Name: Mahari Niocalson
Nickname: Mahari
Title: King of the Fae, High Priest to Syri--Queen of all dragons
Species: Faerie
Home World: Antares
Home Land: Airmyrai
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Height: 6'2"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Past
The world of Antares is said to have been created when four great dragons fought in the sky. No one knows for certain what they were fighting about. They just knew from this fight that the world of Antares sprung into being. These four dragons ceased their fighting and marveled at this world they had just created. They were very proud of it and thus each decided to great it with a unique gift. Aelos the dragon of earth gave it mountain, trees and plants. Valeira dragon of air bestowed upon this world was breathable air, wind, and clouds. The streams, rivers and oceans of Antares was granted by Develan---dragon of water. The final of the four---Kelorri dragon of fire gave this world fire and the suns. Once they finished giving this world their unique gifts and it became suitable for life they each created a race of people. Aelos created men. Valeira fairies. Develan created the mermaids, and Kelorri breathed the witches into existence. Other races emerged from these fours over time, but the first four were these ones.
They knew there were value within these creations, but did not know how to rule or guide them. So, they went to the most powerful and wisest of their kind---the king and queen---seeking guidance from them. Isairil and Syri was more than happy to give impart their advice upon these four dragons. They told them that fate should decide what befalls their new creation and they should leave it as such. So, the four dragons put their creations upon the world and returned to the sky. They, however, did not wish to leave their creation completely alone. They decided they should be able to offer them guidance, and decided to create one final gift---the high priests and priestesses. The will of the dragons are given to the people by the high priestess. She speaks to the dragon through the dragonling---the smaller cousin to the great beast that dwells within the heavens. She is the voice of the dragons and as such her words hold more weight than the greatest monarchs.
The priests do not share the priestess' ability to understand the dragon's tongue. Through, they do seem comprehend it better than the common man. Many priests claim they can pick up what seems to be words when the dragonling speak, but those words are foreign to them that they can't quite grasp their meaning while those whom are neither high priest or priestess only hear growls and roars. Yet, the priest do not need to understand the dragons to do their duties. They are the high priestess protector. The dragons knew there are those whom will wish to shiver their creations connection to dragons and it is the priest's duty to ensure this does not happen. As such, he is granted with the more physical attributes of their dragons--their powers and special abilities. It is said that once upon a time the priest could even turn into dragons, but if this was true the ability have long been forgotten or they no longer do it so openly as they were once said to have done.
Many nations rose and fell since the dragons first put their creation upon the world of Antares, but the oldest is said to be Airmyrai--kingdom of the fae. Many say that Airmyrai has existence since the very beginning and that their king Mahari was the first and only fae that Valeira created. The stories say that Mahari upon seeing the families the other races had wished for one of his own decided to sprinkle his blood over the land that would become his kingdom. Various plant life grew from this blood and it is said that the other fae emerged from these plants. These stories are lies, but Mahari will not be the one to reveal this fact. Sometimes what one believes to be true carries more weight than what is actually true. However, for those whom care to know the actual truth, Mahari was born many years after Airmyrai became a kingdom. There were some truth to these stories. He was the first king and the Airmyrai that exist today differ greatly from the one he had been born into. So much so that it would not be wrong to call them different nations.
The Airmyrai Mahari had been born into only ever had queens. Each more cruel and sadistic than the last. They say that the first few queens had been kind and just leaders, but over time the crown fell into the hands those whom cared more about the power that came with being queen than their people, and would do anything to keep that power. The queen that had been ruling when Mahari was born is said to be the worst of them all. She didn't just use her power to ensure that she kept her power, but for her own diverse pleasure. She tortured her people simply because she enjoyed watching them wither in pain, and she had an insatiable sexual appetite. She took many lovers a night to her bed, whether they were willing or not, and many of these lovers were said to not to survive this encounter. She didn't care about this nor did she care what happened to them once she was done using them. She left the disposing of the bodies to someone else, and she did not care how they were gotten rid of as long as they were removed from her sight.
Mahari's father was one of these fae. He like so many whom were given this job were said to be so ugly that just looking at them made the queen sick to her stomach, but instead of killing them for their horrendous looks she decided to make them her agents in the shadows. It was their duty to remove anything or anyone she did not wish to look at anymore. It did not matter if the person she wished to be removed was one of her dead lovers or someone still alive whom had done something to displease her. It was their duty to make them vanish from her sight. One such person she had order to disappear was Mahari's mother. It was not her actions or words that had enraged her to the point that she wished her gone from her sight, but her looks. Mahari's mother was said to be the most beautiful fae to have lived. This enraged the queen for she did not like the idea of there being any more gorgeous than she, and she knew she could not bring her to her torture chamber to destroy her beauty for that would only tell her people that she believed these rumors. So, she ordered her to be removed. She wanted her gone, and while she didn't say how she wished for the task to be done. It was clear that she wanted her to suffer as much as possible while this task was being completed.
His father was the one whom took up this job. He had every intention of granting the queen's unspoken desire, but he would not end up making her suffer or killing her for that matter. It was clear that she was waiting for him and knew why he had come when he came to her home because she greeted him and asked to be granted one last request before he did his duty. He was curious about what this request was agreed, and was taken back when she asked to see his face. She wished to look upon the face of the man whom holds her fate in his hand. There was some part of her that wished to go back on his words and deny her request, but he had little of value that he was not going to allow his words to become worthless. He took off his mask expecting her to respond as everyone did when they look upon his face, but he found no horror or disgust within her eyes.
He found something else. Something he had not seen before, but before he could ask what that look was she told him that she was sorry. He believing her words were meant to be an insult towards his looks started to tell her that he didn't need her pity, but his words were silenced when she told him that she was sorry that he had lived so long without any truly noticing how beautiful he was. It was clear that she was sincere when she uttered those words, and he could not help laughing at them. He told her that she was blind. She responded by telling him that the beauty that matters lays in the soul, and that one day he will see his true beauty reflected within his children eyes. He told her in order to have children a woman would need to have him and none would. He was rendered speechless for several minutes when she told him that she would.
Some part of him believed that this was some cruel joke she was playing on him. An attempt to save her own life. No one as beautiful as she would ever wish to be with someone as hideous as he, but than he realized the thing that made her more beautiful than the queen was not her looks. It seems to him that if one was basing beauty on physical appearance that the queen won that prize. No, what made her more beautiful than the queen was her spirit. She shined with an inner light that made outward beauty stand out more than most people---especially the queen's. It was with this realization he knew that she was sincere when she told him that she would be with him. He decided to complete the queen's request by taking the woman to live with him. He knew this was not what the queen technically had wanted, but taking her to live with him was still within the confines of her order. By doing this, he was removing her from the queen's sight.
Some part of him believed that this was some cruel joke she was playing on him. An attempt to save her own life. No one as beautiful as she would ever wish to be with someone as hideous as he, but than he realized the thing that made her more beautiful than the queen was not her looks. It seems to him that if one was basing beauty on physical appearance that the queen won that prize. No, what made her more beautiful than the queen was her spirit. She shined with an inner light that made outward beauty stand out more than most people---especially the queen's. It was with this realization he knew that she was sincere when she told him that she would be with him. He decided to complete the queen's request by taking the woman to live with him. He knew this was not what the queen technically had wanted, but taking her to live with him was still within the confines of her order. By doing this, he was removing her from the queen's sight.
His home wasn't a place the queen would even consider looking. The only thing he felt bad about was keeping Mahari's mother locked up away from others, but she quickly proved herself content to live in a world with just him. It didn't take long for this world of two to grow into one of three, and eventually they would have five beautiful children together. It wasn't long after the birth of their first child that he realized she had spoken true about seeing his true beauty reflected within his children eyes. There was nothing he loved more than being a father. They were his pride and joy, and his children pick up on this. They loved him. They did not care what he looked like. They only cared that he loved them and provided for them, which he did without hesitation.
They were happy, but he knew this happy little world could shatter at any moment. There were some part of him that feared it. The queen could find out what he had done and take his children away from him. None of them had inherited his looks, but it was not just their looks he feared would attract the queen's attention. His third born---Mahari---had been born with unique talents. It wasn't the fact he seemed greatly in tuned with world around them. More so than any of his siblings or his parents. Mahari seemed to understand its ebb and flow better than even the queen herself. But, no it wasn't that. It was the fact he seemed to hold abilities that only one of the high priestess had, but such a thing couldn't be possible. He was a male. Yet, the evidence was right before them. He could speak the dragon's tongue. His parents decided to do everything in their power to figure out what this meant, and to help Mahari to understand the abilities that came with it.
His father went out and tried to find the answers outside his happy little world, and it was through this investigation that lead the queen to knock down their happy little world. It wasn't the fact that Mahari's father had not killed his mother in the manner she had wanted. She never gave the order for her to be killed--only removed, and he had done just that. It was the fact she heard rumors that one of his children might be a high priestess and he made no attempt to bring her to the castle where the other high priestess was staying to be trained. This was consider a grave crime, and one that could bring their kingdom to ruins if the dragons believed the queen had any part to play in this decision. So, she went to his home and demanded he had over his daughter that was a high priestess. Since, none of his daughter was a high priestess he could not do as she ordered.
They were happy, but he knew this happy little world could shatter at any moment. There were some part of him that feared it. The queen could find out what he had done and take his children away from him. None of them had inherited his looks, but it was not just their looks he feared would attract the queen's attention. His third born---Mahari---had been born with unique talents. It wasn't the fact he seemed greatly in tuned with world around them. More so than any of his siblings or his parents. Mahari seemed to understand its ebb and flow better than even the queen herself. But, no it wasn't that. It was the fact he seemed to hold abilities that only one of the high priestess had, but such a thing couldn't be possible. He was a male. Yet, the evidence was right before them. He could speak the dragon's tongue. His parents decided to do everything in their power to figure out what this meant, and to help Mahari to understand the abilities that came with it.
His father went out and tried to find the answers outside his happy little world, and it was through this investigation that lead the queen to knock down their happy little world. It wasn't the fact that Mahari's father had not killed his mother in the manner she had wanted. She never gave the order for her to be killed--only removed, and he had done just that. It was the fact she heard rumors that one of his children might be a high priestess and he made no attempt to bring her to the castle where the other high priestess was staying to be trained. This was consider a grave crime, and one that could bring their kingdom to ruins if the dragons believed the queen had any part to play in this decision. So, she went to his home and demanded he had over his daughter that was a high priestess. Since, none of his daughter was a high priestess he could not do as she ordered.
This did not go over well with the queen. She believed he was keeping a high priestess from the people, and once again demanded he handed her over. Just like before he refused. She was outraged, and decided to take a more drastic measure to get what she wanted. She told him that if he did not reveal which of his daughter was the high priestess that she would just have to kill his children until the one she sought was revealed. She believed that the high priestess would be found before even one of his children died. The queen could see how much Mahari's father loved his children and believed he would not stand idly by and watch them murder before his eyes. And if she was mistaken about his devotion to his children one of the dragonlings--especially the one had hatched at the same time the high priestess was born---would leap to her defense. She grabbed one of his female children and moved to kill her.
She proved to know Mahari's father well. He would not stand idly by and watch his children be murder, but he did not react in the manner she had hoped. Instead, of revealing the one she sought he moved to destroy the one whom sought to kill her. He might have succeeded in this task if it wasn't for the fact she never go anywhere without her guards and he was quickly cut down. Her rage grew even more. She demanded they all be killed. Every last one of them. Mahari's mother step forward. She was filled with grief over just witnessing her one true love be killed before her, but she knew that she had to defend her children. It was not because she knew that what he would have wanted. She loved each of them as much as he did. She told her children to run, and told the queen that even through she will die today that she will manage to hold her off long enough for her children to get away. The queen was amused by this. She did not think such a thing was possible since her husband was cut down so quickly and easily.
However, Mahari stepped forward before the truth behind his mother's words was revealed. He did not wish to lose another parent this day nor did he wish for his siblings world come shattering down around them more than it already did. They did not know the world outside the walls they had lived within their entire lives. He knew that someday they might go seeking what might lay out there, but he wished for such a moment to come at the moment of their choosing not before. He told the queen he was what she sought. She laughed at him, calling him a liar. He was a male. He was not a high priestess. He told her that she was right. He was male and he wasn't a high priestess, but this did not change the fact he was the one that she sought. It was not his fault that when his father went out seeking answers to help him understand his abilities that those whom caught wind of it assumed it was for his daughter. He admitted it was an understandable assumption. One that anyone would have made because after all a male with a high priestess ability was unheard of.
It was within that moment she noticed a small black dragonling curled around his shoulders. The queen noticed no other dragonlings of that coloring within the vicinity, and something inside of her told her that this was proof that he spoke the truth---he was the one she sought. She ordered him to come with her. She did not know what a male high priestess meant---especially one connected to Syri in the manner he seemed to be, but she believed gaining possession of him would only be a good thing. She thought of all the things she could achieve. She could take over the world, or at the very least rule over hers with a firmer fist. More than that she would not have to worry about his high priestess stopping her from using Mahari in whatever manner she wished. As far as she knew Mahari's high priestess had not been found, and unless she let the news outside her lands there was no way she will hear of news of him being here and come for him.
She told him that if he agreed to come with her without a fight that she would leave the rest of her family alone. They would be allowed to stay within their home and she will pretend they don't exist. He agreed, and went with her. However, the Queen was not a woman of her word. She might have spoken true when she made this promise, but somewhere down the line she changed her mind. She decided to remove them from their happy homes and lock them away in the highest tower within her kingdom where they were treated very poorly. Many years had passed until Mahari's high priestess found her way into the fae kingdom. She--in spite the queen's best efforts--had heard rumors that her high priest was here, and came to see if they were true. The queen might have tried to deny these rumors if it wasn't for the fact that Mahari stepped foreword and revealed he was the one being sought.
It was clear that the queen was not pleased with this, but there wasn't much that she could do about it. If she tried to keep a high priest and high priestess separated she would be punished and if the high priestess learned how she had been treating Mahari--more like a personal plaything than someone of the most revered position within the world--she would be killed without a second thought. So, she told the high priestess that she did not know where she was at or even where to begin searching for her, but figured that the high priestess would look for her high priest and that her search would bring her here. She took care of him to the best of her ability. Protected him to the best of her ability. All while waiting for the high priestess to come.
The high priestess gave no clue if she believed the queen or suspected the truth. It might be possible that she decided to ignore it because Mahari was concerned with something else. It did not take him long to reveal to his high priestess what this concern was. Syri had been speaking to him for some time. They needed to deal with a great evil that was threatening their world, but this was a task they could not do alone. They needed the other high priestesses and their high priests. Most of all he needed his own, and he was more than a little overjoyed to find his and she was just as pleased to find him. She thanked the queen for her hospitality and left Airmyrai with Mahari and the high priest and high priestess of Valeira in tow
She proved to know Mahari's father well. He would not stand idly by and watch his children be murder, but he did not react in the manner she had hoped. Instead, of revealing the one she sought he moved to destroy the one whom sought to kill her. He might have succeeded in this task if it wasn't for the fact she never go anywhere without her guards and he was quickly cut down. Her rage grew even more. She demanded they all be killed. Every last one of them. Mahari's mother step forward. She was filled with grief over just witnessing her one true love be killed before her, but she knew that she had to defend her children. It was not because she knew that what he would have wanted. She loved each of them as much as he did. She told her children to run, and told the queen that even through she will die today that she will manage to hold her off long enough for her children to get away. The queen was amused by this. She did not think such a thing was possible since her husband was cut down so quickly and easily.
However, Mahari stepped forward before the truth behind his mother's words was revealed. He did not wish to lose another parent this day nor did he wish for his siblings world come shattering down around them more than it already did. They did not know the world outside the walls they had lived within their entire lives. He knew that someday they might go seeking what might lay out there, but he wished for such a moment to come at the moment of their choosing not before. He told the queen he was what she sought. She laughed at him, calling him a liar. He was a male. He was not a high priestess. He told her that she was right. He was male and he wasn't a high priestess, but this did not change the fact he was the one that she sought. It was not his fault that when his father went out seeking answers to help him understand his abilities that those whom caught wind of it assumed it was for his daughter. He admitted it was an understandable assumption. One that anyone would have made because after all a male with a high priestess ability was unheard of.
It was within that moment she noticed a small black dragonling curled around his shoulders. The queen noticed no other dragonlings of that coloring within the vicinity, and something inside of her told her that this was proof that he spoke the truth---he was the one she sought. She ordered him to come with her. She did not know what a male high priestess meant---especially one connected to Syri in the manner he seemed to be, but she believed gaining possession of him would only be a good thing. She thought of all the things she could achieve. She could take over the world, or at the very least rule over hers with a firmer fist. More than that she would not have to worry about his high priestess stopping her from using Mahari in whatever manner she wished. As far as she knew Mahari's high priestess had not been found, and unless she let the news outside her lands there was no way she will hear of news of him being here and come for him.
She told him that if he agreed to come with her without a fight that she would leave the rest of her family alone. They would be allowed to stay within their home and she will pretend they don't exist. He agreed, and went with her. However, the Queen was not a woman of her word. She might have spoken true when she made this promise, but somewhere down the line she changed her mind. She decided to remove them from their happy homes and lock them away in the highest tower within her kingdom where they were treated very poorly. Many years had passed until Mahari's high priestess found her way into the fae kingdom. She--in spite the queen's best efforts--had heard rumors that her high priest was here, and came to see if they were true. The queen might have tried to deny these rumors if it wasn't for the fact that Mahari stepped foreword and revealed he was the one being sought.
It was clear that the queen was not pleased with this, but there wasn't much that she could do about it. If she tried to keep a high priest and high priestess separated she would be punished and if the high priestess learned how she had been treating Mahari--more like a personal plaything than someone of the most revered position within the world--she would be killed without a second thought. So, she told the high priestess that she did not know where she was at or even where to begin searching for her, but figured that the high priestess would look for her high priest and that her search would bring her here. She took care of him to the best of her ability. Protected him to the best of her ability. All while waiting for the high priestess to come.
The high priestess gave no clue if she believed the queen or suspected the truth. It might be possible that she decided to ignore it because Mahari was concerned with something else. It did not take him long to reveal to his high priestess what this concern was. Syri had been speaking to him for some time. They needed to deal with a great evil that was threatening their world, but this was a task they could not do alone. They needed the other high priestesses and their high priests. Most of all he needed his own, and he was more than a little overjoyed to find his and she was just as pleased to find him. She thanked the queen for her hospitality and left Airmyrai with Mahari and the high priest and high priestess of Valeira in tow
It didn't take them long to find the others. They gathered together to made a plan to stop a great evil that was threatening their world. This threat was beings called the wraith. They hated life. No, they despised mere existence itself. They wished for the universe and everything that came from it to return from the great nothing it had sprung from. This was not something that the great dragon wished to see done. They loved their creations---including Antares. They, also, knew that if the wraith succeeded in their goal that even they would cease to be. They had to be stopped. The great dragons revealed to their priestess or in Mahari's case priest that the wraith had managed to gain entrance into this realm from the one the dragons had sealed them within eons ago by building gateways into Antares. It was more like tunnels, and they needed to seal those tunnels off before they break completely through.
There were six gateways. It was unclear if the wraith only opened this many on purpose or if that was only the number they could managed to open. It was possible they were other gateways being built. They decided that a set of high priest and priestess would travel to a gate and shut it down. They believed that closing all six gates at the same time will keep the wraith from focusing all their energy to open a gate. They were certain if they all traveled to the same gate that the wraith would and figure out their intention, and than would focus all their energy into opening one gate in the hopes that it would not be the gate they would turn their attention towards next. And if even one gate is open it would spell disaster for their world. However, if they were to attack all six gates at once the wraith would to be forced to spread their energy in an attempt to keep them from succeeding and trying to open the gates.
It didn't take them long to decide which gate each set of high priest and high priestess was going to move towards once the decision to close all six at once were made. Mahari and his high priestess moved to close the gate within Ninazi mountains. The journey was a challenging one filled with many dangers and the entire time Mahari attempt to learn more about his high priestess. She was more open and affectionate with him than the others that had came along with them. The high priest and priestess were not the only one to travel to their gates. The various kingdoms of the world sent people to help in this quest. However, no matter how affectionate she was with him she revealed nothing about where she had came from.
Some claimed that she was one of the dragonkin. The dragonkin are said to be the descendent of the children that dragons had with the races that the great dragons had created. Other believed she was a dragon herself. Perhaps even one of the great ones taking human form. She never confirmed nor deny these rumors, and any attempt to figure out about where she had come from was met with her telling them it did not matter. Where she had came from didn't have any impact upon her doing her duty. They finally reached their destination, and quickly realize that shutting down the gate was not going to be as easy as they thought. This did not surprise Mahari, but this did not make the news a welcomed one.
The wraith was prepared for them, and each of them would be lying if they didn't wonder if the others had come face to face with a similar situation when they came upon their gate. Mahari knew such thoughts crossed his mind. However, they had no time to dwell upon these thoughts. They had to focus on closing their gate. It did not matter how strong the wraith forces were upon the gate their goal had not changed. They moved to do that and somehow managed to do exactly what they had came to do. They shut the gate. It was not done without sacrifices. Many of those whom had traveled to the gate would not make the return journey home--including Mahari's high priestess.
Most were killed. Some--like his high priestess---was pulled into place where the great dragons had sealed the wraith for eons beyond counting. She allowed herself to be sucked in to save Mahari. It was clear they were targeting him, and she knocked him aside. The last words she said to him before she found herself pulled into wraith's realm was run. There was some part of him that wished to grab onto her and try to keep her from being pulled into that place---where he was certain nightmares beyond his wildest imagination was waiting for her. Yet, he knew he would only succeed in getting himself dragged in there with her and he knew that was not what she wanted. She wanted to save him from such a fate. It was her duty to give her life---her soul if she needed---to save his. If the wraith got a hold of him or one of the great dragon's other high priestess they could turn them into the greatest weapon against all of creation.
Still, this did not mean he accepted the fact she was suffering in any way or being turned into one of the wraith. He knew there was nothing he could do about it, but he vowed to never be so weak that he could only stand idly by and watch those he cared about be killed or condemned to a fate much worse than death. He returned home, and learned that the other groups met similar resistance from the wraith and just like his group they managed to seal the gates after great sacrifices. He made true to his promise. The first thing he did was turn his attention towards his queen. He knew what she was doing to his people. How she was treating them and how they were suffering by her hands. He would not be holding true to his promise if he allowed her reign of terror to continue.
Some claimed that she was one of the dragonkin. The dragonkin are said to be the descendent of the children that dragons had with the races that the great dragons had created. Other believed she was a dragon herself. Perhaps even one of the great ones taking human form. She never confirmed nor deny these rumors, and any attempt to figure out about where she had come from was met with her telling them it did not matter. Where she had came from didn't have any impact upon her doing her duty. They finally reached their destination, and quickly realize that shutting down the gate was not going to be as easy as they thought. This did not surprise Mahari, but this did not make the news a welcomed one.
The wraith was prepared for them, and each of them would be lying if they didn't wonder if the others had come face to face with a similar situation when they came upon their gate. Mahari knew such thoughts crossed his mind. However, they had no time to dwell upon these thoughts. They had to focus on closing their gate. It did not matter how strong the wraith forces were upon the gate their goal had not changed. They moved to do that and somehow managed to do exactly what they had came to do. They shut the gate. It was not done without sacrifices. Many of those whom had traveled to the gate would not make the return journey home--including Mahari's high priestess.
Most were killed. Some--like his high priestess---was pulled into place where the great dragons had sealed the wraith for eons beyond counting. She allowed herself to be sucked in to save Mahari. It was clear they were targeting him, and she knocked him aside. The last words she said to him before she found herself pulled into wraith's realm was run. There was some part of him that wished to grab onto her and try to keep her from being pulled into that place---where he was certain nightmares beyond his wildest imagination was waiting for her. Yet, he knew he would only succeed in getting himself dragged in there with her and he knew that was not what she wanted. She wanted to save him from such a fate. It was her duty to give her life---her soul if she needed---to save his. If the wraith got a hold of him or one of the great dragon's other high priestess they could turn them into the greatest weapon against all of creation.
Still, this did not mean he accepted the fact she was suffering in any way or being turned into one of the wraith. He knew there was nothing he could do about it, but he vowed to never be so weak that he could only stand idly by and watch those he cared about be killed or condemned to a fate much worse than death. He returned home, and learned that the other groups met similar resistance from the wraith and just like his group they managed to seal the gates after great sacrifices. He made true to his promise. The first thing he did was turn his attention towards his queen. He knew what she was doing to his people. How she was treating them and how they were suffering by her hands. He would not be holding true to his promise if he allowed her reign of terror to continue.
Yet, he was uncertain how he would go about ending her reign. He knew removing her would not be a easy task. While there were many whom would rejoice over this being done there were those so loyal to her that they would give their lives to stop such a thing from happening,. He knew he had to remove her before those loyal to her noticed and that doing this would not be easy. He spent several years training and honing his skills. More than that he spent those time watching those loyal to the queen. He looked for their weakness. He paid attention to their schedule. Learning when they were with her and when they left her alone. However, before he could finish coming up with his perfect plan on how to remove her he learned what she had done to his family.
Outraged by what he had just learned, Mahari acted without thinking. He summoned the forest and annihilated her. There was nothing she or those loyal to her could have done. She was dead before any realize his intent. He stood before her dead body for many long moments before he heard the crowd chanting his name---even those whom had once been loyal to her joined in the chorus. Through, he knew that for many of those loyal to her they were only doing so because they were trying to save their own skin. He turned towards them, telling them that they needed to find their next queen. It didn't occur to him to take the throne for himself. The Fae had only had queens. The idea of a fae king was a foreign concept to him, but his people made it clear that they wished for a king to sit upon the throne and that he was the one they wished to be their king.
Outraged by what he had just learned, Mahari acted without thinking. He summoned the forest and annihilated her. There was nothing she or those loyal to her could have done. She was dead before any realize his intent. He stood before her dead body for many long moments before he heard the crowd chanting his name---even those whom had once been loyal to her joined in the chorus. Through, he knew that for many of those loyal to her they were only doing so because they were trying to save their own skin. He turned towards them, telling them that they needed to find their next queen. It didn't occur to him to take the throne for himself. The Fae had only had queens. The idea of a fae king was a foreign concept to him, but his people made it clear that they wished for a king to sit upon the throne and that he was the one they wished to be their king.
He was the logical choice. Many believed the only choice. The forest responded to him in ways that it had not to a queen for many years, and they would be a fool to ignore the forest decision. It was this logic that convinced him to become their king. Besides, he knew one of two things would happen if he did not become their king. The first being no one takes the throne and utter anarchy descends over the land and the second is that the person whom actually decides to take the throne will be a worse queen than the one he just killed. He took the throne and the first thing he did was made those whom truly gotten diverse pleasure out of torturing others with or for the queen punished. The next thing he did was free those whom the queen kept locked away as her personal play things including his mother and siblings, but many of them were so broken by what the queen had done that integrating them into society at that very moment would be impossible.
They needed to be healed first and he vowed to do just that. He did not know the first step to doing such a thing. So, he sought answers anywhere he could and slowly one by one he begun to fix those the queen had broken, but it became clear that not all whom the queen had broken could be fix. There were several whom would never be well enough to enter society again. He knew the best thing he could do for them was set them up some place where they are taken care of and where he can ensure they are never abused in the manner the queen had hurt them again, and maybe just maybe he will find a way to heal them in the same manner he had done with the other whom the queen had kept locked away as her personal play things.
He ruled over his people for many years--healing what the queen and the ones that had came before her had broken--before he turned his eyes outward towards the world outside his kingdom. He begun to form relationships with these different nations, and regardless of what how a nation viewed his own nation he made many friends and just as many enemies within this nation. He loved learning about people and their society. He went off exploring the world--even through a number of his people believed he should not leave Airmyrai, but he had no desire to be caged in any manner. More than that he wanted to show his people that they had nothing to fear from him leaving the forest. That their home will continue to thrive without his presence being obvious around them. It was during this time that he had become a legend within his own right. Eventually people begun to believe that he was the very embodiment of Airymyrai itself. That he was the very first fae in existence.
They forget that countless others had came before him and he made no attempt to correct this assumption. He watched countless nations rise and fall---including the great city-state of Valikov. He had paid special attention to Valikov because it had been built around the gate he had seal so long ago. Some part of him feared that building a society so close to it would somehow activate the gate and restart what the wraith was trying to do ages ago. This fear did not come to pass. The gate did not reopen while the great city-state of Valikov shined in its glory. It was many years after its fall that this gate begun to stir. By the time this happened Valikov was more of a legend than historical fact. It did not matter how many years have passed since the last time he helped closed the gate. He knew he had to do it again.
It was his gate. He was responsible for ensuring that it did not open completely. The fact that it was reopening now only meant he had failed to completely sealed it off all those ages ago, and he needed to fix that mistake. However, he knew he could not do this alone. He knew the other great dragons would inform their high priestess of what was about to happen and these high priestess would summon a meeting to discuss what needed to be done. He waited for word of where this meeting was going to take place and went there. The meeting was finally hold within the human nation of Lyvanna. The humans of Lyvanna aren't typically very fond of the fae and some of those whom had invited themselves to the meeting weren't too happy with the fact that Mahari had invited himself.
He silenced their attempt to tell him that this did not concern him by telling them that this was a Antareian problem not just a Lyvanni one. During this meeting the high priestess of Aelos decided that she would travel to Valikov and shut the gate. This understandably did not make her high priest happy. Aelos' high priestess was just a child of six. She had been thrown into the position before her time because her predecessor had been a vain woman whom could not accept her reign as high priestess was coming to an end. Still, her high priest consented to her request and they went to Valikov and Mahari went with them. He did not tell them that he was connected to a dragon. They did not need to know this. It had no impact upon what they needed to do.
Just like the first time the journey was filled with countless challenges, and when they finally reached Valikov they met the vampire queen, whom had once been a high priestess and had been responsible for the downfall of Valikov. She was going to keep them there----doom them to become a vampire like her, but changed her mind upon meeting Aelos' high priestess. The child priestess reminded her of her own daughter whom she had doomed the people of Valikov in order to save. She allowed them to pass, and asked them to find her daughter whom had been sealed away within underground tunnels they will have to travel to get to the gate and bring her with them when they return to their homeland. She, also, warned them that one among them was actually an agent of the wraith.
It didn't take them long to find the child whom the vampire queen had asked them to save, and Mahari immediately knew whom she was. She was not the vampire queen's daughter. She was his high priestess. He did not know why she was a child or how she managed to escape from the wraith's realm. It was possible that her escape and the wraith attempt to reopen what Mahari had worked to seal those countless ages ago were connected. He just knew that he was overjoyed to see her. He had forgotten how much he missed her and planned on bringing her to Airmyrai to stay with him. He knew she had endure countless horrors within the wraith's domain and wished to help her heal in any way possible. He quickly changed his plan when he noticed how attached she seemed to be with Aelos' high priest.
It was within that moment he decided to allow her to go to Lyvanna to stay with the one whom she seemed to trust so completely. Some part of him was hurt that it was not him she had turned to in that manner, but he wanting the best for her pushed those feelings aside. Still, this did not mean he would not keep an eye upon her and be there for her in any way possible. They finally reached the gate and it was here the traitor within their mist was revealed, but she had fallen in love with Aelos' high priest and because of this love she sacrificed herself to shut the gate. They returned home, hearts heavy with what this journey had cost them. They had lost friends during this quest, but accepted that price because they had just saved their world. Some believed they had successfully stopped the wraith forever. Mahari knew that wasn't the case. He didn't know how long it would be before they reemerged within their realm, but he knew they would. So, he kept a watchful eye out for any sign of them reattempting to invade Antares.
He silenced their attempt to tell him that this did not concern him by telling them that this was a Antareian problem not just a Lyvanni one. During this meeting the high priestess of Aelos decided that she would travel to Valikov and shut the gate. This understandably did not make her high priest happy. Aelos' high priestess was just a child of six. She had been thrown into the position before her time because her predecessor had been a vain woman whom could not accept her reign as high priestess was coming to an end. Still, her high priest consented to her request and they went to Valikov and Mahari went with them. He did not tell them that he was connected to a dragon. They did not need to know this. It had no impact upon what they needed to do.
Just like the first time the journey was filled with countless challenges, and when they finally reached Valikov they met the vampire queen, whom had once been a high priestess and had been responsible for the downfall of Valikov. She was going to keep them there----doom them to become a vampire like her, but changed her mind upon meeting Aelos' high priestess. The child priestess reminded her of her own daughter whom she had doomed the people of Valikov in order to save. She allowed them to pass, and asked them to find her daughter whom had been sealed away within underground tunnels they will have to travel to get to the gate and bring her with them when they return to their homeland. She, also, warned them that one among them was actually an agent of the wraith.
It didn't take them long to find the child whom the vampire queen had asked them to save, and Mahari immediately knew whom she was. She was not the vampire queen's daughter. She was his high priestess. He did not know why she was a child or how she managed to escape from the wraith's realm. It was possible that her escape and the wraith attempt to reopen what Mahari had worked to seal those countless ages ago were connected. He just knew that he was overjoyed to see her. He had forgotten how much he missed her and planned on bringing her to Airmyrai to stay with him. He knew she had endure countless horrors within the wraith's domain and wished to help her heal in any way possible. He quickly changed his plan when he noticed how attached she seemed to be with Aelos' high priest.
It was within that moment he decided to allow her to go to Lyvanna to stay with the one whom she seemed to trust so completely. Some part of him was hurt that it was not him she had turned to in that manner, but he wanting the best for her pushed those feelings aside. Still, this did not mean he would not keep an eye upon her and be there for her in any way possible. They finally reached the gate and it was here the traitor within their mist was revealed, but she had fallen in love with Aelos' high priest and because of this love she sacrificed herself to shut the gate. They returned home, hearts heavy with what this journey had cost them. They had lost friends during this quest, but accepted that price because they had just saved their world. Some believed they had successfully stopped the wraith forever. Mahari knew that wasn't the case. He didn't know how long it would be before they reemerged within their realm, but he knew they would. So, he kept a watchful eye out for any sign of them reattempting to invade Antares.
Present
Ten years has passed since they had returned home from their journey to Valikov. Mahari kept a watchful eye over his high priestess---waiting for the moment for her to remember whom she was. He never hinted at the truth towards her because he believed that some things people needed to figure out for themselves and finally the day he had been waiting for arrived. She came to him seeking answers about the nightmares that had been invading her dreams for as long as she can remember. She believing since he was the oldest being she knew would have the answers, and it was during this confrontation that the truth of what she was and her connection to him was revealed. She was a high priestess of Syri and he was her high priest. The roles of Syri's high priest and high priestess are reversed from the other great dragons. A fact she had found confusing at first, but he believed he had helped her understand.
He told her to return to Lyvanna and train with the high priest there. Mahari knew a great deal about high priest and high priestess. He gathered this knowledge and many other over the course of his existence. He could train her himself if he wanted, but he knew that the best teacher for her was another whom hold the same position as her. He, also, wished to give her time to come to term with what he had just told her. It was a lot to take in. Not only that he was certain their encounter opened a floodgate of countless other questions and she might need to make the journey to Valikov to find them. Some part of him wished to go with her while she goes onto this journey, but he would not invite himself to this journey. He would wait for her to ask him to come with her. He will not take offense if that moment never comes, because he knows that someday he will be the person she will hold tightest in her heart. It will just take her time to realize that and he is willing to wait however long it takes.
Besides, he would not be sitting idly waiting for her to come seeking him out again. The wraith had returned. Some part of him had hoped they would have more time before making an other attempt on their world, but he would not cling so tightly to that hope that he ignored the truth before him. Evidence of the wraith's attempt can be found in a disease that has spread all over Antares. Most don't know that this disease is connected to the wraith, but this lack of knowledge does not stop them from fearing it. Most are killed by it, but there seem to be a few whom seem to be immune to it or manage to get better after conducting it. Many fear those whom seem to get better after conducting it--believing they are carriers of the diseases. There is no proof of this being true, but this doesn't stop people from believing it.
Mahari finds himself curious on why some seem immune to the disease or don't succumb to it if it does touch them. Are the answers on how to defeat the wraith forever inside them, or have not simply fallen to the disease because the wraith have not perfected it? Whatever the truth, he will not stand idly by and watch the wraith destroy what he loves. He will find answers to how to destroy the wraith forever, or at the very least stop them from succeeding in this attempt. However, the most alarming thing about this attempt is not how soon it had come after the other, but he had recieved word that they are making their appearances upon other worlds. He does not know what this mean, but something tells him that this isn't a good thing.
Mahari finds himself curious on why some seem immune to the disease or don't succumb to it if it does touch them. Are the answers on how to defeat the wraith forever inside them, or have not simply fallen to the disease because the wraith have not perfected it? Whatever the truth, he will not stand idly by and watch the wraith destroy what he loves. He will find answers to how to destroy the wraith forever, or at the very least stop them from succeeding in this attempt. However, the most alarming thing about this attempt is not how soon it had come after the other, but he had recieved word that they are making their appearances upon other worlds. He does not know what this mean, but something tells him that this isn't a good thing.
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