Gyrandis

Brontii Gyrandis was a Gysandrian Emperor and the final ruler of the Polsis Dynasty, ruling from 15707 to 15727. Considered to be a poor and sometimes callous ruler, Gyrandis's reign was marred by various issues inside and outside the empire, the greatest of which was renewed wars with the Neo-Gulti which would eventually end the empire in 15758.

Following disastrous inflation and a lack of military leadership, Gyrandis was executed in 15727 in a coup led by his Military Advisor Oorestoo, as well as his Pine General Neranso and financial advisor Foreen. All three would briefly take the throne in the next several years, as the death of Gyrandis began the Rapid Interregnum.

## Family History

The Brontii family had risen to power in the waning years of the Zanthian Dynasty, gaining titles under the T'akiz Grand Emperors. Gyrandis's grandmother, Brontii Arento, served as Pine General to Zanthis Quitzi IV in 15652,

## Early Life

Gyrandis was born Brontii Polsis Gyrandis on July 12, 15685, his brother and only sibling Derion being born five years previous in 15680. In the following year his mother would be made Pine General to Zanthis Chariziuz, and in 15689 his father was made Intersis Astem, Communicator of the Congress. Brontii Polsis served under Grand Emperor T'akiz Itar until he became increasingly obsessed with implementing the ancient Gulti Religion in Gysandria, attempting to "restore" the empire's Gulti religious and cultural origins. Itar's behavior became increasingly erratic, and so on November 2, 15695, while stationed in Ferihk, Polsis's troops revolted and proclaimed her "true emperor", a title which Polsis accepted. Polsis then quickly gained support throughout the empire, taking her young sons with her on her campaign as she marched toward Gysandria. By the time she reached the gates of the capital, Polsis had the support of the Congress and all Riverguards within the empire. Itar had fled the city just days previous, and would remain in exile for the remainder of his life. On March 3, 15696, Brontii Polsis was crowned in the capital as emperor, defeating the rebel forces of Itar the following year. In 15697 construction was begun on a grand palace far to the east of the capital, the original site of the Yellow Mouths. In 15699 Amber Retreat was complete, providing the fledgling dynasty further isolation and protection from the increasingly hostile Neo-Gulti and their allies to the Northeast. Now living in Amber Retreat, the young Gyrandis spent the majority of his time playing games, reading, or studying with his tutors, with the banker Foreen becoming Court Tutor in 15706. Gyrandis's brother Derion became a soldier in the army in 15700, and was made a general in 15703, though Gyrandis held no interest in war and would never participate in a battle. The Courtier's History reports that, "Whatsoever Derion did, Gyrandis did the very opposite; whatsoever Gyrandis did, Derion did the opposite. The younger brother was inclined to rest, leisure, and flights of fancy, while the elder was inclined to war, action, and matters of great import."

In 15707, as Polsis's health began to fail, she relied increasingly on Foreen, who by this point acted as tutor to Gyrandis as well as advisor and Intersis Astem to the emperor. Brontii Derion held a great dislike for Foreen, seeing the man as "a leech and a conniving puppeteer"; this brought a rift between he and his mother, and brought Gyrandis closer to the imperial fold. Though Derion had been appointed Pine General in 15705, he now found himself estranged from the family, and in 15708 his mother became concerned that her eldest son would attempt to usurp the empire from her. Both her physical and mental health beginning to fail (most likely from advanced and untreated cancer), Polsis was convinced by Foreen to make Gyrandis her direct successor, leaving Derion out of her will entirely. Derion and his allies accused Foreen of forging Polsis's will to exclude Derion, though Foreen and Gyrandis maintained that Derion had been left out at Brontii's wishes.

## Ascension and War with Derion

With Foreen and the Lead Congressor Philontu Arento, Gyrandis was able to secure the Congress's support quickly, promising increased communication and attention to the Congress. An agreement was quickly reached and Gyrandis was crowned on March 14, 15707.
Following the proclamation, Derion tried to arrange a summit between Gyrandis and himself to discuss the possibility of joint rule for March 21st, but Gyrandis refused to attend, declaring his brother a rebel and public enemy the following day. Derion now felt he had no means other than war, and so he and troops loyal to his cause attacked a Sinquine encampment outside Mantu alongside the river, but were rebuffed by the young general Oorestoo. Though this nearly ended Derion's campaign, shortly thereafter the general Cridell Ari threw his support behind the prince, their combined forces moving on Boshko, taking the small industrial town and gathering more troops. Though this gave Derion a foothold in the south, it also gave Gyrandis pretense for war, and so sent troops south to meet Derion. Derion and Cridell repelled Gyrandis's forces, led by Relero Ari, and, now aware that Gyrandis was on the offensive, strengthened the defenses of Boshko and captured Mantu. Gyrandis next prepared a larger force in the summer, sending Oorestoo to Boshko with a large contingent of troops. After a protracted battle, Oorestoo's army was able to surround Boshko and begin a siege which lasted nearly three months. When at last the imperial troops scaled the walls of Boshko, they found Derion had fled before the siege had even begun, traveling further south to the coast and there raising troops with .