Surcount Veli XII of Ilkweir

Surcount Veli Osteruna (a.k.a. the Red Terror)

Veli Osteruna, Surcount of Ilkweir, had gained a fierce reputation by the time he assumed his fathers title of Surcount. During his younger years, Veli insisted on participation in military operations aimed at halting the incursion of Aelish tribes on the southern settlements within the Surcounty. Though the Palantar Mountains which bordered the south of the Surcounty were far more traversable and open than the neighbouring range of the Sarranids, the Aelish Tribes still pervaded attempts to eradicate their presence in the area, many hamlets and villages still falling victim to the raids of the hill people. Veli was particularly zealous in his hatred for the Aelish people, having been noted to describe them as a "non-human" scourge sent by the gods to punish the people in the uplands for various transgressions. Though many thought him arrogant, Veli proved to an effective commander, having been allowed to assume command of the operations in the hills due to his noble birth. His retribution against the Aelish where he found them was harsh, perhaps even barbaric, soldiers soon spreading rumours of how Veli would personally visit encampments where Aelish prisoners had been caught and ordering summary executions that including burning alive, beheading and drowning.
Veli would be largely successful in driving the Aelish from the Palantars, only a handful still stubbornly remaining after his inquisition. From there he would act as the de-facto marshal of the Surcounty where he would only bolster his sour reputation by harshly punishing wrongdoers and harassing those he suspected of withholding taxes or participating in rebel factions. Though Veli petitioned the Grand Duke Tapani VII to allow him to accompany the war party during the The Leviathan War but was ultimately denied. After the death of his father, Veli took control of the Surcounty of Ilkweir during his late twenties. Though many expected a harsh rule under the zealous Surcount, his reign was rather uneventful and he instead focused more upon administrative duties and bolstering his estates.
When the Doric-Aijian War was declared, Veli would be among the senior commanders to serve under Grand Duke Arttu I during the conflicts, being assigned his own army during the Doric invasion of Aijia. In this conflict, Veli would gain yet a further muddied reputation, becoming known as the "Red Terror" for his habit of destroying settlements and murdering civilians such as during the Sacking of Vollun and the Massacre at Torsten. His alleged crimes were so thoroughly condemned that initially, during the negotiation of the Treaty of Pilkala, one of the key Aijian demands was that Veli be surrendered to King-Elect Andelwyn to meet justice and be executed. This would not be pursued as negotiations progressed and an end to the conflict looked more and more unlikely.

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Doric

Currently Held Titles

• Surcount of Ilkweir

Year of Birth

7623 PA 56 Years old

Parents

Surcount Vaijo of Ilkweir