User:Gillian Reed/Veraline Andersen

Veraline Andersen, sometimes known as Princess Veraline or Grand General Andersen, is a fictional character in the Tyranta Series by Cheryl Grant.

Veraline was born in Cordanette, the capital of Veenah, to Johann Marshall and Juliana of Veenah. Her first cousins were Ryla Sable and Ariana Liberty (who was also her half-sister). Becuase Juliana was Queen of Veenah and had no other children besides Veraline, she technically the sole heiress to the Veenan throne, though she never pressed this claim.

Childhood and Teenage Years

Little is known about Veraline's early life. Her parents constantly quarelled, and six years after Veraline was born, Johann left Veenah forever, taking Veraline with him. This, along with the abandonment of her brother Tylin, are probably the reasons that caused Juliana to turn to evil. Johann married Juliana's half-sister Marisa, who shared a relation by their mother, Nephilia of Thera, and together they had a daughter, Ariana Liberty. Famous for her acts of charity, Marisa had Veraline and Ariana attend one of the schools she set up for children in poverty. It is supposedly where Veraline met her cousin, Ryla Sable. Unlike her cousin, Veraline despised school and was nearly relieved when it was destroyed by the Veenan army in Juliana's quest to conquer the whole of Northern Derania, the continent where Veenah is. Veraline was captured as a prisoner by the Veenan army for her "semblance to the queen" and also because at 14 was the right age for siring heirs. Most of the other students were killed, but Ryla and Ariana escaped, a lucky thing, as Juliana had ordered "That my brother Tylin and my sister Marisa, and their relations, be executed with the most severe tortures." Marisa and Johann were killed during the onslaught, but Tylin fled to Thera, an island off of Veenah.

As a woman in the Veenan army, Veraline was not supposed to fight, something that was done by the men. Instead, Veraline was married of to thirty or forty (the exact number is not known) different military officers in order to give birth to a son. It was required by Veenan law that all children born to two military parent must serve. Veraline did bear 26 children, but only two appeared in the series, perhaps becuase of the significance of their fathers: Katherine Sable, by Zorium Sable, Duke of Tordin, Ryla's older brother (and Veraline's first cousin) Phoebe Justice, by Daniel Justice, Archduke of Braselton (later married Katherine) Phoebe was the mother of twins Orin and Korem Acorde, two very significant characters in the earlier books of the Tyranta series

Battle of Elkifane

Veraline's first actual battle was the Battle of Elkifane, the main battle in the conquering of Braselton. The Veenans were pushed back to the Kine River, losing many fighters. Veraline was prepared to fight for Veenah. She arrived at the Castle of the Justices, the royal family of Braselton, where she established ties with Queen Alicette and her husband David. After two weeks, when the Braseltonians were almost certain of victory, Veraline planted several Nephilian Martials (deadly explosives invented by her grandmother Nephilia) in the castle and where the soldiers barracks were. Then she informed Alicette that she was going to die. Alicette understood this, commended the entire country of Braselton, then asked Veraline to deliver a note to one of the Veenan military officers. Veraline took it then snuck out. It was only after the Veenan army had won that Veraline looked at the note. Alicette had written two words: Septimus Zenobius. Queen Juliana wanted to meet the hero of the battle of Elkifane. Veraline met her mother for nearly the first time. Apparently horrified, Veraline ran away from the Veenan army for good, offering her services up to Thera, the only anti-Veenan land left in Northern Derania. She became reaccquainted with Ryla and Ariana, the leaders of the Anti-Veenan movement, along with Ryla's daughter Miranda. Veraline became more skilled in military arts. She eventually became Grand General Andersen. The name Andersen was taken on by Veraline for disguise purposes. She never told anyone what happened at Elkifane.

Fall of the Veenans

Besides Veraline, the Theran army had no great commanders until Liberalus Orfik. Liberalus was a relative of Veraline, the son of Lady Edith Orfik and an unknown Veenan father. She trained him in her arts like a mother, as Edith was murdered when Liberalus was only one. After the Therans had formed a very strict alliance with the powerful country Ludizan from the continent of Nardis, troops directly invaded the Veenan captial Cordanette headed by Veraline and Liberalus. They successfully made the Veenans retreat to their own country, giving back Braselton and the other territories Haylen and Almania to be free. The Veenan Empire was over.

Later Life

Liberalus died of an infected battle wound two months after the empire ended, most likely inflicted by Juliana. Fourteen years later the Veenan empire rose again, this time not under Juliana but by her mother Nephilia. Nephilia had no intention of stopping at conquering Northern Derania, her aim was to conquer Allerium, the name for the entire world. After that, her plans for conquering would extend to earth, which was connected to Allerium. Veraline, along with Ryla and Ariana, restarted the Anti-Veenan movement. This time they were aided in part by Liberalus's contemporaries: Rosalyn "Lin" Aster, the protagonist of the series, and Cecilia Mentosis.

Books

Tyranta and the Rising Empire
Tyranta and the Son of the King
Tyranta and the Crossing of the Desert
Tyranta and the Council
Tyranta and the Alliance
Tyranta and the Great Truths
Tyranta and the Spider Queen
Tyranta and the Armageddon