Vortiger, the Ever-Changing World

  • Size: Large
  • Population: Large
  • Era: Middle Ages Egyptian
  • Seasons: Fluctuates between extreme heat and extreme cold daily.
  • Familiarity: Earth-like
  • Language: Vortigeran(rough, regal, rich)
  • Monikers: The Ever-Changing World, the World of Dragons
  • Races: Vortigeran (people are well-built, dark-skinned, usually dark or very light hair), Typhoenecians, Arozian.

During summer, the plains are a hot wasteland. The next day, they will be a frozen tundra. Formerly ruled by a council of 12, the tyrant Brozogoth now rules. Sometime in the last century, dragons settled into this alien land and eventually took over. Dragonriders were commonplace until Brozogoth ordered their executions. Travelers don’t stay for long outside the Capital, and Defenders aren’t uncommon, seeking rich minerals from the desert and the high bounties. Women hold positions in the army and are respected.

Prominent Locations:

  • Chiberi – war city, known for raising massive armies in Vortiger.
  • Gahad – Known as the City of Blood. A mercenary group, the Gahad Blood, works from here. Dusty and heat-wrecked.
  • Lamont’s Home – A protected abode in the middle of the desert/tundra between Gahad, Morghan, and Vortiger. Sandstone walls protect it from the extremes. Stocked with enough supplies for several travelers. Large private stables in the back.
  • Libola – Ravaged by a plague sometime after Ryoku’s first visit.
  • Loghain – A city destroyed by the plague when Lamont was young.
  • Morghan – A poorer city than the Capital, but home to a large chunk of their military.
  • Vortiger Capital – The capital of this world. Ruled by a council in the past, now Brozogoth. People are rigid in their customs and honor to the death. The city is protected by a giant glass dome to sustain a permanently warm season between the two extremes. Prosperous, more so than Gahad or Morghan.

Terminology:

  • The Gahad Blood: Unsavory group of mercenaries/rebels permitted by Brozogoth. Heartless deeds are performed in the name of rebellion. They generally wear hoods and hide their identities in public.
  • Dragonrider: A human bonded with a dragon. Riders tend to live longer than normal humans, and dragons, in turn, live less.
  • Nuvier: The Old Vortigeran word for mage – does not automatically translate for Defenders.

Prominent Characters:

  • Lamont Declovin: Called the last Rider, a coward. Used to preside on the council. So o Raimundo.
  • Brozogoth: The Dragon emperor of Vortiger. A known tyrant. Forced from the council when his rider died and succumbed to madness. Mind and earth dragon, brass in color.
  • Rassaq Elias: Brozogoth’s old rider. Once led the council, died at a young age trying to control a plague.
  • Leiogrey: Lamont’s dragon, ice and kinetic dragon but can uniquely also breathe flames. Silver in color.
  • Malak: Peter’s dragon. Fire elemental. Has a temper. Red, spiny dragon.
  • Rhovh: Jordan’s dragon, ice elemental. Calm and gentle. Blue, smooth dragon.
  • Peter Declovin: Lamont’s son, Malak’s previous rider. Rambunctious and wild.
  • Jordan Declovin: Lamont’s son, Rhovh’s previous rider. A gentle soul, the younger sibling.
  • Deltorah: Raimundo’s dragon. Pure fire elemental and very powerful. Red and black spiny dragon.
  • Raimundo Declovin: Lamont’s father, Deltorah’s rider. Fell in battle to Brozogoth.
  • Lamont’s wife: Unnamed, died giving birth to Jordan.
  • Aidrid: Lamont’s rival on the council. A rash, conservative man.
  • Valerian Vidal: Council spymaster, a man seeking adventure.