Kerplis Elernel

Kerplis Everthorne Elernel was a character in Rathnir, significant for serving as the last legitimate Emperor of Astyllea, Caeron of Carn, and Carn's longest-surviving active member, even past its end and interregnum. An arrival from distant lands, he had lead his people to settle in Rathnir, and become closely entangled in the world's politics. He is an active part of the Stoneworks community.

"Those enemies I do not know, I offer diplomacy. Those enemies I do know, I offer only the sharp end of my sword and pity" - Kerplis Everthorne Elernel

Early life
Not much, if anything at all, is known about Kerplis's childhood and teenage years. He arrived as a young, ambitious man to Rhell, where he joined forces with Lant and, as the superpower dominant at the time, the Order of the Watchful Eye, collapsed, they grew a strong new Empire on the other side of them. When Kerplis grew bitter with Lant's decision making and actions, he went west, and, around the ruins of where the Order of the Watchful Eye previously reigned, he constructed the great mercantile city of Carn.

Kerplis founded the Carnian Empire in and defeated Lant in the Lant-Carn skirmishes. He lead the Empire to a golden age, only for it to fall soon after because of his terrible economic policies. When Bivoy the Lard founded Lardburg, Kerplis was one of the first to move there. His house is the oldest in Lardburg, constructed over the original keep of Nova Carnia. In Lardburg, he helped Bivoy with construction, and even gathered enough money to hire back some of his old architects and, together with them, construct the Carnian Walls. Kerplis accepted Bivoy as Caeron, and even attended the Council of Lantstein as his ally.

War of Lardburgian Succession
During the war, Kerplis fought in 5 large-scale battles. He lead the battle of Checkpoint Zeta, where he lost due to having a lesser, undergeared force. After further losses at the ruins of Carn and the Oak village, Kerplis clashed with Derius at the battle of Gama Castle. This battle lasted around an hour and, was attended by around 30 players. This player count would be the highest in Rhell for a whole year, until the second siege of Lardburg. In the battle, Kerplis exploited one of Derius's greatest strengths, his strong artillery. Kerplis using the enemy's greatest strengths against them became one of his best tactics. He would, albeit with heavy casualties, win this battle, and defend the castle, which was however, by the end of the battle, a ruin.

However, even a bitter defeat of this magnitude was not enough to deter Derius and the League of Free Lords from fighting Bivoy, and, just three days later, late friday night, Derius besieged Lardburg. Kerplis, and the lords Peter, and Drakakus, who were online at this time, could not have known what they were getting themselves into. Derius had at least two to three people online at all times, and they would relentlessly bombard the city with small artilery. Kerplis was able to smuggle an elder guardian into the city before the siege began, which undoubtedly saved him. The siege lasted for two whole days, ending late Sunday evening. By then, the defenders had all but run out of resources. Derius, knowing that he could not continue the siege for much longer, decided to do one last desperate assault. He blew open the gate, and as he was charging into the city, Bivoy the Lard charged in from behind, and, with his soldiers, decimated Derius. The siege was won largely to the efforts of Kerplis and Peter, who would, over its duration, become great friends.

Post-war rebuilding programs and move to Rathnir
Following the war, much of Rhell was in ruins. Bivoy the Lard paid Kerplis a stack of netherite to rebuild the city of Lardburg, which he did, inventing the Neo-Carnian (Carnian Renaissance) style in the process. Shortly before Bivoj was about to disappear for good, he

New Lardburg and the Kingdom of Rhodia
Kerplis was allowed to settle on the shores of Reyllea by Ser Centurion, who lead the county of Rhodia alongside Magnentius, in exchange for Kerplis providing support from his sizeable Lardburgian population. He soon carved out a place in the world for his people, founding the city of New Lardburg. He joined Centurion in creating the Kingdom of Rhodia when it proclaimed independence from Reyllea, and was then incorporated into Theios-Essukdal.

Archduchy of Reyllea
When StoryStudio became Gidesh of the newly established Archduchy of Reyllea, he named Kerplis as the patriarch because of a need to convert the original Lardburgian population, who still believed in their pagan gods. Kerplis reluctantly accepted the position, being overwhelmed by the amount of power he gained in such a short time. He was also named as Bashar of the 5th legion, which is mostly comprised of Lardburgians.

He continued to expand Lardburg and started talks with the Ecumenical Patriarch to establish a new Lardburgian sect of Theiosism, which would incorporate some of the pagan elements alongside Theiosist doctrine. When Story was killed in an ambush by the Ferrymen, Kerplis suddenly became the new Gidesh of Reyllea.

Kerplis's reign, while not free from controversy, is generally regarded as a revival of Reyllea. Kerplis largely replaced Reyllead identity with Lardburgian identity, putting people of Old Lardburgian descent, such as Count Drakakus, in charge of managing his domain. His move to change the capital of the Archduchy from the largely inactive Roscella was somewhat controversial, but all issues were quickly resolved with the citizens. Kerplis brought in his enlightened, humanist policies, which he began implementing in Old Lardburg, to Reyllea, and finally updated the region with much needed infrastructure.

When ViewedMarquis decided to start raiding Theios-Essukdal after being removed as the Grand Bashar after the defeat in the Battle of the Ferrymen, Kerplis publically denounced her. He continued building up Lardburg and eventually decided to step down as Caeron and start preparing the next elections.

The Ferrymen War
Kerplis participated in the battle of Ferrymen alongside his fellow lardburgian Beat-Come, on the side of the Anti-Bandit league. Donning his old armour from the days of the War of Lardburgian Succession, he charged into the bandits under the command of ViewedMarquis. When two members of a different unit were cornered, Kerplis disobeyed orders and went to attack the bandit attacking them. Already old and weakened, Kerplis could do naught but delay the bandit, giving time for his fellow soldiers to run away. He was severely wounded, almost dying on the battlefield, and lost his netherite armour plating to the Ferrymen bandit, who, upon defeating him, looted him of all his valuables. He was able to escape the battlefield in an almost trance-like state, bleeding profusely from his torn abdomen when he arrived back in the keep of the Anti-Bandit league. There, he went into a panicked state, tearing at his wounds and proclaiming that the battle was lost, and that all is over.

When he calmed down, he was escorted back to Lardburg by his compatriot Beat-Come, who also suffered injuries, albeit not as severe. This defeat was one of the two times when Kerplis lost on the battlefield.

Relationships
Kerplis married Nickiia Greenstir on the 19th of April, 2021, making her a part of the Elernel Dynasty. However, as this was an arranged marriage done solely to facilitate an alliance between the Greenstems and Elernels, Kerplis never had much contact with Nickiia.Apart from his marriage, Kerplis also has a very close friendship with several of the original nobles of Old Lardburg, notably Drakakus, Beat-Come, Falquarion, and especially his best friend in life, the young, ambitious knight Peter "The Great", alongside whom he fought in the War of Lardburgian succession, and whom he later adopted as his son. He also had deep respect for the late gidesh and emperor StoryStudio, in honour of whom he built a Cairn after his passing, raising him to the position of Steward to the Eternal Caeron, the highest honour to the Lardburgian people. He also has a good relationship with Pontéos, who he adopted as his son and primary heir.

Kerplis's many children and grandchildren, most notable being Uzair, Daria and his granddaughter Shæ, all have close bonds with their father/grandfather, and look to him for guidance and council.

Past titles

 * Kerplis render 2.png-Mayor of Old Lardburg
 * Lord of Old Carn
 * Lord of the Duchy of Lardburg
 * Bashar of the 5th Legion
 * Caeron of the Lardburgian people
 * Head of house Elernel
 * Sahrad of Lardburg
 * Gidesh of Reyllea
 * Patriarch of Reyllea
 * Grand Bashar of Theios-Essukdal
 * Royal advisor to the Coenian court
 * Vice-Emperor of Aldovir
 * Emperor (Ashire) of Aldovir

Present titles

 * Emperor of Astyllea (in exile)
 * King of Reyllea
 * Nadu of Urnu-Arrak
 * Quellith-Hænderon of Lestria
 * Aegmerist Archpriest
 * High-Councillor of Astyllea
 * Theiosist Patriarch of Lestria (formally)
 * Carnian minister of Justice & Culture

Nicknames and epithets

 * "The Last Carnian"
 * "The Ancient and Eternal"
 * "Cremineus"