Valdris Kai'teih
Valdris Kai'teih was a Rivaini fisherman who found himself into the conflict regarding the Ferelden Civil War, the invasion of the Jrid, and became the first-and-only Rivaini member of the Wardens. He held one of the highest ranks amongst the Wardens.
He passed away fighting the Jrid alongside other members of the Warden High-Command. However, Lucia Campagna granted him the posthumous title of "King of Rivain".
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Valdris Kai'teih was born in a small fishing village known as Aerstagg which presides on the southern edge of Rivain, bordering the eastern side of Rialto Bay. Complications with his birth resulted in his mother's death. She named him Valdris, a name that in Rivant means "sharp tide", which was an unusual but equally unique name.
Valdris' formative years as a young boy had him learn to be a member of his village's tight-knit community. His father, Johro, raised Valdris the best he could considering he was a widowed father. One of the most fundamental beliefs that Johro instilled into Valdris was that of the Shinnoa as well as the philosophy the Shinnoa was deeply tied to. This philosophy, referred to by his father as "aseari ireasa", was founded in the principles of "take and give". This philosophy greatly shaped Valdris' views of the world.
As Valdris grew older, he became a spear fisherman and used his strength and agility to keep his fellow townsfolk fed. He did this for years until events occurred in his life that forced him to shift his perspective. He, some might say nobly, saw the stagnated and hopeless future that Rivain had and called upon himself to one day become the "Future King of Rivain" to uplift his home nation from its dismal state.
At great personal cost to both himself and his village losing their most skilled hunter, when Valdris reached an old enough age he decided that he needed to go to Ferelden in an attempt to gain future allies and learn how to be a leader. He saw the nation on the brink of chaos and civil war. In his mind, he thought he could emerge a stronger man by throwing himself in that chaos.
According to historical accounts, this Rivaini man provoked the Arishok while he was in Denerim and his actions resulted in the death of Ferelden's first king: Calenhad Theirin. However, if stories are to be believed, Valdris single-handedly fought the Arishok, one of the most powerful members of the Qun, and killed him in combat due to the Arishok's warmongering. Much to the public's surprise, the next king of Ferelden, Gregory Flume, did not end up trying nor executing Valdris despite causing the death of the previous king.
Controversy and contentions aside, Spear Marshal Kai’teih lost his life in an assault against the heart of the Jrid armies. While his life was fleeting, Valdris lived impetuously and passionately. He is remembered best by the lives he changed, and the world he left behind.
Education
Due to Rivaini culture being more focused on the natural world and less on academics, Valdris was less book smart but often knew words of wisdom to share with those around him.
Morality & Philosophy
Valdris Kai’teih was a man who held himself (and to a lesser extent, everyone else) not to what he wanted to do, but what needed to be done. Valdris lived his life in a somewhat complex philosophy, centered on the Shinnoic proverb of "take and give". Valdris dedicated his life to others, lived his life in servitude to them, but also recognized that he needed to prioritize himself in order to be able to do that. In other words, the more selfish he was, the more selfless he could be. Fine-tuning the balance between those two thoughts was a struggle for Valdris even into his final moments.
"When asked for inspiration for my piece regarding her, Lucia responded with, 'Think not of me, but of the man who deserved this song more than I ever could. Sing songs of his name, for he was my equal from a foundation of nothing.' She later inspired this song when she mentioned, 'Valdris held the belief that he needed to be the future king of Rivain. He was confident and daring, but concerned and caring. The world would've been a better place with him watching over it.' And, daring reader, if you wish for my grandiose opinion: I believe the saddest truth is that a Grand Tourney never came around for this man to participate. From what I've gathered, he may have been one of the best duelists in all of Thedas!" — Foot notes written by the famous Orlesian bard Zither on his sheet music dedicated to Valdris Kai'teihIn the end, Valdris’ life was inextricably tied to water. He was raised in it, he died in it, and he himself was just like the sea. Impossibly large and grandiose, changing slightly every day, but always appearing the same way. Should some new ripple or break enter into his currents, he would allow it adjust him, and adjust himself around it, but still continue down his natural course. His ability to sweep others up into his ideas and course was unparalleled. Just like how, even if you walk deep into the continent, weeks away from the sea, you still can’t escape its effects, as the weather itself is decided at sea, even as Valdris fades away from memory, his presence as far gone as the sea, his actions still brought undeniable change to the world.
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