Atu Szeme
God of a Lost World, Last King of Szem'Szadar
Over the many millenia of his life, Atu Szeme was many things. He was a mortal man with grand ambitions to challenge a God-King in accordance with the will of The Eternal. He was the last God-King of Szem'Szadar, one of the grandest cities in another world. He was a feared and lethal warlord, corrupted by his desire for conquest and warped by his desperate need to protect his people... his bloodline. He was a "god" from another world who schemed and manipulated in order to get his people to Dremora, his final conquest. And, in the end, he lingers in the minds of those he left behind as a haunting remnant of a world abandoned, of a world devoid of death. For despite his many titles, Atu never intended to be immortal. And, in the end, he was simply a man who coveted and envied Death.
On Dremora, the full extent of who Atu Szeme was and what he accomplished across his vast lifespan is known by only a few. To the general populace, Atu Szeme is a name they've never heard and his legacy is only known through the stories and influence of his many progeny.
"Of course I care about you! You are my blood! You're a part of me... And I love me." – Atu Szeme
The Famous (and Infamous) Progeny of Atu Szeme
In total, Atu Szeme sired 15 children, none of which were by the same mother and not all made it to adulthood. Atu Szeme was as promiscuous as he was ambitious. While many of his children are now beacons of inspiration and heroism across Dremora, there are also many who serve as cautionary tales or who will forever be remembered as the villains of Dremora's history. Despite having children of such adoration and infamy, Atu himself is not well known beyond the Szadarians. Due to his children's drastically different appearances and places of birth, most of the common folk of Dremora don't even know that the children of Atu are siblings; merely individuals coincidentally featured in the same collection of stories.
The Famous
Hith'Elemy'Lanvi (<0 YAR - ). The only child born to Atu Szeme and his God-Consort, Hithvessa. As a surviving Szadarian, her tale is often told to Szadarian children in Parvathi'Lahn. Too young to remember Szem'Szadar in its original glory, Lanvi knew only destruction and twisted death of a world abandoned. The surviving Szadarians paint her as an angelic figure. By the firelight, they tell tales of the brave daughter of Atu who ventured to the muck beds of their old world to save those who had been temporarily slain. And they tell how Lanvi led their people to the City of Fortune and still serves as their people's Guardian Angel alongside her consort and her mother.
Newt Von'Della (2114 YAR – ). Atu's second born and son of Lavathi Azure, a wealthy noblewoman from Eredet who abandoned him at the doorsteps of the Temple of Ah'Shal. As the adopted child of Lady Eirina Von'Della, hero of The Deep End, founder of the Horned Council in Parvathi'Lahn, and the Champion of Ah'Shal, Newt is regarded across the Dremoran continent as a hero. Once complicit in the dealings of cruel Overlords in the Factory City of Ah'Shal, Newt dedicated much of his life after his adventures to pulling the people of Ah'Shal out of the smog. To the Szadarian people, specifically, he is known for having the perfect reverance for Death.
Hornbeak (2114 YAR – 2187 YAR). The adopted son of The Lady of Winter, Hornbeak is an inspirational figure for the aarakocra people of Elios. Under the warmth of Elis' sun, the elders of Elios tell of how a young man braved the wrath of winter; how a small, but resilient, flicker of warmth can pierce even winter's frozen heart.
Callon Von'Della (2114 YAR – ). The only trueborn son of Lady Erina Von'Della. Although slain in the Second Siege of Varoona, he was resurrected by Newt Von'Della. Despite perishing before, Callon rejoined the Bay Guard of Varoona (and the Horned Council). He sought to use his family's wealth to improve the lives of the poor in Varoona Proper. To the common folk of Varoona – those without noble elven blood – Callon is a symbol of achievable prosperity; an important link between the rich and the poor in a city still chaotically striving for change.
Sage the Frozen (2114 YAR – ). The granddaughter of Jahdiel and the longest ruler of the Frozen Dragon Clan of Caliban (and a member of the Horned Council). While her reputation beyond the border of Caliban remains somewhat infamous, she is regarded as the pinnacle of all White Dragonborn. Stories of her exploits as a hunter – how she froze a portion of the sea to strike at the heart of a sea serpent – are told to ambitious white dragonborn children. She was the brief consort to the son of the Queen of Frozen Tears. And now, in her old age, she is regarded as the wisest of all White Dragonborn.
Zetla (2114 YAR – 2234 YAR). The previous owner of Dragon's Den in Pleasure Row. Zetla's story is one of survival. While her story contains notes of cruelty deemed necessary to hide what she was, it is an inspiring story of how a community came together to save a young girl from Death.
The Infamous
Lollith (2114 YAR – ). The adopted daughter of the infamous Doctor, she was a notable member of the Order of the Dread King, which terrorized the continent a century ago. At best, she was complicit and, at worst, she was a perpetrator of most of the Doctor's heinous crimes: soul alteration, mutiliation, torture, kidnapping, and more. She was both victim and villain, but her villainy is what is remembered. Her story is told in hushed tones and is a cautionary tale of nature versus nurture. Was she born sadistic and cruel? Or was she only that way because of The Doctor's influence?
The "Twins" (2114 YAR – 2132 YAR). Born to two prominent members of Ragna's Warrior Elite, the "Twins" were raised as warriors. Their story is a warning to not insult or mock Death. Both fell to Ah'Shal's Executioners who at least had the honor to slay them in Ragna's Coliseum. Do not mock the gods unecessarily; you never know when they are listening.
Chain (2114 YAR – ). Born on Therarask, Chain's tabaxi blood allowed him to navigate the fickle jungles of his home. Although a member of the Horned Council, he tended to wander and was on and off again with the Dremoran Courier Service. While the people of Dremora will begrudging note that he is mostly helpful wherever he drifts, his mischievous streak never died. And he's only gotten better at conning people as he's gotten older. Chain's lengthy spree of cons gave rise to a common saying: "Check the cat's shadow". A phrase that generally means to "judge someone trustworthy" arose from people immediately noting Chain's lack of shadow and judging him the opposite.
Elysia (2211 YAR – ). Deathly powers from her mother and all the volatility from her father. Although her good intentions are generally acknowledged, she has quickly become a cautionary tale for ambitious little children (particularly aspiring mages) who try to do too much with a power they do not understand. Regardless, one thing is for sure: the remaining Overlords in the Factory City of Ah'Shal fear her.
The Life of Atu Szeme
The Szadarians still tell stories of the man who brought forth both heroes and villains. Atu Szeme was born a mortal man with a knack for elemental magic and gifted with a blade. Unable to pass on the mantle of his immortality, he lived thousands of mortal lifespans. Surrounded by an inescapable cesspit of violence and pain devoid of true, peaceful death, Atu became a warped and corrupted version of who he once was.
God-King of Szem'Szadar
Atu always loved himself a bit too much, but he was generally a well-liked ruler: charismatic, confident, and good on his word. Under his reign, Szem'Szadar was beautiful, lush, and prosperous. Half a century into his reign, he married his best friend, Hithvessa, who complimented his strengths and covered his weaknesses. As a pair, they brought about a brief "golden era" for their city. Although many challenged Atu for the title of God-King, none defeated him. After the birth of their daughter – Hith'Elemy'Lanvi ("Lanvi"), Atu declared his intent to formally rescind his title of God-King. If he was not defeated in the next set of games, the title was to pass to his daughter upon her reaching adulthood. And, according to that plan, Atu would have died at a few centuries of age.
The Fall of Szem'Szadar
That didn't happen. The sky split and broke, spitting fiendish monstrosities, wreckage, and foul sulphurus clouds into the area around Szem'Szadar (and across the world). Destruction rained down from the sky as Atu's lush and beautiful city was torn asunder. Forced to flee, Atu defended his peoples' retreat the best he could, but even those who were slain did not stay dead. They rose as twisted creatures, only to die again... and again... and again. Despite retaining the powers of a God-King, he was one man against hordes. He couldn't help everyone. And so he chose to prioritze his city, his family, his bloodline.
Era of a Warlord
Centuries of endless war quickly turned Atu's world into a desolate hellscape where death did not exist... at least not traditionally. Those who died crawled forth, corrupted, weak, and warped from the muck beds that had formed in the pits of the world. Life was agony; death a gift denied. Even the living were not spared corruption. Atu grabbed the "bull by the horns" and embraced the horrid mutations that took root in his body and he quickly rose to the top of the "food chain" through manipulation, cunning, and a bit of brute force here and there. While many floundered, Atu embraced the volatility and violence, supported by his consort, daughter, and closest advisors. To protect himself, his family, and what remained of his people, Atu forged himself into the most powerful... but not without personal cost. His true form shed its humanoid appearanece, replaced by a more brutish monstrosity. His charisma hid the harmony of cruelty. His confidence morphed to arrogance. His words, once true and honored, became infused with half-truths and blatant deceit.
"It seems The Eternal forgot to put a 'termination' clause in the rules! We certainly destroyed each other... but it didn't end. Oh, it never did. It never will." – Atu Szeme.
Foray into Dremora
How the planar gate initially formed is unknown, but during an invasion of another warlord's territory, Atu found it, built a fortress around it, and dedicated thousands of years to woo, persuade, praise, manipulate, and entice the death goddess, Ah'Shal, to let him through the doorway she guarded fiercely. And, one day, he succeeded. Atu rampaged across the continent of Dremora and sewed his seed as he went. Ah'Shal followed him, leaving a trail of death in her wake. Eventually, Atu was shoved back through the gate where he waited, watching his offspring and hoping that one of them would finally let his people through the gate.
When Atu and his people eventually passed through the gate (sealing it behind them), Atu forfeited his authority to Hithvessa and his bloodline. Although his people traveled to Dremora in true and settled near the City of Fortune, Atu himself never left Ah'Shal's Court again. For he coveted Death... and he did eventually embrace her.
Progeny of Atu Szeme
In order of their birth:
- Hith'Elemy'Lanvi
- Newt Von'Della
- Lollith
- Hornbeak
- The "Twins"
- Yassir
- Unnamed
- Callon Von'Della
- Sage the Frozen
- Vermina of Obsidian
- Unnamed
- Zetla
- Chain
- Elysia
Newt Von'Della
Lollith
Hornbeak
Zetla
Chain
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