Ventus the Conqueror

**Ventus the Conqueror**, whom Venthalia is named after, was a legendary viking from the ancient frozen land of Roy, who led the first human expedition to the continent of Venthalia about 1,127 years ago. Wielding the mighty adamantine great poleaxe, Dawnbringer, and riding his Great Lion, Althion, into battle, Ventus became a symbol of fear and awe as he conquered the entire continent in just 12 years. His arrival marked the beginning of the Venthian calendar (After Ventus, or AV).

## The Journey to Venthalia

Little is known about Ventus's early life, but it is understood that he was born and raised in the harsh, frozen lands of Roy. Ventus displayed a natural talent for leadership and combat from a young age, eventually rising to prominence as a formidable viking warrior. Ventus led a fleet of three ships, with his own vessel named "The Dawnseeker", on a treacherous journey to Venthalia. Accompanied by approximately 700 soldiers, women, and children, Ventus was determined to explore and conquer the unknown continent.

## Conquest of Venthalia

Upon arriving at the northern coast of Venthalia, Ventus and his forces first encountered the Baagians, fierce and agile warriors who had mastered the art of guerilla warfare in the dense jungles of Venthalia. The Battle of Whispering Canopy marked the beginning of Ventus's conquest of Venthalia, as his forces swiftly overcame the Baagians defenses and claimed their territory. Ventus's general, Brynjar the Wise, devised a cunning strategy to draw the Baagians into open combat, where they could be more easily defeated. As a result, the Baagians were forced to bend the knee to Ventus, who continued to expand his rule. Ventus's forces then clashed with the native Gnomes in the south, who were skilled in the arcane arts. Despite their magical prowess, the Gnomes were no match for the might of Ventus and his warriors. This victory signaled Ventus's intention to subdue the entire continent. As Ventus's conquest continued, his forces faced the formidable Tortles and Orcs, who had formed an unlikely alliance in an attempt to repel the invaders. The Battle of the Raging River saw a bloody and brutal confrontation between Ventus's army and the combined forces of the Tortles and Orcs. Astrid the Bold, one of Ventus's most trusted warriors, led a daring charge across the river, breaking through the enemy lines and ultimately securing a decisive victory for Ventus. In modern day, the remnants of the Tortle population live in a small colony in the swamps of the Raging Bay.

After Ventus conquered the land, he turned his attention to building a grand castle that would become the heart of his empire. Named Althea Prone, it was to be a testament to his power and a symbol of his rule. To construct this magnificent city, Ventus decided to enslave the Orcish population he had defeated in battle, forcing them to labor tirelessly on this monumental undertaking. This marked the beginning of the 1st Slave Trade, as more and more of their kind were captured from the mountains and brought to Althea Prone to toil under the watchful eye of Ventus and his generals. As the years passed, a city grew around the castle, growing in size and splendor, but the Orcish people paid a heavy price for its creation, as their freedom and dignity were stripped away in service to the great Conqueror.

During his conquest, Ventus also faced the treacherous ecosystem of Venthalia, battling monstrous and terrifying creatures such as dragons, giants, and dinosaurs. Among his most notable victories was the defeat of Jungle King, a titanic Stone Giant that guarded the entrance the vital mountain pass to Lake Vovriga. Ventus personally fought the creature, delivering the killing blow with his mighty poleaxe, Dawnbringer. In doing so, he cleared the path for his forces to march through the mountains, further solidifying his control over the continent. Throughout his rule, Ventus continued to face numerous challenges, from quelling uprisings among the native inhabitants to dealing with incursions of monstrous beasts. However, his indomitable will and the loyalty of his generals and soldiers allowed him to maintain control over Venthalia until his death in 127 AV, at the age of 155. Ventus's extraordinary legacy endures through the Kingdom of Althea and the annual celebration of Ventmas, a testament to the impact of his conquest and the unyielding spirit that drove him to shape the destiny of Venthalia.

## The Leviathans

Institute historians aren't entirely sure how Ventus killed the leviathans. Some suggest his armies and soldiers vanquished the beasts, while some believe the leviathans never existed in the first places, being too fantastical. Many Venthalians adhere to the traditional legends and folklore of Ventus conquering the beasts himself, singlehandedly. Although extravagant and most likely hyperbolic, the legends go on to detail his victories against the sea-beasts:

Venthalian legend has it that Ventus's first battle against the leviathans was with the fearsome Hydra, a multi-headed serpent that lurked in the depths of Venthalia's waters. It is said that Ventus and his crew faced the beast on the open sea, as its many heads emerged from the water to attack the ship. In an incredible display of strength and agility, Ventus leaped from one head to another, severing them with his mighty poleaxe, Dawnbringer. Some legends suggest that as each head fell, two more would take its place, but Ventus persisted, eventually cauterizing the Hydra's necks with the enchanted flames of his weapon, stopping the beast's regeneration and vanquishing it once and for all.

The second leviathan that Ventus faced was the Dragon Turtle, an enormous reptile with a shell as hard as steel and the ability to unleash a scorching stream of boiling water from its mouth. In a fierce battle, Ventus and his crew managed to ensnare the creature with harpoons and chains, weakening it by targeting its vulnerable underbelly. With a mighty strike from Dawnbringer, Ventus shattered the Dragon Turtle's shell, slaying the beast and claiming another victory.

Ventus's third encounter was with the Crustikan, an 800-foot armored crab with enormous pincers capable of crushing ships to splinters. Ventus and his crew lured the creature to shallow waters, where its immense weight caused it to become partially trapped in the seabed. Seizing this opportunity, Ventus leaped onto its back and struck at the gaps in its armor, ultimately piercing its vulnerable flesh and slaying the massive crustacean.

The fourth leviathan that Ventus faced was The Kraken, a monstrous cephalopod with tentacles capable of crushing entire ships. Venthalian folklore recounts that Ventus and his men devised a cunning plan, using bait to lure the Kraken to the surface. As the battle raged, Ventus is said to have leaped from the bow of The Dawnseeker onto the Kraken's head, hacking away at its eyes and brain with his poleaxe. With the beast's tentacles thrashing violently, Ventus held on and eventually delivered the killing blow, cementing his reputation as a legendary warrior.

The fifth leviathan to challenge Ventus was the Warnahl, a 900-foot-long tropical narwhal that could cast flames from its horn. Ventus and his crew engaged the colossal creature in a fierce battle amid stormy seas, dodging its fiery horn and retaliating with harpoons and arrows. In the end, Ventus delivered the decisive blow by severing the creature's horn, causing it to lose its power and succumb to its wounds.

The sixth leviathan Ventus faced was The Megalodon, a gargantuan shark capable of swallowing ships whole. Undaunted, Ventus dove into the depths astride Althion, with both confronting the enormous predator in an epic underwater clash. The stories describe Ventus battling the beast with his enchanted poleaxe, delivering a series of devastating blows. Ultimately, Ventus struck the fatal blow, cleaving the Megalodon's head in two and ending the threat it posed to Venthalia's waters.

The seventh leviathan that Ventus faced was the Ourobour, a colossal sea serpent measuring 1,200 feet in length with a unique twist: it had a head on both ends of its body. One head could unleash devastating bolts of lightning from its mouth, while the other could exhale a chilling, frozen wind. Ventus and his crew battled the monstrous Ourobour on the high seas, carefully navigating between its dual elemental attacks. In a daring and acrobatic display, Ventus leaped from one head to the other, landing precise strikes with his enchanted poleaxe, Dawnbringer. Eventually, Ventus landed the final, decisive blow, slaying the mighty Ourobour and adding another victory to his legendary conquest of the leviathans.

The eighth leviathan that Ventus confronted was The Great Aboleth, a colossal version of the fearsome aboleth, one hundred times its normal size. This behemoth guarded the Pearl Bay as its lair, using its psychic powers to manipulate and control any who dared to venture too close. Ventus and his crew managed to resist the creature's mind-altering abilities and lure it to the surface. In a grueling battle, Ventus struck at the Great Aboleth's many eyes and vulnerable underbelly, ultimately landing the killing blow and securing access to the valuable Pearl Bay.

The ninth leviathan in Ventus's legendary battles was The Kaiju, a monstrous creature resembling Godzilla from another universe. Its origins were unknown, and it was nearly indestructible, with the ability to fire a radioactive laser from its mouth. Ventus and his crew faced the creature on a desolate shore, using their wits and cunning to exploit its few weaknesses. They managed to incapacitate the beast temporarily, allowing Ventus to deliver a series of devastating blows with Dawnbringer. With one final, mighty strike, Ventus felled the mighty Kaiju, cementing his place in legend.

The climax of Ventus's legendary conquest of the leviathans came with his confrontation with the Triton, a towering, god-like merman creature wielding powerful magic, the strongest leviathan. Venthalian legend claims that Ventus faced the Triton in a battle of both might and wit, as the creature unleashed torrents of water and summoned storms in an attempt to defeat him. The climax of the battle saw Ventus and the Triton locked in combat on the beach of a desolate island, as the Dawnseeker's crew looked on in awe from the ship. Through sheer determination, Ventus overcame the Triton's magical onslaught and struck the final blow, defeating the last of the leviathans and cementing his place in Venthalian history.

Although many deny their existence in history, countless Venthalian sailors have recounted finding the bones and remnants of the beasts in their travels.

## Founding of Cities and Forts

Throughout his conquest, Ventus founded several forts and military outposts that would eventually become the cities of Krabesfield, Staunton, Axton, Lurie, Devon, Sladeion, Peral Port, Burth Port, and Rockbridge. These strategically placed outposts allowed Ventus to effectively maintain control over the vast continent. Krabesfield, in particular, is known for its walls and towers allegedly built from the carapace of the Crustikan, although some claim the armaments we're constructed from many Giant Crabs, the remnants of either answer are obvious, and can still be seen in the city's architecture today.

## Later Life and Legacy

Ventus ruled Venthalia until his death at the age of 155 in 127 AV, an unusually long life for a human. After his death, his three sons, Ronlucis, Bekram, and Alcabantus, established the three Great Houses of Sentus, Surenus, and Aurem, which would later form the cornerstone of the Kingdom of Althea.

Today, Ventus the Conqueror is remembered as a legendary figure who indelibly shaped the history and destiny of Venthalia. His conquests are still celebrated across the continent during the annual Ventmas festival, a day of universal drinking, brevity, and leisure, followed by a day of rest and recovery. This holiday is observed by all factions and even includes the participation of slaves, in accordance with Venthalian honor and tradition.