Dervot IV

* Basic Info
* Relations
* Occupations

Divorced M3-25 375 ASB

Erica Fields:

Married M9-04 388 ASB

Divorced M10-11 417 ASB

Amina Hill:

Married M1-25 418 ASB

Ellis Cloam

Born M11-25 388 ASB

Chunky Heord

Born M11-12 402 ASB

Felicity Ardash

Born M4-12 418 ASB

Sectile Heord

Born M2-28 419 ASB

Labradorite Heord

Born M9-22 426 ASB

M9-05 365 ASB - M4-14 373 ASB

M1-04 375 ASB - M4-27 379 ASB

Head of the House of Heord:

M4-27 379 ASB - Present

King of Clayistan:

M4-27 379 ASB - M2-11 437 ASB (Disputed M3-07 429 ASB - M2-11 437 ASB)

King of the Sandy Clay Commonwealth:

M7-04 397 ASB - M2-11 437 ASB (Disputed M3-07 429 ASB - M2-11 437 ASB)

Izza Fissil (Second time)

Hershel Skrim (Third time)

Head of the House of Heord:

None, position created

King of Clayistan:

Manterro I

King of the Sandy Clay Commonwealth:

None, position created

Hershel Skrim (Second time)

Richard Clawbord (Third time)

Head of the House of Heord:

None, currently hold position

King of Clayistan:

Claysando II

King of the Sandy Clay Commonwealth:

Claysando II

**Dervot IV** (full name **Dervot Heord IV**) was a journalist for the Ceramica Press and the Clay News Association, who became King of Clayistan on M4-27 379 ASB. Dervot IV remained in power until losing the War of Heordian Deposition.

## Biography

### Early Life and Beginnings of Clay News (338 ASB - 363 ASB)

Dervot IV was born on M3-05 338 ASB to Dervot Heord III and his wife Sally Heord, they were employed as butchers and raised Dervot IV in a middle-class household in the city of Ceramica in Kingdom of Clayistan.

On M3-05 354 ASB, Dervot left his home to become a full-time reporter for Ceramica Press, the largest news agency in the city. Upon being hired, a mere six days later, he discovered why he had gotten the job so easily; the job was dangerous due to having to spend excessive amounts of time in the shadier parts of the city, and the salary was lousy due to it being based on the number of stories written and not the hours worked. This did not deter Dervot as he was determined to have this job work out and he quickly became friends with one of Ceramica Press's editors Izza Fissil. In M10 of 358, Dervot Heord began investigating rumors that Joakim Stevens, the CEO of Ceramica Press, was committing fraud and on M12-13 358 ASB he broke into Ceramica Press's printing office and deposited his article to be published without Stevens knowing. Two days later, Joakim Stevens was arrested and on M12-24 358 ASB, Ceramica Press was liquidated.

After the collapse of Ceramica Press, Dervot was in search of a new job, but due to the ousting of his old boss, no local paper would hire him. On M1-26 359 ASB, Dervot, Izza Fissil, and Fissil's husband and fellow reporter Hershel Skrim founded the Clay News Association which, by M5 363 ASB, had overtaken the Clay Rider and become the largest news agency in Ceramica.

### Actions during the Sand Succession War (363 ASB - 365 ASB)

On M10-19 363 ASB, King Claysius IV announced that Clayistan would be officially backing Baron Signus Clavier of Monoterrus in the Sand Succession War and that a single news agency would be allowed to report on the events taking place there in order to keep the news as accurate as possible. Later that day Dervot Heord set off to Terracotta City to register the Clay News Association as a candidate to be permitted to report on the War and on M10-29 363 ASB, under the advice of Baron Horace Grain of Ceramica, the Clay News Association was chosen to report on the events of the War. Three days later, Dervot and a small group of other Clay News Association reporters left for Monoterrus.

Dervot and his fellow reporters arrived in Monoterrus after a three-day journey and were informed that if they are surrounded whilst in a combat zone they must not surrender as the Sands will not accept surrender. After this formality the group were escorted to their living areas. The first few months in Monoterrus went well for the Clay News Association which had become popular within the most developed regions of Clayistan, whose populace yearned to know what was happening on the front lines. By this time Dervot himself had taken a fancy to personally attending the battles in order to report the events more accurately.

Towards the end of M1 364 ASB, on the outskirts of the Monoterrus controlled regions, a small sand faction attacked a patrol which Dervot happened to be travelling with. The entire patrol was killed during the attack, save for Dervot who had decided to surrender in spite of his orders. However, upon surrendering, the leader of the group Austin Alonzo asked Dervot if he could be useful which Dervot confirmed. The group then fled away from Monoterrus controlled land.

On M7-01 365 ASB Dervot and a group of fellow Alonzo supporters came under fire whilst scouting for holes in Monoterrus's defenses. Dervot and two others crawled into a floor hole to try and escape. The floor hole went deeper than usual and deposited Dervot and his two associates into a large cavern with a river secret river running through it. On the shore of the river were flowers. Dervot IV believed he recognized the flowers as you flowers, a which was once used by the Kingdom of Sand to poison political opponents before they were forced to wide out the species. Dervot decided that he needed to test whether or not they truly were you flowers, so whilst his two companions were sleeping he took a few petals from one of the flowers and soaked them in some boiling water, in the morning Dervot's companions drank the water. The companions died on M7-05 365 ASB, Dervot spent the next two days gather seeds, petals and soil of before leaving the cavern.

On M8-07 365 Dervot Heord and Tripe Snide snuck into the city of Monoterrus. Once in the city the group located a pipe that fed into the city's palace, Dervot dumped a bag of dried you flower petals into the pipe. On M8-10 365 ASB the rulers of Monoterrus died leading to the withdrawal of Clayistan forces from the war. Dervot's actions for the longest time were unknown by those outside of House of Alonzo. Two weeks later, Dervot was granted a place in House of Alonzo and a position in the newly reformed government of the Sand Republic for his actions during the Sand Succession War but he declined and instead took a large portion of the looted gold and returned home to Clayistan under the guise that he had escaped captivity as so many others had.

### Rise of Clay News (365 ASB - 375 ASB)

By the time Dervot had returned to Clayistan, the Clay News Agency had grown in size and became the largest news agency in the predominantly Clay regions of the country. In M4 366 ASB, a Purple Clay Isles native named Richard Clawbord was chosen by Dervot to establish Clay News in the Purple Clay Isles, and two of the founding members of the Clay News Association, Hershel Skrim and Izza Fissil, were given the task of establishing the Roslund branch and the Sunbell branch respectively. On M6-16 369 ASB Dervot Heord married Fleur Lara, who was an accountant working at Clay News, she took the name Heord. Heord's wife gave birth to a son named Hugo Heord on M12-21 372 ASB. On M4-14 373 ASB Dervot was captured at the initial Sand Republic landings in the Kingdom of Clayistan and was released on M1-04 375 ASB.

### Anti-Government Plotting and Coup (375 ASB - 379 ASB)

Following the Sand War and his release from captivity, Dervot had begun to resent Claysius IV for his actions during the war and began plotting to remove him from power. He informed Hershel Skrim and Izza Fissil of his plans on M2-18 375 ASB. Heord knowing that his wife was an avid supporter of Claysius IV had her divorced on M3-25 375 ASB, she then left Ceramica taking Hugo Heord with her.

On M4-11 379 ASB, one of Dervot's spies within the Terracotta Palace had informed him that he was going to be summoned to the palace on M4-24 to be arrested for treason. This prompted Dervot to speed up his plans. On M4-21, Dervot sent a slow acting poison to Izza Fissil and ordered her to place it into the palaces water reservoir and into several local reservoirs. Three days later, on the day of Dervot's arrest, King Claysius IV, his sons, daughter, wife and the majority of the ministers and advisors succumbed to the poison and on M4-26 379 ASB Claysius IV's distant cousin Duke Geraldo Sectile of Iron Lake was declared King of Clayistan as Manterro I. The next day, Dervot Heord and his party entered the palace and demanded that Manterro I abdicate which promptly happened. Dervot Heord IV then declared himself the King of Clayistan and chose Dervot IV to be his regnal name.

### Early Reign (379 ASB - 391 ASB)

On M5-05 379 ASB Dervot IV moved the capital of Clayistan from Terracotta City to Ceramica in an attempt to ward off any would-be assassins. This action upset much of the nobility but mattered very little to anyone outside of Terracotta City. On M7-18 of the same year, Dervot IV was informed by Izza Fissil that she had discovered through her spy network that General Clancy Paige, the head of the Sandy Clay Regional Army, was planning on overthrowing him and placing another distant cousin of Claysius IV on the throne of Clayistan. Dervot IV subsequently removed Clancy Paige from his position two days later and under the advice of Izza Fissil appointed former Sandy Clay Regional Army Lieutenant Colonel Dao Go as the head of the Sandy Clay Regional Army, as he had been removed from his prior position for writing works that were critical of Claysius IV, this chain of events prompted Dervot IV to begin replacing other key government positions with his supporters.

On thing that Dervot IV worried about since coming to power was the idea that the Clayistan National Army might betray him. On M11-09 380 ASB Dervot IV announced that his vassal were going to be allowed to own and control armies once again. Dervot IV believed that if there were other armies marching about the Kingdom then the Clayistan National Army would be more cautious about trying to overthrow him. Dervot IV also came up with a plan to keep his new vassal armies in line. He would introduce Ceram Ritual Combat to the rest of the Kingdom of Clayistan on a much larger scale. In Dervot's version of Ceram Ritual Combat vassals had disputes with each other would pay the Kingdom of Clayistan a large fee to buy soldiers for use in the designated combat area where they would then fight each other, Clayistan would recognize the winner of the fight as the winner of the dispute. On M11-12 380 ASB Dervot IV established the Governate of Dervot just south of Annaractine for use in Ceram Ritual Combat.

At the start of Dervot IV's reign a portion of the Clayistan Royal Guard (CRG) split off from the CRG and formed the CRG-Sectile starting the Third CRG Schism. On M2-18 381 ASB Dervot IV attempted to help end the schism by permitting the CRG to kidnap more children to recruit into the CRG and had what these children were taught changed to make them more loyal to him. Many more left the CRG in response to these changes.

On M6-30 382 ASB Dervot IV ordered the construction of the Bani Prison Camp. On paper this Bani Prison Camp appeared to be one of the most secure on the continent Dervot IV made sure of that in reality the camp was built to make sure that if Dervot IV was imprisoned in it he could easily escape, the walls were built to be remotely collapsible, if Dervot IV had an ally on the outside he could give him the remote in advance to release him, additionally the Bani River for which the camp was named regularly flooded during which time prisoner staff would maneuver to their under ground work quarters leaving the prisoners unattended. A permanently locked maintenance shack existed in the camp, when the door was shook in a specific way the door would open and when the floor of the shack was exposed to a significant amount of it would collapse giving way to a series of tunnels, which would lead him to various points nearby.

On M6-01 383 ASB the Purple Governor Vertman Grang died, Dervot IV asked his brother Ramper Heord if he would like to take over the position, Ramper told Dervot IV that he would need a few days to decide. On M6-05 383 ASB Ramper Heord accepted Dervot IV's proposal and became the Purple Governor.

On M2-26 384 ASB Dervot IV left the Vitral Palace in a convoy of five vehicles for a tour around the city, Dervot IV was in the second car from the front. After half an hour of touring the front most car in the convoy was rammed by an armoured vehicle and was sent flying into a neighboring building, mere seconds later an explosion was heard and an ancient building collapsed on top of the two cars at the end of the convoy. Izza Fissil who was in the same car as Dervot IV told Dervot IV to follow her as she exited the car, Dervot IV followed Izza Fissil as she ran towards where the ancient building had landed and exposed the sub-city below it, the pair entered and were soon joined by the the driver of their car Garfield Foster who reported that shooting had begun outside. The trio wandered the sub-city for several hours before emerging in a diner near the Vitral Palace, once in the palace they learned that an attack had simultaneously occurred there too, many people who Dervot IV considered to be important died in the attack.

Following the failed assassination attempt Dervot IV began to worry about his own safety and on M2-28 commissioned the conversion of the Ceramica Military Base into the Heord Palace which would serve as his residence as well as the city's garrison and airship hanger. As well as dealing with security Dervot IV also had to go about and replace those who had died during the attack, one of the casualties of the attack was the King of Clayistan's official fashion designer Francisco Fields who had been in the convoy's front most car, Dervot IV wished for a replacement who couldn't possibly be a security threat and in the end Dervot IV chose the youngest daughter of Francisco, Erica Fields who was hired on M3-03 384 ASB.

The Bani Prison Camp was completed on M4-18 384 ASB

The Heord Palace was completed on M1-23 386 ASB.

Dervot IV began dating Erica Fields on M6-19 386 ASB, Dervot IV had their relationship kept a secret incase it fell apart and made him look bad. Field and Dervot IV revealed their relationship on M7-18 288 ASB on that same day Dervot IV proposed to Fields, she accepted. Fields married Dervot IV on M9-04 388 ASB, Fields took Dervot IV's family name of Heord, she gave birth to a daughter named Ellis Heord on M11-25 388 ASB.

On M8-08 390 ASB the military of the Sandy Clay Regional Army overthrew the government of the Sandy Clay Autonomous Region. In spite of national outcry for the national army to intervene, Dervot IV chose not to act on the matter as they had not threatened the security of the nation and he trusted Izza Fissil's judgment on appointing him as the head of the Sandy Clay Regional Army. On M3-25 391 ASB Dervot IV publicly backed the Party for Peace and Prosperity led by Conrad Smith in the Soil Union elections, as he claimed that a dismantled Sandy State was a good thing for Clayistan.

### Great Soil War (391 ASB - 397 ASB)

On M9-01 391 ASB the Sandy Clay Autonomous Region declared independence from Clayistan and invaded surrounding regions. This led to Dervot IV leading the majority of his armies into Loaman Empire to prepare for a counter attack against the Revolutionary Republic of Sandy Clay, alongside the Loaman Empire. On M8-25 394 ASB Liquid Carbon invaded and occupied the remaining portions of Clayistan along with the northern portions of the Loaman Empire and Silt Fleet. A day later Dervot IV was contacted by the Captain of the Silt Fleet William Barge who gave Dervot IV control over his armies on the condition that he liberate South Estuaria with them. On M8-27 394 ASB Dervot IV led the Clayistan armies, the Silt Fleet Armies and large portions of the Loaman Empire north against Liquid Carbon and on M11-29 395 ASB, after over a year of fighting, Liquid Carbon retreated into one small region of Clayistan. On M11-13 396 ASB Theodore Thompson, the Commander in Chief of the Sandy Clay Revolutionary Republic ordered his country to surrender over radio broadcast , only four of his nine Lieutenant Generals obeyed the order, the remaining Lieutenant Generals were defeated by the combined forces of the Loam Union, Soil Union and Clayistan on M1-14 397 ASB.

On M5-03 397 ASB Dervot IV attended the Jerusoilum Conference to decide the terms of the treaty ending the war. Throughout the meeting, Dervot IV pushed to keep the Kurey within Clayistan but to withdraw their autonomy. However, Conrad Smith, the Union Head of the Soil Union, suggested that they grant the Kurey independence but impose heavy sanctions on them. This proposal was voted for despite Dervot IV's objection. The Jerusoilum Conference concluded on M6-07 397 ASB.

### Rising Tensions (397 ASB - 429 ASB)

Immediately following the Jerusoilum Conference Dervot IV had the Kingdom of Clayistan began withdrawing Clayistan owned industrial assets from the Kurey. On M6-09 397 ASB Ramper Heord contacted Dervot IV and asked him to send the industrial assets up to the Purple Governate as the region lacked any real industrialization. Dervot IV accepted his brother's request and had the assets sent to the Purple Governate, he also granted the Purple Governor increased powers so that Ramper could properly distribute the assets.

On M6-12 397 ASB, Dervot IV was invited by Robert Hauteville, the Chairman of the Loam Union, to the Arston Conference in the Loam Union occupied portion of the former Sandy Clay Revolutionary Republic to decide on the specifics of the independent Sandy Clay state, and Dervot IV arrived at this conference after a four day journey. During the conference, Dervot IV pushed to have Sandy Clay's foreign relations managed by Clayistan as a protectorate of Clayistan, but this proposal was rejected. Dervot IV later opted to have himself being both the King of Clayistan and the new Sandy Clay state, and this was accepted by the Loam Union on the condition that the monarch be little more than a figurehead. The Arston Conference concluded on M6-20 397 ASB. Dervot IV became the King of the Sandy Clay Commonwealth (SCC) on M7-01 397 ASB, the same day that they become an independent nation.

Dervot IV subsequently withdrew from the Soil Union on M4-27 400 ASB and created the League of Soils as an organization to rival it, two days later the SCC left the Soil Union and applied to join the League of Soils, the Dervot IV who suspected that the Soil Union would not allow the SCC to leave the Soil Union peacefully sent what was left of the Clayistan National Army into the country. On M6-18 400 ASB, the prime minister of Claysando Ardash attended the Sandy Clay-League Ascension Meeting in Ceramica. At the meeting, Dervot IV proposed that if the SCC were to join the League of Soils, the southern half should be administered by Clayistan for defense purposes. Claysando made a separate proposal where the southern quarter of the SCC would be administered by the League of Soils for defense purposes. Dervot IV accepted the second proposal the SCC officially joined the League of Soils two days later.

On M3-08 401 ASB the Silt Fleet stopped all trade between themselves and Clayistan, this triggered a series of protests throughout the South Estuaria region. On M5-07 401 ASB Soil Union soldiers in Maricis opened fire on a group of unarmed protesters in an event known as the Maricis Massacre, Dervot IV did not take action until the next day when he learned that a revolution had began in the region, Dervot IV ordered a portion of his forces to enter the region to secure it, they were given two tasks, secure as much of the region as possible and begin work on a border wall with the Soil Union. On M7-02 401 ASB the Soil Union withdrew from South Estuaria, two days later over radio Dervot IV and Claysando Ardash approved the ascension of a South Estuarian state into the League of Soils. Dervot IV arrived in Maricis on M7-17 401 ASB to discus with the Captain of the North Fleet George Twinton and the President of Maricis Steward Smart to decide what was to happen with South Estuaria. The meeting concluded on M8-26 401 ASB, it was decided that the North Fleet would annex the Republic of Maricis, join the League of Soils and would be restructured to have two heads of state, the President, Steward Smart who would be in charge of internal affairs and the Captain, George Twinton who would be in charge of external affairs, the Kingdom of Clayistan was placed in charge of securing their border with the Soil Union.

On M2-03 402 ASB Dervot IV met with the CEO of the Clayistan News Association Richard Clawbord an his various branch heads. At the meeting Dervot IV congratulated Purplius Uoiauai on convincing the Duke of Eastern Archipelago Violetus III to fund his branch.

On M11-12 402 ASB Erica Heord gave birth to a son who she named Chunky Heord with the blessing of her husband. Six days after the birth of Chunky Dervot IV had him officially declared his heir in a public speech however during his speech he referenced his firstborn son Hugo Heord which caused the League of Soils to worry that if he was to be acquired by the Soil Union they could use him to destabilize Clayistan, Dervot IV put up a notice requesting his return. Due to Chunky Heord being his successor Dervot IV decided that he would need someone to teach him how to rule properly and on M12-10 402 ASB he hired Baron Horace Grain as Chunky's tutor.

Hugo Heord arrived at Dervot's palace on M3-22 403 ASB, though Dervot IV only had a meeting with him M4-28 403 ASB, at which meeting Hugo did little more than complain to Dervot IV for leaving his mother. On M5-14 403 ASB Dervot IV hosted a meeting between the Prime Minister of the SCC Claysando Ardash, the Captain of the North Fleet George Twinton and Hugo Heord to prove that he was alive and secured. On M8-20 404 ASB Dervot IV had a section of the border wall with the Soil Union near the Bani Prison Camp constructed out of loose bricks, so that if pushed with sufficient pressure would cause a hole to the Soil Union to open up. On M10-18 405 ASB Dervot IV appointed Hugo Heord to serve as his chief ambassador to the SCC this was done simply to get him out of Dervot's palace, he also paid Hugo a decent pay to incentivize that he remain in Sunbell.

On M10-06 408 ASB Dervot IV was informed over radio by his son Hugo Heord that he had married a Sandy Clay commoner named Finella Coates, this would have been concerning had Hugo been in the official line of succession or a public figure of note, he also told Dervot IV that he had purchased a house in Sunbell that he would be living in, Hugo buying a place in Sunbell pleased Dervot IV as it meant that he would not be returning to Ceramica.

On M9-22 409 ASB the Duke of Eastern Archipelago Violetus III died, the duchy's electors met the next day and several more days to decide his successor. After exactly two months of debating Clayistan News Association branch head Purplius Uoiauai was selected and became Purplius II. Dervot IV traveled to the city of Sivka on M11-27 409 ASB to meet with Purplius II and figure out where his loyalties lie. During his visit Dervot IV asked Purplius II what his thoughts on the ongoing conflict with the Soil Union were, Purplius II told him that the Soil Union was threatening the livelihoods of many people via hampering trade with the Clayistan and that Clayistan's reaction of severing ties was the right course of action, Dervot was satisfied with this response.

On M12-15 409 ASB Hugo Heord radioed Dervot IV to inform him that his wife had given birth to a son named Evan Heord, Dervot did not care.

On M9-09 412 ASB Dervot IV recruited his daughter Ellis Heord as a spy for Clayistan, he gave her a list of League of Soils technical documents and ordered her to send them to the Soil Union which she did two days later, the League of Soils got wind of this only five days later and had her arrested. The arrest brought up strife between Dervot IV and his wife who he did not tell that it was staged as he couldn't afford to let others find out about it. The day following his daughter's arrest by the League of Soils Dervot IV gave a speech denouncing her as a traitor and wiping her from the line of succession. On M9-18 412 ASB Dervot IV recommended that his daughter be imprisoned at the Bani Prison Camp near the Loaman Empire border wall, his wife was once again upset about this and begged Dervot IV to change where she was imprisoned. On M11-14 412 ASB a harsh storm caused severe flooding of the Bani River and during the chaos of the flood Dervot IV exploded sections of the Bani Prison Camp's wall collapse and in doing so allowed his daughter to flee to the Loaman Empire.

On M3-11 415 ASB Dervot IV was informed by the Governor of Osilicat, Horacio Guava that his city had received a message originating from the Concrete Isles, Dervot consulted with his advisor Izza Fissil on what to do about the matter, she advised Dervot IV to send a significant portion of the navy to search for them, as they could prove a valuable ally if discovered, Dervot IV sent his fleet in search of the Concrete Isles on M3-13 415 ASB. Two months later, one of the naval ships that was sent north in search of the Concrete Isles returned to Clayistan with news that they had discovered new lands to the north. Upon hearing the news, Dervot IV ordered the regrouping of the Clayistan navy and on M5-20 415 ASB set off to these new lands with the Clayistan navy in an attempt to forge an alliance with one of the native factions.

On M6-08 415 ASB Dervot IV and his fleet arrived within the proximity of the port town of Durieu. Dervot IV's own ship was the only one that he allowed to dock at the port. His crew discovered from conversing with the local harbour master that the name of the new land was the Precious Metals Continent and that they were currently within the borders of the Empire of Red. Dervot IV returned in his ship to the rest of the fleet and ordered the capture of the Durieu, which was secured by Dervot IV's forces whilst he slept through the night on his ship. The next morning, Dervot IV declared himself the lord of Durieu and designated a an abandoned warehouse as his office.

On M6-12 415 ASB the a small army from the Empire of Red was sent to retake Durieu but were quickly defeated by Dervot IV's forces. Three days later, an ambassador from the Emperor of Red arrived at Dervot IV's office in Durieu requesting to know Dervot IV's demands but Dervot IV told the ambassador that he would only negotiate with the Emperor of Red himself. On M6-16 415 ASB, Dervot IV was informed by a messenger from the Emperor of Red that the Emperor of Red had come to negotiate with him and was waiting with his army behind a hill just up the coast from Durieu. Dervot IV ordered his naval forces to up the coast with him then left to meet with the Emperor of Red who was announced as Rancho II, and Dervot IV introduced himself as both King of Clayistan and Lord of Durieu. He described Clayistan to Rancho II as a realm of great power and that the fleet that traveled here with him was only a fraction of his naval force, and that if his rule over Durieu was not recognized he would be forced to continue to the war. After hearing of Dervot IV's demands Rancho II presented a counter offer: he would recognize Dervot IV's lordship over Durieu and in exchange, Clayistan would ally itself with the Empire of Red. This offer was rejected, with Dervot IV claiming that it was too large of a promise for such a small patch of land. Rancho II then made his second offer, he would not recognize Dervot IV as the Lord of Durieu and instead he would cede the Magnare Peninsula and associated islands, where Durieu was located, in exchange for an alliance between Clayistan and the Empire of Red. Dervot IV accepted this offer and left the Precious Metals Compass on M6-18 with half of the naval force he brought there and arrived back at Clayistan 18 days later, where he declared the discovery of the Precious Metals Compass and the Clayistan-Empire of Red alliance.

By 417 ASB Dervot IV's marriage with Erica had deteriorated and on M10-11 417 ASB Dervot IV divorced his wife Erica claiming that she was cheating on him with fellow fashion designer Frank Craig Dervot IV knew that she was not cheating he just needed an excuse to divorce her that would not make him look bad. Dervot IV married his third wife, a woman named Amina Hill on M1-25 418 ASB who much like Dervot IV's previous wives took the last name Heord. Amina Heord gave birth to a daughter named Felicity Heord on M4-12 418 ASB. Amina Heord birthed Dervot IV a son on M2-28 419 ASB whom Dervot IV named Sectile Heord, to show his respect for the previous ruling dynasty of Clayistan. On M8-08 419 ASB Dervot IV's ex-wife Erica Fields began dating the man that Dervot IV had accused her of cheating with, this closed all discussions that Fields might have been innocent.

On M9-22 420 ASB Emperor Rancho II of the Empire of Red was assassinated, placing Christopher Aregona in charge of the empire as regent. The following day, multiple factions within the Empire of Red declared war on the Empire, thus beginning the Red Civil War. By M9-28 420 ASB, Dervot IV had begun sending aid to Christopher Aregona. Dervot IV asked Claysando Ardash, the Prime Minister of the SCC to aid Christopher Aregona in the Red Civil War, but Claysando Ardash declined the request.

By early 421 ASB Dervot IV had begun looking for a suitable wife for his son Chunky, he wanted someone from a powerful enough family so the nobility would see Chunky as a legitimate noble, he also wanted someone not to powerful that they would use Chunky to influence the affairs of the kingdom, Dervot IV on M1-09 422 ASB settled on the daughter of Duke Bryan Basil of Greater Elmhurst Jennifer Basil, they wed on M6-10 422 ASB.

In M1 424, Dervot IV received a letter from Christopher Aregona requesting his presence in the Empire of Red's capital Aubboria. Dervot IV departed from Clayistan later that day and arrived at Aubboria on M1-22 424 ASB. Dervot IV was escorted to the palace in Aubboria where he met with Christopher Aregona who explained that Duke Octracio Vermor was going to be crowned emperor on later that month and that the two of them needed to make peace with the Free Redpublic before his ascension, as Octracio was "a violent man who would never attempt to negotiate for peace with an enemy." After the explanation, Dervot IV and Christopher Aregona set off for the Free Redpublic capital Usk and arrived there on M1-27 424 ASB, where they were captured by Free Redpublic forces and brought before the Redpublic's president Simon Rakturn. Aregona requested that Rakturn call a ceasefire until the Red Civil War was over and they would sort their problems out then, but Simon Rakturn refused this request claiming that they were already winning the war and a ceasefire was unnecessary.

Dervot IV asked Simon Rakturn why they were rebelling to begin with and Rakturn informed Dervot IV and Christopher Aregona that the Free Redpublic was made up of Redpublican natives who had been expelled from the Redpublic by the South Fleet occupiers, and that they were fighting to establish a second homeland for themselves. Upon hearing this, Dervot IV suggested that the Free Redpublic ally with and return the occupied portions of the Empire of Red, and in exchange the Empire and Clayistan would aid them by invading the South Fleet occupied Redpublic. Rakturn declined this offer but proposed a similar offer, with the sole difference being that the Free Redpublic would maintain the land in the Empire of Red that they currently occupy. Aregona rejected this proposal but proposed another counter offer which was nearly identical to Dervot IV's offer but let the Free Redpublic keep most of the occupied territory in the east, whilst giving up the lands in the west. Simon Rakturn, finally satisfied, drafted the treaty officializing it. Dervot IV and Aregona left Usk and arrived on the outskirts of Aubboria on M2-02 424 ASB. Aregona requested that Dervot IV deliver the treaty to the newly crowned Octracio III by himself, and Dervot IV met with Octracio III and informed him of the deal. Octracio III demanded Dervot IV to tell him where Aregona was but Dervot IV told him that he did not know, and so was asked to leave the palace. On M2-03 424 ASB Dervot IV and Aregona boarded the vessel that had brought Dervot IV to the Precious Metals Compass, and Aregona was dropped of at Firstip on M2-05 424 ASB and Dervot IV arrived back at Clayistan on M2-21 424 ASB.

On M11-09 424 ASB Dervot IV's son and successor Chunky produced an heir named Owen Heord Dervot IV decided to have the boy trained by both himself and Chunky's brother-in-law Alexandirt Basil, partly due to Dervot IV believing himself to be a lousy teacher and partly due to distrusting House Basil.

On M9-22 426 ASB Dervot IV's wife gave birth to a daughter named Labradorite Heord. On M9-29 426 ASB whilst Dervot IV was spending time away from his palace in the his country house in it's courtyard with his wife and newborn daughter he was informed by one of his messengers that Izza Fissil had been severely wounded by a package bomb that was addressed to him, he was informed that his chief medical officer Doctor Arnold Esquire was already tending to her, Dervot IV then left for the his palace's medical ward. When Dervot IV arrived in the ward Doctor Esquire informed him the extent of Fissil's injuries among her injuries was a head wound that left a gaping hole in her skull, Doctor Esquire told Dervot IV that what he saw in there was like nothing he had ever seen before, Dervot asked to see for himself to which Doctor Esquire allowed. When Dervot IV peered inside Fissil's head he saw a network of filaments faintly glowing every colour imaginable traversing across her brain which had some sort of grey object running through it, which he could hear producing voices, Dervot IV ordered Doctor Esquire to keep Fissil sedated whilst he studied the voices. Three days after Izza Fissil's 'accident' Dervot IV ordered the construction of a secret medical facility aboard the Clayistan reconnaissance zeppelin, which was completed on M10-11 426 ASB. By M10-15 426 ASB Doctor Esquire gave Dervot IV a list of the voices and their names, their were only three in total and only two which Dervot IV recognized immediately, which were Artice Bermont, a technical officer at Monoterrus during the previous Sand War of Succession and Dreego Sage, a League of Soils General, the other voice belonged to someone named Sarand Villik. On M10-20 426 ASB Dervot IV set up two committees managed by Doctor Esquire to locate and capture Bermont and Villik, that same day he had Fissil sealed up and awoken, Dervot IV told her that she had been in a coma for the past few weeks.

On M2-21 427 ASB Doctor Esquire informed Dervot IV that Artice Bermont had been captured and sedated.

In early 428 ASB Dervot IV decided that his daughter Felicity Ardash would need to learn a proper skill if she were to remain relevant after his own death and on M9-07 428 ASB he had her sent to Magnare to learn how to be a diplomat from Christopher Aregona and the head of the Magnare garrison Clayton Barshoal. he only informed the two of them after he had sent his daughter off.

On M2-20 429 ASB Doctor Esquire informed Dervot IV that his forces had captured Sarand Villik who was attacking an armoured vehicle at the time.

### War of Heordian Deposition and Exodus (429 ASB - 431 ASB)

On M3-07 429 ASB Claysando Ardash, the Prime Minister of the Sandy Clay Commonwealth declared himself king of the Sandy Clay Commonwealth as Claysando II, declared war on Dervot IV, and launched an invasion of Clayistan beginning the War of Heordian Deposition. Dervot IV ordered his armies to retaliate against the SCC.

On M7-13 430 ASB Doctor Esquire was sent several bodies of Shales from the North Fleet who was at the time fighting a war against the Empire of Shale, Dervot IV was requested to meet with Doctor Esquire almost immediately after he had been told that the bodies had arrived. When he arrived in Doctor Esquire's ward he was shown the inside the head of a sedated Shale and he noticed the similarities between it and the inside of Izza Fissil's head, it became apparent to him that he was being manipulated by the Empire of Shale.

On M7-23 431 ASB Claysando II's forces began laying siege to Ceramica and two days in, Dervot IV ordered his chief medical officer Doctor Arnold Esquire to prepare the Clayistan reconnaissance zeppelin and any other large balloons at the city's disposal for the evacuation of the royal family and treasury, the only members of the royal family that were present at the palace at the time were Amina Heord and Labradorite Heord. A month later, Dervot IV was informed by Arnold Esquire that the Clayistan reconnaissance zeppelin (CRZ) and five smaller airships had been loaded with the treasury and were ready to depart. Dervot IV told Arnold Esquire to meet him aboard the zeppelin at sunset and informed his chief advisor Izza Fissil of his plan to escape in the zeppelin an hour before sunset and invited her to come with him, Izza Fissil tried to convince him to stay by reminding him of the large army that was merely five days away but Dervot IV did not care as his plan was to outsmart the Empire of Shale who he correctly believed had orchestrated the War of Heordian Deposition, in the end Fissil reluctantly accepted the offer. The zeppelin left Ceramica on schedule, as they departed Dervot IV sent an order to the Zeppelins under the control of the CRG and the Royal Clay Airforce (RCA) and ordered them to depart east and meet up over Oxisol Island. Shortly after Dervot IV appointed Duke Purplius II of the Eastern Archipelago over radio as the regent of Clayistan whilst he was gone. On M8-26 431 ASB, Dervot IV responded to Skellard Moaruit's calls for aid and landed at Maricis to fill the zeppelin up with several hundred North Fleet women and children. He then ordered the zeppelin's helmsman to take the vessel east.

### Time in the Eastern Ocean (431 ASB - 435 ASB)

Oxisol Island had up until recently been a part of the Lava Empire. About a year prior to Dervot IV's exodus from Clayistan the volcano destroyed the Empire's capital and flung the Empire into chaos. The imperial governor of Oxisol Rakav saw to name himself emperor and left with his fleet to attempt to put down rival claimants. Three days after his departure and five days after the capital's destruction the Oxisol people rose up and overthrew the imperial government. Rakav's fleet was destroyed a day after that with Rakav himself being killed. Dervot IV reasoned that the new government of Oxisol Island was in need of protection.

Dervot IV and his fleet arrived at Oxisol Island on M10-08 431 ASB. By the time of their arrival the space above the island was swarming with Clayistani airships. Dervot IV was learned that during their time here the airships would occasionally dock at the island to refuel but had yet to properly introduce themselves. Dervot IV had the CRZ dock to allow himself to meet with the island's ruler. Upon docking and stating his intent Dervot IV was quickly escorted up to the Oxide Palace. Dervot IV was introduced to Baux I, King of Oxisol. Dervot IV introduced himself as the King of Clayistan. Baux I who had apparently heard of something Clayistan told Dervot IV that he was glad to meet another of equal status. Dervot IV told Baux I that he intended to remain in and around Oxisol Island with his fleet and requested that food and water be provided for his men. The island king told Dervot IV that he would not hand over food and water to Dervot IV's fleet without something in return. Dervot IV told him that he was prepared to offer Baux I his protection in exchange for the food and water. Eventually a deal was struck between the two Dervot IV's fleet would protect Oxisol and in exchange food and water would be provided. The deal was sealed on M10-10 431 ASB with the Kingdom of Clayistan and the Kingdom of Oxisol becoming allies.

Dervot IV's time in and around the Kingdom of Oxisol was for the most part uneventful. In the early days they bombed and destroyed a handful of Lave Remnant fleets but soon after they got the message that the Kingdom of Oxisol was not to be messed with.

On M11-22 434 ASB the Great Eastern Storm was sighted approaching the isle. Dervot IV ordered the treasure fleet to be bound together and tethered to the island. When the storm hit the fleet remained grounded until a piece of another vessel flew into the tether snapping it. The treasure fleet danced with the wind, control was lost. Dervot IV ordered his wife and daughter into the ship's survival room and set off to check on Doctor Arnold Esquire in his secret medical room. The Doctor was in the process of tying everything down and Dervot IV gladding aided him in his endeavor, once that was done he sat down on one of Doctor Esquire's chairs and fell asleep. He awoke the next morning and returned to his people who had been worried he had fallen over board. He told them that he had been trapped in one of the vessels equipment rooms. His navigator told Dervot IV that the treasure fleet had survived the storm but that they were completely and without the rest of the fleet.

Dervot IV ordered his vessels east as if they had been blown east then to the west would be the STC which is where they did not want to be given their current status. Later that day the helmsman spotted a mass was spotted floating away which was soon identified as one of their dirigibles and it had people on it. They also identified a school of vibrabeast attacking the thing. Dervot IV ordered the fleet to intervene. the smallest of the treasure fleet, the MAZ April flew in low and dropped an explosives out of one of her windows. The subsequent explosion and shockwave scared off the vibrabeast. The CRZ then lowered itself and dragged the damaged vessel into her hold where the crew were rescued. The ship that was rescued was the AGB Caratess a small vessel that had a crew of five, all of whom survived. Dervot ordered the balloon to be put back into working order which it was before the end of the day. The crew of the ship claimed to have not seen any other air ships since the storm.

The day after the recovery of the Caratess Dervot IV held a radio meeting between the crews of the treasure fleet. The purpose of the meeting was to determine whether the fleet would stay as one or whether they would split up and meet up at a later point in hopes of regrouping with other surviving airships. The decision was made to split up the fleet and meet up at a hypothetical point a ways off. The AGB Caratess was placed into the CRZ's to serve her as an emergency auxiliary vessel.

The CRZ did not encounter anymore surviving airships during her lone flight. The CRZ arrived at the meetup point on M2-02 435 ASB and was the first to arrive. Two days later the first two treasure fleet ships rolled in, bringing with them the MZ Direton, a civilian vessel that was operated by the CRG. The next day the AZ Chunky showed up bringing with it no new ships. The helmsman of the ship told Dervot IV that during their voyage they had encountered the remains of the RMZ Elmhurst floating about in the ocean, the vessel itself had run out of lifting gas and was in no condition to fly. The crew of the AZ Chunky had the survivors brought aboard and had the RMZ Elmhurst deconstructed. It was another two days before the remaining two treasure fleet ships arrived bringing with them the CAD Claysius. The CAD Claysius was the largest military zeppelin ever built by Clayistan and the second largest ship in their initial fleet. Dervot IV was not at all surprised by the ship's survival but was pleased none the less. The fleet now numbering seven set off east later that day.

On M3-25 435 ASB the fleet spotted an object hovering just above the surface of the ocean. When approached the object was discovered to be the RMZ Declan. Dervot IV knew from reading fleet reports during their long voyage that the Declan entered into service on M4-28 8 ASB as the MZ Declan. The ship was easily the oldest ship in the fleet and how it had survived the storm was anyone's guess. Dervot IV didn't do much speculating before he ordered the CRZ to drop to tend to the rogue ship. The crew of the ship told Dervot IV that they had been using the ship's compliment of explosives to hunt for food and had taken to cruising at a low altitude to better scan for fish and the like. The fleet left the area the next day after giving the Declan a tune up.

On M5-04 435 ASB one of the fleet's helmsmen sighted land. This was nothing special as the fleet had encountered multiple small islets on their voyage, but none were large enough to sustain their small fleet. This island however was large in size and Dervot IV ordered the CRZ to attempt to dock at a large cliffside on the western side of the island. Once docked Dervot ordered the rest of the fleet to explore the ocean surrounding the island whilst his men explored the island on foot. Izza Fissil advised Dervot IV to use soldiers to scout the island as they would be best equipped to defend themselves from the natives. Dervot IV did not want to do this as he wanted any discovery made on the island to be his. Dervot assembled a team composed of Fissil, Doctor Esquire, two soldiers to act as guards along with Dervot IV himself and his eight year old daughter Labradorite Heord who had insisted that she be permitted to come along. For the first two hours the journey was dull with the party seeing little more than rocks and lichen. It was on the third hour that they found, tucked away under an imposing rock a door. Doctor Esquire broke the door down with ease. Within was a chamber that ran deep within underground. As the group wandered in to begin exploring the cave whilst sticking together as a group. After a few minutes of walking Labradorite screamed. The party turned to her and saw that she had removed a tarp on a table and revealed a body. It did not take an expert to tell that the body was that of a Regolithian. The group soon left the cave after discovering more bodies and returned to the CRZ. By the time they got back the ships Dervot IV had sent off to explore had returned and informed him that their was an entire settled continent just east of the island.

### The Metalloid Continent (435 ASB - 446 ASB)

Dervot IV decided to have the MAZ April carry him across the way to try and establish a meeting with a representative from this new land. The ship departed immediately and arrived at the continent half an hour later. The ship parked up next to a settlement which looked to be some sort of reginal authority. Once parked up a group of soldiers left the ship led by navigator Reginald Amond. Amond was quickly greeted by a group of peasants and soldiers. They spoke for about three minutes before Amond climbed back into the MAZ April. Dervot IV was told that Amond had managed to secure a meeting with the local duke who would be there within the hour. Dervot IV saw that the peasants had began to assemble tents below and he ordered his two of the zeppelins Silty Clay Loam workers to assemble his own tent down there and to bring a chair and table down. By the time that the duke arrived Dervot IV was already city down under his tent drinking a cup of chilled tea. The duke arrived in a grand precession and was announced as Vannoccio III, Duke of Kuangshan. Dervot IV thought on how to introduce himself and chose to refer to himself as King of Clayistan, the Sandy Clay Commonwealth and Sallamnia. The Duke asked Dervot where these kingdoms were. He told him that both the SCC and Clayistan were far to the west of here but that Sallamnia, his newest title was a thirty minute flight off the coast. The Duke thought for a moment before asking if he was referring to the third moonlet. Dervot IV told him that he had only just landed on the island earlier that day but had discovered a tomb full of Regolithian dead. The Duke stood motionless, thinking. He asked Dervot how he knew that who the Regolithians were. Dervot IV told him that about two decades ago Regolithia arrived at the Soil Texture Continent and that he had even visited the floating landmass on one occasion. The Duke moved on to ask what it was that Dervot IV wanted. Dervot IV told him that he would be willing to accept a stretch of farmland near the coast in exchange for an alliance between all of Dervot's holdings. The Duke leaned in smiling. He asked the King why he thought that land for an ally was a good deal. Dervot IV told him that his lands the west were vast whereas his were small and an alliance between the two would not be suitable to him without some sort of initial payment of sorts. The Duke smiled greater and told Dervot IV that he believed him to be a liar and held no titles of his own and was merely trying to take what was not his. Dervot IV gave a signal to Amond who quickly had a great deal of golden riches brought out before the Duke. He looked to the Duke and asked if this proved his royal origins. The Duke told Dervot IV that although he was certainly that he was a man of power he was not quite convinced that Dervot was a monarch of two distant realms. He proposed a different deal, Dervot IV would get his land and in exchange Vannoccio III would be given both the alliance and a large portion of the gold that Dervot IV had brought with him. In the end Dervot IV agreed to have half of the MAZ April's treasurers given to Vannoccio III in exchange for the land and alliance.

Dervot IV and his people learned that the continent that they had found was called the Metalloid Continent and that the people they had encountered were the Antimony people. The new land was mostly farmland and contained within it three existing farming settlements each ruled by a mayor. Though the land was under the control of the Duke of Huangshan the Duke was under the control of the King of Antimun. Dervot IV was told that he still had to pay out the tithe of his new lands to the King of Antimun. Dervot IV didn't want to start a war just yet and agreed to pay this tithe to this king.

Shortly after arriving many of Dervot IV's party became ill with diseases native to the Metalloid Continent. Dervot IV had Doctor Esquire and other medical personnel tend to them with modern medicine which helped most of them survive. On M5-19 435 ASB a messenger from Vannoccio III came to Dervot IV's under construction capital of Ramptown. Vannoccio III wanted Dervot to send any excess medical personal he had to the Duchy as the Duke had fallen ill with an unknown disease. Dervot IV ordered Doctor Esquire to travel to Vannoccio III's land and tend to him and to try and keep as many of them alive as possible but to decline to treat anyone who was not strongly affiliated with the Duchy of Huangshan. He was to remain in Huangshan for as long as the Duke needed him.

It soon became apart that the farms that Dervot IV now controlled would not sustain his new kingdom forever. On M7-21 435 ASB Dervot IV sent the MZ Direton and the AZ Maya north in search of both food and allies.

On M4-15 436 ASB a messenger from the Duchy of Kuangshan arrived at the Tueur Palace. War had broken out between Antimun and the neighboring Kingdom of Stibnite. Vannoccio III requested that Dervot IV bring his forces to fight in the war. Over the past year Doctor Esquire had improved Dervot IV with Shale technology and Dervot IV believed that due to this he would be able to personally lead his forces even in his old age. Dervot IV departed with the CAD Claysius and the AZ Chunky to the frontlines. Once at the frontlines Dervot IV met with Vannoccio III who explained the details of the Fourth Antimun-Stibnite War. Dervot IV and his forces stayed the night it Vannoccio III's camp. Dervot IV departed in CAD Claysius in the morning leaving Vannoccio III with a handful of infantrymen. The Antimony people had yet to invent firearms and Dervot IV believed that the usefulness of his men would be a pleasant surprise to Vannoccio III. The Cad Claysius and the AZ Chunky flew east for just over two hours before locating what appeared to be a battle between the armies of the kings of Stibnite and Antimun. Dervot IV ordered his helmsman to locate the camp of Stibnite's war leader and to bombard it. At the same time he radioed the AZ Chunky and ordered it to begin firing into the Stibnite ranks. The helmsman located the banner of Stibnite and assumed it to be where the army's generals were. Dervot IV had the airship's entire payload dropped on the site as a show of power. After the bombing Dervot IV ordered the ship to dock at where he believed the head of the Antimun forces were. The man who led this army was Sivinio Swarts Lustro, Duke of Ifluo and heir to the Kingdom of Antimun. Dervot IV did not trust the man as he could tell that he did not trust him. The man thanked Dervot IV in a condescending manner and recommended that he go and see his father in Organo. Dervot stayed the night docked at Lustro's camp, choosing to sleep in the CAD Claysius. In the morning Dervot IV left for Ramptown with the CAD Claysius and ordered the AZ Chunky to continue fighting for Antimun.

Dervot IV remained in Ramptown until M4-27 436 ASB when he left for Organo in the CAD Claysius bringing with him the CRZ. He had waited this long to visit in hopes that news of the AZ Chunky's actions would have reached the King of Antimun. Dervot IV arrived in Organo early the next morning and left the CAD Claysius to meet with the King of Antimun, he brought with him the ship's helmsman Adam Monrat. The King of Antimun introduced himself as Sivinio I. Dervot IV introduced himself as the King of Clayistan, the Sandy Clay Commonwealth and Sallamnia and he introduced his helmsman for who he was. Sivinio I told Dervot IV that he knew who he was as he had spies planted throughout his realms and the neighboring realms, but that Dervot IV's capital remained outside of his reach. Dervot IV casually told him that that was intentional as he and his people were new to the Metalloid Continent and were without allies. The King of Antimun asked Dervot IV to tell him about the history of his family. Dervot IV admitted that his family was nothing of note until he came to power. He told him of how he had gained fame as a journalist and how when the King of Clayistan died during an outbreak of a disease he and his supporters had removed the weak willed Manterro I from power and installed him as King. Dervot IV told him this as he had a vague knowledge of Sivinio I's past. As expected Sivinio I told Dervot IV about his own past how when he was a young man the King of Antimun died without heirs and the Kingdom of passed into the hands of the King of Stibnite. Sivinio I's father, who was a wealthy business man led a revolution and captured Organo from the Stibnite installed ruling council. A war between the kingdoms broke out and in the end peace was made. In the aftermath of the war Sivinio I was crowned King of Antimun as his father sought to live near the border as a show of force and was given the Dukedom of Redant. Sivinio I also explained that he was only able to maintain his kingdom as long as he had due to the early support of the Wata Sarki, the leader of Watanism. It was then that Sivinio I invited Dervot IV to journey with him to the holy city of Sarkinium to be officially recognized as a King of the Land. Dervot IV agreed to the journey and set off with Sarki. He had Monrat take the CAD Claysius back to Ramptown and ordered the CRZ to wait for Dervot IV in Organo. It took Dervot IV and Sivinio I twenty-nine days to reach Sarkinium via carriage. As soon as Sivinio bore his royal seal he was granted an audience with Wata Sarki Shea II. The holy man was a good friend of Sivinio I and had heard tales of Dervot IV. Sivinio I told him that Dervot IV had come to be made a King of the Land. The holy man turned to Dervot IV and asked him whether or not it was true that he had once been to Regolithia. Dervot IV told him that it was. The man said nothing for a moment then asked where the flying state was now. Dervot IV told him that Regolith currently resided to the west, off the coast of the Soil Texture Continent. Unaware that Regolithia had been destroyed earlier that month. Shea II told Dervot IV that he would have him crowned but that it would take a number of days. On M5-30 436 ASB Dervot IV was crowned as a King of the Land. As a gift Sivinio I released the obligations of Dervot IV's small continental holdings. The next day Dervot left left the holy city to return to Organo then to Ramptown.

On M1-28 437 ASB Shea II declared the end of the Fourth Antimun-Stibnite War. The letters patent ending the war gave minor territorial cessions to the Kingdom of Antimun. This was despite the fact that the Kingdom of Antimun had been winning the war in a major way. Dervot IV and the rest of Sivinio I's allies knew why this had happened. Shea II had grown ill and believed that many of the Wata Gwama did not support his choice of successor and worried that his own successor might have sought to support Stibnite in the war.

Shea II died on M5-30 437 ASB. Under normal circumstances a successor would be chosen within three months but in this case it did not happen for some time. The ongoing Metalloid Plague of 435 ASB had hindered the ability of many of the Wata Gwama to travel to Sarkinium. The choosing of a successor further delayed on M7-30 437 ASB when Shea II's designated successor Aramo Beakal died. On M8-15 437 ASB a conference was held in Organo to determine what was to be done about this crisis. Dervot IV was among the attendees. All the attendees wanted an a successor who would support Sivinio I but few had any ideas. It was Vannoccio III who spoke with an idea. Support the Aminu Kundir as the Wata Sarki. Kundir was a very popular figure among those of Watanism. On M9-27 419 ASB Wata Sarki Alade III had declared the Eastward Expedition, a holy war to spread Watanism into the lands of the Tellurium people. During the early stages of the war he had established himself as an important figure in the war and as the war went on he became its de facto leader. By this point however the Eastward Expedition had slowed down a great deal. It was then the Dervot IV spoke up and said that he could send a few of his airships east to aid Kundir. By the end of the day it was decided that Sivinio I would recommend Aminu Kundir as the next Wata Sarki and Dervot IV would send some ships east to aid the Eastward Expedition. The next day Dervot IV ordered the AZ Sharptooth and the MAZ April to travel east to aid in the Eastward Expedition.

Over the next few months Dervot IV's forces fought in the Eastward Expedition. By early 438 ASB a new Wata Sarki had not be chosen as the Wata Gwama had collectively decided that they must wait and see whether or not the Eastward Expedition would be successful. Dervot IV used this time to befriend some of the other powerful men of Watanism. He used these friendships to construct radio pylons to allow him to talk to his allies over radio. Specifically he had radio systems constructed to allow communication with Vannoccio III, Sivinio I and Aminu Kundir. He still had very little communication with his northern forces and only knew they were still operating as they would sometimes show up to give him resources or to request additional resources.

## Relationships

### Izza Fissil

Prior to becoming Dervot IV Heord considered Izza Fissil to be one of his closest friends. Izza Fissil was one of the first people that Heord contacted to help him establish the Clay News Association and was the person who Heord appointed to serve as the CEO of his company whilst he was in Monoterrus, she was also one of the first people that Heord told of his anti-government plotting.

After Heord became Dervot IV he retained his friendship with Izza Fissil appointing her to Chief Advisor. Though Dervot IV did eventually begin to question Izza Fissil's abilities as an advisor due to advising things that would have weakened Clayistan he kept her as his Chief Advisor almost solely due to their friendship.

Following the discovery that Izza Fissil was a Shale spy Dervot IV maintained their friendship outwardly though in secret he looked forward to the day that he would reveal what he knew. Dervot IV took Izza Fissil with him when he fled the Soil Texture Continent solely to try and throw off her potential plans.

### Hershel Skrim

At the time of Dervot Heord's hiring at the Ceramica Press Hershel Skrim was the top reporter at that same company, Heord considered him at that time to be his biggest rival despite being married to one of Heord's closest friends. Following the dissolution the Ceramica Press Heord put aside his old rivalry with Skrim and got together with him and Izza Fissil to found the Clay News Association (CNA), Skrim helped the CNA greatly in his time there, though his relationship with Dervot IV prior to the Sand War remained solely professional. After the Sand War Heord chose to inform Skrim of his plan to overthrow Claysius IV, his reason for doing so were that Skrim was an excellent reporter and as such an excellent gatherer of information. When Hershel Skrim disappeared in 377 ASB Heord assumed that he had been killed by an enemy he had made as a reporter.

### Joakim Stevens

Despite having worked at his company for four years Dervot Heord never met Joakim Stevens. Dervot IV after becoming the King of Clayistan considered Stevens's arrest to have been an important step to his rise in power.

## See Also

* King of Clayistan
* Kingdom of Clayistan
* Ceramica
* War of Heordian Deposition