The Elemental Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Hailing from the northern wasteland of Arkanoj is the Matriarch of Light and the Patriarch of Ice. From the western continent of Nevermore; the Patriarchs of Fire, Life, Nature, and the Matriarch of Lightning. From the eastern continent of Norimer comes the Patriarch of Wind, along with the Matriarchs of Water, Darkness, and Earth.
Far more ancient than any of them though would have to be a spirit that associates itself with poison. It has no title, and refers to itself as an Essence instead of a Patriarch or Matriarch.
Patriarch Kimori, the Flame Emperor.
In life, Kimori was an elven mage who harnessed runes of fire and water to manipulate the essence of Heat itself. At first unaccepted by many nations and mercenary groups, he found a man named Yegul and they kick-started a merc group. This group would later include the legendary Koraj, but not long after his arrival things would fall apart and from no problems he caused. The last mission Kimori took place in was to protect a king from his traitorous people. However, it was too late. As Yegul charged into the kings antechamber, Kimori saw the horde of rebels approaching. He rigged up a trap to blow up the ball room and have the roof cave in to crush everyone inside, him included. The trap was rigged up that when the flames ignited and brought the place down, it was in the shape and design of a sealing spell, sealing Kimori's essence into the elemental world of flames.
"As mighty as the flame is, it's power is best served as a protector. As wicked as the wildfire is, the ashes it leaves behind allow regrowth. By removing the old that should no longer be, their ashes turned into the fruit of the new."
Patriarch Takziv, the Ice Czar.
In life, Takziv was the first Arkan Light-burned. He was the first chosen to find their chief god and bring him back to Arkanoj in order to defend the men and women of the world's right to live against a devil beyond imagination. He succeeded in finding the man who inhabited the body of the god, but the man did not want to accept his fate. Takziv had been arguing with himself for weeks about the use of ice in war and peace, and came to the conclusion that Ice is only a weapon of destruction. The day afterwards, he was stabbed in the back on his ship by the holder of the god's spirit. The culprit weapon being a shard of ice. His body fell overboard and the boat was turned around. However, there was a quick retribution. The man and his future family found themselves frozen to death as an unnatural blizzard came through, freezing the land around them. The large tract of land they developed broke from Nevermore and floated towards Arkanoj. This island is now known as Vzarkanoj.
"Keep praying to your precious Kimori. As soon as my grasp is capable, I will grab this world in my hands and freeze it until even the ice is frozen."
Patriarch Kayne, Nature King.
In life, Kayne was a human ranger. He was an alchemist of some renown as well, and was one of the watchers of various forests. Kayne was later referred to as a Treant because of his adamant guarding of his forest. When there were problems and errors in his areas, he would do anything possible to remedy it. It is due to Kayne's efforts that farmers and shepherds could figure out various ailments and problems that plagued them, and also remedy and cure them. When demons and orcs invaded his country, he offered his forest as sanctuary to everyone. When they arrived to kill, he utilized the effort of druid clans and the rest of the rangers, creating a neigh impenetrable barrier. However, a perfectly aimed stone bathed in flames crashed through the magical shield the druids made and crushed him. Without their brave leader, the rest of the people panicked and stopped resistance. Shortly after his death though, the entire forest came to life and real treants and ents roamed, quickly putting to rest their pathetic attackers. A sign that Kayne is watching is the growth of a bizarre grove, deemed a Crystalrock Grove, where the plants are trees made of stone and leaves of magic crystals...
"Hey, I've got this interesting new idea for a creature..."
Patriarch Xanvasseer, Wind Duke
In life, Xanvasseer was a Sair scout. The first Sair to fall in the rebellion against the humans. It is written in legend that his soul released such a fury that the Sazevassan forest, a place filled with humans; was wiped off the face of the world and replaced by the Dead Lands, a place so desolate even the birds refuse to pass through it. It is one of the few places where no wind blows. Merely stepping into the dead lands makes a person feel insignificant and inferior. Staying in too long has been rumored to drive men mad. It is believed that many chaotic cults spawned from those who resided in the Dead lands too long.
"I HAVE NO TIME FOR YOU! BE DESTROYED IN THE WINDS RIFT!"
Patriarch Valken, Life Lord
In life, Valken was a human mercenary that was known for his merciless ways. He would go into such bloodlust that he was referred to as "The Lord of Blood", and would attack allies and foes alike, sometimes even injuring himself just to see the crimson liquid. However, in one attack he ended up killing an important figure that he remembered from his past. After committing his "ultimate sin", Valken turned his back on mercenary work and learned to control himself through the teachings of Tumas. As a messenger of Tumas, he was sent to a city under attack from marauders and protected it alongside others. While they perished, he survived and continued to defend, taking a fatal wound to the chest as he killed the last attacker.
As Valken felt himself bleed to death, he smiled and looked at the people crowding around him. "Leave me be... I am an evil man." He said. For his earlier years, he had taken life. Hundreds, if not thousands. But he realized that for as many as he removed, he protected so many more during his later years. On his grave and all the battlegrounds he performed in grew a bizarre herb later named Bloodbloom. It is highly toxic and works as a potent venom if prepared one way, but if treated and cured another way it is just as equally powerful in medicines and herbal remedies for injuries. It has also been reported that if put into a paste, it can help mend wounds much quicker.
"Life is precious. I wish I could teach when it is good to remove life and when it is better to protect."
Matriarch Nyos, Earth Empress.
In life, Nyos was an orc guardian. She was an avid believer in her peoples idea that all is one with the earth. She is told to of been easy on the eyes, even in the opinions of non-orcs, which may be attributed to her followings of the earth mothers that her tribe worshipped. When time came for her to choose what she would do for the many, she chose that her role was to be a protector to her people. When a necromancer from an untold region created a lake of fire to spawn forth legions of the armies of demons, was the first orc to answer the call to protect her people. She told everyone to flee, even the other guards, and that she would sacrifice herself to make sure they lived. The mountain quickly filled with the legions and the holy blade of Nyos the Battle Maiden flew. When she fought the twisted, demonized form of the necromancer the entire mountain shook with their conflict. It then collapsed on itself, killing her and the man who started the battle. Several days later, the rubble that was once a mountain was remolded into a shrine by an unknown group of people. This shrine is still around today, where the "Earthen Maiden" can be asked for help and guidance.
"Yeah. Kayne? About that Crystal grove... I might of broken one or two... or five..."
Matriarch Rain, Water Duke
In life, Rain was a Sair inventor. Rain is attributed with the creation of the Judges; a branch of the military that augments the ideas of law and order in the form of magic alongside powerful melee prowess. Rain is also attributed with the discovery of how much stronger the Sair empire's citizens can become as a result of using the Uniting ritual. Rain was killed in the rebellions that the humans started, ran by one Rand val'Jon. She was among the first to be killed, out of fear that if she investigated more into the research of souls she could find more ways to make each Sair as strong as two, or three or even four.
"Hey, Xan, calm down and hand me some more ingredients. I think I've reached a break through..."
Matriarch Zalkair Dark Overseer
In life, Zalkair could only be described an abomination. A mage attempted to create intelligent life by creating a half-human, half-dragon monster. It was successful, for the most part. Zalkair, as she was named, was phenomenally intelligent. She also boasted impressive hearing and the ability to not just utilize magic, but actually create her own spells. However, it came at a heavy price. The abomination was not natural, and nature reminded her of this by taking her sight. Instead of seeing things in the present, Zalkair could only see in the past and future. She was a travelling prophet, warning nations and towns alike of incoming disasters and how to avoid. However, very few listened. Whenever the aforementioned problem arose, it was placed on Zalkair. Over time, she became known as a Doom Sayer that manipulated events to add up perfectly to remove life. A cult of fanatics murdered the blind half-breed while she travelled. A heavy fog loomed over the cult, before they vanished into the dark mist. Her utility of the Darkness made her the new emblem for what the element of Darkness could be: Instead of a weapon of war or evil, a weapon of possibilities and the unknown.
"Rain, that plan will only result in... Whoops, too late."
Matriarch Talkana, Lightning Khan
In life, Talkana was a dwarf of clan Vetreem. She and some war comrades were scarred because they saw the corruption of their city. Acting as a vigilante force under the alias of "Storm Riders", they quickly struck all those who were assisting in the evil, before uniting their entire city, formed of hundreds of other clans, under one banner and starting a conquering of most of the northern regions of the Nevermore continent. Her military power, including her own strength, was so strong that she managed to best some of the most famous names... including Koraj and Eruras. Shortly before she started her campaigns, she made a vow. "When the lightning from my axe and hammer no longer have enemies, may lightning take me to the sky." A few years after her conquest had succeeded and her people rebuilt, a mighty bolt of lightning struck her down. The weapons of this dwarven maiden are sought after by the brave and the bold still.
"Beware! The Lightning Khan descends today!"
Matriarch Storleye, Light Ruler
In life, Storleye was a snow giant. She was a giant of gentle nature that would aid lost travellers who lost their way in the Arkan Mountains. Though she aided many a lost travellers, she had a very nasty temper when angered. Robbers and bandits, or any other people deemed Vile were quickly removed. For her long life, she aided many and removed many unwanteds. However, a man found this a folly. Disguising himself as a lost wanderer, he killed her in her sleep after getting her to believe he was actually an innocent. The man didn't live long though. Arkans who witnessed his death said it was "As if the light shined so brightly on him that his skin and muscle boiled, his bone melting from the intensity". Those who visit the home of the now-dead giant can hear a gentle voice, softly mentioning how "If people cared and no one would cry, if everyone loved and never lied... This would be a better place."
"Even if the people are bad now, I will continue to believe that there is a ray in the dark, that there is the good soul who grasps at me and you, and realizes that change is possible."
Essence of Poison, Elg'cahl.
I have been alive... for longer than all else. I was created when the first tiniest miniscule forms of this pathetic "Life" you all worship so thoroughly. I do not have to be strong... I just need to weaken you to my state of weakness. I am most likely far more knowledged than any of you in any form of war. So come on... come to my level. I may be weak... but I am strong.
And even the Ice man has no idea just what kind of forces wish to see this world destroyed.
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The Armies.
Reworking of my original list. RPCs not commonly used were removed, and new ones have been added in!
<Any and all pictures found are taken from a variety of DeviantArtists>
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