Tur An Tiel--Bones of the Dragon.

[Rhialto]

No. They aren't connected.

In fact the All-Seeing Eye was as surprised as anybody else on the Azerai's arrival...

 

[Rhialto]

The Emperors of Syra--The Elder Three Dynasties

The First Dynasty (Caradocian)

Caradoc I Reigned: 1-7 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Great, the Founder

Cador I Reigned: 7-10 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Conqueror, the Boy-Emperor

Lucan I Reigned: 10-25 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Fair

Caradoc II Reigned: 25-88 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Peaceful, the Legislator

Lanceor I Reigned: 88-90 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Unready

Ider I Reigned: 90-93 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Fierce

Lanceor II. Reigned: 93-97 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Righteous

Cador II Reigned: 97 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Martyr

Ider II Reigned: 97-99 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Maimed

Lanceor III Reigned: 99-107 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Grim

Cador III Reigned: 107-117 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Exile, the Troubadour


Lucan II Reigned: 117-120 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Child

The Second Dynasty (Bedeverian)

Bedevere I Reigned: 121-129 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Victorious, the Builder

Bors I Reigned: 129-176 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Mighty, Redspear

Belleus I Reigned: 176-216 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Shining

Bedevere II Reigned: 216-226 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Golden Lion


Berel I Reigned: 226-265 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Fat

The Third Dynasty (Alamorian)

Alamor I Reigned: 267-269 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Black Lion, the Bastard

Accolan I Reigned: 269-271 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Red Lion

Ector I Reigned: 271-280 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Small Lion, the Short

Ulfius I Reigned: 280-319 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Tall, the Unifier


Ebel I Reigned: 319-322 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Brave, the Gentle

Ontzlake I Reigned: 322-362 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Conqueror

Abellius I Reigned: 362-428 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Great, the Silver Lion

Agrivaine I Reigned: 428-443 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Aged

Ector III Reigned: 443-447 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Dark, the Wicked

Epinograis I Reigned: 447-449 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Mad

Ider III Reigned: 449-539 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Great, the Enduring

Ebel II Reigned: 539-548 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Lame

Ebel III Reigned: 548-601 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Chivalrous

Alamor II Reigned: 601-603 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Ill, the Sickly

Accolan II Reigned: 603-613 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Fiery

Agrivaine II Reigned: 613-652 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Drunk

Ider IV Reigned: 652-674 B.R.E.
Epithet: the White Lion

Ontzlake II Reigned: 674-726 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Thin, the Starving Lion


Ector III Reigned: 726-766 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Pius

Epinograis II Reigned: 766-767 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Torturer

Abellius II Reigned: 767 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Assassin

Ulfius II Reigned: 767-794 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Gambler


Ebel IV Reigned: 794-798 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Good

 

[Azure Trance]

I don't think it needs to be said, but I love the (especially) detailed ideas you come up with. Bravo!

This post was just so I could rate the thread with five stars

 

[Rhialto]

The Younger Four Dynasties

The Fourth Dynasty (Cadafelian)

Cadefel I Reigned: 798-803 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Glittering

Caradoc III Reigned: 803-809 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Hunter

Cadafel II Reigned: 809-813 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Splendid

Caradoc IV Reigned: 813-819 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Merry

Cadafel III Reigned: 819-823 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Strong

Cador IV Reigned: 823-831 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Golden-tongued

Cadafel IV Reigned: 831-836 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Great

Cador V Reigned: 836-866 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Thrifty, Patchcloak

Cador VI Reigned: 866-870 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Generous

Caradoc VI Reigned: 870 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Unfortunate, the Hapless

The Fifth Dynasty (Mathian)

Math I Reigned: 870-872 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Troubled, the Beleaguered

Mathonwy I Reigned: 872-884 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Ironclad, Blacksword

Math II Reigned: 884-964 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Hale, Brightblade

Math III Reigned: 964-1004 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Fearless, One-hand

Math IV Reigned: 1004-1085 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Laughing, the Panther

Mathonwy II Reigned: 1085-1091 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Bald, the Scorned

Mathonwy III Reigned: 1091-1097 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Handsome, the False


Math V Reigned: 1097-1109 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Blinded, the Mournful

Mathonwy IV Reigned: 1109-1210 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Unbending, the Adamant

Mathonwy V Reigned: 1210-1265 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Defeated, the Conquered

Math VI. Reigned: 1265-1272 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Bold


The Sixth Dynasty (Herlenian)

Herlen I Reigned: 1272-1279 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Traitor, the Pock-faced

Belleus II Reigned: 1279-1286 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Liar

Hector I Reigned: 1286-1319 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Wicked

Bors II Reigned: 1319-1325 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Smotherer

Herlen II Reigned: 1325-1335 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Simple

The Seventh Dynasty (Gahaltinian)

Gahaltine I Reigned: 1339-1381 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Restorer

Gouvernail I Reigned: 1381-1383 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Young

Gahaltine II Reigned: 1383-1393 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Afflicted

Gaheris I Reigned: 1393-1404 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Stern

Gouvernail II Reigned: 1404-1409 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Old

Gahaltine III Reigned: 1409-423 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Pale

Gareth I Reigned: 1423-1435 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Hunchback

Gareth II Reigned: 1435-1437 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Frail

Gerlois I. Reigned: 1437-1441 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Mantled

Gavaine I Reigned: 1441-1451 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Eagle

Gavaine II Reigned: 1451-1453 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Melancholy

Gavaine III Reigned: 1453-1456 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Cruel

Gerlois II Reigned: 1456 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Month-Emperor

Gaheris II Reigned: 1456-1493 B.R.E.
Epithet: the Virtuous, the Majestic

Geraint I Reigns: 1493-Present
Epithet: the Unlikely (the Wise, the Great)

 

[Rhialto]

Azure Trance--thanks for the positive feedback. And I'd like everyone to know that I'm working on getting all the little bits of this filled up.

Eventually...

 

[Rhialto]

A DISCUSSION ON FIENDS, PART A: SETTING THE TONE

"Fiends," began Preceptor Ryl. "Inhabitants of the Lower World. Pure Evil. Or near enough." He glanced around the room. His classroom had twice as many students in it as usual--curious ones with free time on their hands who had come to hear what some students had begun to affectionately call "the Lecture". Looking out at his audience, Ryl felt a twinge of panic. He still wasn't ready for this. When Wheldrake had offered him the Planar Studies position, he'd accepted without thinking about what it meant. Flexing his gloved hands, he took a deep breath. Just keep on going, and when this is done, you can go back to your quarters, and enjoy a nice cup of tea with Ariah. Now, won't that be nice? Steadying himself, he continued.

"But what in fact do we know about fiends, and their origins?" Ryl began to pace about the room. "Very little. Despite the assurances of countless religions that they have it all figured out, higher powers refuse to explain Fiends, and Fiends themselves offer too many explanations. Are they the children of the Void? Fallen celestials? Invaders?" Ryl shrugged. "It is impossible to say. Perhaps all answers are right..."

Gyeste raised his hand. Future Shaded Cabal material for certain, thought Ryl grimly. "Sir, when are you going to get to summoning fiends?"

Ryl glanced at him harshly. "The answer is never. Fiends are far too dangerous to be summoned, especially casually."

Gyeste seemed to doubt Ryl's opinion. "But surely a magician of sufficient power..."

"Let me tell you a story, Gyeste!" shouted Ryl. "Once there was a wizard of some small talent who thought he had an in with fiends. So he tried to summon them. It didn't work out." Ryl tore off his gloves, and showed the palm of his left hand. "The scarring makes it hard to see, but if you look hard enough, you'll see Arioch's brand still there--despite my best efforts to eradicate it. That mark is my memorial to four lifetimes worth of humilation and servitude. Whenever I'm getting a bit cocky--whenever I think I've got it all figured out, I just look at that mark and remember how wrong I can be." Ryl flexed his hands, the black claws clicking against one another. "No one deals safely with fiends, my friend. No matter who they are." The half-fiend's eyes seemed to glow a dull red, and his tail was flicking in anger. "Now then, if you'll excuse my outburst, we'll get back to the topic at hand." He turned back to the board. "There are many different types of fiends..." he began, in a calm tone.

 

[Eosin the Red]

I check in on the thread in Plots and Places occassionally to see what you have done and if anymore NPCs have been posted. This is really good stuff.

 

[Rhialto]

A DISCUSSION OF FIENDS, PART B; A CITY OF IRON

"All of Devilkind is organized around Dis, the City of Iron," stated Preceptor Ryl. "It is their capital, and the center of their government. Amraphel, Lord of Devils, sits upon the Black Throne and plots. He rarely leaves the Throne now, it is said--paranoia and fear have taken such a hold on him. Amraphel is so well-protected by wards in the throne room that even the Reaper himself would have trouble killing him there. Amraphel uses his secure position to barter with gods of greater power, selling them the services of his army for favors in his struggle against Arioch. Amraphel has remained obssessed to the point of monomania with the destruction of his eternal opposite, even though after all these thousands of years he is no closer."
"The streets of Dis are straight and strong, and lined with iron. Amraphel's guards watch over the movement on the street, and make certain that no one is in a place they shouldn't be. Motion through the city is almost impossible without enough might to force your way through--a difficult propostion--or numerous bribes. The buildings of Dis are iron spires that cut into the dark sky, and belch black smoke out from the furnaces below. It is rumored that the city has at least three levels below the upper one, where the various unpleasant things that are necessary to grant Dis its illusion of utter order are done."
"The upper city is divided into five sections, each ruled by a Marshal. It is also rumored that three Grand Marshals rule the under levels. While the Marshals change fairly constantly due to politicking and the displeasure of Amraphel, the Grand Marshals have remained fairly constant (or so the rumor goes)."
"Finally, it must be pointed out that every ruler needs someone to support them from the shadows. In Amraphel's case it is Semyaza, the mysterious Minister of Information. Semyaza seems to know all that goes on in Dis, and informs much (but not all) of what she knows to Amraphel--it is hard to know who is the true master in the relationship..."

 

[Old One]

Cool...

A thread springs from the ancient past to the forefront...

Thanks for reminding me about all your cool stuff, Rhialto!

~ Old One

 

[Rhialto]

A DISCUSSION OF FIENDS, PART C; A CITY OF BONE

"Pandemonium is a city built out of the bones of those who die there," said Ryl calmly. "It is eternally under construction, as buildings fray and collapse. A thousand petty bosses and lords rule over it, the power of each extending as far as they can manage. And over them all is Arioch--Arioch the Plotter, Arioch the Beast, Arioch of the Many Claws. Arioch schemes eternally they say--and yet he is almost never seen. The basis of Arioch's power lies in that those that cross him tend to die quick and unmourned deaths..."

"The order of Pandemonium--as much as there is order--is the strong torment the weak... Each demon schemes to increase its own power at the cost of its fellows, and the weak are used by all..."