Farboid Hamilvar

## Background

House Hamilvar is an ancient seafaring Ageosi dynasty, its roots supposedly extending back to the times of the Kingdom of Myros. Some claim that those of house Hamilvar are one of the descendant lines of the great King Nikolaos I who had extended the influence of Myros all across the central sea. Today, house Hamilvar is most well known for its dominance in the city state of Thyconium.

Farboid Hamilvar inherited the position of High Councillor from his father, from a Hamilvarian line that had extended three generations. The town had not seen substantial growth for many years, only serving as a base for seafaring and trade. Under Farboid, however, the town seeks to change its focus to rise as a new influential Ageosi city state in a new era of turmoil and uncertainty.

## Rise of Thyconium

The earliest days of Farboid Hamilvar's rule in Thyconium were not without troubles. Some settlers joining the town at that time were in fact executed for attempting witchcraft in the mines. Another found his demise when he traveled north and encountered the witch of Scydonia, and attempted to steal from her. His head now rests on a pike in those lands, and his house rests abandoned. This action was condemned as foolishness by Hamilvar, having no interest to start a conflict with Scydonians. Other settlers struck discord with Hamilvar, having no interest in the laws and culture of the town and doing as they please. Such settlers were exiled peacefully.

Finally, the time came when excellent settlers came into the town who would shape town's core body - the likes of Heidsy Clovertail, Redomir Leifson, Heisen Hercival, Clif and Cracker. With them, the town grew to become one of the largest in the realm.

## The Battle of Israkra

It was during the rise of Thyconium that chaos began to break out between Kratia and the Ukialtans of Israkra. Farboid Hamilvar had heard of the fighting that had broke out on the streets of Kratia wherein Skarian, the Kratian king had been killed by the visiting Ukialtans. Coupled with other offenses against Ageosi towns, Kratia called upon its neighbours to join in dealing with the Ukialtan aggression. Prior to the battle, Farboid Hamilvar had met with Tigetius of Kratia and Phish of Victria to plan what should come of an offensive against Israkra. A further meeting with the potential heir Afukan of Ukialta lead the Ageosi to decide that they would support Afukan as the ruler of Ukialta, and end hostile relations.

Soon after, the Ageosi would set sail for Israkra. Farboid Hamilvar brought the soldiers of Thyconium and Kratia on his ship, the Medoprotus, and sailed west. Meeting up with the Victrian convoy in the Medosi sea off the coast of the ruins of Myros, the Ageosi sailed as one - with the notable absence of the Eudaimonians, who it is said were forced to deal with internal matters and could not afford to send troops. Hamilvar landed his ship to the south east of Israkra, at the Ukialtan coastal wheat fields. There the men came ashore, and listened to the words of the Kratian general Tigetius who would lead the charge. Israkra's force was dwarfed by the size of the Ageosi force, yet held far more experience in combat. The Ageosi troops were largely levy infantry - farmers, miners, builders and other citizens who had enlisted to fight.

The Israkrans had set up makeshift defenses - their walls were incomplete, but enough to encircle the town. It had been anticipated that a field battle would ensue as opposed to a siege, but late scouting reports found that the town had quickly constructed its defenses. The Ageosi forces brought only ladders to counter these defenses. Surrounded by water, the men moved along the thin foundations of incomplete wall that lay in the water approaching the Israkran gate. According to Afukan, the gate would be open, yet such an opening did not present itself. Walking along the narrow brickwork, the Ageosi came under arrow fire, and were forced to raise their shield and move slowly. Many of those who attempted to lower their shield and move quickly against the Israkran wall for cover perished in the arrow fire. Returning the volley of arrows at the defenders, the Ageosi force eventually reached the walls. Now a suitable spot had to be found for ladders, which posed its own challenge. Pushing through arrow fire and water, Hamilvar managed to find an exposed section of wall, and at the cost of taking an arrow through his iron plate, successfully positioned his ladder, and recovered at the base of the wall as Ageosi forces flooded onto the walls and into the town. Although sustaining heavy casualties, there was little resistance from that point, as Ageosi forces moved to secure the centre of the town and pursued the defenders who did not hold ground in the town. Pursuit of the defenders only lead to further casualties, but the battle for Israkra itself had ended. Zyros the offender, who had slain the king of Kratia, was captured in the town and executed by general Tigetius in front of a cheering Ageosi crowd.