Shieren Malora

Empress Shieren Malora

Fifth empress of Laintera, Shieren Malora took the throne in 765 when he mother stepped down. He rain has lasted only 250 years so far, but has been marked already by a previously unknown time of peace and cooperation between the elven peoples.
Although Shieren maintains the standing army and navy built by her predecessors, she has never used them. The garrisons in the capitol and forts across Feihon stand filled, but without orders. Indeed, soldiers in the most forward positions have instead been told to stand down unless they are attacked first. This is a serious departure from even her mother's reign, when excursions into Aswea to put down rebellion were expected at least once a decade.
Shieren has stated publicly her belief that the elven empire can only be great if its people are in harmony. Voices from both sides have criticized her rule already. Those who favor further conquest into Aswea and Egera call her cowardly or weak, and those who desire peace criticize her retention of military might. Though having held the throne for over two centuries already, Shieren is only 500 years old herself, and she will have centuries more to prove whether her desire for lasting peace will bear fruit.
Elves are notoriously slow to change, and perhaps this is why Shieren has been cautious with her political decisions thus far. But it should be noted that, although military outposts remain fully fortified, she has sent ambassadors into Aswea with presumably peaceful intentions. She is the first Lainteran empress to have ever sought peaceful negotiation with the Aswean resistance. Sympathizers with the Aswean cause remain cautiously optimistic that this may be a sign of change within the empire.
Shieren has also spoken in favor of broadening trade between Egera and Feihon. Of allowing Egeran races to come to the Empire, rather than being relegated to Haesan, and of permitting elves of all ethnicities into higher level positions. This has met even fiercer opposition than her military position. Xenophobia remains extreme among the Lainteran nobility.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

The reason for Shieren's liberal policies and opinions appears to come from her upbringing. Her mother was known to bring Shieren along with her whenever she traveled the empire, and she was exposed to the various cultures and lifestyles of her people from a young age.
While her mother spent all of her time with leaders and nobility and advisors, in her youth Shieren interacted more with the working classes. With palace staff and townsfolk. She was known to sneak away from her royal guard in order to explore the cities they visited, and so came to know them from an alternate perspective.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Her greatest achievement so far in her reign has been to send envoys into Aswea with the offer of opening peaceful negotiations between Aswea and the Lainteran Empire. This is the first act of peace that has ever been attempted by a sitting Empress. Time will tell whether the offer is accepted, and whether anything will come of these negotiations.

Morality & Philosophy

Shieren speaks publicly about her desire to see a more unified empire. It is well known by all that in even peaceful parts of the empire there is strife between the ethnicities. Classism, racism, and xenophobia are significant problems in all parts of the empire, and are something that Shieren would like to see lessened during her reign.
But although she speaks of very liberal policies regarding the betterment of the working class and the unspoken caste system that has worked its way into Lainteran society, she has done little to enact such policies herself. Shieren's advisors are still all Lainteran or Shaelani elves, with no representation for the oppressed minorities at this highest level of government. And although she has sent envoys to Aswea, she has never visited the nation herself.
She is also a devoted follower of the elven gods, particularly the Moon from whom her empire draws its name. As such, she does believe in the inherent superiority of Lainteran and Shaelani elves, who are blessed by the Sun and Moon, over the Kashali, Ascian, and Aswean peoples who fall under lesser deities. This has brought into question whether she truly wishes to see equality between the ethnicities.

Taboos

Shieren does not hold to as many taboos as her predecessors. Even after peace settled over the empire, the royal families were known to remain in their palace except when visiting other nobility or surveing the provinces. Since her youth, Shieren has been known to regularly leave the palace to venture into the capitol's marketplaces and interact personally with merchants who provide goods to the palace. This is something that even her mother was never known to do.
Indeed, Shieren has been, so far in her ruling, the most hands-on empress outside of matters of war, and seems to have no qualms interacting with the lower classes.

Current Location

Continent of Feihon

Species

Elves

Ethnicity

Lainteran Elves

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Empress of Feihon

Year of Birth

512 PR 493 Years old

Gender

Female

Eyes

Dark brown, almond

Hair

Long, straight, black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale white

Height

5'3"

Aligned Organization

Empire of Laintera

Ruled Locations

• Continent of Feihon
• Haesan