Soleil Dynasty II

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After the first five Kings, Aodhian history suddenly becomes much better documented. Historians have generally explained this by saying that some libraries may have been destroyed by the Seroran aggressor, or that there perhaps was some plot during the Interregnum (the 20 year period when Aodh had no true King) that sought to grab power and as such, wished to remove records of the great deeds of the previous Kings. From Titus Soleil onward, such scholastic issues no longer occur. There is ample writing on the Kings and their deeds. 
This period of Aodhian history is particularly popular with those interested in the development of Ignacio’s worship in Aodh, and the influence his return had on their nation.
== Titus Soleil (871-873) ==
Increased anti-Seroran sentiment. Had countless writings and pieces of art burned to purge Aodh culturally. Outlawed Alya worship. Destroyed several noble Houses.
=== Early Life ===
Titus Soleil was born the heir of Uriel Soleil, and his childhood was marked by his father’s constant absence due to the ongoing war. After Vukan was born, their birth father would join Uriel in the field, leaving Titus in the care of nobles and caregivers.
Titus was only three years old when his parents died in the ambush of Seroran Furies. Too young to truly understand the gravity of how alone he was in the world, and far too young to rule, Titus was set aside in the line of succession. The most influential noble families at the time decided that they would rule Aodh as a council in the absence of a King. Titus was afforded good care and education - especially after the war was brought to a close in 852. His childhood was sheltered and lonely, with only his caregivers, tutors and brother for company.
Titus was intentionally kept away from affairs of the state as he grew older. The squabbling noble families had grown fond of their power, and were less than eager to return it to the Soleil line, despite the enduring popularity of the royal family in eyes of the commoners. As Titus grew older, so grew the insistence of the commoners to be ruled by their King. The nobles conspired to instate Titus as a puppet King with no true power, but discovered the by now fourteen year old boy was far too clever and headstrong to be trifled with.
Instead, the nobles had Titus declared incapable to rule, citing various health and mental issues that would’ve made him unsuitable. It is this event that is believed to be the catalyst of his later anti-nobility sentiments.
=== Reign ===
After years of struggling to reclaim power, Titus was finally crowned King of Aodh at the age of 23, assisted in their rise by some of the most loyal noble Houses, such as Vela, Aelius, Cardea and Gamliel. Titus’ first and most immediate action as King was to begin to root out the remnants of any remaining Seroran sympathies - he was disgusted to find how many had conspired against Aodh, or accepted the Sky Goddess into their homes. He would also pursue the Houses who had sought to keep him from gaining power, destroying many and crippling countless more. 
The worship of Alya was outlawed across Eithne under the pain of death. It is said Titus was merciful with the commoners if they repented, but never showed quarter to nobility. Under his reign, countless heresies, false histories and lies were brought to light and burned. 
Titus was known to be a passionate and driven individual who was rarely slowed down by the advice of his nobles. He ousted most families from Court, keeping only a small cabinet of Advisers, and pursued his opponents mercilessly.
Despite his extremeist ways, Titus was extremely popular among the common people, who adored their young, dynamic, decisive King - and who adored them in return, making countless public appearances and taking a personal interest in many everyday problems.
=== Issue and Death ===
Titus had only reigned for two and a half years when he suddenly became very ill, and had to retire from public. Unexpectedly the King quickly declined, despite his generally good health and youth. Titus had no children - a first in Aodh’s history, leading to some uncertainty as to who would succeed him should he die. As the King lay dying, there were whispers of the council of nobles coming back into power.
The young King’s final public appearance was to stand on the balcony of the Hearthstone Palace, held up by two slaves, and announcing in front of a massive crowd that his brother, Vukan, would be King after him. The King also made it known that he had been poisoned, and beseeched his people to bring the murderer to justice.
Titus died the following night. His death galvanized some commoners to murder several Heads of Houses who had openly disliked and disagreed with Titus. Most of these commoners were pardoned by Vukan.
== Vukan Soleil (873-920) ==
Repaired relations with nobles, establishing a stable and prosperous rule. Led the efforts to return Ignacio to the world, and built the first Sanctum, Ignis. Created the rank of Flamen. Unified almost all Eithne (sans Opulence) and founded Kingsfall.
=== Early Life ===
Just like his brother, Vukan was orphaned at a young age when both of his parents were killed in a Seroran ambush. He received education and care befitting of a royal, and was very close with his older brother, whom he idolized. Where Titus was decisive, passionate and charming, Vukan was gentle and contemplative, and the two made an excellent pair. Living a sheltered life, he had little exposure to the outside world before he was a teenager.
When the nobles wrestled to try and keep Titus from power, Vukan supported his brother, offering him council and the occasional shoulder to cry his frustrations on. Vukan, who was watched less closely than Titus, was able to move among the people to rouse sympathy for his brother. After Titus was declared incapable, he worked to dispel any such rumors among the people.
When Titus came to the throne, Vukan was 22, and truly able to enjoy royal privileges for the first time. He acted as his brothers closest Adviser, and shared his passion for purging Alya-heresies from their territory.
When Titus suddenly fell ill, Vukan stayed with him day-and-night, barely eating and hardly sleeping. In his tired delirium, a vision of the flames of the Volcano God came to him, and Vukan took it as a sign.
=== Reign ===
Declared King by his beloved dying brother, Vukan took the throne at age 24. He did little to intervene with the angry mob that lynched a few prominent nobles, and punished only the few commoners who could be seen as the instigators, allowing most to go free. After this single, divisive act of his rule, Vukan settled to become a far more moderate King than his brother had been. He worked diligently to repair relations with nobility, and married a noble from the powerful Vela family to further stabilize his rule.
Vukan, like his brother, was from the beginning immensely popular with the common folk. Where Titus had been a King they admired and swooned over, Vukan inspired trust and devotion. Literally - soon after taking the throne, he began construction efforts on several shrines dedicated to Ignacio, and held sermons in his honor. Although Ignacio had already been worshipped, it was Vukan’s undying devotion that inspired deep love and longing for the Lost God.
Finally, in 884, after 11 years of tireless work, Ignacio returned to the world. Vukan was struck by awe and admiration, and proud of the gift of Incandescent Steel their god had granted. He himself was blessed with Holy Imbuement - the first non-kirin to ever carry a Holy Blessing of the god.
Ignacio’s return was celebrated with the construction of the magnificent Ignis Sanctum, named after Vukan’s firstborn child. Vukan personally annointed the very first Flamen. It is said he regularly received cryptic visions from Ignacio, which led him to scribe down the seven virtues and their explanations.
Vukan founded the town of Kingsfall in the honor of his father, although curiously it is a statue of Titus that he erected there - rather than that of Uriel.
A thoroughly devout man, Vukan believed in giving, love and forgiveness, especially in his older days. When he wasn’t pursuing religious matters or paying artists to paint Ignacio’s likeness on Hearthstone’s walls, he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his people. He made sound appointments and monetary decisions, leading to a prosperous and peaceful reign. All remaining independent territories except Opulence merged into Aodh, and at the end of his reign, Aodh was more powerful and wealthy than ever before, having completely recovered from the war.
=== Issue and Death ===
Vukan ruled for 47 years until finally leaving the throne to his firstborn child. Despite his advanced age - already 71 at the time he abdicated - Vukan was still in excellent health. Now freed from the responsibilites of kingship, he dedicated himself completely to Ignacio, and worked as an Attendant at Ignis until his death from natural causes brought on by old age.
== Ignitis Soleil (920-950) ==
Commissioned the construction of the Crucible, Azar and Fernos. Established Flamines as near-divine beings. Conquered the last corners of Eithne. Founded the city of Opulence. 
=== Early Life ===
Firstborn to King Vukan, Ignitis was born in the very first months of their father’s reign. They had a secure childhood with excellent tutors, and were since childhood taught to love and revere the god after which they were named. Unlike many Kings who would come after, Vukan took a personal interest in rearing his children - especially Ignitis, his heir. The father and child were close, and as Ignitis grew into adulthood, they settled in easily as a part of their father’s government. Ignitis was given responsibility in governance from a young age, foreseeing first the military, and later religious matters.
Compared to the youth of their father and uncle, Ignitis had a remarkably uneventful time as Prince. They made themselves well known in Court, acted as an Adviser to their father, and traveled Eithne extensively to meet the people their father governed - and that they, too, would one day rule over. On their travels, they came to be blessed by Ignacio’s Fire Manipulation, which further grew their love for the Inferno God.
As their father grew older and frailer, Ignitis would increasingly take over any of the more substantial and draining visitations and duties. When it finally came time for them to ascend the throne, they were by all accounts well-prepared for the role.
=== Reign ===
Ignitis was crowned at age 47, and came to the throne with a lifetime of experience in matters of state. Their father had left them a peaceful, stable kingdom open for development and growth - something Ignitis was eager to further explore and expand. It was they that oversaw the construction of the modern Crucible, demolishing the small, wooden fighting ring that had stood on the spot since Interregnum. Their vision for the building was threefold - it would act as a place of entertainment, but also a place to share news, and most importantly, to hold sermons at a massive scale. Construction began soon after their ascension, but continued into 925 due to the massive size of the undertaking.
While the Crucible was being built, Ignitis looked elsewhere for ways to bring religion to the masses. By then, New Valore had grown into one of the largest settlements in Hireath, and yet it was only serviced by the mighty Ignis Sanctum.
With royal decree, they began construction on the Fernos Sanctum near the Crucible, and soon after another Sanctum towards the then-edges of the city - a Sanctum now known as Azar. These massive building projects kept laborers, architects, sculptors and artists alike extremely busy for several years.
Once the new Sanctums were finished, Ignitis appointed new Flamines to rule over them. They gave the Flamines great influence over the people, and were seen in public to bow down deeply to them. This habit was soon emulated by all. If the Flamines were mighty enough for a King to bend a knee, surely only God could be higher.
It was their religious nature, then, that caused two of the most enduring parts of the Aodhian mythos: the near deity status of the Flamines, and the association of bloody shoulder markings with Ignacio’s blessing.
Towards the end of their reign, Ignitis would personally - despite their elderly age and reports of shakes and episodes - lead their troops to claim the remaining corner of Eithne as their own. Countless Vagabonds had made the region north of The Bones their home, and it took a year of fighting for them to be completely dispersed in the year 943. Opulence was founded the following year. With this act, all of Eithne was officially controlled by Aodh.
Their last years as King were spent in peace, doing their best to prepare Houri for Kingship. 
=== Issue and Death ===
As Houri had time and time over shown themselves to be an unideal King, Ignitis clung to power until the ripe age of 77, when consistent health problems forced them to abdicate. Ignitis retired to live their final days in Fernos Sanctum - not as an Attendant, but as an honored guest. Despite the insistence of the Flamen, Ignitis refused to search for medical aid or move their residence to one of New Valore’s hospitals - according to Ignitis, their time had come, and prologing the inevitable would only keep them longer from their god and father.
Ignitis died aged 82, worn out by the illness that had plagued them for years.
== Houri Soleil (950-988) ==
Made wine into the household drink it is today, and raised the status of Opulence. She is largely credited for giving birth to Aodh’s hedonistic and self-indulgent culture (although even Aodhians think she indulged a bit too much).
=== Early Life ===
Houri was born during a time of prosperity, to a herd who had recently found their true patron in Ignacio. Born a few days before her parent officially ascended to the throne, Houri never knew a life beyond princely comforts, and while Ignitis was busy working on large building projects and inspiring devotion, Houri spent her time in the Palace, enjoying every luxury available to a prince.
As a child, Houri was known as an unremarkable student; she had little talent for writing or numbers, and seemed generally uninterested in academics. What she did excel at was socializing - Houri loved nothing better than attending the parties of her noble friends, and was often seen sneaking out of her lectures to attend more enjoyable pastimes.
As she grew into adulthood, Houri proved herself time and time again hesitant to accept any responsibility for the kingdom. She shirked her princely duties expertly, instead focusing on gathering a circle of admirers and sycophants at whose houses she would live (and party) while avoiding her father.
Eventually, Ignitis grew too old and weak to rule, and despite Houri’s very best efforts, the role of a King was thrust upon her decidedly unprepared shoulders.
=== Reign ===
To say that Houri was a disappointment would be dishonest - after all, very little had been expected of her to begin with. She ascended the throne to little fanfare, and her first act as the newly crowned ruler was to abandon her court in the care of her Advisers, and leave for Opulence, where she would spend the following five years, searching for herself in a winebottle.
When she finally returned, it was with cartfuls and cartfuls of wine - which she liked to gift to all her friends and enemies alike. Soon countless vineyards and wineries popped up not only around Opulence, but everywhere where the grape would grow, and almost as quickly did supply caravans and riverboats begin to travel up and down Eithne in an effort to feed the King’s insatiable appetite for the grape juice.
Despite her complete lack of interest in governance, Houri did rather enjoy the money and friends it gave her - and to keep those friends, she would allow them to make important choices for her nation. Houri shamelessly lifted her favorites to high offices, granting them powers the likes of which had never been seen before. Hearthstone Palace became little more than a frathouse where Houri and her closest would be in their cups from dusk until dawn, while a few select confidantes would rule Aodh to their liking.
On the few occasions Houri showed any inclination to care for the matters of state, she was always quickly distracted or manipulated by her close circle.
=== Issue and Death ===
Houri had many children, but only a single legitimate heir - Kallai, her oldest, a promising prince. Many in Aodh, especially the nobles left outside her privileged close circle, were hopeful that Houri’s general lack of interest in being a King would lead her to abdicate as soon as Kallai came of age, but that time came and went with no sign of the King giving up their power.
In the end, Houri’s life ended rather suddenly - she passed away from suspected alcohol poisoning at the age of 68. While the royal doctors were able to briefly resuscitate her, the King never regained consciousness, and died a few days later.
== Kallai Soleil (988-1015) ==
Modernized Aodh’s legal system, splitting responsibility to three courts from the previous one. Set up an efficient and consistent system of taxation. Grew the size of New Valore with massive housing projects, leading to the construction of what would one day become the Valiant and parts of the Common districts. 
=== Early Life ===
Kallai was born in Opulence, where Houri and her close circle lived at the time. Her birthmother was a First Consort from the Gamliel House - a woman thoroughly loyal to her King, and yet completely in disagreement with the actions she was taking. As years dragged on, Kallai experienced firsthand the strain and eventual separation of her parents; although the two were never officially divorced, Kallai never saw her parents together beyond her earliest childhood.
After the King and her entourage returned to New Valore in 955, Kallai’s royal education could finally begin. She proved a gifted student, with a special talent for numbers and logic. Her court education was handled exclusively by her birthmother, who made a conscious effort to keep the prince away from Houri’s influence. Still, the bright child could well see what alcohol was doing to her mother, and it is said the King and the prince had a rocky relationship behind closed doors.
As early as fourteen Kallai was praised as the hope of Aodh - her grandparent and great-grandfather come anew, a revitalization of the great Aodhian monarchy. Kallai was eager to meet and exceed the expectations of her people, and worked hard to be the King they deserved.
Only, she would wait much longer than anticipated. Her mother clung to power for many long years - far longer than anyone had anticipated.
=== Reign ===
When Houri fell to the coma from which she would never wake, Kallai took the throne with no hesitation. The ashes of her mother were not even cold when she had expelled her mother’s sycophants, lovers and bastards from court and high office, and reinstituted the power of the King over all of Aodh. 
Kallai set to work posthaste by modernizing Aodh’s antiquated taxation system. She formed an efficient bureaucracy of tax collectors and bookkeepers who were able to not only tax the whole of Eithne, but keep the laws fair and consistent between people and settlements. Gone were the days of Houri and her friends wantonly taking money to supply their parties - in fact, Kallai seemed to take a special pleasure in placing heavy taxes upon luxury goods like wine. While the taxation would topple some business empires built entirely on the former King’s favor and wallet, most of Aodh prospered.
With her coffers now full, Houri was able to pursue further changes. Seeing the cramped conditions of her city, she expanded it - money flowed from Crown coffers to supply work for countless commoners, and entire districts of new housing were constructed. The size of New Valore almost doubled during her reign with the addition of what would later become Valiant district, and the innermost parts of Common District. 
Despite her clear interest in housing and city-development, it was law that was Kallai’s passion. She invested countless hours into the study and testing of various systems, employing countless experts and Advisers to craft a new three-court system - the system that still serves Aodh to this day, a testament to the thoroughness of Kallai’s research.
=== Issue and Death ===
During the later years of her reign, Kallai focused simply on running the kingdom she had set up for success. She found great enjoyment in being King, and was near constantly present at court - only leaving New Valore to occasionally tour the country, and show her benevolence to the people. 
Kallai had four children, but seeing shadows of her mother in the oldest, she chose her second child, Elek, as her heir. It was the first time a Soleil monarch chose to affect the line of succession in such a way - and although it was considered a most fortunate decision by all, its shadows would haunt the family in years to come.
After a relatively short 27 year reign, with all her goals achieved, Kallai chose to abdicate in favor of her son Elek. Still youthful and in good health at 64, Kallai retired to a life of study, away from the public eye. She actively corresponded with scholars of all kinds, and even held an honorary lecturers position at the university. She finally passed away at the age of 87, dying of natural causes after outliving several of her grandchildren, and all but one of her own children.
== To Soleil Dynasty III ==
Category:Aodh
Category:Lore