Kingdom

by Kyle West

  Included among the Elekai are also the dragons, both of Askaleen and Radaska varieties. The Elder Dragons, along with their successive generations, are also included, though they do not speak to human Elekai on account of the Sundering of the Dragons.

  In the past two hundred years, Elekai blood has generally weakened in power for unknown reasons, resulting in newer generations having less inherent ability to connect to the Xenofold than past generations, a phenomenon known as the Fading. Whether the Fading is due to mingling with the Bloodless, or another factor, is not entirely known. Elekai children born without a detectable connection to the Xenofold are becoming increasingly common.

  Elekim: The Great God and husband of Annara who gave his life to destroy Askala, the demon goddess of the Radaskim. Though he is remembered as such among the Elekai, among the Covenant, Askala is remembered as the Elekai goddess. Elekim, within the Elekai, is given an equal footing with Annara, while among the Covenant Annara reigns supreme.

  Exile, The: The Exile refers to the ousting of the Elekai from Old Colonia around 150 A.R. They fled into the Red Wild, where according to the story, the three chief Elder Dragons, Askal, Quietus, and Tiamat, led each tribe to a spot where they were to found their cities. Askal led the Annajen to Haven in the Grand Canyon, while Quietus led the Makai south to a vast forest, where they founded Sylva. The Samalites were led north by Tiamat to Ragnarok Crater, where they founded the city of Hyperborea, which was destroyed nearly a century later.

  Fading, The: The process by which Elekai Gifts have diminished over time. It was first noticed early in the Third Century. The cause is not entirely known, but many believe it has to do with the dilution of blood through intermarriage with non-Elekai. Only among the nobility is the blood still particularly strong, but even so, it has weakened. The true reason has now come to light: the weakening of the Sea of Creation due to Hypeborea and the power the Hyperfold it created.

  Four Centuries, The: History since the Ragnarok War is categorized in four centuries, named the First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The history of the first three has often been reduced to myth, either through the passage of time or the loss of records. However, it has been reproduced below as best as the Elekai can recount it.

  The First Century is remembered as the Great Dawn and the Golden Age of the Elekai. The city of Colonia was founded, the Red Wild was at its most powerful state, and dragons and Elekai had friendly relations. In the early part of the century, gods walked the Earth, ruling from the city of Colonia. In the latter half of the century, the Red Bastion and the Dome of Annara were constructed in Colonia, and Colonia was the most powerful kingdom in North America. The First Century ended in 100 A.R., or 2160 A.D.

  The Second Century’s beginning was marked by corruption among the Elekai aristocracy of Colonia. This unjust rule led to the formation of the Annaran Covenant, which in time overthrew their Elekai rulers during the Annaran Uprising. This was followed by the Great Purge and the formation of the Hunters, a group tasked with killing any Elekai found within Colonia or Covenant lands. This led to the Exile, where surviving Elekai fled Colonia for the Red Wild. Depending on their lineage, each group founded a city in the Red Wild – Hyperborea in the north for the Samalites, Haven in the west for the Annajen, and Sylva in the south for the Makai. The Sundering of the Dragons occurred in this time, and due to the Elekai being greatly reduced in number and capacity, very little history was recorded. It is not without its hope, however. It is said that the city of Hyperborea grew powerful during this time, though its deeds have long since faded to myth. The Annajen and Makai tribes, together with the Wild tribes, fought for survival against the Covenant, which often attacked into the Red Wild. In response, the Selvan was planted along the western border of the Red Wild. The Samalites, during this time, gifted Haven and Sylva with Great Silverwoods, which they enchanted with ichor to grow far taller and more powerful than normal. The second century ended in 200 A.R., or 2260 A.D.

  The Third Century is probably the most troubled of all for the Elekai – though it’s not too far in the distant past, little can be said of it with accuracy. Reversions plagued the Wild, and are said to have destroyed Hyperborea along with killing many Elekai. The Samalites were driven from the north, and the first half of the century was marked by constant warfare against Mindless dragons and monsters. The cities of Haven and Sylva served as bastions against the Mindless, and it was decades before the reversions could be restored. The latter half of the century serves as a bright spot, because the Seekers’ Sanctum was founded and much territory was reclaimed. The Third Century ended in 300 A.R., or 2360 A.D.

  The Fourth Century, which is still ongoing, has been comparatively quiet. Its first half saw human Elekai growing to their former numbers, but the Fading, or the weakening of their connection to the Xenofold, was becoming more apparent. The Covenant, who had also suffered during the Third Century at the hands of the Mindless, blamed the Elekai and denounced them with renewed vigor. The Eastern Kingdoms were mostly immune from the Mindless, even if they were warring with each other. The Eastern Pact somewhat mitigated this, which allowed the Eastern Kingdoms to prosper in an unprecedented time of peace. Reversions were mostly contained to the north around Ragnarok Crater, where the great danger made any study of the Crater or its fabled city of Hyperborea nearly impossible. The Fourth Century has yet to end, it is nearly there. The current year is 398 A.R., or 2458 A.D.

  Four Disciplines, The: The Four Disciplines of the Seekers are Stillness, Movement, Acceptance, and Resistance. By training and merging these Four, a Seeker is expected to develop his or her Gifts and forge their connection to the Xenofold.

  Godsblood: The term used to describe any human Elekai who is a direct descendent of one of the Six Gods – Elekim, Annara, Samal, Retha, Makai, or Larana. They are less numerous, but more powerful, than Wilders.

  Great Dawn, The: The fifty-year period following the founding of Colonia that saw it grow from a village on the Colorado to a large city ruled by the Elekai. It was during this time that Colonia’s walls, the Red Bastion, and the Dome of Annara were constructed.

  Great Purge, The: Following the exile of the Elekai from Colonia, the Hunters were formed by the Covenant to track down remaining Elekai. Thousands were captured and killed over a ten-year period, and many Bloodless were caught in the crossfire. However, the effects of the Great Purge meant the possibility of an Elekai being born within Colonia’s borders was greatly reduced.

  Great Silverwoods: Great Silverwoods are hybrid trees that are purposely grown to be much larger than they would naturally be by human Elekai, usually Seeker Sages. Haven is the largest one in the world, and measures about a quarter mile high. Two Silverwoods Trees joined in the middle make up Sylva, though neither is as large as the Haven tree by half. It is said that Hyperborea, when it existed, contained over a hundred Great Silverwoods in its groves.

  Haven: The main enclave of the Annajen Tribe. It’s located deep in the Grand Canyon.

  High Line: The High Line among the Annajen is believed to go all the way back to Elekim and Annara, and describes the lineage of Annajen royalty.

  Hunters, The: The Hunters are an order of priests within the Covenant clergy that exists to hunt down and kill all Elekai, as well as pursue apostates and heretics. They also hunt for unguarded Mindless Askalaeen in the Red Wild to train as mounts. They are one of the seven orders of priests that make up the Covenant government.

  Hybrids: Hybrids are either Earth plants that naturally evolved to grow in the xen, or were designed as such by Elekai. The Silverwood is one example, and many crops that grow naturally in soil were evolved to grow in the xen.

  Hyperborea: Hyperborea was the capital city of the Samalites and the seat of the empire by the same name. Its history is mostly forgotten, even mythological, and many believe the city never existed at all. It is speculated the city existed for at least one hundred years in some capacity, and it fell sometimes in the early Third Century from an attack of Mindl
ess monsters. It is now known that it was the Shen who destroyed the city, an attack which set the stage for the first Mindless Wars.

  Ichor: Ichor is a rare, pink liquid that exists below the surface of the Red Wild in limited quantities. It has properties of creation and restoration, and is exceedingly rare.

  Inherent: An Elekai who has the ability to manifest, even without training. These Elekai are usually only found among the Godsblood, but still rarely at that. About one in a hundred Elekai have the Gift of Inherence.

  Judges, The: One of the Seven Sects of the Seekers, who specialize in the reading, interpretation, and formation of law. They not only oversee the Seekers’ internal affairs, but those of other courts, including those of the Bloodless with whom they have diplomatic relations.

  Larana: The wife of Makai and the goddess of love.

  Liberation, The: The Covenant’s term for their victory over the Elekai in Colonia. The Elekai call it the Annaran Uprising.

  Lost Gifts: It’s come to light that Shanti has abilities that don’t fit within the bounds of the traditional Twelve Gifts. One of these Gifts, Consonance, describes her ability to connect a non-Elekai to the Xenofold, thereby making them Elekai. Another is called Bonding, the ability for several Elekai to link and possess a far greater ability to channel the Xenofold’s power than any of them could alone. Severance describes the ability to do the opposite of Consonance; cutting an Elekai off from the Xenofold entirely, either temporarily or permanently. Another is called Tethering, the ability to possess and control a being with a connection to the Xenofold; this includes Mindless monsters controlled by the Hyperfold, whose loyalties can be temporarily overridden if the one who is tethering is powerful enough.

  Makai (The Tribe): One of the Three Tribes of the Elekai. Their patron god is Makai, the god of war. They have a martial society that emphasizes war and combat. They are aggressive, and are the only one of the Three Tribes to openly attack either the Covenant or Nova.

  Makai (The god): One of the Six Gods, the god of war and combat. Makai is the patron god of the tribe of the same name, and the husband of Larana.

  Manifestation: The process by which an Elekai first gains connection to the Xenofold. It usually happens at some point in the teenage years. The very strongest, during manifestation, will have eyes that turn completely white during the episode. For most Elekai with the potential to manifest, it has to be trained out of them, but for about one in twenty-five – called Inherents – it will happen whether they’ve been trained or not. Elekai of strong potential are sought for training at the Seekers’ Sanctum.

  Mindless: Mindless refers to any plant or animal born within the Red Wild that is not connected to the Xenofold. They are typically born in Northern Wild reversions. Usually, they are violent and attack any who are not Mindless, and Mindless have been seen to attack each other at times. In respect to dragons, Mindless Radaska are wild and violent, while Mindless Askaleen dragons are docile and tamable.

  Nameless One, The: A Xenomind whose identity is wrapped in mystery. He is beholden to neither the Elekai nor the Radaskim.

  Nava Village: A village of some five hundred people that supplies the material needs of the Seekers’ Sanctum on Nava Mountain. It is the largest settlement of its size in the north, and it signals the beginning of the Northern Wild.

  Nova: A powerful empire far to the south of Colonia. Its north is bordered by the Red Wild and Colonia. It is a land closed to outsiders, but it is said they have a strict caste system. Nova is not to be confused with the Nova Roman Empire, which existed three hundred years earlier. Nova considers itself the third iteration of that empire, hence its other moniker, the Third Empire.

  Peacemakers, The: The Peacemakers are an order of Covenant priests and function as the city guard of Colonia. They are marked by their red capes, leather armor, and long staves.

  Priests: Priests occupy the highest social tier in Colonia, and there are seven different kinds. There are the Fathers, who minister to the people, and there are the Hunters, who track down dissidents, heretics, apostates, and errant Elekai. There are also Aediles, who administer Colonia’s basic services, and Quaestors, who run the courts, along with the Peacemakers, who enforce the law. The greatest priest, known as the Grand Pontifex, rules Colonia together with his Council of Nine, chosen from among each of the nine orders of priests. The Grand Pontifex is a lifelong post.

  Prophets, The: One of the Seven Sects of the Seekers, who specialize in visions and prophecies. Visions are viewings of past events, while prophecies are viewings of future events. The Prophets are the least numerous of the Seven Sects. They are often derided by the other Sects for not doing much, but interestingly, Prophets typically have the strongest connection to the Xenofold of all the Sects.

  Purebloods: A term the Covenant uses to signify that a person is one hundred percent human blood, without a trace of Elekai descent. In the distant past, especially during the First Century, intermarriage between pureblood humans and Elekai was quite common. Their children would, or wouldn’t, have Elekai abilities, and often Elekai abilities would manifest in later generations. In the early days, it was also common for Godsblood Elekai and Wilders to marry, as well as for Wilders to marry pureblood humans. Beginning with the days of the Annaran Covenant, however, it was determined by the Grand Pontifex and Council that any of Elekai blood should be purged, which led to the Exile. Any who stayed behind were found and executed, and many innocents also lost their lives during the Great Purge. In later years, other purges took place on a smaller scale.

  Radaska: A Radaska is a female dragon. They are larger than the Askaleen and more numerous, and unlike the Askaleen, the Mindless kind are violent and cannot be tamed. There are Elder Radaska dragons, such as Quietus, who have no dealings with humankind, and there are Generational Radaska, who are the direct progeny of the Elder Dragons and their successive generations. Then, there are Mindless Radaska, who attack anyone they find. The Mindless are mostly confined to the Northern Wild, and often war with Generational Radaska.

  Radaskim, The: The ancient foe of the Elekai, the Radaskim were defeated by Elekim when he sacrificed himself to destroy Askala. It is said the Radaskim will return during the Second Darkness, though the time of this return isn’t known. The Covenant has all but forgotten the existence of the Radaskim, instead ascribing their deeds to the Elekai.

  Ragnarok: According to the Elekai, Ragnarok was the fallen world of the Radaskim that crashed into Earth over four centuries ago. It created Ragnarok Crater in the north, and the event is what caused the Ragnarok War.

  Ragnarok War: A war in which the world was nearly enslaved by Askala and her Radaskim swarm, but Elekim and the gods, leading the rest of the Elekai and humanity, made one final stand at Ragnarok Crater. A final battle was fought, won only because Elekim sacrificed his life in order to destroy the Radaskim host, as well as Askala. When the war was over, the surviving gods – Annara, Samal, Retha, Makai, and Larana – founded the city of Colonia, where they and their descendants would live and rule.

  Rakhim Shal: Rakhim Shal was a noble and an advisor living in the time of the Hyperborean Empire, and was the chief advisor on the council of King and Queen Farl, the last monarchs of the Empire. He was obsessed with preventing the Fading, the phenomenon whereby the Elekai are losing their Gifts over time due to the weakening of the Xenofold caused by the Xenofont. Driven to near-madness by this quest, Shal discovered and contacted the Void, the Radaskim’s counterpart to Silence, where he received messages from Odium of the Dark, the Radaskim Xenomind currently on his way to invade Earth. Odium promised to restore humanity to its former glory in return for obedience. With Rakhim’s pledge, Odium gave him the knowledge to construct the Hyperfold, to which he connected people through the use of a highly addictive substance of his invention, called Aether. Over time, many people in Hyperborea were taking Aether and connected to the Hyperfold, giving the Hyperfold all of their power and memories which, upon the destruction of Hyperborea, were
enough to create a dream world. When the Shen destroyed Hyperborea, they could not destroy the Hyperfold, which was protected by an impenetrable shield called the Thought Dome, through which none but an Elekai or Radaskim could enter.

  Rakhim has worked ever since then to weaken the Elekai Xenofold, in preparation for the Radaskim’s arrival, only recently growing powerful enough to gather an army of Mindless monsters and dragons to begin his assault on the Red Wild. At the swarm’s command is Isaru, who fell prey to the power of the Hyperfold when trying to escape it.

  Red Bastion, The: The Red Bastion is a large fortress built on Red Cliff, the city of Colonia’s highest point. It is protected by two walls, not to mention the cliff itself, and has never fallen except to the Annaran Covenant during their revolt in 150 A.R. It is from the Red Bastion that the Grand Pontifex of Colonia and Grand Council rule.

  Red Wild, The: A huge area marked by a vast spreading of xen, named because of its red appearance. It starts roughly in the center of what used to be Arizona, and spreads east as far as what used to be the Rocky Mountains, though its borders vary widely depending on latitude. It goes further north than Ragnarok Crater, though it’s unknown where it truly ends. To the south, it stops at the northern border of Nova, in what used to be Northern Mexico.

  The Wild itself is divided into four areas – Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western – and each area is different. The Northern Wild is the most untamed and the most dangerous. Reversions are more common here, and the North is the abode of Mindless animals, including dragons. It is the least inhabited, though small enclaves of Samalites make their home here.

  The Southern Wild is mostly forested, and its trees are the tallest in the world, many reaching hundreds of feet in height. The Southern Wild is also the most populated.