Toliman
Prince Rigil yl Toliman d'Aethelcar (1 Gamelion 395 – 34 Vidaen 467) was a human prince of Aethelcar and dark wizard who formed a covenant with Zshatlalote, becoming the Iconium Hamartia, and briefly ruling the Empire of Sin from 465 to 467, before being killed by Theodorian of Amalfi using the Ninth and Eighth Chaos Seals, triggering the Tolimanic Apocalypses. After his death, his soul was apparently dragged to the Under Deep, where he seemingly exists to the present. Across Eirene the very name Toliman has become a byword for evil. The more superstitious dare not even say his name.
Tenets of Faith
"All evils come through the freedom of man; if man is to be good, he cannot be free. Therefore we labor, perhaps in vain, that we might destroy the freedom of men and with it their evil." – Attributed to Toliman
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Toliman was born in 395, the youngest child and only son of Prince Ethelbard and Princess Morgana of Aethelcar, and had older two sisters, Koralia and Arctura. In 406 when he was just 11, his sister Koralia was married off to the much older and lecherous Duke Jocast von Tuton, and she dies in childbirth at just 15 years old. This greatly influenced him, and apparently served to turn him away from having children. He was tutored for almost his whole life by the monk Claudius, whose moral instruction appeared to last beyond Toliman's participation in Emuna. Toliman kept a copy of all of Claudius' writings, and even paid to have his letters published as an adult.
He devoted himself to moral study, eventually coming to the conclusion that evil is a matter of free will, and that only by eradicating freedom at its source can man be good. He departed at age 20 for Mides, seeking out the invocation magi in the Monist realm. Under their tutelage he obtains the rank "Magus" at age 30. For the next 20 years he searched the world for artifacts of great power, hoping to gain the power to enslave man to goodness itself. He also picked a comrade in the form of Calista Magi, a Belladocian servant girl he took as an apprentice. He obtained the skull of an Ntefi in 459, and over the course of six years experimented to determine ways to summon one. He finally did so in 465, being granted an audience with Zshatlalote, who was so impressed by Toliman's tenacity and desire to destroy free will that he granted him a covenant. Toliman became the Iconium Hamartia, the image of sin, and used his night-infinite power to destroy the province of Aethelcar. He spared his sister Arctura, keeping her captive but safe in the old Imperial Governor's Palace. From Aethelcar he expanded his rule with an army of Ntefi provided by Zshatalalote.
He expanded to conquer Faraconia and western Alleland before the arrival of the Archons, dispatched by the Unbroken Church with the Ninth Chaos Seal. When its use failed to kill him, the Archons retrieved the Eighth Chaos Seal, which was used by Theodorian of Amalfi to defeat Toliman finally.
Sexuality
Toliman apparently had no sexual desire, a fact which is attributed to the trauma of witnessing his sister's death in childbirth. Although his enemies often rumored that he had castrated himself, the evidence contained in his writings seems to indicate that he considered castration an imperfection, and it is unlikely he would have done so himself.
His relationship to his apprentice Callista Magi has always been subject to speculation, and some (even in the Purity Cult itself) have asserted that Callista was his lover. They are confirmed to have slept in the same bed for years, and there was talk even at the time that she may have been pregnant. Despite this, none of his surviving correspondence with Callista indicates anything beyond deep platonic (or perhaps paternal) love for her. His letters to his tutor, the monk Claudius, seem to indicate a deep passion perhaps bordering on romance or infatuation.
Mental Trauma
Toliman was mentally scarred by witnessing his elder sister Koralia's death in childbirth. This put him off of desiring children, and allegedly made him a lifelong celibate. He
Morality & Philosophy
Toliman adhered to an absolute moral code, which did not allow for deviation. He believed that the distinction between good and evil arose out of the infinite gap between "Becoming" and "Being". To Toliman, the state of Being was perfection, and whatever trended towards Being was good in itself. Whereas whatever opposed Being was evil, because Being was the perfection of existence. Toliman considered it his obligation to try and facilitate peace on Tessera by destroying free will with the power of the gods. He was not hypocritical, and desired to have his own will subsumed.
"Will is the source of all evil. I could never wish to have will, but rather to be dissolved and to be with the others: encompassed by the security of Fate." – Attributed to Toliman
Taboos
Toliman hated the sight of naked bodies, even his own, wearing a towel even to bathe.
Social
Contacts & Relations
He was well known to have connections to the Monist Midesean Empire, and with the various black wizards across Eirene. After his covenant with Zshatlalote, the Ntefi were reported to have served him.
Religious Views
Toliman was an apparent skeptic, openly disbelieving Emuna after the death of his sister Koralia. He did believe in fate, but was of the opinion that it was not the will of God, but rather the consequence of nature itself. He was convinced that free will was the problem of sentient life, and dedicated himself to destroying it, rendering all men slaves of fate.
Social Aptitude
Toliman was said to be the most charming man to ever live, a trait only enhanced by his covenant with Zshatlalote. He was a master of etiquette, even holding elaborate diplomatic parties during the Empire of Sin. His unbreakable confidence in himself led many to follow him even if they did not agree or understand his goals. He was an egocentric person, thinking only of his own goals, and being willing to kill an innocent person who impeded his goals slightly. He was a master seducer, though he apparently had no sexual desire himself, and was never reported to have actually slept with a woman (or man). His movements were said to have a grace to them, such that he often was said to float across the room; he was a masterful dancer.
Speech
He was prone to slur some words, and issue sentences faster than others could understand. His voice was bombastic and deep, and he spoke in metaphors more than directly. His accent was impossible to place, having some characteristics of Aethelcarian speech, some of Belladocian, and some of High Imperial. He would always compliment anyone who opposed him directly, and speak constantly of their valor even after killing them. He made care to say the name of any opponent, and carefully repeat it to remember it afterwards.
Wealth & Financial state
Toliman was fantastically wealthy, even before plundering Eirene, and was born into the House d'Aethelcar.
Iconium Hamartia
Divine Classification
Apotheosized Man
Religions
Alignment
Neutral Evil
Current Location
Conditions
Church/Cult
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Iconium Hamartia, Prince d'Aethelcar, Magister Magus
Date of Birth
1 Gamelion 395
Life
395 IB
467 IB
72 years old
Circumstances of Death
Toliman was killed by Theodorian of Amalfi using the Eighth Chaos Seal after the Ninth failed to render him killable.
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Medium length, volumous and wavy, black.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale white, with notable discolored patches.
Height
6'6"
Aligned Organization
| Title | Emperor of Sin |
| Reign | c. 465 – 34 Vidaen 467 |
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