Zara Civilius IV, the Iron Princess

---

The unfortunate truth that I've learned is that sometimes you have to go behind someone's back to make a change.

~ Zara Civilius IV ~

---

Passion over Might

Princess Zara Civilius IV grew up inside the Tenelean capital of Enendale, along with her older brother Wulfick. They were born to the imperial Civilius family line, which had ruled for centuries as the absolute rulers over Tenelea. The elder sibling, Wulfick took to his role as the heir to the throne with fervor. But Zara, in his absence, was rarely regarded or taken seriously. She did not ever know her father well, who died early on of illness.
After her and Wulfick's Rite of Conquest in which they were recognized by the Cosmic Warrior and embued with a portion of his power, Zara was left alone.
As a child, her mother, Zara Civilius III paid little attention to her, leaving the daughter to spend most of her days with the maidens of the palace and some palace guards at times. Despite the lack of a family bond, she made a number of other good acquaintances like the empress' personal advisor, Vulmar Ipstanus. She was expected to hold herself in high regard and be very proper, but even the guards couldn't hold up their strong demeanor in the presence of an adorable daughter who just wanted friends she could spend time with in light of her lack of royal duties.
Growing up, she began to make a habit of sneaking out of the palace on her own to explore the empire and experience what was out there. She was so used to the pleasantries of palace nobles and ever-boding presence of the legionnaires that she fell in love with the colorful markets in Kor. She adored the Imperial College that stood tall in Bahsk. Most of all, she enjoyed the endless variety of commoners not bound by the laws of noble etiquette and happy to hold a conversation.
Outside of the palace, outside of the capital, this is what Zara realized the empire should emulate itself as. Not a militaristic war machine bound to the service of some war god like was so common to see in the imperial palace, but like an open land full of culture, variety, and compassion. She didn't care the historical reasons for this empire was to exact revenge against their ancient rivals, Endolin. That was then, but this was now, and especially in the capital, things didn't look very good.
The noble houses still fought each other to the tooth and nail to blackmail, bribe, and steal their way into the empress' good graces. The common philosophy of "might is right" permeated the royal class. The empire tried to break itself down as much as it tried to build itself even taller. Zara needed to believe she could bring about change somehow.
With enough debate and support, she could even convince her mother to make this a reality.

Assassination of the Empress

But grave news swept the empire in 1430 AC when the empress, Zara's mother, was assassinated by a rogue Tenelean guard found in the empress' room after she had been stabbed. She and her brother were both racked with sorrow, but it manifested in both of them differently. Despite the tears, Zara saw an opening to finally change this empire for the better when Wulfick took to the throne. Burdened with grief like she was, surely he would be willing to listen to what she had to say if it meant things like this never happened again.
But the story didn't play out that way, because unbeknownst to Zara, Wulfick's sorrow was different than hers. Zara's was embodied in loss and love. His turned out to be consumed in power and opportunity.
Assuming his place as emperor, he didn't listen to a single word Zara had to say. In fact, he continued exactly where their mother left off. The iron war machine doubled in size under his rule. Extra efforts were made to emphasize the glory of the Cosmic Warrior and the obligation to follow him. It narrowed itself even further on the exact path the empress had led it down.
These actions left Zara to ultimately question the intentions and true loyalty of Wulfick. She started to doubt whether or not he was truly saddened by the death of their mother. Even worse, she began to suspect if he was behind it somehow. But, by that point, she couldn't give any more thought to it or confront Wulfick about it, because tragedy and terror had already struck the continent.

The War of Turmoil

The Tenelean Empire mobilized its forces to war as it conducted numerous attacks on both Endolin and Ravenna, and Emperor Wulfick V was at the backbone of all of it. The whole continent united itself against the empire in an attempt to defend themselves and crush the empire, but from all the hushed rumors Zara constantly overheard from the maidens, the empire was conquering new land every minute.
Zara still clung to that notion of a more compassionate and open empire and attempted to do what she could to influence this war in that direction. However, she was always denied the permission to attend any war meeting or council for that matter by Wulfick. More than a year into the war, Zara feared there was nothing she could do at all.
But an opportunity presented itself that she thought would be her only chance to make a difference. She overheard two distinct things. The first regarded the war situation in the east at the Ravennian city of Podun and the emperor's frustration it, after a year, had still not fallen. The second was that a royal messenger was being sent by carriage to deliver an important letter from Wulfick to the forces at the Heartened Soul Monastery to press the assault there and clear out the whole mountain.
Working quickly, Zara found the two guards meant to drive the carriage out of the palace before it left, and after heavy attempts to bribe them, worked with the princess in this daring ploy to influence the war.
First, she doctored another letter using some of her magic in private, issuing a different set of orders which she signed in Wulfick's name and closed with the Civilius' seal. Then, with a company of legionnaires, she stood at the imperial gates just before the carriage left and staged a royal inspection. She lied the letter was being looked over to ensure nothing had tampered with it, to which the messenger obeyed.
At that moment, the two guards distracted the messenger while Zara secretly traded the original letter with the new one. The letter case was closed as she handed it back to the messenger who with haste.
Days after, she was not surprised to hear her brother's rage that the forces near the monastery had suddenly pulled out and marched east to Podun instead, a move he said likely cost them the war. And so it did, because in the final year, the war effort stagnated and exhausted itself, leaving the emperor no choice but to negotiate an armistice with his enemies.

The Present

Zara knew it hadn't been much, but it had proven to her that she had the capability to slowly sabotage this war-mongering empire until its people called for a change. She didn't like the idea of having to continuously go behind her people's back to achieve it, but if it meant a better life for her people and the lands around them, then she was willing to bite her tongue and suffer through it.
So does she stand today, rarely at Wulfick's side and looking for every chance she can to influence the imperial government away from war.

---

I walked alongside the former empress ever since she rose to power. Since then, I've learned two thing. Zara's son inherited her might. Zara's daughter inherited her passion.

~ Vulmar Ipstanus ~

---

Year of Birth

1305 AC

Aligned Organization

Tenelea

Wilhelm's Dream

"Fire!" Wilhelm Boulderdash's voice roared true through the air just as a cacophony of explosions rang out. Large projectiles coated in the essence of his magic soared past him overhead towards the massive monastic gate that stood tall in front of him and his howitzer division.
The diverse monks stood atop the walls on either side of the gate with their petty and obsolete weapons just as the projectiles collided into the gate, peppering it with so much force that when it cracked, Wilhelm smiled at the look of surprise that crosses his enemy's faces.
In rapid assault, the cracks turned to tears and the gate started to give way.
"The seventh gate!" Wilhelm taunted. "The seventh gate you all thought could protect you, just like the other six! But it is just as powerless against my howitzers!"
CRACK
A boom tore through the air as massive gusts of wind and opaque smoke were kicked up. Wilhelm recognized this feeling all too well. The same thing had happened the other six times he had done this.
"It's gone!" He heard distant voices tremble. "The gate's been opened! Retreat!" He heard others cry.
When the smoke finally cleared, he saw exactly what he expected to see for the seventh time. That fifty-foot tall magic gate was less than half of what it used to be. Seven times Wilhelm had pitted his magic against theirs, and everytime it had won out.
The empire had finally cleared the Seven Gates of the Heartened Soul Monastery.
Wilhelm listened to his men cheer in triumph as their voices filled the sky. He relished this moment that he knew would go down in history.
For centuries, the monastery's gates had stood and never once been breached. Now, Wilhelm had done just that, and so he turned to the rest of his men, joining in their celebration. His dream to conquer this mountain was at hand.
"Celebrate this day of conquest today, men!" He cheered. "We shall be remembered as heroes!" He walked through their ranks back to camp, his cannon moving with him at his side. "Regroup and rest for today! Tomorrow, we topple a mountain-"
"Sir!" Wilhelm turned to the voice suddenly directed at him as a legionnaire from camp stopped a few steps away from him. "A royal messenger has arrived with a letter, sir!"
"Legionnaire, return to your post. That letter can be saved for later. Right now, my men and I are celebrating a momentous day." Wilhelm began to move past him.
"But, sir," he protested, "it's from the emperor."
Next thing Wilhelm knew, he was seated at his officer's table inside the tent of their war camp, just as he saw a carriage stopped outside the flaps. The door opened and a young elf boy, ears cropped, stepped out. He hesitated for a moment, but pushed the flaps aside and entered the tent, giving a proper salute to Wilhelm as he held out a cylindrical letter case.
"For you, sir." The boy said. And when Wilhelm took the case, the messenger quickly turned, exited the tent, reentered the carriage, and left.
Still looking outside the flaps, Wilhelm undid the clasps and opened the case, sliding out the rolled up letter. Sure enough, it the royal seal of the Civilius family line was stamped on it.
"Hm, the emperor must have heard of my efforts very quick!" Wilhelm bragged. "Likely some congratulatory letter on my efforts and whatnot."
He opened the letter to read it, and his cane, once leaning against the table knocked over to the floor in Wilhelm's utter shock.
To officer Wilhelm Boulderdash,
On behalf of my empire, I do hope this finds you in good graces, but you will need to prepare yourself and your division for these new orders you are being issued.
The situation at Podun has persisted for too long to let me ignore it any longer. Frankly, it frustrates me the Ravennian forces have held on for as long as they have, and I intend to increase our forces stationed there in order to finally break it. So, in my council, I have deemed the issue at the monastery much too trivial to focus on any longer.
By my imperial command, officer Wilhelm Boulderdash and his 1st howitzer division are to withdraw from the Heartened Soul Monastery and proceed east to Podun to assist wyvern officer Dorius Hickblade in the battle. Failure to comply will be met with swift and severe punishment on grounds of deserting.
~ His imperial highness, Wulfick Civilius V
"Why, I never! These orders are foolhardy! They're preposterous! On what grounds does a single town have over the BIGGEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD!?"
But, despite his disapproval, Wilhelm followed the order. He withdrew from the monastery, and his dream to conquer the mountain remained a dream.

Someone sabotaged me during the war. Someone close. Someone with access to my resources. I relish the day I find out who.

~ Wulfick Civilius V