Asthlare

[Xanthuss]

Basics


Name of Realm:
The Draconian Asthlare Empire.

Motto:
Time is but a mere annoyance, for the soul is immortal and death cannot take you forever.

The Size:
The Asthlare Empire controls the entire island continent of Asthlare, and nearby island chain known as the Draca Isles. The island continent is about the same size as Australia in the real world, and the islands have a suspicious resemblance to the British Isles, if Scotland had been broken up in to many small islands and Ireland turned in to a burnt wasteland. The Draca islands also have many higher mountains than Britain, including the Mountain of Dragons, with is nearly the size of Kilimanjaro in the real world.

History:
The Asthlare continent and The Draca isles have been interconnected for many years. They had the same gods, and so in time, they became one realm. The first kingdom of Draca was Titus, which was smite by the gods when Fenris tried to kill the other gods. The second, Prometheses was split apart in to the chain of shattered islands that is what remains of what was once almost half the main Draca Island, by the first of the Asthlare Dragons when it dared try to slay the Dragon Lords.

The Dragon Lords themselves had governed Asthlare for the Gods for many a millennia. Gifted with ancient life and great power, the Dragon Lords would smite any one who dared oppose the Gods... In return they ruled Asthlare, either directly or indirectly. It was only until the Great Grand Lord Lejon dared argue with the God Mahak that the Dragon Lords lost even only fraction of power. Lejon and his Mate were banished to the Caves of the Dragon Lords for two thousand years, to sleep an enchanted sleep until they would be allowed to return.

In the meantime, Asthlare and the Draca Isle erupted in warfare, and many were massacred. Cities burnt eternally, as monstrous beings from peoples nightmares were summoned by evil Sorcerers and Wizards and sent to war against each other. And in the Realms that escaped such nightmares, the merely mortal Kings and Emperors battled each other in bloody wars that lasted scores of generations. Other, weaker, Dragons tried to take Asthlare, and many innocents were killed as almost every dragon in the realm became a sacrifice craving monster, holding villages and cities at ransom.

Great civilizations were lost, and two entire species were exterminated in the time of chaos known as the Ages of Despair. Many islands were sunk in to the sea, taking cities and towns with them, and once an entire kingdom was burnt to rumble by a Wizard. The Gods were horrified, and several of them fled in to hiding as the chaos they had set in motion took a hold of their world. Dozens of Demi-gods were struck down by mortal Wizards, and the Goddess Daha was once wounded so severely that all love in Asthlare vanished for a year and every baby born that year was horrifyingly ugly.

Finally the Gods relented, allowing a good Wizard to release the Dragon Lords from slumber a thousand years early. In a matter of years the Realm of Asthlare and Draca became peaceful again, and the Draco species became the dominant species besides Humans. This led to the time known as the current.


People of Import:
The Draconian Emperor, His Majestic Imperial Highness, Protector of the Asthlare and Sovereign Lord of the Dragons, Prince of The Draca Isles, Grand Duke of the Caves of the Dragon Lords and Earl of the Draconian Earldom, Lejon - The Emperor, Lejon, is an ancient and powerful Dragon Lord who was put under an enchanted sleep by the Gods many thousands of years ago for slaying one of their number. He was woken by the Wizard Eitri, and began the ruler of Asthlare and The Draco Isle's only 110 years ago. His mate is Freya and his son and heir is Lore.

The Crown Prince Draconian, His Majestic Highness, Duke of Wemcanter, and Protector of the Dragons, Lore - The Heir to the Throne, Lore is the son of Lejon and Freya. He is younger, barely 100 years old, which is barely a fledgling for a Dragon. He was born only 10 years after his father and mother awoke.

The Empress Draconian, Her Graceful Imperial Majesty, The Sovereign Lady of the Dragons, Protectoress of the Asthlare, The Countess of the Draconian Earldom and Grand Duchess of the Caves of the Dragon Lords, Freya - The Mate of Lejon, Freya is just as ancient as Lejon, and was roused by her mate from her sleep in the Caves of the Dragon Lords not so many years ago. She was also put under enchanted sleep by the Gods at the same time as Lejon. She has one Son, Lore.

Wizard of Olde, Draconian Knight and The High Adviser to the Imperial Crown, Sir Eitri Folki - An ancient Wizard, Eitri roused Lejon from his sleep in the Caves of the Dragon Lords and helped him bring peace to the land of Asthlare. He is now the personal friend of the Emperor and The High Adviser to the Imperial Crown.

Draconian Knight and Emperor's Champion, Sir Skari Dreon - A personal friend of Lore, Skari is a formable warrior and the Champion of the Emperor's Family. He is a Draco and at his birth, the God Ásvaldr was present, and a prophecy was laid over him; "Skari, boy of the Draconian Knights, thy life will be great, and thy heart large. One day, thy shall become the father of my race, one day in time, thy shall be the Champion of this god."

[Xanthuss]

Gods


Asthlare has also evolved much of a religion all of its own, though Lorien and Oerdun are recognized in it. Centred around the Goddess Daha, who is worshiped as the prime deity besides Lorien and Oerdun and is the Goddess of Love, the traditions of Asthlare say that Daha and her brother Mahak hold the world in check, the elements of Love and War holding the world in harmony, and that without them all would die in the world, even the Gods themselves.

The gods of Asthlare are:
Mahak - The Second God of War, Brother to Daha, Mahak simply came to exist sometime in the very beginning of the world of Ashaheim, at the same time as his twin sister. Sometimes called the God of Revenge, Suffering and Vengeance, Mahak keeps the hateful and war-like emotions and powers of the world in check. Together with Daha, he balances the world.

Daha - The Goddess of Love, Sister of Mahak, Daha came to exist sometime in the very begging of the world, at the same time as her twin brother. She has been referred to as the Goddess of Lust, Beauty and Female Fertility. Daha keeps the loving, devotional and sometimes lustful emotions and powers of the world in check and dispenses beauty among the people of the world. Together with Mahak, she helps balance the world.

Gudbrandr - The Guardian of Mahak and Daha, Gudbrandr is not strictly a god, though he could be considered the God of Warriors. He was created just after Daha and Mahak, and he is there younger brother. Gudbrandr is assigned the task of protecting the God of War and the Goddess of Love. He has been gifted with the power to split himself in to two bodies, both controlled by a single mind.

Fáfnir - The God of Greed, Lust, Sin and Ambition, Fáfnir is the first son of Daha and Gudbrandr. He is the manifestation of Greed, Lust and Ambition in the world, and his fate was sealed at birth by his mother, when she uttered the prophecy that governs his life: "For you, Fáfnir, life will be hard and power will seduce you, until your end, when you will become selfless and save a mortal life in exchange for your own; becoming what you were meant to be in that moment."

Ásvaldr - The God of Divine Miracles and the God of Prophecies, Ásvaldr is the second son of Daha and Gudbrandr. He is the god who performs miracles in the mortal realm, and no God but Lorien and Oerdun can perform a healing of a mortal without his blessing. He can see the future, and he bestows prophecies on the people of the world, and only Lorien and Oerdun can stop a prophecy that he has uttered from becoming true. Because of his great curse, he is almost never physically seen by anyone, even other gods, as he hides in his own realm.

Fenris - The God of Hell, Fenris is the son of Mahak and Daha and originally the God of Wisdom. He started the Great Schism and tried to kill the Gods of Asthlare. Fenris also created the first Hydra, and killed the Goddess Kelda. He was banished to hell and became the God of Hell when his plan failed and his banishment will end only at the end of the world.

Ári - The God of the Wind, Ári is the second son of Mahak and Daha. He is also the reincarnation of the Goddess Kelda. He holds the strings of the winds in his hands, and stops the world from being ravaged by the powers of the wind. Ári holds all the memories of both of his incarnations in his mind, and he is sworn to gain revenge on Fenris, which he can only do when the end of the world comes and Fenris's banishment ends.

Kelda - The Goddess of the Seasons, Kelda was the only daughter of Mahak and Daha. She was killed by The God Fenris and reincarnated as the God Ári. She pushed the seasons across the world, until her death, when the job of God of The Seasons was destroyed and the seasons began to control themselves, resulting the creation of the Spirits of The Seasons from her spilt blood (Father Winter, Mother Autumn, Daughter Spring and Son Summer).

The Great Schism

The Great Schism is the fate that befell Titus, the second kingdom of the continent of Asthlare. This war occurred when Fenris attacked the Goddess Kelda, killing her and smashing the Seasons, which in turn birthed the Spirits of the Seasons from Kelda's spilt blood (Father Winter, Mother Autumn, Daughter Spring and Son Summer). His worshipers, who lived in the kingdom of Titus, were killed when Mahak and Daha, together with Ásvaldr, Fáfnir and Gudbrandr all hurled their powers had Titus, burning the kingdom and entrapping Fenris in the burning of fire. Mahak and Daha then cursed him to hell, entrapping him there till the world’s end, when Ásvaldr prophesied that he would escape and he and Kelda's reincarnation would battle a battle that would shake the dieing world and end only when one of them was dead. Fáfnir then cursed him with all the greed, lust and ambition that every man and woman alive at the time felt, Mahak cursed him with the suffering of every person in Titus who had died, and Daha took his beauty from him, turning him in to a hideous monster. As he left this realm, he sliced open his arm on a fallen sword and his blood dripped on to a statue of a three headed monster, bringing it to life even as its creator vanished, and creating the first Hydra in the world.

[Xanthuss]

Native Species


Name of Race:

Draca

Physical Traits:
The Draca are human in appearance, except that they have many traits of a dragon; including draconic wings, pointed ears, reptilian eyes, sharp claws, fangs and patches of scales. They have as many variations in colour and body type as their father race, the Dragons, and they are much stronger than an average human. Some rare Draca go even further, with scales instead of skin, tails and being cold blooded even, becoming almost Humanoid dragons. Female Draca often lack wings though.

Homeland:
The Asthlare Continent and the Draca Isles

Racial Strengths:
The Draca are much stronger than humans, and most of them can fly as well. They are natural warriors, and they have long lives, with more than double the life span of a human. They are also all born with a trace of magical power, though sometimes it is so weak that it is useless.

Racial Weaknesses:
The Draca are hot headed and anger easily, sometimes even frighteningly fast, and male Draca can’t wear proper clothing or armour on their torsos, because of their wings. Draca are also cursed (or blessed?) with the inability to lie knowingly and they are unable to kill Dragons without the blessing of the Dragon Lords.

Cultural Practices:
The Draca live mainly with other species, adopting their own cultural practices. But almost all Draca believe the Dragons and the God Mahak and the Goddess Daha to be the only things worth worshiping; finding a Draca that worships another god is almost impossible.

History:
The Draca were created by the Goddess Daha and the God Mahak to fill the Draca Isles as a favour to the first Dragon Lord. The Dragon Lord was given one wish when he was birth, and he said that he wished that a species that was like him, yet not like him, and which would never turn on him existed. The God and Goddess fulfilled their promise, and created the first two Draca from the Dragon Lords mate’s two eggs, creating the species and blessing them with magical powers for all eternity.

From then on the Draca have interacted with the Gods and Dragon Lords much. Mahak walked with the Draca much in the first years of the world and he taught the ancient Draca many secrets about the Gods and about Magic. Then he left the Draca and Daha descended to walk with them, teaching them the secrets of beauty potions and of love potions and magic’s before she too left them. And before she left, she gave them her promise that she would always protect their race, and to this day the Horn of Daha is handed down to each of the Draca King’s upon his ascension to the throne and anyone who blows the horn can summon the God Mahak and the Goddess Daha to protect the Draca race.

After this time the Draca lived peacefully, reigned over by the Dragon Lord and their chosen King, for many century’s. Until the people of Prometheses rebelled against the Dragon Lord; this great crime caused the King of the Draca to march upon Prometheses, taking with him his main army. Together with the Dragon Lords, they smashed Prometheses, splitting the land apart with great magic and forces and turning it in to a shattered sprinkling of islands. Once again the Draca returned to a time of relative peace, only minor civil wars breaking out for an entire millennia and only a few pirates to worry the kingdoms borders. That was until the Gods enchanted the Dragon Lords in to a deep slumber, and the Age of Despair erupted. The Draca were outraged, and many temples were ransacked and burnt in retaliation, and entire monasteries massacred. The King was struck down by Mahak, his entire city burnt to a molten lake by the Gods anger and the Draca nation began to fall apart. Dukes and Earls and Barons warred over land and the Temples became warring powers as well. Pirates began to attack deep in to the land, and two great Wizards began to fight, sinking many of the small islands that surrounded the Draca Isles.

All of this war turned the heart of the species against the gods, and Daha began to falter as her worshiper’s streamed away from her temples. Once she was even attacked by a Wizard and badly wounded. This prompted the Gods to bring the Dragon Lord out of his slumber, and he slowly restored peace to the Draca, and Asthlare as well. And so the current time came around.

[Xanthuss]

Geography

http://i54.tinypic.com/2rqn5sg.png
Green is forest, Dark Olive is Jungle, Light green is grass plains, Off-white/Cream is Desert, Grey are mountains (With height shown by how dark grey the mountain is), White is snow and ice and featureless means it is unchartered.
The stars represent the largest cities in Asthlare and the Draca Islands.

The orange star is the Caves of the Dragon Lords and Draconian City, the town that clusters around the caves, making a living from the pilgrims who come to see the Dragon Lords.

The red star is Wemcanter City, a large fortified coastal city that is the capital of Asthlare, it is the home of the Dragon Lords Heir, Lore. The city is the economic center of Asthlare and it is the base for Asthlare’s navy and merchant marine.

The pink star is Sandvik, an ancient ruined city in the middle of the Blighted Lands that the Temple of Ari once stood in; the city is now a haunt of criminals and evil monsters, who are hiding from the Dragon Lords or the Gods; as it is said that an ancient curse keeps both the Dragons and the Gods from entering Sandvik and there appears to be substance to the myth, as the Dragon Lords and the Gods never pursue someone in to Sandvik. The city was once know as a name other than Sandvik; which means Sand, but that name was lost to time.

The purple star is Sturla, an ancient and rich but secretive coastal city. No outsiders have entered Sturla since before the Age of Despair and little is known of the city. It is rumoured that the knowledge which the Gods shared with the first Draca is hidden in Sturla's many library’s, archives and museums.

The yellow star is Kvívik, the sole large city that remains in the Broken Isles. It is a new city, built only after the Age of Despair, and it is rapidly growing. It serves the regional capital for the Broken Isles and the Wizard Eitri is the official Governor, though he is normally away, so a Regent serves in his stead. It is the second largest city in Asthlare, second only to Wemcanter, and the island of Kvívik is rich in metals and rare crystals, which have become the focal point of the city's economy, along with the plentiful fishing that abounds in the waters around Kvívik and the unique wild animals, of which many have magical healing properties.