Dovatel II

### Overview

The successor to King Dovatel I, King Dovatel II of Rhamos is now described in most accounts as a mediocre ruler in Aranesian history. When war with Myrr broke out again during his reign, Dovatel II achieved early victories, but shortages of military resources and his treatment of Vidorian, Revenese, and Baren Isle nobles resulted in the collapse of his empire in southern Myrr. Dovatel II spent much of the rest of his life attempting to regain these lands captured by his father, raising huge revenues, reforming his armed forces and rebuilding old alliances. However he is perhaps best remembered for his part in the Tragedy of Feida.

### The Tragedy of Feida

Feida was a princess of Vidor and the younger of two daughters of Pandi I, King of Vidor. Her sister, Gana, was the wife of King Dovatel II of Aranesia. In the fifth year of Gana's marriage to Dovatel II, she asked her husband to allow her sister Feida to visit them in Rhamos. Due to the conflict with Myrr, which lay between the two nations, she begged Dovatel to go to Vidor himself to fetch her sister and escort her back to Rhamos. Dovatel II agreed. King Pandi, the father of Feida and Gana, was apprehensive about letting his one remaining daughter leave his home and protection and asked Dovatel II to protect her as if he were her father. Dovatel II agreed. However, Dovatel II lusted for Feida when he first saw her, and that lust grew during the course of the return voyage to Rhamos. Before arriving in Rhamos, Dovatel II forced Feida to a lodge in the woods and raped her. After the assault, Dovatel II threatened her and advised her to keep silent. Feida was defiant, and this angered Dovatel II. In his rage, he cut out her tongue and abandoned her in the cabin.

Feida's defiant speech goes:

*Still my revenge shall take its proper time,*

*And suit the baseness of your hellish crime.*

*My self, abandoned, and devoid of shame,*

*Through the wide world your actions will proclaim;*

*Hear me, Menione! and Gods be there,*

*Let them regard me, and accept my prayer!*

Rendered unable to speak because of her injuries, Feida wove a tapestry that told her story, and had it sent to her sister Gana. Gana was infuriated and in revenge, she killed Itys, Dovatel II's son from his previous queen, and heir to the throne. She boiled the corpse and served him as a meal to her husband. After Dovatel II unknowingly finished eating Itys, the sisters presented him with the severed head of his son, and he became aware of their conspiracy and his cannibalistic meal. He snatched up an axe and pursued them with the intent to kill the sisters. They fled and were almost overtaken by Dovatel II. In desperation, they prayed to the gods to escape Dovatel II's rage and vengeance. The demigod Buru, Lord of the Hunt, took pity on the women. He instantly transformed Gana iand Feida into nightingales, both of whom flew away. In despair, Dovatel II took his life with the axe in the banks of the River Vyx, leaving his infant son Rowan as the sole successor to the Aranesian throne.

Because of the violence associated with the tale, the song of the Rhamosi nightingale is often interpreted as a sorrowful lament. Coincidentally, in nature, only the male of the species sings. The female nightingale is mute.