Ikkorl
A Holca Lord of the Ordeal.
Ikurei
"Ikurei Xerius III" Ikurei Xerius III was the Emperor of Nansur from 4081 until his assassination in 4112 ( Year-of-the-Tusk ). He is infamous for attempting to usurp the Holy War to his own ends using his Imperial Indenture .
Appearance and personality
Xerius is paranoid, superstitious and excessively proud of himself—arrogant to the point of thinking himself divine. The Darkness That Comes Before
Ikurei Xerius III hatches an intricate plot to secure any lands conquered by the Holy War for the Nansur Empire. Much of what was then called heathen Kian once belonged to the Nansur, and recovering the Empire’s lost provinces is Xerius’s most fervent desire. Since the Holy War gathers in the Nansur Empire, it can march only if provisioned by the Emperor, something he refuses to do until every leader of the Holy War signs his Indenture, a written oath to cede all lands conquered to him. The first caste-nobles to arrive repudiate the Indenture, and a stalemate ensues. As the Holy War’s numbers swell into the hundreds of thousands, however, the titular leaders of the host begin to grow restless. Since they war in the God’s name, they think themselves invincible, and as a result see little reason to share the glory with those yet to arrive. A Conriyan noble named Nersei Calmemunis comes to an accommodation with the Emperor, and convinces his fellows to sign the Imperial Indenture. Once provisioned, most of those gathered march, even though their lords and a greater part of the Holy War have yet to arrive. Because the host consists primarily of lordless rabble, it comes to be called the Vulgar Holy War . Despite Maithanet ’s attempts to bring the makeshift host to heel, it continues marching southward, and passes into heathen lands, where—precisely as the Emperor had planned—the Fanim destroy it utterly. Xerius knows that in military terms the loss of the Vulgar Holy War is insignificant, since the rabble that largely constituted it would have proven more a liability than an advantage in battle. In political terms, however, the Vulgar Holy War’s destruction is invaluable, because it has shown Maithanet and the Men of the Tusk the true mettle of their adversary. The Fanim, as the Nansur well know, are not to be trifled with, even with the God’s favour. Only an outstanding general, Xerius claims, can assure the Holy War’s victory—a man like his nephew, Ikurei Conphas , who after his recent victory over the dread Scylvendi at the Battle of Kiyuth has been hailed as the greatest tactician of his age. The leaders of the Holy War need only sign the Imperial Indenture and Conphas’s preternatural skill and insight will be theirs. In an effort to forestall disaster Maithanet calls a Council of Great and Lesser Names, and all the leaders of the Holy War gather in the Emperor’s palace, the Andiamine Heights , to make their arguments. There Nersei Proyas shocks the assembly by offering a many-scarred Scylvendi Chieftain, a veteran of past wars against the Fanim, as a surrogate for the famed Ikurei Conphas. The Scylvendi, Cnaiür urs Skiötha , shares hard words with both the Emperor and his nephew, and the leaders of the Holy War are impressed. The Shriah’s Envoy, however, remains undecided: the Scylvendi are as apostate as the Fanim, after all. Only the wise words of Prince Anasûrimbor Kellhus of Atrithau settle the matter. The Envoy reads the decree demanding that the Emperor, under pain of Shrial Censure, provision the Men of the Tusk. And the Holy War marches. The Warrior Prophet
Maithanet, the Shriah of the Thousand Temples summons Xerius to the temple of Xothei in Momemn . Maithanet asks Xerius if he has sealed a pact with the Fanim to betray the Holy War before it reaches Shimeh , Xerius lies and denies the accusation. The Thousandfold Thought
Xerius is killed by a skin-spy impersonating his mother, Ikurei Istriya , after the two attempt to copulate. He is succeeded by his nephew Ikurei Conphas. Ikurei Xerius III
Title(s): Emperor God-of-Men
Lived: 4059 - 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Anphairas (grandfather) Unnamed father Istriya (mother) Unnamed brother Unnamed wife (possibly also niece) Conphas (nephew)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Judging Eye (mentioned) The White-Luck Warrior (mentioned) The Great Ordeal (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Xerius III
Title(s): Emperor God-of-Men
Lived: 4059 - 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Anphairas (grandfather) Unnamed father Istriya (mother) Unnamed brother Unnamed wife (possibly also niece) Conphas (nephew)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Judging Eye (mentioned) The White-Luck Warrior (mentioned) The Great Ordeal (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Anphairas I
Ikurei Anphairas I was the Emperor of Nansur from 4066 to 4081, when he was assassinated by persons unknown .
Ikurei Anphairas I
Title(s): Emperor
Lived: 4022 - 4081
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Sorius (ancestor) Unnamed son Xerius (grandson) Unnamed grandson Conphas (great-grandson)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before (mentioned) The Thousandfold Thought (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Anphairas I
Title(s): Emperor
Lived: 4022 - 4081
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Sorius (ancestor) Unnamed son Xerius (grandson) Unnamed grandson Conphas (great-grandson)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before (mentioned) The Thousandfold Thought (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Conphas
Ikurei Conphas is the nephew of Emperor Ikurei Xerius III and heir apparent to the Imperial Mantle.
Personality
Conphas is exceptionally conceited, to the point he becomes convinced of his own divinity. The Darkness That Comes Before
Conphas is charged with attacking the Scylvendi to ensure that the Nansur-Scylvendi border is safe during the Holy War . Conphas studies military history and realizes that their tactics can be predicted. Through a number of cunning maneuvers, he baits the Scylvendi horde into attacking and annihilates their Chorae -archers, allowing the Imperial Saik to emerge and obliterate the Scylvendi host. Upon arriving back at the Andiamine Heights for his triumph, he impulsively ponders assassinating his uncle Xerius, but backs down when he learns that the soldiers lining the parade ground are Xerius's men, not his own. When Xerius's plans to bend the Great Names into signing his indenture hit a rough patch, he adds Conphas's proven military genius as an incentive to sign. In the camps of the arriving Holy War at Momemn , Conphas meets with Nersei Proyas and humiliates the prince in their verbal jousting. The Thousandfold Thought
Anasûrimbor Kellhus expels Conphas from Caraskand , ordering him to return to Nansur and sending Cnaiür urs Skiötha to watch over him. Cnaiür, who has been secret orders to assassinate Conphas, rapes him but does not kill him. Conphas subsequently escapes Joktha , joins with reinforcements from Nansur, and attacks the city from without, killing all those loyal to Kellhus save for Cnaiür. Cnaiür is imprisoned, but promptly escapes with the aid of a skin-spy impersonating Biaxi Sompas . Upon receiving news of the death of Xerius, Conphas proclaims himself Emperor of Nansur. Conphas joins the battle in defense of Shimeh , but his forces are decimated by Drusas Achamian , and he is subsequently slain by Coithus Saubon as his Galeoth forces arrive. Ikurei Conphas
Title(s): Exalt-General Shield-of-the-Tusk Emperor God-of-Men
Aliases: The Lion of Kiyuth
Lived: 4084 - 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Exalt-General Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Anphairas (great-grandfather) Unnamed grandfather Ikurei Istriya (grandmother) Unnamed father Ikurei Xerius III (uncle) Unnamed half-sister
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior-Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Judging Eye (mentioned) The Great Ordeal (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Conphas
Title(s): Exalt-General Shield-of-the-Tusk Emperor God-of-Men
Aliases: The Lion of Kiyuth
Lived: 4084 - 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Exalt-General Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Anphairas (great-grandfather) Unnamed grandfather Ikurei Istriya (grandmother) Unnamed father Ikurei Xerius III (uncle) Unnamed half-sister
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior-Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Judging Eye (mentioned) The Great Ordeal (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Conphas' father
Unnamed younger son of Istriya, brother of Xerius and father to Conphas.
Ikurei Conphas' half-sister
This unnamed character was the half-sister of Ikurei Conphas and wife to Ikurei Xerius III . It is unknown whether she was Conphas' paternal or maternal half-sister.
The Darkness That Comes Before
As the Imperial Family sails through the River Phayus , Conphas asks Xerius about his half-sister . Xerius replies that she is a "satisfactory wife", with Istriya remarking that "her womb remains closed" nonetheless . Later Events
It is not known if this character survived the events of The Prince of Nothing . Ikurei Conphas' half-sister
Title(s): Empress
Lived: ? - present?
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Female
Occupation: Empress of Nansur
Relatives: Istriya (mother-in-law, possibly grandmother) Conphas (half-brother) Xerius (husband, possibly uncle)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before (mentioned)
Ikurei Conphas' half-sister
Title(s): Empress
Lived: ? - present?
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Female
Occupation: Empress of Nansur
Relatives: Istriya (mother-in-law, possibly grandmother) Conphas (half-brother) Xerius (husband, possibly uncle)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before (mentioned)
Ikurei Istriya
Ikurei Istriya is the mother of Emperor Ikurei Xerius III , once famed for her legendary beauty. At some point, Istriya is killed and replaced by a skin-spy .
Appearance
Istriya once possessed a legendary beauty, but has grown wrinkled in her old age. What Came Before
The dowry of Istriya’s marriage to the Emperor of Nansur was the burning of the Imperial Harem. After the death of Xerius’s father, Istriya entered an incestuous relationship with him. More recently, she has turned her affections toward her grandson Conphas. The Darkness That Comes Before
Istriya confronts Xerius about his plans to indenture the Holy War to return all former provinces of the Nansur Empire . As he tells her his full designs, she becomes increasingly alarmed at the risks involved, but he dismisses her warnings. Ikurei Istriya
Title(s): Empress
Lived: 4045 - c. 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Female
Occupation: Empress of Nansur
Relatives: Unnamed husband Xerius (son) Unnamed son Unnamed daughter-in-law (possibly also granddaughter) Conphas (grandson)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior-Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Istriya
Title(s): Empress
Lived: 4045 - c. 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Female
Occupation: Empress of Nansur
Relatives: Unnamed husband Xerius (son) Unnamed son Unnamed daughter-in-law (possibly also granddaughter) Conphas (grandson)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior-Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Sorius I
Ikurei Sorius I was the first of the long line of shrewd yet defensive Ikurei emperors of Nansur . A former Exalt-General, Sorius came to power as the result of a coup brought about by the turmoil following the loss of Shigek to the Kianene in 3933. He reorganized both the Imperial Army and the empire, changes that allowed him and his descendants to defeat no fewer than three full-scale Fanim invasions.
Ikurei Sorius I
Title(s): Emperor
Lived: ? - ?
Race: Men
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Ikurei Anphairas I (descendant) Ikurei Xerius III (descendant) Ikurei Conphas (descendant)
Books: mentioned only
Ikurei Sorius I
Title(s): Emperor
Lived: ? - ?
Race: Men
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Ikurei Anphairas I (descendant) Ikurei Xerius III (descendant) Ikurei Conphas (descendant)
Books: mentioned only
Ikurei Xerius III
Ikurei Xerius III was the Emperor of Nansur from 4081 until his assassination in 4112 ( Year-of-the-Tusk ). He is infamous for attempting to usurp the Holy War to his own ends using his Imperial Indenture .
Appearance and personality
Xerius is paranoid, superstitious and excessively proud of himself—arrogant to the point of thinking himself divine. The Darkness That Comes Before
Ikurei Xerius III hatches an intricate plot to secure any lands conquered by the Holy War for the Nansur Empire. Much of what was then called heathen Kian once belonged to the Nansur, and recovering the Empire’s lost provinces is Xerius’s most fervent desire. Since the Holy War gathers in the Nansur Empire, it can march only if provisioned by the Emperor, something he refuses to do until every leader of the Holy War signs his Indenture, a written oath to cede all lands conquered to him. The first caste-nobles to arrive repudiate the Indenture, and a stalemate ensues. As the Holy War’s numbers swell into the hundreds of thousands, however, the titular leaders of the host begin to grow restless. Since they war in the God’s name, they think themselves invincible, and as a result see little reason to share the glory with those yet to arrive. A Conriyan noble named Nersei Calmemunis comes to an accommodation with the Emperor, and convinces his fellows to sign the Imperial Indenture. Once provisioned, most of those gathered march, even though their lords and a greater part of the Holy War have yet to arrive. Because the host consists primarily of lordless rabble, it comes to be called the Vulgar Holy War . Despite Maithanet ’s attempts to bring the makeshift host to heel, it continues marching southward, and passes into heathen lands, where—precisely as the Emperor had planned—the Fanim destroy it utterly. Xerius knows that in military terms the loss of the Vulgar Holy War is insignificant, since the rabble that largely constituted it would have proven more a liability than an advantage in battle. In political terms, however, the Vulgar Holy War’s destruction is invaluable, because it has shown Maithanet and the Men of the Tusk the true mettle of their adversary. The Fanim, as the Nansur well know, are not to be trifled with, even with the God’s favour. Only an outstanding general, Xerius claims, can assure the Holy War’s victory—a man like his nephew, Ikurei Conphas , who after his recent victory over the dread Scylvendi at the Battle of Kiyuth has been hailed as the greatest tactician of his age. The leaders of the Holy War need only sign the Imperial Indenture and Conphas’s preternatural skill and insight will be theirs. In an effort to forestall disaster Maithanet calls a Council of Great and Lesser Names, and all the leaders of the Holy War gather in the Emperor’s palace, the Andiamine Heights , to make their arguments. There Nersei Proyas shocks the assembly by offering a many-scarred Scylvendi Chieftain, a veteran of past wars against the Fanim, as a surrogate for the famed Ikurei Conphas. The Scylvendi, Cnaiür urs Skiötha , shares hard words with both the Emperor and his nephew, and the leaders of the Holy War are impressed. The Shriah’s Envoy, however, remains undecided: the Scylvendi are as apostate as the Fanim, after all. Only the wise words of Prince Anasûrimbor Kellhus of Atrithau settle the matter. The Envoy reads the decree demanding that the Emperor, under pain of Shrial Censure, provision the Men of the Tusk. And the Holy War marches. The Warrior Prophet
Maithanet, the Shriah of the Thousand Temples summons Xerius to the temple of Xothei in Momemn . Maithanet asks Xerius if he has sealed a pact with the Fanim to betray the Holy War before it reaches Shimeh , Xerius lies and denies the accusation. The Thousandfold Thought
Xerius is killed by a skin-spy impersonating his mother, Ikurei Istriya , after the two attempt to copulate. He is succeeded by his nephew Ikurei Conphas. Ikurei Xerius III
Title(s): Emperor God-of-Men
Lived: 4059 - 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Anphairas (grandfather) Unnamed father Istriya (mother) Unnamed brother Unnamed wife (possibly also niece) Conphas (nephew)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Judging Eye (mentioned) The White-Luck Warrior (mentioned) The Great Ordeal (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Xerius III
Title(s): Emperor God-of-Men
Lived: 4059 - 4112
Race: Men
Ethnicity: Ketyai
Nationality: Nansur
Gender: Male
Occupation: Emperor of Nansur
Relatives: Anphairas (grandfather) Unnamed father Istriya (mother) Unnamed brother Unnamed wife (possibly also niece) Conphas (nephew)
Books: The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought The Judging Eye (mentioned) The White-Luck Warrior (mentioned) The Great Ordeal (mentioned) The Unholy Consult (mentioned)
Ikurei Xerius III's father
Unnamed husband of Istriya, father to Xerius and grandfather to Conphas, preceded his son as emperor.
ik
-i.