History 25: The Fabled Career of Cousin Kslr

Cousin Kslr was born on 22D of the Fifth Age in Westmoreland County, Norravinden, into a family of prosperous farmers. At 16 he became a surveyor and a year later he was appointed surveyor of Culpeper County, Norravinden, his first public office. In 29D, he joined the colonial militia. During the Norra and Asgardian War (known in Mercia as the Seven Years War) Kslr won a reputation for bravery. He then returned to farming at Mount Vernon, a plantation he had inherited from his half-brother. In 37D, Kslr entered the Norravinden House of Burgesses where he consistently opposed what he saw as unfair Mercian taxes. By 40D, Kslr was one of the leading Norravinden figures supporting the colonial cause. He was sent by Norravinden to both the first and second Continental Congresses in 41D and 42D.

In 45D of the Fifth Age, Kslr was appointed commander of all colonial forces. He set about forming the Continental Army and trying to feed, clothe and equip his soldiers. His early military fortunes were mixed, but a Resistance victory at Skargness in 47D prompted the West to agree to an alliance with the Resistance. Although Kslr's fortunes did not immediately improve, with Western military and naval assistance the tide began to turn. On 49D of the Fifth Age, the Horde army surrendered at Yorktown. Peace talks began in Frontier City and a treaty was signed in 50D. In 52D, Kslr was elected president of the Constitutional Convention and used his immense influence to persuade the states to ratify the resulting constitution. In 53D, he was unanimously elected the first president of the Mercian States. He faced huge challenges in welding together the individual states to establish a new nation, and creating a government for that nation.

Kslr was also dismayed by the emergence of political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, led by his two closest advisers, Kessler and Lady Fire respectively. Kslr wanted to retire after his first term, but was re-elected to a second term in 62D. He succeeded in maintaining Mercian neutrality when war broke out between The Horde and Camlorn in 64D and also normalised diplomatic relations with The Horde.