Characters

King Malaky XV

King Malaky XV was the king of Rislandia whose reign spanned at least 25 years before he was assassinated by Wyranth on Day 28 of the Month of the Fool in the 25th year of his reign. He was a central figure in both The Fight for Rislandia and The Blood of Giants, remembered for his leadership during the Wyranth conflict and his conferral of honors upon the von Monocle family.

King Malaky XV

King Malaky XV

King Malaky XV was the king of Rislandia whose reign lasted at least 25 years. He is remembered as the monarch who conferred the title of baron upon Baron Theodore von Monocle, granted private ownership of The Liliana airship, bestowed the surname von Lantern upon Ethan von Lantern, and awarded Zaira von Monocle the Rislandia Kingdom's Medal of Valor. His reign came to a violent end when he was assassinated by Wyranth. He was succeeded by King Malaky XVI.

Overview

King Malaky XV ruled Rislandia for a period of no fewer than 25 years. His reign served as the official dating system for Rislandian log entries, with years recorded as, for example, "24th Year of King Malaky XV's Reign." His royal crest — a crown set into gears with wings on each side — adorned the right breast pocket of Rislandian soldiers' uniforms. His name became so culturally significant that it was invoked as an exclamation by multiple characters, including Zaira, Cid, and Ethan, in the form "By Malaky."

Among the notable acts of his reign were the elevation of Theodore von Monocle to the rank of baron, the granting of private ownership of the airship later known as The Liliana, the bestowal of the surname von Lantern upon Ethan, and the promise of lands to Baron von Monocle should the Wyranth be overcome. He also presented Zaira von Monocle with the Rislandia Kingdom's Medal of Valor following the expulsion of the Wyranth from the northern half of Rislandia.

Biography

Appearance and Character

In The Fight for Rislandia, King Malaky XV was described as wearing royal robes and a crown with a glimmer of gold, and was noted to stride with a confident pace, his velvet cape flowing behind him. At the time of his departure from Rislandia City, he had not shaved in a few days and had bags under his eyes from worry. He had a blond beard with small white hairs. He was close friends with Baron Theodore von Monocle and regarded Zaira von Monocle as a niece. He had a son described as being nearer to Zaira's age, as well as a daughter, Princess Reina.

Reign

King Malaky XV reigned over Rislandia for at least 25 years. During his time on the throne, he elevated Baron Theodore von Monocle to the rank of baron and granted him private ownership of the vessel later known as The Liliana. As Theodore himself noted, "technically, King Malaky conferred the rank of baron on me." He also bestowed the surname von Lantern upon Ethan von Lantern.

In The Fight for Rislandia, set during the 24th year of his reign, King Malaky XV was actively engaged in directing the defense of Rislandia against the Wyranth. He dispatched the full might of the Grand Rislandian Army to Lake Bethany and sent a contingent of knights to destroy Wyranth artillery. He also had a plan to bring more knights to the border to remove the Wyranth's leadership. During the conflict, he was evacuated from Rislandia City and escorted aboard The Liliana — having not been aboard the vessel in a long time — to the Oler Mountains, departing at Lake Avily. He was reluctant to leave Rislandia City. During the voyage, he went prone on the deck when shots were fired and watched the wreckage of the weapons warehouse with intense focus, identifying it as the primary weaponry creation facility and noting that cannonballs could be resupplied from storehouses. He gave a speech to the crew of The Liliana, wiped tears from Zaira's cheek, praised her for stirring the crowd, and asked her to keep her father from reckless bravado. He promised Baron von Monocle that if the Wyranth were overcome, he would reward him with lands.

A flag bearing King Malaky's crest was carried by an ambassadorial group from the forest. His palace in Rislandia City had decorated walls, distinguishing it from Cliffside Castle, and his servants normally buzzed about its hallways; the palace felt empty without him during his absence. Zaira had met her father and King Malaky many times in the palace's main chambers.

Following the expulsion of the Wyranth from the northern half of Rislandia, King Malaky XV came to Zaira's room with a retinue including palace guards, Baron Theodore von Monocle, Talyen von Cravat, Lilly von Monocle, James, Princess Reina, and Matthias du Gearsmith. He announced the Wyranth had been expelled from the northern half of Rislandia, stated that the priority would be to rebuild and ensure everyone had enough to eat when winter fell, agreed with Baron von Monocle that Zaira had acted in good faith, promised to get the airship back in working order, and presented Zaira with the Rislandia Kingdom's Medal of Valor. He also invoked Zaira's authority when she promoted First Sergeant Bartholomew Wright. He stated, "I would be lost without Rislandia."

Assassination

In the 25th year of his reign, King Malaky XV was assassinated by Wyranth. This event was recorded in Baron von Monocle's log on Day 28 of the Month of the Fool. It marked the end of his rule and precipitated the succession of King Malaky XVI. He was described as a fallen king in the Chapter 29 epigraph of The Blood of Giants. Further details are recorded on the Assassination of King Malaky XV page.

Role in The Fight for Rislandia

In The Fight for Rislandia, King Malaky XV was the reigning monarch during the events of the story, with the current year recorded as the 24th year of his reign. He appeared as an active character: evacuating from Rislandia City, boarding The Liliana, giving a speech to the crew, directing military strategy against the Wyranth, and ultimately presiding over the partial liberation of Rislandia. Log date headers throughout the novel used the notation "24th Year of King Malaky XV's Reign." His name was used as an oath by multiple characters, including Zaira ("By Malaky, how it hurt"), Cid ("By Malaky, that gave me a worry"), and Ethan.

Role in The Blood of Giants

In The Blood of Giants, King Malaky XV is referenced in a log date notation marking the 25th year of his reign. By Chapter 2 of the novel, he had already been assassinated and succeeded by King Malaky XVI. He was described as a fallen king in the Chapter 29 epigraph. His prior conferral of the baronial title and ownership of The Liliana upon Baron Theodore von Monocle is referenced directly in the text.

Relationships

In A History of Rislandia

A History of Rislandia treats King Malaky XV as one of the most celebrated monarchs in the Malaky dynasty, categorising him explicitly among the "Good Kings" of Rislandia. The sourcebook provides a number of details that supplement what is established in the novels.

Epithet and Character

According to A History of Rislandia, King Malaky XV bore the formal epithet "the Peacemaker" — a title not mentioned in the novels. The sourcebook characterises him as wise, compassionate, and beloved by commoners and nobles alike. It emphasises that he worked tirelessly for peace with the Wyranth Empire through diplomatic missions, trade agreements, and cultural exchanges, and that he genuinely believed lasting peace was possible. This diplomatic orientation is the basis for his epithet.

Reign and Chronology

According to A History of Rislandia, King Malaky XV reigned from Year 467 to Year 492 of the Rislandian calendar — a span of exactly 25 years. The sourcebook identifies him as the son of King Malaky XIV and the father of King Malaky XVI, and names his son as Prince Malaky prior to his accession.

The sourcebook also notes that during his reign, in approximately Year 485, scholars successfully re-attuned air crystals in the Crystal Spire — an event it describes as part of the broader rediscovery of crystal magic under his rule, though it cautions that when crystal magic returned it was weaker and less understood than in earlier eras.

The Wyranth Invasion and Death

According to A History of Rislandia, King Malaky XV personally traveled to the front lines during the Wyranth invasion to inspire his troops, doing so against the advice of his guards. The sourcebook records that he had a plan to send Knights of the Crystal Spire behind enemy lines to eliminate Wyranth leadership — consistent with the novels — and that the Battle of Lake Bethany was fought during the 24th year of his reign.

The sourcebook states that he was assassinated by Wyranth agents who infiltrated the Rislandian camp, and that his death galvanised the kingdom, setting the stage for his son's reign. It quotes: "The beloved king, who had ruled with wisdom and compassion, was dead." It further notes that his death was avenged when the Wyranth were driven back, and that he was dead by Day 38 of the conflict.

King Malaky XV was assassinated on Day 28 of the Month of the Fool in the 25th year of his reign.

A History of Rislandia adds that the assassination took place during peace negotiations, when Wyranth agents infiltrated the Rislandian camp.

Legacy

According to A History of Rislandia, King Malaky XV is remembered as a king who led Rislandia through the first Wyranth invasion and whose reign saw the return of crystal magic to the kingdom. The sourcebook's description of him as "the Peacemaker" reflects his diplomatic efforts rather than military ones, presenting a ruler whose defining aspiration was reconciliation — an aspiration ultimately ended by the enemies he had sought to appease.