Gaelem the Great

Sleepless Basilisk

Gaelem the Great, founder and first king of the Kingdom of Gaelem, is one of history's most revered figures, celebrated for his role in pushing back the undead hordes alongside Norman "The Lionheart" de Normandie during the Great War of Undeath. Renowned as a mighty hero, Gaelem commanded and fought in countless battles, earning the title "Sleepless Basilisk" for his tireless vigilance and deadly prowess. A devout follower of Solomonid during the war, Gaelem eventually parted ways with Norman over a disagreement, leading him to return to his homeland of the Kingdom of Vovoland, where he established the Kingdom of Gaelem.

From the ground up, Gaelem forged his new nation, shaping its culture, laws, currency, religion, and military with his vision and leadership. Under his rule, the Kingdom of Gaelem expanded to become a formidable power, its influence continuing to endure for thousands of years. In Gaelem, he is not only remembered as the founder king but is venerated as a god, the messiah, and the supreme being of the kingdom. Every facet of Gaelic life revolves around the worship of Gaelem and the continuation of his royal bloodline, which has ruled Gaelem without interruption since its inception. Gaelem's legacy is a testament to his unmatched leadership, his creation of a lasting empire, and his elevation to divine status in the hearts of his people.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Early Life

Gaelem was born in the rugged land of the Kingdom of Vovoland in 9099 AC, an era marked by hardship and strife. Orphaned at a young age, Gaelem faced a bleak and fruitless existence in his homeland, where survival was a daily struggle. Seeking a better life and driven by a desire for adventure, Gaelem joined a mercenary group, dedicating himself to honing his martial skills. During this period, he became a formidable warrior, though little is known about his life before his fateful encounter with Norman "The Lionheart" de Normandie.

The turning point in Gaelem's life came when he crossed paths with Norman. Initially seeing Norman as a foolish follower of a petty faith, Gaelem's perspective changed drastically after the two saved each other's lives during a fierce battle against goblin hordes. This shared experience forged an unbreakable bond between them, and Gaelem converted to Solomonid, swearing an eternal brotherhood with Norman. Together, they embarked on a divine mission, first by escorting the Wood Elf Princess back to her home, where they were both blessed by the Wood Elves. Strengthened by these blessings, Gaelem and Norman returned to the Kingdom of Eustria, where they began their mission to spread the Solomonid faith and defend the land from the growing undead threat.

Ascent to power

Gaelem's ascent to power was a journey marked by cunning and pragmatism, sharply contrasting with the virtuous and unwavering devotion of his brother-in-arms, Norman "The Lionheart" de Normandie. From the day they swore their eternal brotherhood, it was clear that Gaelem's approach to the Solomonid faith differed fundamentally from Norman's. While Norman embodied the pure and righteous champion of Solomon, driven by an unshakeable commitment to his divine mission, Gaelem's loyalty to the faith was more utilitarian. He was drawn to Solomonid not out of zealotry, but because of the immense power it conferred—a power that allowed him to vanquish the undead with ease and fight tirelessly against overwhelming odds.


By 9118 AC, the undead hordes had reached Eustria, overwhelming its armies and leaving the kingdom on the brink of annihilation. It was during this dire time that Gaelem and Norman, empowered by their belief in Solomon, turned the tide. Their victories inspired the people of Eustria, leading to a mass conversion to Solomonid within mere months. Gaelem, ever the strategist, recognized the opportunity that lay before them. Though they had the loyalty of the people, the king and his council refused to grant them any formal power within the government. Gaelem understood that, despite Norman's unmatched prowess on the battlefield, the war against the undead could not be won through faith alone; it required resources, manpower, and strategic control—elements that could only be secured through political power.


Norman, however, was reluctant to seek power for himself, seeing it as a distraction from his divine mission. Recognizing this, Gaelem took matters into his own hands. He began to sow dissent among the populace, subtly spreading the idea that the king should abdicate in favor of Norman. His efforts ignited a groundswell of support, and soon, the people of Eustria were demanding that Norman take the throne. When Norman remained hesitant, unwilling to seize power and concerned about the violence and unrest it might cause, Gaelem escalated the situation by encouraging the mobs to grow more aggressive, forcing Norman's hand. Gaelem knew that Norman's sense of duty and his desire to avoid tarnishing the Solomonid faith would ultimately compel him to act.


With Gaelem's final words of persuasion, Norman reluctantly agreed to become king, recognizing that it was the only way to maintain order and fulfill his divine mission. Once Norman was crowned, all of Eustria fell under his command, and Gaelem, now his right-hand man, took charge of the kingdom's affairs. While Norman led on the battlefield, Gaelem managed the political and strategic aspects of their campaign, ensuring that they had the resources and support needed to continue their fight against the undead. Through his shrewd and often ruthless actions, Gaelem secured the power necessary to achieve their goals, setting the stage for the rise of the Kingdom of Outremer and the eventual formation of the Holy Alliance.

The Great Schism

The Great Schism of 9182 AC marked the tragic end of the unbreakable bond between Norman the Lionheart and Gaelem the Sleepless Basilisk, two legendary heroes whose unity had once inspired the nations of Rodinia to rise against the undead hordes. For decades, they had led the western front with unwavering resolve, their combined strength and contrasting yet complementary approaches ensuring victory after brutal victory. Under Norman's leadership, the Holy Alliance was formed, rallying the nations of Rodinia and eventually the entire world to the cause. The faith in Solomon, the god they both served, became a beacon of hope and strength in the darkest of times.

However, as the war dragged on, a deep rift began to form between the two champions. Norman, ever the virtuous and pious leader, remained steadfast in his belief that the purpose of the Solomonid faith was to purge the world of evil and spread the good word of Solomon, the divine source of their power. For him, the faith was about upholding the values of righteousness and ensuring that Solomon's will was carried out on Earth.


Gaelem, on the other hand, had a different vision. He believed that the true power of the faith lay not in the worship of a distant god, but in the reverence and authority of its mortal leader. He saw the leader of the faith as a godly figure, deserving of worship, respect, and admiration. This fundamental disagreement grew over the years, fueling tension between the two. Gaelem's vision of a faith centered around a living, breathing leader clashed with Norman's insistence on keeping Solomon as the sole focus of devotion.


The tension between them finally boiled over in 9182 AC, when their most heated argument erupted into a violent duel. In a fierce battle that nearly ended Norman's life, Gaelem came dangerously close to killing his former brother-in-arms. The duel was only stopped when numerous servants intervened, though many were cut down by Gaelem's hand before he was finally restrained. That night, Gaelem, along with his most devout followers, left for his homeland of Vovoland.


In Vovoland, Gaelem established his own kingdom and created a new faith centered not on Solomon, but on himself. His followers became his most loyal zealots, and the Solomonid faith was irrevocably split between the Normanists, who remained true to Solomon and Norman's teachings, and the Gaelemites, who revered Gaelem as a divine figure in his own right. Despite their bitter schism, both Norman and Gaelem recognized that the undead threat was far greater than their personal grievances. Gaelem's Kingdom of Gaelem joined the Holy Alliance, and the two former brothers avoided open conflict as they focused on the greater war against the undead.


Yet, the wounds of their rift never healed. The Holy Alliance would endure long after their passing, but the division they had created lingered in the hearts of their followers, shaping the future of Rodinia for generations to come. The Great Schism not only marked the end of their brotherhood but also set the stage for the complex and often contentious relationship between the Kingdom of Outremer and the Kingdom of Gaelem, a legacy that would last for centuries.

Gaelem the Great

Divine Classification

Patron God

Religions

• Kingdom of Gaelem

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Gaelic

Church/Cult

Gaelemitism

Life

9099 AC 9236 AC 137 years old

Aligned Organization

Kingdom of Gaelem