Hesparion's Rest

### Anthem

**Hesparion's Rest** or **The Rest** is a large island off the coast of Amyria home to the remains of the largest dragon to ever have lived, **Hesparion the Ashen Greatwyrm.** The island is home to the Dragonborn and they maintain theocratic sovereign rule over the island whereby priests, paladins and clerics are appointed positions of power according to their rank the in the church of Hesparion.

## Culture

Following the death of Hesparion at the end of the Age of Dragons and the subsequent creation of the Dragonborn race from the remains of the Greatwyrm War, the people of The Rest have lived in the legacy of that ancient battle, shaping their culture and the lands around them. The Dragonborn who were created from the blood of the Greatwyrms shed in the Age of Dragons has instilled a deep connection with Dragonborn and true dragons, although this respect is only one-sided. The True Dragons of Trea look towards the Dragonborn as simply lowly products of their ancestors remains and thus see them as weak and false dragonkin. As a result, all Dragonborn are exiled from the Draconic homeland of the continent of Hernakrax. This, however, does not stop the Dragonborn of The Rest to look towards their true dragon brethren with holy reverence. Through the latent divine powers of the long-dead Hesparion the Dragonborn of The Rest use their powerful magic to tame, enchant or dominate true dragons to their cause. The people of The Rest worship the remains of Hesparion hoping their worship will instil enough power into him to one day make a return. The church of Hesparion is a fervent force that strives to rebuild the dragon race back to its former power and avenge the Greatwyrm War.

The people of The Rest in their reverence to the remains of Hesparion settle their cities inside the skeletal remains of the Ashen Greatwyrm. Vast cities can be seen suspended hundreds of meters into the air dangling from the spine, the ribs or the wing of Hesparion's gigantic corpse. Hesparion's spine is a well-travelled trading route where Dragonborn merchants fly from one vertebrae to another on dragon back moving goods and wealth swiftly between the settlements. The wing of Hesparion is home to the poorest region of the Hesparion Cities and is where dragon-riding pirates and raiders are forced to attack passing ships to gain wealth and support their poverty-stricken shanty towns that are built in the shadow of Hesparion's great wing. The tail of Hesparion is a stretch of cities that are home to The Rest's powerful navy and the region where dragons are trained. This tail region is a popular spot for travellers who are eager to see dragons. The dragon pits where unruly and wild dragons are pitted against each in combat is a popular sport that has dominated the tail giving rise to many large gambling hubs. The city of Taldir's Hoard has profited the most from the dragon pits and has completely pivoted its economy to solely revolve around the dragon fights. Taldir's Hoard draws in thousands upon thousands of spectators and gamblers looking to earn some money betting on the dragons.

   The most sacred of the locations on Hesparion's corpse is his skull. Inside the skull of Hesparion is a holy city and capital of The Rest, called Hespar entirely made from gold which only a select few can enter. Inside is an awe-inspiring decorated temple in the fallen dragon's honour. Some of the most beautiful carvings, sculptures and religious iconography can be found here, putting all other holy cities and artworks to shame. Every inch of the interior of Hespar is decorated with holy temples or sanctified buildings. The lower 'level' of Hespar is found on the ground or the dragon's lower jaw, whilst the holiest of sites within Hespar is the sanctified temples that are built upside-down on the roof of Hesparion's mouth, only reachable by Dragonborn priests who are granted radiant wings after years of fervent dedication to the fallen Ash greatwyrm. Hesparion's Teeth have been hollowed out to become barracks where holy paladins of Hesparion reside ready to defend Hespar from those who dare invade the holy city.

## Hesparion's Wings

Hesparion's Wings are a group of paladins who worship Hesparion and seek to steal the Holy Grail of Calabor to use its powers to return Hesparion back from the dead. Hesparion's Wings further this goal by sending inquisitors onto the mainland of Moro to attempt to track down the elusive artefact. Hesparion's Wings are ruthless and will stop at nothing to attain this object. They are paragons of justice, law and peace, but these tenants and these oaths can be bent and broken if it means getting a glimpse at the Holy Grail. A majority of the Hesparion Inquisitors are undercover within the church of Calabor, filtering information and knowledge back to the Church of Hesparion back on The Rest. Due to the Dragonborn's clandestine activities in the church of Calabor and Redwain's love of Calabor has created tension between the two nations whereby Dragonborn are rarely trusted in Redwain and likewise Redweni people are discriminated against on The Rest.

## Ishfet's Eyes

   Ishfet's Eyes are a group of Obsidian Dragonborn, created from the blood of Hesparion's enemy Ishfet, that operate secretly on Hesparion's Rest where they seek to dismantle the Church of Hesparion and ultimately return the Obsidian Greatwyrm Ishfet to power. Ishfet's Eyes are followers of Thros, the goddess of Murder and invoke her powers to aid them in their goal by kidnapping priests and their true dragon thralls to sacrifice to Thros.