1st Shahanshah

V 1 - V 34

To the squabbling nations of Yekare, I gift peace, progress, stability, and development to their people, as they shall soon be my people. To my enemies, I shall smite you in the name of Odion and Beld, and when you have died, I will wipe your stains from the surface of my continent.

- spoken to Emperor Naram-Shin Eriban Urash

Pelegon I Pelegon, sometimes called The Prophet, was the founder of Pelegon and its first Shahanshah. In the Empire, he is revered as the national deity and a figure of worship due to the manner of his death and his lifetime achievements.  

Pelegon I was born to unknown origins, though presumably of low birth. The Imperial Faith claims that he was born under auspicious omens and his childbed was visited by Odion and Beld, though this is likely apocryphal. Some scholars theorize that Pelegon was a Chakchi, as he was known to ride a giant falcon and the Chakchi are known for their falcon husbandry, though this is also purely speculative. If the Prophet himself ever described specifics of his past before meeting Kro, the accounts do not survive. 

The first event of Pelegon's life of undoubted authenticity is his encounter with the Knights of Mel Badhir. Running with a crew of bandits, Pelegon attempted to rob a tavern in a village and was stopped. Humiliated but left alive, Pelegon witnessed the fall of a star which uncovered the ruined citadel of Mel Badhir, which he took as a divine omen. Converting to the Odionic Faith, Pelegon began to proselytize and gather followers. He went on a pilgrimage alone into the Dune Sea, returning with an Anqall which became the mobile capital of his new religious movement.

Pelegon led a campaign of conquest against the various feudal kingdoms of Western Yekare, subjugating them through a combination of military might and divine intervention. When he was crowned Shahanshah in Canithi, Odion Himself descended from on high to adopt Pelegon as his son, thereby granting the Pelegonic lineage’s trademark Purple Eyes and red hair to Pelegon’s descendants. Through this adoption, Pelegon also became an indirect grandson of Deshen. 

Appearance and Character

As a young man, Pelegon was a handsome and well-built man who adorned himself with various bandit's tattoos. He was known as a thief and good-for-nothing, and was widely hated. However, following his turn to faith, he became a devout (some might even say fanatical) worshipper of Odion, praying multiple times per day and leading every battle with a short sermon. 

As his conquests began, Pelegon took to wearing flowing silken robes of blue and grey and had a complex veiled crown forged. He wore necklaces of religious charms and prayer stones which jingled while he walked. His eyes were originally brown, but in one battle he was struck down and his eyes removed by an enemy bannerman. In the first of many interventions by Odion Himself, the God appeared before Pelegon and gave him white eyes imbued with the power of truesight.

As a show of his divinity, Pelegon married Tutankh’deshen III, the final Pharaoh of an independent Dasurkat. Tutankh’deshen became the first Shahanshah-consort while her younger brother, Safhotep VI was crowned Hatya. This granted his dynasty further legitimacy as it now placed his offspring in direct descendance from Deshen through the line of Abuleth.

Pelegon rode to battle atop a giant falcon whose screech could render his enemies deaf.

Pelegon riding his falcon

Divinity

In the Pelegon, Pelegon I is revered as a divine figure. This is for several reasons.

• Pelegon I initiated and led a successful holy war in the name of Odion and Beld
• Through his whole life, Pelegon I was an incredibly devout man, and was rumored to frequently directly commune with the Gods
• Pelegon I was as one of the most powerful sorcerers to ever live, and was capable of legendary feats with his magicks
• His Conquest spared the Elvish realms of Fangardh and Leorbar, places of great holy significance. Such an act was seen as divine
• During his Conquest, he frequently suffered close brushes with death, only to miraculously survive
• Pelegon I did not die, but was rather ascended to the heavens by Odion Himself. This led many in the Pelegonic Empire to view their Emperor as a divine figure, and he is revered almost as a God in the Empire.
• An aparition of Odion appeared at Pelegon's coronation, declaring him His son in whom he was most satisfied
• When Pelegon was blinded in one battle, Odion blessed him with truesight, giving him all white eyes which could see past any deception and magical trick
• Odion visibly marked Pelegon's lineage, giving them violet eyes, and red hair