Jara Hightier

**Jara Hightier** was a governor of the Western Imperial Governorate and briefly First Consul until his death after being captured in the battle of Yanhay. He was a key orchestrator in the provocations that led up to the Pedranier Revolution, and was an ardent supporter of his nephews, Prince Ulio and Cator, and despised **Prince Aurelander**. Jara Hightier was the younger brother to the second wife of Emperor Mezenge III, Empress Alta, and therefore held high place in court. He was the son of Artur Hightier, the longest reigning First Consul in history. Artur's legacy caused Jara to be immediately appointed and chosen as the next first consul.

## Appearance and Personality

Jara had long curly hair with a curly moustache, both being a dark shade of blonde. He had yellow eyes and an almost triangular shape. Jara was handsome and charming, wearing extravagant clothings at all times. He wore some of the most extravagant perfumes, purchasing many from **Merve Ceren**. He had also worn more expensive armor than the Emperor himself.

Described as being someone who went to exorbitant lengths, Jara always had the largest tent on the field and it was also the most decorated and vibrant. He was well liked by the lords around him, even despite his mean attitude and tone.

Jara had a strong hatred for Fanahrians, just like his father and his family in general. Jara was well aware of the problems the Durangian Fanahrians in the Western Governorate caused to his family for more than 100 years, and was not against exterminating the Fanahrians within the Empire. As First Consul, he vowed that he would clean the world of all Fanahrians.

Jara was also called spoiled by Henray Keats. Jara was rash and imprudent according to Prince Aurelander.

## History

### Early Life

Jara was born in Mardin while his father was still a lord of the governorate. However, in 133 AL, his father departed for Vidin City to serve as First Consul for Emperor Mezenge II. Thus, Jara was left in Mardin with his mother and elder sister, who both spoiled Jara and gave him everything he wanted. When Jara cried, his mother would have provided. His mother did not allow servents and others to look after him, and as he grew older, his mother still continued to bathe and wash him. He also enjoyed horror stories, and would hear many stories of monsterous Fanahrians causing terror and horror among the people of the Western Governorate.

When Jara was told he was going to his father and learn lessons in the Imperial capital in 144 AL, he destroyed all the plates and glasses on the table and ran across the castle screaming and kicking guards. Artur Hightier had to come back to Mardin, publicly beat him, and then take him in order to discipline Jara.

While Jara's spoiled lifestyle ended when he was with his father, it had marked him for life. His father would constantly beat him, often talking about how **Ayken Lovewater** was scoring top grades in the Imperial Academy, while Jara was still "picking his nose and laughing about farts."

Due to his father, Jara became immensely popular in the Imperial academy and gave him a status and self-approval. He began to think he was the best at something, even if it was clear that he was not. He used this status to start bullying Ayken. Jara called Ayken a "Merken", a derogatory word used against Fanahrians to mock their naming customs.

According to Ayken, Jara would often times approach Ayken's sister, groping her and verbally assaulting her with sexual connotations. Though, the contents of most of what came out of his mouth were never known. One incidence that Ayken clearly remembers was in 149 AL, when Jara had threatened Ayken's sister that he and his men would take their turns on her unless she showed him her body. Ayken came to his sisters defence and he threw a punch, causing Jara's bodyguards to move in an hold Ayken, while Jara Hightier threw countless punches onto Ayken's body. Jara had told Ayken that he was going to take something from him, reminding him, "I am the son of the First Consul, while you are the son of a bastard rebel who lost his arm." 3 weeks later, Ayken's sister would die from a high fever, shortly after feeling nauseous and sick. Upon her death, Jara approached Ayken, mocking her death. Ayken, unable to resist yet again, threw punches but this time was stopped in time by Jara's guards, who proceeded to beat him. Ayken was crying the entire time, until Prince Mezenge arrived. Prince Mezenge had members of the Imperial guard escorting him beat Jara's guards. The Crown Prince scoulded Jara Hightier:

"The Fanahrian is a guest of my father. My father is the Emperor. Whoever harms even a hair follicle of my family's guests will suffer the consequences. You are lucky you are the son of the First Consul, out of respect for your father you may leave. But these so-called knights of yours will lose their hands for laying their hands on him."

Jara did not openly bully Ayken again. However, Ayken still did blame the attack on Jara when a mob beat Ayken after he came across a sign that said "no defecation, no dogs, no Fanahrians."

### Cirokar-Vidin War

Jara Hightier joined the war council of the Cirokar-Vidin war but played a very minor role. Despite this, he did fight in the final battle, and despite its minor significance to the campaign, was creditted by Emperor Mezenge III, probably under influence by Empress Alta Hightier. This only fuelled Jara's ego even further.

### Rule

Jara Hightier was finally reunited with his mother, who was much older now but did not change her habits of spoiling her son. Jara was spoiled just as he was in infancy, and his mother provided everything for Jara, from his clothes to his needs and luxuries.

Jara however proved to be a very efficent money manager. And the Western Governorate prospered under his govenorship that started in 160 AL, as his father gave control to him. Jara Hightier caught the eye of Emperor Mezenge and was invited to the capital and was made manager of the coffers, a role he continued to keep until his death, even whilst First Consul. He was therefore the first Imperial governor outside the Veydal family to hold two High Table positions at once.

As Jara grew, he became more mature and dropped his bullying nature and picked up a more extravagant and lavish lifestyle. He also became a more shrewd politican and was less spoiled when he was not with his mother. He was never as good as his father. He still remained bitter towards the Fanahrians and plotted with ihs father to cause a crisis that will drive war against the Fanahrians. He also was part of the plot to try and remove Prince Aurelander from the succession, and Jara Hightier accepted this could only be achieved by his death. By removing Aurelander, his own blood could sit the throne after Mezenge and could be guided like a puppet.

### Pedranier Revolution

Jara Hightier had urged the Emperor to start war with Pedranier and prevent Ayken Lovewater from mustering more men. When his father died, Jara was made First Consul by popular demand in court, mostly by men put in power by Artur Hightier and Alta Hightier. Jara was therefore replaced by his eldest nephew, Prince Ulio, as the governor of the West. However, Jara Hightier was sent to guard the lands of the West after news of Ayken's host crossing the Bonson River. Jara Hightier was therefore mostly idle during the first part of the war.

He was furious at the capture of his nephew and marched to Vidin with Rhomboid Sellsgood to put pressure on the Emperor to do something. After Ayken's lords were stalled at the Corbat and Cabal Campaign, Jara Hightier suggested a full fronted attack. However, Prince Aurelander and Henray Keats both urged constraint and containment. Jara and his hawkish faction accused Henray Keats of being a coward and dishonourable.

#### Famous High Table Meeting

For some time in early 178, Ayken's where abouts were not known by Imperial intelligence, and one of the most famous high table meetings took place:

Jara Hightier: We should have destroyed Pedranier, every man, woman, and child many years ago.

Emperor Mezenge: Enough! The Bonson Plains have been laid waste by Ayken Lovewater and yet you ministers still talk about many years ago. What are the latest reports of his where abouts?

Jara Hightier: Your highness, my spies tell me his army has marched. We must expect an invasion of the Western governorate.

Prince Cator: That is nonsense! No army has marched, Vidin controls everything north of the Bonson Plains. He is not attacking. He is now hiding his lands and will be on the defence.

Emperor Mezenge: My son, Lord Ayken is not one to back down after one little set back.

Henray Keats: Whatever he does my lords, we must avoid a confrontation with him.

Rhomboid Sellsgood: Ridiculous! That is not befitting of Vidin. Ayken will march onto the three forts again, if we do not engage him your highness, they will be lost. We must engagement him and crush him like an insect.

Henray Keats: Sit down you old fool! You have already repelled his army he will not try it again.

Prince Aurelander: He intends not to attack the west or the three forts, nor does he wish to march on the three forts. My spies tell me Lord Lovewater has formed an alliance with the tribes of the Kayranese, he intends to march his army -

Jara Hightier: Over the Kayranese perhaps? He would lose half of his army form attrition alone. The other half would desert him.

Prince Aurelander: Your highness we must defend the mountain passes.

Jara Hightier: You are still young, Prince. I dare say that would be quite a feat, even for the esteemed Ayken Lovewater.

The decision was to form an army under Hightier, Sellsgood, and Keats command. They would engage Ayken at the Three Forts, but Ayken had indeed marched through the Kayranese and flanked the Imperial army and taken it completely off guard. To rush to their main agricultural centre, they rushed to meet him at the battle of Yanhay.

#### Battle of Yanhay

Jara Hightier took overall command of the battle and marched his vanguard and eventually his entire army to smash through Ayken's lines and end his threat once and for all. However, Ayken Lovewater brilliantly lured the Imperial army into a trap, and had it surrounded and utterly destroyed. Jara Hightier was taken captive and brought before Ayken Lovewater.

Antonmer Corbat: My Lord Paramount, we bring you Jara Hightier, or shall I say Lowtier. Poor wretch, on his knees. Why so melancholy? Come on, smile Jara, your friend is here.

Ayken Lovewater: Enough with your jests Antonmer, unless you want to also go on your knees like him.

Antonmer Corbat: Yes, my lord.

Ayken Lovewater: No defecation. No dogs. No Fanahrians. No defecation. No dogs. No Fanahrians. Do you remember that? Huh? Jara do you remember that?

Jara Hightier: You cannot kill men, Ayken. I am the First Consul. Even the contents of my privy out ranks you. You know you cannot kill me. But next time we meet, I am going to make you are going to die slowly, but I will first make you watch me burn your country to the ground and slaughter your wife... I would have said your daughter too, but poor little Betulhan did the work already for me.

Serratken Adham: My lord, let me behead him. You do not need to hear this.

Ayken Lovewater: Who are you to tell me what I need and need not hear, boy.

Serratken Adham: My Lord.

Ayken Lovewater: When it comes to you, only I will decide whose head remains on their shoulders. You think I will let you go? Where will you go? No where. You have lived far too long. I will not burry you nor send your body back to your snake of a sister. The only corpse that shall remain unburried out of that army I have destroyed is yours. Jara Hightier, son of Artur Hightier, I, Ayken Lovewater, Lord of Trirannal and Lord Paramount of the Independent Kingdom of Pedranier, sentence you to beheading.

Antonmer Corbat: alright, get my sword, soldier.

Ayken Lovewater: No. I have vowed every night that I will kill this weasel peace of shit myself.

Antonmer Corbat: As you wish.

Ayken Lovewater: I do wish it.