Empress Eteni
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Appearance
Eteni was a Kadyn elf born in Kanawalen, a remote city in the northern region of Felarya. She is represented as a beautiful and slender woman, with pale blond hair, big grey eyes, wearing short silver robes, and a tall bow.
Background
Little of Eteni's past is known to this day. She was born in a family of hunters and quickly displayed excellent abilities with a bow, a sharp mind, and a talent with words. The earliest mention of her in Majuras historical records are in 5760 BU, when she was appointed to negotiate with a local pantaur pack that was preying on Kanawalen's inhabitants . She succeeded not only to make their attacks stop, but to befriend the leader of the pack as well. Eteni herself became leader of the city shortly after. Under her rule, Kanawalen thrived, protected by its Pantaur allies. Eteni strongly believed every tribes of elves should put their differences aside and unite, in order to form a nation and defend themselves against the countless threats of Felarya. However, her relation with the Pantaur pack convinced her that giant predators are people like others who can be reasoned with. Eteni established various treaties with other tribes and succeeded in significantly improving relations between elves of the North, and the region became prosperous as a result.
The death of King Jurasim and his son Tanith in 5690 BU , slain by a swam of Bloodclaw Apes caused shock and left an intense power vacuum that threatened to engulf the region into conflict. General Mytalon attempted to seize power, but his rivals derailed it and, as often in such case among elves, a great bow contest was organized. To the stupor of many, a little known contestant named Eteni won it. Mytalon didn't accepted defeat though, presumably because Kadyns were seen by the southern elven nobility as rather backward elves lacking in sophistication.
Rise to power
Nonetheless, Eteni's reign began in 5695 BU and she proclaimed herself empress of all elves. However, the newly crowned Empress quickly found it difficult to adapt to the expectations and restrictions of court life and its complex games of power. Many among the elven nobility started to believe Empress Eteni would reveal herself to be a weak ruler, easy to manipulate and take advantage of. And thus, Eteni's reign started poorly. She expelled several loyal councillors, on the recommendations of others, not realizing she was merely playing in their hands, and made controversial proclamations. A dramatic turn of event occurred in 5534 BU though, when the prosperous city of Restalen was raided by a group of giant Dridders. Their rampage laid chaos and destruction across the city, and many from the Elven nobility were eaten. Empress Eteni herself was caught and swallowed by a dridder named Modanthe. Trapped in the stomach of her captor, Eteni was rescued by her guards before being digested. Still alive, Modanthe was neutralized, captured and taken away.
Ironically, as a result, it shook Eteni's apathy, gave a new purpose to her reign, and rid her of some troublesome figures. Taking advantage of the general shock caused by the attack, Eteni discreetly recalled several friends from the north to put at key posts and began to take matters in her hands, tightening her grip on power. calls for vengeance were mounting among elves, with many calling for war with Dridders and to raze nearby settlements in retaliation. They also wanted to see Modanthe executed. Eteni firmly opposed that however, and made a long and impassioned speech that remain famous to this day, calling for the necessity for elves to understand others races and interact with them instead of simply ignoring them like they usually do, which can only lead to tragedy. This speech struck her audience and she finished it on a roaring ovation.
Eteni started to secretly visit Modanthe in her prison and a strange friendship started to develop between the two, the dridder being impressed by the courage and steely determination of this elf, who wasn't hesitating to stand at the reach of the giant predator, without any kind of escort. General Mytalon started to challenge more and more openly Eteni's rule, especially after her refusal to put Modanthe to death, and finally a new bow contest was called. The competition was fierce, but Eteni won it admirably, totally crushing her competition and some elves started to sees in her the reincarnation of the goddess Temolian. General Mytalon recognized his defeat, apologized publicly and offered his unconditional loyalty to the empress. From this point on, very few subjects would question her rule, even when Eteni decided to free Modanthe.
The proud giant dridder took a very public oath and swore loyalty to her empress and friend Eteni. Modanthe became the personal bodyguard of Eteni, carrying her and protecting later, the bond between the two became very solid and their confidence absolute. The dridder was said to be the first confident of
Restalen is rebuilt, and the empire started to prosper under Eteni's wise and enlightened rule. Disparate groups and tribes of elves came together, overcoming their differences and enmities, and started to thrive, forming the biggest empire Felarya has seen.
The Elven army was comprised of giant elves, and establishing tade with
The empire was very respetful of
Empress Eteni married Minokan , the brother of General Mytalon and gave birth to a son : Prince Tibon
War with Queen Taxshillia
Eteni's reign was marked with a war with the Dridders Kingdom, ruling over a region of what is now known as the Dridder forest. It was Modanthe's birth place and she became distressed at what it had become the cruel rule of the Dridder Queen Taxshillia. Eteni offered help from her army to overthrow the Queen and Modanthe worked to have dridders secede from the Kingdom and join the Empire. A Civil war broke out among dridders, finally ending in the Queen's defeat, slain in duel by Modanthe. The royal family fleed into exile. Modanthe refused to become the new Dridder Queen though, in order to remain at the service of her friend. She merely settled as an ambassador. Troubles were brewing though, and the resistance organized itself, leading to a long guerilla war
and one day, a messenger come to Eteni with grim news : Modanthe has been slain in combat. This caused immense sadness in Eteni who mourned for months the loss of her friend.
Eteni took revenge and saw personally that the Dridder royalist were completely crushed. She took no pleasure in the deed though, and the victory tasted very bitter indeed.
Eteni became distant from her duties and prone to bouts of Melancholy and even depression.
Death and Legacy
Finally, during a cruise on the Jadong lake, Empress Eteni is eaten by a mermaid.
The long sticky tongue takes the guards by surprise and snatch the unfortunate elf. In a few seconds, centuries of rule come to a sudden end.
Eteni will widely be considered as the greatest ruler in the elven history.
Her son, Tibon takes the throne.
