HISTORY: The Ascension of Agkelos
Agkelos is a kingdom steeped in thousands of years of history. Most know it as a mythical island that floats in the sky, surrounded by impenetrable clouds. Yet Agkelos wasn’t always a flying kingdom. Thousands of years in the past, it was just another land mass, floating in blue waters. It is most commonly said to have been located at the heart of the Central Ocean - the large, circular expanse of water found within the ring of other land masses on Aether. In fact, at that time Aether was not known as Aether at all, but Earth. It was a time that bred many myths and legends. A time when magic was not frowned upon or studied diligently as a science but embraced as a natural part of the world and the creatures that lived in it. It may have been primitive but it was certainly fascinating.
At that time, Agkelos was not the secluded and utterly superior place it is said to be today. Bridges extended to all three continents - Bravura, Volante and Esperando. They traded well with all three and welcomed them with open arms. Secure routes were made to all the major cities - Ftero, Pteryga, Ptisi and the capital, Agkelos itself. Visitors were met with great hospitality and the kingdom gained immense respect from the rest of the world. Its beauty was unrivalled elsewhere; the buildings were made of a white moonstone known as Sky Ivory, mined from the continent’s very own mountains. The stone absorbed the sunlight and at night, gave out a soft hazy glow. The Prism Flowers around the outskirts of the capital that grew on the plains known as the Paradise Lands behaved similarly though no-one really understood the purpose of the light itself to the plant. At times, visitors would even be able to traverse the grounds and halls of the Royal Palace too. The place was known for its ability to relax visitors with both its tranquillity, the peacable and friendly nature of the people and the heavenly music that played out across the cities by various Agkelon musicians. The Agkelons trusted everyone, and that was their major flaw.
The people of the Imperial City of Bravura sought to harvest their valuable resources and began illegally mining the Agkelon’s Sky Ivory. The Emperor hoped that by exploiting them, they could grow and expand themselves, gaining more power and hold over people across the world. Why shouldn’t they benefit from Agkelos, since the people were so willing to share anyway? The vain people of Volante began to envy the architecture and intricate technology that Agkelos had developed. Their people began to research the Kingdom. The people and their culture, their values and beliefs. Anything they could. And all in the hope of stealing some of their beauty and intelligence to benefit themselves so that the rest of the world might envy them too. The people of Esperando were the only ones that kept well away. They had no use for Agkelos and their strange ways. And so they stayed as they were, worshipping their primal gods and dealing with their own internal conflicts. In a way, they felt blessed by the strange continent. Bravura had always seemed intent on robbing them of their gold, and for once the pressure on them had been eased now the Emperor had turned his attention elsewhere.
Relations between the other continents and Agkelos became incredibly strained and conflicts soon broke out. Though naturally at peace with the world, Agkelos was in possession of a small army, the best being the Royal Knights of the capital city. Most often the only conflict they had to deal with was an occasional attack by a dragon or another creature, but now conflicts between the people themselves were becoming more commonplace. The people of Agkelos knew that they couldn’t fight off the power of the Imperial Army though or even Volante. If they tried, they would be crushed and likely wiped off the face of the Earth.
Lucky then, that a certain primal god who was currently lurking in the swamps of Esperando seemed to have taken a particular interest in the island. Eleytheria, the god of the wind and the air, saw purpose in the Kingdom and the people that dwelled in it. Being at one with the air, it was hardly a chore to keep an eye on people all over the world, and he liked the Agkelons. They weren’t like the other humans. They had advanced beyond primitive means and it pained him to see them at war with the others when they had had no need of it before. A separation was needed then, and Eleytheria sought to help them with that.
A god, especially a primal god, gains his strength from the belief of others. And so it was many years before Eleytheria could act. He remained in the swamps and the jungles of Esperando. Wherever he stayed, his influence was the strongest, and some even claimed to hear some whisper of his voice if they concentrated hard enough. But Eleytheria only communicated with who he wanted to. He had a certain power over the humans, and that decision lied solely with him and noone else.
When the time came to act, Eleytheria travelled to Agkelos and for the first time he made contact with the King there. Of course, the King was bewildered by this sudden new presence, overwhelmed and thinking himself mad. But Eleytheria calmed him and revealed to him his identity. He would help the Agkelons and in return, they would worship him, believe in him, trust him. At that time, the Agkelons trusted noone but the soothing voice of the wind comforted the King and he found it difficult to refuse such an offer. Without waiting for an answer, Eleytheria made haste to rid the land of anyone unfit to set foot on the land of Agkelos. All invaders, even innocent visitors - if they were not Agkelon they did not belong in his new Kingdom. They were not a part of his plan. He sent storms across the land, great winds to blow them away. Agkelos had never seen anything like it.
With all of his strength gathered, Eleytheria began to lift the continent away from the ocean and into the sky. Agkelos was not for the land to claim and the sky was his domain. Though dirtied and tainted by humans and monsters like the land, it would be in the sky he would dwell with his people for many years to come, until his lost strength was renewed. The people thanked him for his help, and the King decided to keep to his promise. From that day onwards, Eleytheria kept close contact with the Royal Family of Agkelos and the Royal Family in turn, instilled faith in the people. Eleytheria became their deity and they came to live at peace again, becoming one with the sky and the wind. They vowed never to let outsiders into the Kingdom again, should anyone discover a way to reach them.
And so the Kingdom remained at peace for thousands of years more. But during that time the island was frequently spotted and the curious people of Aether began to research a way to reach it, thinking it to be Heaven itself. As time passed, populations of harmful creatures grew as well, and so attacks from monsters became more frequent. It meant ample training for warriors and knights alike, and soon they became adept at fighting the various dragons and monsters that sought to do harm to their precious Kingdom. But still it was a nuisance and an unwanted danger and they felt pressured by the watchful eyes of the people of the land below.
The King consulted Eleytheria once more, wondering if there was any possible way to offer more protection. Though it would mean an extra burden on him, an added drain on his strength, Eleytheria agreed to shield them from outsiders. He summoned a great mass of cloud to enshroud the island. Not only would the people below be unable to see them, it would make gaining access to the island much more difficult.
Though the occasional dragon still managed to claw its way through, being creatures of the air themselves, Agkelos was more or less safe now. The knights did their job and few were hurt. This was the new Kingdom of Agkelos, the sky kingdom, and it would remain this way for years to come.
At that time, Agkelos was not the secluded and utterly superior place it is said to be today. Bridges extended to all three continents - Bravura, Volante and Esperando. They traded well with all three and welcomed them with open arms. Secure routes were made to all the major cities - Ftero, Pteryga, Ptisi and the capital, Agkelos itself. Visitors were met with great hospitality and the kingdom gained immense respect from the rest of the world. Its beauty was unrivalled elsewhere; the buildings were made of a white moonstone known as Sky Ivory, mined from the continent’s very own mountains. The stone absorbed the sunlight and at night, gave out a soft hazy glow. The Prism Flowers around the outskirts of the capital that grew on the plains known as the Paradise Lands behaved similarly though no-one really understood the purpose of the light itself to the plant. At times, visitors would even be able to traverse the grounds and halls of the Royal Palace too. The place was known for its ability to relax visitors with both its tranquillity, the peacable and friendly nature of the people and the heavenly music that played out across the cities by various Agkelon musicians. The Agkelons trusted everyone, and that was their major flaw.
The people of the Imperial City of Bravura sought to harvest their valuable resources and began illegally mining the Agkelon’s Sky Ivory. The Emperor hoped that by exploiting them, they could grow and expand themselves, gaining more power and hold over people across the world. Why shouldn’t they benefit from Agkelos, since the people were so willing to share anyway? The vain people of Volante began to envy the architecture and intricate technology that Agkelos had developed. Their people began to research the Kingdom. The people and their culture, their values and beliefs. Anything they could. And all in the hope of stealing some of their beauty and intelligence to benefit themselves so that the rest of the world might envy them too. The people of Esperando were the only ones that kept well away. They had no use for Agkelos and their strange ways. And so they stayed as they were, worshipping their primal gods and dealing with their own internal conflicts. In a way, they felt blessed by the strange continent. Bravura had always seemed intent on robbing them of their gold, and for once the pressure on them had been eased now the Emperor had turned his attention elsewhere.
Relations between the other continents and Agkelos became incredibly strained and conflicts soon broke out. Though naturally at peace with the world, Agkelos was in possession of a small army, the best being the Royal Knights of the capital city. Most often the only conflict they had to deal with was an occasional attack by a dragon or another creature, but now conflicts between the people themselves were becoming more commonplace. The people of Agkelos knew that they couldn’t fight off the power of the Imperial Army though or even Volante. If they tried, they would be crushed and likely wiped off the face of the Earth.
Lucky then, that a certain primal god who was currently lurking in the swamps of Esperando seemed to have taken a particular interest in the island. Eleytheria, the god of the wind and the air, saw purpose in the Kingdom and the people that dwelled in it. Being at one with the air, it was hardly a chore to keep an eye on people all over the world, and he liked the Agkelons. They weren’t like the other humans. They had advanced beyond primitive means and it pained him to see them at war with the others when they had had no need of it before. A separation was needed then, and Eleytheria sought to help them with that.
A god, especially a primal god, gains his strength from the belief of others. And so it was many years before Eleytheria could act. He remained in the swamps and the jungles of Esperando. Wherever he stayed, his influence was the strongest, and some even claimed to hear some whisper of his voice if they concentrated hard enough. But Eleytheria only communicated with who he wanted to. He had a certain power over the humans, and that decision lied solely with him and noone else.
When the time came to act, Eleytheria travelled to Agkelos and for the first time he made contact with the King there. Of course, the King was bewildered by this sudden new presence, overwhelmed and thinking himself mad. But Eleytheria calmed him and revealed to him his identity. He would help the Agkelons and in return, they would worship him, believe in him, trust him. At that time, the Agkelons trusted noone but the soothing voice of the wind comforted the King and he found it difficult to refuse such an offer. Without waiting for an answer, Eleytheria made haste to rid the land of anyone unfit to set foot on the land of Agkelos. All invaders, even innocent visitors - if they were not Agkelon they did not belong in his new Kingdom. They were not a part of his plan. He sent storms across the land, great winds to blow them away. Agkelos had never seen anything like it.
With all of his strength gathered, Eleytheria began to lift the continent away from the ocean and into the sky. Agkelos was not for the land to claim and the sky was his domain. Though dirtied and tainted by humans and monsters like the land, it would be in the sky he would dwell with his people for many years to come, until his lost strength was renewed. The people thanked him for his help, and the King decided to keep to his promise. From that day onwards, Eleytheria kept close contact with the Royal Family of Agkelos and the Royal Family in turn, instilled faith in the people. Eleytheria became their deity and they came to live at peace again, becoming one with the sky and the wind. They vowed never to let outsiders into the Kingdom again, should anyone discover a way to reach them.
And so the Kingdom remained at peace for thousands of years more. But during that time the island was frequently spotted and the curious people of Aether began to research a way to reach it, thinking it to be Heaven itself. As time passed, populations of harmful creatures grew as well, and so attacks from monsters became more frequent. It meant ample training for warriors and knights alike, and soon they became adept at fighting the various dragons and monsters that sought to do harm to their precious Kingdom. But still it was a nuisance and an unwanted danger and they felt pressured by the watchful eyes of the people of the land below.
The King consulted Eleytheria once more, wondering if there was any possible way to offer more protection. Though it would mean an extra burden on him, an added drain on his strength, Eleytheria agreed to shield them from outsiders. He summoned a great mass of cloud to enshroud the island. Not only would the people below be unable to see them, it would make gaining access to the island much more difficult.
Though the occasional dragon still managed to claw its way through, being creatures of the air themselves, Agkelos was more or less safe now. The knights did their job and few were hurt. This was the new Kingdom of Agkelos, the sky kingdom, and it would remain this way for years to come.