WhiskeyKnight

WhiskeyKnight, also known as Iram the Exile, was Head of House Knight Count of Hapatmitas, Duke of Hatanimitas, King of Talawa, and Emperor of Uldarash. Additionally he was a Warden of the Order of Aurora, Minister of War for Uldarash, Minister of Commerce for Donsktop, and Lord Commander of The Western Host.

Origins
Iram the Exile, was born Illyria Iram, a Talawan, in the now-abandoned city of Taranusha, a few years before the Audalian Invasion, whereupon the city was abandoned. In the sacking of the city, his parents fled to East, to the city of Donsktopt. There, they raised him, refugees in a foreign land, often discriminated against and slighted, however still managing to seek out a good life. They even managed to get Illyria their son, a job as an apprentice to the Minister of Production, Tolkr Allvarston. Sadly however, his parents died some 40 years later, both mauled to death by a rogue werewolf terrorizing the country side. During this time Iram took up the teachings of Noxism from a missionary visiting the city at the time, the belief city going well in tandem with his growing hatred of Lycanthropes and other creatures of the night.

Western Flight
Over time, Iram rose to prominence as a powerful merchant in Alteniquia Minor, utilizing his apprenticeship under Tolkr as well as the few connections his family had maintained overseas out West. Recognizing his potential, the King granted him the title of Minister of Commerce, a rank which entailed him overseeing the trade and naval affairs of the state. Eventually however, this would lead to conflict. Iram was under the impression that this position granted him a seat on the governing Council, which he certainly saw as only fitting due to his long standing commitment to the nation as well as prowl in this position. Seemingly, the King agreed with this position, although in a shocking turn of events it was Tolkr who convinced him otherwise, instead stating that his position was under that of Tolkr. Shocked and betrayed, Iram remained furious with Tolkr, as well as the country at large. Tolkr and Iram began disagreeing more and more on all matters, Iram's Noxist believes being a point of contention. This all culminated in the Sack of Donsktop, where after the cities destruction, instead of choosing to flee further in the jungle with the rest of the council, Iram decided to leave behind his foster-nation and head West. Fearing for his life, Iram fled to the one place he believed he would be granted asylum: his family's ancestral homeland of Talawa. Perhaps taking pity on the poor man or perhaps seeing some form of potential in him, King Wilusa allowed Iram to settle in the lands of Talawa, provided he not stoke conflict with his former nation. Even though he now lived in his motherland, the land he and all his ancestors were born to, he still felt like an outsider. To commemorate his history he permanently branded himself "Iram the Exile" as to remind him of his roots.

Empire of Uldarash


Once again, even though he was viewed from the local nobles with mild suspicion due to his foreign upbringing, Iram began to climb the ranks. Although slow at first, his involvement with the down-bringing of Coeur-d'akene and his collecting of their vast sums of loot led to him being granted the town of Hapatmitas to rule over. Incredibly grateful for this, Iram's renewed love for his homeland only deepened in passion. Eventually, his King Wilusa of Talawa, as well as King Dentro of Sanctuary and many other of the Western city states combined together to form the Empire of Uldarash, Hapatmitas being incorporated as a holding directly under the Kingdom of Talawa. During this time period, the East was embroiled in the Turtlonian Wars, and recognizing in opportunity here, Iram founded the Western Host, a mercenary organization dedicated to serving as, what can only be described as a 'labor union' for mercenaries as well as a reliable source of loyal ones whom wouldn't switch sides at the turn of a coin. Dalatra Mosulia of Ardat Mosul hired the Western Host for the 2nd Turtlonian War, and Iram forces, including the famous chef1980, proved invaluable to the conflict. Additionally, the Western Host was hired for the Naverechniyan Civil War, being the only side to declare for Petersburg in the initial stages of the Civil War. Some say this declaration is what won Petersburg their freedom, as initially it looked to be they were facing impossible odds, with both Eschariea and Valdreach initially claiming for the Naverechniyan Government.

Minister of War


Following his military successes abroad, WhiskeyKnight was promoted to Minster of War for the Uldarashi Military. Sadly, as part of the deal for this promotion, he would have to resign direct leadership over the Western Host in order to accept, as this would muddy the neutrality of the Host. Control over the Host was passed onto Leafy_Sheep, although he too later resigned, leaving the position still open, and the Host held in a state of limbo. WhiskeyKnight commanded the army in a number of engagements, including the Minedodge Raid, and the Terracotta Wars, the second of which, otherwise known as The Great Western War, proving disastrous for Uldarash. Of course, this disaster was perhaps less so for Iram, as on this day, he was married to wurmbo, an inhabitant of Hapatmitas.

King of Talawa
Despite his failure in the Great Western War to secure in Uldarashi victory, he still maintained his position of prominence. Furthermore, he actually managed to increase this position with Emperor Wilusa, resigning from his position as Emperor mere hours before the end of the war. Although no direct heir for his seat of emperor was chosen, his holdings that being the City of Lukka and the Kingdom of Talawa, were split amongst his heir, namingly the city of Lukka was given to his foster-son Mlg and the Kingdom of Talawa to Iram. Little did he Emperor Wilusa know however, the seat of his former power Lukka, would be given up in the peace deal that would follow, mere hours later. This made Iram not only King of Talawa, but also, if there were any doubt, made Hapatmitas the new seat of power for Talawa, as well as one of the 2 capitals of Uldarash. Although this would in theory make Iram privy to the position of Emperor, he elected to not push the matter, not just for the sake of the realm's stability, but also simply being content with his newfound prestige

Regent Emperor
His patience would prove quite fortuitous, as on November 18th, following a convening of the Council of Lords to vote on matters of government reform, it was unanimously decided to elect Iram as Regent Emperor of Uldarash, as Dentro had taken ill, and a successor was deemed necessary to rule the country in his stead. Upon taking power, the Iram Administration promoted an agenda of pro-Ardat Neutrality, meaning that while the county was solely focused on neutrality and isolationism, it did in fact pledge public support to Ardatian-Yimmu.

Eventually however, his pro-Ardat stance led more-and-more to the abandonment of his neutrality, such as his finalization of Uldarash's joining of the VAWR, as it was aligned to Yimmu-Audal-Ardat. This lead to the Empire pledging support against the Trillium, both in the Ocotlan Crisis as well as the Fall of the VIR. Notably, he did not pledge military support in either instance, rather just the fiancial backing of the vast Uldarashi-Treasury.

Crescent Concordant
Iram's long standing doctrine of "West for the Westerners" would prove to be one of the paramount influences as his time as Regent Emperor, as well as full Emperor. In an effort to express this, Iram and the fellow SpiritKnights worked alongside the Triumvirate of Lumaire to restablish the goal of Uldarash, that being to create a counterbalance to the supposed 'imperialist' powers of the East. They went about this by creating the Crescent Concordant, an alliance of mostly minor nations, that all banded together in the lesser developed 'crescent' of Rathnir. The alliance was designed to be similar to the VAWR, although rather quickly did problems begin to arise. The largest point of contention was with Uldarash's "Vassal Contract" policy, a policy started and carried out uniquely under the Iram Administration. The policy saw, as opposed to the old way of simply pressuring new coming neighbors into joining the empire or simply leaving them alone entirely, instead the establishment of a series of protectorate states, including, at it's height, the nations of Wahar, Aurora, Falnir, Nunaje & Jcon. While all the contract truly entailed was a forced military alliance.

Despite voting records pointing to the contrary, many of the other members of the Concordant, admitedly perhaps reasonably so, feared that Uldarash would use it's protectorate nations as a voting block in the Concordant's voting. Tensions spiked over.