Cardmer Keys

## Lord Cardmer Keys of Kintranta

Lord Cardmer Keys in 171 AL

Lord **Cardmer Keys** was a prominent Fanahrian noblemen in the time of the consulship of **Ayken Lovewater**. He had served as the minister of the coffers from 162 till his death in 173 AL and led the political resistance and eventual **military rebellion** against **Ayken Lovewater's** reforms.

### Personality

Lord Cardmer Keys was a shrewd politican in his younger years and was a very capable minister of finance. **Emperor Mezenge III** had even wanted to name him Imperial minister of the Empire's Coffers, but he later gave the honour to **Jara Hightier.** However, sources later state that Lord Cardmer began to lose his political abilities as he grew older, and sources describe **Ayken Lovewater** easily able to walk over Cardmer and out wit him at every corner.

### Opposition to Ayken Lovewater

Lord Cardmer had opposed the appointment of Ayken Lovewater as the Consul of Pedranier. When Ayken had asked Cardmer to support his projects, particularly in those that opposed slavery, Cardmer Keys refused to provide any money and used his financial minister powers to veto the motions set by the reformist policies of Ayken.

Lovewater outwited Lord Cardmer after he used his own consular powers to negoitate a loan from the Vidin Empire, a loan that was promised to be repaid by the Pedranier Finance Ministery, Cardmer Keys. When Cardmer found out, he was furious and stormed into Ayken's office, and began complaining. According to **Antonmer Corbat**, Ayken had read through ten pages of a book before turning to Cardmer Keys and telling him. "I did not listen to what you said, but you sounded very convincing. I am sure if you do not pay back these loans and talk to the Emperor just how you just talked to me, you will convince his army not to route you from that desolate home of yours."

Cardmer Keys was forced to pay back the loans to the Emperor through his own treasury and by borrowing by himself, as the treasury of Pedranier could not bear the burden.

#### Military opposition

Lord Cardmer had secretly began mustering his forces behind King Aymer and Lord Ayken's back, calling on his own allies, sons, and others who opposed Ayken to do the same. Ayken had eventually realised this thanks to the extensive spying network set up by his father in law that warned Ayken of a military coup that was targetted against him.

Ayken feigned weakness and withdrew to Trirannal, and spread rumours that men were abandonding him for the opposition. This encouraged Cardmer Keys to trigger his **rebellion** prematurely, against the advise of his eldest son, Lonmer Keys. Cardmer was surprised by Ayken's army, which was much larger than he had expected and was well better armored and equipped and more professional than the levies of his own. Ayken's disciplined army crushed Cardmer Keys. Cardmer Keys was slained in battle while Lonmer Keys was taken prisoner and ordered to send word to his family members that peace talks shall be held.

Ayken would massacre the entire Keys family 4 days after the death of Cardmer Keys and occupy his lands as his own. Kintranta became part of the Extensions of Trirannal.

### Quotes by Cardmer Keys

"We must destroy Ayken otherwise the Vidin Empire will. The Vidin Empire has already destroyed one Fanahrian rebellion. They will not forgive Pedranier for a seocnd time."