Shiel

Shiel is the king of Illena. Happenstance made him ruler, and he has fully embraced the opportunity. He is more concerned with justice issues than his predecessors, and implements laws that favor the lower classes rather than simply the wealthy aristocrats. Many noble families dislike the change, but have found they can do little about it.
Shiel spent a childhood being ignored, so finds his current position and the attention it brings ironic. He knows that close relationships can prove detrimental, especially since his uncle betrayed him and his mother took Eder's side, but he values the brotherly closeness between himself and Iavan, and Eteilon's love and support. He rarely opens up to another, because he knows too many who desire to exploit that weakness. As a child, he discovered a nonchalant attitude caused high nobles and their retainers to underestimate him and his drive, and he uses it to advantage.

Early Years

Shiel was the second born child of King Netharin III and Queen Vhesha. The Shayd Royal Court and his family loved his older brother, and neglected him because no one saw him as important. He grew up with Iavan, his first cousin, and their relationship held the warmth normally reserved for brothers. They found solace in each other, since their respected families held more hate and antagonization towards one another than love and acceptance. Bade doted on his little brother, but, being far older, he spent most of his time away from the capital on diplomatic missions.
Shiel and Iavan schooled together, in both academic and martial pursuits. Shiel developed a love of myth from Iavan, and both learned Catak because so many of the tales they read contained aki n'di ori heroes. He studied battle tactics as a personal interest, piqued by his swordtrainers, Ephran and Fendl, who were heroes in their own right.
The cousins caused quite a bit of trouble, despite their young years, more to get attention from nonchalant parents than for any thrill. Netharin, annoyed at the problems caused, assigned him a personal guard, a young noblewoman who had somehow managed to work her way into the palace guard initiates. The court snickered at the insult, but neither Shiel nor Eteilon thought of her appointment as detrimental. Eteilon became a confidant, and later, lover, and Shiel relied heavily on her support and advice.

Illenan Civil War

One day, Shiel was the second-born, uninteresting royal child. The next, his brother had died in a high seas accident and his father from a heart ailment. Suddenly, the child who was not raised to be king sat on the throne. Iavan's father, Eder, took the opportunity to confront him, claiming that he should be made king rather than an untried, untrained child. Shiel had just turned eighteen, did not consider himself a child, and resented the power play. Eder, while charismatic and intelligent, had his share of court enemies, and they backed Shiel. Eder declared war.
Iavan stayed by his side, and Eteilon gathered his supporters. They won more battles than they lost based on Eteilon's advice, which irritated the man who thought Shiel too inexperienced to achieve any meaningful victory. The tide turned towards the new king, and he cemented his claim after Iavan introduced Sikode to the Shayd court. Sikode defeated Eder's premiere wielder and struck fear in those who beheld the duel. Feeling Eder had lost his power play, his supporters deserted him, which prompted the man's retreat. He surrendered and Shiel exiled him to Diodan.

Merren

The satisfaction of victory did not last long. Refugees from the neighboring country of Merren had terrible tales of murderous people who followed the despot. The despot had murdered the royal family and nearly everyone who might claim the throne, then placed himself on it a few years earlier. Having lived through atrocities during his own civil war, Shiel took the tales seriously and sent scouts into Merren. They returned with stories about murders and disappearances and blood rituals. He decided to invade.
The Illenans discovered the despot used bloodmages and their siphoned power to keep him on the throne. They obliterated him and all that he touched. The naked greed that led to the man stealing the lives of his people to keep him in power sickened Shiel. He began to wonder if a resurrection of the Jonna Empire would prove beneficial; the empire had brought disparate peoples together under one banner, set laws that benefited everyone, and cracked down, hard, on the despotic behaviors too many rulers showed. It became his dream. Before its realization, however, he needed to prove that Merren could recover with Illenan aid. Cilair and his sister Jeysephen, distant royal cousins who had survived the purges because of their youth, had secretly aided the Illenan invasion, and Shiel decided to support the inexperienced yet commited young man. He gave Cilair a crash course in rulership, one survivor of a civil war to another, and crafted a tour with him through Merren to gain support for his bid.
Shiel has sent scouts to delve into the happenings in other places, wondering what secrets the kings and queens hid to keep themselves in power.

Skills

Shiel has an excellent grasp of battle tactics, and isn't afraid to ask for advice. He is considered a master swordsman, and outshines all others in Illena, except for Iavan. He is a skilled negotiator, having brought many of his uncle's resentful supporters into step with his ideals and goals. When he wishes, he can charm even the most obdurate noble.
Shiel playacts nonchalance. Others see him as uninterested and uninformed, and he uses that prejudice and misunderstanding like a hammer against them. It is especially effective against older royals who remember his problem-causing youth.

Shiel

Age

26 years

Country

Illena

Language

Jonnese + 2 others

Occupation

King of Illena

Hair

Golden blond

Eyes

Cobalt blue

First Appearance

Trouble in Tindrel

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Wellspring Dragons World