Ravenna

"*Did you know of this place? Life here would sing with the right wind; the people were joyous and hopeful. The sky would twinkle and stars would skate across the sky. After The Titan's wake, it seems like all I hear now is silence on the ground and the crackling of fire in the sky.*"
―Pyraxis VaultSeeker
**Ravenna** is an island on the outskirts of Dragonspyre. It was of great importance during the early days of Dragonspyre's history, however due to political differences its influence waned among the noble houses.

## History

### King Jungen’s Expansion

As Dragonspyre’s dominion grew and spread into neighboring worlds and beyond, an influential man named Valkoor StormFist had troubles in his home in Dragonspyre City. Xareth Moonstrider was usurping Valkoor’s assets to monopolize the Crystal Grove. Seeking a way to prevent financial ruin, he renewed his contract with the Dragonrider Corps.

He heard from his commander about an island of great strategic importance being threatened by an invading army from Darkmoor. During the events that followed, the chain of command in the corps broke until his brigade was leaderless. Valkoor rose to the challenge and regrouped his brigade. Together they pushed the forces of Darkmoor back within their Stormgate.

As a reward for his heroism, Jungen rewarded him with a Lordship to an isle near by Avernus Skyway. He named this island “Ravenna” after his wife.

### The Island Grows

As an outpost betwixt three stormgates, the importance of the island became more vital than ever before. With an abundance of wood on the island, Lord StormFist wanted to provide opportunities for the non-magical denizens of Dragonspyre. He ordered the construction of a massive navy and city. This utilized half of the trees on Ravenna.

Thanks to the efforts of the citizens and Lord StormFist, Ravenna’s fleet had enough power to blockade 3 stormgates.

### The Vault

Jungen met with Lord StormFist and sought to keep a journal away from the capital. As a man of the people, Lord StormFist became conflicted by keeping this secret. However he eventually conceded the moral high ground to the loyalty of his King.

Lord StormFist made an agreement with Dragonspyre’s Alchemist Guild to build the Vault. In return, they wanted an enclave in the northern part of the city and influence in Ravenna’s politics. So the vault was constructed and laced with a series of traps and obstacles.

### The Century War

Lord Azalon StormFist was more of an opportunist than his father, Valkoor, was. He desired Ravenna’s influence to grow and prosper. He made peace with House Moonstrider in the capital, ending 68 years of strife. Azalon during the century war wanted to provide to multiple armies so his political power would grow. The wood on the island was not enough to provide rapid service to a lot of lords. This caused anger and frustration towards Ravenna.

Seeking a way to not be challenged or invaded, the alchemy guild gave a solution: to mutate the properties of the trees to rapidly grow and become customizable directed by magical users. Azalon agreed and let the alchemists perform the experiment.

The experiment proved fruitful in the beginning as production was able to double, however they soon realized a grave error. The spell drew power from neighboring Darkmoor. The spell backfired and turned a gentle forest into a dense, thick swamp. To add onto the change in landscape, restless spirits and undead from lands unknown parade the forest. This gave Ravenna’s forest its name: The Ghostwood.

### The Coup

As a result of the creation of the Ghostwood, evil spirits crept from the forest and started attacking civilians. This caused a rebellion with Azalon’s nephew, Caelus. Caelus rallied the people and took power easily from Azalon and forced him into exile.

As a Necromancer, Caelus was able to communicate with the undead of the island. Seeing as the corruption tear away their humanity, he knew there was no reasoning to the undead. To protect the city, he developed on a plan to shield the city. He raised a tower in the middle of Castle StormFist with a crystal from House Moonstrider’s cache at its peak. The tower emitted a protective spell that shielded the city from the forces in the Ghostwood.

Sadly, this event plagued Ravenna for some time and it gradually lost the influence back to before the war. Ravenna’s Silver Age was over.

### Rydall’s Plague

Centuries later, Rydall’s Plague struck the capital. News from the capital sparked grave concern and Lord Zaffar StormFist broke off from the capital’s supply chain. With a trade embargo and lockdown of Ravenna’s skyway, the plague rarely touched the city. Zaffar made alliances with neighboring outposts for resources who also broke off from the capital’s influence. This pact lasted until King Betrin’s defeat and a cure for the plague was founded.

### The Dragon Titan

When The Dragon Titan was summoned, the people of Ravenna had no idea what would happen. All they saw was the sky turn to fire and ash descend upon the island. Almost an hour into the summoning, a sphere engulfed the island. The people saw the passage of time as their world stood still. When the sphere dissipated, they saw the husk of their world and feared that they were the last true people of Dragonspyre.

## Landscape

Ravenna has plateaus and woodlands to the west of the island while most of the island is covered in dense swamplands.