Iratek, the Zenith Born

## History

The storm’s churning heart breached the coastal defenses, ripping through the protective groves. The warriors marched into the rising water, undeterred. Ahead of them, Odai pressed onward, his banner glowing in the dim light. Framed by the crack of thunder, a great form rose from the waves, a vengeful spirit, born in depths where no light reached, its form wreathed in serrated mist and crackling foam. Great eyes made of raw magic looked upon the warriors. From the front, Odai spoke. “*Zenith-Lord Mala, lend us your strength, guide Xatil’s light through the storm’s raging dark!*” From the vast contours of the spirit, poured hundreds of strange creatures, beings of ink-black water and lighting. Together, they surged hungrily towards the Zenith host.

Mala drew upon the power of her city, from the reservoir of her soul. Centuries of accumulated light answered her call, wreathing her in the divine fury of her god. The storm paused, then broke, the storm clouds yielding to the angered sun. Xatil’s light bathed the Sylvan army in its glow, their leaves rising in praise. As the elementals bore down, Odai, braced, drew Ateru from its sheath. The legendary weapon, shaped by the first Iratek Lords, drank deep Xatil’s glory, glowing a fierce white. “*Lightless spirit, know that you fall by the hand of Odai, Chosen of the Bellowing Sun, With this blade, I banish you back to the formless shadow. May time forget your hideous soul!*” Odai’s strike was singular. Ateru flashed, a blinding nova. Scores of the advancing spirits were sundered, their forms annihilated by the blade’s serrated energy. The archers released their volley, each arrow a mote of piercing light. Under the rain of arrows Odai’s vanguard rushed to meet their enemy, centuries of accumulated skill honed to deadly edge. The combined attack shattered the first wave of foes, their bodies reduced to dissipated energy and smoldering mist. Ateru’s nova reached the storm-beast, tearing into one of its many eyes. The being struggled to reconstitute itself, then faltered, collapsing into a torrent of crackling energy and foaming water. Odai, satisfied, turned to his warriors, raising Ateru high in triumph. “*Such is the prowess of the Zenith Born, Lords of Creation. We bring harmony to the discordant wilds; we bring virtue to this savage world!*”

The Iratek are the main governing body for the sylv species who live on Nuath. These creatures are photosynthetic plant like beings, but that is hardly the most interesting thing about them. The Iratek is less a council made up of individuals and more a fluid collective of knowledge passed down from one Iratek generation to another. While Iratek bodies may wither and decay, the consciousness of the being in question can be recovered by the central Chorus and kept till the Chorus decides to implant the consciousness into another body. Between their time in a mobile body, these minds reside in one of several pillars, massive constructions of intertwined vines and neural pathways.

Iratek history is marred by the Crises of Many Nights. During an unprecedented wave of storms and attacks by enormous beasts, the Chorus was stretched to its breaking point. Three of their nine pillars rebelled, forsaking the Chorus for a new leader, Laculathon. She is a vast being that seeks to incorporate all life into her form, and landed on the world of Nuath around the time of the crises. Sending out fevered dreams to the Iratek, she had three of their pillars travel to what they call Latchatka, on the forbidden continent of Matzlan, and there sacrifice hundreds of creatures to cover the rocks in blood.

The Iratek experienced the Crises of Many Nights as something akin to a grand mal seizure, with the added terror of part of their mind splitting off and forming its own body, the Aru. Both sides of this schism are incredibly hostile to one another and the Chorus have become incredibly paranoid, viewing the Aru as traitors and worshippers of a monstrous god. Even so, the Iratek are faced with increased paranoia of their own thoughts; the Chorus fears another group could break away, further weakening them and causing a horror like the one the birthed the Aru.

## Gameplay

The Iratek are planned to be focused on combining unit abilities to fight. Like the Aru, they have a terrain effect, vineway, that buffs units on it, though this is meant to be easier to spread.