Iskander the Invincible

The Invincible Conqueror Iskander Dereti

"Soon Attika and the other nations of this world will become one. We will be one people, united in culture, in blood, and in peace." -Iskander the Invincible

Iskander Dereti commonly known as Iskander the Invincible, was a king and conqueror hailing from the ancient Attikan kingdom of Makedonia. He was born in 23PE, and succeeded his father, Terrence the Mighty in 43PE when his father was assassinated, taking the throne at only age 20. He spent the rest of his years on an military campaign across Atavaria, as well as west into the Deserts of Ayos, as well as deep into what would become the Ferissian Peninsula, laying the groundwork for what would become the city of Old Ferrus. At the age of 35, he had forged one of the largest empires in the history of Terra. Undefeated in battle, Iskander is considered one of histories greatest warriors and conquerors. The prophecy of The Return of the Invincible Conqueror states that his spirit will be reborn to once again unite the world under one banner.

Early Life 

In the very early days of the Post-Enlightenment, the land of Attika was a collection of city-states ruled individually by kings called Arkhagetai. One of these city-states was Makedonia, ruled by Terrence the Mighty, whose military expertise and calculating strategy forged the once small agrarian state into a formidable force in the region. He bore a son from his wife, Lacania, who was an elf from the far-off land of Atavaria. The son, a half-elf, was named Iskander.

Iskander was often bullied in his youth for being a half-blood, as many in Makedonia were full blooded humans, and often looked down on any "intermingled" species. Iskander, however, was blessed with incredible tutors growing up and soon showed his aptitude in all manner of things: history, art, oration, sword fighting, horse riding and most importantly military strategy and warfare. He was personally instructed by the great Arkimidas, an elven philosopher who taught him the forward thinking philosophies of politics, ancient histories, science, as well as knowledge of the arcane arts.


Considered a wunderkind and a polymath, his father spared no time grooming him to be the next king of Makedonia, forging him in the fires of battle when Iskander was yet a boy of 12. At 14, Iskander led a charge against the Mystiko Daktilidi, a infamous band of 500 pairs of male lovers who were known to be the most elite fighting force in all of the Attika region. At the very last moment of the charge, Iskander ordered a dead stop then retreat, a feat only the cavalry of Makedonia could perform. Believing their enemy broken, the Mystiko Daktilidi broke ranks for a split second as they tried to pursue the young warrior. In that split second, Iskander created an arcane wall of force dividing the forward guard and the rear guard, effectively splitting the group into two. After performing another perfect full turn with his cavalry, he charged again, demolishing the forward guard as their fellow soldiers watched in horror behind the arcane wall. A second charge hit the rear guard, led by Iskander's father just as the arcane wall fell, the spears of Iskander's cavalary waiting on the other side. The band was killed to the last man, and the door to the rest of Attika was opened to the Makedonians. Terrence and his son went on to subjugate and conquer what is now modern day Attika. 

Only hours after having a very public disagreement with his father, Terrence was assassinated by an Atavarian spy. At the age of 20, Iskander Dereti took the throne and became the king of the newly forged Attikan Empire. 

Military Campaign 

Soon after he took his throne, Iskender sought vindication and vengeance for the death of his father, as well as to continue his dream of uniting the world under one banner. He mustered a force of 50,000 Attikan soldiers and 6000 cavalry, along with over 100 warships to launch what would become the most successful campaign in military history. His army took the great city of Zhoushan after a masterful victory at the Battle of Pinyeen, in which Iskander won an uphill battle against the defending Atavarian charge. Aided by the extremely long spears of his improved phalanx formation, Iskander was able to halt the charge for a short time, in which he maneuvered his superior cavalry to strike from the flanks. This opened a pocket in the enemy forces, allowing for Iskender's elite shock troops to charge upon the bulk of the Atavarian forces. 

Iskander fought several more battles after that, culminating with the surrender and supplication of the Emperor of Atavaria after the invasion of Ito, the fledgeling state of Atavaria was absorbed into the Attikan Empire. This did not satiate Iskender, however, and he set his sights west to Ayos Messina and the Ferissian peninsula. 

Iskander fought past the vast armies of the armies of Ayos Messina, bolstered by new magicks and troops from Atavaria. In the famed Battle of the Valley of the Serpent, Iskander's smaller force defeated an army almost three times its size due to the tactics and strategy of Iskander. 

The final leg of Iskander's military campaign was his journey through the the land bridge which would become the site of the great Steel Gate centuries later. Finding very little opposition besides small warring tribes, Iskander set up camp in what would become the future site of the City of Old Ferrus. It is there that he made the ill-fated decision to continue westward towards an an ancient elven city, the name of which has been lost to time. Much of the history is unclear of exactly what happened afterwards, but what was clear was that the young conqueror was soon found stabbed to death in his quarters soon after. Some say it was assassins sent from the elven city, while others posit that his men had mutinied due to the long and arduous campaign which had taken them far from their families on foreign, almost alien lands.

Species

Half-Blood

Ethnicity

Makedonian

Life

23 EE 58 EE 35 years old

Eyes

brown

Hair

long black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

tan

Height

5'10

Weight

185 lbs.