Erikku Kunekari

Erikku Kunekari, formerly Erikku Rokalim, is the Patron of the Aeternaen Vampires and former High King of the Kingdom of Visio. Numerous accomplishments belong to him, from the integration of Soliana to the formation of the Silver League, and he has oft brought prosperity to whatever was in his charge. Recently, he has returned from his flight through the wilderness because of the Archdemon Kallierora, who sought his soul.

Under Imperila Andliria
Erikku Rokalim was born after the Colonization of Eldham, in the Monastery of Adlerhorst. He had one older sibling, his brother Darian Rokalim, but their mother died while birthing Erikku, and the brothers' father, succumbing to grief, abandoned them. Without parents, the burden of raising the young Rokalims fell to both their community and their uncles, Atsuhiro Rokalim and Jalhike Rokalim.

Childhood
From a young age, Erikku demonstrated a keen fascination for history, coupled with good political sense. Being raised in a peaceful monastery, he spent his early years studying the intricacies of Eldham's many curiosities under Atsuhiro's direct tutelage. Erikku was additionally trained rigorously in combat & warfare, but only as a precautionary measure to protect oneself. This exceptionalism, however, placed him in constant competition with Darian, who couldn't afford to be bested by his younger brother, and it drove a wedge between the two.

Then, on August the 1st, the Imperilan proclaimed a shocking "reclamation of the homeland" to his people. After, he revealed that he intended to lead an expedition to reestablish the lost city of Romantello. In a bid to outperform Darian, Erikku impulsively volunteered to partake, being the first to do so. He swiftly packed his few, profound belongings, and soon after, with great pride, set sail with Jalhike and their fellow colonists across the seas.

The Sack of Romantello
Within several years of landing in Drakaesland, the once-deserted city of Romantello became a thriving metropolis. Painstakingly, homes, markets, and roads were erected, and a beautiful square formed. But on September 14th, disaster struck. Overnight, this city was infiltrated and pillaged, leaving the entire populace destitute. Erikku, who had fashioned the largest estate in that former oasis, despaired, and decided to return to his homeland after this failed bid to prove himself.

On Erikku's return, however, his burgeoning despair deepened. Shortly before he had arrived, Darian, his brother, had perished in his sleep. Soon, he found himself the new Gune of Konimu, with his inheritance being a disorganized and underpopulated city. He took to routinely wandering the surrounding wilderness, to escape loathing himself, and for several years he persisted in this. Until one night, by the light of a full moon, he stumbled upon a dilapidated castle, in the middle of Skjoldrbrodir.

Vampiric Transformation
Inside this ruin, Erikku stumbled upon a ransacked, decaying altar to an unknown deity. Therein, he encountered the Daemon Lord, Kallierora, who upon inquiry discovered he was a relative to Jalhike Rokalim, toppler of Visio Aeternae, and cursed him as the Patron of a unique vampiric brood. Thereafter, those of this brood would be named Aeternean Vampires, renowned for their (insert lore). Kallierora would too seek his life, but using his new-found abilities Erikku would flee hidden from her sight.

After he recovered from the encounter, Erikku sought in desperation a cure to his affliction far and wide, that of blood-crazed frenzies. For years, his search was in vain. Then, one day, he would find relief through the cleansing rites of Solon, at the hand of Rai Solonéc, and he converted to the Sun God's worship.

After he was restored by these rites, Erikku then returned to the service of the Empire... but found it decaying. In his mind, the curse manipulated his insecurities, and drove him to plot against the Imperilan. However, he wasn't alone in this, as SoiTheWolf, the imperial heir, was banished, and Atsuhiro Rokalim, the regent, was sacked. Before he too was stripped of power, Erikku acted in his bid for power. The Imperilan attempted to secede to preserve himself, but fearing future retribution, Erikku authorized his allies of Amarillo and Katolis to partition the land between them. Thus was Andliria ended, and Visio born.

Visio, Reestablished
Early on, ruling proved an immense challenge to Erikku, being the unexperienced monarch he was. However, with his accumulated diplomatic experience, he nurtured favorable ties to every nation nearby, and Visio prospered. He also had a son borne to him, fittingly named Erikku Cartier, and it is rumored the mother was Rai Solonéc, the Pontifex of Solon, who Erikku was romantically engaged with at the time. Aside from the romantic engagement of their leaders, however, the two peoples increasing grew closer, with many Visians converting to Solonism, while many Solianens became receptive to monarchical ideals.

Solianen Integration
It was on December 18th, 2021 when the declining Merchants' Union of Soliana was annexed by Visio, through an agreement between the two. During this time, Erikku sat proudly atop a throne upheld by a prosperous people. For once, he wanted for naught as his cravings left him completely, and Erikku even embarked upon a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Soliana. New cities prospered across the nation, from the bustling Port North to the religious Solonsburgh, and monuments of grandeur were fashioned.

In an unprecedented effort, mutually-beneficial ties were also forged with nearly every surrounding nation. The Eldham Entente was befriended, and Erikku organized the Silver League, with the likeminded monarchs Eliyawin Yinower-Nuwan and Wolfgar Ironback, as a bloc of neutral states. Through these efforts, the kingdom became extremely stable, but soon a storm would come… and that storm would topple Erikku from the height of his achievements.

The Second Sand War
It all began when the Merconis declared independence from the Uraki Imperium. These socialists, with their stolen independence, would waste no time in seeking to instigate hostilities with the Zamotz Union. As this situation developed, however, the Daemon Lord Kallierora was reawakened, and she descended upon the city of Port North. There, she vexed the city’s inhabitants, and plagued them for days.

The vassal of Visio, Lafros, at this time was enticed by promises of land from the socialists. In an act that could only be explained by the influence of the Daemon Lord upon the realm, Lafros demanded independence and then sought full annexation of Visio, and soon full war appeared inevitable.

As Erikku was informed of each event, he was filled with overwhelming despair. In solitude, he determined that Kallierora must still be seeking his life, and that he should exile himself to draw her away, and grant relief to his realm. That very night, on January 21st, 2022, he would sign the necessary documents and, with a few prized possessions, flee into the wilderness… to live as a common vagabond.