Ludimik II of Toscov

Ludimik II in 146 AW

***“**I will not be swayed by the opinions of Rebel Princes! I am the Emperor of the Golden Empire, I know what is best.**”***
— Ludimik II of Toscov

**Ludimik II of Toscov**, sometimes called **Ludimik the Idle**, was the Emperor of the Golden Empire of Toscov from 145 AW until his death in 185 AW. He is most commonly associated with his poor handling of the Sixth Plague of Ihyll and his role in the War of the Fifteen Princes.

While his reign was long, Ludimik became infamous for his inaction and indifference towards the state of his Empire, even as it entered a decade-long civil war. His tale is, therefore, often overshadowed by those of his brothers who survived the civil war: Zhincis and Deslov.

## Biography

### Early Life

Ludimik iz Toscov was born to Crown Prince Budimiv and his wife Galya in 114 AW. Ludimik received an all-around education in a multitude of subjects, as he was prepared to eventually become the ruler of the Golden Empire of Toscov. His father was crowned Budimiv I in 136 AW, making Ludimik heir apparent to the Empire.

Four years later, in 140 AW, the Sixth Plague of Ihyll broke out across the Eastland, ravaging the Empire. Ordinary Humans turned into wild beastmen, as they were called at the time. Nowadays, they are called Krighal Taresh. The infrastructure and cross-land trade of the Empire broke down as the Krighal Taresh stalked the hinterlands and woods.

In response to the crisis, Budimiv raised as many soldiers as possible and began scouring the rural parts of the Empire for any threats. This tactic was both bloody and ineffective, however, as it did nothing to prevent the spread of the plague. Instead, Budimiv's soldiers would simply get infected themselves in some cases.

A doctor of the Kymelian Order, Mikhail Ivolanov, ultimately found a cure for the beastmen, restoring their sanity, though their bodies would be changed forever. These would be the cured beastmen, later known as the Krighal Vitna. Budimiv I was not keen on accepting Ivolanov's findings, however, and he had the Krighal Vitna killed in the same way as the Taresh.

Ultimately, two of Ludimik's own siblings, Prince Woldar and Princess Zivura, turned into Krighal Vitna. Budimiv I was relentless, however, and had them exiled. Zivura went into hiding, though Woldar organised a militia against his father, ultimately killing Budimiv in 145 AW. The Empire passed to Ludimik, but what he inherited was no Golden Empire, but one on the brink of ripping itself apart.

### War of the Fifteen Princes

Now crowned Ludimik II, the emperor continued the policies of his father. Krighal Taresh and Krighal Vitna were persecuted in the same manner. This policy drew the continued ire of Woldar and Zivura, but also from many of Ludimik's other siblings. For some, it was for moral reasons, for others, it was because they deemed the policy ineffective. The most notable of these opponents was Budimiv's second son, Durkrin.

Durkrin, alongside a few others princes and princesses, were notably absent from Ludimik's official coronation in late 145 AW. While he was mildly concerned about falling out with the other princes, Ludimik II believed that they could be brought to his side diplomatically against Woldar, who had been branded a kinslayer.

However, Ludimik II, and all Toscov, was totally unprepared when Princes Durkrin and Zhincis launched a coup attempt in the city in early 146 AW. Barely driven back by the Imperial Guard, the pair launched a short siege of the capital in what would become a decade-long civil war that erupted in every corner of the Empire. Ultimately, all fifteen of Budimiv I's children chose a side in the conflict, hence called the War of the Fifteen Princes.

Ludimik II headed the Imperial Princes and was met with the sobering reality that only two of his younger siblings supported him directly: Prince Deslov and Princess Zviglena. Another loyalist faction, the Golden Princes under Princess Radchava, was loyal to the Empire, but not to Ludimik himself. Ultimately, the civil war was a five-against-ten struggle of loyalists versus rebels. Reportedly, Ludimik spiralled into a mild depression during this period as he watched his siblings betray him and his Empire collapse in front of his eyes.

In the War of the Fifteen Princes, Ludimik raised the Golden Army, which he led personally. He often fought alongside his brother Deslov, who became his second-in-command throughout the conflict. Most notably, he defeated and killed Rebel Princess Jaleka at the Battle of Takunmaj and Krighal Princess Zivura at the Battle of Kaliscow. Despite these victories, Ludimik's role early into the conflict was largely a passive one, as he remained in Toscov giving orders, rarely leaving the city. However, he began participating more actively as the tide began shifting in the Imperials' favour.

Ludimik reinforced the Siege of Vozhirishia, which would end in the death of Prince Borklaw and the destruction of the Free Princes. With Borklaw dead, there was only one man left who opposed Ludimik: the Rebel Prince Zhincis. Zhincis suffered some defeats at the hands of Ludimik and Deslov's combined forces, which resulted in him abandoning his position and moving east into the Kinzovan Mountains, even capturing the city of Kinzova itself. With the mountain passes under Zhincis' control, the Imperials were slowed down, giving the Rebel Prince the time to besiege and capture Arkhalesk. From here, he rallied his troops and turned around, defeating Deslov at Novolabik, which killed the Imperial momentum.

Ludimik and Deslov were driven back across the Kinzovan Mountains, as all lands east of them fell under Zhincis' control. The War of the Fifteen Princes entered a new phase, becoming a largely immobile meat grinder across the mountain ranges. While the Imperials had an overwhelming numerical advantage, the mountain pass chockepoints allowed Zhincis to hold them off with a much smaller force. It wasn't until 155 AW, after a year and a half of this struggle, that the Imperials broke through at Prokhov Pass. Across Toscov, nobles loyal to the Empire celebrated the end of the war, though their celebrations were premature.

At Sosotau, a minor village, Zhincis and his second-in-command, Eubomir Kiriasanenko, ambushed the much larger force of the Imperial offensive, splitting their troops in half. The Princely Armies of Toscov and Kinzova were routed and their generals killed, with extreme losses taken by the Golden Army too due to a desperate charge to break out the trapped Prince Deslov. Shortly after, Zhincis pushed back Ludimik across the mountains another time, retaking the passes. Once again, the war entered a similar stalemate.

After another year of pointless fighting, Ludimik realised that defeating Zhincis would require far more casualties than his war-weary people were prepared to accept. Reluctantly, he contacted the Kymelian Kingdom to negotiate a peace treaty, with Zhincis accepting the invitation for peace talks. The resulting Treaty of Karnimsk would end the War of the Fifteen Princes officially, with Zhincis being made the Prince of Arkhalesk. The terms were humiliating for Ludimik, and some of Zhincis' more hardline rebels disagreed and eventually rebelled against him.

While the War of the Fifteen Princes had officially come to a close, the fighting had not. Local resistance continued for up to a decade after the conflict ended. Ludimik, tired of war, tasked the Princes to deal with the rebellions inside their borders.

### Later Life

After the War of the Fifteen Princes, Ludimik II returned to Toscov. He oversaw the reconstruction of the war-torn empire, though he delegated the tasks to his courtiers while he did the bare minimum: putting his seal on the decrees. His (relative) inaction earned him the nickname the Idle Emperor or Ludimik the Idle.

Ludimik II nearly entered a second war with his brother Zhincis when the childless prince requested to adopt a lowborn as his heir and daughter. When Ludimik categorically refused, Zhincis split off from House iz Toscov, forming House iz Arkhalesk against the Emperor's wishes and adopting the lowborn anyway. While some of his more warlike advisors, many of which had fought in the civil war, were out for blood, Ludimik ultimately let it go.

In 180 AW, the ageing Ludimik was de-facto couped by his son, Bokhail. While Ludimik was technically still the Emperor, his power became purely symbolic as he was declared unwell and unfit to rule. Subsequently, Bokhail made himself his father's regent. Ludimik II spent the last five years of his life in a golden cage before finally dying in 185 AW.

## Career

* Golden Empire of Toscov
	+ Prince (114-136 AW)
	+ Heir Apparent (136-145 AW)
	+ Emperor (145-185 AW)

## Military Career

* War of the Fifteen Princes
	+ Siege of Toscov - Victory
	+ Battle of Takunmaj - Victory
	+ Second Siege of Toscov - Victory
	+ Battle of Kaliscow - Victory
	+ Siege of Vozhirishia - Victory
	+ Battle of Pyadazhan - Victory
	+ First Battle of Iruluk Pass - Stalemate
	+ Battle of Mizhavchevsk - Victory
	+ Battle of Chipalevsk - Victory
	+ Battle of Prokhov Pass - Victory
	+ Battle of Sosotau - Defeat
	+ Second Battle of Iruluk Pass - Stalemate
	+ Third Battle of Iruluk Pass - Stalemate
	+ Fourth Battle of Iruluk Pass - Stalemate

## Personality

While Toscovish historians have been quick to label Ludimik II as lazy or idle, the right word might, perhaps, be apathetic. While he is often portrayed as sitting back while Deslov did all his dirty work, Ludimik was quite active during the War of the Fifteen Princes, albeit not always on the battlefield. It is only later in life that he began delegating many tasks to the Princes or his courtiers, though this behaviour is not uncommon among emperors.

## Relationships

* Prince Deslov - Ludimik considered Deslov his second-in-command and greatest ally, though these feelings were largely one-sided.

* Crown Prince Bokhail - Ludimik grew to hate his son after he de-facto couped him and crowned himself regent.
* Vera iz Arkhalesk - Ludimik considered Vera Zhincis' bastard child and a constant thorn in his side.