The Marcian Conspiracy (Rhesainian History - WIP)

It is known throughout Rhesainia that the Wayfarer Order does not involve itself in politics. In order to pursue the intricacies of their work and to move about the world without restriction, Wayfarers must remain beyond the touch of political affairs. While the Order has an official ambassador (a Wayfarer master appointed the responsibility of representing the Order among the courts and rulers of the world), they officially remain neutral when it comes to internal and international conflict.

With one exception: the Marcian Conspiracy.

A Troubled Line of Succession

The Marcian Conspiracy (1228-1232) was a period of political upheaval within the Arathian Empire. Emperor Calas ard Nesarian’s ninety-year rule was marked by expansionist campaigns and a relentless push north to expand Arathian borders. With the emperor occupied by the war, the day-to-day management of the Empire was left to the joint rule of his three favourite children: Ariston, his eldest son, Lucilla, his youngest daughter, and Marcius, his adoptive son.

When the emperor succumbed to hveslan exposure on the front lines in 1228, the Imperial line of succession was left in question. Following Imperial tradition and the influence of the late emperor’s mother, Asenna ard Nesarian, the Imperial senate supported Ariston’s right to succession. He was crowned Emperor mere days after his father’s death.

Ariston’s rise to power was not favourably viewed outside the senate. Empress Eirene, Calas’ wife and a powerful Savant, had a longstanding feud with Asenna. She harboured public dislike for her mother-in-law’s influence over her son and saw Ariston as weak-willed and feeble-minded. Though Ariston wore the crown, Asenna was the true power behind the throne. In a bid to oppose Asenna, Eirene put the full weight of her influence and Guild connections behind her daughter Lucilla. Swaying a large portion of the aristocracy to their side, Eirene and Lucilla began a secret campaign to undermine Ariston’s rule and depose him.

Over the next several months, conflict grew between the two opposing parties. While the Imperial family maintained a perfect façade, Erenvor simmered with tension. As Ariston and Lucilla politely continued as normal, senators were found poisoned, aristocrats were arrested under false charged, and fights broke out in the streets. It would only be a matter of time before the siblings declared an all-out war.

Enter Marcius.

Rising Tensions

With his siblings distracted over their right to succession, Marcius left Erenvor and travelled to the front lines to escort his father’s body home. There he was given a missive by the late emperor’s most trusted general. The letter stated, in Calas’ own hand, a statement of his wishes: that Marcius, and no other, should inherit the throne.

Compared to his siblings, Marcius was quiet, calm and collected. He was well-liked by the Imperial population, particularly the working classes, and he had a keen eye for administration that both Ariston and Lucilla lacked. He had no intention of ruling beyond his role as co-regent. However, his family’s scheming and his father’s secret will prompted him to take action.

With the support of his late father’s generals, Marcius abandoned the northern campaign and marched the military home. The return of the late emperor’s favourite son, supported by the Imperial army and hailed as the new Emperor, should have put an end to the conflict in Erenvor. However, upon hearing of their father’s posthumous declaration, Ariston and Lucilla set aside their differences and sprung into action.

When the Imperial army returned to Erenvor in 1229, it was met by the Imperial guard and a host of Guild mages and first-class warrior orders, including the Corsida Brightblades. Marcius faced a choice: either attack the city of his birth and condemn Erenvor to a siege that would devastate its population and resources, or surrender and be tried for treason. Marcius chose a third option: fake his death, disappear into the city and oppose Ariston and Lucilla from the inside.

With Marcius’ disappearance, Calas ard Nesarian’s will was discovered among his generals and declared a false document. Ariston and Lucilla returned to their scheming. While Lucilla, thanks to her mother, had the full weight of the Guild behind her, Ariston had control of the Imperial court. Though Ariston remained Emperor in name, in truth the city was divided: half controlled by Ariston and Asenna, half by Lucilla and Eirene. Concerned with outmaneuvering his mother and sister, Ariston had little time for the business of ruling. His popularity sunk, even among his supporters.

Meanwhile, in the streets of Erenvor, rumours spread that Marcius ard Nesarian, the true ruler of Arathia, had survived. While popular support grew among the lower classes, Marcius himself orchestrated arrangements with select wealthy merchants and politicians, planting the seeds for a bloodless coup. But before he could depose both Ariston and Lucilla in one fell swoop, Lucilla acted.

The 1231 Coup

In 1231, Lucilla and Eirene orchestrated a coup and attempted to poison Ariston and Asenna. Betrayed by those closest to her, Lucilla’s plan failed and she and her mother were placed under house arrest, pending trial for treason. Eirene passed away a few short months later, and Lucilla was exiled to the Daidara Temple in northern Arathia.

In the aftermath of Lucilla’s coup, Ariston believed he had complete control of Erenvor and, by extension, the Empire. The Imperial military and two full contingents of Brightblades answered to him. The Guild mages who supported Lucilla were given a choice: support Ariston’s rule or face arrest. Most chose to support the Emperor; those that did not were tried for treason and executed, exiled, or placed under the compulsions of a blood oath.

As Ariston consolidated his power, he faced one problem: his plummeting popularity. Asenna believed that the approval of the populace was beneath him. Ignoring the growing unrest in the capital, Asenna believed all opposition to their rule was over and pushed Ariston to continue his father’s campaigns. Despite a series of small revolts throughout, Ariston followed his grandmother’s advice and began plans for a new northern campaign.

Wayfarer Involvement

The consolidation of Ariston’s power, particularly in regards to Arathian Guild mages, was a growing issue for Marcius. Though he had hoped for a bloodless coup, many of his connections withered when Lucilla’s influence was excised from the city. Without strong connections of the Guild of Mages, Marcius had no way to oppose the sheer magical might Ariston now commanded. But Marcius had one connection he never thought to use, until now: a friend from his youth, a friend who had been taken to the Spire many, many years ago, and now roamed the world as a Wayfarer.

With great caution, speed and secrecy, Marcius sent a letter to the Spire, pleading for the help of Darius Avennor. Avennor was intrigued. He was Arathian, native to Erenvor—though he had distanced himself from the Empire, he had a strong dislike of Ariston, Asenna and their practices. In particular, he opposed how Imperial politics had become intertwined with the Guild of Mages, a connection Ariston was eager to grow. Several other Arathian Wayfarers whom like Avennor, had cut themselves off from the country of their birth, were interested in Marcius’ proposal.

Avennor’s former master, Brissa Varyn, cautioned him not to go, insisting that Wayfarers should not involve themselves in political strife. But Avennor was insistent. Despite the warnings of Brissa Varyn and Rindan Cenric, and the disdain of Grandmaster Amali Sero, Avennor and six Arathian Wayfarers departed for Erenvor.

The 1232 Coup

Despite his military strength, Ariston was unable to quell the ongoing riots. More than once, he heard whispers of his adoptive brother’s name and a growing conspiracy that the true successor was alive and would return to take the throne. Assured the rumours and riots were nothing of note, Ariston left the capital in the early months of 1232 and began the long journey north to the border. He left Asenna in power, naming her regent in his absence.

On the 7thof Summermarch, Marcius, Avennor and their supporters enacted their plan. A large-scale revolt swept the city. Asenna watched as the revolutionaries pushed towards the Imperial palace. They met little resistance, aside from the Imperial guard. Marcius found the lack of opposition unsettling. It wasn’t until they breached the Imperial gates that Asenna unleashed the full power of the Arathian Guild mages, massacring the revolutionaries on the palace steps.

Aftermath

Marcius, Avennor and the few survivors were arrested and tried for treason under Imperial law. Upon hearing of the trial, Brissa Varyn was dispatched to Erenvor, where she pleaded for Avennor and the six Wayfarers who accompanied him. As Wayfarers, they were no longer Imperial citizens, and should be released to the Order. Her request was denied.

As Wayfarers could not be bound to a blood oath, all six were executed. For Avennor and his followers' actions, the Wayfarer Order was expelled from the Empire and its territories, on pain of death. Brissa Varyn was allowed to retrieve their Alassar weapons, including Avennor's bow and arrows, which she later passed to her next student, Aeran Kellis.

Placed under house arrest, Marcius waited two months for Ariston to return from the front lines to judge his brother. Ariston did not show Marcius the same leniency as he gave Lucilla. His choice was simple: undertake a lifelong blood oath or face execution. Unwilling to be bound to his brother’s demands for the rest of his life, Marcius chose execution.

Lasting Consequences

Twenty years later, Emperor Ariston ard Nesarian’s Imperial rule is uncontested. Lucilla remains in Daidara Temple, composing a history of her father’s rule. Marcius is remembered as a power-hungry, jealous despot. Elaborate tales that have grown since the Conspiracy pit him as the villain, responsible for corrupting Lucilla and Eirene and pitting them against their blood relatives. Further tales have led many to believe that Marcius himself was under Avennor's influence and the Order was responsible for the coups and revolts that devastated the capital. 

In recent years, Wayfarers have been allowed to traverse Imperial territories once more, though they are regarded with extreme suspicion, hostility and hatred. Most Wayfarers avoid the Imperial capital outright.