Andros

Lore Overview

The island of Andros was founded in 4500 BCE with the rise of Strofilas, one of the earliest and most advanced maritime societies in the Aegean. Its early success allowed it to colonize Stageira in Chalcidice, laying the foundation for the birthplace of Aristotle, one of the greatest minds of the ancient world.   By the 5th century BCE, Andros aligned itself with the God-King Xerxes of Persia, betraying its fellow Hellenes. Themistocles sought to punish and extort the island, but his efforts failed—Andros was too well-fortified, too costly to conquer. Its defiance of Athenian control would become a recurring theme throughout history, and Athens would never forgive.   Early Years Upon arrival at the Crossroads of Empires, Andros submitted willingly to the Minoan Empire, recognizing that peaceful compliance was better than violent defeat. King Andros, wise and pragmatic, struck a delicate bargain—ceding the eastern port to the Minoans in exchange for autonomy.   But when the Rise of the Abyss began, King Andros faltered. Poorly defending his shores, he was overwhelmed and dragged to the northern beaches, where he was slain. The sands still run red at sunset on King’s Fall, a beach named in his memory.   His son, Prince Thalor, turned away from the Minoans and sought aid from a rising power: Senator Alethea of the Athenian Republic. Alethea's elite special operatives, known as The Philosophers, liberated the island from Triton’s Forces—a campaign of such brutality it’s said one Philosopher forced Triton’s lieutenant to eat his commander like a cooked fish.   Scarred by the battle, Thalor moved the capital from haunted Strofilas to Palaeopolis, but he never found peace. The memories of his father's death, and the blood-soaked hands of the Philosophers, haunted him. Alethea warned the young king:   “One day, I will come for payment—and for your sake, you had better be ready.”   The War of Radiance and Necromancy Thalor defended Andros with growing strength, even holding the Minoans at bay in successive campaigns. But peace shattered with the arrival of Judge Malachai, a monstrous being who swept across the land like a mist-wrapped god of slaughter.   Four days and four nights after the first blood tides soaked the shores, King Thalor vanished. His soldiers, desperate, held the line—but without help from Athens, they fell. A quarter of Andros’ population perished before the surrender. The island fell again to Minos, its freedom crushed.   The Battle of Kingsfall King Minos understood what was to come, he deployed some of his most fearsome weapons: Judge Nikos and a battalion of Fallen Ones—undead warriors, created from the Veil by being know as The Creator. These creatures never tired, could not be reasoned with, and resisted all but the strongest weapons.   Word reached both The Anor and the Athenian Republic. The Anor sent General Calesseno, leading one of the largest joint battalions ever assembled. Senator Alethea dispatched his champion: General Theos, Philosopher of War—accompanied by King Thalor.......   The cost was catastrophic. Three-fifths of the Anor forces fell, only to rise again as Fallen Ones. Calesseno defeated Judge Nikos but was slain, possibly betrayed. Rumors whispered that Theos and Thalor caused his death, clearing the path for Athens to claim Andros outright.   Strofilas was left in ruins, and the people of Andro were changed—hardened by blood and betrayal.   Later Years Though victorious, Thalor lost his crown. Now titled only Governor of Andros, he answered to Senator Alethea, whose influence turned the island into a military outpost, a training ground for new Philosophers, and a center for the study of the Fallen Ones.   Thalor remained a mystery. He did not age. He did not sleep. He rarely spoke. Some say the cost of his island’s salvation was his soul, and the whispers in the ruins of Strofilas are not the wind—they are what he left behind.    

Settlements:

  Paleopolis: (The Capital)

• The Capital city built to replace the haunting memories of Strofilas in King Thalor's mind.  It was built to accomadate the growing population of Argos, meaning it had all the luxuries of large town, without all the issues that come with it.  The Acropolis sits closer to sea level than most others of its kind, and has a reverse waterfall that cascades up the side of the structure from the sea.  The beautiful Conch Light tower sits at is western flank, and represent the change from a primairly a patriarchy belieft to the Divine Kingdom Andros belongs to.

Strofilas:

• The town is now more of a millitary base and research station than anything else, but some of the soldiers that reside there brought their families.  It has all the basic needs of a town, including a tavern, but it is one of the most guarded places in all the Republic.  Located along the east coast of Andros, the town has one of the most state of the art Shipyards and finest millitary outpost in the Aegean Sea.

Zagora:

• The Sister town to Paelopolis, not more than 10 Km from the capital is built upon a plateu overlooking the sea.   Zagora is less monitored than the capital, leaving people that want privacy to settle there.  This town has the least amount of Athenian influence, and more of the nationalist reside her,   The mayor was chosen by the townfolk with the permision of Governor Thalor.