This document covers 61 years following the reign of Tillious Vahren. Known by multiple names all around Valenaar from, Magnificus Tillious, Father of Valenaar, the Golden King, and many others. Tillious is one of, if not, the most important Vahren to rule in Valenaar.
Tillious
Tillious Vahren, son of the Infamous, Perneiros Vahren. Proclaimed himself as King at age 14 before the battle of Lothor by support of the Rhenusian Council in order to oust the Mad King. Despite support, Tillious was faced with a lot of criticism even before taking the crown due to his unknown mother and just where Tillious came from. Many feared that he was a puppet created by Perneiros, others feared he would be just as mad as Perneiros. All this made it difficult for the 14 year old in the first stages of his reign.
After Perneiros’s death Tillious took to a speech regarding his father at the city center. This event helped Tillious reform his already damaged image.
“People of Rhenus, I, Tillious, Son of the Mad King, stand before you to proclaim to you the death of my father. The men and women who fought for all of us had bested the necromancer in a decisive battle that ended his terror. Perneiros..a distraught, unholy, despicable man who turned the glory of the Kingdom into a terror never before seen. The atrocities that Perneiros partook with Netra and Lothor are unspeakable. A mark that my family and the Kingdom of Rhenus will forever have on history. One that I will ensure. Never happens again. Rhenus for the past two centuries has been a warring state. One that sought to better all around to instill fear on the continent. It is for this reason that as the new King of Rhenus, I will be reforming what we see as Magic, how we handle affairs, and most importantly. End Perneiros’s fear that has strangled us all to the point of terror. It is my duty and my privilege to serve the people of this great kingdom. No longer will we be seen as what my deranged father wanted. We will rebuild, we will overcome, and most of all. We will preserve the great image that Maximilious and those before him had for Rhenus!”
Tillious was cheered on through his compassion and emotion he brought to his speech. Many took it as a way to trust the new King and his vision for the future. Tillious would have to work much harder to gain the respect of the nobility however as they were the true opponents to another Vahren rule. Tillious knew this and would begin to reform the Kingdom into a hallmark of Valenaar. One of Tillious’s crowning achievements of the reformation of the Mystic Arts.
M.A.U.R.A and the School of Rhenus
The Mystic Arts Use and Restriction Act was a comprehensive document that was formulated together by the highest minds in magic at the time with Tillious. This document which has been revisioned over time, still is in use today as a guidance on how magic should be conducted. Under Tillious the act brought much needed light on what to perceive as good and bad magic. Tillious had no real way to restrict specific magics and had already known that the imperial military wouldn’t have the capacity to uphold the act and defend the people against those that use dangerous magics. This led to the first formation of the Grandmasters and eventually, the School of Rhenus.
The School of Rhenus was formed as a way to learn and understand the concepts of magic. To better handle the magic and over all to protect the common people from extremists. It wouldn’t take long until the Imperial Battlemages were reformed to the school, now known as the Inquisitors with no longer being commanded by the Imperial Military, but the School of Rhenus.
The reason behind the autonomy of the School to the Kingdom is simple. Tillious never wants another King or successor of his to abuse magic like Perneiros did. This level of autonomy helped keep the Kingdoms affairs away from Magic.
Several things came from this. The most notable is the reformation of magic that occured. A “Renaissance” of such for the mystic arts which boomed the knowledge and limitations of magic.
The School of Rhenus would be granted building rights to build the first school. Located in Rhenus, which is why the organization is known as the School of Rhenus, was built within 16 years and is currently the largest magical library on Valenaar. Tillious at the time of construction had invited mystic minds all around his kingdom and even abroad in the efforts to reform and gain better understanding of magic. This brought with it numerous texts and scriptures found all around Valenaar to be stored within the school.
Government Reforms
Tillious took most of his young adult life reforming and restructuring the government. After disbanding the 7 Marshals, Tillious opted to go back to a more centerline style. With this, a new, single Marshal was chosen. Luftven Nahlfeimir was granted the title of Marshal due to his prestigious record under both Maximilious and Perneiros’s reign. Despite being advised against it, Tillious knew that Luftven would be the marshal the kingdom needed. Much of the rest of the council was reformed as well to a stronger centralized form. The Rhenusian Council now held numerous positions over the standard five positions. This broadened the strength of the council as well as the strength of the government while lessening the powers of the King in some areas, most notably within justice and economy. Treasures and Judges were hand picked on experience rather than by bloodline or by favoritism.
Arcanocracy of Aetheica and the Treaty of Ayath Serine
After Perneiros’ force demand of Clov Spia, Tillious was left with the now divided lands of Aetheica. Tillious would offer a settlement to the Aetheicans to return the lands back into their possession. Tillious, his diplomat, Adresian, and his marshal, Luftven set out by boat to meet Aran Naezana in Ayath Serine, the capital of the Aetheicans.
To the surprise of Tillious, the small group and the imperial guards were welcomed into the city. Being escorted to the Aran Palace where the settlement was to be conducted. Tillious and Aran Naezana would spend the next few hours in discussion with the most shocking event occurring after the formal agreement of Clov Spia being returned.
Aran Naezana, out of fear of the growing Nullinarian Kingdoms and the presence of Rhenus at all had spooked the Arcanocracy asking to be incorporated into the Kingdom of Rhenus to protect his people. Despite Perneiros’ graving mark on the Kingdom. Rhenus was still the most powerful Kingdom present on Valenaar, the growing expansion of the Kingdom led the Aran to decide to avoid conflict all together, knowing that while Tilllious was offering lands back, Rhenus would return with sword in hand by a successor. There were many other reasons behind Naezana’s offer to submit but the threat of conflict was the driving force behind his decision.
Talks would continue throughout the evening where an agreement was made between Tillious and Naezana. The Arcanocracy would fully submit to the Kingdom of Rhenus, Clov Spia was to be returned and Aetheica, much like the Duchy of Canta, would be a semi-autonomous region. With this Aetheica was peacefully annexed into the Kingdom via the Treaty of Ayath Serine. A treaty still in effect to this day. An Aetheican representative is incorporated into the Rhenusian Council, same with the Cantanese Representative to give their say into matters for their people in Rhenus. Tilllious was only 30 at the time of the treaty.
With this came a large celebration held in Ayath Serine. Tillious, Luftven and the rest of the Rhenusian group were all made custom masks as a sign of friendship between the Arcanocracy and the Kingdom of Rhenus. A tradition that would continue through the successors of Tillious to even Mettius III. Luftven still holds onto his mask to this day.
Rebuilding of Netra and Lothor
The catastrophe that Perneiros had done to the region of Netra had left much of the area of Akeotia barren. To remedy this, Tillious began a long and costly reconstruction to the region. Rebuilding its agriculture and towns around Akeotia. This would take nearly until the end of Umbra Catonia’s reign, but the region would regain much of its population back by the time of Servious II.
Lothor was also rebuilt, but its region was less devastated by Perneiros then Akeotia which made it a shorter process to rebuild and repopulate the area. At the end of the rebuilding of Lothor, Tillious hosted a lavish festival in the rebuilt city bringing much of its population back.
Trade Routes
As Tillious grew into his 40’s he began to focus much of his efforts to revitalize the trading system. New routes were conducted which helped shorten traveling time. The Rhenusian-Serine gateway was a carefully made trade route by sea between Rhenus and Aetheica. This trade route is still in use today which is still one of the richest routes in Valenaar.
To protect trade from pirates and raiders many developments were conducted. The famous of which is the Feitorias. Numerous fortifications that dot all around trade routes and act as naval bases for the Rhenusian Navy.
Another development is the development of warships. Two warship designs were implemented into the navy.
The Pigot
This style of warship was much larger than the standard ship of the time. It housed a large deck which allowed the implementation of large teams of archers, siege equipment or even inquisitors to easily operate on the ship. Its design allowed three Trebuchets to be placed along the center of the deck and more than enough stone, to be used effectively for a short time.
The Matane
This one of the first non-ore operated ships designed. Very rudimentary but its design were leaps ahead other ships of the time. It was very quick downwind and was able to continue movement upwind. It was too small to hold any type of siege equipment but it was able to catch most ships at the time and allowed naval infantry to board and capture enemy vessels easier than most other ships.
The Second Golden Age
After many reforms and overall progression of the Kingdom. Tillious saw a huge wave of income, technology, culture, and overall better quality of life throughout Rhenus. This saw the second golden age for the kingdom. Tillious would proclaim an economic boom throughout the kingdom which saw massive waves of development all around. Rhenus in particular had grown substantially. From a census under Maximilious to Tillious the city went from 256 thousand inhabitants to nearly 580 thousand residents. Urbanization was built to accommodate the large population.
The Later Years
Tillious had reached about 65 when he started to show signs of degrading health. Tillious had no heir nor ever married during his reign which left the throne open to other Vahren Members. Tillious had decided that the Kingdom needed something new to further the strength of the kingdom after he was gone. Young Umbra Catonia Vahren, daughter of Duke Millarnus of Streonia, was chosen as the next ruler of Rhenus. Umbra was only 5 when she was chosen.
Tillious however would go on to live another 10 years until he was strolling around with Naezana around the gardens in Ayath Serine when he would suffer a cardiac arrest. Falling to the ground in front of Naezana. He was then quickly transported to the hospital, but he would succumb to the complication. He was pronounced dead at the age of 75. He was given a large ceremony by Aran Naezana where he would be buried in his tomb. His mask was buried with him and a replica mask was constructed to be made for Rhenus to be placed in his statue built in the keep courtyard.