Cerea Vedicia

"She found no short supply of things to promote and criticize in her life, and when she was aboard, it was with grand zeal."

— Fidosi Nevalici Isidi, in Roots of our Age

Cerea Vedicia, full name Cerea Bedmi Vedicia, was an Ennicoan fidosia in service to the Ennicoan Emperors Aiodi V and Beniku VII. She was a major political figure in the Ennicoan empire, and is revered as a martyr in the faith of the Crimson Brethren.

History

Cerea was born in Yhadartha in 352 of the Silent Age to the powerful Vedicia Family. She grew up learning about politics, history, and writing from multiple tutors and from reading the thousands of books in their library. When she turned 13, she was articulate enough to be the scribe for her father, Artenio Vedicia, who acted as fidosi until his death from poisoning in 331 of the Silent Age.
Following the death of her father, Cerea took his place as Fidosi and first served King Aiovi Yorshol V as one of the most trusted members of his council. He noted of her council as "adept and honed, like the sharp point of a knife that cut through menial mistakes". Then, Aiovi V died and his son, Benicci VII, took the throne. Cerea began to encourage
By the time she turned 23, Cerea finished her first treatise, the Midi Vhersta, and sent it to the Alchemists' Guild. At first, their Grandmasters disagreed with her ideas, but soon pulled back on selling their compounds restrictively to the Fidosi. As the Guild continued to grow in the public, the fidosi who were being bribed by them were openly complaining during court meetings about their lack of funds. From this, Cerea then wrote a letter to a friend, pointing out those individuals she despised for their lack of resolve and weak philosophies and how they were wrong. This letter was later titled Fallen Saints, and it was later used to remove those very fidosi from office. Her influence in the imperial court grew, and she was eventually promoted to fidosia dhan, a rank that directly advises the emperor alongside his personal adviser.
During her time as the Fidosi Dhan, she wrote The King's Wastes and Filth for Rats as future plans for the kingdom to begin employing democratic principles. However, these policies were overshadowed by the looming threat of the Vengili tribes, who were encroaching on the Great Valley. While the Ennicoan armies attempted to push them back, the tribes pushed through all the way to the plantations closest to Yhadartha. Eventually, they reached the city walls and broke through, pillaging and murdering the denizens of the lower echelons of Yhadartha. During the carnage, Cerea accounted the events that occurred from the comfort of her home, describing the numerous atrocious acts they committed against the Yhadith.
However, this was only because the wall between the rich and the public districts was not breached yet, and eventually, after a couple of weeks, the Vengili destroyed the gate and swarmed into the homes of the fidosi. Cerea fled to the King's throne room at the peak of the central spire, where she, Benicci VII, and his adviser waited. As a final request, she asked her servant to take as much of her records as possible and leave the city through the north. It was here that a mythologized confrontation with the chieftain of the Tufil Tribe occurred, where Cerea condemned their violence and brutality as a failure to accept civility. Afterwards, she finally met her demise at the hands of the Tufil Tribe's chieftain via a brutal scalping.

Bibliography

Cerea wrote numerous treatises and letters that were compiled into the Charel Fortun, a monumental compilation of political philosophy and theorizing. After her death, her writings were taken by fleeing Yhadith and later used as the basis for most of the current Fidosi States.
Midi Vhersta - a treatise written specifically for and directed towards the Alchemists' Guild, which were alarmingly influential in the political realm
Fallen Grace - a letter written to a friend and fellow fidosi about her personal gripes with particular political figures of the time and the flaws
Truths of a Dying Age - a treatise written for the public, it was to reveal the truth about political influence over the populous, which was mainly kept a secret
The King's Wastes - a treatise written for King Beniku Yorshol VII as a detailed plan for altering the kingdom's infrastructure and policies, mainly to a democratic monarchy
Filth for Rats - a treatise written for King Beniku Yorshol VII requesting to allow public discourse among both the common folk and aristocracy
Yhadartha Address - a short letter requesting able men and women to take arms against the Vengili and form a militia against them

Mental characteristics

Employment

Cerea served as a Fidosia for a total of 20 years, mostly under King Benicci VII. She began her career in 331 of the Silent Age, when she was 21, immediately after her father died. She remained a consistent member of King Aiovi V's council until he died in 324 of the Silent Age. When Benicci VII ascended to the throne, Cerea continued to serve the throne, and she was eventually promoted to Fidosia Dhan in 321 of the Silent Age.

Intellectual Characteristics

Cerea was very well read, and was known for constantly reading when she was young, even to the point where when she asked for tea while reading, it was cold when she finally drank it. She was very intelligent and studied under numerous tutors to learn more about philosophy and the sciences.

Morality & Philosophy

Full article: Way of the Fading
Cerea introduced the foundations of her primary philosophy and her biggest contribution to Yhadith society, the Way of the Fading, in her first treatise, the Midi Vhersta (translates to "The Alchemist's Code"). It introduced the idea of Valdi, or "exchange", and despite it's intent to address the Alchemist Guild's alarming influence on politics, its fundamental ideas were later adapted in one of her later works, The King's Wastes, to apply to every influential force in the kingdom's actions.
Cerea believed that a government, be it a monarchy or democracy (she mostly preferred a government that is flexible for security's sake), should most importantly allow involvement from every class and type of person to some degree. Her high class formed her bias towards a more elitist view in political discourse, but she still advocated for pure free speech among courts. Because of this, she was against the use of Ordish slaves.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Cerea was driven as a Fidosia to make the Kingdom prosperous and a powerful force to be reckoned with, by both the Vengili and possible rivaling Yhadith.

Likes & Dislikes

Cerea liked to learn things, as she briefly studied a wide range of topics from alchemy and astronomy to agriculture and economics. Her vast knowledge allowed her to content argumentatively with the likes of every single Guild Grandmaster.
Cerea strongly disliked King Benicci Yorshol VII for his narrow-mindedness and trust in his personal adviser. This spite inspired her to write Filth for Rats a treatise that details a kingdom where the court was open to the public and allowed better discourse among both the common folk and the aristocracy.

Virtues & Personality perks

Cerea was ambitious, focused, and determined, willing to take leaps and bounds to achieve her goals. Every action she took was towards her mission of creating a thriving and stable kingdom. She also had a strong sense of awareness and foresight into people and situations.

Vices & Personality flaws

Cerea was a workaholic, and never gave time to spend with loved ones. It was intense enough that her family, namely her mother and younger brother, scorned her when she stayed in her room, writing for hours on end without any breaks. Later on in her life, she lost connection with her family and their fates during the Fall of Yhadartha were unknown.
Cerea also focused on the preservation of the Kingdom itself, which didn't include its denizens. Because of this, when it came to her advocacy of democracy, the abolishment of Ordish slavery, and public discourse, she only did so because it was beneficial for the Kingdom.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Aiovi Yorshol V- Cerea began her Fidosia career under King Aiovi V, one of the most notable kings of the Yorshol Dynasty
Benicci Yorshol VII- Cerea served the young Benicci VII faithfully, despite her bitterness with other Fidosi in his court

Religious Views

Like all other Yhadith, Cerea was not very religious, as their civilization was mostly focused on advancing in the sciences. However, when she proposed the idea of the Futile Gods in The King's Wastes, it was met critically by some fellow Fidosi, as they presumed it was her attempt to start a new religion, while in reality, it was merely a model to describe the Kingdom's status at the time.

Social Aptitude

Cerea was not very public, as she stayed in her family home for most of her life. However, when she stepped out into the public for rare occasions, she would try to hide her face

Divine Classification

Martyr

Ethnicity

Ennicoan

Church/Cult

Crimson Brethren

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Fidosia to the Crown as Donned by Aiovi V, Fidosia Dhan to the Crown as Donned by Benicci VII

Life

352 SA 311 SA 41 years old

Circumstances of Death

Murdered by a Vengili chieftain

Birthplace

Yhadartha

Gender

Female

Quotes & Catchphrases

"For the master's greatest strength is the ability to change. A state that can change is able to survive a cascade of floodwaters and an enemy army at the same time." - excerpt from The King's Wastes
"The work of your alchemists and their miracle concoctions benefit only when in scarcity. In abundance, it merely crowds the workshop." - excerpt from the Midi Vhersta

Known Languages

Middle Yhadith, Old Yhadith