Emkrik Maldroor

Description

Looming over the political landscape of Varzzen as his empire looms over its eastern mountain ranges, Emkrik Maldroor is an entity of terrifying antiquity and alien origin. Born in the fires of the Willocrags, his perspective is not measured in years or even centuries but in the slow, grinding passage of millennia. To the citizens of Yonghéng Dìguó, he is the Brimstone Emperor, a living god whose grand, draconic chilopodian form is a divine vessel for the holy fire of creation. This image is a meticulously crafted lie, a mask of divinity hiding a creature of singular, unyielding purpose. In truth, Maldroor is a master of deception, a patient manipulator whose power is siphoned from a secret cross-planar pact and whose empire is little more than a grand forge to fuel his ambitions.

His physical presence is in itself an act of intimidation. A true chilopodian of the Willocrags, his muscular torso rises over ten feet, perched atop a twenty-foot serpentine lower body lined with powerful legs, some of which even resemble the reptilian limbs of a dragon. This imposing frame houses a personality just as intense. As a chilopodian, he has outlived countless generations, and this immense lifespan has instilled in him a fundamental belief that all personal relationships will inevitably fade to dust, leaving only one's ideals and determination. He is the ultimate embodiment of this philosophy: a being who once knew profound love but ultimately chose purpose over personhood. Every decision is made with pragmatic cruelty, every individual is weighed as a tool, and every alliance is merely a temporary means to an unguessable, ancient end.

History

Maldroor's story began not on Alvandis but amidst the rumbling volcanoes and lush rainforests of the Willocrags, where draconic Broods held dominion long before Alvandis even came to be. It was there, thousands of years ago, that he formed his singular purpose. Possessed of a cunning mind and unbridled ambition, he delved into the secrets of chaos magic, uncovering the fundamental truth that the focused belief of mortals could be channeled to create gods. He sought out one of Willocrags' most powerful creatures—an ancient, prideful red dragon—and proposed a pact: Maldroor would act as its herald on another world, establishing a faith and cultivating a flock of worshippers whose belief would flow across the cosmos, elevating the dragon to true godhood. In return, the dragon would grant Maldroor a sliver of that deific power, extending his life and might. The pact was sealed, and Maldroor became the high priest and sole beneficiary of a grand lie, a celestial parasite poised to feed his patron just enough to gorge himself on the power it generated.

He arrived on Alvandis hundreds of years before the Age of Order, not as a warlord but as a patient observer. For centuries, he traveled the continent as an adventurer, learning its cultures, its powers, and its weaknesses. It was during this lengthy survey that his singular purpose was unexpectedly called into question. He met Kirsi, a nymphian of necromancy, and over centuries, a genuine and profound love blossomed between them. They became a legendary pair, a perfect synthesis of his fire of life and her command over the cold of undeath. For a time, it seemed his ancient ambition might be tempered by love.

This fragile peace shattered at the dawn of the Age of Chaos. As Arachnida and her Shadewoven forces rose from shattered Taḫūmu, people all over the land sought help from the legendary heroes. When an anthill city was overrun by Shadewoven and their queen was killed, Kirsi and Emkrik defended the formicoids. As a sign of gratitude, these formicoids swore fealty to the duo and in a testament to their bond, they shaped their followers together—Emkrik purifying them into the first fire ants and Kirsi frosting others into the first frost ants.

With his plans finally mature and an army of fire ants at his side, Maldroor revealed his true nature. In horror, Kirsi watched as her beloved turned against the people of Varzzen they had protected for so long. He seized a settlement, declared his divinity, and unveiled his vision for Varzzen: a world united under his unbending, fiery will. He promised Kirsi a world free of the orderly chains of the Radiant Cocoon, but she, whose magic was tied to the respectful quiet of death, saw only the cacophony of endless war and the tyranny of a false god.

With their bond broken beyond repair, their clan of followers fractured. Kirsi fled with her loyal frost ants to the farthest northern reaches of the continent, while a heartbroken but resolute Maldroor, his purpose now unburdened by love, officially founded Yonghéng Dìguó.

Present

For over seven hundred years, through the Age of Chaos, the Age of the Hexagon, and into the current New Age, Emperor Maldroor has ruled. He is the unblinking eye at the center of his empire's storm, a master puppeteer pulling the strings of his nation's faith. He employs grand rituals, such as the "Festival of Revelation," not only to awe his populace but also to actively stoke the fires of their belief, ensuring a steady flow of power through his pact. His council, made of his chilopodian progeny and hand-picked foreign talents, reflects his worldview: a collection of the best tools for the job, their loyalty ensured through power and fear.

His appearance at the recent summit to address the Cuulminakra threat is merely a new chapter in his ancient playbook. He masterfully plays the part of the reasonable statesman, offering the vast resources of his empire for the common good, all while making demands that serve only to legitimize his conquests and further entrench his power.