Talus Kahar XIV

Emperor of Fastheld until mid-625 ATA (After the Aegis)), when Talus Kahar XIV voluntarily abdicated the throne after he was found by a search party in the Wildlands beyond the Aegis. He gave up the crown because the dragon known as the Ravager and He Who Destroys had taken him to the Shadow-Touched realm beyond the great wall.

He felt that he would be unable to effectively rule the people of Fastheld if many of them considered him a puppet of Shadow magic. So, he left the region in the control of Regent Oren Nillu and the Imperial Council until such time as the Emperor's son, Talus Kahar XV, could assume power.

His abdication of the throne came after losing his wife, the Empress Freia Seamel to a Wildling attack in Aegisport, and nearly losing his son in the year 624 ATA. This was the same year he sparked controvery by trying to strike a bargain with Faeyd and the Luminary to track down She Who Protects, a creature sought by the Wildlings. Chancellor Alieron Mikin tried to lead a revolt against the Emperor, but was thwarted and imprisoned.

After his departure from Fastheld, Talus Kahar XIV established the Wildlands town of Crown's Refuge, north and west of the walled realm along the river.

His brother, Serath Kahar, is presumed dead after a battle with Black Wildlings while hunting for the missing Emperor beyond the Aegis.

Sahna Nillu and a second expedition found the Emperor in Crown's Refuge after the attempted assassination of the Regent. They urged him to return to Fastheld to prevent civil war among the noble houses.

He did so, but with some noteworthy actions upon his return. First, he declared Crown's Refuge a protectorate of Fastheld. Second, he announced that he would take Lady Ashlynn Birch - a commoner elevated to the social rank of baronet - as his new Empress. This generated some controversy, including a public statement by Sahna Nillu opining that Ashlynn shouldn't be Empress, but could be considered a Royal Consort.

The Emperor took Sahna Nillu to task for taking such matters public without first talking to him. When she proved without remorse for such maneuvering, Talus Kahar XIV felt he had no choice but to dismiss her from service to the Crown. During the plague of 626, Talus Kahar XIV was unfortunate enough to catch this disease - due to his Kahar's curse of a low physical endurance, especially for illness, he succumed to it a few days later. This unfortunately left the realm without Emperor, making the Council become its official rulers and later leading to the Dark Feather Insurrection where Zolor Zahir became Emperor of Fastheld.