Rizhane Kathira Ulmenvos VII

Kathira Ulmenvos VII (1069 - 1140 A.C.R.) began her reign at age 23 in 1192, and ended her reign of 40 years having accomplished much. She reestablished trade connections with Fjorlosia, and grew the strongest Alerean army Virosia had seen in some time. She expanded Aleryn's borders to encompass the edges of the Akathian realm that border Fjorlosia and Shaelarin. She lead Alerean forces herself with great frequency, and as a result, many regard her as a soldier-Rizhane. Peace was always her proclaimed goal, and her methods were often successful - from an Alerean perspective. Indeed, she is referred to as many as a Mythmaker in her own right, especially for her actions in the Battle of the Comet.
"It's not certain to me that there was ever a more virtuous ruler of Aleryn - to her people - or a more vicious tyrant of Drostollor. Objectively, of course." - Pricio, the Rizhan's Second Scribe
Raport with Drostollor and Aleryn had declined shortly before her reign as more and more of the north desired freedom from the Akathian realm and the rule of Aleryn from so far away. Seven years into her reign, at the age of 30, she lead the defense and opposition of the Rebellion of Crater (1199 A.C.R.) that saw the most brutal civil war of Akathian history. The rebellion culminated at the Battle of Crater in the winter of 1201, as Alerean forces marching in full force through Drostollorian territory were ambushed by rebels as they traversed the Etraline Crater. The battle lasted four days, and resulted in an Alerean victory, with the presiding Rizhan present after the first day. Bodies littered the crater, with its surrounding mines and quarries faring little better. As the rebel's best chance at defending their home from encroaching forces, their rout saw a retreat to the seat of Drostollor, and the slaying of Frivan Jargask Enroth II by Kathira's hands.
With a victorious rebellion under her belt by age 32, Kathira settled into her midlife nicely. She oversaw border expansion and affirmation that had gone missing in centuries previous, finally giving Akathia well mapped borders between itself and neighboring realms.

Of Military, and the People

Rizhane Kathira Ulmenvos VII loved her military, but her family saw a great rise to power in her early life. Nothing of a low-born herself, the Ulmenvos were still a lower house. They made weapons for the Alerean Adarizhan under the Terandos' reign, and rose to power themselves as their designs for blades became favorable, and wealth found them. Still many of their shops in Aleryn had regularly worked for peasantry; basic goods for the common folk were made by her kin throughout her reign, and she would speak to her people in forum and by simply walking her streets with great regularity. She was even known to spar and drink with commoners during celebration.
She was loved by her people, and would in years of great profiteering, give direct gifts of wealth to the lowest classes. This often came with pay-cuts to her much esteemed military, which saw approval decline by more militaristically profiting folk, but never such to see complete dissolution by them.
Kathira VII stated frequently to her peers that "To learn best, one must have example", and she carried herself with such ethos. It was seen, however, that this love for her people did not extend fully to the Drostollorian people. People of the north were taxed more heavily than their income would normally allow for, and with stricter grace periods, and harsher punishments for inability to pay in full. This was exaserbated after the Rebellion of the Comet.

Her Story

A Leader of Many Walks

Born into lower-nobility, Kathira was adjacent to many kinds of people, and considered many walks of life before eventually landing within the graces of her predecessor, Nardorano Terandos II. Before this, however, she had spent many years working as an assistant blacksmith in her family's workshops, never fashioning more than simple knifes and daggers, though weapons were rare treats in her accounts.
Moreover, she tired of this life and joined the Alerean Ward, spending the years of her early adult life training as a soldier for the Terandos dynasty. Quickly she made a name for herself, cutting down superior after superior in hauty duel. She was a ravenous youth, taking it upon her self to see a rise through ranks as quickly as she could manifest it.