Nicodemus

Humble Beginnings
In Mistiklur of the 76th Year of Sehnay, at the age of 26, Nicodemus was invited to settle in a tiny village then called Aetolia, before that Amaranth (and before that, Ultargila) in southern Seragon, Tovarisha, Imperial Archonal Union. He was shown very warm hospitality by its Baronet. With the Baronet's help, Nicodemus rebuilt a cottage to call his own, and the Baronet asked him to be the village priest, a role he was happy to take. Before settling in Aetolia, Nicodemus had been a wandering mystic and philosopher who traversed the wilds and even the Nether; he faced great danger and was welcomed nowhere. In learning the ways of his new land, he started to encounter the writings of Tovarishaya and Viodoxan thinkers, and to this day enjoys philosophical discussions. At the suggestion of Arcadia Flavia, Nicodemus applied to the Diplomatic Corps of the Imperial Archonal Union.

Diplomat to Plagos
In Carpis of the next year, Nicodemus met then-Regent Archon Ryou Bakura, who was favorably disposed toward Nicodemus and appointed him to the post of Diplomat to Plagos and Northern Nieðen. In his early tenure as a diplomat, Nicodemus toured the Emirate of Najer, the Simulami Empire, the Avium Federation (which broke up only a few months after the visit), and the Plagatéan Regency. He filed extensive reports on the nations he visited, which pleased the IAU's high government. Of the leaders and dignitaries he met, he was most favorably impressed by then-Caliph Asdrubal, who later would become Emir of Najer. Around this time, Nicodemus also befriended Arlus Mancario, another new settler in Aetolia, as well as Bretzi of Erusea.

Religious and Philosophical Correspondence
In Mistiklur of the 79th year, a few months after he witnessed the massacre at the Sword of Leythe committed by the followers of Segra and around the time of the IAU's declaration of war on the Diarchy of Paradise, Nicodemus began a series of correspondences with Mradezha Aiyurkorb. Mradezha, a priest of Zentivar and ruler in Viratayn, spoke with Nicodemus concerning philosophy and religion; Nicodemus also corresponded with Carpicious concerning Kaysemithet. Nicodemus attended the Vahtah Sehnay festival marking the beginning of the Sixth Age.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
A pivotal moment came one year after the first correspondences with Mradezha, when Nicodemus attempted a last-ditch peace effort to prevent a war between Viesten and Alamayn. While Nicodemus was a bit too late and failed to prevent the war, his dedication to the cause of peace no doubt made a strong impression on Prime Minister Kogan of the IAU, and perhaps others. And one year after that incident, in Mistiklur of the 81st year, Nicodemus of Aetolia was named Minister of Foreign Affairs of the IAU.

The Razing of Aetolia
A terrible tragedy befell the Aetolians when in Valenlur of the 82nd year, Exarian, Lord of Seragon, had the city of Aetolia destroyed in a fit of rage and its homes plundered. For Aetolia was being ceded to the Diarchy of Paradise as part of the peace agreement with the IAU, and Exarian hated the Paradisians. But miraculously, the day after the city was destroyed, the gods saw fit to rebuild the city as though it had never been shattered. However, Nicodemus' home had still been looted, and almost all of his possessions taken. Nearly a year later, Nicodemus brought Exarian before the Tovarishaya courts to arbitrate the issue of his stolen property. However, because of Tovarisha's socialist economy, he was initially only able to argue for few concessions. Eventually, Konstantin Adrestrym, the outgoing Khadir of Tovarisha, promised Nicodemus a substantial sum in compensation for the former's role in the treaty that ceded Aetolia to Paradise (which has yet to be received). A treaty, notably, which was not overseen by Nicodemus despite his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs—he was not part of the delegation.

The Tovarishaya Election
Almost coincidentally with the razing of Aetolia, Konstantin Adrestrym decided he would step down as Khadir early and hold elections. Before the elections began, Nicodemus proposed voting reforms that introduced a Condorcet method for elections. The Khadir and the Vilaya swiftly implemented the constitutional amendment, and Nicodemus was put in charge of helping tally the votes. To the dismay of the Aetolians, Exarian would become the next Khadir of Tovarisha, though Nicodemus and Exarian would reconcile soon after.

Chess Player
In Carpis of the 83rd year, Nicodemus took second prize in the Simulami Open.

Future Directions: Demiarbéz
Nicodemus and the former Baronet of Aetolia eventually found a new home in the province of Demiarbéz, where they founded a new Aetolia in Carpis of the 84th year. In this Aetolia in the far southeast of Rathnir, Nicodemus tried to start a brewery and winery, but one night a group of hooligans broke into his cellar and drank much of the wine; they were subsequently banished from Aetolia.