Faction: Rauc

Rauc Islands

The Rauc Islands are a series of four fog drenched islands south of Latys. Vampires rule these islands and they all pay fealty to a vampiric dragon named Raucanthire. He has ruled the islands since the Early Days, after being birthed by Gaia after she made the world. He was originally a black dragon however resented serving Gaia and struck out on his own. He travelled to the surface and set his lair up amidst the foggy islands, naming them after himself. He would travel the lands in human form, helping the surface nations during The Ending. Following this he would start to gather treasure and followers and conduct raids across the mainland of Latys. During one raid he destroyed and pillaged a monastery dedicated to Rexen the Sun God, on the southern coast of Imperrus. The single surviving acolyte would call on Rexen to curse Raucanthire. Rexen’s curse caused the dragon to constantly hunger for blood and fear the sun, becoming the first vampiric being. Raucanthire passed his curse on to a number of other dragons as well as his followers. 


The two eastern islands are home to two cities: Rauc in the north and Anthire in the south, proudly named after the dragon. The two western islands are swampy and vampires often set loose prisoners in the foggy swamps to hunt them for sport. Apart from Raucanthire ruling the islands, there are other powerful groups such as the Order of the Dragon, noble families and the Church of Rauc.


The Order of the Dragon


This is an order of vampire knights led by High Blood Marshall Versum, although there are many different chapter houses with their own captains. There are three tenets in the Order of the Dragon: The Path of Glory, The Path of Honour and The Path of Blood. Blood Knights may choose which Path they take and will take them on very different lifestyles. The Path of Glory focuses on combat against insurmountable odds. It stems from when Raucanthire rebelled against Gaia and had to fight his way to the surface of the world, killing many other dragons and beasts on his way.  The Path of Honour focuses on defending others and respecting your enemies, however with the expectation that you will be paid with blood. It stems from Raucanthire’s time during The Ending when he was in his humanoid form and defended mortals across Latys during the onslaught of orcs and goblins. The Path of Blood stems from Raucanthire’s later life when he resorted to raiding the remnant lands of Imperrus to gather a hoard of treasure and resulted in being turned into a vampire by Rexen, God of the Sun. It focuses on using your vampiric powers to crush anyone and everything that opposes you.


The Noble Houses


The noble houses are groups of like minded vampires who have banded together under one leader, a Nobilarch. A Nobilarch’s second in command is a House Whip, who imposes and enforces the rules and plans laid out by the Nobilarch. Noble houses can range from powerful and rich families to groups that are little more than gangs. The two most powerful houses are the Lokda and Sachana houses.


Church of Rauc


The Church of Rauc is the single religious organisation across the islands and worships the dragon Raucanthire as a god. The High Priestess is a vampire named Nezera. She is formidable in the ways of magic and nearly all acolytes have experience with magic use, whether by study or innate powers. Nezera has grown tired of the squabbling noble houses, and with the help of the Order of the Dragon, has started to quell the violence between the lower noble houses, often exiling troublemakers. Nezera has also started to induct mortals into the church, increasing its spread to places such as the Imperrex Admiralties and the Abhir Sultanate.


Rauc


The city of Rauc is ruled directly by the dragon, Raucanthire, and is a ‘holy’ city, with the Church of Rauc having its headquarters here. Adherents, composed of vampires and human citizens, praise Raucanthire as their god. The church’s high priest is a vampire named Nezera. Notable locations in Rauc

  • Belaur Keep. Citadel of Rauc and lair to the vampiric dragon Raucanthire. Protected by Blood Knights, zombies, ghouls and the Raucanthire himself, many adventurers have tried to infiltrate the castle and claim the dragon’s hoard for themselves. None have succeeded.

  • The Foterata. A barracks for the city’s Blood Knights and their steeds. Overseen by Sanguiner Qadir, originally an Abhiran swordmaster. He oversees the training of new members to the Order of the Dragon as well as the city’s security. 

  • Strigos Pit. A large colosseum in the south of the city. Beneath it, there is a large grave pit where vampire mages raise zombies and ghouls from prisoners captured on blood raids. The raised undead are either sent out to the swamp on the western islands, set to work in the cities or are sent to the colosseum above the pit, where the arena master pits them against prisoners for the delight of the vampiric watchers.The arena master is a vampire named Zadicus.

  • Nesfant Cathedral. The largest church dedicated to Raucanthire. Here, adherents to the church come to worship Raucanthire. Led by the High Priestess Nezera, she has formed a formidable ecclesiarchy that has even started to induct mortal acolytes. 


The city of Anthire is a militaristic city, containing the headquarters of the Knights of the Dragon, ruled by High Blood Marshall Versum. Blood Knights are the main military force of the Rauc Islands, generally wearing heavy armour and fighting on horseback. They are also adept seafarers with iron raiding ships that can range far and wide. Dragon Ships protect the islands from anyone who would dare attack, and those that do make it are usually lost to the fog. Within the city, there is a tense atmosphere between the noble families resulting in sporadic killings and thefts while The Order of the Dragon attempts to quell nobles that grow too powerful. Notable locations in Anthire include:

  • The Blood Spire. A magnificent tower that rises high above the buildings of Anthire. Home to High Blood Marshall Versum and his Blood Knights. Here, Versum plans raids and conquests for his Blood Knights to undertake, as well as training in his order’s Path of Blood. 

  • Lokda Manor. Residence of the Countess Milessa Lokda. She is a vampire noble seeking to grow her power. She has boundless ambition and has even procured a death knight as a bodyguard. She often employs vampire spawn and strigoi as spies and assassins, taking out political opponents and rival nobles. Milessa is from the far south, somewhere in the southern jungles. She fled the tyranny of the Rajarasha kings who ruled over human slaves. She joined the Cult of the Sun however her sect was destroyed by Abhiran slavers and she was taken to Abhir. Eventually she escaped and wound up at the Rauc Islands. Lokda shared her hatred of Rexen with the vampires, who took her in. Over time she worked her way up in rank and power, forming her own noble house. 

  • Sachana Halls. A mansion owned by the Sachana family, the current most powerful noble family. The family is not actually blood related with members joining the family if they have proved themselves. The head of the family is a large and imposing strigoi named Alexandru. Strigoi are vampires who are more bestial in nature, able to grow larger claws and possessing a bat-like nose and ears. His House Whip is a vampire spawn named Alina. Although just a spawn, Alina is a proficient mage and has had the time to master many different magic paths.