Affan Cathal
Overview
Affan Cathal was an Ordis Templar whose assassination of Yzmir Phonomancer Peredur Zan in The Asterion palace corridors served as the catalyst for The Three Factions War. After months in hiding, Cathal presented evidence to The Tetrarchy that Zan had used magic to bewitch Basileus Manssur. He ultimately surrendered to end the fighting but was executed by Perjin Zan during armistice negotiations.
Background
During Manssur’s reign, Peredur Zan served as the Basileus’s personal advisor and used his position to openly undermine factions other than Yzmir. Many came to view Manssur as a tyrant comparable to Ayxas. Cathal, with the help of a few sympathizers, assassinated Zan in the palace corridors and fled far from the capital.
The assassination triggered a chain of escalation. The Yzmir demanded that Manssur imprison Ordis officials in The Asterion and surrender Cathal to them. Manssur complied by taking Ordis diplomats and politicians hostage, which in turn prompted The Monolith to leave Arkaster for the first time since its creation and reposition above Caecaster, where the Ordis began mustering troops.
After months in hiding, Cathal appeared before The Tetrarchy to plead his case, presenting evidence that Zan had used his magic and voice to bewitch the Basileus.
Timeline
~288–290 AC - Assassination of Peredur Zan
Cathal assassinated Peredur Zan, personal advisor to Basileus Manssur, in The Asterion palace corridors with the help of sympathizers, then fled the capital. The act triggered the Yzmir to demand imprisonment of Ordis officials and Cathal’s surrender, leading Manssur to take Ordis diplomats hostage.
~290 AC - Testimony Before the Tetrarchy
After months in hiding, Cathal appeared before The Tetrarchy to plead his case, presenting evidence that Peredur Zan had used his magic and voice to bewitch Basileus Manssur.
~290 AC - Surrender and Execution
As Ordis forces lost ground against the combined Bravos and Yzmir armies, Cathal surrendered to secure an armistice. During the subsequent negotiations, Perjin Zan executed him without warning. Bravos General Kelia Mordad, who attempted to intervene, was also killed by Perjin, after which the Bravos turned on Perjin and killed her with arrows.
Relationships
- Kelia Mordad: Bravos General killed by Perjin Zan while attempting to intervene during Cathal’s execution (~290 AC)
- Manssur: Basileus whom Cathal accused of being bewitched by Peredur Zan
- Peredur Zan: Yzmir Phonomancer and advisor to Manssur whom Cathal assassinated in The Asterion palace corridors
- Perjin Zan: Daughter of Peredur Zan who executed Cathal during armistice negotiations (~290 AC)
- The Tetrarchy: Ordis governing body before whom Cathal presented evidence of Zan’s manipulation of the Basileus