Aetios Kostides

Aetios Kostides was King of Ilaka during the War of Revenge and known for being a capable and respected leader. Most of his downfall is only caused by the previous rulers before him, leaving an unstable and weak nation for him to rule.

## Birth

Aetios was born in the city of Kras in **552PR** to Macarias Aethon, a noble land-owner and his wife Damia. His other siblings all died before they aged 2, losing two sisters and a brother.

## Early Life

Aetios’s early childhood was rough, surviving through the reign of Pelias. His parents remained quiet about the entire incident, avoiding their names being listed and surviving the Bloody Nights.

Soon, Aetios became the pride and joy of his family, giving them the chance to give him a good early education. During his education he became linked with Borus Kostides, current King of Ilaka, having taken over from Pelias after his suicide in **564PR**.

### Apprenticeship

Much to the joy of his parents, Aetios became an apprentice of Borus, seen as an unofficial Prince. Despite many speculating that tensions were high between Aetios and Borus’s actual son, Enops, the two were good friends. As long as Enops kept his lifestyle, then Aetios would remain unopposed.

Over time Borus continued to help Aetios grow, sending him to Carreiro College in Ralom, Gonarundu. When he returned, Aetios’s skill and intelligence as a potential leader continued to impress Borus, soon writing out in his notes that he planned to make Aeitos King.

By **569PR** the two were closer than ever, Borus trusting Aetios with some more important tasks, dealing with an unknown trade agreement and negotiations with some of the Northern tribes.

In **571PR** Borus was struck with a fast-acting and intense illness, forcing him to remain seated at all times to avoid fainting. The sickness was so bad that at some points his mind was beginning to deteriorate, resembling a mad King. Fearing the worst, Borus decided to adopt Aetios, making him an official Kostides.

## Reign

After the adoption, Borus went through the quick and hasty process of making Aetios his heir, believing correctly he could die at any moment. Once Aetios was made Crown Prince and the next in line for the throne, Borus passed away happily.

Now King, Aetios has an entire nation to rule, dealing with the instability caused by the bad Kings before Borus. His first concern was his Eastern borders, believing that the Nirvan Republic could attack at any time. So, he built a series of expensive fortresses, seen as impenetrable by most enemy forces.

In **576PR** he went through the lengthy process of building up trustworthy and capable advisors. While there were people to fill the roles, the lost rights of ascension from previous Kings meant that most of them were incapable or severely lacking experience. So, he went through the process of educating them, using his relationship with Hashin to send some younger advisors to shadow theres, or sending them to school. In the meantime he would use some of his family friends to fill the role, overseeing them closely.

Another problem he faced was the lack of good educational facilities in Ilaka, so to boost the city of Ayteran, he began building a large school there. In his notes, he wrote that while he wanted to use the Library of Andreas, a huge advantage for him, but many of the old librarians and scholars that attended there were killed or scared off by Nasos or Pelias.

When his advisors returned, more capable and experienced than last time, in **579PR** he began rebuilding the army and its leadership. Now that new generations had come in, there were more people to help reform the struggling army. One of the more prominent generals that appealed to Aetios was Cycnus Telin. Both men were of similar age and got along well, Cycnus helping Aetios understand battle much better.

Another capable general under Aeitos’s command was his advisor, Peritas, who he placed in command of the Southern defence of the nation, giving him near complete power.

In **581PR** Ilaka’s international situation got worse when the Carto Empire and Gonarundu entered a military alliance. Knowing that his army was weak from previous mismanagement, Aetios called for a huge recruitment drive, including members from the Northern tribes that were once Ilaka’s enemy.

At the same time he made amends with the Nirvan Republic, keeping them happy for the time being with a large bribe.

In Mak **583PR** Gonarundun forces led by Prince Daniel Fidalgo crossed the Kunan River and entered Carton territory, meeting with Adonis and the Carto Empire forces. Once they met, they marched across the border into Ilakan territory, beginning the War of Revenge.

### War of Revenge

*See: War of Revenge*

Thanks to the help of King Ilias Kostides, Aetios had some more time for the war. The borders between Ilaka and the Carto Empire were surrounded with strong fortresses, forcing the allied armies to clear them out before they got anywhere. At the same time they were attacked by tribal warriors sent by Aetios.

In the next year the two forces met two times, once in the Battle of Kulak, a victory for Aetios and the Ilakans and again in the Battle of Lonan, a small victory for the Allied Armies.

After their defeat Aetios decided to change tactics, taking Cycnus’s advice to use tribal members to raid again but bait the Gonarunduns that chased them. This met immediate results, dealing heavy casualties to the Gonarundun cavalry and forcing them to give up their chase. Daniel Fidalgo was almost caught at one stage but managed to break through and escape, much to the Ilakans frustration.

Eventually this tactic caused the Battle of Ulin, which while a victory for the Allied forces was very costly, putting a strain on their relationship.

After 3 years of fighting the Allied forces changed their target, aiming for the city of Ayteran. Aetios, realising he would likely lose the battle, decided to split his forces under the advice of Cycnus and Peritas. Peritas would take a force and hit the Carton lands while Cycnus and Aetios would make the battle as costly as they possibly could for the Allied army.

#### Treaty

While Aetios lost the Battle of Ayteran he had completed his task, ensuring that the Allied forces paid for it in blood, at the same time Peritas was victorious in the Battle of Newell, threatening the Carton territory. Realising this would’ve ended in a stalemate but worse for the Ilakans a treaty was made, the Ilakans would cede the conquered lands over to Adonis but get a hefty sum of money.

### Domestic Policy

#### Issues

Immediately, as expected, Aetios had many problems keeping his people in order, his citizens furious that they had just lost a city and a war. To keep some happiness, Aetios used the significant amount of money received from the treaty to not only treat the returning soldiers of his war but the refugees that crossed the border into his land. This kept them happy, but even his own court (other than his military commanders) were resistant to any changes he made.

#### Reforms

Still holding a good amount of money from the treaty, Aetios spent the rest of it in agricultural investments. This majorly helped the sector, allowing many struggling farmers to survive, families who provided most of the food to the nation. Of the little money that remained, he spent on purchasing their stock, stockpiling it in the capital in case of an emergency.

With the agricultural sector about to boom, Aetios planned a series of festivals to improve morale. The first of these celebrations celebrated their warriors, the Drakos, Atkan and even the Pratan. The second was the farmers, allowing them to sell their food and stimulate the economy even more. The final celebration was for the tradesman, celebrating their work and contribution to the nation.

By the end of his reign, the economy of Ilaka was increasing, not as rapid as he hoped but in a way that the next two generations to come could live happily with what they made.

### International Relations

Aetios and Ilaka were in a difficult position internationally. To their South-West they had two hostile and strong enemies in the Carto Empire and Gonarundu, to the East was the Nirvan Republic, a military powerhouse potentially stronger than the previous two nations combined. Increasingly concerned with his nation’s security, Aetios spent a lot of time making deals with the tribes again and making amends with the Nirvan Republic.

In **599PR** Aetios made a defensive agreement with the Nirvan Republic, though the limitations were that he must be reigning Monarch for the agreement to be held. Still, Aetios was happy that he had managed to have a basic agreement with one of the stronger nations, though risked becoming alienated in the process.

## Death

In **611PR** Aetios was visiting a group of farmers out in the countryside, overlooking the work his investments had made. Unbeknownst to him and Ilaka as a whole, the Hilan Plague, or a strain of it, had returned, infecting both the farmer who had met one of the initial merchants and King Aetios when he shook his hand.

On his way home, the King fell gravely ill, experiencing all the symptoms of the new strain in rapid fashion. By the time he got near even the outskirts of the capital, he had committed suicide, unable to deal with the excruciating pain.

### Succession

Dealing with a King’s death is something of a risk. So, the guards decided to keep the matter quiet, moving through the secret or more secluded parts of the city to reach the castle. When they did, they alerted the rest of the guard, informing them of the situation.

Keeping everything internal, the King’s death was announced within the next 3 days, making Athen the new King of Ilaka.

## Personal Life

In **570PR** at the age of 18, Aetios married Monima. The two had been friends since childhood, and both remained on great terms even when Aetios ascended as Borus’s apprentice. The marriage was overseen by Borus.

The two had their first son, named Macarias II in **572PR**, another named Athen in **573PR** and two daughters in **574PR** named Phae and Flora.

In **576PR** Aetios received grave news while away from the capital, forcing him to rush back from his home. A day later, he publicly announced that his son, Macarias II had died from an illness. Further, it was announced that King Aetios would spend a month mourning his son, something his people understood.

With the death of Macarias II so fresh on his mind, Aetios chose to spend as much time with his family as possible. This included his time away at war, where he chose to have Athen by his side whenever it was safe.

When Aetios himself died, his family was already prepared to live on without his guidance, surviving the world in their own way. Alongside a grand funeral, the family held a private funeral as well, deciding to cremate him instead of the usual tomb.