Asentari: a personal history

Humans Enter Edia

Almost 733 years ago humans moved into what is now known as lower edia, on the southern tip of Ka’lesa, during a time of great chaos and suffering. Many had been uprooted by the human Eldari war. Led by nobles from many of the families that eventually became the noble class in Mondolin, the humans tried their best to settle the land and build a life for themselves. but dangers lurked at every corner. Heanta roamed the lands in search of slaves, and even their own kind would happily snatch them away to drag up north.

Deep within the hostile Jungles, humans built their first settlement known now as Portal Town. From there, the humans settled more of the land but they were under much pressure from hostile animals like the cunning Drake, Keavna, and the occasional slaver party. High above, upon the sky Islands of Edia, the dragons watched the humans struggle to live, however none intervened. Abraxos, one of the elder dragons, took a great interest in the humans, and spent much of his time watching from just out of sight. When a massive war party of Keavna and Orken attacked the humans, Abroxos faced a conundrum. No one knew the dragons lived above, for they used magic to conceal their islands, and he would face much disapproval from the others of his kind if he revealed them now.

However, the humans would have been wiped out by the overwhelming force, which he did not want, for Abraxos had seen something in the humans, a resilience and adaptability that would benefit his kind. So, he decided to intervene. Abraxos descended on the war party as the humans prepared to fight for their lives, and decimated it, leaving the remnants to flee and spread word of his presence. The humans were terrified at first, but they nonetheless showered him with gifts and praise, fearful that he may turn on them.

Abraxos continued to protect the humans from dangers they could not prevail against. Over time Abroxos began to speak with the human’s leader, Julianus Ve Auroras, sharing knowledge of the world and discussing a shared future. He also spoke with other dragons, some of which he swayed into helping the humans too. Fafnir, Koranna, and Yeltis were the first of the others to join with Abroxas in protecting the humans, however the majority did not see the benefit.

The failing race

When the Dragons first settled Upper edia, they were reduced in numbers by the war and the actions of the former Dragon King Xartas, while also split into multiple factions.  They thrived for a time, however Dragons bred slowly and lay a single egg every few years, while also taking a long time to reach sizes similar to the eldest of dragons. Not only that, but not long before the humans had arrived below some of their eggs began to fail. While dragons lived countless years, this was still a terrible loss. And now, more and more of their eggs were failing to hatch, and some that did died within a few weeks.

Soon, no more young would hatch, and even with their lifespan, they would be in dire trouble. As more dragons took interest in the humans, they also began to see what Abraxos had seen in the humans. A means to keep their bloodlines flowing. The humans were exact opposites to the dragons, weak individually and numerous, but they were adaptive and had no trouble procreating. Together the dragons discussed a plan, and eventually came up with the Melding, a powerful magic ritual that would pass on their blood and magical power to the humans, turning them into something new, and thus creating a progeny race that would survive for generations after the dragons died off.

Abroxos took this idea to the humans, and in exchange for their cooperation they would allow them access to the dragon’s home, the sky islands of edia, where they would be safe from attack forever more. After much deliberation the humans agreed, though only half their population willing volunteered. Julianus Ve Auroras, now king of the humans of Edia was one of them, along with his wife. However, not all dragons were pleased with what was about to occur, resulting in them leaving Edia by force to find a new home. These dragons were Onyxus, Rune and Titaras, all powerful, all loyal to Xartas and all who opposed the melding. Rune even attempted to attack Portal Town, but she was driven away by Abraxos and Fafnir’s combined might. Afterwards they built the portals that allowed the humans access to upper edia giving portal town its name.

The Melding

The Melding was performed enmass on a clear night, high above the world in Upper edia. The dragons labour for eighty days to prepare the ritual ground, weaving spells upon spells. When ready, they gathered the humans along with every dragon who wished to transfer their lineage, and began. The world shook with the magic performed that night, and when it was done, every human present possessed a kindling of magic in their hearts. For some, the changes were instant, exhibiting the toughened skin, patches of scales or slitted eyes.

Others seemed not affected at all, until they bore a child into the world that was shared the dragons magic. It took several generations for the humans of Edia to become the Asentari, as almost every offspring borne from someone present at the melding resulted in an enhanced child. The Dragons gave the Asentari their new name, and treated them like their children. Years after the melding, the dragons, asentari and the few humans that remained shared a peaceful coexistence. For the most part, the dragons were simply happy that they would leave a piece of themselves behind, should the day come that they left the world. They mostly kept their distance from the Asentari, but some spent their days living among them. Fafnir is an example of this.

The dragons could sense which asentari bore their lineage, and for the mighty red Dragon this was the Volsung. Fafnir lived on their estate, and treated them as his own family. He helped raise the children, taught them to use their breath attacks, and protected them from all threats. Koranna, the regal lightning dragon, taught the Asentari to tame and ride the Wyverns, which were very similar to dragons, but smaller and nowhere near as intelligent. The Wyverns naturally trusted the dragons, and this bond extended to the Asentari, making them easier to tame, though still dangerous if treated badly, as they were no less proud than the dragons.

The civil war and Birth of the republic.

Initially, the noble houses took control of their people, forming estates and organising the people to work the land. The Dragons were happy enough to let them lead, as they were more interested in keeping to themselves and weren't interested in organising the burgeoning race. The nobility ruled the land for almost 400 years. For most of that Julianus Ve Auroras ruled, and he ruled well. The Asentari lived in general peace, though they hadn’t quite shaken the habits of humans, building keeps and castles and forts across the islands. This practice stopped after some hundred years, and the buildings became less defensive. Eapara city was established on the largest Island, and the kings castle turned Senate house was built in the centre of the city.

Three hundred and fifty years after the melding, Julianus Ve Auroras died, and the crown passed to his son, Cassius Ve Auroras. Cassius was not at all like his father. Like most of the other noble families, he was selfish and bad practice drove the Asentari straight into a civil war between the nobility and the commoners. Unfortunately for the nobility, the commoners were not mere simple folk, they were asentari and the war was not in their favor. Even so, the war lasted almost thirty years, until the dragons became annoyed by the fighting, and forced the Asentari to stop. After the war, the leaders of both sides came together and discussed how to fix their problems. After much talking, the senate was established, and the Oculi was set up, initially to keep the peace. As the years passed, and things settled, the Oculi took on the roles it fills today, as the Asentari’s special forces.

The Dragons leave

600 years after the creation of the Asentari, when no more dragon young were being produced, the dragons finally left Edia in the hands of their progeny race and flew to new lands in hopes of finding a cure. Not all dragons left Ka'lesa however. The following years, Asentari lived in general peace, their existence unknown by people outside of Edia. However the finally revealed themselves when a raiding party of humans attacked the human villages below. Feeling a strong connection to the humans below, the Asentari went to their defense. The attackers took many slaves and left, and the Asentari pursued them into the freelands. This resulted in the first contact war between the Asentari and the Humans of mondolin.