Sol-Born

The title, Sol-Born, refers to a devout group of paladins faithful to the Goddess Damerion. These mythical champions are said to descend from the demi-gods of old that constructed their holy sanctum, known as the Conclave of the Sol-Born, located on Mt Aurum in Sunfire point.

Whilst their numbers are few their might is revered across the lands. Seen to be a beacon of light amongst the darkness, these warriors draw their strength and will from the Ever-Sol flame itself.

## **In blackest night**

Towards the end of the Aetherial Era a cataclismic onslaught between Hermaeus, God of Magic, and the other Aetheria took place across the realm of Terezan. Divine power being shown in it's full might, the lands were razed and desolated in the name of the Gods.

In this time of greatest need, Damerion, Goddess of Light, used her Divine power to imbue worthy mortals with the power of the Ever-Sol flame. These mortals would fight alongside the Gods, in the name of Damerion, in their attempt to restore peace and justice - to prevent the end of all things.

The price was high, and not without consequence - the power of a deity is something no mortal was ever intended to harness, and as such their bodies are poor hosts for it. The Goddess explained that accepting such power would ultimately destroy their mortal souls, and replace it instead with a fragment of the Ever-Sol's radiance, which in turn would need to be returned so that the power may endure for future heroes and calamaties... The price of saving everyone would ultimately be death.

These heroes courageously accepted, knowing that they would make the ultimate sacrifice for the betterment of mankind. A deed sang about and revered amongst the race of men. Over time these warriors would come to be known as the first of the Sol-Born, Demi-Gods, and heroes of men.

## **Damerion's Light**

After what seemed like an eternity of conquest, the war between the Gods came to an end. The lands beginning to show signs of life returning to them, the scars of war beginning to heal.

The Sol-Born rejoiced along with the rest of the realm, parties and banquets took place for weeks, the joy seemingly spread like wildfire amongst the populus.

Their duties finished, the realm defended, the ancient Sol-Born knew that the time was upon them to return the great power bequeathed to them by the Ever-Sol.

One by one the great warriors and champions returned to Mt Aurum, where they would find that a selection of their kind had created a new temple to their Patron Goddess, later to be known as the Conclave of the Sol-Born, and beheld themselves to the Beacon of Sol - the new home of the ancestral flame that granted them strength to prevail against the darkness.

   The flames drawn from their body like blood from an old wound, the holy fire began to culminate in the center of the Beacon, bursting into life, and turning the faint glow of the chamber into a brilliant radiance of Divine light.

The physical body would slowly decay, forming a small pile of ash where they once stood - their duty done, it was finally time to rest. It would become custom in future generations to scatter these ashes at the peak of the mountain, so the Heroes' essence could return to the world once more.

With each Sol-Born that completed the ritual, the Flame of the Ever-Sol grew. It's light becoming more brilliant and resilient, strengthening itself against the harsh conditions of the frozen mountain, remaining a symbol of Damerion's brazen light, that would forever rage in the darkness.

Though the heroes that aided the Gods have long since disappeared, their essence continues to encourage the growth of new life, giving the courage and strength once possessed by the mighty warrior to the next generation. Should the opportunity arise these foundlings, known as Embers of Damerion, would face the Burning Mark and continue the legacy of their ancestors - to bring light to darkness across the realm of men.

## **Hearts of Fire - The Burning Mark**

A Sol-Born dedicates their life to the cause and jurisdiction of Damerion, to accepting the Burden of Flame, and to live by its teachings. These warriors are ready to pay the ultimate price to protect the realm and serve the light – true heroes by nature, the flame of the Ever-Sol coursing through them.

Such a boon is not granted without fair cause however, as prospect Ember of Damerion must partake in a sacred ritual, known as the Burning Mark - the trial of the Sol-Born.

A prospect will offer themselves to the Ever-Sol flame, housed within the ancient stone of the Beacon of Sol, where their worth and strength will be tested, and judged, by the Goddess herself. Unique to all, the trial excels in testing an individual’s greatest weaknesses, prompting them to overcome the darkness, just as the Ever-Sol overcomes the frigid mountain of Mt Aurum.

To be successful in this trial is to overcome your greatest darkness, forever purging its influence from your destiny. Now pure to walk the path of light, the prospect is presented before the Ever-Sol itself – the physical manifestation of Damerion’s divine power, and surrenders themselves to its radiance.

   The flame of the Ever-Sol engulfs the prospect, saturating their veins with holy warmth, transforming their mortal heart into one of pure fire – solidifying their ties to the Ever-Sol’s influence and, by extension, all life within the realm of Terazan.

Now imbued with the strength and fortitude of the ancestral flame, one may rise up, born anew, and declare themselves as Sol-Born – a champion of light.

As a symbol of their ascension, the newly anointed Sol-Born will take upon themselves a new name, a mark of their faith and servitude to the righteous. It is tradition to use a moniker that takes homage from the mineral, Xetherium - a nod to the origin of their bestowed power. As such, most Sol-Born’s names typically start with the letters “Xe”.

When their day is finally done, and the passing of a Sol-Born is within sight, the adorned warrior will return to the Ever-Sol to return the great power that was gifted to them. The holy fire returns to the source, bolstering it with the endurance and strength cultivated by the warrior, so that it may aid the Ever-Sol in enduring the harsh mountain forevermore. The mortal vestige, now but a small collection of ash, will be taken to the peak of Mt Aurum and scattered – their essence returned to the world, so that it may pass down the trait of heroism and courage through the lands once more.

## The Burden of Flame

Also known colloquially as the Oath of the Sol-Born, these ancient tenets are the words by which the Sol-Born brotherhood live and die, the words of Damerion herself, to be used in times of peril to grant courage and strength.

    *“In blackest night and darkest days,*

*No evil shall escape my gaze.*

*Defending the realm,*

*defending the true,*

*There is no evil that I can do.*

*Protecting the world*

*with strength and might.*

*Evil, face justice,*

*from Damerion’s light.”*

When spoken, the Xetherium shards contained within the amulets beholden to all Sol-Born recognize the words of their maternal deity – radiating a brilliant divine light, akin to that of the Ever-Sol itself.

It is widely believed amongst common folk that the dazzling light resonates with the holder’s heart of flame, bolstering resolve and granting them strength and courage, to carry on in their darkest hours.

## **Characteristics**

The Sol-Born are few and far between, usually only residing in places that are in need of Damerion's light. Because of this, normal folk don't tend to meet them. However, on the rare occasion that a local bard has come across one in their travels, tales and sonnets detail how these mythical warriors can be portrayed:

* **Eyes of Sol -** The ancestral flame raging within them gives their eyes a brilliant golden hue, in perfect harmony of the flames of the Ever-Sol itself.

* **Heart of Flame** - Sol-Borns' do not posess a normal human heart, instead posessing one of pure flame, granted to them during the Burning Mark. This fiery organ provides warmth to the body, even in the harshest environments, making the host immune to typical cold temperatures.

* **Cloak of Valour -** Each Sol-Born adorns a red cloak and tabard, gifted to them at their initiation ceremony. A reminder of the warmth they represent, and the bravery that they must show against the greatest adverseries.

* **Xetherium Amulet** - All Sol-Born carry with them a holy amulet, housing a gemstone of Xetherium. The sacred gem acts as a symbol of great religious importance for the Sol-Born, and is said to fuel them with the zeal they require to fulfill their duties.

* **Sol-Born Armour -** Most Sol-Born are equipped with beautifully crafted gold or silver heavy armour, giving them their imposing figure, and solidifying their stance as protectors of men. It is said that each armour set is crafted specifically for the user, and when the times comes that the wearer must return their essence to the Ever-Sol, the armour is re-forged for a successor.