Arshan Taldir
Vizier of War Arshan Taldir (a.k.a. "The Iron Jackal")
Role: Oversees military planning, joint operations with BTC and SWTU fleets, and fortifications across the desert and coastal regions.
Vizier Arshan Taldir is a tactician, warrior, and unyielding force within the Sultanate’s governance. His pragmatic and disciplined approach ensures military supremacy, while his efficient but ruthless policies create both admiration and unease among his peers. He is the shield of the realm, ever-watchful, ever-prepared.
Physical Description
Apparel & Accessories
Prefers functional yet regal military attire, donning a sand-colored officer’s robe embroidered with silver thread sigils of the Sultanate’s military.
In battle or official inspections, wears lamellar armor reinforced with mithril plating, designed for both mobility and protection.
A serrated scimitar, the blade once belonging to a fallen rival, hangs at his waist—a reminder of his doctrine of swift and efficient combat.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born in the port city of Caldan, a key military outpost in the southern deserts, to a distinguished family of officers.
Trained from childhood in desert warfare, logistics, and siegecraft, following in the footsteps of his father, a decorated general.
Enlisted in the Gilded Blades at 16, displaying natural leadership and a ruthless efficiency in battle.
Rapidly rose through the ranks due to his ability to outmaneuver enemy forces and predict battlefield movements with uncanny accuracy.
Gained fame leading a decisive counteroffensive against the Red Dunes Marauders, a notorious band of raiders, effectively ending their decade-long reign of terror.
Named General of the Gilded Blades at the age of 40, a rare honor for someone outside the ruling nobility.
His successful campaigns earned the favor of Sultan Grada Vorr’Khal, leading to his appointment as Vizier of War in 468 AEL.
Education
Institution: Amirik Al'Zahad (Military Strategy & War History Division)
Studied under General Khaled ibn Rami, a renowned strategist, focusing on logistics, desert combat doctrine, and siege warfare.
Completed advanced training at the Crimson Bastion, an elite military academy specializing in commanding mixed-unit forces and naval coordination.
Well-versed in foreign tactics, particularly those of Kozuka and the Dominion of Kafka, ensuring adaptability in combat scenarios.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Pirate Threat Neutralization:
Spearheaded an allied naval operation with Ellenore Basara’s war galleons, eliminating the pirate admiral Sahir the Black Wave, who terrorized the Dyensur Strait.
Fortress Expansion & Border Security:
Established new defensive outposts along the southern deserts, preventing smuggling rings and securing vital trade routes.
Reinforced the Grand Bastion of Khaldur, a strategic chokepoint, ensuring the Sultanate’s borders remain secure against incursions.
Modernized Military Doctrine:
Advocated for the integration of mechanized siege weaponry, incorporating arcane ballistae and ether-powered fortifications into standard military infrastructure.
Nomadic Stability & Cavalry Supremacy:
Developed a ready-response cavalry trained in desert survival, ensuring that nomadic tribes respect the Sultan’s peace treaties while maintaining swift operational reach.
Morality & Philosophy
Discipline Above All: Believes that a soldier’s strength is measured not by ferocity, but by discipline and preparation.
Minimal Force, Maximum Effect: Prefers surgical strikes and psychological warfare over full-scale engagements to minimize losses.
Loyalty to the Throne, Not to Tradition: Though deeply loyal to the Sultan, Arshan does not blindly adhere to old doctrines, instead favoring practicality over legacy-based tactics.
“Victory is Logistics.” Believes wars are won before battle begins—through supply lines, resource allocation, and proper positioning.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Ensuring the Sultanate’s Military Supremacy: Desires to make the Sultanate the apex of desert warfare, ensuring no foreign force could challenge its sovereignty.
Honoring His Bloodline’s Legacy: Though not bound by nobility, he sees himself as part of a lineage of great warriors and tacticians and seeks to elevate the art of war.
Eliminating Weakness in the Military Ranks: Advocates for ruthless efficiency and merit-based promotions, rather than allowing nepotism to weaken command structures.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Close Relations:
Sultan Grada Vorr’Khal (Supreme Commander): Works closely with the Sultan on military expansion and defensive strategy, ensuring a balance between strength and diplomacy.
Ellenore Basara (Head of BTC Naval Forces) (Naval Ally): Collaborated in joint naval campaigns against pirate fleets, ensuring safe trade routes.
General Farid al-Khoran (Loyal Second-in-Command): Oversees inland garrisons and handles military logistics under Arshan’s command.
Master Engineer Kaelen Vos (Siege Weapon Specialist): Works with Arshan on integrating advanced war machinery into the Sultanate’s military doctrine.
Tensions & Rivalries:
Grand Vizier Omid al-Shidar (Respects but Sees as Overly Cautious): Frustrated by Omid’s reluctance to expand militarization, but acknowledges his wisdom.
Suraya Zahir (Vizier of Law & Justice) (Frequent Disagreements): Clashes over military trials and legal oversight, with Suraya often blocking extreme disciplinary measures.
Various Noble Houses (Disdain for Non-Military Nobles): Considers many hereditary commanders weak and believes they have no place in military affairs.
Current Location
Species
Age
52
Date of Birth
13th of Udihr, 422 AEL
Birthplace
Caldan
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Presentation
Masculine
Eyes
Dark, calculating, and intense—a gaze that rarely wavers.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Deep brown, streaked with silver along his muzzle and ears, giving him a distinguished, battle-hardened look.
Height
6’2” Broad-shouldered and muscular
Quotes & Catchphrases
On Military Doctrine:
“A blade swung in anger is a blade wasted. War is won with patience, positioning, and purpose.”
(Said during a debate with a young, hot-blooded commander advocating for a preemptive strike.)
On Diplomacy vs. War:
“Treaties are parchment. Swords are steel. If you wield both, no man will question your terms.”
(Explaining why he believes diplomacy must always be backed by military strength.)
To Sultan Grada Vorr’Khal upon his appointment as Vizier of War:
“A Sultan rules through law. A General rules through strategy. I am neither—but I am the shield that ensures both endure.”
(Acknowledging his role as both protector and executor of military policy.)
On Strategy:
“The battlefield is not where war begins. It is merely where it ends.”
(Teaching young officers about the importance of preparation.)
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
