37 names have been put forth with reasonable backing & clout & claim as to who should next rule the Empire.
0. Perival Maraddon (Stonegaze)
- Claim: Son of the Emperor, newly restored sanity, powerful sorceror & necromancer
- Support: The undeath church, various magic users, certain northern nobles, possibly more
- Personal: Now that his syphillis has been cured, his agile mind is able to function properly. He is honorable, to a degree, & he is kind. He is fascinated with magic & learning, but he is also savvy about politics & well aware of his duty. Now that he is sane, he is appalled at the state he let his archduchy get into. He also has 600 years of madness to counteract & relearn.
- Talents: He can create an entropic aura at will, can turn people to stone with his gaze at will, return home at will, & know the time automatically, as well as his longevity.
- Politics: Once he becomes aware of the situation, he will support a peaceful end to the war with Atanaxus, a swift end to Chryandemus, easing out of the race & Identifying laws with eventual abolishment, & a slow release of the outer territories, with careful consideration of the Jorgendish & their history as violent raiders & the rights & protections of the Kali tribes.
- Claim: First born of Emperor Maraddon; her recent arrival in Ienova sparked a rush to support her should she push for the crown. For her part, she seems to be waiting to see what happens.
- Support: If she should push for the crown, about half the traditionalists would go to her, giving her about a fifth of both nobility & commons.
- Personal: She's a gambler, devoutly luck faithful, risk taker, & very rough & ready. She seems reluctant to take the throne. She's very shrewd & is actually quite capable in political matters, but would prefer to spend her time having fun.
- Talents: Hunger makes her more skilled in batle, when a song of elite skill is played she is invincible, nightvision, extremely good luck, longevity.
- Politics: Unclear. Supports ending the war as peacefully as possible, but her views on liberating the jungle nations, Tenzanai, or the northern regions is unknown. Likely would abolish the race laws & Identifiying practices. Non-traditionalist views might lose her some traditional support.
- Claim: Daughter of the Emperor, controls the navy. She has part of the current traditionalist support, but her new found life faith might lose her some of it. Her skill at ruling is not questioned, but her methods might seem harsh.
- Support: A heavy contingent of traditionalists, the majority of the navy, & the people of the archduchy Saranami.
- Personal: She has a prevalent mean streak, especially when upset. She also has a tendency to give vague orders & regret the way her servants carried them out. She does seem to be fairly devoted to preserving life, however, & has a firm grasp on the realities of the situation. She also has an incredible spy network.
- Talents: She is immune to cold, can control fire, can create an aura of awesomeness about herself, can nourish people with her gaze, longevity.
- Politics: She's in support of loosening the race & Identifying laws, but not in allowing non-talents to be noble. She would rather not allow liberation, but she is strongly in support of a peaceful end to the war.
- Claim: She is the great granddaughter of the Emperor, granddaughter of the former heir to the throne.
- Support: She has a large contingent of nobles & commoners behind her, from all political arenas. She is seen by many as a fairytale princess who is the rightful heir. By others, she is seen as the people's defender, & yet by others, as a hero in her own right for driving away the Fool of Chaos.
- Personal: Fiercely idealistic, loyal to the people of the realm, ruthless in her support of them, & now, horribly disfigured. She has yet to ask for the throne, to the point that she seems almost unaware that she even has a claim. Her political abilites haven't entirely come to the fore, though she has pulled a few savvy moves.
- Talents: Her singing shapes creation, she can control fire, she has longevity.
- Politics: Huge support of the commoners. She would likely support both liberation & abolition of race & Identifying laws, but she has yet to say.
- Claim: Commander of the armies of Maraddon, daughter of the Emperor.
- Support: The people of archduchy Jael'dworan, the majority of the armies of Maraddon, a number of noble retired army officers.
- Personal: Strict, firm, generally considered fair. Skilled in battle, strong of arm, blunt, not very political. Has a personal grudge against Kimber.
- Talents: She can unleash destroyer lightning at will, has a commanding voice, her prowess goes up during battle, she is immune to electrical damage, longevity.
- Politics: She is for fighting to end the war. She would loosen the race & Identifying laws, but not abolish the talent-based nobility. She would not allow liberation of the outer provinces.
- Claim: Duke of Baraus, retired naval officer.
- Support: A small contingent of the navy & former navy nobility.
- Personal: Strict, firm, fair, extremely military & prefers to follows the rules. He is intelligent, reluctant to step forward & try for the throne, but also does not want an unworthy person to take it.
- Talent: Calming effect on the seas.
- Politics: Would likely not support liberation, would only remove the killing of aberrations laws, not the rest, & would support peaceful end to the war if possible.
- Claim: Duke of Aisarne, hero of the war.
- Support: The people of Aisarne, small group of nobles seeking to use his new found popularity to gain power.
- Personal: Wants the throne about as much as he wants a sword in the belly. Intelligent, friendly, slightly irresponsible, brave, very kind.
- Talent: Can use any weapon he picks up at professional skill.
- Politics: He's too busy trying to rebuild & defend to deal with politics, but he would likely support a peaceful end to the war, loosening of the race & Identifying laws, & moderate liberation.
- Claim: Duchess of Lannah.
- Support: Northern nobles looking for a moderate, unoffensive choice, largely those who are embarrassed to have backed the Dukes Hyrase.
- Personal: Not very in touch with the way things are outside of her duchy, largely easy going & even a bit frivolous, but very kind & caring. She would likely not take the throne unless coerced.
- Talent: Can sense rare animals.
- Politics: She's a traditionalist. She would likely have aberrations banished rather than killed, but beyond that she wouldn't change much. She would prefer a peaceful end to the war, however, she would not support liberation.
- Claim: Duke of Rodown, hero of the war.
- Support: Some northern nobles who want an intelligent, political leader.
- Personal: Argumentative, lawful, extremely knowledgeable about law & debate, skilled at politics, not bad at running a city. Very firm, fair, & philosophical. Very logical.
- Talent: Can understand the other person's point of view when discussing with them almost any issue.
- Politics: Would prefer to follow the letter of the law in all cases, however, is very aware that as Emperor, he could change them. Under such circumstances, his personal philosophical ideas would be his guide: no liberation but certainly more lenient rule, peaceful end to the war, & more lenient race & Identifying laws. A moderate. He supports Kimber, but has made it clear he would support Marilyna if she came forward.
- Claim: Duke of Jael', army colonel.
- Support: Some factions of the army that prefer him to Altsisi, a few northern nobles who prefer the military to the nobility.
- Personal: Strict, firm, fair, military sort. Skilled in battle, largely unaware of things outside the military, though.
- Talent: Immune to fire.
- Politics: A hawk through & through. Would not change the Identifying or race laws, & would not allow liberation. However, he firmly supports Altsisi.
- Claim: Duchess of Zudan, wizardess.
- Support: A few central & northern nobles in her circle of friends, magic-users throughout the Empire. Her friends are few but powerful magically.
- Personal: A mage of minor skill, but of huge influence over Imperial magic-users. She is pretentious & eccentric, but loyal to her friends.
- Talent: Can cast three spells at once.
- Politics: Supports an Empire more magically attuned. Would outlaw void, discourage scientific research in favor of magical research, support the race laws, the Identifier college, & the use of magic to end the war. She would not support liberation, but would support more lenient rule.
- Claim: Beloved contessa of Malladin.
- Support: People of Malladin & a good number in Ienova now, a few central nobles, the dream church.
- Personal: Would prefer not to be involved at all. She is kind, generous, & above all, pregnant. She is intelligent & capable, but would refuse the crown almost no matter what.
- Talent: Absorbs nightmares within a 50 mile radius.
- Politics: She is a friend of the commoner, supports liberation to a degree, would abolish race & identifying laws, & supports a peaceful end to the war. Her personal choice for the throne is Albert Renkarr.
- Claim: Enigmatic count of Malladin.
- Support: Same as his wife's, but with a few extra nobles who would prefer a male leader.
- Personal: Extremely well informed. He treats politics as a game. Water faithful. Loyal to the Argent family. Intelligent, dangerous, & fluid.
- Talent: Walks on water.
- Politics: He supports Damon Argent in his views completely.
- Claim: Earl of Listenn.
- Support: Mostly northern nobles displaced by the war.
- Personal: A pompous, arrogant ass. He is as stupid as he is shallow. He believes himself to be distantly related to the Emperor (he isn't) by virtue of one of Archduke Thorian's (nonexistent) bastards. He is fat, greedy, & dangerous.
- Talent: Smells of roses.
- Politics: He is actually moderate in his politics: He supports a peaceful end to the war, if just for the practicality of it. He would be lax on race & Identifying laws, but he is staunchly against liberation.
- Claim: Count of Rayn, hero of the north.
- Support: Commoners of the north, some few nobles from all over.
- Personal: Eccentric, just, & provincial. He was known for his failed attempts to clean up corruption in the north, & for his collection of bronzed fish. Defeated Archduke Perival at chess & was flogged for it, giving him a strange martyr status.
- Talent: Smoke, mist, fog, etc. cause him to become invisible.
- Politics: Supporter of the commoners & a believer in justice, Reej is more interested in liberating many of the northern provinces than in any other issues.
- Claim: Count of Vyekh, rags-to-riches hero.
- Support: Many commoners, the Dhunic sect of the Light Church, & a few northern nobles.
- Personal: Kicked out of Berellia for being a Dhunic revivalist, he came to Maraddon, where his wild talent race got him the status of Count. He is a staunch conservative light faithful. His rise to nobility is an oft told story to the common folk, & thus, many support him as an underdog made good sort.
- Talent: When he fights, his attacks make a high pitched screech.
- Politics: Would support an ecclesiastic government, war with Berellia, no liberation, only letting loose on the aberration killing laws, & fight to end the war.
- Claim: Contessa of East Kay.
- Support: Very few central nobles, one or two southern ones, a small group of commoners.
- Personal: Refugee from East Kay, she lead a small group to Ienova past the siege. She is an outdoors type, preferring hunting to court. She is wild, rude, blunt, & cunning.
- Talent: She can poison with a whisper.
- Politics: She supports very strongly the liberationist movement. She is for fighting to end the war & for upholding the race & Identifying laws, but not so much the aberration killing.
- Claim: Baroness of Balloy.
- Support: Citizens of Balloy.
- Personal: She has said either she is made Emperess or Balloy is no longer to be part of the Empire. She is fiercely loyal to her small barony near Cadonia, a salty nautical sort. Her grandfather was a pirate.
- Talent: She can raise & set the sun at will.
- Politics: She is also a staunch liberationist. She prefers a peaceful end to the war, & could care less about the race & Identifying laws.
- Claim: Baroness of Doragan, renown artist.
- Support: A large portion of the artistic community, a few hedonistic nobles, Archduke Hyun most recently.
- Personal: A decadent artist who is completely out of touch. She has Archduke Hyun wrapped around her fingers. She is well known for her naked paint parties, her lavish feasts, & her use of art to make statements.
- Talent: She can make portraits come alive briefly.
- Politics: She would support the arts supremely over any other form of study. She is for liberation of all former provinces (complete dissolution of the Empire), peaceful end to the war, & eradication of the race & Identifying laws.
- Claim: Baron of Hurrn, trade expert.
- Support: The major merchant guilds, a few central & southern nobles.
- Personal: Shrewd trade expert. Extremely shrewd. Served the ministry of finance for the Emperor himself. Very funny & charming, very rich.
- Talent: He can make people laugh by patting their backs.
- Politics: Would make a quick end to the war through bribery & trade concessions--& giving up Kali (Bellflowers' archduchy) to Atanaxus--if he could. Would loosen race & Identifying laws, but would not allow any other liberation without strong compensations. Would lower taxes to the merchant classes.
- Claim: Baron of Torith, hero of the war.
- Support: Northern nobles, military figures, northern commoners. Mostly, he is being used.
- Personal: A warrior of immense skill, he lead citizens of Torith through enemy lines to Altsisi's main strength. He is a huge, slow man who is more at home with a warhammer than a pen.
- Talent: Stone-skin at will.
- Politics: Conservative hawk. Would prefer to fight to end the war, does not support any law changes, & would not allow liberation.
- Claim: Baroness of Tundregen.
- Support: Central & southern nobles looking for an inoffensive choice.
- Personal: Destitute, as she lost everything in the war. Terrified, shy, moderately traditional, & being used. She just wants to be left alone.
- Talent: Can become subtle at will.
- Politics: She is a moderate through & through. Her grandmother danced with Emperor Maraddon once, though, & people have since claimed he slept with her, begetting Elia's father. This is untrue, but it's a common enough tale that central & southern nobles have grabbed it to use it.
- Claim: Baron of Tsu-yunai.
- Support: Liberationists from old Tenzanai.
- Personal: He is every inch a samurai.
- Talent: Can read any language at will.
- Politics: He is the head of the Tenzanese Liberation Movement. He wants to reforge the Empire of Maraddon as the Empire of Tenzanai. He would fight to end the war, abolish the race & Identifying laws, & not allow any liberation except Tenzanai.
- Claim: Knight of the Empire, Commander of the Special Forces, hero.
- Support: Central nobles, many of the common people, the special forces, a large portion of the military, many nobles who would go to him if he wanted the throne.
- Personal: Devoutly life faithful, loyal & honorable to a fault, bears a Gifted Sword. Renown hero amongst the nobles & well known to many commoners, especially after recent events in Ienova. He is extremely politcally skilled as well as militarily.
- Talent: Can bring argent fire to his weapons at will.
- Politics: He wants a peaceful end to the war above all else. He would have to hear more about who would rule the newly liberated provinces before he would support it. He is for abolishing the race & Identifying laws. His support has not been given to any candidate yet.
- Claim: Knight of the Empire, Secretary to the Minister of Finance.
- Support: A large contingent of Maraddon City nobles who fled before the war, many independent merchants, several foreign agencies.
- Personal: The real power in the Ministry of Finance, he is a genius when it comes to money. He is ruthless, well informed, & extremely politcally skilled.
- Talent: Can make men weep with fear with his gaze, at will.
- Politics: Would strengthen the financial involvement of the Empire, raise taxes of all groups of people, end the war with financial concessions, let aberrations buy their lives, let people buy nobility, & would refuse liberation.
- Claim: Knight of the Empire, ambassador to Akazad, formerly ambassador to Kren'atan.
- Support: Several central nobles & important citizens.
- Personal: Brilliant negotiator, urbane, polite, & generous. Fiercely loyal to Ienova, though, & to Damon Argent.
- Talent: He can very weakly charm people at will.
- Politics: He supports Damon Argent fully in all politics & tries to discourage people from putting forth his name as a possibility.
- Claim: Dame (Knight) of the Empire, hero of the war.
- Support: Time & cosmic temples, some commoners, several central & southern nobles.
- Personal: Skilled in battle & in politics, she won several battles on the savannah helping supplies reach Ienova during the siege. She is curiously supported by two temples she doesn't belong to--she's war faithful. They both support her, however, because she promises neutral faiths dominance.
- Talent: Electric weapons at will.
- Politics: Supports giving neutral temples direct political power. She supports liberation, fighting to end the war, & loosening the race & Identifying laws.
- Claim: Son of Kimber & Kavian, leader of the Red Cloaks.
- Support: A few radical nobles, a very large portion of commoners.
- Personal: Idealistic, loyal to his friends, compassionate, naive, devoted to his mission. Wields a Gifted Sword, companion of the folk hero the Silver Knight, the Keeper of Justice (an Imperial position of some power), & a living Saint of Life. Likely reluctant to take the throne.
- Talents: Never die of hunger, large magical pouch in belly which can detect blessings or enchantments, empassioned writing, empowered by love, longevity.
- Politics: Radical. Probably supports ending the war peacefully, would abolish the race & Identifying laws. Thoughts on liberation unknown.
- Claim: Niece of the Emperor.
- Support: Several of her siblings & her cousin Archduke Thorian.
- Personal: Compassionate, caring, powerful, & reluctant to take the throne. She isn't even aware her name has been put forward, but Thorian bears a petition signed by many of Kavian's children. He seeks support from others. She is a very sad person, due to personal tragedies in the past. She is moon faithful.
- Talents: Lunar empowered silver skin, control over lunatics, empathy for fools, ability to move the moon once per decade, longevity.
- Politics: Strong supporter of the common people. Would abolish the race & Identifying laws. Would end the war peacefully. Would support liberation in the north, unknown on the south.
- Claim: Bastard of Duke Merriander Hyrase, sheriff of Kendleton.
- Support: Several hundred commoners in the north.
- Personal: Ruthless when it comes to upholding the law. Hates his father & uncle with a passion. Uses his power to fight theirs.
- Race: Human.
- Politics: Supporter of a just end to all issues, though at present he has not made clear what he feels those are. Known as "The Hangman."
- Claim: Bastard of the Duke of Cadonia, leader of a group of tribals in Kali that are comprised of people who quit the cities.
- Support: Various southern nobles & commoners.
- Personal: Nature loving warrior woman who acts as a vigilante more than a tribal leader. She is extremely supportive of the environment.
- Race: Human.
- Politics: She is for complete dissolution of not just the Empire, but of civilization & guerilla war tactics used to take out the Atanaxans.
- Claim: Master of the Order of Whispers, bastard of the Duke of Genoma.
- Support: The Order of Whispers, an independent mercenary spy network, & several nobles who promised him support for work from his order.
- Personal: Utterly mysterious.
- Race: Unknown.
- Politics: Supports use of espionage & covert operations to end the war, would abolish race & Identifying laws. Against liberation.
- Claim: Bastard or Duke Santovar of Ienova, mayor of Orun-on-the-Cadon.
- Support: Citizens of Orun, former supporters of Duke Santovar.
- Personal: Ruthless, vicious, & corrupt, but good at hiding it to the common folk. He is known to be fond of poisons to other nobles.
- Race: Repeater (truth based psionist). Possibly half-brother to the Commander of Ienova's City Watch.
- Politics: For a peaceful end to the war, abolishment of race & Identifying laws, against liberation.
- Claim: Courtesan to nobility.
- Support: A dozen noble men & women in love with her, who will do anything for her.
- Personal: Has been promised the Empire for her hand in marriage. Will take it if it can actually be given. Absolutely opportunistic.
- Race: Nymph.
- Politics: She finds them boring.
- Claim: Army colonel & hero of the war.
- Support: His unit, the people of Cadonia.
- Personal: Fierce army colonel who is a hero to those he has helped save. He is a warrior through & through.
- Race: Greater goblin.
- Politics: A hawk. All he wants to do is fight. He supports Archduchess Altsisi.
- Claim: Head of the League of Equality, a newly formed organization.
- Support: A large number of people who want a more moderate leader who supports equality.
- Personal: Rich, conniving, urbane, political.
- Race: Human.
- Politics: On the surface, for equality. Likely, for his own personal gain. He is a merchant first & foremost. Supports liberation, but is for ending the war with a fight.
- Claim: Bastard of Count Hale, conservative home faithful leader.
- Support: Patriotic factions of the home church.
- Personal: Staunch patriotic rhetoric, extreme home faith.
- Race: Wereraven.
- Politics: "The Empire for the sake of the Empire." Hawk, no liberation, abolishing the race & Identifying laws.
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