Character name: Athas Alora, First Speaker of Asharia
Description/Picture:
Athas Alora during the Asharian civil war.
Slender and muscular, Athas has pale skin and a smooth, haughty face. His stark black hair is uncommon among elves, and typically seen as an ill omen. It is now streaked with silver. His hard eyes are amber, and his sharp nose and ears are both facets of his elvish heritage. Two long horns protrude diagonally upward from his brow, twisting slightly but never curling. He wears supple, practical leathers of green and brown beneath a ceremonial antler mantle and a long pale green cloak trimmed with white and cut so as to possess the contours of a leaf.
Rank/Title/Position: First Speaker, the democratically elected representative of Asharia in the Imperium Council.
Kingdom: Asharia
Political Philosophy: Centralist, Conservative, Expansionist
History: Athas was born into one of the noble families of Asharia. He spent his earlier years immersing himself in the culture of the elves, learning to ride, shoot a bow, and fight with a spear. When he was 29 his mother was slain by a group of alien raiders belonging to the race Gorai, stunted and ugly beasts. Athas Alora gathered up his people and led them on a great hunt - scouring the woodlands of their home of all Gorai, and then ranging out of the forests, striking them in their homes, burning their villages, and over the course of a year, completely wiping out their race with deadly, practiced efficiency. Athas was praised for his actions, and became a very respected elf for one so young of age.
At the age 31, the Imperium invaded Asharia, bringing with them powerful technologies that totally outclassed the Ashari. Still, using the forests to their advantage, they managed to win several battles and hold out for some time. Athas was one of their leaders at this time, but eventually was present along with several other elven nobles and the First Speaker to sign a treaty that would mark their entrance into the Imperium.
After observing the power of the Imperium firsthand, and the technologies that the Ashari received, Athas soon became a staunch supporter of the centralist Imperial government. For the next several decades he fought as a military commander for Imperial forces, distinguishing himself as a deadly warrior and shrewd tactician. Still, it was not long before politics would call him home.
Asharia was in turmoil. The pro-imperial faction was embittered in a struggle with the anti-imperialists, led by the current First Speaker, who was unenthusiastic about their role in this new government. As the Imperium was currently embroiled in an important war, Athas was asked to return home and help the Imperialist elves settle the problem themselves. What resulted was a bloody civil war in which the Imperialist elves attained victory in a sweeping campaign and executed the First Speaker. Athas was named the new First Speaker, and since then he has been serving the empire faithfully, not directly loyal to the emperor - but to the concept of the Imperium itself.
Other information: Athas is very physically able, and his long lifespan has afforded him a great deal of time to dedicate to martial pursuits. He is a master with both the Ashari Warspear, and the longbow. He is 214 years old, 31 at the time Asharia fell to the Imperium. His favourite traditional food is Ena-akora, an elven sweetcake made from ground nuts and cherries.
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