His Honorable Majesty Lord of the Dawn King Semia

As the Wellwarden, Semia enjoyed a prolonged lifespan and nigh-invincibility.

By far, Semia's eyes were his most striking feature.

Semia was born, along with his twin brother Aesaria, in the Dreadhold of Tregaron during a solar eclipse. Shortly after their birth, a sybil declared the next century would be ruled "in dusk and dawn," leading many to speculate if the twins’ birth was an omen.   When their father—the reigning monarch—died, the question of succession boiled down to right over popularity: Semia, the younger brother, was a populist and carried heavy support from the people. His older brother, Aesaria, claimed the throne by birthright but had few supporters. To prevent total civil war, it was agreed the brothers would rule the kingdom in turns every decade. Semia ascended the throne first. The rule continued for 30 years until Semia refused to abdicate to his brother.   When Semia refused to relinquish power, the old guard of the nobility defected to Aesaria's side and the country became gripped by a war of succession known as the Brothers' War. The royal house became split in two, with Semia declaring a new house, House Daybreak, and Aesaria declaring his new house as the House of Night. Between the two brothers, the country was split. Semia's policies were popular, but he didn't have the right of primogeniture. Aesaria had the right of succession, but he wasn't nearly as beloved by the people.  

The Brothers' War

Semia levied his armies from the noblemen that remained loyal to him at court, promising to grant lands to the families that fought for him against Aesaria. The House of Night, backed by its own coalition of noble families, occupied large swaths of the country. Well-provisioned and armed, the House of Night prepared to march on the capital city of Tregaron to remove Semia from power and depose him completely.   An initial skirmish kicked off the true war at Beacon Hill. Semia's United Forces put down a rebellion favoring Aesaria, hanging dozens of men from the tallest tree in the village rather than take on the cost of feeding prisoners of war. Enraged, Aesaria swore his brother's cruelties would be repaid, and he began to mobilize his forces and make his move.   The House of Night won victory after victory on their way to Tregaron, with the tide beginning to turn as more of the nobility turned and joined the House of Night. As Aesaria's army encroached on the capital, it's said that Semia was actually jovial, laughing with the Duke of Rutledge, Lord Hoster, and joking over how long Aesaria expected a siege to last. Unbeknownst his court, Semia had taken up wardenship of the Well of All Souls.   The day Aesaria's army finally reached the city's north gates, Semia was spotted on the parapets of the outer walls. He offered the army one last chance of surrender, noting his brother wasn't even on the battlefield with his men. When the host refused to put down their arms, Semia declared the House of Night ended. It's rumored (though it was never proven) that after this declaration, a single lightning strike killed the commanding general at the head of the center column of the army.   Devastation was said to rain down on the land, with torrential floods turning the road to mud and making it impossible for infantry to move their siege equipment without getting hopelessly stuck. Witnesses stated Semia stood calmly on the parapets, watching and listening. Rumors stated that the deluge and flood was caused by the king himself. It's also said the earth itself swallowed the bodies, siege equipment, and even the horses.   When the last of the army was dead, Semia dispatched a messenger to send his brother a single message: surrender or die. The messenger never returned. Instead, Aesaria's remaining army crumbled and retreated. With that, Semia was declared the true King, Lord of the Dawn, and Protector of Dianera.  

After the War

The ensuing years after the Brothers' War were relatively peaceful. Nobles who had sided with Aesaria had their lands confiscated, and the few houses that remained swore fealty to the Lord of the Dawn. Loyalists were rewarded with these lands: Lord Hoster saw his incomes and lands increase significantly. The decade or so after the War ended was relatively prosperous, until news reached Semia through several spies that his brother was dead, and his coalition was declaring themselves for a new leader: a mysterious heir sired by Aesaria in secret after his defeat.   Semia spent the next year scouring the country for his brother's child to no avail. He resigned himself to waiting for yet another war and rebellion. It's thought that this marked the time Semia began taking multiple mistresses, lavishing attention on them and casting them aside inside of a year. Few lasted longer, but rumors of his treatment of these women didn't dissuade courtiers from throwing their daughters at the king, hoping to catch his eye and favor. A few years into his reign, he declared the creation of the Duelist League, with a yearly tournament held to find a true champion among swordsmen.  

The War of Succession

In secret, Semia had begun to research and then initiate a new "project" called the Champions' Walk, inspired by the Duelist's League. The idea was astonishingly simple: replace the mages and warriors lost during the Brothers' War. Using the Well of All Souls, Semia devised a plan like no other. He would look into other worlds, and claim the strongest among them as his Champions. The Walk followed with magic, science, and labor behind it. Once the other world's warriors were secured, they'd be reborn into Dianera, under his power as quasi-undead "Vori." They'd be forever tied to the Well of All Souls and him as its warden. Then he would wipe out the last of his brother's Coalition and secure his legacy.   The Walk proceeded, with some of the other world's Champions entering as test subjects. As these tests progressed, so did the Coalition's advances in rallying a host. Under cover of night, as tensions rose, several bodies went missing from the Dreadhold's Necrotic Temple where the Well was housed. Enraged, Semia doubled his guard around the Temple and the thefts ceased.   Out of the remaining candidates after the theft, one Champion was activated and awoke in the Necrotic Temple. Seemingly without memory of her past, the Champion was brought before the King and declared his Champion. Not long after, she was sent to train as a Reaver and then given command of a contingent of soldiers to secure Beacon Hill.   By all accounts, the Coalition army was routed, but the loss of the fortress and its strategic location galled the king and the Champion was recalled to the capital. Not long after, he took her for his mistress. While he turned a blind eye to the Champion's own affairs, he sent his forces across Dianera to try and quell potential uprisings. Tensions around the country rose, culminating in the Raid on Tregaron. Semia was slain by the stolen Coalition Champions during the Raid.

Semia was afforded the best education royalty could offer. Private tutors, swordsmen, and mages flocked to the capital to teach the young prince their secrets.

Semia was often perfunctory in his conversations, easily commanding a room of squabbling nobles with only a few words. Once a warning was issued, a second one never followed.

Semia firmly believed in law and order, with violence being its instrument when words failed. Power was the ultimate language to keep the populace under control, and forcing them to recognize his preeminence was deeply intertwined with that.

If anything, Semia knew how to keep the peace in Dianera. Under his reign, rebellions ceased and trade flowed through the country, allowing Dianera to truly grow and come into its own.

Semia was known after the Brothers' War for his brutality in putting down and dissension in his kingdom. Rumors occasionally flitted by that this extended to his personal relationships as well, with some courtesans and mistresses alleging mistreatment and abuse at his hands.

Semia was commanding as leader, often showing impatience towards dithering courtiers. He didn't tolerate failure, and embarrassment was an anathema to him. Victory was always greeted as expected and a natural outcome.   While many courtiers shoved their daughters at him, hoping for a future queen, Semia proved to be calculating and shrewd. His favor never lasted long with women if they were unable to give him an heir. None ever did.

As king, Semia was entitled to the Crown's incomes and wealth.