Commodore Kaiþera Farsailor

Overview
Commodore Kaiþera Farsailor is the current faction leader for The Sea Lords. She is played by Meg Sanders who has invested a massive amount of time and energy into building both the community and culture of her faction. Having joined the Weekend Warrior staff for their third year, she jumped into the game with extraordinary energy and imagination. As of 2021 she remains in charge of the "salt folk" and is beloved by all.

Character Background
Kaiþera "Farsailor" Saelithend, (Pronounced “Kie-thee-rah”) is the sister to Commodore Torvin Saelithend, and captain of the fastest ship in the Sea Lord naval forces.

The second child and only daughter of Alandros II, Earl of Throi and his wife, Lithuain, Kaiþera had the heart and disposition of a lioness from a young age. Growing up in the court of her father, her quick words and flashes of temper often landed her in trouble, and her gentle mother worried about her daughter adjusting to the settled life she was headed for. Unfortunately Lithuain would be unable to change this course as, when Kaiþera was only 13 years of age, she died of a terrible fever. The young girl's brother, Torvin, was at sea learning the ways of a Sea Lord, and Kaiþera begged her father to allow her to do the same. With his own hand, Alandros taught her everything he knew of the sea, the shore, the stars, and the great maps in his study. She took to his instruction at once, and soon became an accomplished sailor. Kaiþera loved sailing around Olaran with her father, but her heart always yearned for wider oceans and further shores. Her father’s maps still had white edges beyond their borders, and she knew there was more to the world than they revealed. She grew more restless by the day, and her father worried that her fiery spirit would cause damage to herself or others if left contained in his castle.

On her twenty first birthday, Alandros fulfilled her greatest wish by giving her the fleet’s swiftest vessel, the Atalanta, and allowing her to take it on her first voyage of exploration. With a small, hand-picked crew of both new and seasoned sailors, she sailed off at dawn on the wine-dark sea, seeking uncharted shores. After a year of travel and adventure, she returned home with wondrous treasures (and stories that most did not believe). She did not stay long in Throi, however, and was off again before she had been in the castle a month. For the next five years she was gone more than she was home, and the sight of the Atalanta cruising into port became rare.

She attended her brother’s ceremonial reception as he took on the title of Earl of Throi and First Sea Lord from her father when Alandros II retired from the sea. She made her longest stay at this time - assisting her brother as he grew the Sea Lord navy and supporting him in the face of the growing unease that this development caused at the court of Olaran. But not even her love for her family could keep her long on shore, and she set off again as soon as she was able.

The Autumn Feast - (1117 YL)
Commodore (then Captain) Kaiþera was not present during the events that unfolded during the Autumn feast and the death of King Osiric. Word of the monarchs assassination reached her only when she came back to Thriese, nearly two years after his demise and the coronation of his son, King Randar.

The Ithacus Campaign (Late 1118 - Early 1119)
Kaiþera had barely returned from this voyage when word reached her from her brother of the search for the Sword of Hope. She loaded the Atalanta with reinforcements and supplies, and set off to find Torvin and the rest of the Olar forces. After a swift voyage, she arrived at the Sea Lord encampment in Ithacus just after the great battle and division had split these forces into their own, isolated factions. In the battles that followed (some of which she started), she lent her courage and ferocity to the Sea Lords, and was often to be found at the front of the battle lines, or facing down foes in single-combat.

When the newly brokered and tenuous truce between the factions allowed for the expedition to return to Olaran, she set sail with her brother and the rest of the fleet. Straightforward, loyal, and fiercely independent, she suddenly found herself in the midst of intrigue. The shifting political shoals beneath her keel made her wary of all others, save her own Sea Lords. Always ready for a fight, she kept her weapons even closer.

The Battle of the Thornwood (1120 YL)
A few months after their arrival home, a gathering of the Thrones' Council and representatives from each of the factions met to address Duke Killian's claim for regency in the absence of the king. Kaiþera took command of the Sea Lords as her brother took his place with the council. She was also reunited with a childhood friend, Lord Vannever, the High Chancellor of Olaran, and there were several rumors of the two exchanging flirtatious banter during that time. Unfortunately things took a turn for the worse when Killian's bid for regency was not only denied, but he was put on trial for treason and was ousted from his title as Duke and leadership of The Hearth-Guard, being forced to join The Order of Luminos. This shocking turn of events caused tensions to rise between all present, and it was with a racing mind that the Captain slept that night.

Her fears proved true the next day when the Rangers, led by Captains Arquus and Calloway, kidnapped her brother when the Earl suggested a re-negotiation of the contract between King Alirion and the First Sealord with King Randar currently out of the picture. Though all her sense wanted to rush to save her brother, Kai chose to withdraw her troops to better prepare for the battles to come, a tactic which gave her the advantage in the start of The Battle of the Thornwood. Seeing a kindred spirit in Commander Tove Mørkulv, she allied herself with the Hearth-Guard who were enraged by the Duke's forced penance and wished to right what they deemed as a great wrong done to their former leader.

The battle lasted two days, during which much Olar blood was shed on both sides. However, to Kai's great happiness, Torvin was rescued and revenge dealt to Rook of the Rangers and Justicar Marrius Rayne when they were captured in the early stages of the battle. While no side could claim a full victory, a rift in the kingdom had become evident. To add fuel to the fire, the High Priest of Luminos was assassinated with many mutterings of a Ranger and Kingsmen conspiracy. The Arch-Deacon Hagios the Humble of the Church of Luminos called for a year's peace to be held in honor of the deceased high priest and all parties begrudgingly agreed, though planning to reconvene and address the growing concerns of an already tumultuous kingdom.

Kaiþera returned to Thriese with her brother, and helped him set the Sea Lord navy in order. Torvin quickly found the task too much with his other duties, and gave Kaiþera sole command of the navy - naming her Commodore of the Fleet. Kaiþera took the position with great reluctance, but her dislike for paperwork was outweighed by her sense of duty. Under her command, the fleet has already gained a new ship - the Zradnar, captained by Bruciper Alanon, an old friend and trusted comrade of the Commodore. More Sea Lord recruits flock to the ports with every tide, and Kaiþera is confident that the Sea Lord forces can withstand whatever weather the winds of fate blow her way.

Personality and Traits
Kaiþera is known as a fierce warrior and strong willed leader, as well as one if not the best sailor in all of Olaran. Her courage is second to none and her loyalty to her people is shown in her charging into battle alongside them. Those who do not know her well might consider her to be to unrefined, but beneath her harsh exterior she feels deeply for people, most especially her family. Those who know her well know she enjoys good food, better company, and she knows almost all the sea shanties of the known world.

Her increase in authority over the past years has changed her from the cheerful, devil-may-care sailor she once was, and she is less light-hearted now than formerly. She has had to learn to use her wits and wisdom as much as her weapons, and she speaks less openly and trusts fewer people than she did in former days.

The greatest achievements of this ever wandering seafarer are her contributions to the expansion of the knowledge of her people. It is said Kai has seen more coastline than any one person in Adrasil, and she has charted them all for use of the Sea Lords to expand their operations into bountiful waters. In addition to these skills she deadly with a glaive and a well seasoned warrior. Under her command the Sea Lord navy has grown considerably, adding many skilled sailors to its ranks.

Relationships
Killian Staghunter (fmr. Duke of Lannock) - Although Kaiþera respects Killian's fighting prowess and leadership in battle, she is skeptical of his ambition, fearing that he would do whatever he needs to take the throne. She hopes that his new life in the Order is true repentance for his past treason, but she is skeptical, and worries that it might be another play at power in Olaran.

Commodore Torvin, Earl of Throi -  Kaiþera is a staunch supporter of her brother Torvin, and though she is willing to give him a hard time in private (as siblings do), she would die, or kill, for him without hesitation.

Commander Tove Mørkulv - Though they have fought against each other in the past, Kaiþera respects Tove immensely, and enjoys spending time with her, whether in the fighting ring or over a mug of mead. She thinks that the Hearth-Guard are much better off under Tove's leadership than Killian's, and would consider Tove the closest thing she has to a friend in another faction. Though she knows Tove would always put the Hearth-Guard's interests first, she believes that she can trust the fierce warrior as long as the two factions' interests coincide.

Commander Rook Calloway - Kai thinks Rook is an absolute laugh, and enjoys trading jests with the Ranger. However, she also believes there is more to him than meets the eye, and does not trust his façade of loveable tomfoolery. She would lay a heavy bet that much of his actions are a front for some other plan, and she keeps a weather eye on him at all times

Commander Arquus - Though Kaiþera has never personally interacted with the Ranger Commander, she will never forget that it was Arquus who held his dagger to her brother's throat during the negotiations before the Battle of the Thornwood.

Justicar Marrius Rayne -  Kaiþera is extremely wary of the Kingsmen in general, and Marrius in particular. The orderly piety of the Kingsmen makes her squeamish, and she believes that Marrius, despite his friendly appearance, is as power-hungry as she considers most of the Kingsmen leadership. Despite this, she cannot help liking the Justicar, and hopes that she is mistaken about his ambition for total Kingsmen control of Olaran.

Lord Vannever, the High Chancellor of Olaran: Kaiþera and Vannever knew each other as children, when Kaiþera's mother sent her to stay with Vannever's family (who were old friends of hers) for several summers in hopes that the young lad would have a softening effect on her wild daughter. Much to her mother's distress, Kaiþera seemed to influence Vannever rather than vice versa. After meeting again at the time of the Throne's Council, Kaiþera was rather struck by her old friend's dignity (and handsome appearance), and word down on the Thriesian docks is that Kaiþera's mother's dearest ambition may still have a chance at success... eventually.