Argiris Kostides

Argiris Kostides was the King of Ilaka, reigning from his father's death from the Hilan Plague in **502PR** to his death in **518PR** in the Battle of Dimale during the Asger War.

## Early Life

Argiris was born in the capital of Ilaka, Kras, in **489PR** to King Ilias Kostides and Irida.

In **497PR** he was named Crown Prince, surviving the early troubles of childhood.

His father, Ilias, later caught the Hilan Plague during the Plague of the 5th Century, dying on July 16 **502PR**, leaving Argiris to become King at the age of 13. Concerned with Argiris’s youth and incomplete education, his mother, Irida became his regent until the age of 15.

He was ceremoniously crowned King in **505PR**, still in the midst of dealing with the Plague. Despite having such a strict manner in the Kostides family, a small crisis emerged when Silas Kostides, Ilias’s Uncle and Argiris’s Great Uncle made a claim for the throne. Thankfully, with the help of Irida, it was quelled by the Royal Guards.

## Reign

On Octaviam 19 **505PR**, the reign of Argiris Kostides began.

### Plague of the 5th Century

*See: Plague of the 5th Century*

The first issue for the new King was the Plague, still running quite rampant in his lands. While Ilias had managed to implement policies that helped, they were no longer being followed, despite deaths still spiking.

As a show of force, Argiris mobilised the Royal Guard and Military, placing the city of Kras on lockdown until the plague was gone, warning the other towns and cities to do the same or face the same fate. This course of action angered the nobles, but when the plague was gone by the end of the next year, he had the people's support.

### External Pressures

Being a new and very young King, nations elsewhere began pressuring Argiris into unfavourable deals. Initially, he was taken aback, but began increasing the size of the military to intimidate other nations into backing down.

One of these nations was Gonarundu, who threatened a war with Ilaka, despite their loss in the Helicules War. As a show of force, Argiris built a series of fortresses on the river, and marched his soldiers to the border in **509PR**, warning their monarch, Philip, to not overstep his bounds.

Argiris personally invited Alkis Carto of the Carto Empire to Kras Castle in the same year, increasing the relationship between the two nations and personally apologising for the acts of Minos during the aftermath of the Helicules War. Despite anger from the nobles, his reasoning was to keep the Cartons from declaring war while he reigned, which would become disastrous.

### Hashin Alliance

In Hashin, Argiris made an agreement/alliance with Emperor Arima Itami, marrying his daughter Kinyo in **510PR**. The alliance greatly benefitted both nations, allowing Ilaka to obtain a solid ally and someone they could trade too, while Hashin needed the cheaper goods to rebuild their nation after the Plague and Hurricane Max.

The couple had their first child, a son named Nasos, at the start of **511PR** and their second, a daughter named Loukia in **512PR**.

### Breakdown with the Nirvan Republic

On his campaign to appease every nation, or threaten them into understanding, his and the nation's relationship with the Nirvan Republic began to slowly crack. This came about firstly when a group of Ilakans crossed the border and looted a Nirvan village, enslaving the residents in **510PR**.

The Nirvan Republic quickly sent a representative named Aulus Sellic, who demanded the immediate return of the citizens, the punishment of the people involved and a small amount of monetary compensation. Flabbergasted, Argiris denied the Nirvan Diplomat and removed him from the castle by force, his temper boiling.

When he took a breath he tried to continue discussions with Sellic but he had already began his return to Nirva to speak of the news.

### Asger War

*See: Asger War*

When Aulus Sellic became Consul in **511PR**, alongside Decimus Lupis, he initiated a targeted assault on Ilaka’s reputation and that of King Argiris.

Furious, Argiris threatened to declare war on the Nirvans, preparing his army. After hearing silence he felt that he had achieved his task in intimidating the Nirvan Republic, but in **512PR** they declared war, with two armies marching on Ilakan lands.

The war itself was a horrible occassion for Argiris, his army defeated at the battles of Sora, Aralus and Coraeus. While they were able to completely destroy one of the Nirvan armies at the Battle of Kardir, they were eventually beaten by Vibius in Hocos and Posonan.

In **517PR**, Argiris was once again brought personally into the firing line. Vibius making a series of statements and remarks that damaged not only his reputation but the reputation of Ilaka. Furious, Argiris began building an army.

#### Battle of Dimale

*See: Battle of Dimale*

Argiris’s army was completed in **518PR**, marching out to silence Vibius at once. Though it was not the day for the King, as he rode and met Vibius on the left, alongside his Companions.

When he eventually spotted the Nirvan commander, they dueled, himself charging first with an attempt to spear him. The duel itself was pitiful, the skill difference alone being laughable, ignoring the fact Vibius was Awakened as well. After being defeated the first time, Argiris again rose to fight, only to be defeated again quickly.

As the battle raged on, Argiris lay there dying, most of his insides destroyed from Vibius’s single strike.

## Succession

Before Argiris left for the battle he had named his son Nasos as his heir. Now that he was dead, Nasos took the throne at the age of 7, having a regent in the form of the Kostides Council.

Argiris’s crown would never end up being placed on his son’s head, Vibius taking it when Ilaka surrendered.