Radigas Rydani

Radigas Rydani is the Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Vědanica, vassal to the Empire of Ischanor. A member of the Emperor's Roundtable, he often is involved within state matters, he is a philosopher of many matters such as faith, a historian of Vědanican and Ischanori history and a patron of the arts. He, with the aid of his spouse, has ushered a new 'Golden Age of Culture', not just for Vědanica but for Ischanor as a whole. His wife's artistic expertise had inspired him to delve into the cultural roots of Vědanica and inspire a new renaissance of culture, which has spread to all corners of the empire.
== Early Life ==
Radigas was born as the first and only son to his father, Chieftain Horczan of the Rydani. His early life was not much so a standard, classic Ojszari upbringing as he witnessed the challenges brought about from the start societal pressures from bordering the more advanced realms. It was a time of change, there was a need for an individual who could bind both the old and the new in a blend to create something truly magnificent.
=== Childhood ===
Born as the heir to a fruitful marriage between his father, Chieftain Horczan, and his mother, Chieftess (make a name), he was a very cherished child. In his early life, he did not experience many hardships as his father did not wish for him to experience the realities of what life as a ruler truly would be like from an age as young as his. He would show to have an avid skill for documenting the histories of his people, their various mythos, beliefs, encounters and more, having a deep passion for educating himself more on ages past.
Yet, as he grew older, he began to realise the gravity of the situation which faced his father's realm, mostly being the looming threat on the eastern bank of the river flowing near Vědratzyn. That was also the name of his father's only held domain. The heirs of Moriwin, reduced to a mere settlement on his burial grounds, while foreigners exploit these sacred grounds of where the forefathers had perished just to be able to strangle it off from others. So he would begin to pique his interest in the art of statecraft. Thus, he would begin to travel on envoys to interact with the surrounding realms, most notably the newly-formed Empire of Ischanor
=== Ascension to the throne ===
His father, already ailing from his age by the time of Radigas' festival of adolescence, soon passed away, into the arms of Diena and (make name for god(ess) of death). He would inherit the rudimentary 'throne' of Vědratzyn uneasily, with many feeling perturbed at the thought of such a young chieftain ruling over them. At the moment of his ascension, he instantaneously begin the modernization of Vědratzyn, to the dismay of some residents, yet it was mostly supported. He would begin to work closely with the merchant class of the city, carefully planning the layout of the city and its infrastructure. Thus, it would no longer be fit to name this state a 'tribe' or 'chiefdom', a curious visitor would now be greeted by the sudden iconic reddish walls of the city.
With the sudden growth of the city, many travellers from abroad, both from foreign and familiar lands, would become interested with the strange development. A new state was emerging. Radigas would use the connections he formed at a younger age to align himself and his realm more with Ischanor. He would quickly befriend various known figures in the realm, even making acquaintance with the Emperor Kanasky Toss II himself.
== Later life ==
=== Further Negotiations with Ischanor ===
Eventually, Radigas would approach the court of the Emperor of Ischanor with a curious offer, the integration of his realm into the empire. A few individuals had laughed, many discussed how it was practically an insult to the emperor, what business was it of a mere chieftain, far from the borders of the empire to attempt to be integrated into it? Obvious desperation. Yet, he approached the emperor with a bold proposal- that if he were to unify the majority of the Ojszari-inhabited lands west of the Mejranica Mountains, that he would be pronounced a Grand Duke. The emperor, eager to humour him either way as it would lead to further expansion of the empire, accepted. Of course, his realm was not yet considered a part of Ischanor at all yet.
=== An Encounter with Varenna ===
On one fateful day, he would be ruminating the path forward for his realm, mostly on his ambition to unify the lands of his esteemed ancestor. A visitor at court, a fair woman, born to a merchant family had come to request to depict him in a painting. He was flattered by the request, he was unaware that there any artists in the city other than the woodcarvers, and so he agreed. She would work tirelessly at the painting, making every intricate detail accurate to his actual appearance, and by seeing her dedication throughout the various sessions where she would continue the painting he would quickly become enamoured by her.
Eventually, she would finish the painting. It was beyond anything he had ever seen, it exceeded the quality of even any Ischanori artist that he was aware of. He quickly became interested in further meeting with her. Consequently, he would often invite her to the then-under-construction castle that he resided in, where they would often discuss various topics which interested them both and they would tour the city quite often, where they would be greeted with happy smiles from the residents, who were actually pleased with the modernisation of the realm.
So, after many meetings he would personally approach her and ask her for her hand in marriage, to which she would graciously accept. He would promise her that soon after the construction of the castle is finished, they would be married as a couple in the eyes of the gods. From here, their love for one another would only further sprout and blossom.
==== Varenna's Expertise ====
Varenna would go on to often aid Radigas in meetings and diplomacy, where she would often travel with him to also discuss matters as his equal, further promoting the age-old equality of gender present with Ojszari culture. As well as this, she would also go on to paint many more portraits of various Ischanori noblemen, even the Emperor himself, after being encouraged by Radigas, further raising the relevancy of Vědanica as a realm and Radigas as a ruler. With Radigas' description, she would also design the illustrious flag of the Grand Duchy of Vědanica.
Category:Ischanor