a desertion of Temeria’s responsibility to her allies, as this would be nothing more than dishonorable, but instead as a consequence of the desertion of others who had signed up to the pact, yet failed to join us in battle. An important lesson in choosing one’s allies perhaps.
I wish it were at this point that I could note the success of our mission and a return to peace for the Kingdom of Temeria, however this couldn’t be further from the truth, as just a few days ago, I received word that our most eminent marshal, Sir Rowetheus, was set upon by a large contingent of soldiers flying the flag of Vestmar Dominion. Vastly outnumbered, he was forced to flee, but again, not before many lives were lost to this bloodthirsty barbarian tribe. Naturally, my initial reaction was to reach out diplomatically, one can never be too certain if such incidents are a case of mistaken identity or some other such error of judgement, but alas, my initial optimism has proven to be misguided.
The Vestmar Dominion is quite simply a motley rabble of bellicose and megalomaniacal personalities who refuse to be reasoned with. My attempts at communication have been largely ignored, and what little discourse has taken place, has only helped to further inflame animosity between us, seemingly to the delight of the Vestmarians. Thus the atrocity they have committed remains uncompensated.
I see little opportunity for a truce in the near future. Hostilities will continue until Vestmar has paid for the damage inflicted unjustly upon us. Will they ever prove their honour, admit their faults and compensate those who have been adversely affected by their senseless wars? This is doubtful. In the end, they care not for the cost of war, they care only for the thrill of battle and increasing the tally of those slain at their whim. Apparently the greater the number slain by an individual, the more prestigious that individual becomes within their culture. I find myself fighting the urge to vomit at the thought of such an outlook.
To my mind, this is why we fight: to bring about justice and righteousness across Calradia, to bring peace and enable prosperity, without repeating the mistakes or echoing the tyrannical mindset of the former empire.
A New Empire
In difficult times, one cannot help but to focus with all one’s might and willpower on the potential for positive change. One such change has presented itself in the formation of the United Banners of the Empire, an alliance united by the quest to establish righteousness, justice and peace throughout central Calradia!
The Kingdom of Temeria, the Kingdom of Cintra and House Hessian, will hereby be known as the founding members of this new alliance, long may they succeed where the former empire did not. I, for one, hope to see a mighty alliance grow from such small beginnings.
A Land of Perpetual Change
Once again I find myself with quill in hand, documenting events that have recently come to pass. It has been a few weeks since my last entry, thus I shall attempt to adequately summarise them, focusing, as always, on events more pertinent to Temeria and the Empire, be they good, bad, hopeful or bleak.
Calradia cannot shake its current state of perpetual change. I find myself growing numb to the ongoing conflict in which Calradia is embroiled, as various factions rise to prominence, attempt to assert dominance for a time, then fade away like a morning fog. Perhaps the greatest war, the war between House Galendine and the Fallen Mercenary Consortium, rumbles on with many lesser factions aligned with one side or the other. Many battles are won and lost, but few wars have led to any decisive outcome. The ever shifting political affiliations send the balance of power from east to west, to south, to north, there is no end to the political wrangling that goes on behind the scenes. Leaders berate and taunt one another, conflict breeds more conflict, there seems to be no end to the cycle of violence. Meanwhile hundreds have died in the name of whatever cause their leaders have chosen and I fear hundreds, if not thousands more are yet to meet the same fate as the continent of Calradia struggles to make sense of itself in the absence of the former Empire.
Temeria at least is stable and united, and recently enjoyed a joint tournament with the Kingdom of Cintra. The Empire continues to be a moderate success, though I must admit there are cracks here and there. Perhaps there will always be cracks. I suppose as long as the mortar of trust and respect sufficiently holds the stones of the empire together, I can confidently say it will not shatter altogether. Indeed as things stand, we are setting adequate foundations for the prosperity of all those who call central and eastern parts of Calradia their home. The Hun Empire and the Gokturk Khagnate have joined our alliance, and we are already beginning to see the benefits of military and political collaboration.
That being said, the Empire is still extremely young, and some of its nobility could be likened to headstrong adolescents. I admire their zeal and enthusiasm, yet lament their naivety and overconfidence and I fear that the chances of overly emotional and irrational decisions are greatly increased with such ones. As I see it, the success of the Empire is dependent upon the fair judgement of a senate that, detached from the passions of individuals, truly represents the interests of the people as a whole. Alas, there are still those, especially those who already have charge over a nation, that would seek to undercut the authority of the senate whenever it might suit them. Indeed, even King Foltest and I do not entirely see eye to eye on this issue, and as a result, the extent to which the senate holds authority in certain situations has not yet been formally agreed.
Time will tell as to what sort of an empire we become, but for the time being, I remain loyal to the cause. I am resigned to the fact that the Empire will continue to experience these sorts of growing pains, after all, Zeonica was not built in a day, yet it is my wish that we always find the right compromise when it comes to any major new direction the Empire must take. I believe that both the resilience of the Empire and the wellbeing of its citizens depend on this.
Loose Ends
Though I am widely accepted as a noble these days, even by some of the more ‘traditional’ thinkers, I still find myself at the disadvantage of being well known, even by my enemies. The land that I grew up in and that I used to call my home, now lies beyond a vast stretch of territory claimed by the Khuzait Khanate; enemies of our empire.
My duties have kept me away from my homeland for long periods of time, and it is now nigh on impossible to return there, as to do so would involve a perilous trek through enemy lands. All attempts to track down Jatu have ceased and I am not sure when next I will be able to see my parents. Indeed, perhaps there will never be a next time, as they are both advanced in years, and war with the southern Khuzaits shows no sign of abating.
I am, as always, bound to my duties and my focus is almost entirely on them, however this lack of closure still lurks at the back of my mind, occasionally surfacing, sometimes in a dream or in a moment of reflection, such as when I sit down to write in this book. The simple life that I enjoyed in my formative years, now seems so far in the past, a whole different chapter, and yet Jatu’s disappearance, and the circumstances under which it happened, still occasionally return to haunt me.
As for my parents, well, I left them out of a desire to be independent, in an attempt to separate myself from the mundane lifestyle which they seemingly enjoyed, and yet strangely, as I look back on this previous chapter of my life, I realise that a part of this has never left me, and my parent’s influence continues to echo in my new found life.
I was brought up to observe the traditions of my father and his father’s father, the pursuit of spiritual enrichment and self improvement, prerequisites for a better life beyond this life, and yet I have spent most of my life depending on my own gut instinct and ingenuity. If there is life beyond life, I am sure my parents will experience the best of it. Their humble and honest existence in this life has always been a quiet inspiration to me, though I concern myself with affairs with far greater consequences than they would ever have faced, I always return to this acknowledgement that there is always something greater than myself, be it a people, a cause or perhaps even an entity. I am in a position of privilege, and yet, I am greater than no one, I am fortunate and I am blessed, yet it is my duty to make this a possibility for those I am responsible for, in one way or another.
The Champion of Calradia
There are days when one could be forgiven for assuming that the name ‘Calradia’ is derived from some ancient figure of speech meaning ‘perpetual turmoil’. The days of the former empire are as a distant memory for most, though to call it a time of stability would surely be something of a misnomer, at least according to the word of those that lived through it. It would appear that, although the old Empire had a firm grip over much of Calradia, there were always small pockets of resistance, uprisings and mutinies. Indeed my own father was involved in one of these.
It is for this reason that I wholeheartedly applaud any attempt to unite the many clans of Calradia, no matter how trivial the cause may be. In this case, it is a contest of arms, open to the finest fighters across the entirety of Calradia. This most prestigious event, hosted by House Galendine of the west country, will determine the ‘Champion of Calradia’, a title that will surely bring great repute to both the winner and the clan to which he belongs. The event itself is a celebration of cooperation between clans, though personally my support is primarily for those who represent Temeria, and if not Temeria, then an ally from the wider empire.
A Chaos of Conflict
I have filled my inkpot to the very brim today, as I do not know how lengthy this entry will become, indeed, it is a minor miracle that I have found the time to sit down and write it. Never in all my years would I have believed a soul if they were to tell me that I would one day be in the position I am in as I write this.
I fear that the enemies of The Empire have become more numerous of late. Calradia has its fair share of warmongers it would seem, and on top of that, a knight of Temeria recently provoked yet another faction against us, so that we are wholly outnumbered, and though the enemy is not yet at the gates, our armies struggle to make any headway on all fronts. Our marshall Sir Rowetheus and every other militarily inclined noble have long been absent from the court, assisting our allies on the frontlines, holding this multitude of enemies at bay.
The king himself has grown increasingly distant of late. I can only imagine the pressure he must be under, juggling all of the conflicts with the running of a kingdom. He spends days, sometimes weeks locked in his private chambers, almost as if he were sick, yet when he emerges, he shows no sign of physical affliction. Perhaps his affliction is not of the flesh, but of the mind, for he carries a greater burden than any man I have ever known.
The remaining nobles have begun to whisper amongst themselves, some fear for his ability to lead in this pivotal point in history, others are already beginning to look to other nations in the empire to call their home. I for one have the utmost respect for both king and country, which I have grown to love as if it were the place of my birth, and I could not, even for a moment, entertain the idea of running from my responsibilities, even if Myzea were under siege and I were the last to stand against the enemy.
Nevertheless, faith in the ability of the king has been greatly eroded, and I find myself taking on many of his responsibilities, no, as of today, in the absence of any other trustworthy noble, I have taken on all of them, for today the king addressed me directly for the first time in many weeks, to inform me that he no longer considered himself worthy to serve either the Temerian people or the Empire, and has instructed that I should take the reigns until a worthy successor can be found. I am dumbfounded at this turn of events, I do not know if this is a dereliction of duty born from cowardice, or a brave act of self-acknowledgement from a king who, in such a state of mental deterioration, can no longer count himself worthy of his status.
It is with dogged determination and an unwavering passion for Temeria and its people, that I strive to hold everything together until we can once again collectively call ourselves a healthy and prosperous nation.
A Marshall to be Remembered
There are those that are blessed with long life and good health, who see many harvests, who live to witness the birth of their grandchildren, perhaps even great grandchildren, who have strength enough to take care of themselves and many others for almost all of their days. Then there are those who suffer affliction, whose lives are severely altered or even cut short by some tragic twist of fate, so that they cannot go on living the life they were so well used to living, or even go on living at all. I fear that in the case of Sir Rowetheus, though thankfully he is still with us, there is some uncertainty as to whether his life will ever be the same again. Events have transpired in such a way that his time as Grand Marshall has come to an end, and it is with great regret that I must document that due to injuries sustained in battle, he must relinquish this position of great repute. I am greatly saddened by both this turn of events and the extent of his injuries, for they are truly life altering. I had personally envisaged this man as the next king of Temeria in the absence of any worthy blood relative to King Foltest. Alas, this can never be.
I do not envy the one that must replace him, for, at present, there is none in all of Calradia who could command the respect of allies, enemies, nobles and commoners as Rowetheus could.
The Empire and the East
As I have mentioned in a previous entry to this diary, the Empire encompasses a wide region of central Calradia at present, however it now no longer includes the eastern regions that once counted themselves among us. Alas, the Gokturk Kanganligi and Hun Empire have split from us, albeit on good terms. We are still allies, yet the requirements of membership to the wider empire no longer suit their own requirements it would seem.
On a more positive note, it gives me great joy to document that our war with the Khuzait Khanate has come to an end, and it is once again safe for Temerians to travel beyond the eastern fringes of Calradia. I have since been able to visit my parents’ farmstead, and have found them alive and well! I offered to send them hired help, all fully paid for personally by me, but they flatly refused, both are stubbornly committed to their established way of life, and as things stand it seems they are well able to continue it. I suppose this is in itself a relief to me, as, judging by their current state, there will surely be several years before they must breathe their last.
As for me personally, I have taken a step back from the role of Royal Emissary. Though my duties do occasionally include diplomatic affairs, I have found a new profession to which I am well suited, namely: the training of horseback archers. As a child of the steppe, this is almost as natural to me as walking, but there are many within the empire that must learn to perfect this most useful of skills.
​
A New King for Temeria
From time to time, I feel it my duty to gauge the public mood among the common populace, and having no desire to forget my roots, or whom I am here to serve, I will on occasion don a disguise and mingle among them, so that I might get a perspective free from the bias of sycophancy or deference.
The felling of trees has become a lucrative local industry of late, thus attracting workers from around the kingdom, and my time with these woodcutters has taught me that a kingdom without a king invokes a feeling among the populace of a ship without its mainsail, or a boat without a rudder. The Kingdom continues to function as boat with intact hull would continue to float, and is an integral part of the empire as a warship to a fleet, yet something is missing, or rather, someone is missing, one who can ignite hope in the hearts of Temerians in these trying times, who can rally an army of loyal subjects, knowing that their loyalty is unwavering, who can stand under the banner of Temeria and truly represent the values of the Temerian people as a consul of The Empire!
Had King Foltest any living offspring worthy of the position of monarch, this would have been a much simpler matter to solve, however it is now for the nobles to decide who shall succeed him. Fortunately for Temeria, there are many worthy candidates. I have personally recommended Lord Prattman for this most exalted position. My recent stint among the common folk has confirmed to me without a shadow of a doubt that he is more than worthy, for he is already widely respected for his diligence to duty and ability to govern by nobles and commoners alike.
I cannot, with clear conscience, affirm that Temeria is prospering greatly at present, yet, at the same time, it would be inaccurate to suggest that Temerians are downtrodden in this time of war. We work together, the strong and able support the weak and needy, even the wealthy few do their part to ensure none are destitute. The world around us is ever shifting, and those who stand united, as we do, are surely the most likely to survive in these tumultuous times.
The Banner of Temeria stands proudly among those of our allies in the Empire, and in this time of war, we also benefit from a coalition with our friends in the north and west of Calradia, who aid us against a persistent threat from the south.