Harimar

## Canon But To Be Expanded

**Harimar The Great** was the first leader of the Harimari, founder of the Harimraj, and one of several unifiers of Rahen. A charismatic conqueror and philosopher, his empire would stretch as far as Tianlou and he is responsible for the creation of several dynasties such as his male line, The Divine Call, and the female line of the Ruby Garden. He is credited for the rapid spread of High Philosophy and helping the restructuring of the Rahenraj's caste system to place Harimari on top as administrators and lords.

## Early Life

Much of Harimar's early life is unknown as the Harimari were only recently ascended, having existed for 10 years before Harimar's birth. Growing up in the Ascension Peninsula, in what is now known as Harimar's Cradle, some sources claim him to have been a fighter, others more of a scholar since his childhood, though the truth is likely a mix of the both. It would be during these early years he would have his son, Manava I of the Divine Call.

What is known, is that at only the age of 25, in the year 35, Harimar was able to unify the local Harimari tribes and declare his intent to conquer Rahen, igniting the Rise of the Harimraj Wars against Rahen.

## Conquests

Within just 8 years, with western Rahen already under his control, Harimar would declare war on the kingdom of Yanhadesh in the year 43. In 6 years he would conquer the entirety of the kingdom, leaving him with all of Rahen and the upper-Yanhe under his control by the year 49. Following this expansion he would declare his empire the Harimraj, Harimar's Rule.

Consolidating his lands, it wouldn't be until the year 60 that he would continue his wars against Haless. It is believed that during this time is when he sired the Lotus Sisters, taking time from his conquests to raise them. In the end he would continue, inciting the Wars of Ascension against the rest of Haless.

In 10 years Harimar finished his conquest of Yanshen, his Harimari Empire stretching from Rahen to Yanshen in the year 70, becoming the first emperor of Yanshen, with portions of South Haless included. His goal was to discover the truth behind the high temples, delving into them as he traveled Haless to discover the meaning behind the High Gods and the way of life they followed. It would be in one of these temples that he would lose his left eye, earning him the title the One-Eyed Master of Rahen.

With the extent of his empire, Harimar would establish various states to rule Yanshen in his stead, these states being administrated by the rising class of Eunuchs who would remain influential for over a thousand years post the empire's fall due to this.

In the same years he conquered Yanshen his armies sweeped South Haless, conquering Thidinkai, and nominally controlling the Lupulan. Sources report Harimar feeling embarrassed by most of his expeditions in Thidinkai, expeditions to find high temples only finding meager artifacts and rubble in exchange for the number of men lost to hit and run attacks from the jungles. Harimar would lose far more than he gained through his attempts at southern Haless.

## Disappearance

Much like his early life, little to nothing is known about his supposed death and disappearance after he entered the high temple of Tianlou. This would be the last time he was spotted, in the year 79, even after the temple of Tianlou was plundered and explored there was no trace of Harimar found.

## Personality

Having a close relationship to his numerous children, a significant portion of his known personality has been recorded by his descendants such as the Lotus Sisters and Manava I. Other records, by his other children, have mostly been lost as these other bloodlines died out early.

The Lotus Sisters have written of how he was known to have enjoyed spring bouquets, collecting wild flowers of various colors for his own keeping as he expanded his empire across Haless. They wrote that when he awoke in the morning the first thing he did was tend to his flowers carefully. A story goes that he planted the first flowers in the Ruby Gardens for his daughters, that with each territory he conquered he would bring one back for each of them. When he disappeared his daughters would take it to the next level in his memory, recalling when they used to garden with him. The Lotus Sisters write him as a doting father and a gentle soul, whose mighty hands could carefully tend to flowers or hold his daughters in wonderful embraces.

His son, Manava I, writes somewhat differently of his father than the Lotus Sisters did. Manava recalls his father first and foremost as a scholar, whose days were spent reading and his mornings often beginning with a cup of Mansorudo tea and manuscripts. He writes of Harimar as an attentive father, but a strict one nevertheless. Ensuring Manva focused on his studies and was disciplined. In one letter he writes of his father's eyes as an "endless sea of wisdom", capable of "evoking the truth" from Manva without having him speak a single word. It is said his keen eyes could count the number of spears arrayed against him, his ears could hear the war-horns blow from leagues away.

Harimar's opponents of course, have written the complete opposite of him. On the battlefield he was written as a fierce berserker, an unstoppable force of strength. Abnormally large for a Harimari, he has been written to be incredibly muscular, standing almost a foot taller than most others. His hands supposedly could crush a human's skull with ease. In terms of strategy he has been described as "cold", "calculated", and "merciless". Defeating his foes utterly.

## Legacy

Harimar's impact on Rahen and Haless as a whole was massive. For one, Harimar established the Harimraj which would last nearly 800 years, only ending at the rise of Jagaddipendra. This empire, although fracturing into several parts after Harimar's disappearance, is known as one of the greatest empires that Rahen has seen due its power and influence over the whole of Rahen.

Harimar also helped reestablish the caste system as one that benefited harimari as administrators and lords rather than being in the lower castes. This led to thousands of years of harimari dominance in Rahen, eventually also contributing to the decadence of the Lotus Court, although his son Manava I would also play a part with his codifications.

Under Harimar high philosophy flourished and became the dominant religion/philosophy throughout Rahen. it emerged out of Raheni Polytheism following his conquests and spread as harimari dispersed throughout Yanshen and Haless. This philosophy venerated the high temples much like Harimar did.