Calrodiy IV

## Calrodiy IV Vryekynn

**Calrodiy IV Vryekynn** was the emperor of Averynn from the years of 1386 - 1448, known for returning the Vyrekynn dynasty to Averynn, at first hailed as a hero, he was later criticized for his spending of the imperial treasury on frivolous expenses and neglect of state affairs

## Early Life

The early life and years of Calrodiy remain a mystery to the modern day, the first notable records of him being that of his associations with the lords of Stenurynn, who would remain steadfast and loyal allies until well after his demise. Most scholars and historians suggest that he was born in Stenurynn to exiled survivors of the Vyrekynn dynasty, who had not ruled in the Ynn since 1205.

Some less reputable ‘historians’ and gossips, most of them conveniently associated with the enemies of Arverynn, claimed that Calrodiy was a fake heir, introduced by the yen Stenur family to secure a powerful, and manipulatable, ally in Arverynn.

## Reconquest of Arverynn

Regardless of his exact origins, his first appearance into proper recorded record began in 1386, when at the host of a shining band of mercenaries and knights, he marched from the hospitality of Stenurynn- who graciously provided many of the troops and supplies which would comprise his host - to the former imperial capital Arverynn, from which his ancestors once ruled over the entirety of the Ynnic Empire.

He easily swept aside the ruling lords of the city; bolstered by their own weakness and the enthusiastic support of the downtrodden and shrinking population of the once mighty city; as he instilled a renewed sense of hope in the populace as he celebrated his family's glorious return, soon he was crowned lord of Arverynn, and Emperor of the Ynn.

Weeks of celebration ensued, all attended by the joyous and confident Calrodiy, from grand lavish feasts and banquets, to large parades and marches, seeing the reopening of many of the great entertainment venues of the past, such as the Hippodrome and the Arena, all of which was paid for by the Stenurynn lords; a trend which would continue for many years still.

## Diplomatic blunders

So confident and proud was Calrodiy, that he soon began to make diplomatic endeavors, inviting and meeting with many of his surrounding lords, proclaiming and boasting of his emperorship, and promising a return to the glory of the Ynnic Empire of his forefathers.

This would prove a mistake, as many lords still remembered his ancestors' failures during the twilight years of the Empire, which still stung, and many of course; were simply unwilling to give up their power, and help their own aspirations. His own diplomatic incompetence and presumptiveness would alienate the last few of those willing to join with him.

Thus with a streak of diplomatic failures behind him and unwilling to fight the wars which would have been necessary to achieve a unification of force, Calrodiy instead settled into a life of hedonistic debauchery and resting on his laurels.

## Festivities

There were many lords in the Ynn, and many more parties and celebrations across them. None were quite so celebratory and lavish as Calrodiy. Willing to take as much debt on as possible to fund his parties and festivities, as well as the constant supply of credit from his Stenurynn supporters.

Records from those who remember them, and those around him would state that he would privately admit that he was disheartened by his failures and felt that he couldn’t live up to his ancestors expectations. Thus, instead he believed his festivities would fund and bolster the low morale of his people, scholars debate the authenticity of these statements as he showed little concern for the lives of his people during several later conflicts, and is a viewpoint primarily held by Vyrekynn dynasty loyalists.

For a time this proved effective, as to the weary citizens, anything was better than the feuding and tyrannical princes of the previous age, at least according to contemporary sources.

## Alaran’s war

The ultimate defeat and humiliation of Calrodiy would come in 1443; when the young lord Alaran yen Cestor, who ruled over Trompolere, began to embark on his own campaign to unify the disparate lordships of the Ynnic empire, scoring a series of crushing victories, first by defeating Fadhevych- one of Averynn’s few allies -  and seizing Vels Cestor.

The disaster would only grow worse for the panicked emperor when he received disastrous news, Lord Tranvit III of Stanyrhrada had seen weakness and was also marching into the territories of Averynn.

Desperate to protect his lands and people, he marshaled his troops, marching to meet Alaran’s army at Les Vethrany. This would prove to be an ultimately disastrous decision as despite the relative competence of Carodin II, Alaran outmaneuvered and outnumbered him with far more willing and able troops.

The crushing, humiliating defeat, was a disaster of legendary proportions, which forced Calrodiy to flee back to Averynn, rattled and terrified. He began to scrape together a plan to save what remained of his empire, even further frightened by the news that Alaran had managed to defeat the invading army of Tranvit III with minimal casualties.

Calrodiy called in every favor, tapped every creditor willing to lend and offered the entirety of the imperial coffers to Alaran, for the mere price that he turned his conquests elsewhere. Alaran would accept this, and the Peace of Camir’s Gate would be remembered as the ultimate humiliation of Calrodiy, and the start of his rapid decline.

## Last Years

Broken, beaten and impoverished, Calrodiy spent the last years of his life in utter misery, desperately trying to recover what little he could and win any victory back. His only real success at such would come in the form of the hiring of Veykodan’s mercenaries and adventurers to protect and enforce rule of law, whilst this would prove controversial, it would also provide the beginning road of recovery for Averynn, as this would later emerge into the Veykodan guard; a critical institution in the recovery of the Lordship.

So uncharacteristically positive of a decision this was, that many attribute the plan to his much more successful and wise son, Carodin II, though exact evidence of this remains muddied and not quite clear.

Calrodiy would die on a cold night in 1448, attended to only by one, his most ardent supporter until the end of his days; his son Carodin. From Carodin’s statements, his last breaths were spent in desperate prayer, begging the Ynn to grant Carodin the strength to carry out the holy important and holy duties, the unification of the peoples of the Ynn under one glorious banner.

## Legacy

The legacy of Calrodiy IV is a complicated one. Hope mingles with the bitter taste of defeat and memories of faded glory clash with the present heights of his dynasty. None will ever truly agree whether or not Calrodiy was a negative or positive figure in the end, but all can agree on this.

Calrodiy failed. Calrodiy failed many times, in many ways. He failed to capitalize on his initial momentum, and was too willing to sit on his laurels. He was too quick to spend, and far too reliant on matters of diplomacy alone in a dangerous and fragile time. Many would argue him a coward who nearly bankrupted the nation, and brought ruin to his family.

There are many others, however, that Calrodiy is an unsung hero. Whilst none can deny his failures, there are far too many willing and able to sweep aside his triumphant return to the broken and miserable den of faded-glory that was Arverynn. The mere sight of the banner of the Vyrekynn dynasty bringing something to the peasants of Arverynn that hadn’t been felt since the last of those banners smoldered and burned. Hope. When his nation stood at the brink of the ultimate defeat, it was him with his silvered words that turned away Alaran from Arverynn and the clever recruitment of the Veykodan’s that would ultimately prove the survival of his nation and dynasty not just possible, but plausible. There are many who lay the rise of Arverynn at his feet, as he was the one who first took the step.