Budimiv I of Toscov

***“**Onwards, men! These beasts deserve none of your mercy!**”***
— Budimiv I

**Budimiv I of Toscov**, born **Budimiv iz Toscov**, often nicknamed **Budimiv the Brave**, was the Emperor of the Golden Empire of Toscov from 136 AW until his assassination in 145 AW. He is both famous and infamous for his ruthless response to the Sixth Plague of Ihyll which was unleashed on Toscov from 140 AW onwards.

Whereas Mikhail Ivolanov proved that the Krighal Taresh could have their humanity restored – becoming Krighal Vitna – Budimiv rejected these findings flat-out. Instead, he implemented a bounty system on any Krighal and began a persecution of all Krighal.

When two of his own children, Woldar and Zivura, turned into Krighal Vitna, Budimiv didn't hesitate to brand them as traitors and subsequently stripped them of all titles in 144 AW. Fueled by bitter resentment and a sense of abandonment, Prince Woldar ambushed and assassinated Budimiv in 145 AW.

## Biography

### Early Life

The firstborn son of Emperor Gazarev, Budimiv iz Toscov enjoyed the perks that came with royalty. He received a military education in Toscov, becoming a squire and later a knight. Subsequently, he became an Imperial Guard in 110 AW. He would be promoted to captain of the Imperial Guard in 116 AW.

Budimiv married Galya iz Ozach, the daughter of Duke Lavian III of Ozach, in 111 AW. They would have their first child, Ludimik, in 113 AW. Ultimately, the marriage led to an impressive fifteen children being born in the coming years.

As Emperor Gazarev began to fall ill in the early 130s, Budimiv took up most of the Empire's duties, becoming his father's regent. Gazarev died in 136 AW, leading to the inauguration of Budimiv I.

### Reign and Death

Budimiv I's early reign was relatively uneventful. The Golden Empire was a stable power, both politically and economically. Budimiv passed a few minor military reforms, but not much else, as he settled into typical court life.

However, in 140 AW, the Golden Empire would become the birthplace of the Sixth Plague of Ihyll. Ordinary Humans became furry beasts of claws and teeth, savage packs of monsters that tore through entire villages and armies alike. The Sixth Plague spread rapidly, with every corner of the empire being affected before long.

Budimiv I adopted a militaristic approach, founding the Anti-Krighal Watchmen to serve as volunteers, as well as mobilizing every last soldier the empire had to offer and stationing them inside settlements. While this mostly safeguarded the larger towns, the Toscovish countryside began to suffer under constant Krighal Taresh attacks as internal trade collapsed.

By 142 AW, Mikhail Ivolanov had found a way to restore the humanity of captured Krighal Taresh, creating the first Krighal Vitna. While these retained their beast-like bodies, they lost their uncontrollable violence, becoming ordinary Humans on the inside once more.

However, Budimiv I rejected Ivolanov's findings, and continued his militaristic approach, frequently leading his own hunting parties into the woods to hunt and kill any Krighal he could get his hands on. These raids were often brutal, and would sometimes target ordinary Humans instead of any Krighal.

By 144 AW, two of Budimiv's children, Prince Woldar and Princess Zivura, would contract the Sixth Plague, later becoming Krighal Vitna. However, Budimiv no longer wanted anything to do with them, banishing them and stripping them off all titles. Prince Woldar fled into the woods, recruiting a large band of Krighal Vitna, and employing guerilla tactics against the Empire.

By 145 AW, while on another expedition against the Krighal, Budimiv was attacked by Prince Woldar and his retinue, and was subsequently killed in an ambush. While the crown initially passed to his son Ludimik with no problems, the death of Budimiv I would further destabilize the Golden Empire in a period of chaos, and would ultimately lead to the destructive War of the Fifteen Princes, a decade-long civil war between Budimiv's many children.

## Career

* Golden Empire of Toscov
	+ Crown Prince (91-136 AW)
	+ Squire (103-109 AW)
	+ Knight (109-145 AW)
	+ Imperial Guard (110-116 AW)
	+ Imperial Guard Captain (116-136 AW)
	+ Emperor (136-145 AW)

## Awards

*Main Article: List of Awards*

* Service Medal - Golden Empire of Toscov
* Knighthood Medal - Golden Empire of Toscov
* Imperial Defender Medal - Golden Empire of Toscov

## Personality

Sources from the time often describe Budimiv I as being brave to the point of suicide. Always defying the odds, the man showed no fear of the Krighal Taresh, who could kill dozens of regular Humans singlehandedly. Budimiv was an expert fighter who would often charge into battle outnumbered, yet who remained largely undefeated. However, there was also a dark side to Budimiv, as he became rather tyrannical during the course of the Sixth Plague of Ihyll, killing any who would question his tactics at court and ruthlessly slaughtering entire villages for harboring Krighal Vitna refugees. Ultimately, this gives the man something of a mixed reputation.

## Relationships

* Queen Consort Galya - My darling wife. While marriage usually doesn't need to love, I do love her. I will stop at nothing to defend her from the monsters roaming Toscov.
* Prince Deslov - Ludimik is a fool who is corrupt to his very core. How I wish Deslov could become the next Emperor. He is a man of morals, competence, and honor. Alas, in a different life, perhaps.

* Prince Woldar - While unfortunate, I do not blame my son for becoming one of those monsters. However, he spat in the face of the Empire, and now he rebels against the hand that fed him. Woldar is a failure, no better than the other beasts, and he must die.
* Crown Prince Ludimik - When I look at Ludimik, I fear I have failed as a father. The man is a failure, corrupt to the core. All he cares about is money, wine, and women. If I die, he'll ruin the whole damn Empire, just you wait!