Valuril-Kretham

Supreme Admiral Valuril-Kretham is a Shilizal naval officer in the forces of the Hivivian Empire. As one of the empire's most capable and prestigious officers in recent times, Kretham rose to the rank of Supreme Admiral - and was ultimately relegated by the Shalgan Emperor to command the Combined Fleet of the Greater Hivivian Space Forces throughout the Sagittarius and Orion Arms. Within his homeworld of Shilizta, Valuril-Kretham is considered highly respected and revered, and holds a very high standing in the Citizen Assembly of the Kingdom of Shalita, as a personal advisor to the 5 kings; specifically King Sycophantal-Malchus of Military Operations and Deployments.
Shortly after the invasions of the human worlds of Aurora and New Earth, during the early onset of Human-Hivivian War, Kretham heard of Becceorian War Chieftain, Teckamontus' defeat and death. Despite his distain for the Becceorian and Teckamontus personally, Kretham lit ceremonial ritual candle and gave words of mourning in Teckamontus' name. This gesture was not out of any love or admiration, but out of pure respect for a fallen comrade and fellow warrior.

Biography

Early career

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20th Age of Conflict and the Assimilation of the Becceorian; 2647 CE

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Battle and annexation of Pheonope

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Siege of the Becceorian's capital, Urkankan

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Promotion to Supreme Admiral; 2672

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Appointed as "Sword of Shalita"; 2680

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Human-Hivivian War

Invasions of Aurora and New Earth; 2725 (Not Present)

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Invasions of Caananite and Terminus; Summer 2725

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Capturing of the UNF President, Brandon Carter

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Battle of Endurance

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Battles of York, Washington, and Trichi

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Invasion and siege of the Caniic Homeworld, Tíreia

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Invasion of Humanity's Inner Colonies

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Siege of New Athens; 2527

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The Failed Siege and Battle of Harmony; 2535

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Battle of Earth; 2535

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Exile and Death

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Reputation

Valuril-Kretham’s reputation within the Hivivian Empire is formidable, shaped by decades of unflinching service, strategic brilliance, and an uncompromising adherence to Shilizal martial doctrine. Among Shilizal and non-Shilizal alike, his name evokes a specific kind of silence—the pause before action, the stillness of calculated violence. Kretham is not remembered for grand speeches or public spectacle; his legacy is etched into the outcomes of wars and the precision of his commands. Victory under his leadership is not celebrated with jubilation but acknowledged with grim reverence. He is not the kind of leader whose name is chanted; his name is invoked when discipline fails, or when battle turns dire and absolute clarity is needed.
Within the upper echelons of the Hivivian military, Kretham is regarded with a dual measure of fear and admiration. Admirals beneath him have described his oversight as suffocatingly thorough—he leaves no assumption unchallenged, no variable unaccounted for. His strategic predictions often unfold with terrifying accuracy, and deviations from his plans tend to end in blood. Those who survive under his command do so because they obey; those who question his methods often find themselves reassigned, silenced, or broken under the weight of expectations they failed to meet. The Shalgan see him as both an indispensable asset and a political liability—too competent to displace, too self-governed to fully control. He is not a mouthpiece for the Emperor; he is a sword—drawn, tempered, and swung at the Empire’s enemies.
Among the Shilizal citizenry, particularly in the Kingdom of Shalita, Kretham is venerated with an almost mythic reverence. His name is spoken in temple blessings, etched into war shrines, and taught to young boys as the exemplar of Shilizal virtue. He is more than a commander; he is the embodiment of what it means to serve with dignity, discipline, and purpose. His advisory role to King Sycophantal Mal'chus of Military Operations and Deployments only further entrenched his standing as not merely a war leader, but a cultural pillar. That he holds such a trusted position among the Five Kings speaks not to political maneuvering, but to the raw necessity of his mind and his methods. Despite his feared presence among subordinates, Kretham’s reputation for impartiality is unshakable. He favors no one, shows no nepotism, and does not entertain flattery. Rank, bloodline, and favor mean nothing to him without results. This has earned him the respect of lower-ranking officers and frontline warriors, who view him as the rare high command figure who understands—and still lives—the brutal clarity of combat. Stories circulate of him walking alone through Shilizal barracks in full armor, inspecting troops personally, offering no words unless correction or instruction was necessary. These acts, while minor, feed the legend of a commander who sees himself not above the military machine, but as a cog within it—sharpened, not softened, by his station.
His handling of adversaries further cements his standing among military and cultural elites. Though he despised the Becceorian War Chieftain Teckamontus and viewed the Becceorian as reckless, undisciplined beasts, Kretham’s act of lighting a ritual mourning flame in the wake of Teckamontus’ death stunned both his own kin and other Hivivian races—specifically Shalgan and Becceorian. It was not a gesture of forgiveness or sympathy—it was the cold, ritualistic honoring of a warrior who died by the blade. Such gestures, rare and grim, distinguish Kretham from other Shilizal commanders; he is not prone to pettiness, nor does he let personal sentiment interfere with cultural law. Even in hatred, he observes tradition.
Kretham’s reputation is not spotless, but even his detractors tread lightly. Some within the Hivivian, mainly Shalgan, aristocracy whisper that his loyalty lies more with Shalita than the Hivivian Empire, that he is too austere, too inflexible to be politically pliant. Others suggest that his strict interpretation of the warrior code is outdated in an age of interstellar diplomacy. But none dare speak these things publicly. Not because they fear retribution, but because they know that if Valuril-Kretham should ever fall, it would not be by scandal or politics—but in battle, at the head of a fleet, undefeated until the end.

Personality, Traits & Abilities

Valuril-Kretham embodies the highest ideal of the Shilizal warrior caste—unyielding in duty, merciless in execution, and calculating in vision. He is not driven by sentiment or grandeur but by an uncompromising sense of responsibility and strategic foresight that borders on obsessive. Every decision, gesture, and word he offers is measured, not for diplomacy’s sake, but to ensure tactical advantage and cultural integrity. Kretham is a creature of intent—he speaks when necessary, commands without flourish, and acts without hesitation.
Stoic to the core, Kretham's demeanor reflects the gravity of his station. He is deliberate, even cold, in his interactions, often leaving subordinates unnerved not by rage but by the sheer stillness with which he delivers reprimands or commands. He does not inspire loyalty through charisma or charm, but through fear, respect, and a proven record of absolute success. His subordinates follow not because they like him, but because defying him is equivalent to defying the will of Shalita itself. His authority is not merely earned—it is assumed, inevitable, and absolute. In terms of intellect, Kretham ranks among the most brilliant tactical minds in recent Hivivian history. His strategic methodology is characterized by long-term planning, sacrificial foresight, and brutal efficiency. Kretham does not see battles as isolated events; he maps war as a continuum, where political pressure, resource exhaustion, psychological dominance, and military maneuver all converge into eventual subjugation of the enemy. He has no tolerance for wasteful aggression and despises commanders who allow emotion to guide their blade. To him, mercy is only acceptable if it serves a greater strategic function.
What sets Kretham apart even among Shilizal is his deep internalization of the warrior code—not merely in doctrine, but in personal behavior. He lives with ascetic precision: training daily, meditating in isolation, and conducting personal rituals to maintain mental clarity. He demands no luxury, requires no excess. Despite his high station and political influence, Kretham resides in a sanctuary compound aboard his flagship, eschewing personal opulence as weakness. To indulge in comfort is, in his view, to dull the blade of one’s resolve. Valuril-Kretham also carries a unique trait among Shilizal officers: a capacity for controlled reverence toward enemies who meet his standards of worth. He does not romanticize opponents, nor does he extend grace lightly. His brief but telling gesture of mourning for Teckamontus, the Becceorian War Chieftain he despised, was an act of rigid principle rather than sentiment—an example of Kretham’s unwavering adherence to the warrior ideal. He does not mourn the person; he honors the battlefield.
Physically, Kretham remains in peak form despite his age. At over nine feet tall and nearly a hundred and twenty, he is a figure of lean muscle, raw strength, and coiled discipline. His reflexes remain sharp, his endurance exemplary. In personal combat, Kretham is an immovable force—his style marked by minimal motion, brutal precision, and total control. While he rarely enters the field anymore, his martial skill is regularly maintained and constantly refined, if only to remind others that his position was not granted by favor but earned through fire. His tactical abilities are matched only by his mental resilience. Kretham’s capacity to remain composed under pressure, analyze multiple streams of data in real-time, and synthesize coherent action across vast fleets is nothing short of legendary. He can process the chaos of interstellar war the way others read a book—comprehending not only what is happening, but why, where it leads, and how it may be weaponized.
Kretham does not laugh. He does not entertain idle talk. He is not beloved in the sentimental sense. But he is feared with reverence, trusted without question, and followed as though his word is the spoken command of Shalita’s gods. And for many in the Greater Hivivian Forces, it might as well be.

Biographical information

Homeworld

Shalita

Born

July 23, 2605 (age 119)

Children

Silareth-Kezura (son)

Jelvial the Honorable (son)

Miryakal-Korvahn (daughter)

Personal details

Species

Shilizal

Gender

Male

Height

9.2 ft.

Weight

296.3 lb.

Eye color

Dark Green

Political and military information

Affiliation

Hivivian Empire

• Combined Fleet of the Greater Hivivian Military

Kingdom of Shalita

• Citizen Assembly

  • Personal Military Advisor to King Sycophantal-Malchus

Rank

Supreme Admiral

Sword of Shalita