Just after the merge I was supposed to talk about Kahrun, as tribute to his memory, and to remember the server we came from. But in the end no one was interested, so I write it down here, in case someone in “The Internet” is interested 🙂
Storytelling 14.10.2017 by Urud
Kahrun
(from “The Legend of Eltnen – Kahrun’s Playground”)
In the beginning, there was chaos throughout the cosmos. To create order in the world, Aion sent Siel, the Guardian of Time, and Israphel, the Guardian of Space. To serve under them he sent the Protectors of Light, Darkness, Life, Death, Justice, Wisdom, Destiny, Freedom, Illusion, and Destruction.
Together they were called the Empyrean Lords, and they existed to spread the will of Aion.
(we are talking about the Millennium War, a period lasting from 1000 Before Cataclysm to 1 BC, during which the Empyrean Lords, Daevas, and Humans went to war against the Dragon Lords, Balaur, and Sapiens, in order to stop the Balaur attempt to dominate the entire globe.)
The Lords soon formed alliances and enimities with one another.
Two Empyrean Lords were especially close to each other, but their names cannot be revealed, as this is a story that was never to be told.
No one knows what made them break the taboo.
(the taboo we’re talking about, it’s the law according to which, every “love affair” among Empyrean Lords was forbidden. Someone speculates, that this prohibition was made-up by Israphel himself, who was allowed to talk on behalf of Aion, after that his love for Siel was rejected. But no one can say it for sure. So it’s commonly accepted that Aion set this rule, although no one knows exactly why.)
These two Empyrean Lords met somewhere in Atreia, evading the eyes of the other Empyrean Lords as well as those of Humans.
It is said that they met in a deep forest where even hunters have never set foot, in the sky where no Daeva could reach, or in a far ocean where even Seirens dare not go.
But it doesn’t matter where they met. It is more important what they did.
The two Empyrean Lords loved each other. They met as frequently as possible, while evading the suspicions of others.
When their love produced a child, they were overwhelmed by both joy and fear.
As Empyrean Lords, they could not pretend to be ignorant of the will of Aion.
Nevertheless, their child was a true blessing. He let them know true happiness. They named him Kahrun.
Although they were unable to care for Kahrun directly, the two Empyrean Lords wanted to do something for him as any parent would.
Thus, they built a playground for Kahrun–the biggest and most wonderful playground in all worlds.
They chose a suitable place, far from any other creature, and cast magic spells upon it to prevent any intrusion. No other being could enter the playground, and it became all but invisible.
(this playground is the Eracus Temple Cavern, in the north-western corner of Eltnen. As said, there’s an ethereal barrier that prevents people from entering. Elyos must complete a quest first, in order to unlock the access. Anyway, it’s quite a nice place, a bit similar to the Sky Temple of Arkanis, if you never visited it).
The two Empyrean Lords, mother and father to Kahrun, placed all kinds of creatures in the playground, from tiny grasses to huge monsters.
They wanted Kahrun to experience all aspects of the world, but because his very existence was taboo, he would never be allowed to walk free, so long as he lived. They had to hide him at all costs.
At first, Kahrun thrived inside the huge playground. To him it seemed to be the entire world.
The two Empyrean Lords were so busy looking after important affairs in Atreia that they could not visit him frequently. They felt guilty, and gave Kahrun more and more things to overcome their increasing sense of shame.
They also feared they would not be able to constrain their son forever.
However, the most miserable one was Kahrun. Left alone in the huge playground, he grew up without anyone to nurture him. He became more and more violent.
When he realized the power he had, he began to destroy the playground that his parents had built. He found it delightful to take the lives of the creatures imprisoned with him.
The suffering of his ‘toys’ meant nothing to him.
Seeing the change in their child, the two Empyrean Lords became filled with regret and anguish. They decided to beg Aion’s pardon and implore him to recognize their child, so that he could be freed.
Did they decide too late? Or was Aion’s rage too immense?
No matter which is true, a catastrophe befell Atreia, and Kahrun’s playground became the first victim.
Hearing a great thunder, the two Empyrean Lords rushed to the playground, only to discover a horrifying sight. The playground was completely destroyed, leaving no trace of life. And Kahrun…was not to be found anywhere.
Overwhelmed by grief, Kahrun’s mother screamed in distress. The heartbreaking sound resonated across the land, drawing forth a black rain of grief from the clouds. The two Empyrean Lords turned their backs upon the destroyed playground, and left.
The pain of their grief separated them forever.
Thus ends the story of two Empyrean Lords who loved and who gave birth to a child.
A story at once terrifying and sorrowful.
No one knows what happened after that.
But… still, somewhere in Atreia, are the ruins of the huge playground where their child used to play.
(this is where the book ends, but in truth, the story doesn’t end here…)
But before we continue with the story of Kahrun, who were his parents…?
Triniel, known as the Lady of Death, “protector” of the Assassins, was his mother, while the father was Nezekan, the Lord of Justice, patron of the Templars.
She is hidden in a veil of mystery, and not much is known about her. It is said that she is cold as ice. She is mysterious and private, but she is known for her ability to strike fatally at her enemy’s weakness.
If Zikel is Azphel’s right arm, she is his left. Her strength matches Seraphim Lord Nezekan.
Despite her cold personality, she is nurturing and loyal. Living in regret and taking action for her sin (giving birth to Kahrun), she is proactive with Asmodae’s future and trains Atreia’s deadliest assassins and rangers. Triniel treats her legions with tough love and holding them accountable for their responsibilities. The most famous Ancient Atreian legion, Red Sky, was lead and trained by the lady herself. Wielding extraordinary amounts of power and unity, Red Sky was able to take on Dragon Lord Beritra, and forcefully kicked the Balaur out of Brusthonin. It is rumored that the Red Sky Brigade General Virkel was a gift and subordinate of Lord Nezekan, charged by the Seraphim Lord to protect her, before being matured and raised by Lady Triniel herself.
Nezekan is seen as reserved and prudent, but he acts swiftly once he’s reached a decision. If Lady Triniel trained the powerful Red Sky legion, Lord Nezekan had the Legion Storm, as dedicated legion. The famous Legion Storm, led by Deltras, was the one that appeared in Asmodae (Morheim, precisely) through a rift in the Abyss. Zikel caught them and attempted to make them renounce their allegiance. This was the provocation for the Abyss War.
Several rumors shroud the life of Lord Nezekan and Lady Triniel, but those who saw them bitterly fight each other in the opening days of the Abyss War give little credit to such thoughts. In fact, although lovers, they are strict and devoted soldiers first of all, that would never betray their faction.
Speaking about Legions, what happened to Kahrun, after that he fled from the Eracus Temple?
Kahrun being the offspring of two Empyrean Lords held tremendous power, and his parents knew that in his adulthood, he would potentially become the most powerful creature Atreia has ever seen. However, he was still a boy, thirsty for new experiences and knowledge. He allegedly joined the Siel’s Spear Legion, formed from the Siel’s most loyal followers and led by the Lady herself.
They completed several tasks before the Cataclysm. They were sent against the Udas Temple and Beritra as part of their expedition to Atreia’s surface. The Daeva of Siel’s Spear were in the middle of a fight against the Balaurs, when the Tower of Eternity was destroyed.
The members of Siel’s Spear drew their divine power directly from Lady Siel herself, so when Lady Siel gave all her life energy to bind the two halves of the shattered planet together, the Daevas were robbed of their divinity. Their wings and swords broke and they had to wander in unknown territories, hiding themselves, hunted by Balaurs and with the lack of aether, that reduced even more their powers.
Wandering for Atreia, in seek of a shelter, Kahrun found the Reian tribe. They were scattered around Inggison and Gelkmaros, but centred on Sarpan. This land was a temporary refuge for the Reians, escaping from the Balaurs. Most of it had been used as a drana farm by Tiamat, drained of all its fertility.
Having found this neglected wasteland, they set up their small village in it thinking they would go unnoticed. To their surprise, the Dragon Lord found out about their establishment. Not wishing to share her land, she expelled the ancient Reians from her desert.
Deprived of a home and completely helpless from the Balaurs and the hundreds of other menaces present in Sarpan, the following times were dire. This soon changed when Kahrun, a mysterious figure unknown by every villager, emerged. When Kahrun united the Reians, the legion was reformed to still serve Siel and preserve her memory. With a power great enough to defeat a whole legion of Balaurs, Kahrun led the Reians to fight the guards sent by Tiamat, recovering the land they have claimed as theirs.
The village was rebuilt, and across the years protected its inhabitants from the waves of invaders. Kahrun proved to be the true leader of the Reian tribe, and under his command, the Reians enjoyed an age of prosperity. They built their capital, named Kamar, in a majestic Arabian architecture.
Due to their story full of struggle to succeed, they do not fully trust foreigners, but are able to show them kindness and give them aid if necessary. Just as powerful as their kindness, their strictness shines. Members of their tribe that commit an act against their morals or rules, are often exiled or perform considerably grindy tasks to make up for their mistakes.
Their first contact with the modern Atreians was when the Daevas set foot in Balaurea. Reians took the chance to request their help with certain issues which menaced them in Gelkmaros and Inggison, such as the brainwashing Dragonbound and the problems surging inside Taloc. In exchange, Daevas received intel on the situation, such as how to advance into Tiamaranta.
As their relationship grew stronger, the preparations for the advance into the Balaur capital were being concluded. As powerful as their armies might seem, Daevas had to confront an indomitable foe: a Dragon Lord holding the true power of Lady Siel. Shadowed by doom and shame, Elyos and Asmodians nearly fell to her claws. For their luck, Reians distracted Tiamat just in time, aiding their allies on escaping the dreadful battlefield. Kahrun emerged for the first time before Daevas, and seeing the conflict between Elyos and Asmodians in their own ships, decided to put an end to it. (this is between Aion 2.0 and Aion 3.0)
By Kahrun’s words, they were not allowed to fight each other in his land, and provided it happened, they could face expulsion. They would have worked together, and focus on the true threat; which was Tiamat and her omnipotent relics. Seeing as there were no options, both sides reluctantly agreed. Kahrun’s Will was then put in place, only overshadowed by few incredibly strong presences in selected locations.
While success seemed imminent, their first advance into Tiamaranta’s Eye did not go as well as they expected. Surprised by the lack of control by Kahrun’s Will in there, it was not long after both battalions focused their force on each other, while afterwards being ambushed by Balaur. Reians soon intervened. Disappointed and betrayed, they retreated. As Kahrun gained knowledge of this event, he felt angered and forbid the Daevas of taking part on the final assault against the Dragon Lord. He is however later deceived (by us, the player) so a small group of Atreians aids his advance.
After advancing through the Tiamat Stronghold and reaching her throne, Kahrun confronts Tiamat alone which results in him being sent back in time by her. As she turns her eyes on the Daevas, Kaisinel/Marchutan joins the battle, and together they take down the dragon. With Tiamat dead, Kahrun returns to his time, and all of a sudden, Israphel appears and steals the Siel’s relics from Tiamat’s corpse. The following events made Kahrun enrage. He took this as a trick from the Daevas to get hold of the relics. In response of this, he decides not to allow Elyos or Asmodians in Sarpan and that their alliance would remain undone. However, after receiving a missive from an Empyrean Lord, he decides to lift his prohibition, but refuses to ever work with Atreians again.
After Tiamat’s death, Kahrun, thinking he was betrayed by Marchutan/Kaisinel and the Asmodians/Elyos factions on repeated occasions, leaves his throne in Kamar in search of a power that would allow him to protect the Reian people by himself. His investigation on the Ide and the last Hyperion eventually leads to his disappearance.
The events in Aion 4.7 reveal that the rumors about Nezekan and Triniel having a relationship before the Cataclysm were true.
Nezekan finally finds his long lost son among the Reian people, now their leader. When Kahrun goes missing from Kamar after Tiamat’s death, Nezekan panics and sets out to personally search for Kahrun under the fake identity of Thersu. The same does Triniel: disguised as “Runa”, a woman dressed in black with a deep voice (we still have their name on some PvP armor we receive as reward for the campaigns in Enshar, and before Katalam/Danaria). During her journey across Katalam, she comes into contact with the player and recognizing Marchutans’ handiwork in their overly gullible/naive personality, decides to make use of this and has the player assist her with finding clues on Kahrun’s whereabouts. Ultimately Triniel finds her son in the Infinity Shard, unconscious and heavily beaten by Beritra’s minions, but still alive. Nezekan however appears, and the two clash. The two Empyrean Lords recognise each other, after hundreds of years, from the equal strength in their combat, and agree on a truce to help and teleport away their son.
Shortly after, with Kahrun missing, the Kahrun’s Will was lifted from Sarpan, causing disputes between Elyos and Asmodians. Beritra took this chance, and deployed one of his dredgions to destroy the city of Kamar. The disputes between the Atreians were enough to hide the approaching doom. The Reian capital soon turned into the lawless lands of Kamar Battlefield.
In 4.7 it’s revealed that Kahrun survived his wounds and his condition is improving. However he is not ready to go back to his tribe. Stubborn and unable to give up on important matters, to protect his land and his people, he started to find clues about Balaurs’ plans. Alone, since he doesn’t trust anyone, anymore.
The elder’s location is kept secret except for certain Reians and Daevas. After finding him, in Levinshor, Kahrun reveals us that he has been having strange hallucinations, showing masses of Balaurs and gigantic black metal creatures, able to teleport themselves in few seconds. Further investigation reveals that Beritra had used the Hyperion’s technology to build powerful warmachines which he could deploy anywhere. Unfortunately for Reians, one of the points attacked was Kamar, along with Rancora Fortress in Tiamaranta, and Katalam.
He assists the player on accessing the Balaur corridor and attempt to prevent Beritra’s invasion. But the invasion is massive, destroying whole towns and temples, putting an end to millions of lives. Beritra’s invasion had put everything built by Reians to waste. The earth shocked, revealing the sea of lava below. Survivors were few, and those were the ones who spectated the chaotic sinking of their land from the sky.
The ships eventually made it to the newly arose lands. Reians had to rebuild their bases in Cygnea and Enshar. Their numbers are few, and their tribe is separated between the two regions. They wish to aid the Daevas on finding about this new land and its secrets, as well as taking down the Dragon Lord responsible of their misery.
They are slowly recovering, although with their leader still missing and the tribe divided between several lands, their situation is dire.
