Danakha I of Sallant

Danakha in 1230 AW

***“**People often ask me what I want, like it's some complex mystery. I want to be an Empress. I want to be an only child. I want to be an orphan.**”***
— Danakha of Sallant

**Danakha I of Sallant**, often called **Danakha the Brutal**, born **Danakha Yanhia**, is the current Empress of Sallant and the leader of the Sapphire League. She has reigned over the Empire since her bloody coup in 1228 AW.

## Biography

### Early Life

Danakha was the youngest legitimate child of Emperor Muzai II, as her mother, Empress-Consort Abuta. Abuta died shortly after giving birth to Danakha in 1211 AW in Qibiqa. Her father was not present, as he was in New Sallant at the time, planning his conquest of Da'al Mon.

Danakha was subsequently left stranded in the Sapphire Kingdom of Qibiqa, as Muzai never got around to 'collecting' her. Eventually, Qibiqa's monarch, Ahandid II, arranged for her to be tutored in his court instead. Subsequently, Danakha grew up in Qibiqa without so much as ever meeting her biological father, as Ahandid II became more of a father figure to her. However, beneath the young princess' surface burned a quiet rage at being abandoned.

As Sallant entered the Great War, invading Da'al Mon, Danakha finally met Muzai for the first time. Subsequently, he took her to New Sallant in 1220 AW. Here she met her siblings for the first time. However, court scribes noted that Danakha never truly felt at home in New Sallant and often longed to return to Qibiqa.

Two things ultimately led to her coup. Firstly, she was ambitious and had many political ties with the nobility of Qibiqa. Second, Muzai II, despite his conquests, was highly unpopular both domestically and internationally. In 1227 AW, Danakha contacted Ahandid II, asking for his aid in overthrowing Muzai. Ahandid, while a man of honor, reluctantly agreed as he was urged on by his court.

Soldiers loyal to Qibiqa slowly entered New Sallant for months as they prepared for the coup. However, the Sallanthian spymaster, Siyia the Serpent, ultimately discovered the plot. While the coup could have ended there, Siyia joined the scheme not out of loyalty but to advance her own standing within Sallanthian society. In 1228 AW, Qibiqan soldiers stormed the Sapphire Palace, imprisoning Muzai II and his children. In a hasty ceremony, Danakha was crowned Empress Danakha of Sallant.

### Reign

Danakha's reign began in 1228 AW. Her first act as Empress was to immediately put Muzai and her siblings to death to prevent any would-be countercoups by loyalist elements in Sallant. After the executions, Danakha launched a purge, hunting down Muzai's many former lovers and bastard children and putting an end to them too.

Danakha, with the aid of the Serpent, established a brutal regime over New Sallant, which rapidly spread through the rest of the Empire. This unnerved many of the more moderate lords of the Sapphire League, including Ahandid II.

Not much has happened since then, as the purges are still ongoing. Those who so much as verbally oppose the new imperial government disappear into the night, as the Serpent's many agents lurk in every corner of the Sapphire League, feeding information back to Danahka. However, some political observers have been worried about the Serpent's influence in the new government and expect Siyia to launch her own coup on Danakha if given the opportunity.

Danakha has faced some military resistance, primarily from amongst the Desert Lords. Dinak of Wada'sa leads the so-called Sapphire Resistance, aimed at overthrowing the Empress and re-establishing the old order. However, few expect Dinak to succeed in his current state, as the aging general commands little more than a disorganized Warband.

## Career

* Empire of Sallant
	+ Princess (1211-1228 AW)
	+ Empress (1228 AW-)
	+ Head of the Sapphire League (1228 AW-)
* Sapphire Kingdom of Qibiqa
	+ Court Noble (1211-1220 AW)

## Personality

Some draw similarities between Danakha and the Empire of Sallant as a whole. Beautiful and calm on the outside, yet filled with brutality and hatred on the inside. Abandoned for most of her childhood, Danakha grew up to hate both Muzai II and the Empire as a whole. Since coming to power, she has turned the Empire on its head, getting rid of ancient customs and implementing new ones at a whim.

Yet, she seems to have grown a liking towards Qibiqa and many of the statelets in the Sapphire League. Furthermore, she does not abuse the ordinary commoners, merely those who oppose her. This would suggest that, despite her reign of terror, she has some amount of sympathy or pity for the low nobility and commoners within the Empire.

## Relationships

* **Ahandid II of Qibiqa** - Ahandid is family. Not through blood but through action. He was the father I never had; for that, he has my thanks and loyalty. I doubt I could repay the favors he has done me in ten lifetimes, but I will try.
* **Siyia the Serpent** - Siyia's reputation across Sallant is terrible. Her name is said only in frightened whispers. Yet, that is not the woman I know. The woman I know is eager to stand up against injustice when she sees it. A loyal ally and a devoted friend, I owe her much.

* Dinak of Wada'sa - Dinak is a ruthless Desert Lord and a former member of the Sapphire League. He looked at the Empire being overthrown by a 'mere' 16-year-old girl as a sign of weakness. Now, he is the self-proclaimed head of the 'Sapphire Resistance' and a constant thorn in my side. He hides in the desert, constantly on the move, and rightfully so. The old general should pray I never get my hands on him.