Evara I

> *"I fear for those who have to face the Black Queen in battle. Her skills in both commanding and combat are beyond impressive. The Ostrunid dynasty just can't stop impressing me." -* Emperor Banzayoto on Evara I, *Logs of the Imperial War*
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Evara I is the current Emperor of the Ostrunid Empire. She is mostly known for her cunning rule and military successes during the wars against the Empire.

## Youth & the days of the Empire

Evara is the first and only daughter of Emperor Turak III. She received private education by the best teachers of the Empire. At a young age, she always showed great interest in military tactics and was really keen to learn the ways of war. Turak III resisted, but eventually gave in to Evara's wishes. She attended the Royal Military Academy at the age of 12. However, in that same year the Empire came in and occupied the Ostrunid Empire. Turak III was captured, Turak and Evara would never see each other again from that moment. Only years later did Evara find out his father was executed. The new governor of the Ostrunid province, Perolt Ridian, took care of Evara like it was his own child. He learned Evara to fight and the Empire's ways of war.

## Military General of the Empire & the Great Betrayal

Evara showed great talent as a military commander and was placed in charge of the Ostrunid division of the Empire's army. She even fought against the Ostrunid rebellions. However, eight years after the Empire's occupation, she found out about her father's fate, despite the promise that the Empire wouldn't harm him. Her doubts about her loyalty to the Empire grew stronger and stronger and now it had reached a breaking point. Evara started making plans to stop the Emperor's control in the Ostrunid region. She started by encouraging riots in the greater cities of Ostrunid. When asked to act against the rebellions, she took minimal measures. Eventually the rebellion raised their own army, with help of Evara ofcourse. Perolt Ridian sallied out his force alongside with Evara's force to destroy the rebel army. However, when Ridian's forces charged in, Evara's forces didn't move an inch. While Ridian's army was fully engaged in battle. Evara charged with cataphracts and elephants right in to the exposed back of Ridian's line. Ridian was captured in battle, while the entire garrison was wiped out. In one blow the Empire lost total control of the region Ostrunid. The Ostrunid Empire was reformed and Evara was crowned as new Empress Evara I. Evara was alongside the Makedonians the first to show resistance within Empire lands. Her first act as empress was to declare war on the Empire.

## Bringing back old glory

The Ostrunid Empire returned, but not all lands were under Evara's control. After a couple of minor victories, Evara decided to hit them hard at the heart of the remaining Empire's garrison. Fort Mosandr has been the location of many famous and decisive battles. Yet again did the fate of war fall in the hands of this impressive fort. At this point Fort Mosandr grew to the point where you could call it a major city, being the third most populous after Alashkert and Astodan. Despite Evara being known for her agressive approach, she wanted the enemy to sally out and meet them on the field. The Ostrunid army lacked experience to keep up an assault against the mighty walls of the fort, a long siege followed. The garisson inside the fort were shortly depleting, due to starvation and disease, plus some skirmish attacks every now and then. The Empire was too busy fighting in the north and east to send any reinforcements to Fort Mosandr. The small forces that were send to support the besieged army, were easily intercepted by the powerful Cataphracts.Eventually, the Empire's forces had to sally out. In fact, it was a direct order from Cinero himself to sally out. The battle was sad to look at. The sick and tired Empireans had to face a fresh Ostrunid army, elephants included. The Empire was crushed and the Ostrunids took back Fort Mosandr. Just like that, almost all of Cinero's forces were kicked out of Ostrunid lands. Those that still were, received the order to pull back to the provinces of Krecenia and Kharazia. With little effort, Evara managed to free the Ostrunid people.

## Siege of Koperdon

At this point, Evara sought out contact with other human nations who were showing resistance against the Empire. Athalia Maxentios of Hadarnissos wished for Evara to continue the push in to Empirean lands. Meanwhile Evara and Emperor Banzayoto of Bankai and the Embankan chieftains agreed to invade the south on multiple spots, giving the enemy multiple fronts the defend. The newly formed "Southern Alliance" did however struggle, while Evara did book crucial progress in the steppenlands, only until the famous Battle of the Rhenum did the other members of the Southern Alliance manage to make great progress. The value of the Southern Alliance is not to be underestimated though, the alliance played a crucial role at harassing the Empirean forces, distracting them from the even bigger threat in the north. The first major blow was yet to be given, while the resitance in the north was growing, the Southern Alliance laid siege on Koperdon, the second greatest city of Storbania. Here Evara had to face the Iron Lord of Koperdon, a man fully covered in armour, who's face and name are unknown. The siege was probably the fiercest of all, as Evara's forces took many casualties. After breaching the city walls, Evara came eye-to-eye with the Iron Lord himself. What followed was an epic duel, where Evara took a massive cut through her chest. Miraculously, she managed to keep on fighting and eventually killed the Iron Lord. The Siege of Koperdon was won, but the greatest challenge was yet to come. In preparation of this battle, Banzayoto started referring to Evara as the 'Black Queen' in his logs and letters, a now common nickname for her.

## Push to Stormburg

The war on two fronts would eventually become fatal. Evara proposed that one last push was needed to force the surrender of the Empire. After many letters send from North to South, it was decided that the Northern Alliance would meet Cinero's force at the river Hadar, while the Southern Alliance would besiege the heart of the Empire, Stormburg. With Cinero's forces at the Hadar, Stormburg's defences were weakened, However, even taking the city didn't guarantee victory over the Empire. If the Battle of the Hadar would be lost, the Empire would've easily been able to retake the capital again. The stakes were enormous, if both battles were won, the Empire would surely surrender. Yet Evara knew this siege would cost her.

> *"Even the most mediocre of generals know that charging the walls of Stormburg is suicide. Yet I know that we have to and can do this. Take Stormburg, kill the emperor at the Hadar and we will be victorious, I am sure of it."* - Letter of Evara to Athalia during the Siege of Stormburg
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During the siege, the Knights of the Rainbow under Helldin Storm came to support the Southern Alliance. Here, Evara and Helldin fell in love. Though the city garrison was weakend, it wasn't as easy to take as expected. The multiple layers of walls within the city cost the Southern Alliance loads of casualties. Yet the Southern Alliance persevered, under command of Evara I, Emperor Banzayoto and Okuekan, the capital of the Empire was taken. News of a Coalition victory at the Hadar arrived quickly and celebrations followed. The peace treaty was signed in Thera. Here, Evara met the leaders of the Northern Alliance for the first time, despite fighting alongside them for years. Evara and Helldin married in the Great Temple of Lena. The war was over, peace and prosperity followed, although not for long.