Rayden Belesarious

Rayden Arunsun Rex Belesarious, Ph.
State Archives Photo.
Born	4 March 2091 Beldaburo Castle, Sel Aran Mathmedi Prefecture, Tritemma Province, Antara
Died
Occupation	Politician
Praetor of Antara
In office 1 July 2113 - Present
Preceded by	Cassio Loren Rex Belesarious
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Rayden Arunsun Rex Lord Belesarious, PhD GCW KC OC OM, born 4 March 2091 and christened Rayden Arunsun Emthoro Balthier Rex Belesarious on 10 March 2091, is the eighth and current Praetor of Antara. Through this role, he exercises power as head of state and head of government of the Antaran State. He is also State Commander-in-Chief of the Munitorum Antara, and foremost of the Adamantine Lords of the Adamantine Order.

In formal text, his full mode of address is His Dominion Excellency Doctor Rayden Arunsun Rex Lord Belesarious, GCW KC OC OM, Praetor of Antara.

His honor name in Via Vesica is Lord Avo Bleda.

When referred to in secure communications, his callsign is Golden Lion.

Life

Youth

Rayden Belesarious was born on 4 March 2091 at Beldaburo Castle in the Sel Aran Mathmedi Prefecture of Tritemma Province, to Vahn and Mira Belesarious. He is the oldest of four children, with a younger brother ( Raddik, born 19 June 2092), and two younger sisters - Lorna, (born 1 November 2093), and Einara (born 8 October 2094). His paternal grandfather was the late Cassio Belesarious, who preceded him as Praetor and whose term he succeeded. He is also the great-great-grandson of the legendary Vetrello Belesarious, remembered by history as the Iron Praetor.

Blood of the powerful House of Belesarious, young Rayden benefitted from the finest that the world had to offer. He ate three solid meals a day, wore the best clothes, and was given the best education. He was taught from an early age the dignity, bearing, and discipline of a member of his family. But he was likewise pushed to heights even upper class children do not have to surmount, and expected to perform to a degree that some would consider harsh or extreme.

Young Rayden entered the Tritemma Elite Boy's Academy, the finest private school for boys in the province, on 1 September 2096. Throughout his years there he excelled in his studies, demonstrating early on a love for history and writing and a natural gift for physical activity. He wrote several extensive papers on a variety of historical subjects of interest during his secondary years.

During his years as a teenager, Rayden was active in the Antaran Youth. He worked extensively in the programs of the Youth, and was quickly recognized as a promising young leader figure.

During his secondary schooling years at the Tritemma Elite Boy's Academy, Rayden was for his last three years there President of the Student Society and deputy chairman of the Historical League, which every school year put on one performance every two months (4 every year) where they re-enacted a famous scene from Antaran history. Rayden himself is a near-legend at the academy now for his performance of Emperor Abron Mar Vastano in the play A Tragedy in Blood, A Requiem in Gold.

Starting in his mid teenage years and continuing to this day, Rayden maintained a vigorous physical fitness routine, and to this day has a very powerfully broad-shouldered, very well-muscled physique. He maintains a rigorous exercise regimen and is very particular about what he eats.

Praetor Belesarious, shirtless on a warm summer day, showing the formidable physique he is well-known for. The photo is edited, concealing his artificial right hand and forearm.

Rayden graduated from Tritemma Elite Boy's Academy on 31 May 2107 with a perfect 4.0 GPA and was one of the three valedictorians in his graduating class of 149 people. Rayden spent the next two years attending the University of Tritemma, where he received his bachelor's degree in economic science with a secondary in business administration. He was inducted into the Quill & Dagger Society, the "secret society" of the university, of which he is still an active member, as all graduates who are members have the option of being. He currently serves the Society as its Venerable Patron.

Military Service

After graduation from the University of Tritemma on 15 May 2109, Rayden joined the Dominion Navy and went into the Legio Classis Antara (called naval infantry by some nations) on 1 June 2109. He completed basic training on 31 August 2109 and was assigned to the First Fleet with the Black Sword Legion. He became instructor-certified in Echani, the military martial arts style unique to Antara, and also certified Grade 5 Marksman.

Belesarious was assigned to the Black Sword Legion based out of Bamz Amschend and served with the legion's Skybreaker battalion. In late February 2110, Rayden followed the unit's tradition, and had the Skybreaker lion wreathed in lightning tattooed on his left inside forearm. This ritual, which only those who serve in the company for at least six months can undertake, is called a Skybreaker's "marking".

On 8 March 2110, Black Sword was called up to assist in a series of interdiction operations that the Navy was running off the coast, where several cruisers and destroyers were searching for a trio of rogue cargo ships which were reported to be running illegal weapons to black market contacts in surrounding nations. The cargo ships had been on the loose for several months, but the Navy spotted them in international waters of the southern Hussian coast and sent ships to deal with them.

The Skybreakers were assigned aboard the heavy cruisers ANS Llene and ANS Darkknell. During its search circuit near the Diamondhead Cove of the northern Torentine coast, the Llene spotted one of the ships. Turning to intercept, it ordered the cargo ship to heave to for inspection. When it refused, the Llene pursued and fired several warning shots. The captain ordered the Skybreakers to prepare for an underway boarding - they were to board the ship while it was in motion and take control. While the Llene traded fire with machine gunners on the deck of the cargo ship, the Second Platoon was sent to board the ship while its lookouts were distracted. Their camoflagued boats snuck up and the soldiers climbed up the side of the ship onto the main deck.

Over the course of the next hour, the Lions moved through the ship and subdued all opposition, killing only those who fired upon them first. While helping to secure the engine compartment, Rayden was shot in the shoulder by a man who he in turn shot and killed. With a wounded shoulder, Rayden was forced to shoot and kill three more men on the ship, two of whom had one of his platoon-mates pinned down while the Antaran was laying against a wall with a bullet in his leg.

After returning to the Llene, Rayden spent the trip home in the infirmary. The ship's doctor was able to repair the damage with a painstaking, two-hour-long surgery. The bullet had damaged no bone, but had come dangerously close to doing so. The doctor repaired the damaged tendons and passed him on to the fleet hospital at the Llene's home port of Bamz Amschend for additional care. There, he and his platoon-mates were greeted by Commodore Erlith Bonbadol. Rayden was presented the Silver Wound Badge for his injuries and the Order of the Knight's Cross for saving his friend's life.

After three weeks of vigorous therapy, Rayden was proclaimed fit for duty again and returned to the Ghost Lions. In October of 2110, the Skybreakers were dispatched from Bartolomeo Fortress to the border of the Marcal Territory to provide border defense when civil war broke out in Kelshvir. While there he would take part in three different major border actions, the largest being the Battle of Ton Falk, in which 500 Marines held off nearly 5,000 Red Kelsh troops until White Kelsh forces came up from their other side and trapped them. Ton Falk lasted for a total of 93 hours, with Rayden being awake and in combat for 71 of the 93 hours. Rayden would receive the Golden Wound Badge after being injured by mine shrapnel when one of his friends stepped on a "bouncing boomer" a mere thirty feet away during the Battle of Regdio in January 2111. During Regdio, his right forearm was crushed under a military vehicle that rolled on top of it after being blown over by an explosion, forcing doctors to remove his right hand and all of his forearm just two inches below his elbow. Managing to free himself from this to rescue an injured comrade from a mine blast at Regdio earned him the crossed swords to his Knight's Cross.

Orosea Belesarious.

Returning from Kelshvir and Marcal in late February 2111, young Rayden spent the remainder of his service at Bamz Amschend, where like several of his colleagues began advance studies into his economics M.S. and beyond. He had to juggle his studies with the surgeries to construct him a prosthetic to replace his lost forearm and hand, which he received in April of 2111. Made for him by the prosthetic specialists working in the mechanical units of the SDED, it is a work of micro-mechanical art, being delicate enough to grip an ink pen or a sheet of paper but strong enough to hold a weapon or lift a heavy object. It moves as realistically as a normal hand, despite its obvious mechanical construction. To this day, he wears a heavy black leather gauntlet over the prosthetic, and seldom shakes hands. He is able to write and type with the hand, and everyone around him pays it no mind, considering it as natural as his actual arm had been.

Recognized for his leadership and bravery, he was officially made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion on 7 September 2111, along with six other members of the Ghost Lions. His leadership during the conflict in Marcal, especially at Ton Falk, also earned him the Order of Corono, a military order established by the first Praetor to recognize strong leadership. His service also saw the addition of the diamonds to his Knight's Cross for his bravery and his battle injuries at Ton Falk. He would finally depart active service on 22 November 2111 after two years and four months of service, with the rank of Sub Colonel.

At Epoxague Gardens.

While in the Navy, Rayden married his long-time beloved, Orosea Flavia, on 9 May 2111, in a ceremony at Thelsarai Temple. His best man was Talon Durla, his honor entourage were Tirion Fordring, Arden Desann, and Farid Banjeer. After the marriage rituals were completed, the newlywed couple rode off together in a carriage drawn by four purebred white Antaran stallions, and seen off by friends and family from both sides, as well as several representatives of the Order and military. She was clad in a magnificent dress of the finest white silk with the veils and headpiece of a newlywed lady, and he was dressed in the gleaming armor of an officer, complete with goritar and the blood-red bordered white cape of a nobleman officer. As of their anniversary in 2116, the couple had four children, all sons, named Emthoro Oreyn, Torhan Armand, Garolin Pelagius, and Balthier Terric Belesarious.

Recent Life

After leaving the Navy, Rayden spent the next few years working with his father at Belesarious Industries. He was attached to his father's office, and worked as an office administrator. On 9 February 2112, while in university, he was chosen as the new Guardian of Aetherium. He would only serve in this post for a little more than a year, but during that time, his grandfather saw to it he was exposed to the inner workings of the Order and its chapters. While working with the family business, he returned to the University of Tritemma and furthered his education, earning his M.S. degree in December 2111. He continued his education past that point, and in December of 2112 was granted his PhD in Business Law. He wrote his dissertation, a 231-page work that took nearly six months to complete, on the correlations between military strength and economic stability, titling it Business & War - The Importance Of & Relations Between Economic Strengths & Military Supremacy.
During this time, Rayden also was heavily involved in missionary efforts through the Arkanite Temple. Continuing what he had begun as a teenager, he traveled to two separate continents and provided both physical and intellectual support to missionary efforts in the lands he visited. He contributed money to missionaries who were juggling both their witnessing efforts and family troubles such as illness or loss, and was author of a paper which championed the importance of missionary work to the Arkanite faith and its spread. He was also formally recognized as a Baron of the Dominion on 12 June 2113 - the last time his grandfather was seen in public before his death - in a ceremony alongside Talon Durla and Arden Desann.
Since his youth, Belesarious has been a student of the ancient combat art of Djem So. While one may see him and assume that he is unarmed, he is, in fact, not. Specially-designed holsters keep a brevia vesica - the Antaran shortblade - concealed in each sleeve of his Adamantine Lord robes. These holsters are worn on his arms and hidden easily by the voluminous sleeves. A single specific gesture will drop the blades into his hands at a split second notice. He regularly duels Djem So with Tarken Jeratai.

Praetor Belesarious is known to be an extremely private man. As with all men who have held the Praetorian Throne, he leads a life that is kept concealed from the public and the world at large. He is known for being very reclusive and distant, and has adopted a classical posture of ruling Antara largely from behind the scenes, despite the very open and pervasive nature of his absolute power over Antara and all within it. As with himself, his wife maintains a very strong sense of privacy about her person, despite her being the public face upon the Praetorian family and also as a very prominent member within the Antaran opera community. He is fiercely devoted to his wife and his children, and is protective of all of them.
Within the circles who know him, the young Praetor is a very particular man. He rises every morning at high five, exercises between then and high five-forty-five, and has his toilet and wardrobe tended by high six, at which time he has his morning meal. He is in his office by high seven, and remains there until appearing at the Temple of the One at high eight for devotional hour, returning to his office precisely at high nine. He has his afternoon and evening meals at precisely noon and low six, respectively. He retires every evening at low nine, spending between low six to his retiring hour with his wife before they retire for the evening. Unless one of them is away on businesss, they have all of their meals together. Saturdays and Sundays are spent with his wife.
Despite his privacy, Belesarious is known for certain tastes he has. He deeply enjoys Classical Antaran music, his favorite wine is Exern 1973, and he is a devoted patron of the Antaran opera community, holding one of the very few permanently reserved private booths at the Cedelphia Opera House. Since shortly after departing military service, he has been a member of the Order of Craftmasons, and is a strong supporter of their work. Every year he donates considerable sums to their overseas health, education and nutrition efforts. He goes pheasant and deer hunting during the autumn season, has an admirable collection of antiques - including an astrolabe and sextant from the thirteenth century, a fourteenth century surgical tool set in a glass-lidded case and a ninth century musket - and has a personal book collection that numbers approximately 14,091 books (of which 5,000 alone fill the shelves of the Praetorian Office at Serenno, the remainder fill the shelves of the library at Epoxague). He also has a collection of antique weaponry, including swords, spears, halberds, daggers, and axes.

Praetor of Antara

His grandfather Cassio served as Praetor of Antara from 14 December 2072 until 27 June 2113, when he died unexpectedly from a severe stroke at the age of 74. After the state funeral was over and he was laid to rest, the Senate summoned young Rayden to complete his grandfather's term. He was formally installed Praetor on 1 July 2113 in a dignified ceremony in the Rotunda of Serenno Palace. Two days later, on 3 July, he named Galen Umbacano his Proconsul, Talon Durla First Administrator, Tirion Fordring Grand Inquisitor and Arden Desann Lord Privy Seal.
Belesarious is cunningly manipulative of politicos and overly ambitious bureaucrats - both foreign and domestic - and has demonstrated repeatedly his charismatic talents, and also that he is tough and unafraid to do what he feels is right. Many will describe the young Praetor as thoughtful and quiet, but those who know him are keenly aware of the razor-sharp mind and ruthless drive which make him a much more dangerous man than he may readily appear to be. Given his youth, he could very well become the longest-ruling leader in Antaran history. True to tradition, he is distant and reclusive from the front lines of Antaran government, and it is common knowledge that if you want to see him, you have to go through one of two people - his Lord Privy Seal, Arden Lord Desann, or his Steward, Talen Baron Lupentramme. As an Odessan diplomat once commented to other ambassadors during the May Day parade of 2118, when Belesarious was spotted ascending the observation balcony of Serenno Palace from the ambassadorial stands on Palace Avenue, "This is as close as any of us gets to Belesarious."

Praetor Belesarious' style in full (which will likely only be used at his funeral) is His Dominion Excellency Doctor Rayden Arunsun Rex, Praetor of the Dominion of Antara, Primus of the Senatorum Antara, State Supreme Commander of the Munitorum Antara, Erus Adamantine Primo of the Adamantine Order, Supreme Governor of the Ecclesiarchy, Hereditary Grand Duke of the Province of Tritemma, Baron of the Dominion, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of the White Lion, Recipient of the Order of the Knight's Cross with Crossed Swords, Oakleaves, and Diamonds, Recipient of the Order of Corono, Recipient of the Order of Merit.

Epoxague Manor.

Signature of Rayden Lord Belesarious.

Rock.

Praetor Belesarious typically spends his weekends with his wife and family. His favorite companion, his Antaran Dane Rock, is with him wherever he goes between his home and the capital. Since reaching his majority, the young Praetor has owned his own mansion-estate, known as Epoxague, located ten miles north of Ormpetarr in the small luxury valley village of Varykino. He is also said to frequent a set of private chambers he has at Samanao Tower, which he is rumored to own. He is also one of only seven people who has the privelige of being seated whenever he shows up at the Manarai - Cedelphia's most elegant restaurant - where you have to book your table up to six months in advance.

Even if he were not Praetor, making public appearances, it wouldn't be hard for an Antaran to tell where Rayden Belesarious was from. He has the strong cut-glass accent with the distinctive roll to the letter "r" that is typical of a Tritemman, but the distinctive manner of his enunciation - in Upper Received - sets him apart as a well-educated and aristocratic man. If speaking in Ingliz (which he does very rarely), he will tell of the "citay" instead of the "citee", of doing his "dutay" instead of his "dutee". Add to this his deep baritone and one has a very unique tone that makes his speeches interesting to listen to, some foreigners say.

Honors & Achievements

Education

2107 Graduate (valedictorian), Standard Education, Tritemma Elite Boy's Academy
2109 Graduate (valedictorian), BS, Univeristy of Tritemma
2109 Graduate (honors), Marine General Training
2110 Graduate (honors), Naval War Academy
2111 Graduate (valedictorian), MS, University of Tritemma
2112 Graduate (valedictorian), PhD, University of Tritemma

Major Awards & Decorations

Baron of the Dominion

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion
Knight Brother of the Order of the Companions of Honor
Order of the Knight's Cross w/ Oakleaves, Crossed Swords & Diamonds
Order of Corono

Order of Turis

Antaran Bloodstripe

Professional Memberships & Achievements

Ph.D. of Business Law

Antaran Legion Life Member
Military Order of the Knight's Cross
Tritemma Valedictorian Society
Venerable Patron of the Quill & Dagger Society

Other Achievements

Praetor's Thanks
Kelshvir Commemoration Cuff Title

Master Paratrooper Wings

Echani Expert, Instructor Certified
Grade 5 Marksman
HALO / LALO Certified

Publications

Business & War - The Importance Of & Relations Between Economic Strengths & Military Supremacy - 2112
Behind the Curtain - The Great Houses in Antaran History - 2113
Claws of the Lion - Antaran Military History - 2113
Soul of the Lion - Antaran Cultural History - 2113
A History of the Antaran-Speaking Peoples - Book 1 - 2114 (to be a 5-book series)
A History of the Antaran-Speaking Peoples - Book 2 - 2117
A History of the Antaran-Speaking Peoples - Book 3 - 2120

Famous Quotes

Honor, strength, determination...these are the ways to attain peace. Freedom and its subsequent price comes only to those who fight for it. Arm yourselves with the sword of righteous fury, and don the armor of justice, and strike down the oppressors without pity in your heart. Then and only then will your house preside over the illustrious prize of peace.

• Praetor Rayden Belesarious, during his speech to the Spring 2114 graduating class of Marine General Training.

The doom of a nation can be averted only by a storm of flowing passion, but only those who are passionate themselves can arouse passion in others.

• Praetor Rayden Belesarious, speaking on the importance of patriotism and the power of motivation in leadership.

I am the State. I suggest you get that fact straight before you deal with us again.

• Praetor Rayden Belesarious.

Data Card

• Full Name
  • Rayden Arunsun Balthier Emthoro Rex Belesarious
• Birth Date
  • 4 March 2091
• Birth Sign
  • The Lord
• Height
  • 6 ft 5 in (195.58 cm)
• Weight
  • 245 lbs (111.36 kg)
• Hair Color
  • Jet black
• Eye Color
  • Dark Brown
• Blood Type
  • O+

Trivia

• He is the youngest man to hold the post of Praetor of Antara.
• He shares his birthday - 4 March - with the legendary Beyon Corono, the First Praetor of Antara. He was born on the 339th anniversary of the first Praetor's own birth.
• Alongside his great-great grandfather Vetrello Belesarious, he is thus far one of only two Praetors to hold the prestigious Order of Corono.
• He can fluently speak nine different languages, not including his native Antaran or the Ancient Antaran dialect.
• He is an active member of the Craftmasons.
• He enjoys playing the card game Cazaak, and does so on a regular basis with his two preferred partners - Halaster Brandei and Galen Umbacano. He also plays Tongo with Tirion Fordring and Talon Durla and a few others.
• His behind-the-scenes manipulation of world affairs has often seen him compared to a Dejarik grand master. Coincidentally, he is an avid player of that ancient game, and holds the rank of Grand Master. His regular partner for the game is Tirion Fordring.
• Since his secondary school years, his close friends have called him by the nickname "Big Cat". This has since also become his wife's private nickname for him. His siblings also are fond of calling him by this nickname.

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Praetors of Antara

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Beyon Corono  |  Antonin Jerjerrod  |  Ranulph Seerdon  |  Osvald Teshik  |  Revan Onasi  |  Vetrello Belesarious  |  Cassio Belesarious  |  Rayden Belesarious