Alsham Hirudo-faj niv Talvos

Alsham Talvos is the son of Hirudo and Navani Talvos and the former Emir of Najer.

Youth
Alsham was born in 57 AB in the city of Nahrayn. As the son of the Emir, he was primarily raised by his mother Navani. During the time of the Sapphire Commonwealth especially, his father was often occupied by politics and other concerns raised by running a country. However, once the Commonwealth was disbanded, Hirudo took it upon himself to personally tutor his son. Growing up, Alsham received tutelage not only from his father in subjects such as statecraft, the arts, and literature, but also from the best teachers money could provide. As a result, Alsham became very close with his father, and the two developed a positive relationship.

Hirudo was immensely pleased with Alsham's skills and manners as he grew up, as he wanted his son to earn a place in the Najer government and groomed him for that purpose. Alsham did as his father (and mother) desired and studied hard, but his status as a prince and his busy academic and family life meant he made few friends in his youth.

Governorship
Eventually, the time came that Alsham's father retired. The reasons for Hirudo doing so were many, including a weariness to politics and a desire to shake things up, due to a fear of becoming stagnant and indulgent. Alsham understood these reasons to a degree, but deeply wished his father would stay in his position. He was slightly anxious about the potential changes Hirudo's resignation would cause. Shortly after, Hirudo embarked on a journey with his lifelong friend, Shivareh Basha, to lands outside of Rathnir.

Around 79 AB, the new Emira, Hitomi Numachi, removed the then-governor of Jakeh'adh province, Azzar, from his position. Alsham, as the immediately obvious replacement, was chosen to be his successor. The young Talvos was not unduly worried due to his years of preparation and study under his father. Some doubted him due to his young age, as he was barely 22 at the time.

A New Fellowship
Around 3 years later, in 82 AB, Orshav Basha, a former Najer governor, announced his plans to revive the Fellowship of the Seekers, an old semi-religious organization, into a full-fledged Najer religion. Alsham, intrigued by this, attended the initial meeting and participated in a few of the debates and discussions that took place there, but remained more of an observer than an active participant. Upon the conclusion of the meeting, he returned home to Nahrayn. However, his interest was piqued in the study of the Lost Gods, and decided to delve into his father's writings. He particularly studied his father's unusual experiences and their potential connection to Ajvudah, the lost god of heat and prosperity. This would later lead him to found an organization based on her worship.

A few years after this, his father returned from his journey from outside of Rathnir, residing in Nahrayn in secret for a number of years. Eventually, Hirudo departed once again, but this time with his wife. The two entrusted Alsham with their local affairs and told him that they were confident in his skills before going on their own journey.

Rise of Segra
In 84 AB, news went abroad that a dark goddess has arisen, called Segra. The goddess launched attacks on cities across Rathnir, including Kijaro. In response, Najer helped to organize the Silver Charters, a military organization devoted to defending against these attacks.

Initially, Najer scholars believed Segra to be a figure in Najer mythology known as Shestri, due to their similar goals, appearance, and names, although this was later discovered to not be the case. As a result of this discovery, Alsham was unconcerned about the threat of Segra, even despite apparent threats from Segrists towards the Najer peoples. He donated to anti-Segrist groups several times across the course of Segra's attacks, and did what he could to hinder Segrism politically. He was later pleased to learn that her forces, and eventually the dark goddess herself, were defeated and consumed in a fateful battle for Eldham.

Tortuga Crisis
However, Najer would be thrown into a furor in 85 AB when the Emira, Hitomi Numachi, pledged the support of Najer in defending a small island that was being actively disputed by the pirate nation of Tortuga. Their leader, Ulifer, was a man with little patience, and so immediately threatened Najer itself with destruction. In secret, he contacted Najer's allies and enemies and promised them Najer's lands and riches if they would help him dismantle the Emirate.

These two factors, only the former of which was publically known, thrust the rest of the High Government into action. Due to Emira Numachi's extended absences from Najer, she was unable or unwilling to fix the situation she had initiated. Although there was little precedent for such an action, the remaining government members conspired together to undermine Hitomi's authority. This was later known as the beginning of the Silk Mutiny- so named due to the delicate circumstances in which it was born and in which it operated.

The government sent out a second letter withdrawing their support for Tortuga's enemies, delivered personally by Alsham to Tortuga. Shortly after, in an unrelated set of circumstances, the dispute was resolved. Thus, the crisis passed over Najer without things coming to a head.

Secret Rebellion
However, the Silk Mutiny continued even afterwards. Growing discontent with Emira Numachi only strengthened the secret combinations made by powerful individuals, Alsham included. It was not entirely by choice, as they were forced to assume the Emira's duties in addition to their own. Most of the burden was placed on the shoulders of the Caliph, Asdrubal Bacri, who became the de-facto Emir with the support of his fellows. While a capable individual, his sudden thrust into power and shift in duties made for a rough transition for him.

Eventually, a decision was made: the government could not operate under emergency powers any longer. They needed to oust Hitomi so that Asdrubal could take her place. Initial attempts were tentatively made and then rebuffed by Hitomi, their letters either ignored or their concerns minimalized. As letter after letter was sent, Hitomi evidently became more and more frustrated. One day, out of the blue, a final letter was sent, addressed to the whole Forum. It announced Hitomi's resignation, expressing her discontent with receiving letters, and named Asdrubal as the next Emir at last. The forum rejoiced, as it meant the Silk Mutiny was over at last and that a peaceful transition of power had occurred.

Caliph
However, as Asdrubal was now Emir, and given his limited experience with politics, he asked Alsham to be his right hand man and become the Caliph. Alsham's studies and tutelage from his father meant he was perfectly suited for the role. The two worked very well, but at this time another conspiracy began brewing in Najer.

Western Rebellion
A citizen from the far western settlement known as the Silkov camp, known as Goldwyn Silkov, became very politically active around this time. He engaged in all manner of discussion and especially trying to know political secrets. He initiated conversations with government officials under the pretense of friendship, but was secretly building a case against Najer.

He began to agitate the national community over slights both real and imagined. A fine from the government over paramilitary vigilante work from his town threw kindling on the flame of Goldwyn's vendetta against Najer. Although cautious and open-minded at first, Asdrubal and Alsham were soon forced to reconcile with the fact they were dealing with a full-on rebellion. They began strengthening espionage efforts within Najer, building up a whole corps of spies and information dealers.

Goldwyn unleashed his plans under the pretense of "government reforms," using his position of supposed neutrality and acceptable critique to discredit and tear down the authority of the various government members. His plot was further strengthened when the commandant of the army, Susahnbash Sidel, and his lieutenant, Kesgeb Pain, were persuaded to join his cause. Both were deeply corrupt, using NAS funds to fund their gambling addictions and illegally spy on their enemies in other nations. They saw this as an opportunity to seize power and reform Najer with themselves on top. Goldwyn desired to use their control over the military to stabilize and legitimize his coup. Using loyalists within the military, Asdrubal and Alsham now had a conduit into Goldwyn's plans, using his own people unknowingly against him.

For years they went back and forth with Goldwyn, stopping and frustrating his schemes wherever they could. It was an impassioned but silent battle of wills. It came to a head when Goldwyn contacted Alsham in an attempt to sway the Caliph to the rebellion's side. Alsham eventually came to mediate negotiations between Silkov and the government. However, these discussions were slow and often unproductive as both sides had wildly different goals and expectations. Their final meeting, Goldwyn stormed out of the room and ceased all further contact with either Alsham or Asdrubal.

Assassins in the night
Shortly afterwards, in 101 AB, Emir Asdrubal was assassinated. He was following a divine message that claimed his death would be able to bring peace to Najer, and so perfectly placed himself in a position to die. Asdrubal's physical and mental health had also taken a severe dive during their conflicts with Goldwyn, and this was his way of finding his own peace.

Alsham resolved to finish what the two of them had started even as he was crowned the next Emir. He would not let his friends death be in vain. He took control of the government reform discussions that Goldwyn had initiated, who now appeared despondent about the changes he had so fervently promoted earlier. These two factors had the effect of completely neutralizing his grassroots supporters, winning them back over to the government side. Alsham also gave Goldwyn his own province, the Silkov'jira Province, as part of the reforms and made him governor in an attempt to placate his hunger for power.

Additionally, Asdrubal's daughter, Maeryna, had arrived from Daelyria to fill her father's shoes. With her arrival, and the conclusion of the reforms, it seemed things were looking up for Najer once again. With Goldwyn's sudden reclusiveness, cracks began to develop in the relationship between him and the corrupt Najer military officers, Kesgeb Pain and Susahnbash Sidel. Both officers split off to form their own rebellions. Kesgeb's was quickly discovered, and he was outed and banished.

Susahnbash began inciting a rebellion in the people of his hometown, Sibkea, against the Order of the Red Quarterstaff. He had long hated the Order for what he perceived as oppression of his people, which he used as justification for a rebellion against their rule. Alsham authorized the Order to use military force in putting the rebellion down, but publicly stated that Najer's military would remain neutral. To nobody's surprise, the Sidel were routed in a single battle and their leader was captured by the Order. His rank as commandant was stripped, both due to his rebellion and as a way to force him out of the military for his participation in Goldwyn's attempted coup.

Susahnbash was eventually released, but it was discovered that he planned a second rebellion, intending to stoke tensions amidst the greater Najer population in order to gain the necessary support to overrun the Order of the Red Quarterstaff. His intentions led Alsham to order Susahnbash's banishment from Najer, eliminating nearly all of Goldwyn's internal support.

Return of the King
One day, in 109 AB, Alsham sent a letter to the new Seyoh of Wobambi-on-Sea, Cael Asteri, stating that he would be coming to the city for a brief visit, and that he would be arriving early the next morning. He made preparations that night and departed as he said he would. Accompanied by his aide, Anara, and a number of guards and servants, he set off in his carriage on the road from Nahrayn to Wobambi.

Upon arriving in the city, Alsham made his way to the Wobambi forum, the seat of power of the city. Cael Asteri and his servants were waiting for them there. They greeted the party and Cael and Alsham met in a sitting room inside the forum. After exchanging some pleasantries, Cael questioned the purpose of Alsham's visit, which he had left out of his letter. Alsham responded that he was waiting for someone to meet him there at the city- his father.

That evening, his father's ship arrived, carrying Alsham's parents to Wobambi. Alsham was waiting to greet them, and after a bit of banter, they headed inside to Wobambi, where they stayed for several days before making the trip back to Nahrayn.

Najer had peace once again for several years, as Goldwyn was nowhere to be found. His province lay empty as he neglected his duties. It was during this time that Alsham began to court Maeryna Bacri, daughter of Asdrubal, as they had become very close during their time scheming and counter-scheming together. They married in secret at an unknown time and place, keeping their relationship hidden from the public eye.

Back to the troubles
In 121 AB, Najer spies intercepted communication sent by Kesgeb Pain, who had been banished years earlier, requesting support from mercenary groups, specifically the Hands, to fight for the independence of the Silkov'jira Province, which Goldwyn Silkov ruled over. He also stated that the request came directly from the Goldwyn's desk. The information was made public not long thereafter, as Kesgeb had apparently made a fool of himself during the negotiations, which the Hands wished to make sport of.

Goldwyn contacted Alsham for the first time in many years, begging him to believe that Kesgeb's attempted negotiations were the result of addled speculation. Alsham knew this was a lie, but played along in order to not arouse Goldwyn's suspicion. Goldwyn's unexpected exposure meant that his timetable needed to be altered, and so he sank into obscurity once more.

The same year, Alsham and Maeryna had a son, whom they named Jakkev. Wanting to keep him safe and protected, they gave him to the care of one of Alsham's relatives, who raised him as a foster son. His parents visited him throughout his childhood, teaching and caring for him when they could, though they were often busy with politics.

Black Moon
This was the case until an unexpected event occurred at a national meeting. An unknown deity had placed a large ebon sphere to hover above Nahrayn's central courtyard, and Goldwyn and his cronies immediately claimed it as an artifact of their religion, Seraphism. However, their sudden attempt to use the sphere as political leverage caused many to decry the whole event as a hoax by the Silkovs. Through espionage, Alsham and Maeryna learned that although they had not planned the sphere to appear, they would use it as an impetus to declare independence, even going so far as to rig explosives to it and detonate it over the capital.

Goldwyn began to meet with various criminal organizations shortly thereafter, notably including the Gallo Mafia. However, this proves to be a fatal mistake for him. The Gallo Mafia already had positive relations with the Najer government, and avoided any hostile actions against Najer. As such, during a secret meeting, the entirety of Goldwyn's plans were leaked to Alsham and the rest of the government. It revealed that the Silkov's were seeking foreign support to back their rebellion, as well as the fact the Glade Elves were piggybacking on Goldwyn's rebellion in an effort to gain independence.

The Emir immediately began preparing for war, ordering the fortification of the city of Kafas niv Jaseda, the mobilization of the military, and the contacting of Najer's allies. Maeryna also began negotiations with Najer's potential enemies, including Plagatea and Lunaris, who had been eyeing Najer as an invasion target for years.

Meanwhile, Alsham gave Goldwyn an ultimatum: leave Najer forever, or face war. Goldwyn attempted to bargain but was soon forced to council with his allies. Goldwyn drafted a pathetic plea for help in an attempt to escape the consequences of his failed coup and betrayal. Goldwyn then became nearly catatonic from fear- when Alsham contacted him to learn what his decision would be, he was answered instead by his servant Leoni, who was a Tortugan. She set up negotiations between her (acting as the Silkov's negotiator) and Najer, with her grandfather Ulifer acting as mediator. Alsham stayed up for days at a time, negotiating from morning to night in an attempt to avert war. A set of terms was settled on, but due to a failure to deliver on the side of the rebels, was called off. Eventually, more neutral mediators, from Plagos, were called in to force a peace. Maeryna had enlisted the help of Plagatea and their military in order to hopefully quell the rebels into surrendering without a fight, and this tactic was successful.

Goldwyn wished to go to war with Najer no matter the outcome or terms of the deal, so he was slain by his subordinates so that the deal would be able to go through. Just like that, the Western Rebellion ended.

Recovery
Najer, and Alsham, spent the next few years recovering from the rebellion. Walls were torn down, specifically those surrounding Kafas, spy corps were decommissioned, and intelligence documents were declassified and released to the public in 129 AB.

Plagatean Invasion
Peace was not to last as Najer's would-be allies turned on them, raiding their coasts for a number of years. Eventually, they launched a ground invasion through capturing the city of Campus Ordo, then marching on Nahrayn, the capital. Caught weakened and unprepared, Alsham and the rest of the government surrendered.

Eventually, he signed an agreement with the Plagatean government that he would step down and allow his son Jakkev to take over the throne, who was nearing adulthood. Over the course of the next few years, Alsham settled his affairs in the government and Najer in order to make the transition easier, and in 142 AB, he retired alongside his wife Maeryna. They would live in a remote but well-supplied villa in the Najer wilderness until Alsham's death in 149 AB. Maeryna would move back to her hometown of Kijaro and serve as a religious authority until her death a few years later.

Traits and Abilities
Alsham was intelligent and well-educated in a variety of subjects. He excelled in academia and had a penchant for the arts, like his father before him. He preferred to use his knowledge for personal pursuits rather than any strict academic research, loving the process of learning rather than the result.

As a youth, he was optimistic and amicable, able to socialize with people from all walks of life in a positive manner. A severe lazy streak left him struggling to form lasting friendships, however.

As an adult, he found himself forced into political games against his wishes, which tempered Alsham to become very pragmatic and results-oriented. Politics drew out his competitive side, and he began to favor winning, even if it came at the cost of deceiving or cheating where necessary. As a result, he became a very competent politician, able to discern hidden meanings, manipulate others, and steer situations in his favor with a cold competence.

Even still, at his core he was a decent man who loved his nation and people with a fury. Alsham often told himself that whatever immoral things he did, it was to serve a purer cause in the end. He loved the thrill of politics and protecting his nation, but hated the toll that lies took on him. By the end of his career, he was incredibly bitter and tired compared to his young self, unable to think outside of the context of political games.

Appearance
Alsham closely resembles his father, with blonde hair and a sturdy build. He inherited his mother's tall stature and dark indigo eyes. He has a habit of growing out his hair very long, more so than is usual for a Najer.