Introduction to Volume I — Of Sovereigns and Kin

  No age in history may be fully grasped without first gazing into the hearts of those who shaped it—not merely with might or gold, but with blood. Behind every march of empire, every collapse of order, lies a lineage. For though nations may rise and fall upon the shoulders of common men, it is the hands of sovereigns and their kin that steer the course.

  This volume, the first of its kind, endeavors to cast light upon the two most intriguing powers of the present age: the war-born realm of Rhazgord, ruled in iron and tradition by the fierce Tribe of Tiamat, and the enduring legacy of civilization embodied in the Adler Kingdom, heir to the ashes of a fallen empire and guided by noble bloodlines of old.

  Though disparate in culture and creed—one forged in the crucible of survival, the other in the forum of governance—these ruling houses have, each in their turn, carved their place into the bones of history. This work does not presume to tell the entirety of their tale, but rather to begin an account; for many are the thrones yet unspoken, and countless the names that await remembrance in tomes yet unwritten.

  Thus begins Volume I — Of Sovereigns and Kin, wherein the reader shall be acquainted with the blood that reigns over sword and law alike.

  The Tribe of Tiamat — Crimson-Eyed Rulers of Rhazgord

  Among the war-born tribes that roam the harsh dominion of Rhazgord, none have carved a legacy so enduring—or so feared—as the Tiamats. Renowned for their ferocity, lineage, and unyielding will, the Tiamats have, across generations, held dominion over Rhazgord not merely through strength of arms but by a legacy steeped in conquest and command.

  Drakar Tiamat — The Butcher of Legions

  Once the Sanguinar of Rhazgord, Drakar Tiamat remains one of the most formidable rulers in the history of his people. Known by the fearsome epithet “The Butcher of Legions”, he carved his name into the chronicles of war with rivers of blood. Though no longer sovereign, his authority endures; in his son Sakhaar’s absence, it is he who may speak with imperial weight. Now aged and weary, Drakar seeks not power but an honorable death.

  Towering over most men, his form is clad in thick muscle and old bone. His massive hands, calloused and scarred, could crush a human skull as if it were clay. Though his face bears a resemblance to Sakhaar, it is rounder, framed by a long beard in place of hair. His crimson eyes blaze with the unmistakable mark of Tiamat blood, and his scarred body is a tapestry of a life forged in battle.

  Sakhaar Tiamat

  Bearing the title of Sanguinar, Sakhaar Tiamat rules Rhazgord with absolute command. He is not only chieftain of the mighty Tiamat tribe, but also supreme commander of the Rhazgordian host. Though lacking the raw talent of his father or son, he forged greatness through unyielding discipline and ruthless will, becoming one of the five mightiest warriors of the continent. Known for his iron resolve and pitiless rule, Sakhaar fathered Corvus and Volmir, and has remained unwed since the loss of his wife.

  Slender but tall, his body is lean and hardened, adorned with scars. His jet-black hair is kept short, and his sharp facial features frame blood-red eyes. His nose, broken many times in battle, lends him an austere, battle-worn visage.

  Valerius Tiamat

  Brother to Sakhaar and son of Drakar, Valerius was once hailed as a future Sanguinar. Yet when his brother rose above him, he chose loyalty over rivalry. A master of war in his own right, he now serves as chief commander beneath the Sanguinar and acts as supreme military authority in Sakhaar’s absence. Unlike his kin, Valerius is known for his calm demeanor and occasional idleness. He is a father of two and namesake to a general his father once vanquished.

  Physically, he mirrors his father Drakar in his youth, with raven-black hair and the unmistakable crimson eyes of the Tiamat line.

  Corvus Tiamat — The Lion of Rhaz

  Eldest son of Sakhaar Tiamat, Corvus earned the title of Sharazir at just 17, the youngest in Rhazgordian history. Widely regarded as the most gifted warrior his people have ever seen, he abandoned the Sharazir mantle at 19 to lead the Tiamat Guard. Unlike his father or grandfather, Corvus harbors doubts about Rhazgord’s traditions, advocating for reform and renewal. Beloved by many—especially the people of Bahoz—he treads the perilous line between warrior and reformer. He is betrothed to Ilyada Iskat.

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  Though his body mirrors his father’s, his face is said to take after his mother. His short, black hair is often cropped, and despite his youth, his body is already a map of battle scars.

  Volmir Tiamat

  The younger son of Sakhaar, Volmir is often thought to lack his family’s warrior gift. Only eleven years of age, he receives formal military instruction but also trains at the Bahoz academy, thanks to a special permit secured by his brother. Though slight in build and burdened by the weight of Corvus’s shadow, Volmir shows remarkable agility and precocious intelligence. He excels in an obscure combat style taught by Corvus himself.

  Still boyish and underdeveloped, he is considered frail by Rhazgordian standards. Yet beneath his jet-black hair and crimson eyes lies a mind sharper than most blades.

  Kaelyra Tiamat

  The only daughter of Valerius Tiamat, Kaelyra serves as a mid-ranking Sharazir within the Rhazgord army. Though stern in disposition, she exhibits a maternal protectiveness toward Corvus, having cared for him closely since his mother’s death. Counted among the realm’s most formidable women, she is as feared as she is admired.

  Tall and formidable in build, Kaelyra bears a face of deceptive softness. Her fierce crimson eyes and long dark hair lend her an air of both danger and allure. Her body, like most Tiamats, bears the marks of many battles.

  Cortas Tiamat

  Firstborn son of Valerius and once a high-ranking Sharazir, Cortas was destined for greatness. Some believed he would one day be Sanguinar. Yet during a brutal war against Demons, he suffered a wound from which he would never recover. Though maimed, he led the Tiamat Guard until Corvus succeeded him—a brother in spirit, if not in blood. Now a father and war-scarred veteran, Cortas remains a revered figure.

  He is of moderate stature but striking presence. His crimson gaze still burns with defiance, and his chest bears a scar so deep it seems to have cleaved time itself.

  The Noble Lineage of Adler — Heirs of a Shattered Crown

  Once the beating heart of the western realms, the Empire of Adler stood as a beacon of learning, order, and majesty. From its marble citadels and sun-kissed palaces flowed the laws and traditions that shaped an age. Yet time, like the tide, erodes even the mightiest stone. Though the Empire is no more, its blood endures — in kings who bend the knee to foreign masters, in princes who dream of freedom, and in the silent sorrow of a people who remember.

  The noble house of Adler, descendants of emperors and stewards of a fallen realm, now walks a narrow path between pride and survival. Where once they ruled by divine right, they now reign by another’s leave. Yet the ember of sovereignty still smolders, waiting for breath.

  Emperor Tiberius

  Crowned as the forty-second Emperor of Adler, he dedicated his life to the salvation of the realm, striving that it should not crumble into dust. His days were long and full of care, his heart steadfast in the face of encroaching ruin. On the eve of the funeral for his most cherished companion, General Cassius, the Emperor was claimed by death. He was seventy and six winters old. The throne descended thereafter unto his son, Octavius.

  General Cassius

  Most esteemed among the legions and highest in command, Cassius was both sword and shield unto the Emperor. Tiberius held none dearer, nor placed greater trust in any man. In the defense of the Empire, when barbarian foes did assail its borders, he fell in battle, his soul given unto valor, as the price of duty.. At the hour of his death, he had seen sixty and seven years.

  Emperor Octavius

  The forty-third, and final, bearer of the Adler crown. Some say he did rule with a fist of iron, and thereby hastened the Empire’s demise. Yet others believe that, had the accursed Lightstone never emerged, he might have restored the realm to its former glory. He was vanquished in the great war ‘gainst the Empire of Sizat and its sworn allies. Captured, he was brought low and beheaded at the age of six and forty. Thus fell the last crowned emperor of Adler .

  King Justinianus

  Fourth in the line of kings under Sizat’s dominion, he doth reign over the lesser realm of Adler, seated in the city of Rax and ruling o’er the scattered towns roundabout. Of the lineage of Emperor Tiberius he is born. Now in his forty-third year, father of two, learned in matters of state, yet remembered more for his tempered, almost reluctant rule. He doth walk the path of caution, lest he rouse the wrath of the greater power, Sizat.

  Prince Flavius Belisarius

  Heir apparent of the Lesser Crown, and the sole son of King Justinianus. Nineteen summers hath he seen. Highly educated and reared in the halls of learning, he hath entered the realm of politics at an early age with his father’s blessing. Though bolder of heart than his sire, he treads with care to avoid the fury of Sizat. Yet in the depths of his soul, he dreams of deliverance — to shatter the chains of vassalage and restore Adler to its ancient splendor.

  Tall is he, though not broad; his eyes are of hazel hue, his hair of wheat like the emperors of old. A noble nose doth he bear, with features sharp as carved stone.

  Queen Vipsania

  Wife to King Justinianus and mother of the royal children — Prince Flavius Belisarius and Princess Drusilla. She is seven and thirty years of age. Though she walks in shadow, she is known for a fierce spirit and an unyielding will. Hers is the blood of a noble house of old Adler.

  Princess Drusilla

  Daughter of King Justinianus, and youngest flower of the royal house. Eighteen years hath she seen. Like her mother, she keeps to the background of courtly affairs; yet unlike the Queen, her nature is quiet and reserved. Beneath her silence, a quiet strength lies in wait.