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Guiyon submits an essay.
I - Torvik the Founder
Torvik made a very positive impression on me. The harsh climate of his homeland and the equally harsh profession of a sea raider did not harden him; on the contrary, they gave him the opportunity to show his best side, revealing himself as a fair and merciful leader who cares for his subordinates and values the lives even of his opponents. It is no wonder that he was loved and respected, and that he gathered many followers. He possessed not only a far-sighted mind but also extraordinary determination, for it is not so simple to force one's people to fundamentally change their lives, transforming from seafarers and raiders into peaceful farmers. And despite the difficulties through which he and his young state had to pass, despite the pressure from Sidgmort, Torvik was able to stand firm and emerge victorious thanks to excellent strategic thinking, as well as cunning and an excellent command of information. Undoubtedly, a worthy leader, a worthy founder of a state.
10/10
II - Arual es Diesra
The first ruler of Velfern, then still Margela, born in the new state. The main crises were already behind them thanks to his father, and Arual became a worthy heir and successor to Torvik's work. It is very valuable that he focused on the internal development of the new state, emphasizing economy, education, and lawmaking. With this, he consolidated and increased his father's achievements; it was precisely because of this step that Torvik's legacy grew in subsequent years. Torvik dug the pit for the new state, but it was Arual who laid a strong and reliable foundation. The contribution to education cannot be underestimated; the population of the country became more literate, smarter, with broader horizons and advanced views, and an entire generation of scientists and inventors grew up, capable of providing the state with enormous progress. No less important was the development of logistics, which could not fail to affect all aspects of life in the best possible way. One must also note his progressive views, namely that he established human rights and freedoms as inherent and inviolable, granted by the Mother Goddess herself; also interesting is his worldview, according to which the royal dynasty was conceived as servants and protectors of the people—this selfless position certainly inspires respect. In those years, the church was closely intertwined with the state, not least because Arual's wife was the abbess of the church. Another seemingly small but very important detail is the new calendar, thanks to which all of Anuzish count years from the founding of Margela, which only emphasizes Velfern's status as a world power. It is hard to imagine a more worthy heir and ruler for that era.
10/10
III - Lanigiros es Diesra Arual
From childhood, Lanigiros was under enormous pressure due to the status and greatest achievements of his father and grandfather; it is no wonder that he tried to achieve their greatness by attempting to copy them. But it is obvious that copying and imitating someone else's life is a dead end; you will continue to be perceived as a cheap fake of a great man rather than as a separate personality. Naturally, Lanigiros did not command the respect of his competitors, who considered him unworthy of the throne and attempted to depose him. He did well not to let this happen, and I see a sign that he could have achieved much if he hadn't blindly tried to imitate his ancestors but had sought his own path. Unfortunately, due to the civil war, he never had the chance to find his own style and make a tangible contribution to the prosperity of the empire. On the other hand, he preserved statehood, preserved and strengthened the dynasty, and restored order in the country after the internal strife—cleaned up after himself, so to speak. That too is worth a lot. As a result, Lanigiros cannot be called an excellent ruler, but he is not that bad.
6/10
IV - Delsahid es Diesra Arual
A warrior-king who lived by the laws and orders of wartime, a man for whom the art of war was above all else. His entire life passed to the clang of weapons; he knew nothing else, could not—and most likely did not want to—live otherwise. At the same time, he was a superb tactician and strategist, an outstanding and fair leader, although too cruel by peacetime standards. I think the gods favored Velfern during this period. Firstly, they sent Delsahid a wonderful wife who was able to partially take upon herself the burden of ruling the country. Secondly, this monarch was at the helm when Vallen attacked us, and Delsahid was able to fully prove himself as a fighter and surrender to his passion, winning one brilliant victory after another. It would be frightening to think what would have happened to Velfern had the Vallenians attacked us slightly earlier, during the internal strife or a period of peaceful development. On the other hand, I cannot help but think about what the battle-hardened Delsahid would have done had another power not attacked us. Would he have become a tyrant? An aggressor? I find it especially symbolic that he was killed while signing a peace treaty. There are people whose entire lives are dedicated to battles and who have no place in peaceful life, and Delsahid was certainly one of them.
4/10
V - Hateya es Diesra Arual
I think that Vallen made a mistake by underestimating Delsahid's heiress and paid dearly for it, facing a very angry and vengeful "Delsahid Junior." On one hand, Hateya can be understood, since Vallen showed quite clearly that peace negotiations with them were not an option. On the other hand, her determination and ruthlessness frighten me a little, and again I am glad that this ruler was sent to Velfern in difficult times. Like her father, Hateya was born for war, not for peace. She proved herself to be a magnificent commander, undoubtedly, but would she have been a good queen in peacetime? Moreover, she didn't have a supportive spouse like Delsahid did; her husband was as much a warrior as she was. And if the empire managed not to collapse, I think Hateya had everything under control, for which she can only be praised, but this does not negate everything said above. Her hobby also raises questions—did she send even one of the girls into her collection of their own free will and consent, given her fierce temperament?
5/10
VI - Floris es Diesra Arual
Once again we see a ruler who prioritized the development and strengthening of the state over conquests, although they were not entirely avoided. Nevertheless, Floris tried to solve many issues peacefully, established Velfern's dominance at sea, and set up trade and diplomacy with other powers, which is pleasing, as mutually beneficial cooperation is far more productive than wars and discord. His desire to help the Mindjins was undoubtedly driven by noble intentions, but I cannot appreciate that for this purpose he encroached on foreign territories, even those of a hostile power. Velfern had already suffered enough during the reigns of Delsahid and Hateya; Floris could have thought of something else instead of trying to look good at someone else's expense. On the other hand, he once again demonstrated the strength of the Velfern army and reined in a geopolitical competitor and unpleasant opponent, while simultaneously testing and strengthening the alliance with Lauria—in this regard, his small victorious war turned out to be quite valuable. Still, this episode slightly spoiled my impression of this overall positive historical figure.
8/10
VII - Saikam es Diesra Arual
The case of Saikam makes one doubt the effectiveness of monarchy a bit. This man was obviously not particularly interested in governing the state, although he still managed not to plunge the country into crisis and proved himself to be a benevolent and fair king. Nevertheless, in his lifetime, Velfern found itself dragged into another military conflict, and on two fronts at once... Credit must be given to Saikam; he performed honorably, showing the results of good training. In both war and peaceful life, he was generally okay and, as they say, maintained the quality standard. But it is still obvious that he devoted himself with the greatest enthusiasm to his hobbies: botany, painting, and praising a certain type of woman. This is not bad, even good; we are all human. However, from a ruler of a state, one expects a somewhat different set of priorities. Also, I do not see marrying a second cousin as a good idea; incest rarely leads to anything good, especially when power is passed by inheritance—the physical and mental health of children is particularly important in this case, and the risks of abnormalities in close-relative marriages are quite high.
3/10
VIII - Sillion es Diesra Arual
One of the greatest rulers in the history of Velfern, who ensured a century and a half of wealth, abundance, prosperity, tranquility, and security for our country. It is incredibly difficult to overestimate the merits of this monarch; despite being a powerful Wizard, he did not become arrogant or lose himself in high matters, but used his talents to maintain peace and well-being in his realm, was a public person and actively interacted with his people, taking an interest in the needs of his subjects. He did not forget about the development and popularization of magic, which can also be counted as a plus. Doubtful rumors about his wife can be viewed differently, as there is very little accurate information about this. For my part, it would be foolish to take these rumors on faith and judge this great figure by them, who almost single-handedly led Velfern into a golden age.
10/10
IX - Flanaravi es Diesra Arual
There are no people completely without flaws. Obviously, in Sillion's case, the main flaw was his successor. Perhaps the reins of power should not have been given to someone so young, and here teenage maximalism played a cruel joke, or perhaps Sillion simply missed something in his son's upbringing, and it would have flared up anyway. Not for nothing was Flanaravi "famous" for his fierce temper and unpleasant character. Because of his desire to wage war, the neighborly relations and reputation of Velfern were hopelessly destroyed, and although we acquired new lands, we lost much more. Nobody likes invaders, conquerors, and occupiers, which is what we became for Villia, Mindjin, Vallen, and Renn. And while things are more or less clear with the latter two, Villia and Mindjin, who previously acted as our friends and allies, are within their rights to view such a state of affairs as a personal insult. The way he chose his wife simply wonderfully complements the already unsightly portrait of a monarch who became one of the dark spots of our history. To me, his end was quite logical.
1/10
X - Velfern es Diesra Arual
Thanks to his "wonderful" decisions, Flanaravi left his son a "marvelous" inheritance in the form of four lit gunpowder barrels ready to blow any minute. Despite the cruelty perpetrated by Velfern, I cannot blame him too strongly—he was simply trying to fix as quickly as possible what his father had wrought. Now it is easy for us to judge and discuss how it would have been better to act in that situation, but at that moment he had four huge problems that needed to be solved right now, and he had no time left for a perfect plan. This does not cancel out the colossal casualties and the scale of the tragedy, but I believe that these were mainly the consequences of Flanaravi's "splendid" foreign policy. Moreover, Velfern's subsequent reign shows him as a peaceful, loyal, and benevolent person, generously granting citizens rights and freedoms and popularizing many types of leisure. He devoted himself to his hobbies with great passion, but unlike Saikam, he did not forget his subjects and brought into their lives what he liked himself. Some might call this imposing one's interests on a national scale; I call it the development of science, culture, and art, albeit in a rather, hm, peculiar form in some places.
8/10
XI - Raidark es Diesra Arual
Another conqueror, but unlike Flanaravi, one who acted more effectively and calculatingly, and I got the impression that usually things were handled with relatively little bloodshed. During Raidark's reign, diplomacy played no smaller a role in the expansion of Velfern than military power, which I undoubtedly value, as the ability to speak and negotiate at a state level is far more important than at a personal level—it helps avoid large-scale tragedies. Most likely, Raidark drew conclusions from the bloody repressions of his predecessor and put a lot of effort into winning the loyalty of new vassals—for example, allowing Luencia to retain partial autonomy and even its own royal dynasty, unlike countries annexed earlier. The way he conquered the dragons and came to an agreement with their king also cannot fail to inspire respect, as winning the respect of this ancient powerful people was surely not easy. Despite Raidark's penchant for conquest, he handled it much better than his wretched predecessor.
8/10
XII - Sellun es Diesra Arual
The most useless monarch in the history of Velfern, or what happens when you cannot ensure yourself a worthy successor. Sellun simply drifted with the current, giving all power to the senate and council; he did not try to do anything productive for his subjects, nor did he try to improve the lives of the citizens. His position is not one where one can sit idly; being a monarch means huge demand and huge responsibility, which he successfully avoided. Does this make him a bad person? No. On the contrary, I got the impression that he was a rather pleasant, albeit withdrawn personality, who lived in harmony with his spouse despite the marriage being forced for both. But is a good person automatically a good emperor? Oh no.
1/10
XIII - Shinalun es Diesra Arual
The legendary Persimmon King, in my opinion, chose the right tactic to return influence to the imperial house—while his power was limited, he worked with public opinion, and then, due to a series of wrong decisions by the council and senate, he intervened in politics fully. Shinalun was a very eccentric man with very specific tastes, but he was certainly no fool indifferent to the fate of the country. Just look at the resolution of the issue with the Scryme tribes, who had previously been a constant thorn in the empire's side. His festivals were a wonderful idea for raising popularity among the people and for diversifying culture and leisure, but still, some of his hobbies and inventions were, in my opinion, far too eccentric—one must know the limit.
9/10
XIV - Kermaria es Diesra Arual
A very successful, smart, and calculating empress who made a clever bet on economy and logistics. Thanks to the annexation of Noir and skillfully conducted work with the dwarves, the era of Kermaria's reign saw a rise not only in trade but also in industry. It is interesting and even commendable that during her years of rule, she relied not so much on outstanding magical abilities as on her deep knowledge and skills in strategic planning, as well as diplomatic talent. Although who knows what the souls of deceased ancestors might have advised her or how skillfully she inclined people toward the desired opinion in negotiations with her charms... Nevertheless, I believe that even without a magical gift, Kermaria would have achieved no less success as a ruler, especially with her successful choice of life partner. A very worthy empress deserving of respect. I find her love for cute things symbolic, for despite the image of a mysterious and cold dark sorceress, she proved herself to be one of the most peaceful and open to cooperation monarchs in our history.
10/10
XV - Shen es Diesra Arual
People immediately disliked this empress and were very surprised when she returned the sentiment. To me, Shen's whole story seems quite logical. As a ruler, she is a complete void; as a person, she is also no gift, but in her position, it was hard to expect benevolent behavior or strong positive influence from her. And initially, she was hated not even for her character, which largely depends on the person themselves, but simply for her appearance, over which she had no influence. Why then were there far fewer complaints about Raidark's pointed ears? Because he was a powerful sorcerer, not a teenage girl who was pushed onto the throne in a voluntary-compulsory manner? Shen could have become a symbol of recognizing Mindjin as part of Velfern, an example of openness and closeness of the ruling dynasty to the people. I wonder how well she was prepared for governing the state and what initiatives were rejected by advisors. Perhaps by the time her ideas reached "I want fluffy bipedal kittens at home," she had long realized that more constructive proposals would be rejected anyway and it made no difference what she came up with. I suspect that at the beginning of her reign, she was far from the same person she was at the end, though surely no one can say for sure. Was Shen a worthy ruler or just a good person? Categorically no. Could she have become one with proper support? I dare say yes. Alas, history does not tolerate subjunctive moods.
1/10
XVI - Naer es Diesra Arual
A rather doubtful character, under whom Velfern knew no peace. In a difficult time for the country, he studied and traveled, engaging in foreign policy and helping the Lunarians, while his homeland was torn apart by the struggle for the throne. Undoubtedly, acquiring new knowledge and building relationships with powerful allies like the dragons and the long-eared ones is a very valuable pursuit, but again, a monarch's priorities should be slightly different. It seems to me that upon completing his studies, he should have taken the throne as soon as possible and put an end to the turmoil, and only then paid attention to the Sylvan Kingdom and Lunaria. Furthermore, while the annexation of Upper Lunaria is quite justified, Lower Lunaria seems to me a very doubtful acquisition, as the customs there directly contradict the laws and ideals of the empire; basic human rights granted by Anuzish herself are grossly violated there. Of course, cultural characteristics and national identity are very important, but some "wonderful" traditions like slavery, racism, and sexism have long since outlived their time and their place is in the deep pre-imperial past. Naer's idea of conquering Helm and Minua seems just as doubtful to me, as does the adventure of helping Calcite. Certainly, in all these cases, Velfern came out ahead, and the geopolitical, geo-economic, and strategic importance of Marcella is hard to overestimate, but in the place of the empire's residents after the reign of Shen and thirty years of turmoil, I would have wanted a bit of peace and stability, not new grandiose conquests. Living in an era of change is not the most pleasant activity.
4/10
XVII - Abeas es Diesra Arual
High intelligence is wonderful. Intellectual pursuits, like chess or mahjong, are simply marvelous. A sharp mind is undoubtedly one of the best virtues a person can possess. Alas, you cannot get far on intelligence alone, and mastery of board games does not make you an expert in geopolitical games. From the example of Lanigiros, we remember that the strive to catch up with and surpass ancestors doesn't end well, but if Lanigiros turned out to be just a mediocre monarch, then Abeas's thirst for glory led to a real catastrophe not only for Velfern but also for Nephiria. Of course, he could not have foreseen that the opponent, in an attempt to win the conflict at any cost, would destroy their own population, but reconnaissance should have been conducted better. And yet, if Abeas had applied his genius worthily, he could have annexed Nephiria diplomatically, and who knows, the Many-Faced Monogat could have been our ally... I hope he wouldn't have turned the population of Velfern into undead in some complex situation, hm. Nevertheless, diplomacy seemed to me a much more promising idea than attack. Perhaps the only bright spot in this story is Abeas's wife, who stayed by his side regardless of everything, remained with him even after all the mistakes he made, and tried somehow to compensate for the harm caused by her husband by dedicating herself to charity. In this story, she is the one to follow, and this wretched monarch is better forgotten like a nightmare.
1/10
XVIII - Hartrain es Diesra Arual
With his small victorious war, Abeas brought Velfern to the brink of destruction; the empire faced horrific consequences and nearly ceased to exist. While the heir was too young to rule the country, the council and senate obviously did not help the situation much; perhaps they even exacerbated it, considering that these were most likely the same people who approved the invasion of Nephiria. As soon as Hartrain reached adulthood, an unbearable burden fell upon his shoulders. Instead of developing the economy, science, and culture, strengthening borders, and establishing cooperation with neighbors, Hartrain dedicated his entire life to eliminating the consequences of his father's insane ambitions. He placed the interests of the empire above his own, personally intervened in solving an endless multitude of problems across the country, and did everything in his power to bring back the former greatness to Velfern. He was a protector-ruler, working for the benefit of his subjects, the ideal embodiment of Arual's original vision. It is a bit sad that almost all of Hartrain's reign was spent correcting the mistakes of Abeas and his government; one can only dream of how much Velfern would have achieved under him had he come to power in calmer times.
10/10
I - Torvik the Founder
Torvik made a very positive impression on me. The harsh climate of his homeland and the equally harsh profession of a sea raider did not harden him; on the contrary, they gave him the opportunity to show his best side, revealing himself as a fair and merciful leader who cares for his subordinates and values the lives even of his opponents. It is no wonder that he was loved and respected, and that he gathered many followers. He possessed not only a far-sighted mind but also extraordinary determination, for it is not so simple to force one's people to fundamentally change their lives, transforming from seafarers and raiders into peaceful farmers. And despite the difficulties through which he and his young state had to pass, despite the pressure from Sidgmort, Torvik was able to stand firm and emerge victorious thanks to excellent strategic thinking, as well as cunning and an excellent command of information. Undoubtedly, a worthy leader, a worthy founder of a state.
10/10
II - Arual es Diesra
The first ruler of Velfern, then still Margela, born in the new state. The main crises were already behind them thanks to his father, and Arual became a worthy heir and successor to Torvik's work. It is very valuable that he focused on the internal development of the new state, emphasizing economy, education, and lawmaking. With this, he consolidated and increased his father's achievements; it was precisely because of this step that Torvik's legacy grew in subsequent years. Torvik dug the pit for the new state, but it was Arual who laid a strong and reliable foundation. The contribution to education cannot be underestimated; the population of the country became more literate, smarter, with broader horizons and advanced views, and an entire generation of scientists and inventors grew up, capable of providing the state with enormous progress. No less important was the development of logistics, which could not fail to affect all aspects of life in the best possible way. One must also note his progressive views, namely that he established human rights and freedoms as inherent and inviolable, granted by the Mother Goddess herself; also interesting is his worldview, according to which the royal dynasty was conceived as servants and protectors of the people—this selfless position certainly inspires respect. In those years, the church was closely intertwined with the state, not least because Arual's wife was the abbess of the church. Another seemingly small but very important detail is the new calendar, thanks to which all of Anuzish count years from the founding of Margela, which only emphasizes Velfern's status as a world power. It is hard to imagine a more worthy heir and ruler for that era.
10/10
III - Lanigiros es Diesra Arual
From childhood, Lanigiros was under enormous pressure due to the status and greatest achievements of his father and grandfather; it is no wonder that he tried to achieve their greatness by attempting to copy them. But it is obvious that copying and imitating someone else's life is a dead end; you will continue to be perceived as a cheap fake of a great man rather than as a separate personality. Naturally, Lanigiros did not command the respect of his competitors, who considered him unworthy of the throne and attempted to depose him. He did well not to let this happen, and I see a sign that he could have achieved much if he hadn't blindly tried to imitate his ancestors but had sought his own path. Unfortunately, due to the civil war, he never had the chance to find his own style and make a tangible contribution to the prosperity of the empire. On the other hand, he preserved statehood, preserved and strengthened the dynasty, and restored order in the country after the internal strife—cleaned up after himself, so to speak. That too is worth a lot. As a result, Lanigiros cannot be called an excellent ruler, but he is not that bad.
6/10
IV - Delsahid es Diesra Arual
A warrior-king who lived by the laws and orders of wartime, a man for whom the art of war was above all else. His entire life passed to the clang of weapons; he knew nothing else, could not—and most likely did not want to—live otherwise. At the same time, he was a superb tactician and strategist, an outstanding and fair leader, although too cruel by peacetime standards. I think the gods favored Velfern during this period. Firstly, they sent Delsahid a wonderful wife who was able to partially take upon herself the burden of ruling the country. Secondly, this monarch was at the helm when Vallen attacked us, and Delsahid was able to fully prove himself as a fighter and surrender to his passion, winning one brilliant victory after another. It would be frightening to think what would have happened to Velfern had the Vallenians attacked us slightly earlier, during the internal strife or a period of peaceful development. On the other hand, I cannot help but think about what the battle-hardened Delsahid would have done had another power not attacked us. Would he have become a tyrant? An aggressor? I find it especially symbolic that he was killed while signing a peace treaty. There are people whose entire lives are dedicated to battles and who have no place in peaceful life, and Delsahid was certainly one of them.
4/10
V - Hateya es Diesra Arual
I think that Vallen made a mistake by underestimating Delsahid's heiress and paid dearly for it, facing a very angry and vengeful "Delsahid Junior." On one hand, Hateya can be understood, since Vallen showed quite clearly that peace negotiations with them were not an option. On the other hand, her determination and ruthlessness frighten me a little, and again I am glad that this ruler was sent to Velfern in difficult times. Like her father, Hateya was born for war, not for peace. She proved herself to be a magnificent commander, undoubtedly, but would she have been a good queen in peacetime? Moreover, she didn't have a supportive spouse like Delsahid did; her husband was as much a warrior as she was. And if the empire managed not to collapse, I think Hateya had everything under control, for which she can only be praised, but this does not negate everything said above. Her hobby also raises questions—did she send even one of the girls into her collection of their own free will and consent, given her fierce temperament?
5/10
VI - Floris es Diesra Arual
Once again we see a ruler who prioritized the development and strengthening of the state over conquests, although they were not entirely avoided. Nevertheless, Floris tried to solve many issues peacefully, established Velfern's dominance at sea, and set up trade and diplomacy with other powers, which is pleasing, as mutually beneficial cooperation is far more productive than wars and discord. His desire to help the Mindjins was undoubtedly driven by noble intentions, but I cannot appreciate that for this purpose he encroached on foreign territories, even those of a hostile power. Velfern had already suffered enough during the reigns of Delsahid and Hateya; Floris could have thought of something else instead of trying to look good at someone else's expense. On the other hand, he once again demonstrated the strength of the Velfern army and reined in a geopolitical competitor and unpleasant opponent, while simultaneously testing and strengthening the alliance with Lauria—in this regard, his small victorious war turned out to be quite valuable. Still, this episode slightly spoiled my impression of this overall positive historical figure.
8/10
VII - Saikam es Diesra Arual
The case of Saikam makes one doubt the effectiveness of monarchy a bit. This man was obviously not particularly interested in governing the state, although he still managed not to plunge the country into crisis and proved himself to be a benevolent and fair king. Nevertheless, in his lifetime, Velfern found itself dragged into another military conflict, and on two fronts at once... Credit must be given to Saikam; he performed honorably, showing the results of good training. In both war and peaceful life, he was generally okay and, as they say, maintained the quality standard. But it is still obvious that he devoted himself with the greatest enthusiasm to his hobbies: botany, painting, and praising a certain type of woman. This is not bad, even good; we are all human. However, from a ruler of a state, one expects a somewhat different set of priorities. Also, I do not see marrying a second cousin as a good idea; incest rarely leads to anything good, especially when power is passed by inheritance—the physical and mental health of children is particularly important in this case, and the risks of abnormalities in close-relative marriages are quite high.
3/10
VIII - Sillion es Diesra Arual
One of the greatest rulers in the history of Velfern, who ensured a century and a half of wealth, abundance, prosperity, tranquility, and security for our country. It is incredibly difficult to overestimate the merits of this monarch; despite being a powerful Wizard, he did not become arrogant or lose himself in high matters, but used his talents to maintain peace and well-being in his realm, was a public person and actively interacted with his people, taking an interest in the needs of his subjects. He did not forget about the development and popularization of magic, which can also be counted as a plus. Doubtful rumors about his wife can be viewed differently, as there is very little accurate information about this. For my part, it would be foolish to take these rumors on faith and judge this great figure by them, who almost single-handedly led Velfern into a golden age.
10/10
IX - Flanaravi es Diesra Arual
There are no people completely without flaws. Obviously, in Sillion's case, the main flaw was his successor. Perhaps the reins of power should not have been given to someone so young, and here teenage maximalism played a cruel joke, or perhaps Sillion simply missed something in his son's upbringing, and it would have flared up anyway. Not for nothing was Flanaravi "famous" for his fierce temper and unpleasant character. Because of his desire to wage war, the neighborly relations and reputation of Velfern were hopelessly destroyed, and although we acquired new lands, we lost much more. Nobody likes invaders, conquerors, and occupiers, which is what we became for Villia, Mindjin, Vallen, and Renn. And while things are more or less clear with the latter two, Villia and Mindjin, who previously acted as our friends and allies, are within their rights to view such a state of affairs as a personal insult. The way he chose his wife simply wonderfully complements the already unsightly portrait of a monarch who became one of the dark spots of our history. To me, his end was quite logical.
1/10
X - Velfern es Diesra Arual
Thanks to his "wonderful" decisions, Flanaravi left his son a "marvelous" inheritance in the form of four lit gunpowder barrels ready to blow any minute. Despite the cruelty perpetrated by Velfern, I cannot blame him too strongly—he was simply trying to fix as quickly as possible what his father had wrought. Now it is easy for us to judge and discuss how it would have been better to act in that situation, but at that moment he had four huge problems that needed to be solved right now, and he had no time left for a perfect plan. This does not cancel out the colossal casualties and the scale of the tragedy, but I believe that these were mainly the consequences of Flanaravi's "splendid" foreign policy. Moreover, Velfern's subsequent reign shows him as a peaceful, loyal, and benevolent person, generously granting citizens rights and freedoms and popularizing many types of leisure. He devoted himself to his hobbies with great passion, but unlike Saikam, he did not forget his subjects and brought into their lives what he liked himself. Some might call this imposing one's interests on a national scale; I call it the development of science, culture, and art, albeit in a rather, hm, peculiar form in some places.
8/10
XI - Raidark es Diesra Arual
Another conqueror, but unlike Flanaravi, one who acted more effectively and calculatingly, and I got the impression that usually things were handled with relatively little bloodshed. During Raidark's reign, diplomacy played no smaller a role in the expansion of Velfern than military power, which I undoubtedly value, as the ability to speak and negotiate at a state level is far more important than at a personal level—it helps avoid large-scale tragedies. Most likely, Raidark drew conclusions from the bloody repressions of his predecessor and put a lot of effort into winning the loyalty of new vassals—for example, allowing Luencia to retain partial autonomy and even its own royal dynasty, unlike countries annexed earlier. The way he conquered the dragons and came to an agreement with their king also cannot fail to inspire respect, as winning the respect of this ancient powerful people was surely not easy. Despite Raidark's penchant for conquest, he handled it much better than his wretched predecessor.
8/10
XII - Sellun es Diesra Arual
The most useless monarch in the history of Velfern, or what happens when you cannot ensure yourself a worthy successor. Sellun simply drifted with the current, giving all power to the senate and council; he did not try to do anything productive for his subjects, nor did he try to improve the lives of the citizens. His position is not one where one can sit idly; being a monarch means huge demand and huge responsibility, which he successfully avoided. Does this make him a bad person? No. On the contrary, I got the impression that he was a rather pleasant, albeit withdrawn personality, who lived in harmony with his spouse despite the marriage being forced for both. But is a good person automatically a good emperor? Oh no.
1/10
XIII - Shinalun es Diesra Arual
The legendary Persimmon King, in my opinion, chose the right tactic to return influence to the imperial house—while his power was limited, he worked with public opinion, and then, due to a series of wrong decisions by the council and senate, he intervened in politics fully. Shinalun was a very eccentric man with very specific tastes, but he was certainly no fool indifferent to the fate of the country. Just look at the resolution of the issue with the Scryme tribes, who had previously been a constant thorn in the empire's side. His festivals were a wonderful idea for raising popularity among the people and for diversifying culture and leisure, but still, some of his hobbies and inventions were, in my opinion, far too eccentric—one must know the limit.
9/10
XIV - Kermaria es Diesra Arual
A very successful, smart, and calculating empress who made a clever bet on economy and logistics. Thanks to the annexation of Noir and skillfully conducted work with the dwarves, the era of Kermaria's reign saw a rise not only in trade but also in industry. It is interesting and even commendable that during her years of rule, she relied not so much on outstanding magical abilities as on her deep knowledge and skills in strategic planning, as well as diplomatic talent. Although who knows what the souls of deceased ancestors might have advised her or how skillfully she inclined people toward the desired opinion in negotiations with her charms... Nevertheless, I believe that even without a magical gift, Kermaria would have achieved no less success as a ruler, especially with her successful choice of life partner. A very worthy empress deserving of respect. I find her love for cute things symbolic, for despite the image of a mysterious and cold dark sorceress, she proved herself to be one of the most peaceful and open to cooperation monarchs in our history.
10/10
XV - Shen es Diesra Arual
People immediately disliked this empress and were very surprised when she returned the sentiment. To me, Shen's whole story seems quite logical. As a ruler, she is a complete void; as a person, she is also no gift, but in her position, it was hard to expect benevolent behavior or strong positive influence from her. And initially, she was hated not even for her character, which largely depends on the person themselves, but simply for her appearance, over which she had no influence. Why then were there far fewer complaints about Raidark's pointed ears? Because he was a powerful sorcerer, not a teenage girl who was pushed onto the throne in a voluntary-compulsory manner? Shen could have become a symbol of recognizing Mindjin as part of Velfern, an example of openness and closeness of the ruling dynasty to the people. I wonder how well she was prepared for governing the state and what initiatives were rejected by advisors. Perhaps by the time her ideas reached "I want fluffy bipedal kittens at home," she had long realized that more constructive proposals would be rejected anyway and it made no difference what she came up with. I suspect that at the beginning of her reign, she was far from the same person she was at the end, though surely no one can say for sure. Was Shen a worthy ruler or just a good person? Categorically no. Could she have become one with proper support? I dare say yes. Alas, history does not tolerate subjunctive moods.
1/10
XVI - Naer es Diesra Arual
A rather doubtful character, under whom Velfern knew no peace. In a difficult time for the country, he studied and traveled, engaging in foreign policy and helping the Lunarians, while his homeland was torn apart by the struggle for the throne. Undoubtedly, acquiring new knowledge and building relationships with powerful allies like the dragons and the long-eared ones is a very valuable pursuit, but again, a monarch's priorities should be slightly different. It seems to me that upon completing his studies, he should have taken the throne as soon as possible and put an end to the turmoil, and only then paid attention to the Sylvan Kingdom and Lunaria. Furthermore, while the annexation of Upper Lunaria is quite justified, Lower Lunaria seems to me a very doubtful acquisition, as the customs there directly contradict the laws and ideals of the empire; basic human rights granted by Anuzish herself are grossly violated there. Of course, cultural characteristics and national identity are very important, but some "wonderful" traditions like slavery, racism, and sexism have long since outlived their time and their place is in the deep pre-imperial past. Naer's idea of conquering Helm and Minua seems just as doubtful to me, as does the adventure of helping Calcite. Certainly, in all these cases, Velfern came out ahead, and the geopolitical, geo-economic, and strategic importance of Marcella is hard to overestimate, but in the place of the empire's residents after the reign of Shen and thirty years of turmoil, I would have wanted a bit of peace and stability, not new grandiose conquests. Living in an era of change is not the most pleasant activity.
4/10
XVII - Abeas es Diesra Arual
High intelligence is wonderful. Intellectual pursuits, like chess or mahjong, are simply marvelous. A sharp mind is undoubtedly one of the best virtues a person can possess. Alas, you cannot get far on intelligence alone, and mastery of board games does not make you an expert in geopolitical games. From the example of Lanigiros, we remember that the strive to catch up with and surpass ancestors doesn't end well, but if Lanigiros turned out to be just a mediocre monarch, then Abeas's thirst for glory led to a real catastrophe not only for Velfern but also for Nephiria. Of course, he could not have foreseen that the opponent, in an attempt to win the conflict at any cost, would destroy their own population, but reconnaissance should have been conducted better. And yet, if Abeas had applied his genius worthily, he could have annexed Nephiria diplomatically, and who knows, the Many-Faced Monogat could have been our ally... I hope he wouldn't have turned the population of Velfern into undead in some complex situation, hm. Nevertheless, diplomacy seemed to me a much more promising idea than attack. Perhaps the only bright spot in this story is Abeas's wife, who stayed by his side regardless of everything, remained with him even after all the mistakes he made, and tried somehow to compensate for the harm caused by her husband by dedicating herself to charity. In this story, she is the one to follow, and this wretched monarch is better forgotten like a nightmare.
1/10
XVIII - Hartrain es Diesra Arual
With his small victorious war, Abeas brought Velfern to the brink of destruction; the empire faced horrific consequences and nearly ceased to exist. While the heir was too young to rule the country, the council and senate obviously did not help the situation much; perhaps they even exacerbated it, considering that these were most likely the same people who approved the invasion of Nephiria. As soon as Hartrain reached adulthood, an unbearable burden fell upon his shoulders. Instead of developing the economy, science, and culture, strengthening borders, and establishing cooperation with neighbors, Hartrain dedicated his entire life to eliminating the consequences of his father's insane ambitions. He placed the interests of the empire above his own, personally intervened in solving an endless multitude of problems across the country, and did everything in his power to bring back the former greatness to Velfern. He was a protector-ruler, working for the benefit of his subjects, the ideal embodiment of Arual's original vision. It is a bit sad that almost all of Hartrain's reign was spent correcting the mistakes of Abeas and his government; one can only dream of how much Velfern would have achieved under him had he come to power in calmer times.
10/10
А, вот почему.
🏹🎪+⛓️♿=💕
🏹🎪+⛓️♿=💕