Blaustavya

Kayaz Simonyev Blaustavya

The aging patriarch of the Blaustavya family retains the same sharp intellect for which he was renowned in his youth, tempered with slightly less arrogance and much more understanding. As a young man, Simonyev was fascinated by mechanika and spent much of his free time watching mechaniks at their craft despite his father’s orders to the contrary. Luckily for Khador his father, Vanya, finally gave up on trying to keep Simonyev from what he considered to be a base and menial craft.

However, Simonyev was only able to receive some preliminary training before he, like all other Khadoran youths, was required to serve his time training and fighting with the forces of the Motherland. As a young noble, Simonyev was granted special considerations and he served for some time among the elite capital guard along with young Ivad Vanar. Even though Ivad was several years his senior, the two became fast friends during their time of service, and their friendship further served the Motherland as Simonyev worked to better the Khadoran military through practical, and extremely advanced, applications of mechanika.

During his time in the military, Simonyev kept tinkering with mechanical devices and mechanika and suggested several innovations that improved the accuracy of Destroyer bombards. Once he was released from duty, a leading mechanik of the Central Ordnance Directorate who was impressed with his ideas recommended him to the Khadoran Mechaniks Assembly. Training as an arcane mechanik, Simonyev gained the skills he needed to leave his mark on the forces of the Motherland. During many long nights of drinking and talking with then king Ivad Vanar, the two came up with many wild ideas that Simonyev made into reality.

His crowning achievements include his fundamental role in developing rail travel in Khador (see “The Advent of the Rail” for more), his refinements in the design of Man-O-War armor, the development of the shield cannon, and his work to improve warjack munitions.

Thanks to his friendship with King Ivad, Simonyev has been a friend to the Vanar family for many long decades. Ivad appointed him regent of Khador when his health had failed him and little Ayn was but a few months old. Resigning from his position as Director of Munitions Research at the Khadoran Mechaniks Assmebly, Simonyev ran the nation for fifteen years and watched as Ayn grew into a young woman destined to become the formidable queen of a more modern Khador.

Throughout his regency, Simonyev was much like a surrogate grandfather to young Ayn. In private, she still calls him “Uncle Monya” and keeps him close at hand. Now that he has turned over his regency, his factories, and his research centers to his assorted children and grandchildren, Simonyev is commonly seen at court where Queen Ayn has come to rely on his wisdom and insights. The royal staff isvery familiar with his presence and is used to hearing him impart his gentle guidance or reassurance to the queen: “Your grand-da wouldn’t have done it any differently, my little Ayn-stoycha.”