Lani Koshidan

If she hadn't started her work as early as she did, when scars had not yet faded, who knows what history we might have forgotten?

Countess Lani Koshidan of Robardon was the Telziado Royal Historian, from 351 AC until her disappearance into exile in 396 AC. Her many books discussing Abravosti history are taught across the continent, and even Vosti historians respect her.

History

Unlike many in her profession, Lani was not raised in a wealthy or noble family. Rather, she was born in 329 AC to Koshi Polta, who had been recently disowned by their family for eloping with a charming young man, who had then abandoned them to raise their daughter on their own. When the Vosti Civil War swept through the city the following year, the two found themselves with very little, and had to rely on the support programs established by the Duke and Duchess of Sinofis to get by.
By luck, these programs got them into contact with a young Tren Lulto, whose wife was off fighting in the war alongside the Duke and his allies. He and Koshi became fast friends, and he would often look after the young Lani during the day while Koshi sought work. When word came in 334 AC of his wife's untimely demise while defending Lady Glori Sinofis, Tren and Koshi were married in short order. A consequence of his wife's sacrifice was the gratitude of the Sinofis family, which gave young Lani a far greater education than would be expected of her station.
The relationship between Lani's family and Sinofis family continued, even once the latter became the Telziado Royal Family upon the end of the Civil War. Lani devoured the books within the royal library, becoming an encyclopedia for esoteric knowledge. She was hired to become a royal librarian in 346, younger than most, and worked to help procure copies of rare works to house within the library, even copying some books herself.
For her skills, she was brought onto a team of historians commissioned by King Dravulean I in 349 to compile as much information as they could about the Civil War, whose coverage had been monopolised by Vosti writers. Each historian initially produced their own rough collections, with Lani's being noted at the time for its thorough dive in a single location - the events in the city of Robardon, particularly during the Siege in 333AC - and how it did not shy away from showing the conflicted sympathies of the townsfolk during the war. The decision was made to publish an edited version of Lani's research separate to the broader research, this being done so in 351 AC.

Royal Historian, Countess, and Royal

When her book found unexpected popularity, Dravulean I officially gave her the appointment of Royal Historian, encouraging her to complete her on-going civil war research and then pursue any other topics relating to the Kingdom and its allies that she desired. This she did with gusto, travelling across Abravost in search of knowledge. She garnered a reputation for a sharp mind and her respect for history, even finding friends within the Vosti Empire who were able to provide her with information that was formerly completely inaccessible to Telziad.
Even when she married and had a daughter in 364, Lani continued to research into a variety of topics to enrich her home country, including a well-reported trip to visit the notoriously human-averse Youlakei in the southern reaches of Waal Zaimyatl. As gratitude for her extensive services to archival and the telling of history, she was granted the County of Robardon in 374, which was more of a symbolic gesture.
She and her work were abruptly catapulted into the international spotlight after her daughter Shalion was engaged to and married Prince Dravulean, which had come as a surprise to many people. As the mother-in-law to the crown prince of Telziad, Lani had to rein in some of her more "controversial" stances on events both past and current. While her opinions almost never infuriated the King, who had been friends with her for decades and knew she rarely meant harm, they did infuriate her son-in-law, who was a bit thinner skinned.
The next decade was difficult for Lani. Dravulean I died in 387, with Lani giving one of the more prominent addresses to mourn his legacy. The worst was yet to come, as her daughter suffered numerous miscarriages after her marriage, finally giving birth to a healthy child in 390. However, she passed away shortly thereafter, much to the grief of a nation who had grown to love their queen. The rift between Lani and Dravulean II grew wider, with the two regularly clashing about the decisions he made. This came to an end in 396, when her stripped Lani of her position as Royal Historian and sent her into exile, demanding she leave the country within two weeks or face charges of treason. After making a short public appearance, Lani disappeared, and has not been seen since.

He is half the man his father was, and he shall never stand alongside him in the annals of history.

— Lani Koshidan, before her disappearance in exile

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Telziado

Year of Birth

329 AC 96 Years old

Circumstances of Death

Has not been seen since 396 AC

Birthplace

Sinofis

History's Bounty

Lani's vigorous research throughout her decades as Royal Historian has brought many previously lost stories back from the shadows. Aside from her focus on the small aspects of the Civil War, she put a lot of work into researching events from before The Collision, during which many records had been destroyed. While her work can never truly replaced the long-destroyed archives of Fovenis, there is much that would never have been remembered without her.

Old Books by Gellinger

Exile

Lani's exile in 396 is an extremely heated topic of discussion. It is outright forbidden to mention it or Lani in general in the presence of King Dravulean II, with the latter only permitted in the context of her public works, and even then, only carefully.
What is a more common avenue for discussion is what her ultimate fate was, after she disappeared entirely. It's assumed by many that she had intended to head for Waal Zaimyatl to continue her work amongst colleagues, but never arrived. While the theory that Dravulean had her killed before she crossed the border started as a joke, nowadays people aren't so sure.

Forest Light by domeckopol