King Yrkanis (Matis)
Main Psychological Traits
- Magnanimous, true to his word, loyal to his followers and Jena.- Possesses courteous qualities appropriate to high-birth : prowess of a fighting man, steadfastness, loyalty, constancy in his undertakings, and is honorable in behavior and speech.
- Has a methodical, logical mind, cannot bear disorder.
- Endowed with power of persuasion, sound reasoning. Seen as a moral touchstone among the Matis.
- Considers the Matis as an example to the world. During the dark reign of Jinovitch he is cited as saying (perhaps somewhat conceitedly) : "If amber rots what should fibre do?".
Short Biography
Only son of King Yasson. Born in the Prime Roots during the period of homin exile. His birth gives rise to new hope in the future at a time when spirits are flagging.
2483
The new Matis capital is named after Yrkanis as a symbol of rebirth.
2487
Despite the general discomfort of
reconstruction, Yrkanis is given a courtly upbringing away from the
general populace and placed under the tutelage of the great organic
architect, Lenardi Bravichi.
2493
At the age of 11 the young prince is allowed
to accompany his father who had insisted on giving a royal escort to
the Fyros border to a Zoraï contingent which had come to pay their last
respects to the fallen Matini Roqvini, the great Matis warrior. In
Savage Dunes the young prince's curiosity leads him to an alcove where
he is given to believe rare plants can be found. But as he approaches
the flowers he finds himself suddenly confronted by three Kipucka
Kitins. By chance the great Zoraï warrior, Leng Cheng-Ho is at hand and
saves the young prince in extremis but at the cost of his own life.
2501
Briefly meets Mabreka, Leng Cheng-Ho's son who
has been sent to negotiate the release of the Fyros emperor, held
captive by King Yasson. Mabreka is able to ease the prince's mind as to
the death of Leng Cheng-Ho explaining that, by saving the prince, his
father died in merit and has thus moved further on along the pathway of
the eternal bliss of Ma-Duk.
2504
King Yasson is assassinated, Jinovitch his
younger brother accedes to the throne. Yrkanis is urged to leave the
idyllic world of the court and takes to the forest with a handful of
loyal followers. In the strength of his learning from Bravichi, Yrkanis
takes to his new life in the wilds with surprising ease. He soon learns
the lie of the land, the ways of the common Matis, and to cut his own
meat! Traveling mostly incognito, he uses his sense of persuasion and
sound reasoning to rally Matis folk under his banner. He gains further
popularity in stealing the ever increasing tithes from royal soldiers
to give them back to the poor. Theses tithes are used by Jinovitch to
finance the army and consolidate his position in the name of Jena.
2506
After a Matis defeat against the Fyros, Yrkanis
makes a bid to capture the crown but fails and is thrown into prison.
It is Jinovitch himself who allows for the prince's escape to create a
pretext to have the prince killed in flight. But the aged Lenardi
Bravichi informs the young prince of the ploy and explains that it was
really Jinovitch who poisoned his father. Bravichi helps the prince
escape. Three days later the old scholar is burnt at the stake under
the pretext of heresy. Yrkanis, then 24, vows to avenge the atrocities
of his uncle but for the time being is forced to go into hiding with
his band of loyal homins. Again he makes his presence felt among the
common people where he is able to witness the fear induced by the reign
of Jinovitch. Meanwhile, Jinovitch claims he has evidence to convict
Yrkanis of heresy and issues a warrant for his immediate arrest.
2508
Yrkanis is finally caught in an ambush. On the
way to the Matis capital, renamed Jino, he escapes thanks to his band
of hearty homins but this time is given no choice but to leave the
Matis lands. To further legitimize his own reign, Jinovitch declares
that the 'heretic' prince is dead and offers up the disfigured body of
a partisan as proof.
Yrkanis is led through the Prime Roots by a Tryker of the Guild of Try
then given refuge in Fairhaven by the newly elected governor, Still
Wyler, a staunch enemy of the new Matis regime. In Fairhaven, Yrkanis
and Wyler plan to muster a force to protect Lagoons of Loria and bring
down the Matis dictatorship.
2509
Yrkanis is required to find refuge in Zora. The
Tryker deputies would never accept the presence of a Matis prince in
Fairhaven while Governor Wyler is out on a campaign across the lake
lands trying to stir up a fighting spirit among the people. Yrkanis
strikes an agreement with Mabreka whereby trade would be resumed as
soon as the prince recovers the Matis throne. In return the Zoraï Grand
Sage agrees to help him pass Matis supporters through the Prime Roots
to the jungle lands to build up an army.
Yrkanis learns about the Zoraï ways though never once his belief in
Jena falters. However he does agree to forbid the persecution of the
Kamis in the forest lands once he comes to power.
2511
Yrkanis' followers risk their lives spreading
the word throughout the Matis lands that Prince Yrkanis is alive and
will soon come to rid the forest lands of the reign of terror. They
tell that the liberators will wear the Bravichi leaf, avenging streaks
and the mark of fervor on their faces.
2512
In response to the Matis invasion of Lagoons of
Loria, renamed Jino Waters, Yrkanis leaves Zora with an army to join
Still Wyler at the frontier.
2513
On recognizing the colors of the house of
Yasson, and the painted faces of Yrkanis and his followers, the vast
majority of Jinovitch's soldiers drop to their knees in recognition of
their true born king. Lagoons of Loria is thus taken with only little
bloodshed.
Jinovitch immediately marches out from the Matis capital with his great
army of elite warriors and conscripts to quash the mutiny and confront
what he calls the 'false prince'.
2514
Jinovitch is killed on the way to the frontier.
His army, having received the news of Yrkanis, watches on as he is
eaten alive by some prowling kitins. Escorted by Wyler to the capital,
Yrkanis accedes to the Matis throne at the age of 32.
2517
Yrkanis marries Lady Lea Lenardi, daughter of Bravichi.
2518
Birth of his son, Stevano.
2520
Attempted coup d'état. Yrkanis resists and has ringleaders imprisoned.
2525
His reign has since been one of wise rule built
on loyalty to the crown and Jena, trade competition and aesthetic
achievement, so bringing the Matis people round to the prized values of
Yasson and Lenardi Bravichi. He has promoted peace and signed the Homin
Rights Act. However, time and again there has been call from the
growing number of radicals within the court for a tougher stance
against the Kamis and their followers.