Taley Toarlameek
Taley Toarlameek /'twɑrlɑmiː/ or /'tworlɑmiː/ was the younger brother of Oorfan Toarlameek and became head of the Toarlameek family after Oorfan's death during the siege of Lora. Taley assumed the position of the Murdoh of Lora after the death of Oordar-installed Heemin by fabricating documents from Maksag, while sending out reports and taxes to Tonaran under Heemin's name. Taley's rule was legitimized when Nilma Oordar established closer ties between Mantar and Qep in 1545 SR. Taley ended up serving as Murdoh up until his death in 1557 SR.
| Taley Toarlameek | |
| Head of the Toarlameek family Murdoh of Lora |
|
|---|---|
| Reign | 1528-1557 SR |
| Predecessor | Heemin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1496 SR |
| Died | 1557 SR (aged 61) |
Assuming the position of Murdoh
Toarlameeks were originally from Qep city, but fled to Lora when Maksag invaded the country, correctly believing Lora to be safer. After Lora was conquered by Maksag in 1515, Toarlameeks lost most of their wealth, but were spared by Maksag along with several of other noble households. The reigns of the city were given to one of Maksag's Jeens, Heemin.
Over the next decade, as the city was rebuilt, Toarlameeks were able to retain their privileged status, but not wealth. When Heemin died from an illness, Taley took advantage of that and in early 1528 traveled to Mantar as Lora's representative to take part in the victory celebrations of Oordar's overtake of Mantar.
Upon his return two months later, he claimed that he had personally spoken to Maksag and that the famed conqueror confided his expansion plans to him, and that Lora in general and Taley in particular are important parts of this plan. As he came back with a number of decrees from Maksag, making him the official representative of Oordars in Lora and also providing the city with lavish trading contracts, there was little reason to doubt this and Taley was hailed as the new Murdoh. Later this was proven to be a complete fabrication: Taley never made it to Mantar, instead getting only to Zelo and then going back. The decrees were completely fabricated, and for many years Taley sent all the correspondence to Oordars under the name of the deceased Heemin.
The lavish trading contracts were also false, but using his new official status Taley managed to use the name of Oordars to negotiate a number of trade agreements with Zelo and Natstar, thereby obfuscating his con game.
Conflict with Ulan Moree
Although being the Murdoh of Lora allowed Taley to begin accumulating wealth, he was also focused on retrieving Toarlameek property that was left in Qep city. For that purpose he became friends with its Murdoh, Ulan Moree, as Qep was spared my Maksag and Taley believed that he had claims to a number of properties. This did not work out and Ulan, having realized the purpose of the relationship, threatened Taley with war and then actually marched on Lora, but was not able to get into the well-fortified city. Taley used the situation to cut ties with Oordars and stopped any and all correspondence with the court in Tonaran, which went unnoticed at the time.
Nilma Oordar
When it did get noticed, Qep city had broken off its ties to the Oordars as well. It was time for Kren the Younger, head of the Oordar clan, to decide how to proceed. Instead of suggesting a campaign, Nilma argued in favor of a diplomatic solution. Understanding the power dynamics in Qep, Nilma reached out to Taley and suggested to marry one of his daughters. This not only legitimized Taley's rule, which was initially based on a lie, but it also made his standing more important than that of Ulan Moree's court, which at the time was more brazen and probably a stronger political force in the region.
By this time, Ulan Moree was no longer the Murdoh and instead the city was ruled by his son, Erigma. As Nilma re-established the Murdon Circle, Taley and Erigma had to sit at the same table. They were able to form a good working relationship.
Unseating of Morees
Main article: Unseating of Morees
Having forged a relationship with Erigma, Taley continued trying to retrieve his family's property at Qep city. When the elderly Ulan died, Nilma learned that a coup was in the works. Taley then introduced his other daughter, Mylda Toarlameek, as an advisor to Erigma.
Mylda secretly upset the coup, while offering herself to the conspirators as the one to lead a better attempt. But just as the new plan was about to move forward, Mylda stabbed Erigma in his quarters and hid his body. She then called a meeting with the Moree clan and informed them about the coming coup. She also said that Erigma was kidnapped by the conspirators. She offered to lead the investigation and prosecution of those involved, to return Erigma alive and ensure that the family does not lose power. They agreed and Mylda proceeded to arrest and execute the conspirators, while also uncovering that Erigma was actually killed.
As the family began debating who the successor should be, Lora's army led by Taley approached the city and presented Morees with the ultimatum: either the reigns go to Mylda or the siege begins. Mylda, having earned Morees' trust in the uncovering of the coup, was able to convince Morees that if they nominally make her Murdoh, she will talk to her father and make him leave, while the real power will belong to them. The family agreed and Mylda was announced as Murdoh.
She then told Morees that she wants to let Taley in and begin peace celebrations, so that she can poison him, but she wants the Morees safe and outside of the city, because skirmishes might ensue. Morees were sent to a nearby hill from which they could observe the city, but as soon as they arrived, their guards cited Mylda's orders to hastily return back in order to possibly fight Taley's army and left Morees with just two soldiers.
From their hill, the Morees observed some commotion around city gates, which turned out to be Taley's army leaving. Thinking that they can now safely return, the family approached the gates, but was instead greeted with an array of arrows, one of which hit and killed Erigma's brother. The two soldiers immediately abandoned the family and Morees were forced to leave. Their ultimate fate is unknown. There is a diary entry from Katsag, talking about the "a family of some deposed ruler from Qep" and indicating that they had reached Maird, possibly in a bid to continue through to Tonaran and complain to Kren the Younger, but no further records about them exist.
Popularity
Taley was a popular Murdoh, owing in part to belonging to a respected family, but also because in spite of his scheming (or maybe owing to it) he was able to establish a strong economy at Lora and was pragmatic enough to significantly limit his greed and generously share in the spoils of managing the Oordar-rule city's budget with his government officials and the military. At the same time, considered to be a strategic location, Lora received significant help from Tonaran through Delavire, in the form of horses, armor and weapons, as well as irregular shipments of defense equipment from Or.
During the campaign against Goldoor, Taley led his army to Delavire, but returned to Lora before the campaign started, as he was pretty old at the time.
Death and legacy
Taley died in 1557 SR.