Viktor I Kroon

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Appearance and Character

Viktor was a softly spoken, emphatic, and wise ruler. His first priority was always the safety of his people. And when he became king, he never let the title consume him, instead opting for fairness and forgiveness. Viktor worked hard his entire life. The few moments he had for himself he spend enjoying his favourite dish, fresh tuna, or painting.

Viktor had long black hair, a trimmed down beard, and a strong physique. As a captain, he wore his signature blue trenchcoat, which he even donned as a king afterward, complementing the Starcrown.

History

Early life
Viktor Kroon was born in the year 26 BS (1557 Outsideryear) in the small town of Ridderkerk. Viktor’s earlier life was marked by the tragedies of the Eighty Years’ War. His mother died of illness in the year 13 BS, and his father left to fight for the Union of Utrecht, eventually losing his life in 5 BS at the Battle of Baasrode.

Not having anyone left to care for him, he left his hometown of Ridderkerk behind at the age of fifteen and started to work at the port in Rotterdam. Despite the war raging on, he worked hard every day as a shipyard labourer. In his third year, Captain Johannes recruited him to his ship.

In the years that followed, he sailed from coast to coast, but also worked tirelessly in the port of Rotterdam, forging alliances and meeting people from all over the city. He became beloved among the citizens of Rotterdam, naming him the Soothing Sailer.


The Captain of Rotterdam
In the year 7 BS, his friend and mentor – Captain Johannes – drowned after a drunken night. Viktor was tasked to take over his position on the Herringshark ship, giving him the title of the Herringshark Captain. People from the city, and from the port, began following him as their leader, looking up to him for hope and prosperity.

Years of unrest followed. Viktor was hardened by the news of his father’s death, and the war was closing in on them. In the year 1 BS, news had reached the capital of the Netherlands – Amsterdam – that the Prince of Orange had fallen in battle. Captain Viktor, who was in the capital to supply goods, quickly hurried back to the port of Rotterdam. There, he rallied his people, vowing the entire fleet would depart within a week and carry them all to safety.

In desperation, thousands flocked to the harbour. Long lines stretched across the city as citizens waited to board the overloaded ships, placing their faith in his promise of a new land.

They sailed for months, concurring the restless seas. Many people starved, while others cast themselves into the sea in desperation. And storms raged ceaselessly, claiming hundreds more. One endless night, they braced for the worst. Captain Viktor tried to save them, but even he couldn’t protect everyone. At his darkest moment, when all hope seemed lost, he looked to the heavens and pleaded for the storm to pass. That’s when he first lay eyes upon the holy Seven Stars.

He followed the stars and at last, found land. Viktor marvelled at the bright shores of this colourful new world, where the water was as blue as the sky and the flowers bloomed in a sea of red and pink. The air brimmed with possibility. There, he declared a new home for his people: Hollandos. A name inspired by the land they sailed from and the people who had endured so much, the Original Settlers.


First years of Hollandos
Together with the settlers, he journeyed south and built a city called Herringtide. Some of his people ventured even further, forming villages along the western shore. As Viktor flourished with his people in Herringtide, celebrating the one year anniversary of Hollandos, he met a woman named Laurentyne. They married shortly after in a beautiful ceremony that united everyone.

As the years passed, it became clear that Herringtide could no longer sustain the growing population. Thus, in the fifth year of their settling, Viktor searched once more for a new beginning. After weeks of wandering, he found a great lake. He knelt, ran his hand through the grass, and knew this was the place: perfect for trade, fishing, even a mighty port. It was there he founded the capital, Amstos, the heart of their new world.

The walls rose high and gathered thousands of people. Herringtide, too, thrived, and the western villages blossomed. Viktor felt like he was on top of the world as his people flourished. Yet, tension arose. There was conflict over livestock, food, and wealth. People turned to Viktor as a leader, and not for Amstos alone, nor for Herringtide, but for all of Hollandos.

On the 17th of November, year 7 AS, the day of his coronation, the Seven Stars blazed above. The people watched in awe as the holy light shone upon him. And from the heavens, the sacred Starcrown formed upon Viktor’s head. A crown with seven mighty points, each stretching towards the sky, set with gemstones echoing the colours of those holy stars: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink. A symbol to guide all in Hollandos. From that day forth, Viktorsday, he was known as King Viktor I Kroon.


Reign of King Viktor I Kroon
In his early years as King of Hollandos, he focussed mostly on expanding the kingdom. He divided his land into provinces. The first province was called Herros, the western strip where they landed. And east of that was Amstos, which was given the same name as the capital. Some of his people had migrated north to produce food, which he named the province of Poldos. And others migrated south to scour for minerals and resources, which was named the province of Gravos.

As the kingdom was rapidly expanding, people were growing apart. Some became nomads, migrating to the forests south west of Amstos, or the mountain that lay east of the capital. Viktor embraced these different ways of life and named them the third and fourth province of Zeelos and Friesos.

The kingdom thrived as Viktor managed to not only keep all his citizens together, despite them growing apart, but also care for his family. His wife always stood by his side and helped him make the hard decisions, while his three kids – Alex, Emma, and Willem – grew older and slowly took on important tasks. Alex became the first Mayor of Amstos, Emma married Mercury Stone – the first Chief Blacksmith of Gravos – and Willem oversaw the villages in Poldos.


Final Years
Tension between Poldos and Amstos grew. It was the year 45 AS while tragedy struck. Viktor’s first son, Alex, who was 39 at the time, was killed by a farmer from Poldos. The whole kingdom, including Emma and Willem, called for his head. But Viktor was unable to claim a life and let the man live, opting to forgive him. Emma and Willem both detested their father for what he had done, never speaking with him again. What happened to Alex, and the other kids, broke Laurentyne, who died in her sleep the year after.

Viktor had saved his people and created a whole new kingdom, yet he never felt this isolated. In the year 47 AS, he travelled back alone to the place he first set foot on: Viktorhaven. This now port was built upon where they landed and named after him. It is said that King Viktor lay down upon that very shore where the Seven Stars shone upon him. He closed his eyes and never woke up. He was finally not alone anymore, now living among the stars that had once guided him to Hollandos.