"The sign of a good leader is easy to recognize, though it is hardly ever seen."
Her Illustrious Eminence, Crowned Empress Hermina Hildebrand (Born Hermina Didrik) of Isenwalt, Duchess of the Moonshae and Reformer of Grace is revered throughout the empire as stern, cold and calculating. These are all descriptors that fit the current ruler of Isenwalt to a tee. Her influence has spread far and wide over the land of Isenwalt during her prestigious 12 year rule that began in 1477 DR. Hermina's rule began after her then husband, imperial commander Alain Hildebrand began an uprising within the then Kingdom of Isenwalt. The usurper Alain then took his place on the throne before tragically dying not even a year into his reign as King and so due to the right of common hereditary monarchy the crown was given to young Hermina at the age of just 23, which caused her to be the second youngest monarch in the history of Isenwalt and the second female monarch.
When the civil war began in 1472 DR, Hermina was just a dainty southern Waltisch girl with great ambition. Born in 1454, in the bustling southern city of Evigschem to the minor house of Didrik, the then young future empress was introduced to the world into a family of great tacticians and scholars. She grew up reading every book that was given to her, with aspirations of joining the medical field of Isenwalt when she grew up and so she even began paying visits to the Temple of Músila in Feenbruch to study briefly in medical practice. It is said that she grew an interest in the study of healing diseases and quite often saw to the homeless and the sick of Feenbruch in order to treat their ailments and diseases.
As Hermina continued her studies within Feenbruch's Temple of Músila she would begin a study on a young man who became sick after travelling into the Ander Swamp. This young man would be the future king, Alain Hildebrand, who at the time was readying himself to become the leader of House Hildebrand before the awful events that would become his family. As Didrik began her study and healing of Alain, a spark of romance began between the two. The soon-to-be king would speak of his ambition and plans for a better and brighter future for the country and this seemed to enamour the young Hermina in some way, reminding her of all the great heroes that she had read about in her youth. Years passed and the two would eventually get married and not long after that, bear a child. But not 4 years after the birth of their daughter, the Coward's War began and the country rallied behind the young Alain Hildebrand and his rapidly growing army.
After the usurpation of King Gert Weimrot things seemed to be at an all-time high for the Hildebrand family. They had moved north and began a new life in the capital with Alain as the country's fresh and beloved king. However, it would not last long as merely months after Alain had sat on the throne as King, it would be left empty. In his dying moments, he had named his wife as his successor and so Hermina was given the task of becoming Isenwalt's second queen in 1483.
Soon after the death of her husband the newly crowned Queen would honor her late husband's memory by ordering the completion of construction on a bridge into the northern realm which he had started, aptly naming it the
Hildebrand Bridge. Following this event, the Queen would make a public address to make a shocking announcement. Isenwalt would no longer be a kingdom, but an empire and with it she would become it's empress. Gone were the days of this country being a laughing stock, a place of chaotic in-fighting and childish bickering. Isenwalt would make it's mark on the world of Toril and Empress Hermina Hildebrand would be the at the spearhead itself, showing the world what power a unified Isenwalt can hold. 12 years of her reign have been dedicated to showing the world a better Isenwalt and with every passing day belief in this movement seems to grow by the numbers.
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