Dardianazăr Tăndi

Dardianazăr Tăndi (7 May 1531- 21 October 1589) was a Caphiran leader,, and former military commander of the Imperial Legion during the 16th century. Born in the southern border province of Ranaella, Tăndi would join the ranks of The Legion at age 16 and devote 6 lustra (30 total years) of his life fighting primarily against Sarpic barbarians in and around Duranis Lake. During a routine patrol, Tăndi witnessed a pirate group pillage a nearby village and went to intervene. The pirates, however, had paid off most of the legionaries prior and were confused at the lone soldier defying them. Tăndi was surrounded and taken captive by the pirate group, who then tortured him until he agreed to join their ranks. Tăndi would then spend the next decade engaging in all acts of piracy against Caphiria. Tăndi played a pivotal role in starting the so-called Truffle Wars, a series of conflicts between Caphiria and Burgundie to locate, cultivate, and harvest rare truffles around the world.

Early life
Tăndi was born in the small village of Sorviodurum in the southern border province of Ranaella in 1531. He was the second of three children born to a poor family. His father was a farmer who struggled to make ends meet, and his mother was a homemaker who did her best to care for her family.

Growing up, Tăndi was known to be a curious and adventurous child. He spent most of his days exploring the surrounding countryside, and he was always eager to learn more about the world around him. He was particularly fascinated by stories of the sea and the legendary pirates who roamed the oceans. These stories fired his imagination and inspired him to dream of one day becoming a pirate himself. He was always drawn to the idea of adventure, wealth, and the thrill of the unknown. He grew up hearing stories of the legendary pirates who roamed the seas and made their fortunes through daring raids and cunning trades. Despite his dreams of adventure, Tăndi's early life was not easy. He grew up in poverty, and he had to work hard to help support his family. He spent his days helping his father on the farm and his nights studying by the light of a small oil lamp. Despite the hardships, Tăndi was determined to make something of himself, and he was determined to find a way out of poverty.

Tăndi's natural charisma and leadership qualities earned him the respect of his peers. He was known for his courage and determination, and he quickly made a name for himself as a young man to watch. He was a gifted storyteller and his tales of adventure and daring-do were enjoyed by all in the village. Despite his young age, Tăndi was already a natural leader and was determined to make his dreams a reality. Coming from poverty, Tăndi adopted an "ends justfy the means" mentality and used his skills in unscrupulus ways. One such way was his involvement in smuggling goods across the border while also providing services as a guide. Tăndi's knowledge of the local area and his ability to navigate made him a valuable asset for merchants and traders who needed to move goods in and out of the province, but he also used this opportunity to smuggle illegal items.

One such occasion, Tăndi had agreed to guide a group of merchants across the border, but unbeknownst to them, he had also hidden a large quantity of spices and silk in their cargo. As they were crossing the border, they were stopped by the border guard, who searched the merchants' wagons. Tăndi, thinking quickly, managed to distract the guard by pretending to have a medical emergency and while the guard was busy attending to him, Tăndi's accomplices slipped out and moved the illegal goods to another location. The group of merchants were allowed to pass and Tăndi was able to collect his payment for his services as a guide while also earning a profit from the smuggled goods. His quick thinking and ability to improvise helped him narrowly escape being caught by the border guard and allowed him to continue making a living through his illegal activities.

Tăndi was also involved in gambling activites from an early age. He was known for his time spent in the port towns along the coast of Ranaella. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled gambler, known for his quick wit and ability to read his opponents. He would often win large sums of money, which he would use to provide for his family and to fund his other illegal activities. However, Tăndi's gambling pursuits were not always successful. In one instance, Tăndi had taken a ship captain for a large sum of money in a game of dice. The captain, furious at his loss, accused Tăndi of cheating. A fight broke out, and Tăndi had to flee the tavern to avoid arrest. He narrowly escaped the port town, but not without losing most of his winnings. Despite his setback, Tăndi continued to gamble, always looking for his next big score.

After turning 16, Tăndi knew that he needed to find a way out of his situation, and joining the Legion offered him the opportunity to see the world, gain access to weapons and naval training, and provide for his family. Tăndi joined the Imperial Legion as a means to escape poverty and gain the skills and experience necessary to become a pirate. Tăndi was attracted to the idea of adventure and the prospect of traveling to different parts of the world. He was eager to learn about different cultures, and to see new places. He was also drawn to the idea of serving his country and being part of something bigger than himself.

Once Tăndi joined the Legion, he quickly proved himself to be a skilled and dedicated soldier. He was known for his courage, determination, and quick thinking. He was a natural leader and quickly rose through the ranks. Tăndi was trained in various forms of combat, weapons handling, and naval navigation. He also learned about logistics, and how to manage and lead a team effectively. He was also exposed to different cultures and customs, which broadened his perspective and understanding of the world.

During his time in the Legion, Tăndi also gained valuable experience in sea-faring, he was part of several naval campaigns, which gave him the necessary skills and knowledge to command his own ship in the future. Tăndi's time in the Legion was a crucial period in his life, it helped him gain the necessary skills, experience and connections that he would later use as a pirate leader. It also helped him to mature and gain a sense of purpose and direction in his life, which would ultimately lead him to his true calling as a pirate.

Capture in Töröm
In 1560, a small naval force led by Észükséges of Volon on behalf of Caphiria found Tăndi and a dozen of his men stationed at Töröm, a port town in the western part of the Duranis controlled by the Duchy of Volonia. In a twisted irony, Tăndi's ship had been disabled by a traitor who had been giving information to Észükséges, who cast molten lead into the links of the chain which controlled the ship's rudder. Tăndi and his crew were captured and brought to the nearby Duchy of Volonia, where they were tried for piracy. According to legend, Tăndi offered a chain of gold long enough to enclose the whole of Volonia in exchange for his life and freedom. The Duke entertained Tăndi by asking how Tăndi could possibly accomplish this, to which he replied simply,"tuber." Referring to truffles, Tăndi explained to the Duke that he could smuggle several species from the other side of the world - in Zaclaria. The Duke was impressed with Tăndi's plan and agreed to let him and his 28 men free on one condition: They were to swear allegiance to Volonia, but if they were caught by the Audonians, they were to say they were working for the Imperium. As much as the Duke supported Tăndi's plan, he knew Volonia did not need to pick a fight with the Audonians.

In Audonia (1564-1572)
Tăndi and the Društvari Pirates first in Audonia in 1564. After raiding several coastal towns and ports, Tăndi began to bribe the local population for any intelligence they could give him. He was particularly obsessed with spying on the movements of the imperial powers, gathering intelligence on their plans and movements in order to protect his own interests and prepare for any potential conflict with them. Before long, Tăndi and his crew had a well-organized intelligence network, which included both local informants and spies placed within the imperial powers. Tăndi also formed alliances with local leaders and tribes, using them as a base of operations and a source of resources and information.

One such spy was a young man named Farid, a young man from a small village in Audonia, who was recruited by Tăndi and his crew to gather intelligence about the Burgundian's truffle-hunting operations. Farid joined the crew of a Burgundian truffle-hunting ship, posing as a sailor. Over time, he gained the trust of the crew and the captain and was able to gather valuable information about the Burgundian's hunting grounds, schedules, and the size and quality of their truffle harvest. Farid's information was crucial for Tăndi's operations, as it allowed him to plan his own truffle-hunting operations more effectively and to stay one step ahead of the Burgundians. Tăndi was able to avoid areas where the Burgundians were hunting and to focus on areas where the truffles were abundant and of high quality. This gave Tăndi and his crew a significant advantage over the Burgundians, and they were able to harvest a greater quantity and quality of truffles than the Burgundians. The Burgundians, however, were not aware of Farid's true allegiance and believed him to be a loyal member of their crew. They were puzzled by Tăndi's success in truffle hunting, and they suspected that there was a spy among them. They launched an investigation, but Farid was able to cover his tracks and avoid suspicion.

Farid's role in Tăndi's intelligence network was not limited to gathering information about the Burgundians. He also provided Tăndi with valuable information about the movements of other imperial powers, such as Caphiria, and about the activities of rival pirate groups. Farid's intelligence helped Tăndi to maintain his control on the truffle trade and to protect his interests from his rivals.

Eventually,Tăndi had a truffle monopoly in the region. He used his control of the trade routes to restrict the flow of truffles and to drive up prices. This made him extremely wealthy, but also made him many enemies among the local traders and merchants.In addition to truffle trade, Tăndi also engaged in other forms of piracy, such as attacking ships carrying valuable cargo and raiding coastal towns and villages. However, his primary focus was always on truffles, as they were the most valuable and profitable resource in the region.

Personal life
The exploits of Tăndi were often retold in hyperbolic stories around the Duranis. It is unclear if Tăndi himself paid for these stories to be told or if the details just changed naturally. The most famous legend of Tăndi relates to the story of his capture in Töröm. Tăndi is said to have asked the Duke of Volonia to release as many of his companions as he could walk past after being beheaded. Following the granting of this request and the subsequent beheading, Tăndi's body arose and walked past eleven of his men before the executioner tripped him with an outstretched foot. Nevertheless, the eleven men were executed along with the others. The Duchess asked the executioner if he was not tired after all this, but he replied he could easily execute the whole of the ducal court as well. For this, he himself was sentenced to death and executed by the eldest son of the Duke.