The History

Everything we know about Aether before the awakening was taken from enchanted stone tablets found through-out the three scales of Aether. No one is certain on the author of the writings, but the first tablet stands in what we now call Aramoor but for the first humanoids it was simply the beginning.

## Condensed Lore

Aramoor is the centre of Aether, a gigantic land created by the Primordials dragon scales, given life by the Titans and cultivated by the Gods and Demi-gods. Mortals were once in a haze of godly superiority and subservience, until they awoke and records began when the gods left the Mortals to their own devices, their blessed forms all but abandoning the land as chaos and mortal whims began to consume even them.

The city has undergone a feast of sovereign drama and chaos and a sea of troubles and upheaval. Despite its bloody and difficult past, the city has risen above and beyond, learning from its past mistakes and pushing forward to maintain its status as the great centre of the world.

The year is 1240, Aramoor is now a bustling metropolis, home to a myriad of species and races, holding great opportunity for anyone to experience prosperity and success, be it legal or illegal...

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## Creation

This tablet told the first humanoids the story of two primordial beings, HuangLong and The Trickster, and how life was brought to Aether.

HuangLong is described as a dragon of epic proportions, as old as time itself, his domain is the Aetherian space that now surrounds our world. The Trickster heralded as the brother and antithesis of HuangLong came to live in his brother’s ever-growing shadow.

Before anything, there was the maelstrom, a cosmic storm of never-ending and unparalleled destruction. We are told through the tablets that HuangLong undid the maelstrom and organized the stars within to create what we now know as Aetherian space.

No one is sure about who came first HuangLong or The Trickster. Some theories that The Trickster is the older sibling and despised HuangLong for undoing the maelstrom and bringing order to the galaxy. Others claim that HuangLong is the older brother and when he brought order, he created the potential for chaos. Thus, the galaxy personified this potential as The Trickster in an attempt to balance the plain of existence.

Be it personal jealousy or the galaxy at work, The Trickster sought to undo HuangLong’s work. HuangLong was by far more powerful than The Trickster, drawing power from the order he had created. The Trickster devised a cunning plan to garner enough energy to overthrow his sibling.

The Trickster sought to acquire 4 scales from HuangLong, this would give the Trickster enough power to turn the tables. He approached HuangLong in many guises in attempts to trick him into giving up his scales. In one such attempt, it is claimed the two shared riddles until one could not be answered. Throughout all the tricks, manipulation, lying, and cheating, The Trickster had secured 3 of the 4 required scales to hatch his plan.

There was now a problem, HuangLong had grown aware of The Tricksters scheme and refused to entertain his antics anymore. This meant the last scale would have to be stolen. Whilst HuangLong was resting The Trickster snuck upon him and began to pull at one of the dragon's massive scales.

This awoke HuangLong, The Trickster caught in the act was met with the primordial’s full force. HuangLong trapped and sealed the Trickster's essence within the 3 scales in The Trickster’s possession and cast them into Aetherian space. The 3 scales fused, with grooves in between, because of the speed they were now traveling. The scales now contained the power of HuangLong and the power of The Trickster.

This union of Order and Chaos did something unprecedented; it created life. Unbeknownst to HuangLong, this was a part of The Trickster’s plan. By creating life in the galaxy, he created chaos that would slowly give him enough power to break his bindings and go against HuangLong, his brother.

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## The Titans of Aether

At the very dawn of time, the formation of the Aether, the dye was cast. For reality was created in two forms: one of substance form and logic and one of thoughts dreams and emotions. The material world, what we perceive as reality was later to be called the plane of Aether. The well of souls, the astral, the spiritual plane was later to be called the plane of Vessix and Sillia.

Some say that the planes were always contiguous but separate, some say that they were once one and that all reality was much simpler then. The plane of Aether and the plane of Vessix and Sillia were mostly unpopulated. They were blank canvases to be drawn on by the beings that were always meant to arise.

But as I have said there was hidden darkness that lurked amidst the dazzling splendour of that new dawn, beings that should not have existed. But we shall get to them later and so as is always the way for nature abhors a vacuum. A great race rose amongst brilliant and innocent days of those early ages of the Aether. This race was the Titans.

All that is known is that the Titans were forces of order, from their earliest days they were careful and cautious. Swearing oaths that by their action or repercussion from their actions they would not harm. They were not hasty, working slowly and methodically, accruing great wisdom, developing patience, compassion, and a love for all that lives and grows.

They learnt the keys to the planes, the realms of thought and feelings, spirituality, and balance. They became masters of the plane of Vessix and Sillia and would wield it like a mighty tool without compare. None have ever approached their magnificence, their might, their splendour, of all the races and ages that have come thereafter. For they always acted with a measured hand and forethought. They conquered the demons within, jealousy, anger, and spite. Making these daemons things of the past within their collective.

Once this had been done, they then decided how best to traverse this world. They created the Ways, corridors within the realms of Sillia and Vessix, sub-realms that they could walk from one side of Aether to the other in the blink of an eye. They could move to any point in the world without repercussion nor delay, for they cared for the plane of Aether and the plane of Vessix and Sillia.

Despite them being masters of the one, they know the import and gave honour to both. When they set out into the world and spread their word, their wisdom, their bounty, for their studies had brought them a state of being that was so aligned to the world, so naturally, so profound and sublime, that death and disease touched them not.

They were beings of order and akin to gardeners for where they went, they encouraged and cultivated life, bringing many a race to early sentients. Their knowledge of themselves gave them the skills to alter beings, to raise them, to enhance them, and when grown into the full bloom of consciousness, they would teach them, and they would guard them.

And thus, the Titans bestowed the Aether, and their presence was felt across it, their beauty made a thing for all. All but one, but if there is order, there is always chaos in equal measure. So, a race arose, to create the balance, the Giants.

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### Giants

The Giants were cursed from their first breaths, for they were not like the other races. Given their size, their strength, their intelligence they were better than all others, but this was also their shortcoming. Such hubris and grandeur ostracised them entirely from all other collectives on Aether. This isolation bread not only contempt for the shorter races but also great pain for the Giants.

The Giants required more food, more water, more space. This was something this world with all its races could not offer them. This caused early Giant life to be one of constant never-ending pain, short life spans, and misery. This went on to create a twisting in the souls of the Giants, for their lives were short and so racked with agony that all was a constant struggle, constant rage.

They fought against each other, against anything else that arose around them. They fought against their short life spans by developing an insane urge to be remembered to be lorded to not be forgotten. For if one has so shorter time to exist, one can only gain immortality via the actions one performs in the brief span allotted. Warlords came and went driving their race onwards until they come to master the plane of Aether, the material.

Their technology being the dominion of the plane of Aether, they tried to escape the creeping death of starvation that had leered down at them. But it was not to be, for when they sallied forth creating giant warbands, moving slowly across aether to conquer and colonize, even when they culled all that was previously resident, they still their people did not have enough. They could never escape this taint foisted on them as it was now written into their very being, their very existence.

This discovery that they would never be free of the pain of their existence drove their people and their culture insane. The bitterness it created turned to rage and as they spread throughout Aether, they did it the hard way, long were their warbands in transit and slow was their expansion.

As they reached new lands, the Giants no longer culled all life out of expedience or over territory or resources. They killed all out of jealousy and spite. They became a slowly expanding dark cloud across Aether, one that ate all it met.

Inevitably, inexorably the Titans and the Giants were to meet, and both recalled in utter shock. For the Giants, it was the answer to their prayers, all their goals in one. They met a race with the knowledge and power to alter them. To remove their pain and to then go on a grant them immortality. Their one most cherished desire to live. They hungered for these ways, possibly more than any race has hungered for anything since.

For the Titans, they were repulsed utterly. They saw the darkness in the Giants and knew it was no longer just that of form. For they had never looked within, they had never come to the answers that the Titans had because the Giants were no wise, they were not patient, they were not compassionate. They were not beings of order they were beings of chaos.

It is said that the Titans saw that the twisting of their forms had led to the twisting of their souls. But the Titans were cultivators the Giants were destroyers. Where the Titans brought up races and beings the Giants destroyed them or forced them into subjugation. The canker in their souls was now too deep and it made them things of evil.

And so, the Titans looked at the Giants and weighed the balance of their actions as they always did. If they gave the Giants their secrets it may well cure them, may well improve them. But what if it did not? What damage had been done to their psyches? What if their meagre souls were not able to be healed in this instance? If they would not change then the Titans would have made these nightmares of hate, spite, and murder into immortals. Their scourge would never be stopped. They could rule the Aether in a reign of terror from that day forward until the days when the very sunburned cold.

It was a risk the Titans, in their wisdom, simply could not take. It would not be they who paid the price, it would be every lesser race they had cultivated, raised, and taught. It would be the children that paid the toll if this were an error and this out of the love of life. Out of the pity they had for the younger races, out of mercy towards the Aether, they threw the Giants pleas back in their faces and denied them.

And so, the Giants declared war on the Titans. In the first stages of the war, the Giants were defeated again and again. Their warbands forged into huge armies still moved slowly and the Titan could their arts their Ways to appear in strength and crush the Giants. The Titans powers of the plane of Vessix and Sillia were something the Giants could not defeat. No matter how strong their armour or how sharp their blades were.

This the Giants were forced back to the fringes of the Aether, corralled, and cut off, jailed within their corner of this world, and then left to rot. Or so the Giants would have you believe, so the standard accepted wisdom states. But I believe that the old ones did this to prove that the knowledge of the plane of Aether, that the Giants so touted was always secondary to the knowledge of the plane of Vessix and Sillia, the wisdom of the souls. I believe that the Titans gave them mercy.

When they could have eradicated them to the least and the last, they did this. In the hopes that the Giants would delve inwards as they had no other option, they would look to heal themselves from within instead of trying to dominate that which was without. But in this hope, the Titans were utterly misguided. For they were beings of Order and could never understand or compromise the nature of hate and fear and evil.

So, the Giants looked at their home with their ever-increasing knowledge of the plane of Aether what we would call science they began to understand. Another force a dark malevolent one existed in this world. A creature I mentioned at the very beginning, a creature of dark power that hailed from the very dawn of time. For this being was made of energy and all though sentient was not of what we call form.

The Giants tried to contact them and eventually they did. They contacted the Trickster, using all their scientific knowledge bending every sinew of their minds and culture to forging a receptacle for them. And in that instant when they failed, the receptacle shattered, and all hope was lost, the Trickster shared some knowledge.

By this time the Titans had created a higher race known collectively in modern times as Gods, they did not share the same wisdom or power as the Titans, but they were no mere mortals either. The Trickster advised the Giants that these Gods would better vessels. The gods:

* Bephine
* Hrana
* Kheldir
* Lunar
* Phosphephos
* Tubiae

These gods were collected by the Giants and subjected to the same transference. Now with stronger Vessels, the Tricksters chaos manifested creating the Blighted gods. When the Tricksters energy was now clothed in skin and cloth, its sentience again aware of the lesser beings that inhabited its realm, the plane of Aether’s pandora’s box was opened.

The Blighted gods were demons of the plane of Aether and their power now directed, now awoken, now shown to them by the reckless Giants. It was only matched by their hunger and that was unquenchable. The Blighted gods then taught the Giants about the Aether, about energy, about time. In doing so they were never viewed as benevolent by the Giants, but they were seen as powerful. Powerful enough to take on the Titans and this the Blighted promised all that the Giants had been denied by the Titans. They promised freedom from pain, from death.

The Blighted gods in their twisted trickery promised the Giants immortality and this was accepted with zeal. All the Giants had to do was bend the knee and proclaim the Blighted gods as their masters. If they did this, they would not only gain immortality and freedom from pain but they would be given the power to exact vengeance on the Titans to bring them low and thus the Giants accepted.

With their Blighted gods of the plane of Aether to lead them, the second stage of the war began. It is here that we see the most important events of the galaxy for in those dark days the future course of the world was set. For the Titans could not stand before the power of the Blighted gods and Giants combined.

Long was the war fought for countless centuries. But eventually, the Titans were beaten again and again, and they saw the cost of their defeat. For when a Blighted god was not hurled back, carnage unprecedented levels was wrought entire populations were either culled by the Giants or consumed by their masters the Blighted gods. The Titans were losing and with so much at stake they took dire and drastic action. Seeing the forces of chaos crush and kill and destroy all that they had made all that they had done the Titans then weaponized the plane of Vessix and Sillia.

They used their arcane abilities unfettered and met the Blighted gods head-on unleashing forces that should never have been unleashed. They went so far as to betray their morals, some might say, by lowering themselves to changing more and more of the young races of Aether. To tinker with them, to alter them, to forge them into weapons. Many races began to develop arcane capabilities, the power to alter and use the plane of Vessix and Sillia as did the Titans.

Thus, with the remaining gods, humans, elves, dwarves, and others these beings were created by the Titans as entire warrior races designed to hold back and then destroy the Giants and their masters. As the Giants had opened the pandora’s box in the plane of Aether by clothing the Trickster the Titans opened the door in the plane of Sillia and Vessix and the Aether has never been the same since.

The plane of Vessix and Sillia, the realm of souls and spirits, did not wish to be used this it fought back against its desecration. Dark beings began to form in that realm, beings that would attack those talented in the arcane and the Titans wherever they were. These dark beings were called Arod and their advent was the death toll of the Titans. For the Arod hit the Titans and their armies of lesser races hard.

Between this new threat attacking them where they fought they were safe in the realm of souls and the onward rush of the Blighted gods. The Titans could not stand so they went down and were destroyed utterly by their foes, only four of them was said to survive the slaughter, only four out of their entire race.

But this was not the end of their races, their children, their weapons. Many survived the war, now that the Titans were destroyed the Giants turned on their masters the Blighted gods. But with centuries of planning and preparing the Blighted gods struck them down.

Just like the Titans all but one of the Giants survived the insurrection against their masters. The toll was so high, the carnage so astonishing, the Blighted gods did not have the power to then defeat those races that were the children of the Titans and this the Blighted Gods with the power and knowledge of the Trickster escaped into Vessix.

The remaining gods still loyal to the Titans, created a vessel of Order, to match the Blighted gods’ power. Creating their vessel and guiding the children races to create a tower and protect the egg, they too retreated to Sillia to continue the war with the Blighted gods.

## The Gods of Aether

Before the great awakening, the gods were the first humanoids guide, they were there to ensure the order of things remained as it were. In total 14 guides were created:

* Angra - God of Life
* Avanna - Goddess of The Dead
* Bephine - Goddess of Love
* FangXiang - God of Prophecy
* Hrana - God of Celebration
* Inir - God of Thunder and Skies
* Kheldir - God of Strength
* Lunar - Goddess of the Night
* Oris - God of Protection
* Phosphephos - God of Crafts
* Solaris - Goddess of the Day
* Syher - God of The Oceans
* Tubiae - God of The Arts
* Themega - Goddess of Justice

For centuries the races of Aether lived in idyllic harmony guided by the immortal guides bestowed upon by the Titans.  During the Titans war with the Giants ome of the Gods succumbed to the tricksters corruption.. The Gods split into two factions, the Divines, those that stood true to what their duty-bound them too. And the Blighted, those that were corrupted by the Giants beings  warped into twisted extreme versions of their previous selves.

### The Divine

* Angra - God of Life
* Avanna - Goddess of The Dead
* Bephine - Goddess of Love
* FangXiang - God of Prophecy
* Inir - God of Thunder and Skies
* Oris - God of Protection
* Solaris - Goddess of the Day
* Syher - God of The Oceans
* Themega - Goddess of Justice

### The Blighted

* Bephine - Goddess of Lust
* Hrana - God of Excess
* Kheldir - God of War
* Lunar - Goddess of the Night
* Phosphephos - God of Crafts
* Tubiae -  God of The Arts

The Divine witnessing this divide amongst them devised a plan. They would channel the order energy given to them by the Titans to create a vessel. This vessel will be abel to match the Blighted gods on Aether and defeat the chaos. But in doing so the Divine risked creating a whole, in which the tricksters corruption could pour in.

Something needed to be done, this was the only plan so the Divine set about creating the Vessel. Of all the Divines Bephine and Inir both disagreed with the plan. Inir claimed it was beneath him to save the humanoids that had forgotten him. Bephine was simply too enthralled in her affairs.

Of the 9 Divines, 7 started the ritual. It took months of isolation and constant magical channeling to create a Vessel. As the ritual was coming to an end Themega noticed that without Bephine and Inir to contribute their energy the vessel would be incomplete. Angra being the God of Life decided that he must complete the ritual and risk becoming Blighted to bring order to Aether.

This act created a dragon egg of pure white, a perfect vessel for HunagLong. Angra sacrificed his Divine status and became known as the Blighted God,  Angra the Lord of Loathing. The remaining Divines had to do what they could to protect the vessel. They set about guiding the humanoids to build a tower to house the dragon egg and a city for the protectors of HuangLongs vessel.

The tower was completed and the city had reached the size of a small village. The Gods had come together to erect a magical barrier around the settlement to invigorate anyone within, making them more resistant to damage to help protect the vessel.

The Divine gods of Aether unable to carry on guiding the humanoids, ascended to the plane of Vessix and Sillia to continue their war with the Blighted. As they asceneded the world awoke, from what was like a dream, all their memories vanished of the time before.

This event is known as the great awakening.

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## Aether and Aramoor

This time is referred to as the great awakening because it was akin to waking from a dream for the races of Aether. The humanoids awoke unfamiliar with their surroundings and their purpose. Before them stood a giant stone tower and the beginning of a settlement. Their only guide was an enchanted stone tablet, written upon its surface was the story of Aether’s creation and a message from the now ascended Gods.

The message warned the humanoids not to venture into the village or enter the tower. The humanoids adhered to these warnings and lived outside of Aramoor, to begin with. We know this because archaeologists have discovered remnants of early settled life far from the modern walls of Aramoor.

Not all of the early humanoids stayed near Aramoor, some left to seek out new land. It can only be presumed because of the other nations on Aether that some of these groups were successful in finding a new place to settle. As time passed it became apparent that the humanoids were not the only race on Aether.

Those who did return to Aramoor spoke of the lands further out: dragons had found their place on Aether, living in all kinds of environments. Aetherians inhabited the world, but dragons ruled it. So the township surrounding Aramoor was forced to expand as people returned and the population only grew.

The return of Aetherians who had originally left the safety of Aramoor told of enchanted stones, similar to one that stood near Aramoor. These stones told different tales of other gods not mentioned in the tablet at Aramoor.

With the news of other tablets around Aether with different tales and gods described upon them, the early Aramoorians questioned their tablet. Despite heading its warnings and living by its words the people were not rewarded or protected by their Gods.

With the ever-present threat of Draconem attack, the humanoids decided to make use of the village they had been warned not to enter. They ventured into the village but left the tower alone. This ushered in a peaceful time of gradual expansion and development for Aramoor.

However, over time, the population boomed and the settlement could not sustain so many individuals. This resulted in the erection of additional housing outside the initial boundaries of Aramoor.

With the growing population and peace, the people of Aramoor started to look inward for problems and thus began a great divide amongst its people. Those that lived within the boundary of Aramoor believed themselves to be better than those living outside. Since the establishment of Aramoor and it’s community the group had governed as a collective deciding on matters as a group. However, the people were divided and started to demonize each other. Now more than ever a leader was required to bring order to Aramoor.

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## Aetherian Magic

The souls are how those talented in the arcane are aware of the plane of Vessix and Sillia, that which has been twisted by the history of the Aether into the hell that it is today. It is the soul that powers the variabilities that those capable of magic, funnel and channel and form into the powers they display. When a soul is attached to a physical body is unknown. Be it on conception, its first thoughts or its first dealings, its first emotions. But they do exist, and it is this that makes them portals, makes them stand between our plane and the others.

A soul is a key to existence in both realms, as it is the spiritual shadow in the plane of Vessix and Sillia of the material being in the plane of Aether. Most sentients have one as we have seen, but here on Aether we are certainly not all created equal. Many are weak things, they are such a small light they are not and never will be the first choice if noticed at all by the Arod of the plane of Vessix and Sillia.

Some races have far more power in their souls than others. For many, despite having a soul theirs is not enough, not connected enough to the plane of Vessix and Sillia for them to exhibit arcane talents. That ability to not only see the plane of Vessix and Sillia but also to feel it, to command it and draw it on the plane of Aether.

Those who are talented in the arcane can manipulate the plane of Vessix and Sillia, they can draw it into the plane of Aether and by its application, they can perform wonders. They can bend the rules of this world. No two talented in the arcane are identical in their power and propensities towards certain known effects and pathways of knowledge of the plane of Vessix and Sillia. Each sentient who is talented in the arcane will also have things that they excel at, things that are simply impossible to them.

Many will say that the power of a sentient talented in the arcane is more a gift with specific realisations. The ability to call and control the very airs, to unleash violent storms at a whim, to read the thoughts of others and then potentially manipulate them, to bend others to their will like a martinet. The list of potential and documented abilities display by sentients talented in the arcane is almost limitless as it is defined and only truly constrained by the imagination of the psyche and the blocks and controls, they put on themselves consciously or subconsciously.

The reality is that nothing is beyond those talented in the arcane, they can use the power of the plane of Vessix and Sillia to alter the plane of Aether and it is only their lack of interest, willpower or patience that prevents them from being omnipotent. Of course, there is the strength of their soul match, to the variable of the strength of their ability to control and manipulate the plane of Vessix and Sillia. So, to the sentient talented in the arcane, there is a whole world of power to be explored but the plane of Vessix and Sillia is not a realm one would want to be in contact with at all.

For when someone develops arcane talents, their soul becomes brighter, their light shines into the plane of Vessix and Sillia as a beacon, but this can attract Arod, beings that are best left alone.

Over the cause of Aether’s history, there have been several prominent magical practitioners. A notable few throughout history are:

* Alburn, creator of soul-necromancy who used his dark arts to curse an entire bloodline
* Dulmyr Tygus, The greatest enchanter and weaponsmith in history.
* Pymicillia Aramal, an Elven druid master of fire, water, earth, and air.
* Setut of Kahnet, First Witch-King of Kahnet, grand unifier and founder of Nechatan
* Magas, Grand Witch-King and Arch Lictor of Nechatan, founder of necromany

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## The First King

Aramoor continued for a time without a ruler.  Tensions were growing amongst the now two distinct groups of Aramoor, those that lived within the pre-built walls and those that did not. Those living inside the walls looked after themselves first and made sure they were fed and watered before those living outside the walls.

Despite this divide times were peaceful, but they were not without trials and dangers. Dragons still ruled the skies and the beasts that roamed Aether still caused  Aramoor trouble. From time to time those that lived outside the walls and the protection of the magical barrier would be attacked, with no organized defenses many lives were lost.

The First King of Aramoor is a man straight out of legend. Modern Aramoorian’s don’t know the face or name of the first king, this information has been lost to history. Most depict the first king as their race. The only information passed down through the generations are the king’s feats becoming a great story the bards still tell to this day.

The First King was born outside of the walls of Aramoor. Tired of the Dragon attacks that kept befalling his kin and angered by the posturing of those living inside the walls he journeyed into Aramoor and the sacred Tower, looking for more answers. The First King was the first humanoid to set foot into the tower, he sought a sign from the Gods and thought the tower housed such an answer.

The First King found a giant white egg, be it predefined destiny or a coincidence, an almighty crack came from the egg and echoed throughout the tower. Hearing the crack a crowd of Aramoorians had flocked and crowded around the entrance to the tower. From within the tower appeared Aramoor’s, First King.

Besides the First King stood a golden dragon, HuangLong’s vessel created by the Divines Gods before the Great Awakening. The people believed the dragon was a sign he was chosen by HuangLong himself to rule. The dragon was given the name HuLing by the First King, now Aramoor had a leader and a protector.

The First King made it his first act to officially annex the area outside of Aramoor, stating that all will be treated equally under Aramoor’s rule.  None shall suffer simply because they live outside of the walls and the magical barrier. The First King made it a point to protect the growing village from every attack going forward. The tower was also renamed the Dragon Spire.

HuLing had no trouble carrying the First King and was capable of flying with him just a month out of the egg. At first, HuLing was rarely flown unless Aramoor was under attack. Over time the protection of Aramoor became easier and easier as HuLing grew to a greater and greater size. She was a mighty dragon.

Aramoor could now grow, free from the fear of dragon attacks, in a short amount of time Aramoor grew into a small kingdom, ruled fairly and kindly by the First King. Although with the size of the realm ever-expanding it was getting more difficult to govern effectively. Frustrated at his inability to rule as he did in the early days, the First King looked outwards.

He started to ponder his existence in this world, was he the only person with a dragon companion on Aether and were they alone. With his curiosity to motivate him The First King started venturing out of Armoor on HuLing to search the scales.

He flew over: frozen wastes, forests, jungles, and deserts in search of signs of life. He was not disappointed and made contact with other nations strewn about the scales. Despite making contact with a large variety of individuals there were no others like him.

As the First King started adventuring more and more  he needed more people to govern Aramoor in his absence. Makigo Kurnus was set up as the regent of Aramoor. Makigo was an elf and friend of The First King. He is a dutiful scholar and is responsible for committing most of The First King’s achievements to record. Makigo referred to the King as the Great King, later this would be revised to the First King.

Makigo took his role seriously and began to expand Aramoor more and more, implementing legislation and governmental reforms that strengthened Aramoor’s position, both politically among the other nations and financially. Makigo is most famous for the implementation of today's trade tax, taking advantage of Aramoor’s unique situation as the center of Aether.

Trade between the scales of Aether was difficult. The Gorge is difficult to traverse and hard to navigate. The easiest way to get goods from one scale to the other was to go through Aramoor. This presented a unique opportunity that was seized by Makigo. Every good that came through Aramoor would be taxed 5% of the value of the items at import and export. This tax bolstered Aramoor’s coffers tremendously and allowed for bargaining between nations for favorable rates and embargos.

With the influx of glimmer, Aramoor invested heavily in public projects improving the lives of its citizens. These public projects created plenty of jobs within Aramoor and incentivized immigration to Aramoor from all over Aether. In a short space of time, Armoor grew more and more with each passing year.

The First King played his part in Makigo’s work as well. When the King would first meet with distant civilizations he would broker a trade deal with them, trading a resource they needed for one of theirs. The civilization benefited from the goods and Armoor benefited from the tax. Whenever the First King returned he would always come back to a bigger Aramoor. Their rule was a golden age for Aramoor.

However one day something changed. The King was old and had fallen severely ill, he was bedridden, unfit to rule. Makigo as the regent carried on Governing Aramoor as he had done all these years, under orders of the King, Makigo did not tell anyone of the King's current status. When asked he said he was out on one of his adventures.

It is said HuLing knew what was coming, on the day the King fell ill she flew to the Dragon Spire and laid a great number of eggs, then left Aramoor, unbeknownst to anyone. One week later the First King passed away in his sleep. Two days later a state funeral was held, his rule was celebrated and the First King was buried outside the Dragon Spire.

Aramoor had entered a state of mourning for the First King and HuLing. Among all this mourning there was one who did not mourn despite the loss of his friend. Makigo respected his friend but had grown resentful that the people celebrated the First King for his work, all because he didn’t have a dragon.

.

## The Succession Crisis

After the death of the First King, there was a power vacuum in Aramoor. Makigo had ruled as the First Kings regent for some time before his death, naturally, he continued as the regent. However, Makigo was fully aware that his role was only temporary, without a dragon he would never be accepted as King of Aramoor.

Makigo needed a dragon, there were wild dragons all over Aether but no one had ever tamed one to his knowledge. The only dragon he’d seen partner with a human was HuLing. This got Makigo thinking, the First King found his dragon in the Dragon Spire, maybe the gods will grant him the same gift. That very moment Makigo ceased court and traveled towards the Dragon Spire.

He paid his respects and entered the keep, not sure what to expect but it was not what he saw. At the base of the spire were many large eggs, they stood roughly half the height of a regular human. Makigo was ecstatic at this point, the gods had answered the prayers of Aramoor and granted them more eggs for their future kings. There was just one problem,  the eggs were not reacting to Makigo’s presence, at all.

This event destroyed Makigo. He truly believed he was the best option Aramoor had for a King, but it appeared to Makigo the Gods had another in mind. With this Makigo, utterly defeated,  spoke to the governors and aristocrats of Aramoor and arranged for anyone of note to travel to the Spire to see the eggs, in hopes one of them will be the next ruler.

Over the coming weeks, prominent members of society of all races from all over Aramoor were invited to the Dragon Spire to be presented to the eggs. It was a long and frustrating process as the candidate would be brought to the spire then sent in alone to wait 30 minutes with the eggs. No eggs hatched and Makigo was at his wit’s end by this point, he could not wrap his head around why the eggs had not chosen a ruler from among the most prestigious of Aramoor.

This is when the glimmer dropped, the first king was a peasant before he traveled to the spire, no one of note. Makigo now believed he knew what was required, he spoke to the governors about allowing anyone to come up to the Spire. The governors scoffed at his suggestion, to allow anyone to wield the might and prestige of Aramoor and give them the means to do so with a dragon, preposterous!

Hitting his head against a brick wall Makigo started to organize secret showings of the eggs at night to anyone who came along. It was during the third event when the greatly anticipated event took place, an egg started to hatch. The individual present at that moment was a young male half-elf called Vanrir Warlos. From the egg hatched a shiny black dragon, his scales mimicked the night's sky with all its stars, Vanrir named the dragon  Erebus. Vanrir was crowned one month later as King Vanrir Warlos the Second King of Aramoor

.

## The Second King

At the start of his rule, Vanrir wielded the full might and power of Aramoor and few dared oppose him and Erebus. However, he became apparent to the governors and aristocrats that Vanrir was a naive ruler and could be easily persuaded. First, the governors, angered by Makigo’s secret dragon egg viewings, convinced Vanrir to demote Makigo from regent to a simple bureaucratic role.

With Makigo out of the picture, Vanrir became a sheep in the dragon's lair. Over the years Vanrir’s power and privilege were slowly stripped away and granted to the governors and aristocrats. In the end, Vanrir was reduced from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one.

Despite this transition of power, Aramoor prospered just the same. Makigo’s trade tax still bolstered Aramoor’s glimmer reserves handsomely and it was showing. More and more projects were underway within the kingdom.

However, a new problem had risen, despite Vanrir being reduced to a figurehead of Aramoor the same could not be said for Erebus. Erebus was recorded as being just as big as HuLing but with none of her gentleness. Erebus was uncontrollable at times and would often fly out into the countryside, burning down forests and eating livestock. This resulted in great civil unrest against the king and the government.

.

### Barrier Expansion

This prompted an emergency among the leadership of Aramoor. They needed the dragon to protect the city, so they couldn’t simply lock him up. This would show weakness to those that consider Aramoor a threat and may prompt a war if the other nations knew. In one meeting in which Vanrir was present, he admitted to only being able to control Erebus sometimes.

From these discussions, a court mage spoke up about the magical barrier. The magical barrier erected by the Gods before the great awakening protects any who live within it. The mage theorized they may be able to extend the barrier or even recreate it protecting a greater area of Aramoor and Erebus would not need to be locked up.

For Aramoor to maintain its position as the greatest power on Aether they could not lock up their most powerful deterrent. The governors and the king agreed to grant the court mage time and resources to look into the magic barrier.

Three months passed and all was not okay, Erebus still ran amok in the land outside of Aramoors protection, causing destruction and death to some. The governers eager to claw at the King's power had now piled it back onto him, in hopes he would be blamed for the atrocities caused by Erebus.

But the court mages had a breakthrough, they couldn’t ascertain what the barrier was made of, it was magic but nothing like the magic found on Aether. But they figured out that the barrier acted as a conduit and would grow as more energy was put into it.

However to move the barrier one-quarter of a mile one mage's entire magical reserve would be required, killing them. A tall price to pay but one Aramoor was willing to, it is said every one in ten court mages survived the barrier expansion and by the end, the barrier reached what is now Aramoors city limits.

The citizens now protected by the barrier were appeased but some still carried resentment towards Aramoors leadership. They could not see the reason for putting the life of one dragon before the people it was meant to protect.

.

### Makigo Kurnus

After being demoted from his position of regent, Makigo buried himself in his new bureaucratic work. He was now one of the prestigious tax counters in the city. Makigo found some cruel irony that he now counted the coins gathered by his legislation. Most nights after work he would travel up to Dragon Spire and sit by the grave of the First King. Makigo would drink and talk to stone as if it could reply. He would tell it of what was happening within the kingdom and share his thoughts on what he would do.

It was during the time of the barrier expansion that Makigo would discover the truth. Just like every other night, Makigo finished at work, bought a bottle of cheap apple schnapps, and walked up to the Dragon Spire to talk to his old friend again. As Makigo arrived at the Dragon Spire he noticed something was off, a bestial wining could be heard coming from inside the Dragon Spire.

Makigo entered the Spire to investigate; he found two halves of a dragon egg and at the end of the room a silver dragon hatchling. Makigo scanned the room and saw no one was present. This confirmed to Makigo that at least the second king was not chosen by the gods, because the dragons hatch randomly not in the presence of individuals. Makigo called his dragon Hemera.

Despite Makigo learning this about the dragon hatching, he did not share this information with anyone. Because for him this dragon meant he had a claim to the throne he desperately sought and to prove otherwise would lessen his claim greatly.

Makigo left Aramoor and began raising the dragon in the wilderness in secret before Hemera grew to a size that became difficult to hide. Triumphantly Makigo entered Aramoor air space on the back of Hemera flew right to the king's palace and landed.

.

## The Succession War

Makigo strolled across the courtyard and entered the king's palace, he proclaimed himself the rightful Second King of Aramoor in front of the courtiers, governess, aristocrats, and most importantly Vanrir. Vanrir flew into a rage and stormed across the throne room meeting Makigo attempting to stare him down. The two stood mere inches apart not speaking a word but staring, sizing each other up.

This tension was suddenly broken by an earth-shattering crash and roar, the entire court fled outside as did Makigo and Vanrir to witness Erebus atop Hemega pinning her down, the two were snarling at one another, similar to Vanrir and Makigo moments ago.

Makigo attempted to defuse the situation and tried to order Erebus off of Hemega, Erebus took no heed of his requests and continued to pin Hemega. Vanrir did nothing but watch. For what seemed like an eternity the two dragons stared at one another, suddenly this stalemate was broken Hemega swiped her tail underneath Erebus, knocking him off balance.

The two flew high into the sky, above the cloud line. All that could be seen as the odd burst of bright light coming from the dragon’s elemental breath attacks as they arched across the sky. The two came crashing down within Aramoor destroying many buildings, killing several people.

Makigo and Vanrir had come down into Aramoor proper to the sight where the two dragons had crashed and continued to fight. Makigo again attempted to defuse the situation, he called over to Vanrir and told him to call Erebus off now. Makigo climbed onto the back of Hemega he flew into the sky and gave a quick speech: “Vanrir passively accepts evil therefore he is as much involved as those who perpetrate it” with this he flew away from Aramoor into the surrounding wilderness. This earned Makigo the title of the Silver King among the people of Aramoor much to the disgust of Vanrir.

This was not the end of the conflict. Makigo could not openly move against Vanrir for fear of involving the people of Aramoor again. Through some old connections from when he was the regent, Makigo was able to place his eyes and ears in Aramoors court to garner intrigue and attempt to sway outcomes from the shadows in his favor.

Vanrir became obsessed with Makigo, unable to manage the idea that someone could match his power and challenge his position. He poured every resource he could into finding Magiko in an attempt to deal with him before he became a problem. The courtiers took note of Vanrir’s sudden obsession with Magiko and became concerned about the king's mental fortitude.

Among the people of Aramoor opinion was divided on who should be king. A trend among the people at this time would be to adorn yourself with either a black or silver ribbon to announce your allegiance. Amongst the black and silver ribbons some would sport a red ribbon, this group was small in number and believed neither were fit to rule.

This all came to a head when a note meant for one of Makigo’s spies was intercepted by a palace guard and delivered straight to Vanrir. Vanrir was outraged, he ordered all the courtiers to leave the throne room as he sat alone on his throne staring at the letter. Betrayed by those he trusted he left the throne room and mounted Erebus.

Vanrir and Erebus took to bring Aramoor to the torch, burning many buildings to the ground. Vanrir took to taunting Magiko from atop Erebus saying such things as “Oh Silver King, come quickly, your previous Aramoor need protecting”. It did not take long for word to travel throughout Aramoor among Makigo’s spies. When Makigo received word of what was happening it did not take long for Magiko and Hemega to appear in the night sky to challenge Vanrir and Erebus.

After an intense fight that raged on until the early morning, only Vanrir and Erebus remained. The fight had moved outside of Aramoor and outside of the protection of the barrier. As the early morning sun rose on the corpse of  Magiko and Hemega. Legends claim Hemega’s silver blood created the Lake of the Leviathan.

This night is referred to as the night of the Black Sky and Red Horizon.

.

### Red Horizon

Vanrir Warlos was now the undisputed Second King of Aramoor with no one to challenge him. Tired of being manipulated and pushed around by his courtiers he imposed governmental reforms that set him as the absolute ruler of Aramoor. For the rest of Vanrir’s rule, he ruled with an iron fist. He reformed the coinage and created the first commemorative piece of glimmer, to celebrate his victory and rule.

As the years passed Vanrir grew tired of peacetime within Aramoor and missed the rush of the succession war. He began provoking small kingships and duchies to bait them into war with Aramoor. Vanrir even dispatched many spies and agents into Aether to infiltrate other nations and Aramoor itself to spread misinformation and destabilize other nations.

Vanrir’s warmongering and intrigue started to tighten a noose around his neck. Many courtiers in the palace were not happy with his reforms, including removing their independence as governors and some of Aramoor’s interventional policies when it came to other nations.

Vanrir’s policies also brought about more civil unrest within Aramoor, those that sported the red ribbon during the succession war had grown in number, adopting many silver ribbon supporters after the death of Magiko. The Anti-Dragon League (ADL)  was a group of individuals who wanted to oust Vanrir and Erebus and have them be tried for their crimes.

The ADL members were mostly citizens of the Aramoor, but some of their members were high ranking government officials. With the League protesting in the streets and chaos swirling around Aramoor, a group of high ranking League members in the government met with sympathizers is some of the prominent guilds of Aramoor.

The league would use the martial prowess of the guilds to attempt a coup d'état on Vanrir. In exchange for the guilds support the government would allow prominent and high ranking guild members government positions within Aramoor.

With that the guilds stormed the palace, the officials ensured the palace guard would not intervene and during the night Vanrir was pulled from his bed dragged down to the courtyard. Vanrir was swiftly tried for his crimes, surrounded by ADL and guild soldiers, Vanrir was found guilty of perjury, war crimes, and corruption. Vanrir was beheaded on the spot, the headsman took 7 swings with a greatsword to remove Vanrir’s head, they say he died on the 6th swing.

With Vanrir dealt with, just Erebus was left to dispatch. Erebus was luckily asleep thanks to the help of some ADL loyalist lacing his food with a sleeping potion. With the great black dragon asleep the group tied the dragon down with many ropes and hooks and took the same longsword used to behead Vanrir and drove the blade across the creature's throat.

With the success of the coup d'état a cheer could be heard from the palace as Vanrir’s dismembered body parts were hoisted up upon spears at the palace entrance. For the ADL and the guilds, this was a time to celebrate, the guilds had secured more influence in Aramoor’s court and the ADL had removed Vanrir and Erebus from rule. Their next step was to eliminate the possibility of any future Vanrir’s.

The ADL had thought the next step would be easy after executing Vanrir and Erebus. However, the loyal followers of the Second King the Black Ribbons would want to uphold tradition, despite the death of the Second King they would still want for the next ruler to be chosen by the dragon eggs.

.

## The National Council

With the execution of Vanrir and Erebus once again Aramoor was leaderless. The coup led by the ADL and the forces of the guilds formed a provisional Junta of 6 members entrusted to carry on the government until a new government excluding the monarchy could be established.

The Junta was named the National Council of Aramoor and was entrusted with the supervision of the nation’s administration as well as implementing and legislating the new governmental system. The council members were picked from prominent members of the ADL and the city's guilds that participated in the coup, three from the ADL, and three from the guilds.

### ADL

* Minister of State
* Minister of Food & Agriculture
* Minister of Finance

### Guilds

* Minister of Defence
* Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Minister of Justice

By setting up the council the transition of power was almost seamless, trade and glimmer continued to flow as it did before and day to day Aramoorian life remained unchanged. It was only subtle changes at first: the regular guards patrolling the streets were replaced with double the amount of guild hired thugs. The guilds, pressured by the ADL started to crack down on anyone openly supporting the Black Ribbon movement or advocating Vanrir or Magiko.

The ADL pressure to remove any passion for the past kings became paramount. Every week a list would be written up by the Minister of State, detailing names and addresses of suspected Black Ribbon supporters. This list would be handed to the Minister of Justice who would then order for the arrest of these individuals.

Every week anywhere from 10 to 50 humanoids would be rounded up never to be seen again. As arrests ramped up in scale, the people of Aramoor started to leave the city, for fear of being targeted by the council for a crime they didn't commit.

.

### Black Ribbon Movement

The Black Ribbon movement was the remnants of those that supported Vanrir during the succession war. After the coup and the establishment of the National Council an extremist cell of the group had emerged within Aramoor, touting the return of the monarchy and the dragons. With the rampant arrests and persecution, the group had gained the interest of other like-minded extremists looking to take down the National Council.

Conducting guerilla warfare within Aramoor members of the Black Ribbon would attempt to destabilize the government within Aramoor. They would: bribe guild members, assassinate prominent members, steal weapons, and sabotage government buildings.

With every successful Black Ribbon operation, the council would crack down harder on the people, ramping up arrests, finally establishing martial law, flooding the streets with guild employed soldiers, enforcing curfews, and setting up checkpoints at Aramoors city limits, restricting movement.

.

## Civil War

Despite the council enforcing martial law, the Black Ribbon movement was still managing to conduct its war on the government. In an attempt to demoralize the movement the Minister of State arranged a public forum to hold a speech. This speech was met with much resistance among the council members especially the guild ministers. However, the Minister of State assured the council that this speech would be the nail in the coffin for the Black Ribbon movement.

.

### The Speech

On the day of the speech the courtyard of what was the king's palace was opened up to the people of Aramoor, most of the guilds soldiers had been pulled back and were running security on the event. At one end of the courtyard stood a large wooden stage with a podium in the middle to the right was a waist-high plinth with an object atop covered in a red shawl. Guild soldiers lined the back of the stage.

Once the crowd filtered in, it began. The Minister of State walked onto the stage flanked by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Justice. The Minister of state took his place at the podium and gave his speech. He spoke of the black ribbon movement and how they are responsible for the actions of the government. The minister explained that if the violence towards the government was to stop so too would the mass arrests. The minister finished his speech, by saying,

“You fight for the memory of a king, a king that almost destroyed our way of life. A king that burned your homes, a King that wasn’t fit to rule. And how did such a man acquire this position?”

As the question lingered the Minister of Finance lifted the shawl revealing a dragon egg from the Dragon Spire. The Minister of State continued:

“That’s right, this egg, this egg decides if we get a great or an inadequate ruler. Well no more…”

With that statement, the Minister raised a ball hammer from the podium and struck the egg several times smashing the hard shell and tearing through the membrane.

“No more will the ruler of Aramoor be decided upon by these creatures. No more dragons, no more monarchs.”

The egg was tipped onto its side and out slid an underdeveloped dragon hatchling, The Minister placed the ball hammer back on the plinth. Both the Minister for Justice and the crowd were outraged at what had just happened, the crowd started to assault the stage clambering to reach the Ministers. Their attempts were met with cold steel as the guilds soldiers protected the Ministers.

The speech did have the desired effect and put the nail in the coffin but for the wrong group.

.

### Resistence

After the Minister's tirade at the palace’s courtyard, the Black Ribbon movement seized their opportunity. With the majority of the guilds soldiers at the courtyard, Aramoor was practically defenseless. The aftermath of the courtyard had spilled out in the streets. This outrage was stoked further by Black Ribbon operatives; stolen weapons were distributed to the citizenry. The people, supported by the Black Ribbon, occupied government checkpoints around Aramoor.

With this, the Black Ribbon secured the city of Aramoor itself, the National Council, and the guilds soldiers had been encircled by armed citizens and black ribbon operatives in the old king’s palace. The Black Ribbons’ goal was to move around the old palace and secure the Dragon Spire and the eggs within. With the eggs, the monarchy can be restarted. The National Council, on the other hand, had similar plans, if they were able to punch through to the Dragon Spire they would be able to destroy the eggs, preventing the return of the monarchy entirely.

The Black Ribbon was stretched thin, unable to organize the citizenry of Aramoor to be able to maintain their encirclement of the National Council as well as make a push for the Dragon Spire. The Black Ribbon was fully aware that if the war was to move to open combat the citizens and themselves would be annihilated going up against trained guild soldiers.

The National Council with their trained guild soldiers were simply outnumbered by the citizenry and were unable to push through to reach the Dragon Spire. Some were also reluctant to begin cutting down the people they were employed to protect. These circumstances resulted in a stalemate that would go on for 12 weeks.

What the Black Ribbon and the Nation Council did not know was that it was nothing to do with fate, all that was needed for another dragon to arrive was time. On the 12th week with neither side giving any ground a crack was heard from the Dragon Spire. This very sound rang throughout Aramoor and inspired both hope and fear.

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### Race to the Dragon

The Black Ribbon was the first to move, they pulled as many forces as they dared from the old palace and raced to the Dragon Spire. A dragon hatchling wasn’t the perfect weapon but it would turn the tide in the stalemate. Reaching the Dragon Spire they found their dragon hatchling, he stood at shoulder height. The Black Ribbon agreed that this dragon would be used to defeat the National Council and to re-establish the monarchy afterward.

News had made its way to the Dragon Spire, the National Council had broken through the defenses and were on their way to the Dragon Spire. Unable to contest the guild soldiers in open combat and win even with the help of a Dragon, a group of Black Ribbon Operatives smuggled two eggs out of the Spire to ensure the continuation of the monarchy.

As the Black Ribbon forces moved away from the old palace the National Council had to act fast. They couldn’t risk a dragon falling into the hands of their enemies, they mustered the guild soldiers and ordered an attack on those that had been left to defend. Breaking through the weakened defenses the National Council marched the guild soldiers up to the Dragon Spire.

The National Council was divided on what to do with the dragon.  The ADL wanted to slay the beast, whereas the guilds wanted to use the beast to help pursue their needs. Reaching the Dragon Spire they realized they were late and found the Black Ribbon forces with a dragon hatchling among their ranks.

The two groups clashed outside the Dragon Spire. Steel met steel, and dragon fire met skin. Bodies on both sides littered the battlefield. But the National Council was victorious, the Black Ribbon and their armed citizens were left for the crows and Kheldir. The dragon has been captured by the guild soldiers and brought back to the old palace.

.

### Betrayal Begets Blood

With the Black Ribbon shattered and the citizenry no longer being organized by them the Council could take back the city. However, the members of the National Council bickered for days on the subject of the captured dragon hatchling.

Ever since the speech the guild members of the council had meetings in secret, they like everyone else knew the destructive power of a trained dragon. They respected such a weapon and agreed if the ADL were to get in their way they’d dispatch them.

The guild members of the council were adamant in keeping the dragon to help further their ends. The ADL members were fixed on slaying the beast and marching back up to the Dragon Spire and smashing the rest of the eggs. With no resolution in sight and neither side backing down, the guilds enacted their plan. The guild soldiers turned on the ADL members of the National Council and killed them.

The chaos within the old palace was palpable. Guild soldiers hunted and slew ADL members in the rooms and halls of the old palace. In such chaos, some ADL members managed to get to the captured dragon hatchling and kill the beast denying the guilds of their prize as well as escaping to the Dragon Spire smashing the eggs within. This would only be realized by the guilds after the massacre.

With this act, the Black Ribbon and the ADL were destroyed with little to no members left. The guilds announced the death of the ADL council members and the disbandment of the National Council. This announcement caused the citizenry to settle down their weapons and return to normal life. The guilds in government met with the other guilds within Aramoor and agreed to administer Aramoor and rebuild the city for the foreseeable future.

Unbeknownst to any ADL members or Guilds the two eggs smuggled out by the Black Ribbon were placed back into the Spire two years later, the doors were then magically sealed to prevent anyone from discovering them.

.

## Aramoor and the Original Dragon Guard

*(This section is repeated from the Aether to provide context to future Notable Events)*

For 20 years very little changed in Aramoor; the guilds organized the rebuilding of the city after the events of the civil war and life began again. The checkpoints were torn down and repurposed into building material and the guild soldiers were replaced with a state-run city guard. The city reopened trade and visitors from other kingdoms were welcomed again into Aramoor.

However, due to the acts of the Black Ribbon during the end of the civil war, two resounding cracks sounded from the sealed Dragon Spire. The guilds of Aramoor met and had to decide the fate of the two dragons that just hatched inside the sealed Spire.

The guilds were divided, some wanted to eliminate the dragons citing the trouble they have caused with the succession war and civil war. Some wanted to use the dragons, train them and they could be a valuable asset so only to Aramoor but the guilds as well. Others suggested they leave the dragons, there’s no food in the Spire, they’d eventually die and we wouldn’t have to spare a soul and no one needs to know. If they did survive then it’s the God’s will and we will deal with it then.

The guilds tried the 1st plan, the first slay the creatures for fear of dealing with another civil war. AS they approached the Dragon Spire they found the entrance to be sealed shut and were unable to pry it open. Guild mages assessed the door and figured it was a complex lock spell that would take months to decrypt and reverse engineer. The guilds left with no choice to put their faith into the mages.

Whilst locked in the spire the two dragon hatchlings were nurtured and fed by the same black ribbon operative to place the eggs there all these years ago, they were never caught and the guilds were unaware of their involvement at all.

Four weeks later and the mage had made no headway into discerning the magic used to seal the Spire. But now the problem had developed, the dragons had survived and had grown to such a size they were capable of flight and had left the Spire. The two dragons hunted the area outside the magic barrier to satiate their hunger and instincts.

.

### Hunters

The guild still prescribed to the first plan now needed to track and hunt the creatures. Using the guilds combined resources they searched through the guild logs and records for individuals capable of tracking and killing two young dragons. Their search bought up several candidates two of which were Kinya and Finya Urbran, twin brother and sister.

The hunters were brought before the guilds and explained the task at hand they were to track and slay the creatures before they did any more damage. Their reward was enough glimmer to live a comfortable life without having to work again. Accepting the danger hunting dragons brought they all accepted. The hunters were an elusive bunch used to working alone or in their small teams and did just that. Most saw it as a competition between themselves to kill the dragons first. As such Kinya and Finya worked together as they always had.

It took months to figure out the dragon’s flight patterns, routine, and usual hunting grounds. Overtime Finya and Kinya had narrowed down that the two dragons feed in this particular part of the forest every three days. They set up camp and prepared a clearing with a whole sheep carcass, dragon bait.

They waited day and night until they awoke one morning to the sound of huge wings beating the wind as a dragon slowly descended to the forest floor. The two hunters crept up to the forest line and saw a crimson and blue dragon tearing away at the sheep carcass.

The two had never seen a dragon before, being born after the civil war they’d only heard tales and the two were awestruck by their magnitude. Kinya notched an arrow in her bow and drew the string ready to fire, but Finya pushed her brother's bow down. She stepped out of the bush concealing them and stood before the two dragons.

The two turned to look and Finya inquisitive they sniffed the air around her, after assessing she wasn’t a threat they returned to their meal. Finya turned to Kinya and beckoned him to join her, anxiously Kinya stepped out in the open with his sister. The dragons did not pay them a bit of notice.

This ritual would carry on for two weeks until the dragons started coming every day expecting food. The crimson dragon was playful and unruly whereas the blue dragon was more methodical and clever. As such the red dragon was the first to accept the twins taking a shine to Finya. Later the blue dragon would come round preferring Kinya. The red dragon was named Aris by Finya and the blue dragon was named Ira by Kinya.

.

### Protectors

The twins could not keep two dragons as secrets for very long, not to mention the other hunters searching for them. They had to explain their position to the guilds, something neither was looking forward to. They called a meeting with their guild representative in an open field away from Aramoor on the pretense they had located the dragons. When the guild representative arrived she seemed confused and asked why she’d been summoned surely if the dragons had been found they should be dead.

The twins turned to another and sighed, Finya raised her hand to her mouth and whistled a sharp short note. As time passed the representative grew more impatient demanding answers from the twins. When she had just about finished lecturing the twins on responsibility both Aris and Ira appeared on the horizon flying over the far hill and landing behind the twins.

This knocked the representative of her feet astonished she gasped at the twins and the dragons. Unable to get her words out Ira nuzzled into Kinya. He explained, they did attempt to kill the creatures but they couldn’t bring themselves to do it. So they tamed them, they could even ride the dragons as they flew, something unheard of since the coup.

The guild representative, back on her feet, gathered her thoughts, and asked the two to follow her back to Aramoor with the dragons to report to the other guilds.

.

### Dragon Guard

The guild leaders stood outside in the old palace courtyard as ordered, they weren’t sure what they were waiting for but were told they’d know when they saw it. Sure enough, they did, Aris and Ira landed in the courtyard with Kinya and Finya riding on their backs. Reactions were mixed among the guild leaders, but this action prompted a great discussion among them.

After a short, while one of the guild leaders turned and shouted to the twins, he asked what they wanted. The twins, confused by the question replied that they only wanted the dragons to remain unharmed. The guilds reconvened their discussion, then the same member spoke again. He said that the dragons will remain unharmed if in return the twins pledge to protect Aramoor and renounce all claims to the throne of Aramoor.

The twins not eager to rule agreed to these terms. This agreement would pave the way to what is now the modern dragon guard organization in Aramoor. Ran independently from the state they ensure the safety of Aramoor on the backs of dragons.

This agreement also benefited the guilds by having the twins renounce the right to the throne they had ensured that any further dragon riders would not simply be able to claim leadership of Aramoor, cementing their rule.

.

## Aramoor Air Treaty

After the return of dragons to Aramoor and the city rebuilding project finalizing the city started to look outwards for opportunities to annex new territory. At the same time a kingdom to the north, The Regis Caeli Dynasty, a mountain-dwelling kingdom that had tamed griffons the same way Aramoor had tamed dragons was also looking to expand their sphere of influence.

Both nations had an advantage in the air being some of the only nations on Aether to have an air capable combatant. The two nations had a rivalry because of this, Aramoor had few dragon riders but dragons were the undisputed kings of the sky. Whereas the Regis Caeli Dynasty had griffon riders and a lot of them. Griffons were weaker than dragons but more than made up for it in numbers.

It was during a scout mission on the northern border of Aramoor. Finya and Kinya were running surveillance on the gorge. They were looking for any anomalies or dangers that could threaten Aramoor, a routine mission for them. It was then a group of griffons, using the sun as cover swooped down on Kinya and Finya barely missing them.

The griffons appeared organized as they circled back and flew straight up again at the two riders. Pulling evasive maneuvers the two dragon riders banked away from one another forcing the griffons to fly straight between the two of them. It was at this point Finya noticed the griffons were mounted and had plated armor covering the griffon’s front shoulders.

Kinya and Finya retreated further into Aramoor air space, the griffon riders did not give chase. Fearing this small border conflict between the two nations would escalate into full-blown war, the twins flew back to Aramoor to report to the guilds.

Reporting the guild leaders, Kinya and Finya were ordered to travel to the Regis Caeli Dynasties capital with a diplomat who had frequented the kings of Regis Caeli more than once, before the civil war. The guilds advised the twins to fly high to avoid detection, if the griffon riders spot them again, they may not be so lucky.

With the diplomat on board of Aris, the twins flew off toward Regis Caeli, as advised they flew high above the cloud level to avoid detection. Traveling far into the north, further than most Aramoorians had been since the civil war they eventually came upon the mountain city and capital of Regis Caeli.

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### Regis Caeli

Landing in the city the twins and the diplomat were met with armed soldiers pointing spears at both them and the dragons, the diplomat claimed to be from Aramoor and an old friend to the three kings and that he wished an audience with them. The soldiers begrudgingly accepted escorting the party to the throne room whilst keeping a close eye on the dragons.

The three kings spoke to the diplomat like an old friend, he introduced both Kinya and Finya as the twin dragon riders and guardians of Aramoor. The Kings found it difficult to accept such a claim, to them dragons were untamable pests. However, they listened to the twins recount the incident at the border. The kings pondered over the incident, discussing it and having advisors whisper in their ear.

It is said the kings of Regis Caeli had taken a shine to the twin protectors of Aramoor and with their claim of being able to ride dragons prove them to be civil creatures if trained. This went against a lot of Regis Caeli records and they were intrigued.

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### The Treaty

The kings agreed the incident was a mistake one that would not escalate into war. However, they wished to prevent such an event from happening again. They drew up a treat between Aramoor and themselves, called the Aramoor Air Treaty and was detailed as follows:

* The number of dragons and or griffins in service will be closely monitored by both nations
* Any advancement in riding technique or riding equipment must be shared

The second part of the treaty was an extensive nonaggression pact between the two nations, followed by a dual declaration of independence signed by both parties. The two nations agreed that they would support either independence, in defensive war if threatened by a 3rd party.

The third part was an annual event to celebrate the signing of the treaty, a light bout will be held to test each nations’ best riders. The competition will be held by Aramoor, one year and Regis Caeli the next and so on.

Lastly, the terms of treaty annulment were set out as follows: aggressive actions towards either nation, attacks facilitated, or funded by either nation on the other or the capturing of either griffon or dragon riders by either nation. The guaranteed independence clause would not be valid during a war in which either was the aggressor.

This treaty was signed by the three kings of Regis Caeli and after being presented to the guild leaders of Aramoor it was co-signed.

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## The Return of HuLing

Years passed and the free city of Aramoor, guided by the guilds had developed and blossomed into the metropolitan area we know today. Busy bustling streets and people from all walks of life now called Aramoor their home. Gone was the oppression and fear from the past, for the people it felt like a return to the golden age when the First King ruled.

The First King and his dragon HuLing were still widely celebrated and respected in Aramoor despite the city's past. His stories are a favorite in most inn and taverns in and around Aramoor. Merchants always claimed you knew you were close to Aramoor because you’d always hear bards reciting the dance of HuLing.

Throughout time the story of the First King had become warped, his deeds were recounted if not exaggerated. He is often credited with bringing Aramoor into its golden age, something some historians would argue was Makigo’s work as the regent. Despite this, the stories always ended the same the King passed and so did HuLing and they were buried under the Dragon Spire.

However, HuLing was alive and the great dragon from the stories was returning to Aramoor. No one was sure where HuLing had been all these years but as she came across the plains like a rising sun. As she crossed into the city's air space she was quickly flanked by Kinya and Finya as they followed her flight pattern to the Dragon Spire.

Here she landed with Kinya and Finya alongside, they knew of HuLing from the stories they were told as kids but those stories did her little to no justice. She Towered over Aris and Ira, her golden form was both glorious and intimidating. She radiated pride as she landed at the Dragon Spire with the twins.

HuLing entered the spire and laid more dragon eggs, she then sat down with her eggs and brooding over them. For a time HuLing remained in the Spire, like a guardian she watched the city from the Spire and protected her eggs. After a couple of years, HuLing left the Spire and Aramoor, no one was sure why but the eggs remained.

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### The Modern Guard

The eggs of Aramoor had caused so much grief and violence in the past the guild leaders were worried about their presence once again within the city. However over the years the twins had matured and grown into their roles in protectors, they met with the council and declared the eggs property under the protection of the dragon guard.

The guild leaders were hesitant at first but based on their agreement with the twins some years ago now, they accepted. The eggs would be the property of the dragon guard and as such, they will be responsible for the vetting and training of any future dragons and riders. In turn, the twins were given the rank of Legatus and were entrusted to vet and train anyone who joins the dragon guard ranks renounces all claims to any title or land devoting themselves to the protection of Aramoor.

New riders showed up, they were trained by the twins with their new counterparts, slowly but surely the riders grew in number over the years.

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## The Oushivia Tower

One of the most notable nations is The Oushivia Tower. A magnificent floating tower, home to some of the most gifted and powerful mages on Aether. The Oushivia Tower was founded by some of the first humanoids that left Aramoor after the great awakening.

The Oushivia is at the forefront of magical research has unlocked many secrets of the scales and life. The Oushivia are reclusive and are strict with who comes in and out of the tower, for fear of their research being stolen. As such spend a large sum of glimmer each year on adventures to gather rare ingredients and beasts for their research.

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## The Occidere Empire

The Occidere Empire is the newest empire on Aether, young and hungry. What was once a band of former ADL mercenaries has now become one of the military superpowers on Aether, fielding a massive army of fanatics, transfixed on their martial prowess.

Growing quickly through conquest and intimidation, so too did the empire’s manpower and the size of their standing army. Living in the gorge deprived the capital of Occidere of many natural resources, one of their main exports was rare monster materials.

For the people of Occidere fighting, the creatures of the gorge to survive became fighting to prove your worth. Often parties of Occidere would leave the confines of the city for weeks at a time to return with great creatures both alive and dead. Hunting grounded itself in the culture of Occidere, your skill as a hunter became the difference between an easy and hard life.

With this the art of hunting was constantly being refined, weapons and protection were developed at astonishing rates by the prestigious hunting families to gain an edge over their rivals. Tactics and weapons unique to the Occidere were developed through the never-ending hunt including the heavy mobile ballista and thicker more resistant armor.

The current Emperor and Supreme Commander of Occidere is Ligane Dralsouks, before being appointed Emperor and Supreme Commander Liagane served dutifully in Occider’s army. Ligane was an avid hunter, developing and designing many weapons throughout his life. His most prized design, a barbed spear that could fly through the air at high velocity, was so complex and precise he requisitioned its  construction by the famous dwarven smith Dulmyr Tygus. He called his creation the Skyward Spear.

The creature trade was a lucrative one, many nations on Aether wanted specimens to study and examine. The Empire’s trade was highly controversial: The Holy Kingdom of Silia De La Nôtre had denounced the Empire and its trade. Whereas the Oushivia paid in the thousands for the empire's materials.

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### The Most Dangerous Game

When HuLing returned to Aramoor it did not take long for news to travel across Aether, from merchant to merchant. Eventually, this news reached Ligane. Ligane saw HuLing as the greatest prize on Aether and to hunt such a creature would immortalize him as the Emperor that slew the almost mythical HuLing.

However, to go after HuLing would mean war with Aramoor, not much of an issue for Occidere few could match their army in terms of numbers or technology. However declaring war on Aramoor would drag in the Regis Caeli on the side of Aramoor, their combined air force might be enough to beat Aether’s greatest army.

Ligane was not willing to go to war with Aramoor and the Regis Caeli and risk losing in the field. But his desire to hunt HuLing got the better of him, unable to move past it, he devised a plan. If he was able to lure HuLing away from Aramoor he could hunt the creature without Aramoor’s knowledge, becoming the greatest Emperor of Occidere and avoiding war.

The old stories told of HuLing and Aramoors First King, however, a detail that had been dropped over time was that the HuLing’s egg and the Dragon Spire predated the great awakening and modern Aetherian history. Occidere scribes incorrectly theorized HuLing was the mother of all dragons on Aether. They advised the Emperor that if he was to hunt a great number of dragons in one area their pain would draw HuLing out of Aramoor to assist her children.

Despite their incorrect conclusion of HuLing’s true being, they were right in that such a concentration of pain, death, and chaos would draw out HuLing. With that, the Emperor rode out with his hunting party The Hounds of Zaroff to capture and kill enough dragons to lure out HuLIng.

As the night turned to day many dragons had been forced to land with the help of the ballista and the Skyward Spear, 13 dragons had been secured in this particular spot of the gorge. To do as the scribes described Ligane drew his sword and cut down the helpless dragons one by one.

As the 13th dragon drew its last breath a mighty growl, reverberated down the gorge and shook the very ground beneath the Emperor and his entourage, confirming their success. HuLing was coming and she would have to traverse the gorge to reach the Empires hunting party.

But she wouldn’t make it far, the Occidere were prepared, Ligane had set up a ballista with The Skyward Spear. As HuLing entered range, the ballista was fired and HuLing was struck by the SkyWard Spear.

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## War with Occidere

The Great War between the Occidere and the Allied Kingdoms is one of the greatest events that shaped modern Aramoor today. HuLing after leaving Aramoor suddenly one day returned to the free city, limping, one of her wings bore a great hole. Many were unsure as to what happened to HuLing but some were quick to blame the Occidere Empire. Their penchant for hunting was no secret and they could have easily attacked HuLing.

Kinya and Finya argued greatly over this, Kinya was quick to act and wanted to go straight to the Occidere capital, kick down the Emperor's door and demand his repentance. Finya was not as easily convinced and tried to reassure her brother that it was just rumored they didn’t know for certain that the Empire was behind this.

Kinya was unconvinced by his sister's words, rallying a small number of dragon riders he mounted up that night and flew towards the Occidere capital. Finya was unaware of her brother's plan and would only come to know in the morning by reading a note left for her by Kinya. Kinya and the other riders were never seen again after leaving that night.

With the disappearance of Kinya, Finya was now the sole leader of the Dragon Guard. Aware of her brother's plan she met with the guild leaders and shared the note she had found that morning. They worried that Kinya’s actions would provoke a war with the Occidere, voiding their contract with the Regis Caeli. Aramoor knew that open conflict with the Empire would spell their end. To broker an agreement and avoid war, like with the Regis Caeli in the past, a diplomat was sent to the Occidere capital.

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### Occidere Fanaticism

Ligane had got a taste of greatness, the one-act that would paint him as one of the greatest Emperors of Occidere was so close he could almost taste it. But at the last minute, this was ripped from him, HuLing had slipped through his fingers. Brooding, Ligane was certain, the damage caused to HuLing during their attack was not enough to kill her but she would be unable to fly, so the same trick would not work again.

The unthinkable must be done if they were to achieve his goals, they’d already dealt with some Aramoorian dragon riders that tried to enter the capital during the night. It was only a matter of time  before war broke out. Ligane concluded that the most advantageous position for Occidere would be to take the initiative, he ordered the armies to be raised and the capitals defenses be ready in one week. As this order was passed Aramoors diplomat came before the Emperor.

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### Regis Caeli

The diplomat returned one week later with grave news. Ligane, now fervent in his hunt for HuLing, openly declared war on Aramoor. With the emperor's written declaration the diplomat presented two dragon scales: one gold, one blue.

With the declaration of war, Aramoor needed to muster their forces quickly. Finya rallied the Dragon Guard and the Guild Leaders raised their soldiers. Diplomats were sent to the Regis Caeli to instruct them of the declaration and to invoke the guarantee of independence in the Aramoor Air Agreement. The Regis Caeli honored the treaty and raised their armies and griffon riders.

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### First Contact

It was winter and the armies of Aramoor, the Regis Caeli, and the Dragon Guard, referred to as the Allied Kingdoms, had moved through Occidere territory unchallenged thus far. They were a day's ride from the capital and the combined forces were hoping for a swift victory, advanced scouts reported little to no movement within the fortress city.

The allied kingdoms forces encircled the capital of Occidere and planned to starve out the city. Because of the terrain, the Occidere capital had relied mostly on food imports and by cutting the cities’ supply lines they hoped for a peaceful surrender.

However the capital of Occidere and the Emperor was prepared, the people of the city had been evacuated, only the army now resided within the walls and excess food imports had been stocked and preserved.

The quick victory desired by the allied kingdoms was not a likely possibility, and for the whole of winter, the two sat staring at each other without a single weapon being drawn. The Occidere with their city and stockpile were waiting out the allied army, with no proper infrastructure the army was due to suffer sooner than they were. Sure enough, they did, it only took one or two late shipments but food and water started to run low among the camps, diseases started to fester and spread and deserters started to leave the battlefield.

This was the opportunity the Occidere sought, with a de-molorized enemy it would only take one decisive blow to rout and kill the enemy forces. The gates of Occidere opened to reveal a mass rank of heavily armored cavalry armed with lances, the Emperor atop the parapet ordered a volley of ballista bolts to be fired into the enemy camp. As the first volley fired the cavalry charged tearing through the unprepared Allied armies.

In the chaos only a few dragon riders managed to get airborne, one flew over the battlefield directly to Emperor Ligane. The dragon hovered in place over the parapet and blew its red hot flames onto the Emperor. As the flames dissipated the Emperor stood untouched by the flames, lowered a shield he raised his Skyward Spear, and killed the dragon and the rider. Such a sight, combined with the mass panic of the cavalry charge and the ballistas the allied armies routed from the gorge.

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### Supremacy of Technology

Despite the massive loss of life, the Allied Kingdoms had gained some advantage from the battle. They learned that somehow the Occidere had developed a way to protect themselves from dragon fire. It was uncertain what the shields were made from but this worried the Dragon Guard.

Emperor Ligane had called in a favor from the Oushivia Tower, all though not directly involved in the war at this time, nothing prohibited them from selling weapons to either side.  The shields were one of their creations and despite Ligane’s cynicism sometimes with how the Oushivia conducts its business. He was thoroughly impressed with their performance atop the parapet that day.

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### The Oushivia Tower

As the war continued many skirmishes were fought between the Allied Kingdoms and the Empire. As the skirmishes continued one thing became apparent to the Allied Kingdoms, the Empire was not slowing down at all. They revealed in the constant bloodshed, their people indoctrinated in such a way that they would happily die for the Empire was something the Allied Kingdoms could not compete with. Luckily, no more weapons like the flame shields had appeared amongst the Empire's ranks since the breaking of the siege of the capital.

The Oushivia saw the flame shields as a one-off deal to the Occidere to pay off a debt. They now felt that debt was repaid. The Oushivia refused to sell any further weapons to Ligane on this basis.

The Allied Kingdom could not continue this war with the Empire, as it stands, they would certainly lose. Outclassed technologically and spiritually there was no hope. Their last gamble was to seek the help of the Oushivia, at this point the Allied Kingdoms were still unaware the flame shields were their doing.

The current leader of the Oushivia was a man called Alburn [REDACTED], a great mage. He had agreed to meet with representatives of the Allied Kingdoms and to hear out their proposals, mostly to spite Ligane. The Allied Kingdoms requested aid either directly or indirectly from the Oushivia. It was well known the Oushivia were some of the most brilliant mages on Aether, a couple well-trained mages could tear through ranks of Occidere easily.

Alburn said nothing during the meeting only listening to the Allied Kingdoms after going through every possible form of aid they could wish to seek from the Oushivia Alburn spoke. He said he would aid the Allied Kingdom in every way they have described, but there are some terms to this agreement.

Alburn listed the following conditions;

* The Oushivia would have full access to Aramoor
* Upon victory, every soul of the Occidere would belong to the Oushivia

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### The Terms

The first term was easy enough to agree to however the representatives were not sure on the second point. They pushed the issue with Alburn, asking if he wished for the Occidere terratory to be transferred over the Oushivia after victory. Alburn assured them that he only wanted the souls any territorial claims or transfers are of no interest to him. Desperate and with nowhere else to turn the Allied Kingdoms agreed to these strange terms. Alburn assured that he would send word to Aramoor once he had finalized preparations, as a promise he sent Pymillcea, a mage of the Oushivia, back to Aramoor with the representatives.

With that, the representatives returned to Armoor with Pymillcea, a gifted and powerful mage, practiced in elemental magic. As Oushiva’s bargaining chip to Aramoor she was just a political tool and very few saw her as a person. Despite this, she aided the Allied Kingdoms where she could with her magic. Finya took a shine to Pymillcea seeing her help those around her, reminding her of Kinya.

Pymillcea was forbidden by the Guild Leaders from joining the Dragon Guard, however, she was entrusted to Finya for protection. Her life was the embodiment of their agreement with Alburn; they feared her being killed. Despite this Pymillcea was fascinated by the dragons of Aramoor, especially HuLing. After much care and treatment, HuLing healed from the wound caused by the Occidere although she traded her ability to fly for her life.

Four months had passed and still no word from Alburn, the Allied Kingdoms were beginning to believe that the Oushivia was never going to show and this was an elaborate trick between the Empire and the Oushivia.

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### The Greatest Prize and Gift

The Occidere had planned and planned, ran countless war games and strategies trying to dissect and understand how they would eventually bring an end to this war. Ultimately they would have to knock out either Aramoor or the Regis Caeil. They wouldn’t be able to use their ballistas in the mountains against the Regis Caeil, combined with their superior numbers in the air meant Aramoor had to be the target.

In the field, the Occidere had mixed results fighting the Allied Kingdoms. If there were between 1 and 3 dragons they were able to achieve victory 80% of the time. However, any more than 3 dragons and their odds of winning fell drastically. Therefore to attack Aramoor directly the home of the Dragon Guard would not be strategically sound.

The Occidere were a proud people who believed in attacking a problem head-on, so when the idea of using assassins was brought to the table the Emperor flew into a rage, initially. As time went on Ligane grew more desperate and plans were scrapped and redrawn he concluded to himself it was the only way. In secret he arranged his elite hunting party The Hounds of Zaroff to infiltrate Aramoor, then the Dragon Spire and destroy the eggs within.

Because of the war, the mass migration of people from battlefields and dying towns were becoming more prominent, most fled to the closest city or town, Aramoor being one of them. The Hounds disguised as refugees passed through the Aramoors border and into the city itself. Making their way up to the Dragon Spire and inside. They searched for the dragon eggs but found a prize far greater, HuLing.

The howling raw that rained out over the kingdoms could be heard everywhere within Aramoor. HuLing had been slain and what a prize her blood was upon their armor. Spurred by their victory they raided the rest of the Dragon Spire destroying several eggs. The Dragon Guard, quick to react where soon upon the Occidere  they were overrun and slaughtered.

With this act, the morale of Aramoor plummeted among the army, Dragon Guard, and citizenry. Pymillcea, who had grown close to both the Dragon Guard and Finya, was equally destroyed to see Aramoor brought so low by an underhanded move by the Occidere Empire.

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### The Weaponsmith

Pymicilla, in a bid to help those as she had always done, remembered a dwarven man, Dulmyr visiting the Oushivia Tower years ago to meet Alburn. Dumlyr was able to craft almost anything given the right price, materials, and time. She spoke to Finya and told her of the dwarf she remembered and said that he could create the weapon that can help us bring down the Empire.

Finya was unsure of Pymicilla’s plan; she couldn’t understand how one man could turn the tide in this war. That when Pymicilla told Finya she was certain Dulmyr created the Skyward Spear. Finya had grown to trust Pymicilla, seeing her brother in her, she knew she couldn’t stop her and agreed to help.

Finya and Pymicilla rode out of Aramoor on Aris in search of Dulmyr. After weeks he was found in a mine and forge built by himself. He was only interested in one thing and that was himself, he didn’t care for the war between Aramoor and the Occidere Empire. He was delighted in the news that his Skyward Spear had shot down the great HuLing.

Which all in all was what he was interested in: His legacy, his weapons garnering high status within Aether, and when Pymillcea offered him the materials from Huling. He was all too happy to oblige.

Dulmyr travelled with Pymillcea and Finya back to Aramoor. On their return, both Pymillcea and Finya were subject to many questions from the Guild Leaders. Especially about leaving Aramoor without a word to anyone leaving the Dragon Guard defenceless and who the dwarf was. Once they knew who the dwarf was they asked why he was here, it’s his fault that HuLing is dead.

Finya explained to the council Pymillcea’s plan and how it will turn the tide in the war. Begrudgingly the Guilds agreed and so began the creation of The Diadem of HuLing.

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### The First Queen of Aramoor

The Diadem of HuLing was very much a crown, it’s symbolism was not lost on anyone in Aramoor. Pymillcea offered the crown to Finya, as leader of the Dragon Guard she had every right. Finya declined, saying her right to rule Aramoor was revoked when she became a Dragon Guard. Even so, Finya felt she wasn’t leader material, abandoning her post after the HuLing’s murder was an example enough to her.

With that Pymillcea saw that no one but herself had any hope left amongst the people of Aramoor and as such decided to wear the Diadem herself. Imbued with the power of HuLing Pymillcea, claimed the right to rule over Aramoor as chosen by HuLing. The Guild not wanting to waiver the power they had become use too since the civil war was uncomfortable with the idea of Pymilcea becoming queen.

However, Pymillcea assured the council that she would only remain queen for as long as required and when the time is right she will step down. With that Pymillcea was officially inaugurated as the Queen of Aramoor as chosen by HuLing. The Guild Leaders transferred a lot of the power in the government to Pymillcea on an emergency powers basis.

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### Battle of Slayers Falls

One week later word finally arrived from the Oushivia, they were ready for a final offensive on the Empire. The Allied Kingdoms now including the Oushivia Tower, much like the beginning of the war, marched upon the capital of Occidere unimpeded.

This time the Allied Kingdoms would not attempt to starve out the Occidere, they would make use of their tactical advantage in the air. The dragon and griffon riders soared over the capital, dragon fire rained down on the walls defenses setting ballistas alight and destroying them.

The plan was Alburns, a simple one at that, neuter their defenses, kill as many as possible, then Alburn will rout the enemy. The Allied leaders were unsure of this plan, however, Pymillcea trusted him and his judgment, swaying the others to go along with his plan.

With the defenses destroyed the air was undisputed and now under complete control of the Allied Kingdoms. With this, the bodies of the Occidere started to pile up in the streets of the capital. Using all the current necromancers within the Oushivia Tower they raised the bodies of allies and enemies within the keep and attacked them from both sides.

Now Pymillcea could play her part in leading the frontal assault on the gate with the rest of the ground troops and using the awesome and dangerous power of The Diadem of HuLing she blasted open the gates of the keep and charged through the dead and dying and those who still stood to fight, until she came to the throne room of Ligane Dralsouks.

Pymillcea was ruthless with the power of the Diadem. However, Ligane was a skilled and furious fighter, the two fought tough and nail, not giving either an inch. The Oushivia want to capture Ligane for reasons still unknown and so an Oushivia tower mage blasted off the man's legs and requested he be kept alive for questioning.

They were denied, Pymillcea killed Ligane. The victory was assured when the head of Ligane was presented to the battlefield. Aramoor had won their war, they had won with the help of their allies. Allies that still stand to this day. But history waits for no one and even with such a great victory, time moves on.

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### Aftermath

After the Battle of Slayers Fall, the Allied Kingdoms aimed to de-mobilize their armies and return to peacetime measures. The land of the Occidere Empire was carved up between Aramoor and the Regis Caeli, in what was called the Treaty of Occidere.

The Regis Caeli Dynasty returned to their mountain kingdom with the prize of the Occidere Empires ballista at their side. The Regis Caeli Dynasty now controls one of the most defendable positions in Aether. The treaty between Aramoor and The Regis Caeli Dynasty had been well upheld and a festival was held a month later to commemorate a great victory.

Aramoor had much to rebuild and much to get over. The loss of many dragon guards, the great HuLing, and sadly the worst was yet to come.

Unbeknownst to anyone before it was too late the Diadem contained the trapped essence of HuLing, however, HuLing was the perfect vessel for HuangLong. Therefore the Diadem granted the wearer a fraction of HuangLongs power.

But such a merging of souls was always tricky, usually, the dominant soul overtakes, and in this case, no one can compare to HuangLong. Slowly but surely Pymillcea started to deteriorate, she was transforming her soul and HuangLongs merged her body attempting to become the perfect vessel to accommodate him like HuLing.

Pymillcea’s skin started to blister and peel revealing golden scales underneath. It got the point where the Queen was lucid for only a few hours a day. Finya had to watch her queen slowly be driven mad by the soul of HuangLong.

In a moment of lucidity, Pymillcea agreed that she should stand down. But her last decree as the queen of Aramoor, she decided none should have to bear the burden of leadership on their own and none should have to bear the burden of wearing the Diadem.

Instead, the burden of leadership should be shared and the day the crown was lifted from Pymillcea the Democratic Legislative and Administrative Committee of Aramoor, more commonly called the  Council of Aramoor was born. The council was similar in structure to the when the Guilds ran Aramoor, however, their roles within the government had been severely demoted since the transition of emergency powers to Pymcillcea.

The council was to give those that truly stood for Armoor the ability to rule and guide their city. Their first leaders: Finya of the Dragon Guard, Dulmyr Tygus the treasury master, and Alburn [REDACTED] who co-ruled the Oushivia Tower from his new seat in Aramoor.

As promised the Oushivia was given unrestricted access to Aramoor and their claims to the souls of the Occidere were granted although few knew what this entailed apart from Alburn himself. One of Alburn’s greatest and most evil creations, he placed a curse on the entire population of Occidere and any further generations. Any soul of someone cursed cannot pass into the afterlife; their soul will go directly to Alburn, powering his necromantic powers infinitely.

In time things would settle down and peace would spread across Aether. Eventually, Dulmyr and Alburn [REDACTED] would disappear from both the council and the face of Aether in ‘pursuit of their own goal’. Dulmyr traveled into The Corruption Zone with one of his creations and never returned and as Alburn reached a great age he disappeared. Leaving Finya to rebuild the council and Aramoor to the greatness you see today.

In time Finya passed away too, leaving the council to the democratic vote of the public, every 5 years the people of Aramoor elect and vote on the three positions in the council, only citizens of Aramoor can be elected and only citizens of Aramoor can vote.

Aramoor despite it’s bloody and difficult past rose above and beyond, learning from its past mistakes and pushing forward to become the great center of the world of Aether.

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## Timeline

*Click to enhance*

Current year: 1240

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