Development Sneak Peek: Crowns of Old, Part V

Final part of the Crown lore!! I might do a post for known Crowns like Keybanû and Zana to expand on their backgrounds in the future, but for now, all the list of past Crowns has finally been completed 💖

Part I / Part II / Part III / Part IV 

As a reminder, here's the list of all the introduced Crowns so far, including the ones already mentioned in canon:

1. Ashadūna
2. Arsāma
3. Humati
4. Medya
5. Koban
6. Bardiya
7. Lorîcan
8. Bargiran
9. Dila
10. Jiyan
11. Zana
12. Ardashir
13. Sorgul
14. Bêdeng (this post)
15. Kanî
16. Xebat (this post)
17. Gulreng (this post)
18. Keybanû
19. Piruz
20. Ferzan
21. Your little meow meow!!!

The Fourteenth Crown: Bêdeng the Glutton
Following after the disastrous reign of Crown Sorgul, Bêdeng seemed to have learned all the worst lessons from his predecessor. Where Sorgul did her utmost to dismantle Ardashir's legacy as much as possible, particularly regarding the Provincial Schools, Bêdeng took it one step further by adding tuition fees to their admission, which essentially would bar the vast majority of the populace from being able to apply.

He was similarly avaricious in other areas. Taxes and tithes for commoners were at their peak during his reign. Even neighboring nations were not spared; Bêdeng was known for being utterly cutthroat during trade negotiations, which won him few allies and set back several relations with other monarchs in the region. 

But what did Bêdeng do with all that accumulating wealth? The answer was simple: he merely collected it. Riches alone for the sake of them was something that appealed to him, and while he spent vast amounts of coin on personal luxuries, for the most part, a majority of it remained concentrated in the Imperial Vault. His insatiable desire for wealth and power led Arsur into a dark period marred by economic exploitation and social unrest. The Imperial Vault became a personal hoard for Bêdeng, as he amassed riches at the expense of everything else.

The people of Arsur struggled to make ends meet while the nobles reveled in opulence. Bêdeng's extravagance knew no bounds, and his insensitivity to the suffering of his subjects fueled discontent across the provinces. The stark contrast between the lavish lifestyles of the nobility and the hardships faced by the commoners sowed the seeds of dissent.

As Bêdeng's avarice reached new heights, whispers of rebellion began to circulate. The disgruntled commoners found an unexpected ally in Crown Bêdeng's designated successor, Kanî. Recognizing the unsustainable path that Bêdeng was steering the empire towards, Kanî decided to take matters into his own hands. His sense of justice remained intact despite Bêdeng's best efforts to corrupt him, and as his predecessor's greed proved insatiable, Kanî became more and more disgusted by his mentor's corruption.

At the very young age of sixteen years old, Kanî, backed by a coalition of like-minded nobles and sympathetic military commanders, orchestrated a carefully planned coup to oust Bêdeng. The commoners, tired of their exploitation, silently supported this covert rebellion, hoping for a change in leadership that would bring about a more just and equitable rule.

In a swift and unexpected turn of events, Kanî confronted Bêdeng, presenting evidence of his excessive greed and the widespread discontent among the population. With the support of key figures within the Empire and the Imperial Court, including influential nobles who had grown disillusioned with Bêdeng's favoritism, Kanî compelled Bêdeng to abdicate power.  When Bêdeng protested, the words Kanî spoke to him were subsequently immortalized in history: "Die in disgrace, or embrace the mercy of disappearing into oblivion. This is my last kindness to you, my dear teacher." 

Bêdeng, faced with the possibility of execution and the loss of support from those who had once benefited from his policies, reluctantly relinquished power. Tradition dictates that the successor cannot formally take the throne so long as their predecessor is alive, but in essence, Kanî came to rule as regent, while Bêdeng was imprisoned in the dungeons of the Royal Palace. He remained the Crown in name only.

Stripped of all the opulence he so adored, Bêdeng eventually died in confinement, silent and forgotten. 

The Sixteenth Crown: Silver-Tongued Xebat
Crown Xebat assumed the throne of Arsur during a period of simmering discontent in the province of Şevan. Born in the heart of the capital, Xebat brought with them a reputation for their silver-tongued finesse and charisma. Their reign would be defined by the art of negotiation, and a resolute stance against those who sought to sow discord within the empire.

Şevan, a province known for its rich cultural tapestry and history that preceded even the old Kingdom of Ardia, had become a hotbed of dissatisfaction among the populace. Unrest festered due to perceived neglect from Crowns past, letting nobles run rampant with exploitation, coupled with the machinations of discontented nobles themselves who harbored ambitions of secession and independence to rule over Şevan themselves. When Xebat ascended to the throne, they inherited a province on the brink of rebellion.

Rather than resorting to force, Xebat embraced the path of dialogue. They initiated a series of comprehensive negotiations with representatives from Şevan, inviting both nobles and common folk to voice their grievances. On the surface, this appeared to be token attempts at mediation, but the true purpose of these negotiations were to stall for time. While Xebat distracted and diverted attention through charismatic addresses and gracious meetings with nobles and commoners alike, they used spies to identify the nobles fomenting the brewing rebellion, uncovering that even the Mîr and the military commander of Şevan had been corrupted, and planned to aid the nobles in a military coup.

Overnight, to the eyes of the unwitting public, Xebat's opponents all seemed to either change their tune or vanish entirely. As ostensibly tolerant as Xebat appeared, they were in fact one of the more ruthless Crowns in history: dissent was not tolerated, rebellion even less so. Especially when this rebellion would only cost Şevan's citizens dearly; the commoners would be the foremost victims in this thinly-veiled grab for power. They had not asked for something so extreme as secession, only for their concerns to be listened to.

Though the negotiations were not all for show: Xebat managed to uncover the nuanced grievances of Şevan's residents in the process. Economic disparities, neglect, and a perceived lack of representation were at the forefront. Xebat knew well that the best way to quell the concerns of the populace was to tend to their needs, and redirected the Empire's resources to Şevan's languishing infrastructure.

Still, Xebat could not stamp out the idea of Şevan's independence among its ruling class, despite their best efforts. While effective in preventing a revolt in the short term, eventually, it became known what had happened to the dissenters among the nobility. The subsequent generations of nobles, in turn, harbored resentment for many decades after Xebat's rule... and would continue to cause problems into the reign of even the Twenty-First Crown of Arsur.

The Seventeeth Crown: Gulreng the Explorer
Crown Gulreng ascended to the throne of Arsur with a fervent curiosity that set her apart from her predecessors. Born in a small coastal village in Avdin, Gulreng's early years were shaped by the rhythmic ebb and flow of the sea. Her fascination with distant lands and diverse cultures became the guiding force of her reign, earning her the epithet she is now known by.

From the outset, Gulreng prioritized international relations, recognizing that the prosperity of Arsur could be amplified through global connections. Her court was a melting pot of diplomats, linguists, and cartographers, all working tirelessly to establish bridges with nations far beyond the Empire's borders. Gulreng's vision extended beyond conventional alliances, as she sought to weave a tapestry of friendships with civilizations yet unknown.

One of Gulreng's most notable initiatives was the dispatch of diplomatic missions to the far reaches of the earth. Explorers, well-versed in the art of diplomacy, were sent to uncharted territories and distant nations, bearing gifts and extending invitations for cultural exchange--and, of course, beneficial trading agreements. 

One such expedition reached the islands of Balatik to the far east, across the treacherous waters of the Seafarer's End, where the people lived in harmony within vibrant jungles that stretched for miles. The Arsurian diplomats were welcomed with curiosity, and the ensuing cultural exchange enriched both societies; Balatik formed an entry to the rest of the far eastern continent, enriching Arsur's trade tremendously. A great example of the mutually beneficial relationship between both nations is Balatikan artisans sharing their mastery of unique natural dyes produced from their native flora, which became highly sought after in Arsur, while Arsurian magi introduced innovative irrigation techniques that bolstered Balatik's agriculture.

Gulreng's commitment to exploration was not limited to diplomacy alone. She commissioned ambitious voyages of discovery, equipping fleets to navigate the seas and uncover new lands. These journeys, documented by skilled cartographers, expanded Arsur's understanding of the world. 

Her dedication to fostering connections with foreign nations was not without challenges. Traditionalists within Arsur questioned the need for such extensive outreach, arguing that the Empire should focus on consolidating its own lands. Yet, Gulreng remained steadfast in her belief that the strength of Arsur lay not only in its military might but also in the bonds forged with nations far and wide.

Keybanû, who was her successor, often cited Gulreng as a source of great inspiration for the ideals she subsequently reigned with. Gulreng's emphasis on building relations with other nations is often seen as the reason for Keybanû's treaty with Ivia. Her intentions were to protect the territory from being conquered by Thalloi city-states, yet, one might wonder if claiming it as a vassal state was the right decision in the long term. 

That was it for this lore post!! Special shout-out to my bff, Regine (AKA atemaarte, author of the interactive fiction game Eye of the Moon) who came up with Balatik and let me include it in Arsur's world ✨