Hirudo Hijam-faj niv Talvos

Hirudo Talvos (or simply Hiru) is the sovereign leader of the Emirate of Najer. He was the second Governor of the Central Najer territory and is the leader of Nahrayn.

Early Life
Hirudo was born in 21 AB to a Najer father, Hijam, and a foreign mother in Najera'jad, around the time of the Steel Compact, just before the dissolution of the Sterling Crownlands. His mother disappeared shortly after his birth, leaving him to be raised by his father. His father was a minor Seyoh before the discovery of the Buried Bells, and so Hiru learned from him the traditional Najer customs and religion. He spent his childhood in Najera'jad, until around the age of eight. After the dissolution of the Crownlands, his father was forced to become part of a foreign war effort, and did not return, effectively leaving Hirudo an orphan. Luckily, he was adopted by a local tribe of nomads, where he continued his education and further embraced the traditional ways of the Najer. He wandered with them for years until he reached the age of sixteen. At this point, he began to travel independently and find his own path. He traveled all across Najer, often venturing into neighboring countries like Alamayn and Simulami.

During this time, he was discontented to discover that the world did not view Najer the same way he did. His proud culture and ancient traditions were largely unknown, or looked down on and disrespected. Despite their role in the Sterling Crownlands, people did not respect Najer in the same way, mocking them for their fall and other shortcomings. Hiru internalized this somewhat, becoming prideful and distrustful of other nations.

Discovery
Hiru wandered this way for about two years, until the year 39 AB. He was traveling across a particularly desolate portion of the desert when he was caught in a sandstorm. With no way to turn back and running out of supplies, he was forced to seek shelter in an outcropping of rock. Upon reaching the outcropping, he realized it was not a simple piece of stone, but rather an intricately carved statue.

He was intrigued by this, and decided to weather the storm by it. Once the storm had abated, he began the process of excavating the statue, in the process discovering a whole courtyard. Thrilled by his discovery, Hiru began gathering people to help- friends, family, scholars, workers, archaeologists, stonemasons, and traders all came to participate in the discovery.

Over the next three years, Hiru took the lead in excavating and restoring the city. A massive city-complex was discovered and restored, going from a pile of rubble to an up-and-coming city in Najer. Although growth was stifled by it's relative isolation from other settlements and the Sterling Road system, it continued to grow, and people flocked to it.

Ancient texts underneath the city led to several discoveries, mainly ancient stoneworking and architectural techniques, as well as the name of the city: Nahrayn, a word in an ancient Najer dialect that means "Two Rivers," befitting the two rivers the city was built around. Hiru assumed the lead of managing the city, becoming established with his neighbors in other cities. The governor of the province Nahrayn was located in, Ironjaw, took an immediate interest in the burgeoning city, and befriended Hirudo, teaching him many things, and introducing him to other important figures. Nahrayn's growing role in the region cemented their relationship, leading them to work together on many things. Hirudo entered politics on the local level, receiving some training from Ironjaw. He did his best to improve Najer, working on several cleaning projects and diplomatic relations with other cities, politicking and growing more experienced working with other people.

In the year 42 AB, a call came of an invasion to the west, and Hirudo quickly led a small complement of soldiers to investigate. He met up with a scouting party led by another Najer, Just_Shooter, and together they established relationships with the invaders, who called themselves "Salem." They were quickly spurned, their attempts at diplomacy shut down but the impudent squatters. Hiru and Shooter called in reinforcements from the Najer Civil coast guard, and soon after a force led by their war councilor, Irabella, joined them. Together, they marched on the insurgents fortress and stomped the opposition. This victory gained much popular support for Hiru and Shooter, as well as for increased military action in Najer, due to the clean victory and swift response of the forces. Hiru was invited to join the Coast Guard by Shooter, the spark of a great friendship between the two.

Governorship
Only a short while later, Hiru would receive word from Ironjaw of pressing concerns, ones that would necessitate the governor stepping down from his position. Hiru's prominence had not gone unnoticed, and Ironjaw wanted him to become the next governor. Although sad to lose the mentor and friend that Ironjaw was, he was eager to move up in the ranks of his country. He began the transfer of power, receiving several items, mainly documents, as well as further political instruction.

Shortly before Hirudo's official instatement as governor, he was afflicted with a terrible dream, wherein he saw Najer laid to waste and his culture erased from history. Aware that he had been affected by his time traveling as a nomad, he was unsure if this was merely his nerves and fears showing through, or a true premonition. Nevertheless, he swore then to prevent that future from coming to pass. The time of the national convention came, and Ironjaw stepped down, putting the spotlight on Hiru as the newest governor by the year 43 AB. Although he had experience dealing with some provincial issues already, he felt very green in his new role, especially among the other members of the federal government, who were all accustomed to each other already.

Hiru began to grow into his governor role, while continuing to develop his city, Nahrayn. It continued to grow in prominence, gaining many developments beyond what anything its original builders could have envisioned, and attracting many new people. The city saw a rush of foreigners and opportunistic criminals. This influx would undermine the largely trust-based system in place at the time, forcing Hiru to write and enforce more stringent laws to protect his citizens. This further damaged his opinion of opportunistic foreigners, jading him somewhat. Nahrayn would also be made the provincial capital by Hirudo at this time, as the largest and most successful city in the area. Hiru oversaw the construction of a massive palatial complex that would begin to serve as the provincial capitol building, as well as the city hall.

In the very next year, 44 AB, word came to him that Ironjaw had died defending a small village from a bandit attack. Devastated by this, he entered a period of mourning, distraught and disheartened. At some point, he would visit the ruins of Murmudas, a ghost town in his province. Frustrated and sad, he blacked out, eventually ending back up at Nahrayn. Despite this, he continued his duties as a ruler of a city and a governor of a province. He dealt with the other governors, as well as many foreign diplomats who came seeking his land. He would also be responsible for the first Central Najer provincial meeting, the first such gathering in the nation. He continued to welcome many new citizens to the city, and would lead several campaigns with the Najer Armed Services. His friendship with Shooter continued to develop. By this time, Shooter had risen to become part of Najer's government, leading its military forces.

War of Solitudinem
By 48 AB, the Dixie squatter group would declare a hostile takeover of Najer's neighbor Solitudinem, kicking off the War of Solitudinem. Hiru and Shooter helped to organize and recruit hundreds of soldiers to expel the invaders, gathering not only people from their own nation, but organizing a massive coalition of northern nations, including Simulami, Baronov, and many others. The coalition army would set up camp at the city of Purgatio, before marching across Solitudinem to defeat the squatters. They marched to the Hills of Bhaldor, quickly setting up fortifications, siege engines, and bivouacked across the river from the squatter base. The Dixie savages came out, fighting briefly before being driven back. They soon fled to a different fort, named Castillo de Arena. The coalition army marched after them, beginning a long and bloody siege against the invaders.

Hiru marched with Shooter at the head of the Najer forces, leading the charge against Dixie. Although reluctant to come out of their fort, constant bombardment forced the Dixies to come out of their fortress and engage the coalition armies. Better equipment and more experience meant that the coalition routed the squatter army. A pile of bodies taller than a man lay at the base of the Dixie fortress, and yet, they refused to give up. There had not been a single casualty among the coalition forces, although there were many injuries. Forced into a war of attrition against an enemy who wouldn't submit, the coalition forces began indiscriminately slaughtering the Dixies, unable to take prisoners due to many attempts to trick and backstab them. Hour after after, the battle dragged on, until the sun began to rise.

The coalition forces, bloody and battered, stood atop a mountain of Dixie corpses, victorious. Their fort stood abandoned, all its defenders dead. The coalition forces entered the fort, placing their own banners on its gates, and renamed it "Fort Union" in honor of their victory over the Dixies and the unity it had brought to the north.

Although not one for fighting, Hirudo reflected on violence and conflict as a valid solution to some problems. Despite this, the suicide of many of the Dixie members troubled him. Even outmatched, in a hopeless scenario, they refused to surrender. These people were the lowest of the low, barbarians, invaders, robbers, and yet, was their defiance admirable, honorable even? It didn't make sense to Hirudo.

Regardless, he continued with his life. He further cemented his reputation among the soldiers and citizenry of Najer, as well as his friendship with Shooter.

Sapphire Commonwealth
The next year, Hiru received a dispatch from the Emir at that time, Dmitrio von Sturgeon, detailing concrete plans for a new mega-alliance of the north. Having been raised on stories of the legendary Sterling Crownlands, he was thrilled to not only witness a potential successor, but be part of it too. He had often advocated and pushed for such an alliance wherever he could, and wholeheartedly supported the creation of this new one, the Sapphire Commonwealth.

Its creation would be officially announced later, with the Simulami Empire, the Plagatean Empire, and Najer becoming one mega-country. Hiru would throw himself into his new role as part of the Commonwealth, traveling between the three nations and gathering support for join projects. He took the lead in Najer affairs, as the Emir was growing old and was often bedridden. Around this time, Dmitrio contacted Hirudo and expressed his wishes that, when when he died, Hirudo would become the next Emir of Najer. Although hesitant, sad to contemplate the coming death of his friend the Emir, Hiru was eager to help his nation continue to grow and become strong, and accepted. Come the year 52 AB, the aging Emir Sturgeon would call his friends and other members of the government to Wobambi-on-Sea. He told them his final thoughts and wishes, passing on the crown of Najer to Hirudo. Mournful, the Najer placed his body in a coffin, interring him after a low-spirited funeral. They shared stories of their best and earliest memories with Dmitrio. Hirudo was shaken by the loss of a constant he had known his whole life, but remained determined to do his best.

A new leader
Only a few months into his role as the Emir, he received word of a hostile invasion of their neighbor and ally of Alamayn. A group called Halond had come with the intent to take over the country. Although he knew very little of Alamayn, and had never met any of their leadership, he immediately sent troops to help in the battle against the squatters. Halond was easily defeated, and his troops returned home victorious.

Shortly afterwards, the Hands swept in to Alamayn, out for revenge against the people of the city of Axum, who had committed a terrorist attack on their friends. They wreaked havoc across the nation, killing anyone they saw. Hirudo's own troops, marching back home after defeating the squatters, were targeted and many needlessly lost their lives. The heads of the nation hid themselves away while their nation burned, then destroyed their capital, Adwa, in a final act of defiance against the Hands.

Their leaders gone, Alamayn immediately crumbled into pieces. Their new leader was unpopular, sparking a half dozen rebellions in the first and only year of his rule. One such rebellion, led by the owner of The Silver Citadel, revealed their secret alliance with the Varandoy-Aestyrian Kingdom and his funding of the Halond squatters.

Hiru attempted to regulate the conflict and understand the situation, corresponding with several VAK diplomats, and eventually publishing a timeline of events that had led up to the situation in Alamayn. That situation continued to deteriorate, with provinces and towns declaring independence left and right. Hirudo talked with many of these people, as well as his fellow Commonwealth Monarchs, attempting to help where they could. Hiru's, and the rest of the Commonwealth's role remained mostly diplomatic as tensions rose with the Alamayni residents and the VAK over the dispute. Twice the Alamaynis sent assassins after him, though both attempts were foiled.

Hiru helped to arrange peace talks with the VAK, touring the land of Helmia, a place he had never been to. Eventually, the leaders of the Varandoy-Aestyria kingdom and the monarchs of the Sapphire Commonwealth agreed to band together to protect and bring order to Alamayn. Vultures had arisen in both Rathnir and Eldham, slavering over the corpse of the dying nation, hoping rip it apart bit by bit. They all agreed this was unacceptable, signing a mutual defense pact in the year 56 AB. With things cooling off in Alamayn, Hiru was able to finally focus his attention back on his own nation. He worked with the other government members to produce a revitalized public road system, adding new infrastructure in places that had lacked it for decades. He also issued several other reforms, renaming two of the provinces to better reflect their role and heritage, as well as some small governmental and organizational reforms.

Although the Commonwealth became embroiled in several wars, Najer stayed uninvolved as possible, either due to a lack of motive or inability in the case of the almost world war in Eldham. Despite this, the effects of the battles and managing the Commonwealth took their toll, draining his strength and drawing his focus away from his city and country.

Once war came again to Mithra, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Determined to stop further conflict, he was invited to Alamayn to help resolve the conflict. After convincing Dusk Synderys to relinquish the crown of Mithra, Ianak the Bardonian came into power, which event would trigger the Mithran-Dandelion War and the Alamayni Independence War. Hirudo attempted to keep Najer out of these conflicts as much as his obligations would allow, and argued for supporting Alamayn's independence with his fellow SC monarchs, to no avail.

However, the monarchs began to yearn for separation, fed up with stupid wars and pointless feuds. Hirudo penned a new alliance, the Northern Operating Rathnir Territorial Harmony (or NORTH) agreement, and together the monarchs ended the SC. Although bitter and sad to leave this part of history behind, Hirudo was relieved to have Najer become more fully isolationist once more.

He began focusing his energy internally, completely reforming the Najer messaging system, standardizing government procedures, and issuing a number of acts to regulate the country. In addition, using his new diplomatic experience gained from his time with the SC, he renewed and signed many new pacts, notably the treaty of Vul-Najer and the Basha Pact.

Around this time, his friends Hitomi Numachi and Leonardo "Leo" Grey both stepped down from their governor positions. Although sad to see them go, he wished them well in their futures and only became more determined.

Later, Hiru began to ponder his old age and began a search to find a wife. He would eventually meet Navani of Kijaro and enter a relationship with her. To commemorate this, he gave himself a new surname: Talvos, declaring a new branch of his family.

Traits and abilities
Hirudo is a quiet individual, having been hardened by the lack of parents and the loss of many of his friends over the years. He is often considered blunt for a Najer, but retains the trademark friendliness and hospitable nature of his culture. He has a strong sense of national pride, and would do anything to help his country grow stronger. He is often offended when people look down on him and his country.

He also detests violence and war, a remnant of his troubled childhood, but has come to recognize its usefulness in some situations. A true child of the Sterling Crownlands, he has a strong sense of honor and duty, and respects his nations legacy highly.

Hiru is primarily a scholar and artisan. He has compiled some of the most accurate historical records of the Najer and is one of the most knowledgeable of all those who have not experienced it firsthand. Hiru can often be found occupied at his study, writing and researching for hours at a time. He also loves to design buildings, being the chief architect of his city, Nahrayn, and has had years of experience with architecture.

His many years as a Seyoh and a governor has also granted him some competency in statesmanship. He is polite, and cautious to a fault when dealing with others. Aware of the reputation of the leaders of the Najer as charismatic and skilled diplomats, he often feels pressure to live up to those standards.

Trivia

 * Hirudo is related to the previous Emir of Najer, Dmitrio von Sturgeon.
 * His mother's ethnicity is unknown. It is possible that she hailed from Plagos, or somewhere in Eldham.
 * Since Najer don't generally have last names, Hirudo took on the surname "Hijam's-Son" in order to fit in better among foreigners.