Payima Skardel

Payima Yaltii Skardel

The Skardels have gone north to join that democratic rebellion. Can't say I'm surprised. What I am surprised on is that Payima went with them. I thought of them as the picture of Vosti nobility, a standard of honour many youngsters should compare themselves to.
Maybe that's telling. What honour is there in serving an Emperor who hates everyone like you?

— Duke Rumen of Kerinston

Payima Skardel is a former member of the Vosti nobility, and a distant member of the Vosti Imperial Family through their father, Marquis Gloreon of Skardel. They have been serving as an aide to their father in his capacity as foreign minister of The Medura since the 8th of Bremos, 425 AC, and have renounced all noble titles.

History

Payima is the eldest of the three children of Gloreon and his husband Paiyatl, and was born in 391 AC. As the heir to the marquisate, they were given access to a good education, though this was not easy. At multiple occasions Payima had to be removed from an academy due to the poor treatment they received at the hands of their peers, and eventually they were sent to a school intended for lesser nobility. Despite these setbacks, Payima was a capable student, with a particular passion for history.
When they graduated from school, they made the decision to not continue their education or to join the Vosti Military, as was often expected of people like them. Instead Payima devoted their time to the management of the marquisate and the betterment of the lives of those who lived in it, organising the refurbishment of schools and public facilities. In the course of this work, they met Baroness Yumi of Guarasi, whose barony closely neighboured Payima's future territory. The two collaborated to improve things which served both of their communities, and Payima would often need to talk down frustrated dukes or counts who disliked the changes they helped to make.
Payima and Yumi would be married in 414, the announcement of which sparked fury from Yumi's uncle, Emperor Brimeon IV. In spite of his objections, the two went ahead with the match, with the understanding Brimeon could not actually stop them from doing so. In an effort to placate the Emperor, Payima would volunteer more and more in the imperial court, offering their talent at management. While Brimeon rarely took them up on the offer, others noticed, and Payima's reputation improved among the high nobility.
This changed in 425, with Brimeon's announcement of his adoption of Grelan Tellis as his heir. While this had nothing to do with Payima or even with Yumi, it sparked fury from many sections of the empire, eventually resulting in the Ishir-Kerinston's breaking away to attempt to seize the imperial throne. Despite their past 'devotion' to the throne, Payima did not offer any assistance in the growing civil war, and instead the entire Skardel family 'fled' north to their marquisate. It was there that it was announced they were defecting to The Medura, a democractic secessionist movement. Both Payima and Yumi renounced their noble titles, and Payima took up a minor position within the Meduran government.

Social Ties

Payima is, though Gloreon's line, a direct descendant of Emperor Brimeon III through his second child Princess Shulya. They also have a bloodline connection with Emperor Treveon II, who was the younger brother of Payima's great grandfather, and by extension Payima is a distant cousin of families like the Shonyuls and Flinarzons. Through Paiyatl's line, they have ties to a long-serving political family in the Republic of Waal Zaimyatl.
With their wife Yumi, Payima has two children - Lilayen and Pashu, both born in 416. These children are subsequently the great-niblings of current emperor Brimeon IV, and technically speaking in the line of imperial succession. In practice, Yumi's line is not in play, particularly after both of them renounced their titles.

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

Nonbinary (They/Them)

Species

Half-Elf

Ethnicity

Zaimyalkee

Year of Birth

391 AC 34 Years old

Parents

Gloreon Skardel

Paiyatl

Known Languages

Vostan (native), Zangsayoi Elven (fluent)

Affiliated Organisations

The Medura, Vosti Imperial Family (formerly)

Rebellion

When a letter was sent to Yumi Guarasi inviting her to attend a meeting of Meduran activists - a letter famously intercepted by her uncle - no-one questioned why it had been sent to her in the first place. It was assumed they had simply figured she might harbour democratic beliefs.
In hindsight, it seems clear that the invitation was targeted based on foreknowledge, and that Payima Skardel was likely the one who had informed The Medura of their wife's opinions. Considering Payima was known to have met Zilian Ordeona, future president of The Medura, the idea they were totally ignorant is laughable.

Old Books by Gellinger