Idraenya

**Idraenya** is an Azeral colony, ran by King: Aeron-Mosiaz Lochatlan. It's located in the Greater Mirauan Desert, within the borders of Anglunia, but operates independent of the government. Instead, Idraenya answers to the Qar'a'qar, to whom it also pay exorbitant tribute. There is, however, a new emerging threat, a face all to familiar to the Idraenynan's.

## History

### Prehistory

Local legend holds that long ago, the Greater Mirauan Desert used to be a lush, green jungle, home to an ancient civilization called the Idrans. They built their society around efficiency: the Idrans did not drink, as drunkenness inhibited productivity; the Idrans did not sing, dance, or play games, as recreation distracted them from work; the Idrans did not hold funerals, as those occupied time that would be better spent laboring.

The Idrans' obsession with work eventually caught the attention of the Arternaian god of diligence and sloth, Tollan, who was taken aback by their lack of slothfulness. He took their behavior to be an insult to the necessity of relaxation in one's life, and punished the Idrans by turning their civilization to dust, as well as the jungle they lived in. Nowadays, it is believed that the sands of the Greater Mirauan Desert are the ashes left behind by Tollan's wrath.

Many Idraenyans believe that, because the Idrans would throw their dead into the sea, the long stalks of kelp which surround Idraenya have sprouted from the bodies of Idrans on the ocean floor, and are possessed by their restless souls. According to Idraenyans, this is why the town's coast is so prone to shipwrecks: the Idran-possessed kelp physically grabs boats and smashes them into the shore.

### **Early Colonial Era**

Thousands of years later, the Greater Mirauan Desert had completely transformed, and the desert was now home to Azerals. One collection of Azeral families, called the Capicans, noticed that a particular area of the Greater Mirauan Desert had a fertile coastline and would be perfect for growing sugar and cocoa. The penal colony of Idraenya was founded soon after, and it was populated by Capican prisoners, most of whom were Yirsi sailors who shipwrecked on the coast or otherwise got lost in the desert.

The Capican Qar'a'qar volunteered to lead the colony, in spite of the fact that he, like the rest of the Capicans, was migratory: he believed he could lead from afar, and that fear alone would keep the Idraenyan prisoners in check. When the Capicans finally circled back around to collect tribute from Idraenya, though, they found the town to be in a state of turmoil. It had become rich with sugar, cocoa, and fish, but the citizenry - a mix of Azerals and Yirsi - were experiencing violent ethnic tensions. Fighting breaking out in the streets was hindering productivity, so the Qar'a'qar decided to appoint Hellion Grey - a loyal member of the colony with a reputation for cruelty - to act as a viceroy on the Qar'a'qar's behalf.

#### After many disagreements between Capican Traders and citizens, a rebellion broke out**.** After 21 days of fighting and the death of Arzus Al'Ferrat the Capicans were eventually able to squash the rebels into the deepest darkest streets of Idraenya, not without many injuries such as Anduin Al'Ferrat the new king loosing his eye sight.

##### **Post Rebellion**

At the end of the Idraenya Revolution, during a final clash between the Rebels and the Capicans, Anduin lost his eyesight in a brutal sword fight between him and Ares The Mercenary, And Kylma the leader of the rebel forces. Although the rebels had been either killed or sent into hiding, Idraenya’s King was weak, currently hospital bound and lacking his eyesight, the people wondered what had happened to their king. Knowing the already unstable climate around Idraenya, Anduin knew with his lack of eyesight it would not take long for the power hungry military leaders in the town to attempt to coup and overthrow him, and he was correct. Just weeks after Anduin lost his vision, Anduin was laying in his chambers when he heard loud noises down below, he knew what was going to happen, he had been expecting it. However he was not expecting who it would be, he could not see but he could hear, loud boots clashed with the wooden stairs at what sounded like 5 men in heavy gear ran up the stairs. A voice sounded, one so recognisable to Anduin. His own brother, Asp Al’Ferrat, someone he had grown up with and entrusted now had turned his back on him.

Asp that night had exiled Anduin from Idraenya and told him to never return, he was thrown onto a boat heading into the Dragon’s Lake exporting goods from Idraenya to the regions on the other side of the sea for Asp expecting him to die on the journey took the throne for himself and became King of Idraenya.

However Anduin did not die and was found by a group of Knights Of Solon, searching the boat and taking the goods off, shocked to see the once so powerful King in a state like this, eyeless, tired and worn-down, they took him back to Soliana. Explaining the situation to them, he begged the Knights to help him and in return he promised Idraenya would be at Soliana’s will. The Knights proposed Anduin’s Idea to Yinower Serys-Blizun (The King of Soliana) analysing the idea of this, he addressed it to his son Serys Yinower-Blisun II and the council of Soliana, there was an absolute agree to help Anduin, with soldiers and resources, hoping Anduin would eventually fall under his own ego and could be easily back stabbed. Making Idraenya a region of Soliana.

Upon hearing the news, Anduin was relieved, he would have a chance to retake his town and enforce himself as a permanent king, he presumed the job would be easy due to the weakened military due to the rebellion.

Although kicked out of Idraenya, he still had loyalists within the town he could use to spy upon Asp and find out all information about him.  However Asp had different ideas, he had either executed most of Anduins top men and reinstalled his own new government with his own top men. Asp was an egotistical and overconfident person, just like his brother and father before him his downfall would be his overconfidence in the amount of faith people had in him. He wanted everyone to know of his Coronation, he had thousands of letters written and sent out across the nation of the date and location of his coronation, he wanted to prove just how much power he had, and thankfully for Anduin one of those letters landed on the doorstep of Soliana,

Perfect, Anduin had the date and location of his coronation now all he needed was the Knights Of Solon to fulfil their promise.

On the night of his coronation Asp had his men decorate the streets to celebrate this new arc of Idraenya, one of prosperity and greatness, or so he thought, as he coronation begun he looked over at the people, hundreds of people had gathered in the temple watching eagerly hoping that finally Idraenya will be at inner peace.Asp had decided that the best way to show that the Capicans and Rebels could put the their differences aside under his leadership was to have the former rebel however now great friend of Asp, Aeron-Mosiaz Lochatlan give him the Crown and declare Asp Al’Ferrat eternal King Of Idraenya, and that is what happened Aeron declared Asp the King, delighted that after his whole life being forgotten about under Aduin’s shadow, he finally had purpose, and even though he was overconfident and egotistical, he was a good person and the people loved him. After the crown had been placed on his head, he said a speech, one about how under his leadership, everyone would be equal and free but that speech would never be finished, as he muttered some words, an arrow flew into his chest, impaling him and sending him to the ground, dead, lifeless,soulless. The crowd went wild, screaming and shouting. People ran out of the temple, fleeing and fearing for their lives. However some stayed frozen, shocked by what they had seen. Amidst the chaos Yinower and 5 Knights Of Solon took position upon the stage, and said words that sent shivers down the spine of Idraenyan’s, a speech about how under the new regime and the reinstated Anduin, Idraenya would become a new state of Soliana.

For weeks after the coronation, the people of Idraenya stayed silent, Anduin had still not been seen even though he had been reinstated as king, many citizens believed Anduin was too scared of revealing himself due to the disfigurement of his body. Life was dull, the Knights of Solon showed no mercy towards the citizens, often beating them up for stepping out of line. Idraenya had turned into a dictatorship, the Heads of Soliana did not care about Idraenya and only saw them as a resource exporter to the main regions of Soliana. Hope was all but diminished, they once held hope in Aeron and Ares during the rebellion, but they failed and now they had not either been seen since the Coronation with many speculating they had been privately executed to ensure Soliana’s authority over the city.

However they were not dead and both fled South towards the nearby town of Renpaard, they had not been able to take any valuables with them as they rushed out of the town at the first sight of the arrow flying at Asp, despaired they wondered what to do, was hope gone or was their still faith. The people had rallied behind them before so they believed they could again. They had gained a reputation across the Dragon’s Lake for being fearless warriors, perhaps their identity could help them in Renpaard. They had both brought gifts for Asp, maybe they could pawn these items off to gather some money to possibly hire some boats and private mercenaries to retake Idraenya. And that's exactly what they did, they were able to gather enough money to hire 3 boats and some private militia’s. It had been 4 weeks since they lost Idraenya but next week they would attempt a final ditch effort to retake it.

On the day of the battle, life continued as normal in Idraenya, citizens woke up and went to work and Soliana continued to drain all resources from Idraenya, not knowing what was coming upon them later in the day (or at least that's what Aeron and Ares thought).Upon setting sail in the Dragon's Lake, the sea was rough and storm was brewing above them.

Sailing through the rough water rain clouds surrounded them, pouring down large rain drops however the Idraenyan's kept on sailing towards the dock.Yet something didn't seem quite as it should. Though they had carefully hid their attack, they could see the outlines of figures in the distance, their shadows covering Idraenya's port, its largest dock had now looked so run down, wood slowly decaying of it and algae beginning to crawl out of the port fences and into the town itself.

As they got closer they could see what looked like at least 30 Solianaen Knights with bows arched and ready to fire at the incoming boats, Yinower gave the command to fire and a barrage of arrows came towards them.Ares jumps out the way of an incoming arrow, its large tip piercing through the wooden boat, he slides underneath a seat and covers his face with his hands. Aeron holds his shield tight in his hand while trying to maintain his balance as the boat violently shakes due to the incoming volley of arrows, he turns to see two pierced bodies lying on top of one another... lifeless. He keeps his shield up as the arrows don't seem to stop coming, barrage after barrage of arrows coming down and sticking to his shield, but he stays composed and balanced. When his feet start feeling wet he looks down at the water filling his boots. This confirming the worst, he realises the boat is sinking and at a rapid rate.

Observing the perilous situation unfolding before him, Aeron bellowed with urgency, "KEEP HER STEADY FOR A BIT LONGER!" His commanding tone spurred his men into action, rallying them to prepare the boat for a daring docking. However, in the very moment that he issued these words, calamity struck as the man steering the boat took an arrow to the knee, rendering him incapacitated and in need of immediate medical attention.

"GET HIM A MEDIC!" another one of the men cried out in alarm. Recognizing the severity of the situation, with no other option in sight, Aeron swiftly sprang into action, heading for the steering wheel with a determined yet audacious plan in mind. As he seized control of the boat, his own confidence wavered slightly, aware of the madness of his scheme, but it held the potential for success.

Navigating the vessel directly towards the front of the dock, Ares, taken aback by Aeron's abrupt change of tactics, exclaimed, "What are you doing?" His voice carried a tinge of bewilderment, as he observed Adrius taking the helm.

Adrius responded with a mixture of confidence and uncertainty, "I am improvising on the plan, Ares. Just find some cover." Ares complied, quickly taking shelter beneath the seats, fully aware that Aeron's course of action was a high-stakes gamble.

As the boat hurtled toward the impending collision with the port, another barrage of arrows rained down upon them. The crew stood their ground, bracing themselves for the imminent impact. Aeron clutched the wheel tightly, a sense of determination and trepidation in his heart, as the boat crashed through the port, ploughing through the Solianen fortifications like snow on a cold winter day.

The sudden change in tactics caught the Solianen knights off guard, plunging them into a frenzy of chaos as they desperately tried to evade the oncoming boat now hurtling toward the old visitor centre. The impact resulted in a tumultuous breach, hurling sand and remnants of their fortifications into the air, creating a haze of confusion and disarray.

Aeron and Ares, quick to recover from the crash, emerged as the leaders of the assault. With swift determination, they rallied their men, the remnants of the boat now forming a barrier separating the Northern and Southern Docks. Holding a tight formation means to block vulnerable vantage points, preventing the enemy from picking them off one by one.

With unwavering solidarity, Aeron and Ares led their men forward, cutting through the Solianen knights with a relentless determination to reclaim Idraenya. The townsfolk, watching from the safety of their windows, witnessed the unfolding spectacle with a mix of shock and awe. The Northern Docks became a battleground, as Aeron and Ares carved a path through the enemy forces, dismantling Solianen archers and knights who futilely attempted to defend themselves.

As the dust settled on the cleared Northern Docks, it was clear that the battle had only just begun. More Solianen forces lurked deeper within the city, and Aeron, Ares, and their determined band of warriors pressed forward, prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Although the Soliananen forces had been ploughed through at the dock, heavy fighting continued deep into the town, Ares and Aeron often found themselves fighting groups outnumbered ten to two, however they were far more experienced then even the strongest enemy forces so were able to clear through these groups, they were able quickly find out they had pushed the Knights all the way to the temple, surprised by how easy it had been they carried on pushing and finally at the temple they saw the man they despised so much. Anduin sat on a chair there behind the support of 10 knights. Ares gave them the offer, either stay and die all for all of the Knights to go home and let them deal with Anduin, Yinower knowing they had lost gave in and left with his men.

Finally at last Anduin had been captured by Ares and Anduin. He knew what was coming for him, death. Although not all was what it seemed.