Introduction to Lore

### Just a Note...

This is a compilation of all the "Introduction to Lore" documents that are released on our google drive. You can find them broken up into manageable sections  here .

### In the Beginning...

All peoples have wondered how this life began. Was it created? Were we created? Is it random? Verditians are no exception and have their own creation myth:

This universe has neither a beginning nor an end. It is an endless cycle of two grand forces at play: The Void and The Aspect. Life is nothing but a product of these force's lust to gain supremacy. In this world, it is natural that these factions would take on the forms of life. So were created the two ultimate life-forms: Sefanon, The crafter of creation. And Lothgin, the crafter of the void.

These entities clashed for billions of years and with every battle their blood was shed. This blood littered the heavens, manifesting and morphing into the worlds of our night sky. Every desperate battle brought grand attrition, fracturing their very essence across the night skies. Sefanon and Lothgin as a whole, are no more.

Void and Aspect are not like us, they are never truly destroyed! They reform and re-purpose to carry on the grand crusade. On our world Sefanon's shards would become 10 mighty gods as Lothgin's would form into 9.

The children of Lothgin started a campaign to find the remnants of their father and strengthen them. They cultivated the terrible flame of a chaos, an emerald fire whose wrath knows no equal! In the most southern reaches of our world they plotted and experimented with the abilities of Void.

The children of Sefanon were formed to command the properties of reality, they would forge this world into a paradise worthy of their gifts! Three took up the flame of darkness, a violent and hungering violet light. Three took up the flame of Light, a stoic and resistant white aura. And 4 took up the aspects of Natura, a flame with many qualities and hues.

Sefanon's children knew their new world would be the grand stage for war. Long before the first breath of any man, this world was preparing to tear itself apart.

### War is the Truest state of Life

The nine chaos gods’ years of preparation did not come without its rewards. They knew that the energies of Lothgin longed to manifest themselves. They forged their chaos flames into the first non-god entities of our world, the Chaos Born! (Later referred to as Demons by the Verdish)

The Chaos Born spread as rapidly as the very fire they were forged from. They soon covered every inch of the earth in the southern reaches of our world.

Denothtin, the now most powerful of the 9 chaos gods, ordered his swarm to overtake the Aspect Gods. The first child of Sefanon to meet the swarm was Kelm. He was a dark god, forged from the most complete shard of the crafter. He commands the essences of Blood, War, Mind, and Steel. And he was more than prepared for this army!

The swarm clashed against Kelm, enveloping him in a hail of fang and claw. But Kelm did not bend, he stood tall as the demons broke themselves upon his mighty armor. As they faltered Kelm cut them down dozens at a time with his massive blade. In his other hand he bore a grand shield, repelling the waves of enemies as if they were water against the shore. Kelm’s intelligence was superior to these broods in every way, he lead them to his grand trap where the natura gods waited.

As Kelm was overrun, the god of earth cracked the land, separating the southern reaches from the north. The goddess of water flooded the great canyon, to lay an ocean between the two worlds. The gods soon came to call the north Antioch, and the south Airis.

The aspect gods knew that Kelm could not break the entire might of Denothin’s army. Even now, the chaos gods were breeding new strains to bridge the divide. Denothtin’s 8 brothers and sisters began leading the charges personally, matching the might of the Aspect Gods while the swarm overwhelmed them.

All over Antioch the world was in ruin, the land splintered and cracked as gods waged their mighty war. The Aspects felt if the chaos gods could create an army to fight for them, then they should too! The aspect gods created children to embody their essences, forging the ‘first-born’, the dragons. Every god had its way with creating life. Over the following millennia they sculpted new species to inhabit the world to bring supremacy to their side.

Rumor had it that the chaos gods were cultivating unformed fragments of Lothgin, they were to create a new chaos god! The dark gods, Veradenite and Ba’Kray, wielding the only flame as brutal as the chaos’; decided they could do the same! Kelm objected, noticing every time a god used his power, he became weaker. He believed adding a new god would only cripple the power of the dark flame and compromise the Aspect Alliance. The other dark gods ignored his plea and began pouring their soul into a new and ultimate god, bred for the sole purpose of annihilating the demonic forces.

Little did they know, the stories of a new chaos god were only a ruse to trick the dark gods to expose the core of their essence! The chaos gods ambushed the ritual and corrupted the new god, merging its power with the chaos flame. The dark gods went mad as the calling of Lothgin ripped away their sanity. They were assimilated into the chaos army.

Kelm struggled to maintain his control. In complete agony, he severed his bond to the darkness by purifying its flame. He succeeded but it was too late to save his fellow dark gods. Kelm collapsed in complete isolation, but burning in his palm was a new flame: The azure flame of war.

Veradenite, Ba’Kray, and the new god Akren’Zule would prove to be the children of Lothgin’s most powerful weapons.

When Kelm awoke he denounced his affinity to the Aspects, his hunger for retribution became his ultimate fuel. He was neither aspect nor chaos, he walked a new path: the path of a rogue god.

### Not Even the Gods are Infinite

Both Aspect and chaos gods were forging grand armies to annihilate one another. The dark gods took hold in Verdite, the central-most continent in Antioch. There they perfected their broods, spreading across the northern corners of the continent. They were winning their campaigns but had not seen Kelm in many years. They realized that Kelm’s ability to resist corruption made him the most dangerous foe. So they were always searching for him!

In exile, Kelm had watched all the gods of the world weaken and lose their ability to maintain themselves. Every race and life form they created was one with their flame. But every division of this essence came with its consequences! They became very weak.

As gods across the lands were defeated, the others noticed that their presence never quite vanished and they instead existed in a world beyond ours. A world born of the original energies of Sefanon and Lothgin where their spirits lived on. They lost the ability to directly exist in the natural world, but they had enough energy to still enact influence there. But this ability became incredibly finite, with only three interactions they would cease to exist entirely.

The chaos and dark forces had gained the upper hand in this war, declaring themselves to be the supreme power of the universe (Known to the Verdish simply as The Supremacy, I will use this term from here on out). The aspect gods’ children had not faltered quite yet. Their grand alliance remained stoic.

Akren’Zule sensed the energies of Kelm deep within the earth beneath Verdite. He sent an army to capture him. There they found a sinkhole with an elaborate cave system. As the infestation searched the tunnels they were finally met with a pair of mysterious glowing eyes emanating from the darkness. It was not long until the caves erupted and filled with a violent blue conflagration.

As the flames cleared, a figure darted from the pit. He stood tall, garbed in black cloth, with intense eyes burning with the fury of Kelm. The demon swarm began advancing on him until he pulled a sword from his belt. The armies of chaos shrieked in terror, for they had learned to fear the weapon of a god. With a bellowing scream the swordsman unleashed a tsunami of azure fire to consume the routing forces. Everything in sight was incinerated. This was Kelm’s ultimate weapon, The Sein’Overdine. His name was Residen, the first mortal forged from the essence of blood. He commanded complete mastery over the blue flames of war, his power had only one purpose: to hunt and kill gods! But this was not Kelm’s only creation, he ensured that the evolution of life would spiral out of control and, for the first time ever, there would be creatures and races that were not bound to the essence of a god.

Residen moved from ancient settlement to settlement, rallying the aspect gods’ children and teaching them secrets of steel. With Kelm's essence at their command, Ancient forces began besting Supremacy armies again and again. But these techniques could only remain hidden from the supremacy for so long! Soon they stole the power of steel and outfitted their armies accordingly. The war now became an arms race that the lesser populations of the ancients could not win. Residen had also left the Ancients to fight the chaos forces in their homeland of Airis. Desperate, the ancients enslaved the primitive mortal tribes (humans) in the area and erected two grand citadels in Verdite: Kellasento and Farthor. They would use these blood-children to produce the needed tools and structures of war.

For thousands of years the Ancients attempted to hold out against the Supremacy. Attrition ensured that every war front in the other Antioch continents faded. Verdite became the last Antioch land to remain in conflict.

Both sides had immeasurable losses, most of the chaos gods and armies had fled back to Airis where Residen’s genocidal purge had taken top priority. All that was left were the northern kingdoms of Verdite. But the Ancients were only a few thousand strong now. Greatly outnumbered by both their slaves and enemies, they knew the end was coming.

Akren’Zule ordered his Verdite-based forces to take the fortress of Kellasento. The Ancients met them in full-force, but they were heavily outnumbered and surrounded on all sides. Corpus, the Vathtor King (Vathtor are one of the Ancient races) went to the slave pits and handed a key to a human captive. He told him that the age of the ancients was over and perhaps that means it will be the age of mortals. It is believed Corpus only did this to make sure the slaves would not aid the Supremacy.

The thrall rapidly freed his people but escape was impossible now with so many supremacy forces outside the walls. The race of man had one choice if they wanted to survive: Fight!

### Rise of the Verditian

(Introduction to lore #4)

The slaves raided the armories of their ancient captors and began flooding the streets to meet their annihilation head on. Any surviving ancient races within the keep were hunted down and massacred in grand acts of retribution. Human inexperience as warriors became obvious, but they heavily outnumbered the supremacy’s forces now.

Kellasento now belonged to the race of man! In the distance the supremacy armies were reforming for a second wave when Residen returned. His very presence on the battlefield caused chaos in supremacy ranks. There was no hope for them to overtake the humans now, so they retreated.

Residen was deeply confused to see Kelm’s children in control of an ancient citadel. He inquired who the leader was. The men unanimously lead him to the captive Corpus had picked earlier. The slave’s arm was badly injured and he could barely stand. But with his brother’s aid, they stood tall in the face of the legendary Residen. They told him they would die before they went back into chains.

Residen had no intention of enslaving them and truly had no idea they were enslaved to begin with! He told them that they were children of the war god and that he was here to offer salvation. The brother’s skeptically agreed to hear him out. They had just witnessed how easily it would be for Residen to destroy them if he truly wanted to. Residen told them the story of Kelm and how they were his children created for the single purpose of taking this world back from the supremacy and chaos forces. Residen learned that no slave was ever given a name, he started by naming these two brothers: Safar and Loth (after the gods Sefanon and Lothgin). He believed mortals would transcend the Void and Aspect struggle.

Residen taught men the art of battle and over many years they became a warrior society. (At this time, the god’s still had influence over the land, Men did not become old/die of age. This does change later). They renamed the city Kellasento into Kel'Morleac (Literally meaning Kelm’s Salvation) and began building their new home around the grand citadel. Skirmishes between the supremacy forces were frequent, but the Kel'Morleac children were more than a match for them!

Residen told them that to the far west, the citadel of Farthor had a similar revolution with its tribe of men. But unlike Safar’s people, this tribe had burned the keep to the ground and built a sprawling city on top of it that they now called Gatosukai. Residen said one day they would need one another if they were to take Verdite from the Supremacy. (The rest of the world had been at peace for thousands of years, Verdite was nowhere near that same state)

To the north the Supremacy was tired of Residen’s interference and decided to attack Kel'Morleac directly, even if that battle would force them to the other realm. They believed as long as he lived, there could be no victory for the Supremacy.

Kel'Morleac forces met the Supremacy in full, but they were no match for Akren’Zule who led them. He slaughtered the greatest warriors men had to offer with absolute ease. Residen ordered Safar to retreat as he would end the god of corruption himself. Safar reluctantly obeyed and watched from afar as Residen bested Akren’Zule. Akren-Zule showed no remorse for his comrades during the battle as collateral damage decimated the Supremacy army, forcing a retreat. Residen pursued the fleeing armies to the north outside of Safar’s vision.

Residen was met by Veradenite at the gates of Verias (Supremacy capitol in northern Verdite). Residen was defeated but managed to force Veradenite to expend all of his energy on the natural world. At this moment, every ancient god had finally been banished to the other realm.

When Residen didn’t return, Safar took it upon himself to raise his people to purge the world of all ancient infestation. He proclaimed his people the true children of Verdite: The Verdish! He took the title of his grand teacher, bearing the name Safar the Residen. (As did his brother: Loth the Residen)

Verdish forces shifted all aspects of society to a state of total war. They spread across the southern reaches of Verdite erecting great castles and cities. To the west: Zavan and Yevorak. To the south: Maechalon. They were forming the first mortal empire. The Verdish Empire!

This is where our story truly begins!

### The Steel Born

(Introduction to lore #5)

Over the years, Safar’s total-war policy was finally realized with the first Warlord-Class warrior: his brother Loth. Loth’s military achievements became legend in both Verdite and greater Antioch alike. He was truly worthy of his title as the son of Residen.

The western city of Gatosukai reached out to Safar’s growing empire. They believed that if they were going to reach peace, then the race of man should unify to do so. Safar sent Loth and a team of emissaries to learn more about the people from this strange kingdom. When they arrived they were met with a society very different from their own. Loth was introduced to Shogun Uchiharu, where he was told that Residen had uplifted them from barbarism and foretold that for their people to success they must become one with the Kel'Morleac children to the east. Loth, amused, told the Shogun that Residen had given them the same exact message.

(Residen at this point is the savior of both societies. And the Gatosukai knew that Safar and Loth were considered his sons. So there is a bit of spiritual reverence from the west.)

Gatosukai’s military had evolved differently from the eastern Verdish. They were focused on the art of archery and all weaponry/armor were built to accommodate this style. Loth was fascinated with his visit to Gatosukai and believed that the two people could truly benefit from one another. Uchiharu gave Loth a katana to present to Safar as a show of solidarity. He gave it a name: Gekido.

Safar and Uchiharu’s respective territories traded for many years and eventually enacted open borders. They worked together on military campaigns to cleanse Verdite of any remaining Ancient forces and even expanded into other Antioch territories to purge the world of their essence. Slowly the two cultures blurred.

The Verdish Empire, while in its infancy, was evolving to become the strongest military presence in all of Antioch. The Northern Verditian Axis (now lead by the Dark Lord: Hetone the Omega [this name is very important to take note of]) grew desperate to end this. Hetone enacted aid from his chaos born brothers. They would establish that man’s place in the world was coming to an end.

(Hetone prior to this period is known by the Omega because of his apocalyptic-like presence on the field of battle. The title Dark Lord means he has command over the dark flame and can wield it in terrifying manners. This is partly why Loth becoming a Warlord is such a big deal, because it means that potentially he could stand against a creature like Hetone in single combat.)

### "Such is the fate, for the enemies of man."

(Introduction to lore #6)

In Aris, the demons answered Hetone’s call to arms. Lead by Sen’Shorin, this demonic horde infested northern reaches of Verdite and prepared for their campaign against the Verdish Empire. (Sen’Shorin is a creature left over from the original creations of the gods. He is extremely powerful, with abilities that rival Hetone’s)

Verdish expansion had inflicted total genocide onto the surviving ancients. Man’s wrath against his former captors was absolute. But one day, an emissary from a lesser-born ancient race (high elf) came stumbling into the outer reaches of Gatosukai patrols. He was immediately captured and imprisoned.

Uchiharu visited the captive who identified himself as Antollian. Uchiharu told him that he would not entertain council from the same race that aided the ancients who oppressed him. He told him that every elf would fall to the steel plague that is sweeping Verdite. Antollian explained that his people are young and disconnected with the elven families that had long since left Verdite. He explained that his people have seen the rising swarms of demons in Verdite and they know that without the aid of the empire, they will die.

Uchiharu dismissed Antollian’s plea by simply telling him “Such is the fate, for the enemies of man.” He sent word to his advisors that he had an ancient that was to be tortured for information and then executed for his crimes against humanity.

One of Uchiharu’s advisors was a man named Vredius. Vredius was the first of the mighty Penvaren (Penvaren are the healers of the Verdish empire employing the white flame to cleanse afflictions). He told Uchiharu that there will be a time when man has to look inward and ask itself: “How are we better than those who enslaved us? When will our retribution become nothing more than an act of cruelty?”

Uchiharu debated with Vredius but ultimately was swayed by his convictions. Uchiharu asked to meet with Safar to discuss aiding and assimilating the elven forces. If they were to rise above the short-comings of their predecessors, they would at least expand the empire in the process.

#### **Little facts about some of the characters introduced here:**

1. *Vredius is the original owner of Arashi, a Kelm-Class Kelv. And also the man who pioneered the Penvaren division of Verdite. (The white Verdish) Penvaren are some of the ONLY Verditians able to manipulate an essence outside of the war-aspects. The exception to this being Vothkar (a major character in more modern Verdish times)*
2. *Sen’Shorin is considered one of the most dangerous demons because he often takes the form of a human, and can fully control and manipulate the emerald flames of chaos. He’s considered to be of the class of ‘Divine’ meaning predecessor to the Ancients.*
3. *Antollian is directly connected with the high-born elven families of Veradon (another country…fun fact this is where the Amorias are located primarily!). He, his brother, and his people were exiled for religious practices that involved worshiping Kelm.*

### The Campaign of Selo'Sean

(Introduction to lore #7)

Safar was unconvinced that it was the responsibility of man to intervene in Verdite-born elven extinction. Vredius plead to the Verditian Lord, “We should be able to look inward and say with absolute conviction: We were more evolved than our predecessors.”

Vredius’ words preached compassion and acceptance of an individual’s right to exist without being pre-judged for crimes of their ancestors. Safar, still unconvinced, needed his proof. He granted Vredius access to a regiment of soldiers. He concluded that it was Vredius’ job to prove that the elves could be trusted.

Vredius, taking Antollian with him, marched his forces to the far western forests of Verdite where he discovered the city of Anverin. Vredius sent emissaries to contact the city, and as he waited, he fortified his army outside of their walls. Tensions were high as many soldiers were prepared for war with the elves.

Vredento, Antollian’s brother, came out to meet with Vredius explaining there was a Supremacy kingdom of Selo’Sean to the north that had been funneling hordes of demons into the countryside. He told them that it was only a matter of time before his people could no longer hold out. Vredius realized losing the western coast of Verdite would have terrible consequences for the sanctity of the Verditian Empire.

Vredius after scouting out the kingdom of Selo’Sean, decided to station his army in Anverin and return to Gatosukai with the elven brothers to offer his report. When they arrived they held council with Verditian leadership about the growing threat from the supremacy. Safar agreed that they must contain this problem; but was still unconvinced about the trustworthiness of the elves. He said if they could show the empire that they were truly a friend to the movement, that he would offer them citizenship. He again tasked Vredius as ambassador to the Anverin crisis.

Vredius, Antollian, and Vredento returned to Anverin and rallied their armies. Together they laid siege to the kingdom of Selo’Sean. The campaign lasted a full year but finally the Anverin and Verdish forces triumphed. Vredius and his forces left the fronts with a profound realization that this singular goal to stand against The Supremacy is enough to warrant cooperation between the two races.

Later the kingdom of Anverin (and Selo’Sean after it was captured) were assimilated into the Verdish Empire, spawning the first non-humans to carry the title of Verditian: Verdish Elves (and later a keep of dwarves carried this title as well). Verdish racism towards non-humans slowly eroded away as relationships with Anverin’s people became more commonplace.

During the Selo’Sean campaign, two children were born with eyes that radiated the azure light of Kelm, they would soon change the fate of every Verdish-born man for centuries to come. They were named **Anuevin** of Kel'Morleac and **Valanay** of Gatosukai. As they matured their affinity to the blue flame grew with them. By the time they were 12 years old, they had already developed the ability to summon it.

#### **Here’s some little facts about some of the events introduced here:**

1. *Interestingly, even though Verdish Elves became accepted into the empire, there was still a grand hatred for outland elves. This was perpetuated strongly from the Verdish Elves themselves, having been exiled by these outland families.*
2. *Vredius became a spiritual teacher for many Verditians. He preached acceptance and unity throughout the empire. The socialistic practices of the empire are believed to have spawned from his cultural awakening.*
3. *Verdish Elves are very few in number. Their society revolved around master-work carpentry. Their innovations in wood-working became streamlined within the empire over the years. But they were always regarded as masters of the craft.*
4. *Vredius has a softer view towards the ancients because his ability to command the white flame was taught to him by the ancients. He saw that not every child of the ancients was cruel.*
5. *Later the dwarven keep of Dea’Bune was assimilated into the Empire as well. Led by Kel'Ghim, they found acceptance into the empire much easier than the elves did. (Dwarves are not considered ancients).*
6. *During this time Loth had amassed quite the following in the eastern Verdish kingdoms. He had lead numerous successful campaigns against the supremacy. As a Warlord, he was revered as one of Kelm’s chosen children.*
7. *Much of Verdish society began regarding Valanay and Anuevin as Kelm’s second wave of prophets; only Loth was seen as worthy in aiding in the children’s training. Other people who were involved often caught the protests of religious fanatics. (Residen was the only being they’d ever seen summon a blue flame prior to this, so they associated that power with direct influence from Kelm himself.)*

### The Cult of Vatagaskin

(Introduction to lore #8)

Safar’s wife, Lyngawa, had just given birth to his first son (Menoar). At the same time Anuevin and Valanay’s training under Loth started to surpass any normal standard for progress. By the time Safar had his second son (Vothkar), Anuevin and Valanay easily bested their champion trials at the age of 16. Their progress did not stop there however, by the time they became young adults, they had obtained the rank of Warlord. Their conquests alongside Loth on the front lines became common knowledge throughout the empire. Their very presence within a city drew massive crowds. For many within the empire, they were revered as demigods!

The campaign to drive back the Supremacy’s armies was proving successful as well. They had stopped any forward advance and had started gaining noticeable ground in each encounter. No matter what the Supremacy threw at the empire; Loth, Valanay, and Anuevin bested it.

In time, Intelligence revealed that Hetone (the leader of the supremacy) himself would be staging attacks from the keep of Eloth’Kai (across the river from Dea’Bune). Loth was confident that they could take the keep and possibly end Hetone once and for all. He told Safar that the success of the army was attributed to the incredible abilities of the young warlords and that with their aid, he could win. Safar took his brother’s insight to heart and in Kel'Morleac, Valanay and Anuevin were ceremoniously honored and given the titles of **Kelm Knights**. They dawned on their cloaks the azure symbol of Antioch.

The Kelm Knights and Loth rallied an enormous army within the Empire. They wasted no time to march on Eloth’Kai to annihilate the Dark Lord of the Supremacy.

After a month long campaign, the armies of Verdite had bested the forces of Eloth’Kai. It was clear that the final hour of the Supremacy had come.

    Hetone finally emerged from the keep. His very presence blackened the skies and brought with it ember-infested air. The ground erupted as he stood before the army of man. The armies split as Valanay and Anuevin approached the Dark Lord. Both of their blades engulfed with the flame of Kelm. They were ready to show the ancient gods that the race of man had grown stronger than any creature they once spawned.

Hetone unleashed the fury of the old world upon the Kelm Knights. In the ultimate test of will, strength, and steel Anuevin and Valany persevered! In this legendary duel, they felled this demon. As Hetone took his final desperate breaths; Valanay ran his blade through his chest, “This is a Verdish world… and this is the moment your race faces extinction!”

Hetone, stayed silent, never breaking eye contact as he slowly disintegrated into violet flames. Valanay’s katana crumbled into dust as Hetone faded away, the skies cleared and the ember winds subsided. Verdite fell still as the enemy of man vanished before the empire’s might. Anuevin retrieved Hetone’s shattered sword and made way to Kel'Morleac.

Upon return, the streets were alive with the news of Hetone’s ultimate demise. Man had finally taken a major step to true freedom from the remnants of Lothgin. Valanay and Anuevin were paraded through the kingdom as the saviors of Verdite. They presented Safar with Hetone’s sword, Anderol, as proof of his demise. Safar had the sword smelted and reforged into the mighty weapon: Kyofu, The Bane of Man, a nodachi for Valanay as a testament to the destiny of a cleansed Verdite.

This triumph over the dark lord empowered the concept of the Kelm Knight’s divinity. The masses would flood to them attempting to feel the saviors of man. Anuevin began rejecting this celebrity status and began working out of the public eye to better understand the remnants of the supremacy, he knew that this battle’s victory was only the beginning. Valanay however, was swayed by his following and began to build his identity around it.

The movement became known as the Cult of Vatagaskin and soon became radical towards the established priesthood of Maechalon. They pressured the established government to bend towards the will of the Kelm Knights, citing that Safar had no claim to the throne while the true children of Kelm walked among us.

The cult rioted in the streets targeting non-believers and even went as far to attack priests from Maechalon. Vredius ordered peacekeepers to guard the streets but found that this new-age movement had surpassed his previous social awakening. The empire polarized politically and a toxic intolerance for one another manifested.

The Cult maintained that Valanay was the rightful Verditian Lord and Safar was just a product of a corrupt state. The dawn of Insurrection had begun and Safar was not about to bend to the will of the Vatagaskin.

#### **Here’s some little bits of information about some of the events introduced here:**

1. *Every time a being with the abilities of a Dark Lord begins to unleash his/her power, the skies turn black and embers gently fall from the sky. This hellish aura is well-known throughout the empire as the sign of your imminent demise.*
2. *Menoar and Vothkar (the sons of Safar) are major characters in the history of Verdite that you’ll want to pay attention to.*
3. *Menoar’s and Vothkar’s childhood is overwhelmed with this political discontent. The Cult of Vatagaskin caused most of the empire to polarize around two toxic ideologies.*
4. *Vredius attempted to quell the boiling political climate after Hetone’s death but was never very successful.*
5. *Anuevin attempted to stay neutral during this time. He was however constantly stalked by cult members.*
6. *Even senate members from Zavan belonged to the Cult of Vatagaskin. This ideology directly clashed with the current establishment and ensured nothing was accomplished by the state.*
7. *Kyofu, the Kelm-Class Nodachi was always feared by members of the Empire because they knew its material origin. Often times just revealing it was in the room would be enough to quiet any setting.*

### The True Verditian Lord

(Introduction to Lore #9)

Over the years, the cities of Zavan, Maechalon, and Kel'Morleac suffered from constant rioting and political sabotage. Assassinations were commonplace and before long Safar was forced to order the army to purge any Verdish who participated in the riots. This did little to ease tensions as it forced cult-members to further organize. Valanay at the time secretly led the cult while maintaining an innocent public persona. But before long, even he turned towards total involvement in toppling the established regime. One night he gathered an army of followers with the intent of bringing the Verdish Empire’s government to a complete halt. They made way to Zavan, where the senators and lawmakers of Verdish society met.

They stormed the council of Zavan and declared their right to the throne. Those who disagreed were labeled as heretics and dragged from the keep, stripped of their title, and executed in the gardens.

Naturally, when word reached Safar, he was furious. He ordered his most elite warriors to siege Zavan and bring back Valanay’s head. When Safar’s forces arrived, Valanay had already gone into hiding and his followers dispersed. The armies returned with many cult-member prisoners but they had no information regarding Valanay.

Safar issued an empire-wide edict that Valanay was to be found and executed for treasonous crimes against man. This brought horrible unrest to the eastern Verdish kingdoms. Valanay’s cult never fully engaged with state-controlled military regiments, they terrorized the civilian supporters of Safar and fled at the sight of his wrath.

One day they staged a violent demonstration outside of the Rovan district in Kel'Morleac. Safar’s forces rushed to intervene, leaving much of the city guard occupied. This was all part of Valanay’s plan to disperse Safar’s forces long enough for them to assassinate the Verditian Lord. Valanay and a massive mob of followers gathered in the Kel'Morleac square before the citadel where Safar lived. They began to advance up the stairways until Loth emerged from the keep, escorted by a Safarian Guard of Champions (shieldsmen and other heavily armored fighters).

The armies of Valanay halted at the very sight of Loth. He called out to Valanay, speaking but one word, “Enough!”

Valanay stepped out before his army, Kyofu in hand. He was unwilling to fight Loth to reach Safar. After a moment of tension, Valanay addressed his followers, asserting that only a true child of Kelm could be worthy for the throne. Safar emerged behind Loth, against the orders of his elite guards.

Safar, stepped out in front of Loth and drew his sword. He challenged Valanay to take the throne by force. Loth objected, attempting to pull Safar behind him again but he was too late, for Valanay was already mid-charge. Safar, broke away from Loth and met Valanay with a charge of his own, manifesting all his strength into a mighty slash.

Valanay easily deflected the blow and shouldered Safar off balance. As Safar fell to the ground, Valanay made a shallow cut across his mouth and chin. Valanay brought his sword back around to deliver the finishing blow but Loth intervened, engaging in a hellish flurry of blows. Valanay was forced to cancel his assault and immediately fell into a defensive-withdrawal.

Valanay’s defenses held true as the Warlord delivered an onslaught that would crush any lesser man. Valanay played heavily defensive, for he knew his former-master’s style very well. He awaited for the moment where Loth over-committed to a swing.  Valanay left his lower body undefended in an attempt to taunt Loth into an unsafe attack. Loth took the bait, stepping in and making a hard arching swing towards Valanay’s gut. Valanay responded by pulling his lower abdomen back while delivering a counter-cut intended to behead his opponent.

Little did Valanay know this was all a part of Loth’s ruse, for he halted mid-strike and deflected Valanay’s nodachi upward. As Valanay scrambled to recover, Loth slashed into his stomach, effectively gutting him. Valanay collapsed upon Loth’s blade, grasping his wound. He did not scream in agony, he laid silent, fully surrendering to the blood loss. Loth stood silent over his former apprentice, watching as the azure glow faded from his eyes. Valanay died there in the Kel'Morleac square.

Loth gazed over at Anuevin, fully expecting him to intervene, but he was met only with a nod of approval. Loth declared that it is not the ability in war that makes a Verditian Lord, but his devotion to his people. Perhaps stricken by grief, the cult-infested crowds remained silent as Safar was taken back to the citadel.

Anuevin retrieved the corpse of his fellow Kelm Knight and carried him to a sacred hill by the tomb of Residen in Maechalon. Valanay was buried there as his followers constructed a monument in his memory.

Vredius healed Safar’s wounds, but the scar across his lips would forever stay as a reminder of the volatile state of his new empire.

#### **Here’s some little bits of information about some of the events introduced here:**

1. Watching Valanay bested by Loth was a profound lesson in reality for the cult of vatagaskin. It shattered much of their membership.
2. In the aftermath of Valanay’s death, Anuevin helped to guide cult members to realize that the true purpose of the Verditian Lord is to serve the people. All of the people. And in the face of a hostile world, unity in Verdite is the true goal of Kelm.
3. Gatosukai was unusually unaffected by the Cult’s influence, however they did aid in suppressing riots against the established government.
4. Valanay’s nodachi, Kyofu, was kept by Anuevin until a warrior emerged worthy of its power. This weaposn was eventually gifted to Hrazlinne, the only Verdish warrior in history worthy of the bane of man.
5. Again it is important to note this is as bare-bones of an overview of major events as I can make. There is much more to these times than is presented! But if I indulge on the minor events and dramas, we’ll never get to the modern era!

### The Evolution of War

*(Introduction to Lore #10)*

With the death of *Narsheer*
(The Chaos god of strength who was slain by Valanay and Anuevin during the
crusades), *the gods of Chaos sought vengeance upon the Verdish. Kelm-born*
children however have proven to be exceptionally resistant to the afflictions
and subversions of the chaos gods.

But no Kelm-spawn is immune to the afflictions of Chaos, given
the right amount of power! Two Chaos gods remained in Verdite now and with
their combined essences they would break the blood-resistances of the Verdish.

Kanderith,
the Chaos God of Flesh, spun his very body into a strain of blood that would
infect and corrupt any Verdish who ingested it. While Jenanon, the Chaos God of
Will, enacted a plan to use demon-spawn carriers to infect the water supplies
of fringe Verdish outposts. They both knew it was impossible to infiltrate the
heartland cities without discovery, even though the empire was recovering from
a recent insurrection.

Jennanon sent his armies to siege the western holds of
Verdite, making sure that the scouts of the empire would discover this massive
force.

As Jenanon expected, the armies of chaos clashed in western Verdite,
drawing the attention of the main armies of Gatosukai, Maechalon, and Kel’Morleac.

In the east, Kanderith’s carriers made their way to the
favored water supply of the rural countryside. There they merged with the
waters, spreading the corruptive strain.

As men drank from the waters they found their body in atrophy
and their mind embraced in madness. Those who drank from the tainted waters
became animalistic and vengeful, turning on their brothers. First as men they
waged war among one another, but as the strain evolved and spread further, they
became something else entirely. They devolved into twisted and sickly versions
of themselves.

Entire villages fell overnight and as the water was distributed
across the countryside, it seemed entire provinces fell to this new swarm of
flesh. And men were not the only ones to fall to this new corruption. The wildlife
fell into madness as new violent broods replaced the old. One of the most notorious
was the new aggressive wolf packs, aptly named Verdish-Wolves.

Almost overnight the lands of Verdite became hostile to any
being not of the Supremacy/Chaos alliance. As the wars in the west were won the
armies of man scrambled to defend the ill-guarded countryside. Their efforts
were in vain as the swarm had already consumed all the biofuel it needed.

Small skirmishes broke out across the more local villages.
The generals of man hoped that they could exhaust the enemy by giving it no new
hosts to infect. But as this tactic started to become fruitful the strain
evolved again, allowing the swarm to grow new creatures independent of a human
host. It was then that the swarm received it’s one and final name: **The Ill-Born**.

Travel came to a standstill as ill-born raids were
commonplace in forested areas. The Penvaren scrambled to find a way to free their
corrupted brothers, but all attempts proved ineffective. Even attempts to
purify the waters failed. The only breakthrough made by the empire was that
Vredius tainted the strain so it would turn water red, as to warn future
Verdish to avoid the corruption.

The hellish vision of blood-soaked rivers became reality as
the waters of Verdite ran red. The corruption was absolute. The earth blackened
and the trees grayed. Kelm’s paradise was under siege in every way imaginable.

Heavy mists were the only warnings of an ill-born invasion.
From its depths the twisted human shrieks would echo across the countryside. No
visibility ensured every Verdish regiment would be surrounding long before they
realized it. Even though the Ill-born did not use weapons, they felt no pain,
no fear, and utilized overwhelming numbers to collapse any resistance.

The swarm pushed the Verdish back into their greatest cities,
forcing refugee populations inward and exhausting the capacity of every hold. The
general annoyances very quickly shifted to madness as starvation ran rampant
throughout the empire. Communication between the west and east ended and
naturally both sides believed the other had perished.

Safar attempted to ration the dwindling food stocks but
rampant theft quickly thwarted that approach.

The ghost of Valanay’s insurrection weighed heavily on Loth
now. Safar was convinced this was the final trial of Kelm to prove that the
Verdish were worthy of the Verditian motherland. Loth was not convinced. He
began to wonder if the best course of action now was to leave Verdite and build
a new empire in lands that would not constantly thrust his people into disarray
and strife.

It began small, simple debates between brothers, but as the
onslaught of the Ill-Born claimed more and more lives, Loth began openly questioning
the sanity of his brother. He could not see how Safar believed some sense of
manifest destiny was more important than the survival of his race.

Safar contested that leaving would damn millions to death and
that only the most elite of Verdish would survive such a vulnerable retreat.
Loth persisted that there was only death for those who stayed in Verdite.

There was a new word in the empire and that word was **Exodus**.

#### **Here’s some little bits of information about some of the events introduced here:**

1. Jenanon was the most formidable Chaos god according to Residen. While Jenanon doesn’t usually fight directly, he is often responsible for most of the subversive plans of the children of Lothgin.
2. Kanderith actually sacrificed himself to break the blood immunity of Verdish men. It was the only amount of power available to the Chaos that could contest a protection of Kelm.
3. The Ill-Born are interesting because even though they are chaos-spawn, they do not follow the control of the chaos gods. They began acting as an independent force very quickly, even eventually turning against members of the Supremacy.
4. The Ill-Born did not stop evolving here, in modern Verdite they are quite a bit different.
5. Rescue missions to liberate isolated towns were always ineffective, any survivors returned with absolute tales of dread. This was a major factor for fueling the desire for an exodus.
6. Western and Eastern Verdite had no contact during this incident, both sides were facing similar problems, although eastern Verdite was hit much harder.
7. Anuevin and Vredius were convinced they could undo the afflictions of the chaos gods, but they never produced any results. (outside of the red water)
8. Verdite was splitting into two camps of thought. The Empire loyalists and the Exodus supporters. The supporters became known as the Lothtarians.
9. *Again it is important to note this is as bare-bones of an overview of major events as I can make. My hope is to make wiki pages addressing some of the events in greater and proper detail!*

### The Exodus

(*Introduction to Lore #11)*

What once was a safe haven for the
Verdish people quickly turned into a hellish nightmare as the overcrowded
cities descended into primal chaos.

Loth could no longer stomach the
suffering of his people, he took to the main square in Kel’Morleac to begin gathering
support for the Exodus. It was not long before he was confronted by Safar
himself. His command presence had yet to waiver.

The seas of refugees split, only to
leave the two brothers in moral opposition. Loth broke the silence, calling out
to Safar, “The world is bigger than Verdite! We cannot survive here! All that
awaits us now is death. The empire, your family, and all you hold dear will
come crashing down if we linger any longer!”

Safar knew his brother’s heart was
true but he pleaded back. “We cannot leave. You believe it will save our
people, but what happens to those who cannot make the journey? What happens to
the children we cannot reach? What happens to our brothers in the west?”

The exchanges were growing
tiresome, every moment lingered meant the death of another Verdish innocence.
Loth’s patience faltered, he felt Safar’s indecisiveness would lead to the
death of his race. Soon open debates were no longer commonplace, for
desperation had dictated an immediate response.

Safar attempted to declare
a call to arms. He would bring war to the Ill-Born and push the armies to
liberate the strongholds of the empire. They would reclaim the abandoned food
stocks and remind the Verditian motherland that the power of steel is its true
master.

But his answer to the
crisis had come too late, Loth’s subversive persuasion had taken root. as Safar
witnessed a disinterested people who were now making way to
the city exists. Isolated and ignored, Safar simply sat and watched his people
flee.

The world’s greatest exodus was
underway. They marched for the southernmost reaches of Verdite where they would
pass into Bahkraymuth to make a new home in the north-western forests.

It was not easy, Ill-Born raids
came frequently throughout the days and nights. Thousands of lives were lost as
Loth’s forces were unable to protect every boarder. But the people persevered,
through blood and steel they carved a path to their salvation.

But the losses were not to be
ignored, tattered and broken the Exodus could not survive another grand
assault. For weeks now they had sacrificed everything for a chance at a
peaceful life. In the distance the rolling thunder of horses sang a song of
doom to the people. Loth had no choice but to bring the Exodus to a halt. He
knew who was leading the oncoming swarm.

Over the horizon the war-party of
Verdish cavalry came into sight. As Loth assumed, Safar was leading it himself.
Loth pushed his way through the crowds to face his brother head-on.

As the army grew closer, it was
apparent that many head-figures of the Empire loyalists were in attendance, including
Vredius, Anuevin, and Safar’s sons. To Loth’s surprise however, the cavalry did
not run the exodus through, Safar simply dismounted before them, Kelv in hand.
He told Loth there was no way he would ever let him cripple and damn the people
of Verdite while he still lived.

He pleaded one last time, “Take up your arms
and together we will purge the Ill-born from our lands. We will retake Verdite
and break our way to our marooned brothers and sisters!”

Loth approached Safar telling him
that there was no way he would turn back now, not after the sacrifices made to
get this far. He prompted his brother to gather the loyalists of Verdite and
leave with him instead.

Safar readied his kelv. “You say
you will not forsake the sacrifices of the Exodus. Yet you show no dilemma in
sacrificing the people of Verdite so you may live a sheltered life! Show me I’m
wrong brother! Show me that I will not be the first of your sacrifices! Let it
be known that you and your ‘Lothtarian’ fell to pride as you damned millions to
an empty, meaningless death.”

An eerie silence overcame the
people as the tension lasted for what seemed an eternity. Safar did not budge
from his position. Loth’s fury was absolute. How could his brother think so
poorly of him? Loth drew his sword, charging wildly at Safar’s position. In
this charge he proclaimed his war-cry, “For the Verdish!”

Safar began backtracking, swinging
his Kelv in a way to remain as far away from Loth’s reach as possible. But
Loth’s speed was desperately overwhelming, he quickly closed any gap, using his
kelv as a full body bulwark. As Loth deflected Safar’s natural saving strike,
he grappled Safar. Loth latched onto Safar’s kelv, freeing it from his hand and
casting it aside. Now the only weapon in play was Loth’s.

Safar attempted to free himself
from Loth, but he was no match for a warlord’s rage-driven brawn. Loth managed
to get behind Safar, wrapping his arm around his neck while prepping his blade
for an attack. But Safar quickly bit down on the exposed portions of Loth’s arm,
drawing blood and forcing him to break.

As they began to separate, Loth
placed his palm on Safar’s back, pushing him off balance. As Safar stumbled to
catch his footing Loth immediately rushed him, promptly impaling him from
behind.

The duel was won. Loth simply released
his grip upon his sword, allowing Safar to collapse to his knees. Safar’s last
moments alive were not spent in struggle, instead he faded away with a fixated
gaze upon the Lotharian exodus. And in the end all that remained of the mighty
Verditian Lord was a subtle smile painted across his face.

Loth left his sword run through
Safar’s lifeless body as he began making his way back to his people. He stopped
only momentarily to pick up his brother’s discarded blade, shouldering it as if
it were a trophy. The entire audience lay silent as the fall of an empire was
self-evident.

But a fury-bound scream would
shatter the peace.  Safar’s young son,
Menoar, broke free from the loyalist ranks and from his belt he drew his sword,
swearing vengeance upon Loth. Anuevin quickly intervened, restraining Menoar,
hastily ripping the weapon from his palm.

Menoar buried himself into Anuevin,
shattered from his rage he sobbed deeply in Anuevin’s embrace. Menoar’s brother
Vothkar was uncharacteristically calm, standing tall, intense with furious glare
upon his uncle.

Vothkar looked down at his sobbing
brother and merely uttered “This isn’t over.”

Loth peered to his
heartbroken nephews, unsure how best to handle the situation he paused for only
a moment before walking away, continuing his exodus.

The loyalist cavalry did not pursue
the Lothtarians, instead they stood in solidarity with Menoar and Vothkar. The
winds of Verdite blew with a renewed vigor as if the land itself was mourning
the loss of its lord. But there would be no peace, and there would be no time
for grief. For in the distance the shrieks of the Ill-Born could be heard
growing closer. Soon they would be upon them.

#### **Here’s some little bits of information about some of the events introduced here:**

1. While this document doesn’t do it justice, the struggle between Empire and a potential new life was an impossible decision. Neither option would mean salvation for the entire people.
2. During the exodus, the casualties were horrendous. Some recount that the only reason the ill-born stopped their raids is because they couldn’t physically consume any more human flesh.
3. Menoar and Vothkar at this point are young teenagers.
4. Loth did in fact get his people out of Verdite. They settled in Bahkraymuth and Iclath.
5. This is what sparked using the term ‘Lothtarian’ as outsider. In the coming lore documents the fallout of the exodus is better addressed.
6. Roughly half of the Verdish within Kel’Morleac left in the exodus.

### **The Blood of a Residen**

*(Introduction to Lore #12)*

With the leadership shattered, Anuevin quickly took command. He turned the cavalry around, ordering a full retreat back to Kel’Morleac. Unlike Loth’s exodus, Anuevin’s party had the advantage of horseback. But even with this advantage it was unlikely they would avoid casualties, for the swarm was already closing in.

In the rabble, Menoar pulled Loth’s kelv from his father’s corpse. Anuevin, unable to abandon his Lord, carried Safar’s body to his horse, promising Menoar that he would see to a proper burial. Menoar did not respond.

They had no time to linger, Anuevin quickly lead the charge back to Morleac. Menoar, Vothkar, and their mother Lyngawa lingered behind momentarily, fixating their gaze at the blood soaked earth where Safar drew his last breath. Lyngawa broke the silence, “He would not want us to die here.” Menoar begrudgingly agreed as they joined the retreat at its rear.

From the tree lines the Ill-born herds emerged, sprinting and galloping wildly at the return party. Horse-archers fired into the oncoming swarm, attempting to buy precious moments of time. But they were too late, the horde caught the middle of the pack, splitting it in two.

Escaping in the front was Anuevin, Vredius, and the Verdish elite. They had no choice but to press on. If they turned to engage the horde they would undoubtedly be swallowed by it.

In the rear, they were cut off! Forced to divert their retreat and abandon the middle regiment, they broke rank, fleeing for open field. In the distance the Ill-born were coming from all sides. Escape had become impossible.

Menoar’s mother, Lyngawa, took up command, leading the survivors to a nearby village. They would barricade themselves and attempt to outlast the Ill-born from a more favorable position.

Upon reaching the village the Verdish immediately took refuge among the scattered houses and hovels. As Menoar and Vothkar attempted to find refuge the Ill-born had already taken to the streets.

The early vanguard intercepted, but very quickly fell to the overwhelming masses they opposed. Panic swept the survivors as the crowds trampled one another to find sanctuary.

Separated from their mother Menoar and Vothkar were forced into a tiny hovel. Immediately they began barricading the door, nailing stray boards across the frame and piling furniture against it. Terror gripped them both as the frigid screams of the Ill-born’s victims filled the streets. Countless lives were consumed as the sons of Safar attempted to hide unnoticed.

Somehow, the Ill-born largely ignored Menoar and Vothkar’s home, but the other refugees were not so lucky. The ill-born crashed and spilled into the barricaded houses, consuming the flesh of the stowaways. The swarms dissipated into the countryside as they cleared each house, leaving only a fraction of their horde behind to finish destroying the Verdish.

Menoar, found a small crack in the wall, where he watched in terror as the ill-born began throwing themselves against the house where his mother had taken refuge. Quickly the ill-born pulled the door from its frame and began their assault inward. Menoar prayed his mother had a second line of defense, but knew she needed aid!

Menoar took his uncle’s sword in hand and began chopping through his own barricade. He would not sit idly by as his mother fell victim to the ill-born. Vothkar immediately protested, asserting it would only result in his death.

Menoar ignored his brother, frantically chopping into the door-frame. When enough of an aperture had been cleared, Menoar pushed through the rubble and took to the streets. Vothkar cried out in dissent, but his pleas again fell on deaf ears. However, Vothkar was not about to abandon his brother, he promptly followed after, keeping close as Menoar sprinted across the street.

Piercing shrieks echoed all around as the twisted Ill-born charged from both roof-top and earth. As Menoar came into contact he cast Loth’s kelv clean through any would be assailant. The blade’s mass and razor edge made short work of all who stood before him.

Menoar’s path did not waiver, he knew he had only seconds to reach his mother. But the Ill-born sea of flesh had other plans! They became too numerous, quickly sealing any path of escape for the two brothers. As Menoar frantically swung his kelv in all directions, they amassed outside of reach, waiting for his strength to fade.

Vothkar stood back to back with his brother, with no tools to free him. He grew desperate!

Menoar was always the child of combat, but Vothkar had taken a different path. In secrecy he had become a scholar of the forces that bound this world. From his belt he drew a crescent knife. He wasted no time to plunge it into his palm, burring the blade clean through to the other side. In agony Vothkar cried out, madly chanting “My blood for the blood god! My wrath for the empire! And my soul for the gods of Verdite!”

Menoar, in appall, peered over only to see his brother dislodge the knife from his palm and begin dragging across his outer arm. Menoar reached in to intervene his self-mutilation but was instantly thrown to the earth from an unseen force.

As the air grew dark, the exposed blood of Vothkar’s arm ignited into violet flames. Chanting in Verdish, Vothkar called to the dark gods. *“Bokranay sen-sabrin havahn. Mosta, min-davin nokirian Veradenite!”* Glowing runes of old Verdish circled around them in the blood stained earth. Menoar watched in horror as his brother called power from the very Dark Lord that had kept his people oppressed for decades.

Vothkar extended his arm to the swarm and from his palm he unleashed a hellish torrent of violet flames. They swept over the countless, purging them from the very earth they stood upon. But the flames did not stop there, they rushed over the wooden hovels that once offered sanctuary to the Verdish. The flames of Veradenite claimed all around them, offering no mercy or sanctuary to ally or foe.

Vothkar brought his focus to every direction, ensuring that all flesh fell victim to the hungering oblivion that spewed from him.

As the town grew silent, the flames swirling around Vothkar’s arm sputtered and died out. He lingered for a moment with his arm still extended to the inferno. Quivering, he seemingly could not move from his potion. He managed to whisper one phrase, “Forgive me Kelm…”

Vothkar immediately dropped to his knees, vomiting an alarming amount of blood. He struggled for air momentarily, clawing at his neck before collapsing into the dirt.

As if in the eye of the storm, Menoar lay surrounded by unnatural destruction. But his fixation lay on the flame-infested hovel his mother had barricaded herself in. His eyes cried vengeance but his mouth could not claim the word. Vothkar lay face down in a pool of his own blood.

Menoar hastily returned to his brother’s aid, flipping him from the puddle. Menoar lay his ear to Vothkar’s chest, relieved to hear the strong beating heart of a Residen. Curiously Vothkar’s self-inflected wounds had healed over, seemingly cauterized from the flames of Veradenite.

The town burned with darkness’ sacred flame. The putrid smell of flesh withered the air as the contorted corpses lay dormant beneath the hungering flames of corruption.

Menoar had believed he had seen it all. How foolish of him to think the cruelty of this world was limited to the horrors of his childhood. In his arms he held Vothkar against his chest, silently weeping as he felt true isolation. He had lost everything. And as if to taunt him, all that remained now lay at his feet: the blade of the betrayer, the abomination known as Loth.

#### **Some takeaways from the events here:**

* The Ill-born ignored Menoar and Vothkar’s house because of Vothkar’s affinity to the flame of Veradenite. The ill-born swarms at this time were still largely in control of the supremacy and instinctively do not attack those capable of summoning a violet flame.
* Vothkar at this point is one of the very few humans who have been able to use magic. And potentially the only human able to conjure the flame of darkness.
* Dark magic’s price of life is not an easy one to avoid, quite often when a human uses the violet flames it withers the body, as if to age it by 10 years.
	+ Vothkar avoids this by using his blood as a catalyst to purify the flame. While not fully pure like the azure flame of Kelm, it does reduce the impact on his body.

### **The New Lord of Verdite**

*(Introduction to Lore #13)*

As Menoar wept, his mind raced. His face buried into his brother’s head, he babbled incoherently. Methodically he rocked back in forth, clenching the last remnant of his family. In the distance the screams of a second wave of Ill-born were echoing towards him. In frustration he kicked away his uncles’ blade, as if to spite the man himself. He cried out in agony, cursing Loth’s name and swearing inhumane retribution.

In the outcry, Vothkar slowly came to his senses and forced out another plea to his brother. “We have to go home.”

Vothkar was incredibly weak, if they were to leave, Menoar would have to help him walk. Menoar once again took up Loth’s kelv, using it as a makeshift walking stick. Supporting his brother, they began their staggered march back home. Curiously the Ill-Born did not close in on them. For days they struggled along the roads, collapsing often, sure of their imminent demise. Just outside of vision they could hear the scuttling of hundreds of corrupt enemies. But they never closed in. Neither brother easily found sleep. But they pressed on, each day became harder than the last.

Miraculously, as they ventured into the Kel’Morleac boarders they were spotted and rescued by a patrol. Menoar and Vothkar were returned to the mighty Verditian kingdom just in time for the hearing concerning a new Verditian Lord. While rest was more than deserved, the brothers found none.

Menoar and Vothkar were both summoned. In old keep the council bickered and struggled for power. As the debates fired, it became clear, the head of the most powerful Verdish Clan would take up the burden of the throne. This man was known as La’Kere. He was an old friend of Safar’s and stood aligned with his vision for a united and proud Verdite. La’Kere spoke directly to Menoar and Vothkar, telling them that the blood of a Residen holds the right to this throne. Menoar promptly refused. He told the council the only thing he wants from his people is the means to grow powerful enough to hunt down and kill Loth with his own hands. La’Kere was all to eager to see Loth ended, he agreed to Menoar’s request.

La’Kere was crowned the next Verditian Lord, with him came the official state policies that once again declared war against the enemies of man. New to this list was the ultimate and most hated of threats: The children of Loth, The Lothtarians.

This era spawned the second great law of the Verditian people. La’Kere enlisted Menoar into his army, under the training and guidance of his greatest warriors. With Loth’s blade in hand, Menoar swore he would use that weapon to end Loth, like it was used to end his father.

The crippled armies of man clashed outward, expending massive resource to reclaim their home. The Ill-Born horde’s flesh fell victim to Verdish faith in steel. From the west, Gatosukai had been doing the same. Soon the two sister cities once again met and eagerly reformed their bonds, ushering the great Verdish Empire back into play.

At the front of every great purge was Menoar and Vothkar, eager to inflict ultimate revenge onto the enemies of man. Menoar’s skills as a warrior blossomed as he quickly passed the rank of Vanguard and obtained Knighthood. As a newly adorned member of the Verdish Elite, he led campaign after campaign to cleanse his homeland.

Menoar’s triumphs and victories became common knowledge to the people of Verdite. He was brutal, steel-clad, and unrelenting. Even when he encountered beings of terrifying potential, his partnership with his brother left all that stood before them annihilated.

Years of campaigning finally came to an end as Menoar and Vothkar returned to Kel’Morleac, at La’Kere’s request.

Menoar was offered the champion trial and a promotion to General. Menoar accepted both and quickly showed his dominance over his fellow Knights. Menoar soared through the Champion trial and dawned the blue seal of Residen. Like the Kelm Knights before him, Menoar was a symbol of the Verdish people’s hope for ultimate victory. He was vengeance embodied and there was no stopping him now.

#### **Some takeaways from the events here:**

* *We've again begun speeding through events to move the story along*
* It took roughly 6 years to quell the majority of the Ill-Born infestation
	+ Even with this purge, the Ill-born are still a major threat in Verdite
* While Verdite struggled internally, new world powers in other countries were growing increasingly problematic, especially in Ramlor.
* Menoar found victory over many demons and Supremacy forces. Like Anuevin and Valanay before him, he was seen as the answer to the unnatural power of non-humans.
* Menoar's conquests also aided allied race settlements within the Empire, he was eager for a fight and was known to never refuse to fight on behalf of any Verditian. This added to his larger than life fame.
* Menoar is credited with the fastest rise in combat ranks.
* By the time Menoar became a champion, the empire was reaching it's peak power. This has drawn the attention of many outside forces.