Yakov Ev Ilyin

*I don't have friends or companions, what I have is people who I've already crushed and people who I plan to crush.*

*-Yakov Ev Ilyin*

**Yakov Ev Ilyin** is the third Grand General of the nation of ***Salena***.

An arrogant, self-aggrandizing, yet absolutely terrifying Oligarch, Yakov Ev Ilyin embodies the saying *"It is better to be feared than loved".* One of the only individuals on Parthas to completely master blood magic, Yakovs talents hold Salenas safety and well being as a nation together almost single-handedly. As such, Ev Ilyin is regarded highly by many, and is very well respected and even liked by those who have never had to deal with him first hand.

## Appearance

Yakov is a rather tall individual with long platnum blonde hair and ghostly white skin. Out of all of his fellow oligarchs, he is the only one who wears a red coat. This long coat drapes on one side, and in public is usually adorned with metals and symbols of his military status as Head General. He has a dark grey undershirt, and a white tie.

Yakov also wears black gloves that match his pants, half cape, and boots that are lined with gold trimming, as well as all of his outfit.

Despite all other Paleboods usually healing through most of their physical flaws, Yakov is a bit different. Half of his face looks to either be burned, scarred, or deformed. This, while not a sore spot in conversation with him, is peculiar, as no one else retains injuries of this degree. Despite having an obvious and very visible injury, Yakov also often refuses to dress for combat, as he feels there is no need to. He leaves his hair very long in the back, and will often wear a half cape that drapes behind him and little to no actual armor.

## Personality

There are very few people who say they like working for or being around Yakov. He is often known for his arrogance and dismissive attitude twords others more than anything, though he unfortunately has both the skills and talent to back his attitude up.

While usually not outwardly mean in terms of having a terrible temper, Yakov tends to show his displeasure by talking down to people, questioning their competency or ignoring the individual, even to the point of refusing to touch them. Even as a General, he rarely barks orders, but will usually assume incompetence and instead repeat orders over and over again in a very clear and concise manner. That is of course till Yakov has his buttons pushed, if bothered in any way for too long, he has a tendency to explode of either violence or assertive screaming, depending on if he is in a good mood.

It is nearly impossible to become *"close"* to Yakov Ev Ilyin as a person, simply because he hates most people, and will tell you that. Yakov is a very private person when he is not working or in public. In fact, he spends so much time alone, not even his ***Bloodletters*** know what he does in his free time, what kinds of hobbies he has, or even what he enjoys outside of working. If he is ever seen outside of his chambers in his estate, he is still, always within uniform. Perhaps he is someone who values his outward appearance more than most, and as to what that implies for himself, that is up to interpretation.

## Lore

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***General Lore***

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Oligarch Yakov Ev Ilyin is the master tactician and Grand General of the Salein empire. His name is above every other oligarch, and his presence is almost seen as a second Czar when Salena is met with.. *disagreements* with other nations. It is through him personally that Salena remains as respected and feared of an empire as it is in the modern political landscape of Parthas. Though, with such a thankless position, the Grand General, rather unsubtlely, has begun to buckle under the weight of his own political shadow.

Rude, dismissive and mean, Yakov is often considered a byproduct of ***Czar Micholashs*** reign over the empire. He is someone who has sunk deeply into his nations ideals of blood purity and prejudges against non ***Palebloods***, and Palebloods with 'lower quality' blood than his own.

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***Past Character Lore***

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Little is known about Yakovs life as a human, though he is only slightly younger than ***Nikolai Von Ioannovich***, and is presumed to have had is life extended 700 to 500 years before his ***Ceremony of Rebirth***.

Yakovs life as a Paleblood was not started in the Ev Ilyin family, rather it was a breaking of tradition for the linage of Grand Generals. Despite being decently pure of blood, Yakov was not picked for oligarch after his ceremony, but started as another lieutenant within Salenas ranks.

I didn't take long for his talents to be recognized by the former Head General, ***Nicholas Ev Ilyin,*** and Yakov was soon taken in as the retainer to the previous general. Even with Yakovs undeniable talents as an emulator of strength, he, even then, was difficult, to say the least.

Despite months of disciplinary training, Yakov was still arrogant and big headed. Knowing very well he couldn't teach Yakov humility, the previous Grand General arranged for his retainer to attend ***Saga Academy***, for the sake of interacting with people that shared different views that would challenge his perception of other people. While there, Yakov had been college sweetheart to a young ***Faeya Vossen***, and did grow as a person while there.

However, that was not to last.

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***Past Main Story Line Lore***

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*"If one day I am not here to hold my post, may my work be finished by the exceptional hands of my pupil, to him, I offer my name and my title."*

*-A note to Czarina Anya, signed by Nicholas Ev Ilyin, second emulator of strength for the empire of Salena.*

Yakov was recalled from Saga Academy midway through his third semester, and returned to Salena to take up the mantel of the third Grand General of his nation per request of his predecessor. Oligarch Nicolas had been found dead within his own quarters, presumably assassinated by some outside force, be it internal strife or another nation of Parthas. Only a month after his passing was Czarina Anya killed, and Czar Micholash gained control over Salena.

Despite Oligarch Nikolai Von Ioannovich being forced into the role of advisor, Yakov was Micholash's favorite. Ravaged by grief, Yakov sunk into his most negative traits as a way to defend himself from the crushing reality of not only his new responsibility, his spiral was only pushed forward by Czar Micholash, who saw the General as his own living weapon that could be used to conquer the hinterlands, as well as bring the nation to his knees if he was manipulated properly.

Yakovs already arrogant personality was bent to The Old Czars liking over years. Over time, ideals planted into the head of the Grand General sprouted, and now Yakov, even in The Old Czars death has sworn himself to his idea of a *'perfect world'*.

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***The Modern Day***

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To the people of Salena under the reign of Czar Fairam, Yakov has far surpassed Nicholas in his abilities and respect, though now with both Micholash and Nicholas dead, Yakov as taken to fully isolate himself from everyone, now believing that it is a waste to even speak to others.

Currently, Yakov has been busy investigating mysterious occurrences that have been popping up around the ***Gladiran*** empire that concern his nation, as well as sometimes fending off terrible beasts in the hinterlands of Salena. It has been a while since Yakov has returned to the capital City despite being Czar Fairams advisor, simply because he values his work higher than what he deems to be a 'second rate king' .

## Powers and Magic

-⇛Yakov can Shapeshift into a bat, though he rarely has the need to.

-⇛Yakov is one of the only people in Parthas to fully master the incredibly difficult art of Blood Magic, something that only a few Palebloods are even capable of using the bare bones methods of. This makes Yakov an incredibly strong opponent for anyone that makes themselves his enemy.

-⇛Yakov has limited mind reading powers.