Dimitris the Steadfast
Flame and Sea
Knight Commander Dimitris Havlidis
Dimitris the Steadfast was one of the most important personalities of the Age of Empire. He was married to the High Priestess of Tukod World-Builder, Janet. He ultimately is remembered mostly for failing to prevent the fracture of the Ironfoot Empire and for forging the Great Eastern Alliance thereafter. He was killed in action attempting to protect the Kalian Guard in Junko after a religious insurgency later known as the Night of the Black Knives.
Biography
The Prophecy
As was custom for any child, Dimitris was taken to the local Kalian oracle to be assessed. The Kalian oracle's words were generally clouded, due to the impossible number of ways the future could unfold, but she surprised Dimitris' family by giving a single clear and unequivocal statement. "This child will borne far by the tides of time, but he will be defined by what he was not." Dimitris knew the prophecy as he grew up, but did his best not to be defined by it. He knew that in rare cases even the Kalian oracles were wrong, and spent his years heavily studying the classics of statecraft and military strategy, as well as honing to a point his skills in the liberal arts: music, mathematics, engineering, and alchemical studies. He was determined to beat his fate.Early Life
Dimitris was born to common parents in the Ameral commandery of the Empire of Ironfoot. He was known early on for being one of the brightest students in his district. In the year 91 Before Fracture, he took the Imperial Examination as was required by all fighting-age males of age twenty. Scoring second place in all of Ameral (Windflower Rank), he was exempted from mandatory military service and ordered to the provincial capital of Port Adan. After studying for four years in the provincial capital, Dimitris passed the graduate exam battery with flying colors. At this point it was customary for people of Dimitris' rank to be assigned to a province far from home to help stem corruption. Dimitris found himself spirited away by ship to the capital of Colren commandery, Junko. In that voyage, as he helped out the sailors of his ship, Dimitris found a love of the sea that lasted the rest of his life.The Rise
Junko was the perfect change of scenery for Dimitris. While Ameral commandery was a military province, generally poor and propped up by funds from neighboring commanderies, Colren was a bustling agricultural and cultural center for the Ironfoot Empire, where everything was questioned and the only constants werepower and knowledge. It was the place for a Windflower examinee to be. At Junko, Dimitris also began writing his first poetry. While Dimitris's political ideas were radical, almost heretical, his poetry was highly conservative regulated verse and could be compared to those of the ancients. He first wrote about an oft-covered topic: missing his hometown. This poetry led to his first introduction to Janet, who was an up-and-coming priestess of Tukod, working on finishing off her schooling with a novel. Dimitris rapidly fell in love with Janet, and they were wed. Around this point, the couple was inducted into the Society of Magisters. Dimitris had known his own magic affinity from a young age, and he had taken careful steps to hide it in accordance to Society directives. As a newly-inducted Lieutenant of the Society, Dimitris ran the Junko base of the Society, and turned it into a haven for worldbuilders. Within the next year, Janet had finished her novel and become a full-fledged priestess of Tukod. Dimitris had been promoted to Vice-Consul of intercommandery affairs and ran a tavern that became the center of worldbuilding and magister affairs. Everything looked like it was going uphill as Dimitris celebrated his fortieth birthday. However, his life was soon to be struck by the greatest tragedy the Ironfoot Isles had ever seen.The Fall
On the day of his fortieth birthday, Dimitris got a letter from the Consul-General of all of Colren commandery. This was a commander that knew of Dimitris' exceptional skill as a negotiator. He ordered Dimitris to join the fleet of Navarch Larazos and to head with all expediency towards the western commanderies. Dimitris did not know, but this was the failure his live was about to be defined around. When he arrived at the western port of Dahang, nothing seemed to be amiss. He chatted with some fellow vice-consuls and had tea with the vice admiral of Dahang's fleet. He had prepared to send a message back to Junko that nothing was wrong. However, that night, an attempt was made on Dimitris' own life. Luckily, he was able to dispatch the attacker with the pair of long knives by his bedside, but Dimitris never again felt safe in Dahang. The depth of the issue became even more evident when a grizzled, beaten imperial aide sought refuge in Colren's consulate. He said that he was loyal to the emperor, but that the emperor had been betrayed here and that his own Left Commander was preparing to revolt. Dimitris rushed the news to Navarch Lazaros and they traveled with all expedience south to the Left Commander's residence in Glamin Tais. The year was 1 Before Fracture. Dimitris and the Navarch tried every means of negotiating with the Left Commander, but he steadfastly denied any disloyalty to the emperor. Next, Dimitris sent a message to the emperor, suggesting strongly that the Left Commander be removed and replaced due to doubts about loyalty. But the emperor refused, citing the commander's faithful service and tenure. Dimitris began to consider other options when several imperial agents entered Colren's consulate and arrested Dimitris and Lazaros. They were stripped of rank and placed in the imperial prison in Colren.
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Life
42 B.F.
101 A.U.
143 years old
Circumstances of Death
Magic Overexertion
Birthplace
Children
Current Residence
Junko, Colren Island
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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