Emann Quisling (? - ? PC) was the Emperor of Ergoth from 1817 PC until 1791 PC. Hailing from the Quisling family, who had ruled Ergoth as the successors of the infamous Hellman emperors, Emann proved to be the most prominent of the Quislings in Ergothian history.
Emann was described as a slender man, who in his prime had gray hair; eyes that looked almost silver and bore a black goatee. The emperor was known to be cold, calculating and brutal, as well as lecherous towards women.
Early Life[]
Early in his reign in 1817 PC, Emann was guided and aided by the Black-Robed Mage Caitiff. The dark elven wizard tried to teach Emann the black arts, and helped the corrupt emperor in gaining further power and lands. Through use of the wizard's magic and encouragement, Emann selected a wife for himself, in the form of the young girl Phrygia. When Phrygia was of age, Emann decided to wed her and claim the maiden as his empress in 1812 PC. As he prepared to wed the girl, an assassin plot was revealed which claimed the life of a number of senators and almost that of Emann himself. However the intervention of the warrior Vinas Solamnus and his father Adrenas Solamnus saved the life of the emperor, allowing the assassins to be killed and for Emann to wed Phrygia. For his aid, Emann made Vinas his new praetor, Commander of the Ergothian armies.
Plots and Uprisings[]
The plots against the emperor continued to mar his reign. In 1811 PC, a band of half-elven cutthroats were constantly raiding caravans around Caergoth, and in 1804 PC, Emann's sister was abducted by priests of Takhisis. Both plots were stamped out by Vinas, who defeated the bandits and rescued Emann's sister with the aid of the mage Fistandantilus and some other adventurers.
By 1801 PC, Emann had tired of the rebel uprisings, most of which were being spearheaded by insurgents in Vingaard. The emperor ordered Vinas to lead his army to crush the rebels in Vingaard once and for all. His army left and indeed quelled the rebel uprising, however Vinas and his forces did not return. On learning that his forces had beaten the rebels in 1798 PC, Emann denied Vinas' request to preside over Vingaard and instead sent his grandnephew to govern the region. Vinas had grown tired of Emann's arrogance and corruption and instead mounted his own rebellion, leading the people and his loyal followers against those of the empire.
The Rose Rebellion[]
Emann remained in Daltigoth for the entire time that his forces fought against those of Vinas Solamnus. The emperor allowed Caitiff to manage the empire as his commanders consistently lost ground to Vinas' forces. For as many legions that the rebels defeated, even more surrendered and joined them instead. By 1792 PC, the forces of Vinas Solamnus were at the gates of Daltigoth, prepared to make Emann face justice.
Vinas was lured in the city by a ploy created by the empress, where he fought and killed Phrygia. Emann found his dead wife and Vinas over her, and had his former commander imprisoned. The emperor had Vinas tortured for six months before he had him tried in court by his mage Caitiff and prepared for public execution. In 1791 PC, the supporters of Vinas, freed their beloved hero, and Emann's will was thwarted once again. Within a few short months, the emperor's forces were decimated and even Caitiff was destroyed. Emann fled Daltigoth with a small retinue of retainers, and finally sued for surrender with Vinas. The emperor's missive was received and accepted, and he returned to Daltigoth to rule Ergoth for a short time at the end of his reign. As part of his surrender, he also allowed several Ergothian provinces to be freed from imperial rule and do as they pleased. This allowed for Solamnia to become a free nation, and the Ergothian Empire began its steady decline.
References[]
- Heroes of Defiance, Book 1, p.62-63