Zelith Kilrias

Zelith Kilrias is a tiefling Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian played by Shannon in Among the Bones of the Second Age.

## Backstory

Nevari Phevine was an interesting woman, as fierce as she was beautiful. Suitors in the tribe always pined after her, wanting such a strong woman to be their bride, but she refused them all. The only one who ever caught her attention was a quiet, intelligent fighter. Uriil Kilrias was one of the main strategists in the tribe, assisting in planning and carrying out attacks and battle tactics to help the tribe. He was well respected within the tribe and fought many battles with Nevari by his side. It was only natural that the two became so close.

They were married and had two daughters as fiery as their mother and strong as their father. Zelith was the oldest and she was already 5 by the time her little sister, Zecria, was born. The family was happy and lived a comfortable life in the tribe, but it couldn’t last. A new tribe appeared in the desert and immediately declared war on the Red Fox, not liking the potential of a threat so close to them. Bloody battles ensued and since Nevari had so recently given birth to Zaphi she remained at home to watch over the camp. Uriil wouldn’t make it back. He fought valiantly against the attacking tribe but before they could gain the upper hand he was swarmed and killed. It took days to fight the attackers off but they somehow did the impossible.

Nevari’s heart broke at the sight of her husband among the dead. Zelith didn’t fully understand what had happened, but cried with her mother anyway. Nevari grieved her husband but she was also left with a difficult choice. She now had two small girls to look after and the last thing she wanted to do was leave them orphaned. She knew that the tribe would look after them if she were to fall but she wanted Zelith and Zecria to have an actual family. That night she told the chief she would not fight for the tribe on the battlefield.

The chief was enraged, how could one of his best warriors be leaving his ranks? She told him that even if she did not fight on the front lines she would do anything for her tribe. Anything but leaving her children. The chief was still upset about the entire situation but allowed it, giving her a position guarding one of the nearby lightning rails. She was one of the few he would trust giving this task to, but he would still rather her be fighting by his side.

Things went relatively well after this ordeal. Zelith and Zecria grew up with their mother, playing and helping in the village. Zelith was a bit of a devil child, always pulling pranks and stealing little trinkets when no one was looking. She was reprimanded for this constantly but she really wasn’t hurting anything, and having such a lively spirit in the tribe was heartwarming. She was told by most of the elders that she reminded them of her mother when she was the same age. Once old enough, Zelith and Zecria started accompanying their mother to guard the rails. Zecria was usually the one to accompany their mother, however, since Zelith was usually training to fight with other warriors. Se excelled in her training and was about to be admitted to fight alongside the chief at the young age of 15. Things were going well.

However, one day, while Nevari and Zecria were doing their rounds around the rail, they were ambushed. The same tribe that had attacked so many years ago noticed how attached the Red Fox tribe was to these rails and decided to do something about it. They were bitter about losing that war and so many of their best fighters so a very large group jumped the two women and damaged the rail greatly. They then carried the unconscious bodies of Zelith’s family back to the tribe to serve as a warning.

This time the chief’s fury was immeasurable and he took the two women and drug them into the middle of the camp. Nevari was now awake enough to understand what was happening and weakly tried to push him away but there was nothing she could do. A large crowd gathered as the chief called to the entire tribe. He wanted to make an example. Show his people what happened when they disappointed him and let harm come to the things the tribe holds dear. Throwing Nevari down to the ground he started to beat her.

Zelith had come when she heard the calls of the chief but could barely see over everyone else. Pushing to the front of the crowd she broke through the wall of onlookers in time to see the chief strike her mother on the temple. The entire time Nevari had been trying to fight back, to put some distance between her and her chief, but she crumpled after this blow. Breathing hard the chief backed away, not caring that in his attempt at teaching her a lesson he had killed one of his own.

Zelith was frozen to the spot, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at her mother’s lifeless body. She slowly turned to see the chief, watching how his hand gripped his weapon tighter before he turned to her still unconscious sister. Red exploded in her vision, and, taking the weapon she still held from her lessons, she leapt at her chief. The chief hadn’t been expecting anyone to stand against him, anyone to fight back, so this attack caught him off guard. Zelith managed to land an impressive blow along his back before he finally noticed her presence. He cried out and turned to fight his attacker but Zelith had the upper hand. She raged against her chief for killing her mother and daring to turn his weapon on her little sister. The chief fell to the ground, just as immobile as her mother.

“Z-Zelith?” a weak voice called out from behind her. Zelith turned, panting heavily with wild eyes meeting her sister’s confused gaze.

“Zecria,” a soft reply came from Zelith, “I had to- he was-”

“What do you think you’re doing?” “You’ve killed our chief!” “You monster!”

The cries of the tribal people behind her snapped Zelith out of her rage. Her erratic breathing grows panicked and she whips her head around before leaning down to her sister, “I’m sorry. I had to protect you and now I must go. I will be back for you. I promise. I love you, Zecria.”

“Zelith!” her sister cried as her older sister sprinted away from the crowd and away from the tribe entirely.

For 5 years Zelith lived on her own out in the wild of the desert. She learned how to fend for herself, using the training she had been given and the little things her mother had taught her to help her survive. It was hard, but she managed. She always held onto that anger that had flooded her when she killed the chief and used it to motivate herself. She had done the right thing, and now she just needed to find a way to get her sister back to her.

Soon after she turned twenty, Zelith made her way closer to the city than she ever had before. She always tried to keep a healthy distance away, not liking how many people there were and unsure of how they would treat her. A group of people riding camels crossed her path and she heard talk about a company called Poole and Raddinger Ventures, Inc. In the small conversation she managed to catch she heard that they would hire basically anyone and pay them to go out in the desert.

Zelith, after thinking of a way to get her sister back for 5 years, was getting a little desperate. After a few days of mental battle she decided to go and check it out, falling into the interesting group she still runs with to this day.

## The 'Atfal min Aleumr Alththani

The 'Atfal min Aleumr Alththani, also known as the Children of the Lost Age, are the various tribes of the Al’Katim Desert. They travel around the entirety of the desert. Each tribe has its own contained culture, but they all share a common religion and general belief system.

They believe that they are descended by the people of Saddeeq from the 2nd Age. These people invented and created all of the technology they find buried in the desert. Therefore, they feel a sort of stewardship over the land and its secrets. They will aggressively defend these places of technology, which they think of as holy sites. If a tribe fails to protect one of these sites, it is seen as the ultimate dishonor. The spirits and gods will require tribute in order to appease them.

### General Beliefs

#### **The Last Journey**

When a tribesman or tribeswoman dies, the elders conduct a funeral that the entire tribe takes place in. After the ceremony, the body in placed in the car of a lightning rail, and then activated. The car travels to heaven, the final resting place of all warriors.

#### **All Technology is a Gift from the Ancestors**

All of the technology found in the Al’Katim desert was left behind by the Ancestors for the 'Atfal min Aleumr Alththani to discover and use to rebuild. It is the responsibility of all tribes to defend this technology and the holy sites at all costs.

#### **Some Warriors Embark on Holy Journeys Using the Lightning Rails**

Some warriors are so skilled and devout that they are chosen by the gods to travel to heaven and aid the gods in some sort of battle or struggle. They board a Lightning Rail, clad in their best armor and equipped with the best tools, and are sent off, never to return. It is the greatest honor a warrior can receive.

### The Thaelab'ahmar Tribe

The Red Fox Tribe, also known as The Thaelab'ahmar Tribe is a tribal organization in Kal'dein. Their symbol is a geometric outline of a fox's face that is usually carved into a piece of amber and worn around the neck.