Isor Verion

Isor Verion

Isor Nebuchadnezzarion Verion
Former Senator of the Lakes
Tenure began	1.I.1702 AN (43 AN years)
Tenure ended	2.VIII.1704 AN (de facto) 9.VIII.1704 AN (de jure; 2 AN years)
Elected	1701
Faction	Verionist
Order of the Holy Lakes	Lines of Osman, Tahmaseb, and Lewis
Physical description
Gender	Male
Species	Human
Race	Elw–Norse–Elfinshi
Hair colour and style	auburn
Eye colour	blue
Skin colour	white
Other	168 cm tall
Biographical information
Father	Nebuchadnezzar Buvonzake
Mother	Regina Verion
Spouse(s)	Ayesha al-Osman (b. 1660; m. 1686; div. 1699) Aliande of Laegel (b. 1656, m. 1698)
Children	Isor Osman Isorion Isor (b. 1687) Ardashir Kalir Isorion Isor (b. 1687) Sirithil of Laegel (b. 1699) Legolas Isorion Verion (b. 1699) Zora of Laegel (b. 1702)
Date of birth	11.V.1660 AN
Place of birth	Cromswind, Cimmeria (Elwynn;  Shireroth)
Date of death	9.VIII.1704 AN, aged 44 AN years)
Place of death	Liderai ( Hurmu)

Isor Nebuchadnezzarion Verion (Elw: Исор Небуқанеззарион Верион, Isor Nebuqanezzarion Verion), was a Free Elwynnese nobleman and diplomat, ambassador to Shireroth from 1697 to 1699. For a while, he went by the name Isor Isor instead of Verion. He also held citizenship in Hurmu, where he served as Senator from 1702 until his death in 1704.

He was the Governor of Chryse from 1683 until his overthrow during the Battle of Chryse in 1690, and Lord Protector of the United Benacian Republic for a short whole in 1685.

A member of the Order of the Holy Lakes, by virtue of descent from Prince Andelarion and Jack Lewis, he was elected to the Senate in 1701 for the newly formed Verionist List, and held that seat until his disappearance on 2.VIII.1704 during the 1704 Hurmudan attempted coup d'état. His body was found dead 7 days later, with the coroner ruling that Isor must have been died in an apparent suicide (or possibly a framed suicide) some 7–9 hours earlier, based on the state of the cadaver. The story of the alleged suicide fell apart within twenty-four hours as it became widely known that Isor had been hung from the tree in a dismembered state, sawn in half at the waist. The reaction to this news, combined with the shock and trauma of the coup attempt, precipitated the 1704 Hurmu political crisis.

Personal biography

Isor Verion was born in Cromswind, in what was then the First Elwynnese Republic. Two months later, his father was killed, and Isor and his mother Regina fled to Chryse.

9.XII.1685, his engagement to Ayesha al-Osman was announced. They married on the Festival of the Undaunted Atos (coinciding with the Nazarene Festival of the Holy Birth) on 12.II.1686.

On 8.X.1686, Isor left the House of Verion and founded his own house, named after himself ("House of Isor"). At the same time, his wife was announced pregnant. She gave birth to a set of twins on 19.XIV.1687, which he named Isor Osman Isorion Isor and Ardashir Kalir Isorion Isor.

On 10.II.1689, having grown bored of his wife, he announced his intention to contract a second marriage with Aliande Laegel, the granddaughter of Avranel, the Lady Laegel. This caused the immediate self-imposed exile of Ayesha and the children. Towards the end of the year, Isor announced that he would not marry Avranel should Ayesha return with the children before the end of the year. Instead, he promised the people a "union grander than ever imagined".

On 5.XV.1689, Isor's medical records were leaked to Elwynnese press. Despite Isor being in complete health, with a higher-than-average intelligence, they caused him embarrassment, as the records showed that Isor had been complaining about the size of his penis (12 cm) and that he was actually shorter than the 168 cm he claimed (he was 164 cm tall). Before Isor could arrest his medical team, they had travelled to Upper Elwynn and sought asylum there.

Political career

In 1683, Isor was appointed by Supreme Director Viqh to succeed Jana Al-Basani as Governor of Chryse.

After hearing of the formation of the Franco-Batavian Empire in mid 1684, Isor invited the Magistrate of Kasterburg, Reginald de Montford, for discussions. Although De Montford chose not to say what had been discussed, Isor announced a few days later to the Chryse Assembly his intention of merging Chryse and Kasterburg into one state within Gran Verionia. In his view, a stronger Verionist consolidation of resources and powers was necessary, lest Kasterburg and Chryse would too easily be influenced by the Franco-Batavian imperialists.

With the collapse of the Gran Verionian state in early 1685, Isor Verion took charge of the situation in Benacia and declared the United Benacian Republic independent under his stewardship as Lord Protector.

On 24.IV.1685 AN Isor received the Loyal Address of the loyalist Verionist officers in the garrison of the city of Chryste and acclamation of the crews of the ships of the Iron Fleet in its harbour, who thereafter loudly petitioned and clamoured for him to accept the titles of Captain-General of the United Benacian Defence Force (Bat: Verenigde Benacische Weermacht), and Admiral-General of the Free Batavian Navy (Bat: Vrije Bataafsche Marine). The tumult continued throughout the night until, at length, Isor Verion appeared on the balcony of the Hotel Astoria in downtown Chryse and - seemingly moved by genuine emotion - he proclaimed to the assembled soldiery milling about below that he would accept the burden placed upon him to become their Captain-General. Thereafter he donned the crimson sash that would denote his new rank and announced, to deafening cheers, an accession donative to be paid to all men of the forces who had remained loyal to the Verionist banner in Benacia during its darkest times. Celebrations continued in the bars, brothels, and casinos of the city for the next three days unabated.

Something about his overthrow in 1690.

Arrest and trial

After the Battle of Chryse Isor had been taken into protective custody by the UDF and airlifted to the UDF Facility Dragonsfold in eastern Elwynn for medical treatment and psychiatric evaluations. On the basis of these evaluations Isor was declared to be a ward of the state and received an appointed UDF förvaltare (administrator), Örlogskapten Einarr Patriksson, from the Union Medical Corps.

On 5.XII.1690, the date of the signing of the Chryse Protection Treaty, Örlogskapten Einarr Patriksson received a Writ of Summons for Isor Isor, issued by the Court of Star Chamber, commanding the attendance of the latter at proceedings opened into accusations of crimes against humanity, committed by Isor in his capacity as Viceroy of Chryse against the Tarr peoples, during and after their expulsion from Graecia.

On 21.XI.1691, the Court of the Star Chamber found him to be sane enough to face judgment, and and found him guilty of crimes against humanity with regard to the enslavement and forced expulsion of the Tarr nation from Graecia. He was sentenced to 18 years of rehabilitation, with time served. He was immediately moved to Svordson Reform Settlement in Leng, where he is expected to remain until his expected date of release on 5.XII.1708.

Release and capture

On 9.IV.1692, it was reported that Isor Isor, following the defection of the Leng Garrison of the UDF, had been released from detention. Following his release he repatriated to the mainland as part of a medical evacuation organised by the Red Orchid Society. By 21.IV.1692 he had been reported to have made an appearance in Glenfiddich, attempting to offer his services to the Government of secessionist Elwynn and Amokolia. His appearance was the cause of mild embarrassment for the separatists, in view of his conviction for crimes against humanity. Unwilling to keep Isor around the Unified Congress, but yet not wishing to appear to validate a conviction made by the politicised courts of the previous regime, the Conducător, Pedyr Mekaarveq, arranged for Isor to receive a letter of safe conduct and a commission, which instructed all citizens to assist him, in any way he might require, in reaching Fieldburg and raising a regiment of volunteers to support the SDF.

On 5.XI.1692 AN, after weeks of preparation, Isor Isor abandoned his post and set off on a trip to Sant Paula to reunite with his mother. He had been growing more and more weary of the obligations of service, to say nothing of entrusting his life to communists and liberals – people he had fought and incarcerated during his tenure as ruler over Chryse. As such, he sought to escape to Sant Paula, where his mother lived. His problem was that there was no easy way to get there. His best shot was to travel westwards, across Elwynn and Amokolia, to the Batavian border, find a way to cross it clandestinely and from Batavia procure a boat or plane to take him to Sant Paula. In the end, he found a trustworthy enough smuggler, of Verionist persuasion, who agreed to take Isor under his wings. Despite Isor being ill-regarded in the House of Verion, especially due to his denouncement of the Verion family, the smuggler had enough respect for Regina, Isor's mother, that he agreed, for a good reward promised him, to smuggle Isor to Sant Paula. The two set off on an elaborate trip westwards from Fieldburg to the Batavian border.

The defection of Isor from his post in Fieldburg was swiftly reported to Generalmajor Ashman Roughahi, the commander of SDF forces in Fieldburg. After the news was radioed to Lenfidiq the response of Pedyr Mekaarveq, Conducator of Elwynn and Amokolia was one of exasperated contempt. Although the loss of Isor would, in all probability count as a net benefit, the idea that commanders could absent themselves from their assigned post, abandon their tasks, and forego all bonds of obligation to the Republic, would set a terrible example to those commanders upon whom the regime actually did rely. Immediately orders were given to Robiert Monqler, Minister of the Interior, that no implausible flight across a country at war by a prominent figure in the vein of Adam Anushiruwân was to be tolerated. Accordingly the command was broadcast over unsecured channels to all bailiwick detachments of the Home Guard that the traitor Isor Isor was to be detained and returned to Lenfidiq, dead or alive, to answer for his cowardice, desertion, and crimes against the Republic. The decision to sent the order over an open channel was a deliberate one. In this manner the news would reach Isor's enemies in the Raspur Pact, or indeed any who might wish him ill, that their quarry was in flight.

It had taken a year of avoiding Home Guard checkpoints and roadblocks, as well as delays caused by persistent rumours of a joint ESB and UDF kill-squad dispatched by his wife that was on his trail, before Isor had made it into Batavia disguised as a refugee travelling on papers provided by the Red Orchid Society. It had taken a month for him to arrange his escape from the Batavian internment camp, and another week of travelling before he had made it into the Batavian port city of Krieksburgh.

To arrange passage out of Batavia had been another matter to address. By this stage Isor had little more left to pay his way with than by promises of good will and boundless gratitude for whomsoever would see him brought alive before Regina Verion on Sant Paula. His deliverance was from an unlikely source - the tramp steamer "Niemen", a beat-up old merchantman that changed its port of registry and flag whenever the ship's captain caught scent of the creditors whose dogged pursuit had now haunted him across many a year, had long been engaged in the perilous activity of running supplies up to the Batavian Commune and was by now beginning to doubt the movement's long term prospects. With Batavia becoming daily less welcoming and less lucrative, the prospect of a commission that would put the captain in good stead with the Princely Exploration and Trading Company was one to be entertained.

Escape and House Arrest

So it was that the Niemen put to sea from Kireksburgh on the night of 24.IX.1693 AN, having had the misfortune to do so at a time when the Sea-Reavers were abroad in greater numbers than at any time since the War of the Casks. The increased presence of Calbain naval vessels as part of Operation Môr Rhyddid ensured his safe passage however.

Following a lengthy sea voyage, Isor arrived in the Calbain colony of Penn ar Bed. Here, he was awaited by representatives of the government and military officers. Isor was placed in house arrest and was guarded 24/7 in order to assure his personal safety.

Free Elwynn

Following the conclusion of the Second Elwynnese Civil War, Isor Isor was repatriated to Cimmeria where he became the general secretary of the Red Orchid Society there. In 1697, following Shireroth's establishing diplomatic relations with Free Elwynn, Isor was dispatched to Raynor's Keep as Free Elwynn's ambassador to the Kaiseress and the Imperial Government. At the same time, he took on his birth name of Verion. His voyage was a fraught one, involving numerous games of "cat and mouse" with warships of the UDF and the Maritime Armada until the safety of Musica's harbour guns was at last attained.

In 1698, he married into the House of Laegel in a ceremony in Shirekeep, marrying Aliande, granddaughter and heir-to-the-heir of the 13th Lady Laegel. In a deal that Isor brokered with Raynor's Keep, the House of Laegel would be allowed to return to its former holdings in Yardistan. As such, Isor was now legally married to two women at the same time (as is legal among the nobility in Shireroth), remaining estranged, however to his first wife.

On New Year's Day, 1699, in Shirekeep, Aliande gave birth to a healthy set of dizygotic twins – one daughter and one son. In accordance with Laegel family tradition, the daughter received the family name Laegel (as she presumed to become heir to the Laegel dynasty one day) and the son the name Verion. For given names, the daughter was named Sirithil after the Elfinshi elentári and Elwynnese duchess (a fitting name, the parents thought, as it joined the Elfinshi and Elwynnese sides of the family perfectly), and the son received the name Legolas, as that was an Elfinshi name that, according to Isor, felt masculine and empowering.

His controversial efforts at directing the foreign policy of Cimmeria and Raikoth in a direction that would lead it inexorably towards Shirerithian vassalage saw him survive a number of assassination attempts whilst in Shirekeep, at the behest of various offended parties, all whilst evading efforts by the High Presidium of the Benacian Union's representative in the Imperial capital to serve legal papers upon him for proceedings relating to the annulment of his marriage to Ayesha al-Osman. The Benacian representative, a Ahmst Mairstranin by the name of Abner Shas of the Adjutant General's Corps, along with his cohort-sized retinue, had busied themselves with buying up properties adjacent to the rebel embassy and engaging the services of financially embarrassed members of the Mango Bar so as to ensure there was always someone present to serve papers upon Isor should he appear on the street. This informal state of litigatory siege, punctuated by attempts upon his life in the form of drive-by shootings, grenade attacks, and one foiled attempt at affixing a Bassarid satchel charge to the underside of the embassy car, was not enough to dissuade Isor from continually attending upon the Imperial Court in Raynor's Keep whilst in the pursuit of various machinations that would culminate in the so-called Cimmerian Affair and his de-facto expulsion from the capital.

On 16.XI.1699, he left his commission as ambassador to Shireroth and returned to Cimmeria with his second wife and youngest children, to take up a commission as governor of Cromswind. He was replaced as ambassador by Atterdag Kolbeinssønn. His journey from a Shirerithian port to the Cimmerian Isles being once again enlivened by the chase on the high seas by corvettes of the Benacian Union that had by now become customary whenever Isor ventured abroad.

Implicated in the Iron Harbour Papers scandal of 1699.

Divorce

Upon settling in in Cromswind, he sent a missive to his first wife, Ayesha al-Osman, through, first Calbain, and then Hurmu diplomatic couriers to the Congress of Chryse, demanding to ascertain the paternity of Isor Osman Isorion Isor and Ardashir Kalir Isorion Isor. Should these boys not be the biological children of Isor Verion, he would not contest the annulment of his marriage to "the whore known as Ayesha", but if they are his biological children, he would fight for custody and for the boys not to ever know the stigma of being bastards. As such, he would contest annulment but agree to divorce. The answer to his missive came a week later, in the form of a somewhat unsettled courier in the employ of the Red Orchid Society carrying a medical icebox. Inside was a lead casket containing two neatly amputated little fingers, and a note which read: "If ever you doubted that they were yours, you could always have checked. Here is your proof. Evaluate as you see fit."

Upon finding his DNA in the little fingers, he and his advisers concluded they belonged to his older set of twins. Appalled at the physical abuse perpetrated by his first wife, he empowered Free Elwynn's ambassador in Shirekeep to empower Shireroth's MTO representative in Chryse to represent him before Ayesha al-Osman's representatives. After a few days of negotiations, the couple's representatives presented an agreement to dissolve (and not annul) their matrimonial union before the Congress of Chryse. The exact details of the agreement are unknown to the outside world but it is known that the children of Isor and Ayesha would have a right to the Verion name and inheritance after Isor, and that they in no jurisdiction would be seen as bastards but as the legitimate issue of their parents. Moreover, the children would be under the undisputed custody of their mother. The divorce was finalized by the Congress of Chryse on 9.XIII.1699, and agreed to by the courts in Cimmeria three days later.

Second Marriage

While still married to Ayesha al-Osman, he took on Aliande, later the 14th Lady Laegel, as a second wife in 1698. This marriage produced a set of twins, Sirithil of Laegel (b. 1699) and Legolas Isorion Verion (b. 1699), and a daughter Zora of Laegel (b. 1702).

Personality

Isor was described as narcissistic yet insecure. He appeared introverted and intelligent. He spoke Istvanistani, Elw, and Martino (with the latter learnt in early adulthood). He did not speak Batavian. Despite not having lived in, or even visited, Elwynn since two months after his birth, he considered himself "culturally Elwynnese", and returned to Cimmeria in 1696.

Longstanding rumour had it that, prior to his first marriage, he had never had a sexual relationship (i.e. is a "virgin"), though he acted like a playboy in night clubs before named Governor of Chryse.