The Kogian Five are (besides Eluda’shi Lashmara) the most instrumental individuals in the establishment of the Marmarran Citystate, each of them epitomising a facet of the Marmarran psyche. Each of the mavericks (besides the ‘tragic’ Kijuur Destius) also founded their own Kogianate dynasties, which produced a whole manner of other experts and eccentrics in their respective fields. The three men (Kijuur Destius, Lyrias Meurtian and Hiartun Rarkan) and two women (Yian Tisare and Mila Venraius) that made up the original Marmarran elite have been forever immortalised for their vital contributions to the Citystate that we have today.

Hiartun Rarkan, the Second Kogian, is himself attributed with all of Marmarra's early martial achievements. Originally Karakanite in origin, Hiartun was a lieutenant who organised a coup against his superiors within the legion. Since General Garras (the original leader of Hiartun’s leader) had practically consigned them to certain death through his foolish decisions, Hiartun took it upon himself to rally up the men and dispose the General of his position (or rather throw numerable sword blows in the General’s direction until he no longer drew breath). Despite this fundamental act of treachery, Hiartun showed to be (besides perhaps Kijuur) the most loyal of the Kogian to Eluda throughout her reign, a trait seen throughout Rarkan Kogianates to this day. His practical and tactical experiences in the art of warfare were also instrumental in allowing Marmarra to expand its realm into nearby settlements (through conquest) as well as permitting the Witch Queen to produce a legion of apt warriors that could (and did) ward off any attempts at invasion or siege.

Appearance. Hiartun Rarkan’s appearance is quite well documented, as can be seen from the numerable bronze casts and marble statues of his visage that litter the Rarkan Estate and various outposts founded by the man (most prominently Leinata Fortress). His figure exuded discipline and strength. As perhaps the complete opposite to Lyrias Meurtian the Third Kogian, Hiartun was a man of great stature and muscular build. Standing approximately a ped and two fores off the ground, he was unusually tall even for a Karakanite. Despite his height, his frame was far from spindly, his years of living the militaristic lifestyle had endowed him impressive build, though not to an excessively bulky extent.

Hiartun is also noted for have a very distinct, characterful face. Two deep-set blue eyes accompanied by a rigidly straight, square jaw line, in conjunction with his broad, faintly pointed noise produced a man with a very divergent look to him. Depending on the time he modelled for the piece, varying mediums of art show him with a variety of hairstyles (as well as in some cases cultivating a wide variety of facial hair). Usually, however, Hiartun is depicted sporting slight facial stubble with shoulder-length black hair, complimenting the hues of his rich, golden skin perfectly (presuming the artist has used colour in his portraiture). Furthermore, since we base practically all we know of Hiartun's appearence on artistic interpretations, it may be fair to say that the man was not as ravishing as his potraiture might suggest, depending on how idealistic (or kind) the respective artist was.

In his most famous depiction (a life-sized portrait commissioned by Ariana Tisare, the Fourth Kogian’s eldest daughter) he is shown sporting an unusual suit of armour believed to be a gift from Eluda’shi. The suit itself (believed to be Ancient Lillivear, dating back even before the merging of the Aestera and Lillivear if you believe all the stories) is quite exotic in its design. Composed from of a mixture of silvery plate, sparkling chainmail and white cloth, it would appear to be something much more befitting of a religious zealot than an esteemed General if it were not for the sheer level of craftsmanship the suit displays. Almost every detail you could imagine has been thought of, down to the ‘embroidery’ of the chainmail to produce the façades of sea serpents, to the faint gold inlaying on the finger-guards on the gauntlets. The suit, thought to blind the enemies on the battlefield, in current climes is actually the inherited property of the Rarkan Housemaster, though it is rare for anyone of them to meet Hiartun’s physical proportions in order to make it a perfect fit.

Personality. Hiartun perhaps embodied a trait that all Witch Queens search for in every Marmarran but have a hard to time locating - obedience. For all of Hiartun’s skill, experience and superior prowess, there is not one single record of Hiartun once objecting to any order issued to him by Eluda’shi, even when in retrospective it is obvious he could of predicted a negative outcome. Though many regarded this as a negative, selfish thing to do (believing it was in Marmarra’s interest for him to speak up and advise Eluda) it is an undeniable example of loyalty in its purest form.

Ironically, the event that led Hiartun into the clutches of Eluda actually was one of disobedience. This anomally is hard to explain. Some people consider Hiartun, as a result, a very contradictory person, though many seem to acknowledge the idea that Hiartun (as with all of us) was capable of change. It may have been the case that at some point Hiartun was much more 'traditionally noble' than he was under the service of Eluda. It is also fair to assume that some moment of specific clarity may have caused him to shift the value of his comrades from that of serving men to means to an end.

Aside from his unquestionable devotion to orders issued by Eluda, Hiartun was also categorised by his uncompromising, almost mechanical attitude towards warfare. In his eyes, combat was an end to a means, and as such it should be separate from emotions and opinions. In his eyes, a good soldier would fight a war that he didn’t believe in solely on the basis that he was told to do so. As Hiartun offered himself totally to his superior, he expected the same level of commitment from his subordinates. Whereas many good Generals become so due to their great motivational skills, Hiartun rarely sought to affect morale at all. He encouraged his soldiers to consider themselves as part of a machine, not as individuals. As long the machine keeps running, the loss of components isn’t of terrible concern. This outright dehumanising ‘martial dogma’ on which the Marmarran military is founded is still the main ethos of the army today.

Hiartun, unlike many Marmarrans, was always true to his word. Though by no means did this entail that his motives where always pure, simply that he always made his motives and his plans apparent rather than adopting a secretive, conniving approach. He was additionally very strong-willed, always refusing to give up even if he was an in insurmountable situation. Ultimately, his profound sense of self-imposed duty shaped him into a useful, adaptable and capable tool for the Witch Queen consistent use; epitomising what ‘Kogian’ should be as a part of ‘The Marmarran Effort’.

Biography. Early Life and Pre-Marmarran achievements (2355-2329 b.S.). Hiartun Rarkan, born in Karakan in 2355 b.S., was a typical male within the Dragon City. As the son of a Karakanite infantryman a majority of Hiartun’s days as a child and an adolescent were spent in physically demanding sports and exercise under the shadow of the Dragonlord Seras (or his gargantuan statue at least). As was typical for a young man, at the age of 16 (2329 b.S.) he enlisted to join the Karakanite army, wherein the gruelling training regime honed Hiartun’s body to the physical level he was famed for. Through showing great respect to his superiors, a talent for combat and an unshakeable sense of rationality in high stress situations, Hiartun quickly managed to rise through the ranks of the military, promotions becoming as regular as clockwork.

At the age of 24, as one of the attending lieutenants to General Garras, he and the legion were dispatched to counter a large Cuscan contingent in the area. After weighing up the odds (and the likelihood of their survival) Hiartun and his colleagues decided to eliminate Garras before he consigned them to certain death. Though it is not thought to of been Hiartun who plunged the blade into Garras while he slept, it is known that he assumed control of the legion, who quickly became rebels and as such targets for their former brethren.

In the Service of a Witch (2330 b.S.). After roaming for approximately a year, avoiding repercussions from the Karakanite military for treason and desertion, Hiartun hears of the ‘Great Witch of Zhun’ as well as her elusive counterpart. Hiartun considers that this fabled sorceress may be able to provide them with safety, allowing them to avoid certain capital sentences if they were to ever return to the Dragon City. He quickly makes his way towards the southeastern coast where he locates the growing settlement of Marmarra. He offers his services to the Witch Queen (who by a stroke of luck has in fact been searching for such a group of individuals to serve her) and he immediately becomes an integral part of ‘The Marmarran Effort’. As his first duties, he and his deputation of soldiers are sent to either conquer or pillage nearby settlements in order to raise both the infamy and wealth of Marmarra. The plan unfolds with systematic success.

Over the next few years Eluda also entrusted him with the task of raising larger armies by training citizens and new arrivals without more ‘valuable’ skills in traditional Karakanite warfare (though the methods slowly morphed with pressure and influence from Eluda’shi).

Loyalty Rewarded (2275 b.S.) After the completion of Marmarra as a City, Hiartun was rewarded (along with the other remaining Kogian member) with an estate for his services to Eluda and Marmarra in this vital historical period. Hiartun eventually married Sian Tashara (another Zhunite) who bore his four sons and three daughters. Hiartun was the first of the Kogian to die, eventually passing aged 87 in the autumn of 2268 b.s. 

Importance. Though Hiartun hardly displays qualities of deep intellectuals and accomplished magi, his role as (though a crude comparison) the ‘pack mule’ of Marmarra was instrumental to its growth. Hiartun ultimately was the means through which Eluda was able to execute her original plans of ‘Neighbouring Conquest’. Without Hiartun, it is perfectly realistic to suggest that Marmarra would never of reached the scale that has done. As is the case with all great operations, the muscles that pull the weight are just as, if not more, important as the minds that dictate where it should go.

In terms of physical achievements that lasted long after his death, the Marmarran military is a fine example. The Marmarran military (though by no means the best in Zhun) is fundamentally different from its neighbours in a variety of ways - many of them direct contributions from Hiartun himself. The ‘code of conduct’ and ‘rules of engagement’ declared by Hiartun drastically change the nature of warfare for Marmarran soldiers. As Hiartun himself was viewed as a means to and end, he saw the entirety of his troops in a similar light. In his eyes, any number of lives was expendable if it secured a victory. This idea, as well as more complex forms of military dogma created by Hiartun, created immovable foundations for a vastly effective fighting force that is still renowned for its incredible functionality and ability to achieve results.

7th Awakening Earth 1669 a.S. Information provided by Decipher Ziron