Aelius Draekar

Aelius Draekar, son of Archeon Draekar, is a high-ranking government official for the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire. His career has primarily been defined by his role in political office, having served 3 terms in the senate before dedicating himself entirely to his ministerial duties. He is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mayor for Steigenbirge. Having been born in the southwest territories of the Onthukhan region, Aelius Draekar was a member of the Silbernian tribes which belonged in the area and is a member of the Draekar family. During his lifetime, he has seen the rise of the Wandenreich, the formation of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, and has played a pivotal role in the AWE's reputation internationally.

Appearance
Aelius Draekar is a man of average height and builds for a Silbernian, standing at around 180cm. His skin is a warm beige, often tanned due to his misadventures atop the mountains' peaks surrounding Steigenbirge. His irides lack the gloss and shine typical of other people instead; they are more akin to a void of fog, deep and purple, a trait commonly inherited by members of the Favnix clan. His hair, kept long and pulled back, is a carob brown; notably, there's a streak of bleached hair which shows prominently on the left side of his hair—a permanent quirk from a misguided experiment Aelius attempted to perform in his youth.

Aelius is often seen wearing a simple cloth around his face. His adornment of the cloth has in the past led to much speculation as to the condition of his lower face. Some conjecture that his face is outright melted away, no doubt another repercussion due to an experiment gone awry. Unfortunately, or rather, fortunately, some may say, the mask's purpose is merely an attempt to keep out toxic fumes when conducting his research or to keep his face warm during the cold winter month in Steigen. While in the military, Aelius has revealed that he would often douse the rag in a potion so that the effect may linger when in combat.

Another notable detail often associated with Aelius is his emerald pendant which he seemingly always carries on his person. The emerald, set in place by silver, is held around his neck with a simple leather strap. The jewel shimmers in the sunlight, displaying a range of hues from light shades of azure to a near-perfect hue of sacramento green. The necklace is often the only compliment of color that Aelius outwardly wears. The chain was a gift from his mother, given to him on her deathbed.

As for clothes, Aelius is disheveled. Instead of keeping a vast wardrobe of fine clothes as is expected of aristocracy, he keeps a tiny closet of similar garments. He often dons a simple light gray shirt, a black coat with purple highlights sloppily fastened at his waist by a gray sash, and a leather tool belt. He is often seen wearing dark shades of gray for pants, with maroon pants making the occasional appearance. During the winter months, he adorns a wool scarf around his neck. Efforts to make Aelius change his style, or at the very least put in the effort to tidy up, have been unsuccessful,

When in the military, Aelius will forgo his shades of gray for the frost white wool uniforms of the AWE military; he retains his gray pants, but he elects to wear cavalry boots while in service. His amulet is still worn, but it is safely hidden underneath his wool jacket to discourage its theft.

Personality
Aelius is often more of a recluse then he lets on, he's perfectly content keeping to himself and finding entertainment in topics he chooses to research. Always oberserving but hardly speaking, this had been true for much of Aelius' life. Never one to get in the way. However, as Aelius grew to be one of the more well know people of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, he often found himself having to speak up more to defend his positions. As a result, Aelius would learn to assert himself more often then not when it was evident his input was necessary. Ironically, Aelius would often seem to be one of the more boistorous and joyful people during social events but he could only endure so much socializing before one would find him sneaking out and heading home.

Overall, Aelius has always shown a level of loyalty to his country. Regardless of a difference in politics, if a member of the AWE were to be the target of libel or slander, Aelius always rises to defend the honor and reputation of an Imperial Citizen.

Likewise, Aelius has proven himself to be a vital member of the Draekar Dynasty. Having taken an early role of leadership in the family, he now stands as one of the more senior members of the family and he acts as a guiding hand for those that have come after him.

Life among the Favnixes
Aelius is the natural-born son of Archeon Draekar and an unnamed Silbernian woman. His father, having been initially a visitor from the nation of Falnir on the Rathnir continent, had no knowledge that he had conceived sons and so elected to return to his home nation of Falnir after a short stay in the Eldham. As a result, Aelius, and his twin brother Oscar, were raised in the southwest lands of the Onthukhan region amidst the care and support of his tribe, the Favnixes, worshippers of Dietrich.

Aelius's shy and often reclusive personality meant that he had little in common with the tribe's children. Rather than play sword fighting or chasing wolves, Aelius would much rather spend his time reading whatever scrolls or bound books he could get his hands on. Often being chastised by the local elder for the theft of his books. As a result, Aelius would often showcase an excellent understanding of human behavior, though not emotion, and a natural curiosity for the sciences.

The Arrival of the Falconians
[[File:Aelius by the Ocean.png|thumb|370x370px|A young Aelius looking out to sea. In the distance a falconian ship

can be seen approaching.]] Just shy of 6 years old, Aelius was on the eastern shores of the Onthukhan. He had been curious about the large wooden ships passing by with an increasing frequency. Some meandering by, having clearly been damaged by some conflict, others confidently gliding across the pearlescent seas, their oars taking them to destinations unknown. Today, however, the waters remained still. Disappointed, Aelius turned back to return to his tribe, hoping that tomorrow would be different.

Then, a crash. From behind a hill, Aelius had not seen the approaching vessel; all Aelius had a chance to hear was the sound of the boat running aground on the sands of the Onthukhan. Voices, strange voices everywhere, men, women, and children, disheveled in appearance, began to drop down from the ship. They had clearly been the former types of ships Aelius had seen sail by. In front of the group was a man with blond hair and fair skin; he looked less like the people around him and more like the Silbernian tribes. He walked with a sense of familiarity about him. But it wasn't long before the man, and his group walked into the forest and out of sight. Aelius ran home. A sense of excitement and fear welling internally.

The Creation of the Wandenreich
From afar, Aelius could see the Falconians set to work. He saw how they moved great sandstone blocks to build their buildings, how their soldiers set about defending their new home, and how diplomatic emissaries would leave their city, some never to return. No doubt they had met their end due to some other tribe. But they persisted. Aelius would often see that man among the emissaries; he would always return, with people in tow.

Over the years, Aelius would see how the city grew beyond just the Falconians. He could see Silbernians among them, brandishing their new Rapiers and Sabers as if they were gifted to them by the Obergotters themselves. Where Aelius first saw a broken people, he now saw a proud people. They carried their flag, a blue banner with a white cross. Each time venturing further into the land, each time being more successful. As time passed, they grew powerful, and soon Aelius would hear the name of their tribe, Wandenreich. They strode in, their soldiers atop their horses, prancing around our villages, seeking to talk with our elder. Among them was that man, Franz Kaisser III.

By all accounts, it was a short meeting. Hardly an hour had passed before Franz Kaisser III and the village elder walked out side by side. In such a short span of time, Aelius was no longer just a mere Favnix, he now belonged to the Wandenreich. Aelius was ecstatic, he would grow up amid the hustle and bustle of the city beside the river. Too young to follow the Silbernians and Falconians on their conquests to further establish the Wandenreich, but just young enough to grow up as a new generation of Silbernian.

An Encounter with a Draekar
At the age of 12, the Wandenreich was firmly establishing itself among many new nations which had emerged during the genesis period of Eldham’s history. While wars were still being fought at the fringes of their realm, Aelius grew comfortably in the relative safety of the interior. It was around this time that Aelius had begun to hear murmurs about a kingdom that had fallen back in Rathnir. That was nothing new to Aelius, news came from across the sea all the time. What was most peculiar to Aelius was the kingdom in question, Falnir, He had heard the name in the past, his father, Archeon, was from Falnir.

However, it was not for Aelius to be the first to meet his extended family. His brother, Oscar, had been the first to encounter the brother of their father, Lucifer "Inferno" Draekar. It was only after his brother had tired himself out that Aelius had the opportunity to see and interact with his Uncle. He was a "man" of tall stature, his skin a deep crimons red, unlike any person Aelius had seen before. When Inferno smiled, it was a wicked smile, holding a level of malice that had made Aelius uneasy.

The conversation was a quick one; Inferno explained how the ancestral home of the Draekar, Aelius' Paternal Dynasty, had fallen after the Minute Man War. Left without a home, Inferno sought refuge in the lands of Eldham, having decided on the AWE after the Draekar Family's experience in the area. Inferno likewise made it clear that Aelius' father could soon appear; Archeon had stayed in Falnir to organize some sort of resistance but would undoubtedly abandon the endeavor if it were pointless. Feeling a flurry of emotions, Aelius returned to his tribe; if what his uncle had told him were true, it would be a short while before he would officially meet his father.

The Return of the Father
Aelius was 14-years-old; his uncle Inferno had largely established himself as a man of honor and integrity; as such, he had carved himself a position within the government of the Wandenreich. Soon enough, Inferno would become the Wandenreich's first Minister of Internal Affairs, a position he used to fortify the Draekar's position within the Eldham nation. Aelius, the ever-curious person, had taken a liking to his uncle. He often spent many days at his uncle's personal residence in Hell's Port. In due time, Aelius would begin to apprentice with his uncle to better grasp the intricacies of law and government.

His proximity to his uncle also meant that he would often receive news of his father's attempts to stage revolts in the former Kingdom of Falnir. Soon enough, however, Inferno and Aelius would learn that the pockets of resistance within Falnir were soon to be extinguished, with many of the dissidents set to be executed. During this tumultuous time, Inferno had lost contact with his brother. Unable to communicate with him, the pair feared the worst had come to pass. In the span of a couple grueling weeks, Aelius began to lose faith that he would ever be able to speak with his father, that he would always wonder about the type of man he was. But just as Aelius had stared upon the sea so many years ago and seen the Falconians arrive, he too was looking out to see when he saw a dingy boat beach itself on the rocks outside of Beorn's Haven. From the boat stumbled out a disheveled man, clearly struggling to walk himself off the sand. He was of medium stature, blond hair and gray eyes, his clothes tattered and soiled from the weeks he undoubtedly had to spend on that boat. The first words out of his mouth were those seeking water. The next were those seeking a person, a brother, no other brother but Inferno himself. Archeon had successfully escaped the fall of Falnir and had found himself in the AWE.

It was an eventful evening; Archeon told tales of his effort in Falnir to prevent the complete loss of his home. He spoke of the arduous journey to the AWE, where he managed to board a ship bound for the pirate inhabited lands to the east of the AWE, and how he had managed to escape with nothing but a rowboat, mindlessly drifting in the direction he believed was the AWE. However, he made it clear that his and his family's time in Falnir was at an end and that he sought to resettle himself in the AWE in the hope of a new life. It was only then that Inferno found his chance to speak up. He introduced Aelius and Oscar to their father for the very first time. Archeon, for his part, was completely surprised.

With the focus on Aelius and Oscar, they made quick work explaining their history, their time with the Favnix, the rise of the Wandenreich, and their conquest of other surrounding tribes. Archeon listened intently, absorbing as much information about the two sons which had eluded him thus far. And when the two boys were finished, Archeon dubbed the two of them Draekars, the blood of his blood, and so it was. Gone was Aelius of the Favnix; all that remained was Aelius Draekar.

The Obtention of Steigenbirge
The rise of Archeon Draekar and Inferno Draekar within the ranks of the Wandenreich government led to the increased influence of the Draekar family within the borders of the Wandenreich. At this point in time, Aelius was already a 16-year-old and had spent much of his time since the return of his father receiving tutelage from the patriarchs of the Draekar dynasty in the art of statecraft that Aelius, too, may one day hold considerable influence in the Wandenreich.

It was not long after Archeon had become a significant figure within the immigration center of the Wandenreich that Aelius and his brother, Oscar, received the rights to a small village by the name of Steigenbirge. The old inhabitants had seemingly disappeared for no apparent reason, and the village needed new oversight. Archeon had seen the availability of Steigenbirge and believed it to be a perfect opportunity for his two sons to begin their political careers.

In the weeks and months after having received overlordship over Steigenbirge, the two young Draekars would rekindle the activity and population within their domain. Fueled by the recent merger between the Wandenreich and the Ashtrokan Deguaran, the newly formed Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire was filled, growing the small village of Steigenbirge into a large town. Expansions were planned, and the city was infused with a productive spirit, seemingly ready to take as much influence away from the growing metropolis, which was Silbern. However, most importantly, the two brothers, adept at the art of war in no small part due to the environment in which they grew up, saw fit to poise Steigenbirge as the heart of the military. To this day, Steigenbirge represents the heartland of Draekar influence over the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire.

First Term as Senator
Aelius was 20-years-old; for the last four years, Aelius and his brother Oscar had grown the population of Steigenbirge to such a point that it warranted two seats in the Imperial Senate.

Aelius' father, Archeon, confides in Aelius that he will soon move to remove the first Grand Falcon, Franz Kaisser, in favor of someone more able and proactive in fixing the nation's issues. Franz Kaisser, by this point in the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire's history, had grown mainly indifferent to the nation's state of affairs. Archeon, suspecting he did not have enough votes to successfully petition the Senate to remove the old falcon, encouraged Aelius to run for a seat in the Imperial Senate so that Aelius too could support his effort. At the behest of Archeon, Aelius chose to run for Senate, deciding to run against the current Senator of Steigenbirge, a man simply known as Tom. Together with his brother, the two were able to win both seats in contention within Steigenbirge. The election was also notable because it saw Hobbs Draekar, Aelius' and Oscar's step-father, ascend to become an Imperial Senator. Within a decade, the Draekars had become a family capable of wielding immense political power.

Nonetheless, Archeon could not wait for the Senate elections to conclude, so with much deliberation and consideration for the consequences of his action, Archeon chose to move forward with his bid to remove the Grand Falcon. It was a month-long process during which the first Grand Falcon of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire was forced to resign in favor of his son Coolworld.

During this significant political change, Aelius first walked into the senate building in Silbern. Having barely begun his political career, Aelius had yet to find his voice within the Senate; he was meek and lacked the confidence to properly voice his position on a matter — if he even had a position. Nonetheless, his first term in the Senate was marked by immense growth. Soon enough, Aelius began to present himself not as a voice of opposition but as a voice of reason and prudent statecraft. Often orating in front of the senators for extended lengths of time. And it was on the Senate floor, that Aelius gained the respect of his fellow senate members, being assigned as the official representative for the Senate during meetings of great importance. During these long international meetings, Aelius picked up an interest in foreign relations, which would, in time, see him promoted to Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Living Through a Coup
Franz Kaisser had not retired completely from AWE affairs. While a vote was held to officially investigate Kaisser and potentially remove him from office, the former Grand Falcon chose instead to step down voluntarily so that he could still determine who his heir would be. As a result, there were no conditions against his running for Senate a couple of years after he had stepped down; ergo 4 years after his removal by the Senate, Kaisser returned as one of the two senators of the Silbern province.

Aelius, now a 24-year-old man, had established himself comfortably among the political landscape of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire. One evening while working late in his office in the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire Senate, he overheard the voices of fellow Senate members Hobbs Draekar, Lafonze Adan, Bohhy Callahan, Xenophotastic, and Franz Kaisser arguing in the Senate chambers. A motion was recently introduced to allow High Council members to hold a vote in the Imperial Senate. Wanting to share his opinion, Aelius Draekar argued that the High Council, having achieved the highest position in the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, should be entitled to a vote in the Senate. Being involved in many areas of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, the High Council should be able to decide policy. Others in the building weren't so supportive. Xenophotastic, Hobbs, and Bohhy were against the motion. They had argued that having permanent members in the Senate would be detrimental to the government, and Franz Kaisser and Inferno agreed with Aelius. Eventually, the Senate began to attack Kaisser and his choices in the past; Aelius, seeing that the conversation had become unproductive, left and returned to his office.

However, Aelius could still overhear what was going on in the Senate chambers. He could overhear as Kaisser got attacked for his time as the Grand Falcon, how he had adopted his heir just moments before he was deposed and the choice taken away from him. Under the circumstances, the Grand Falcon's ability to determine who could and couldn't be a noble was challenged. Lafonze proposed a vote to elevate the Draekar family from mere citizens to nobles. Kaisser would not have it, nor would Xenophotastic. They jumped onto the senate stage and disallowed the present senate members from casting their votes. They had hijacked the democratic process and disallowed anyone from moving forward with the vote; this would naturally anger the likes of Hobbs, Lafonze, and Bohhy, calling the pair corrupt. Xeno would then harm the Senators, kicking them all in the shins hoping to incapacitate them.

Senator Bohhy was frustrated; he had seen his fellow falconian fall from grace and, at the moment, threaten the very existence of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire's democracy. At that moment, Bohhy proclaimed that he would forevermore stand against Franz Kaisser, that he would aid the fellow senate members in an official court of law and testify against him.

Lafonze tried to arrest the fallen grand falcon. At that moment, Franz Kaisser spoke, "Then I call upon Xeno and all fellow countrymen to defend this nation's traditions and laws." Xeno, fueled by Kaisser's words, moved to remove the trio of senators from the Senate building. Soon enough, only Xeno, Kaisser, and Aelius had remained in the building. Aelius took this moment to finally step out of his office and confront Xeno for his actions. Aelius called him a clown, a man undermining the government's institution in pursuit of placing a disgraced ruler back in power.

At the exact moment, Hobbs and Lafonze were busy yelling and riding across the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, announcing that the senate building had been taken over and that Xeno and Kaisser had moved to place Kaisser back on the throne. Soon enough, the news would spread past the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire's borders, and the rest of Eldham would be made aware of the coup occurring in the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire.

Soon enough, the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire military would be able to successfully take back the senate building, capturing Franz Kaisser, but Xeno was nowhere to be found. All that was found from the Xeno was a note stating that they were aware their coup would not succeed but that Xeno, as mayor of Leehtarka, declared his town independent and free from the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire.