Early Life

Zachariah Caista is known for being the captain of Atalatha’s guard.  His parents died when he was very young, leaving his brother, Stephen, as his guardian.  Unfortunately, neither brother was left well off.  Zachariah spent much of his youth in subpar housing, while his brother pursued techniques of the sword.

The brothers’ luck changed when Stephen began training Atalatha’s guards in combat.  Though Zachariah was still left to his own devices for most of the day, he was afforded some time to pursue an education.

Country Life

When Zachariah was slightly older, his brother took on a personal task.  Years earlier, he had seen a young child named Michael Kreegan in an obstacle course during a city-wide celebration.  Stephen uprooted his small family, and moved to the Kreegan farm, in an effort to train Michael to be a master swordsman.  While doing so, he began training Zachariah how to be Michael’s squire.

During the war with Blacklehn, the Kreegans took Zachariah in, treating him like a second son.  All of the children enjoyed the addition, leading to more fun in the countryside.

Return to Atalatha

When Stephen returned from the war, he brought Zachariah back to Atalatha with him.  Stephen was renowned for his prowess in battle, and for his many feats in the north part of the country.

With the Caista name in good standing, Zachariah set out to make his own name stand out.  He applied for the Atalathian guard regiment, and began working his way up to the top, becoming the captain of the guards in a short amount of time.

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Early Life

Born to Jason and Selene Dactyls, Steel Tip mainly went by his birth name, Kevin Dactyls, during his childhood. Kevin wasn’t the only miracle  brought to the King and Queen of Argos on Flamedays 13th, 958; his twin brother, Helios, arrived minutes later.Kevin grew up just like any other boy, regardless of social status; rough housing with his brother and getting into trouble with his curiosity. He often would run around the castle, stealing little trinkets here and there from his family’s history or from his father’s closest vassals. He would often find inventive ways to take these trinkets, usually with a children’s bow that one of Jason’s best friends gave him as a present.Regularly punished for this behavior, but never loathed, Kevin was loved by everyone residing on the castle grounds. The one exception was his brother Helios, who was not only jealous of his slightly older brother, but also often felt irritated that he’d get in trouble for Kevin’s mischievous acts.

Here we have the ranger in his natural glory.

Tierkres and the Metal Door Incident

Sometime after Kevin’s and Helios’ fourth birthday, the boys were playing in one of the castle corridors. Most of the castle was accessible to everyone, especially the Dactyls family, however, there were a few rooms off limits to certain people; even the boys. With Kevin’s knack for curiosity, when the boys approached a door they never noticed before, he naturally wanted to see what was in the room. When they discovered that the door was locked, it only made Kevin’s curious mind even more intrigued. Against Helios’ better judgment, Kevin insisted on finding a way in and had Helios be the lookout. Even with his habit of stealing trinkets from around the castle, Kevin didn’t have the knowledge of lock picking, so he did the first thing that came to his mind… he backed up and prepared to ram the door. Helios objected, worried that his brother would hurt himself running into a metal door; but Kevin went right through it. Not expecting to actually run through the door, Kevin fell to the ground. Helios, who had abandoned his lookout spot, ran over to his brother and helped him up. They only focused on the broken down door for a second and skipped right over the fact that there wasn’t a scratch on Kevin; the legendary sword of Tierkres was displayed before them and it stole their gaze. When Jason discovered what had happened, both boys were punished for their actions. Helios, however, took a more severe punishment; one that ended seeing him sent off to learn how to be a warrior.

Growing Up

Kevin grew up in Argos, going to school and studying to be King one day. His childhood wasn’t much different than most other children, except that he came from royalty. He and Jason had no fear about him attending school like the rest of the noble children; however, Selene was always against it, fearing that Jason’s enemies would come after him through Kevin. There was only ever once incident that danger presented itself while Kevin went to school, and that was a message from The Saphron Brotherhood, a group of assassins who consistently paid to go after Jason. The teacher, Miss Lufu Garnet, was able to prevent anything serious from happening. For this, and the way he was treated by his classmates, Miss Garnet offered self-defense training for Kevin to Jason. Although reluctant, Jason and Selene saw the importance of this and thought that this would be the most discreet way to handle it.

Arrival in Draconis

At the end of autumn in 976, Kevin (now officially going by his “Steel Tip” moniker) arrived in Draconis. In order to reclaim the Argosian throne, he needed to find the legendary Spectrum.  At the end of Icarus’ training of Kevin, he informed him the only true way to prove who he was, would be to produce the sword. Although he had never seen it, he was aware of it through Jason; as it was an item of importance to the Dactyls family, dating back to the first recognized ruler, Leopold Dactyls.

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First Appearances to Kaos

When Kaos Kreegan and his sister were young, their mother brought them to the city of Viscosa to prepare for a celebration at Atalatha.  On the way there, the children noticed the presence of a wolf at their heels.  Still, the wolf shadowed the Kreegan family for the duration of their travel to the capital.  At some points, they even thought that he was playing with them.

Reconciliation with Kaos

Following his time in Fostervilla, Kaos returned to his childhood home, rebuilding it for the second time.  After some time spent there, he noticed that a wolf frequently spent time nearby.  Initially, he had planned on trapping and killing the animal, wary of the wolf’s fearlessness.  However, after some time reflecting on its behavior, Kaos determined that it was a simple curiousness.

Dirk was named as such because of the lighter patch of grey that appears on his forehead.  After that meeting with Kaos, the two were nearly inseparable.  Whenever Kaos needed to gather supplies, Dirk wouldn’t be far behind.

Eventually, when Kaos determined that dangers were still encroaching on his home and his country, he traveled north to meet with his old family friend, Stephen Caista.  Once there, he joined the Raleighn military.  However, with his personal knowledge and skills, Kaos worked better as an individual, and was permitted to serve with Dirk beside him.

After the War and Capture

After the fall of Ippius and Blacklehn, Kaos and his allies spent time rebuilding various hamlets and towns along Raleigh’s northern borders.  Dirk remained by his side during this time.

When Kaos returned home, Dirk traveled beside Steel Tip for a brief while.  However, during those travels, Dirk was captured by Atalathian poachers due to his size.  From there, he was brought into Atalatha, where he was intended to fight the reigning champion of the coliseum, Geylard the Great.

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Family and Early Life

Alicia Mane was born on Nehr 8^th, 959.  Her father was a heroic adventurer named Eltan Mane, who was best known for his role in the fall of Roark, the tyrannical undead king of Blacklehn.  Later, Eltan was given permission to begin construction on the city of Atalatha, which evolved to be even bigger than Viscosa, Raleigh’s capitol city.  He took on the title of Duke, governing over the city.

Miss Mane was unfortunately unable to know her mother, Kyra, very well.  During her fifth birthday celebration, Alicia’s mother passed away to illness.  It was during that tragedy that she first met the Kreegans.  The Eltans and the Kreegans developed a brief friendship, despite the difference of their class.

Manifestation of Powers

Nearly ten years after the tragedy of her mother’s death, Alicia heard rumors of Michael Kreegan returning to the city.  She attempted to reconcile with him, during an event at the fledgling coliseum, but was unable to find him.  Instead, she intended on meeting him at the inn where she knew he was staying.

When she arrived at the Centurion, Michael had already left for his home.  Instead, she was approached by a band of thugs, who were searching for the winner of the coliseum event.  Finding her instead, they attempted to sexually assault her, and kidnap her for ransom, before they learned of her high stature.  She didn’t let them ruminate on her position for long, however.

Desperately trying to escape, a fire shot forth from her hand.  The Centurion burned to the ground, along with the thugs that attacked her, and the owner of the inn.  She never spoke of her involvement to anyone.

Atalatha’s Youngest Diplomat

Following the tragedy at the Centurion, Alicia spent a long while trying to forget about the cruel images that plagued her memories.  Much time was spent grooming her to be an aid for her father.  She became a diplomat, traveling to other Raleighn towns when he could not.

She also spent some time within the capitol of Viscosa.  There, she pursued a brief education, specifically trying to figure out more about what had caused the fire to leap from her hands all those years before.

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Early Life

Michael Kreegan was born to country folk in the plains west of Atalatha, on Flamedays 12^th, 957.  His parents, Tessik and Elly, had a small farm, and were pleased to have a child around who could help them tend their home.

Two years later, Adelia Kreegan was born.  The two children were inseparable.  They would often play among the countryside, investigating caves for treasure and imagining that they were great heroes.

Before either of the children was very old, Michael was afflicted with a terrible illness.  Neither of the parents thought that he would survive.  Adelia watched over him though, and was present when Michael developed his uncontrollable precognition.  The children kept his power a secret from their parents, worried that danger might befall them if the truth was known.

Growing Up

When Michael was very young, Tessik would often talk about the city to the east.  Atalatha was a city of gold, a city of wonders, according to the patriarch.  In Nehr of 964, an invitation to the city was received by the Kreegans.  Knowing that they would only have one opportunity to live like royalty, the family made plans to attend an event in Atalatha.

Elly took the children south, to Viscosa, the capitol of Raleigh.  There, they briefly met with Cedric Renzeya, the captain of Viscosa’s guard.  It was his influence that convinced Michael that he wanted to be a soldier.

When they arrived home, the Kreegans had a carriage waiting for them.  They traveled to Atalatha, where Michael formed fast friendships with David Garus and Alicia Mane.  He also fell under the attention of Stephen Caista, a trained swordsman that served with the city’s guard regiment.

Unable to stave off the urge to swing a sword, Tessik began training his son in combat, as best he could.  He was a farmer, however, and didn’t have much experience to offer.  Instead, he hired the swordmaster from Atalatha.  Stephen and his younger brother, Zachariah, came to live with the Kreegans.  Michael began his training under Stephen’s watchful eye.

When war broke out between Raleigh and Blacklehn, Tessik was drafted to the front lines.  Stephen remained behind, continuing his training with Michael.

In 972, Stephen convinced Michael to return to Atalatha to prepare and train for a gladiatorial contest later that year.

Tessik arrived home from the war shortly after, but not without injury.  The elder Kreegan’s arm had been amputated.  He returned with more grim news as well.  Stephen had to take his place at Sentinel Pass.  Both of the Caistas left the Kreegan home, leaving Tessik to take over his patriarchal duties.

Together, father and son returned to Atalatha to enlist Michael in the gladiatorial combat that Stephen had prepared him for.  Much to his regret, Michael lost the contest to his childhood friend, David Garus.  Disappointed, the Kreegans returned to their farm.

Becoming a Warrior

Becoming a Man

On Flamedays 12^th, 974, Michael and his father set out to the west.  Tessik told his son of a place called the Valley of Mists, where he would learn what it took to become a man.  While there, he met with Cedric Renzeya once more, learning more facets of combat from him and his soldiers.

The Family Falls

After the time spent in the Valley of Mists, Michael returned home, eager to tell his family of his experiences.  When he arrived, however, he found his house burned to the ground.  Try as he might, he could find no survivors.

Fostervilla and the events thereafter

In his moments of weakness, Michael decided to travel to Fostervilla, to see if his family had somehow ended up escaping there.  When he arrived, penniless and broken-spirited, his life fell into even more disarray.  Too poor to commit himself to decent lodging, he slept on the streets, avoiding the discerning eyes of the guards as best he could.  He began stealing from people with the intention of giving them back their goods later.

Unfortunately for Michael, he was discovered by members of a group called the Syndicate.  Apprehended, he was given an ultimatum: Join their ranks or die.  Opting to join the syndicate, Michael took on a new name, Kaos.  Little did he realize at first, but the Syndicate was actually a guild of protectors of the city of Fostervilla.

During his time among the guild, Kaos began finding himself on a balancing act within the city.  A rebellion broke out, and he found himself caught on both sides.

New Recruit

Joining the Raleighn Army

Following the massacre at Fostervilla, Kaos left the city.  While some of his earlier whereabouts are unknown, he joined the Raleighn army with a wolf named Dirk at his side.  He reconvened with Stephen Caista, who had been promoted to a general of Raleigh’s army.

The Hunters

Stephen recognized Kaos’ skills as an individual, rather than a simple soldier, thanks to his training in the Syndicate.  The general sent him on reconnaissance missions, and the two briefly planned on a foray into Blacklehn.

Before the sojourn to Blacklehn, however, Kaos met Steel Tip, the ranger from the south, and the two quickly formed a friendship.

The Alliance

The war against Blacklehn quickly deteriorated when the country of Ippius joined the fray.   The island nation assisted Blacklehn with an addition of soldiers, as well as a fleet of airships.  The war continued for three long years.

After the War

When the last airship fell, Ippius withdrew from the war.  Without its ally, Blacklehn was forced to retreat.  Kaos and Steel Tip took measures to repair some of the damages that had been done to the northern villages of Raleigh.  Stephen’s unit was decimated.  Only his horse was found.

Finally, Kaos returned home, ready to avenge the deaths of his family.

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Entymology

In western Raleigh, there is a valley that exudes a thick fog.  Throughout the course of history, people have considered that it might have been anything from steam from a multitude of geysers to smoke that flowed from a volcano.

Those that have entered the Valley of Mist have never been able to discover the source of the haze.  Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to have any unpleasant effects on nearby cities, or the temporary inhabitants.  Still, the mist can be a bit unpredictable, and it does happen to shield many of the fauna that considers the valley home.

Geography, Environment and Research

Keeping to its namesake, the valley is entirely filled with mist.  Visibility is severely stunted within the place, but that hasn’t stopped people from visiting.  In fact, Viscosa had at one point employed laborers to quarry stone and iron from parts of the valley.  They abandoned the idea several months in, as workers were constantly caught unaware of animal attacks and worsening weather conditions.

Orcs from Genger-mar are also known to have studied the place for some time.  A multitude of shamans believed that the place was holy ground, and some of their totems can still be found within the darker groves and the recesses of the mountains that surround it.

The Valley of Mists has a self-sustaining ecosystem that the humanoid races can very rarely survive without a tremendous amount of foresight.  Mountain lions prefer the area immensely, thanks to the larger game that believes the mist can protect them throughout the year.

Mythology

While the orcs tend to believe that the valley itself is a holy relic, others have begun to circulate rumors that it actually protects an important artifact.  Rather than the mist being created through a natural occurrence, it has been speculated that some arcane item is producing the tremendous fog.

The people of Viscosa are apt to believe that Victor Raleigh actually sent his men to the valley not to quarry stone, but rather search for whatever might have caused the haze.

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Geography and Environment

South of Fostervilla, a great oasis stretches through the sand.  It is thought to be the widest oasis on Draconis.  The people of the city use it to provide water for drinking and sewage.

It is also a small, self contained ecosystem.  Birds of the desert frequent the area, as well as several different species of rodents and insects.  One of the only known creatures to endure the vile deathwinds outside of Fostervilla, the yulik, also calls the oasis home.

Entymology

Visitors to the oasis have taken to calling it the Deepwater Oasis for centuries.  The sultans of Fostervilla have always deemed it a crime to place a boat within the sacred place, and as such, the depth of the place has never been proven.  Still, various people have attempted to swim to the bottom, and none have found success.

Mythology

The Deepwater Oasis is thought to be a gift from the god Hudorian.  It is said that he took pity on the people of Fostervilla, and blessed them with the reprieve of water and shade.  As such, the citizens built a temple to Hudorian in the sand that faces the oasis.  It stands just outside of the walls of the city, and can be accessed via a subterranean passageway.

It is also thought that the oasis may hold healing properties.  Some even believe that the malignant illness that affronts those affected by the deathwinds could be remedied by the waters of the oasis.

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Geography and Environment

Between the countries of Raleigh and Blacklehn, there is a long canyon that serves as a pass through the Great Boundary mountains.  It is miles long, and splinters off into myriad other passages, but the central, largest path is called the Sentinel Pass.

Within that path, the ecology of the place is somewhat barren.  There are trees and shrubs here and there, but nothing that could sustain a great deal of life.  The offshoots of the Sentinel Pass lead to more lush offerings.  There have been expeditions into the pass, but because of wars, the exploration has been mostly speculative.  Rumors say that deep within the pass, there is a cordus tree grove.  They haven’t been substantiated thus far, however.

History

Early Encounters

In the earliest days of travel through the Sentinel Pass, explorers sometimes happened upon each other frequently.  Orcs, dwarves, kobolds and humans all vied for control of the resources within the canyon.

At some points, these races skirmished with each other, testing their resolve.  As time went on, more races seemed to crawl from the shadows within the place.  Rockbiters and goblins felt they deserved their own portion of the valuables.

Some say that within the deeper veins of the canyon, battles still rage on.  Most people are too concerned with the main stretch to care, however.  Blacklehn has managed to move into several of the secondary passages, where they employ slave labor to work the mountains.

It is also said that dragons tend to frequent the pass, yet they give very little attention to whoever travels, fights or squabbles below.

Contestation between Raleigh and Blacklehn

Since the fall of Roark in Blacklehn, Galen Fowler’s foothold in the northern country has been impressive.  His taste for expansion has grown ravenous over the years, however, and he began setting his sights on Raleigh.

Sentinel Pass was the primary point of entry into the southern country, but his initial attacks may have proved too aggressive.  The people of Raleigh were able to press the Blacklehnians into the canyon once more, and developed a solid defense against any reinforcements.

The town of Sentinel was built in the south, while Fort Brandish was erected just north of Blacklehn’s entrance.  Since the first battles, Sentinel Pass has been a heavily contested territory, but neither nation has been able to press far enough on either side to make a solid difference.

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Mythology

The volcano, Mount Scourge, originally went by a different nomenclature.  In the old days, there was a godlike being named Aestir, who was said to be able to manipulate fire.  Unlike pyromancers, he could create the element from nothingness.  They named the volcano after him during the earliest eruptions.

Entymology

The volcano is called Mount Scourge now because of more recent events.  After one of its later eruptions, black ash coated the mountains and the area nearby.  Nothing was able to grow in that poison, lending name to the place.

Physical Appearance

Mount Scourge stretches high into the sky of northeastern Raleigh.  It is covered by a layer of frost which insulates it, and often sends out a fine mist because of the duality of its nature.  It is one of the more easily traversable volcanoes of Draconis, which led it to be a very popular attraction for cults.

The land around Mount Scourge and the range it belongs to has become somewhat broken over time.  It is said that entire mountains fell in upon themselves, and avalanches have ripped the land asunder.  Long bridges connect various places around Mount Scourge, fighting against the tumultuous weather patterns that frequently assault the area.

History

Early Eruptions

The mighty Aestir was a powerful being that felt scorned by the world around him.  He ravaged towns and ransacked castles and fortresses, and withdrew to his sanctuary somewhere in the vicinity of the volcano.  People began to associate the two, considering the man as the personal manifestation of the giant landmark.

Whenever Aestir felt threatened, it seemed that the volcano erupted.  Historians are skeptical that these events were anything besides coincidental, however.

Major Eruption

Aestir’s vile acts knew no bounds.  Over the course of months, he made his name painfully known to all within Raleigh.  His actions had even become known to Cracius and Daltain, yet always, he seemed to return to the volcano in northeastern Raleigh.

Finally, a group of stalwart adventurers set out to bring him to justice.  The truth has been lost to history, but legend has it that a powerful knight sacrificed his life to cast them both into the caldera.

The magma inside began to churn, and the mightiest explosion of all rocked the surrounding area.  Black ash cast down upon the land, destroying any chances of life finding a foothold there.

War Beneath the Ash

The formidable eruptions of Mount Scourge have not always been completely disadvantageous.  During the latest of Raleigh’s civil wars, one of the armies had access to a mighty diviner.  He correctly predicted the upsurge of an ash cloud, and convinced his leader to equip his men more properly beneath it.  It was a deciding factor in the Raleigh family keeping the country as more than just a namesake.

Winter’s Hammer

Mount Scourge remained a bitter, terrible place for generations.  Blinding ash obscured the sky without refrain, and nothing could grow upon the battered soil.  Breathable air was scarce, and the heat was unbearable.

An orc shaman named Gol’Tarosh was reaching the end of his days.  Knowing that he wanted to give his body back to the land, he made a pilgrimage to Mount Scourge.  With his enchanted hammer, the Crystal Tear, he struck down his energy, invigorating the land once more.

The volcano spat forth hot ash, but when it rained down upon the ground, it had become snow.  Neither Gol’Tarosh or the Crystal Tear have ever been found, but his desires were rewarded.  New life began sprouting upon the mountains and the surrounding area.  Even beneath the blankets of snow, nature has begun to rejuvenate.

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Entymology

The Spirit River was originally named for the mournfulness it left upon many people who underestimated its deadly currents.  People who did not give it proper caution were swept away or beneath the waters, never to be seen again.

As time progressed, and more care was given, it became a more culturally powerful symbol.  The Spirit River took on a new meaning as the spirit of the people who grew in the presence of its bountiful gifts.

Geography

The Spirit River is the longest river in Draconis.  It originates in the Great Boundary mountains, and runs all the way through Daltain, where it pours into the south sea.  Along the way, it borders cities, and helps to separate the countries of Daltain and Warus.  It is its fiercest south of Atalatha and just to the west of Viscosa, but the two cities have found ways to harness it and have subjected it to human influence along the way.

Crossings

Since growing warier of the dangers of the river, the races of Raleigh have expressed increasing ingenuity regarding its crossing.

Just south of Atalatha, a monumental viaduct called the Lucerion Bridge was constructed in conjunction with Maximus Xanders and Duinador Proudfoot.  It was originally planned to function as a barracks as well, but Maximus instead wanted to focus on a special type of artillery on the bridge’s high parapets.

Far to the south, Viscosa utilizes ferries to transport people from one side of the raging rapids to the other.  On the western banks of the river, the city is even further colonizing.

History

Early History

The Spirit River made early human pilgrimage from western Draconis very difficult.  People were able to venture far to the north or south to circumvent the wild currents, but it would take many days to make the journey.  Instead, pilgrims would take their chances and tempt fate, opting to ford the river or even swim across.  More often than not, the body of water was deceptively dangerous, and swallowed family members away from each other.

In time, many of the populace decided to settle near the river because of the way it aided in irrigation.  The basins nearby proved to be excellent farm ground, and many small towns and hamlets began to spring up beside it.

Colonization and Culture

At several places along the Spirit River’s flow, massive cities have grown.  Viscosa, the capital of Raleigh, spread wide across the plains east of the river, and the walled portion of the city sits upon a hill that overlooks the waterway.  It happens to be one of very few rivers on mainland Draconis that a large ship can travel upon, and sailors often spend time at one of the many taverns of Viscosa.

Much further north, the city of Atalatha was settled around the river.  They artificially forked much of the river, causing it to flow through the city in a much more reserved manner.  They use this channel for irrigation, sewer control and also for funeral services for some of the higher class and more important citizens.

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