Calad

Calad (Olmë: Calad aep Maeren ar Marenudd vaeh Carassar; born 2707, died 2975 BTC), called both derisively and endearingly "the Apostate", was the 25th and penultimate Carassar of the Caras Lenanh, the elven empire, ruling from 2777 BTC to his death, for almost two hundred years. Born during a tumultuous period of the empire's existence, he would become the first and to date the only emperor to directly ascend to the throne through the murder of his predecessor -- his father Carain, who had at that point become reviled for his actions or lack thereof during the Elven Wars of Religion and the Tarenarin Invasion.

His reign would see him face great difficulties in retaking the vast territory the empire had lost during the invasion. The first years following the 2nd Battle of Illian at the end of the war, and his father's subsequent death, would be marked by "clean-up actions" of the remaining Tarenarin war-bands, the retaking and rebuilding of important cities such as Gaer Went, Ard Blathannar and Ard Cloeddewedd, dealing with the widespread famine which had been exacerbated by a harsh winter, and the abandonment of the eastern provinces.

Calad's successes were instrumental in ending the Crisis of the 28th century, as through his efforts he managed to prolong the elven empire's existence for another two centuries. Though he was extremely popular with the commoners, his relations with the political elite in the western heartlands, as well as the Seswenna, were often marred by friction, mutual intolerance, and conflict. One of the main reasons for this was the fact that Calad had remained a staunch supporter of the old faith, as opposed to being a follower of the Blood Goddess, Siai. His personal war with the High Mother Deanni would mark the later years of his reign, to the point that the Mother would eventually pronounce him gwaedileu (literally: exsanguinated, which at the time bore the meaning that he was removed from the church forcefully) just a few months before his death. His devotion to the pantheon of the Gods of the Wilds would ironically make him the only elven ruler to bear a title, "the Apostate".

He was eventually killed during a gala event in Illian in late 2975 BTC. The cause of death was considered to be poisoning, later revealed to have been performed by one of the emperor's servants. He was quickly succeeded by his only living child, Ettari, who continued his work, hoping to secure a future for the empire. His demise however, would mark the end of the Restoration Period, as Ettari would eventually be assassinated some one hundred summers later -- a few days afterwards, the elven empire, which stood strong for nearly three thousand years, now a pitiful shadow of its former self, finally fractured, never to regain its former glory.