Drakengard

Proud capital of the region. Once called Freewind, it was brought to the brink of destruction by Darum the Black Scourge. After his death, the city was rebuilt and renamed in celebration and stands as the shining sentinel and most powerful kingdom in Astana. Serves as the home of the High King of Astana.

Drakengard is a proud and majestic city-state and capital of Astana. It is a city that embodies strength, honor, and unyielding resolve. Perched high in the rugged peaks of the Ardentspire Mountains amidst the ebony bones of their greatest foe, Darum, The Black Scourge, the city is a marvel of engineering and artistry, with its towering granite walls blending seamlessly into the jagged cliffs and the massive skull of the dragon scourge. At its heart lies the Grand Citadel of Aurel, a sprawling fortress of gleaming white stone adorned with banners bearing the golden griffin, the kingdom’s emblem of courage and vigilance. The city is a haven of chivalry, its cobblestone streets bustling with life and tradition. Statues of legendary knights stand at prominent crossroads, their visages carved into eternal vigilance as reminders of Drakengard’s storied history of valor. The streets echo with the rhythmic clanging of blacksmiths forging armor and weapons and the lilting melodies of bards singing songs of the city’s many victories against dragons and villainous invaders. The Hall of Heroes, a vast hall within the citadel, serves as a throne room and a place of remembrance. King Zephyros II is a stalwart ruler with a sharp mind and a heart devoted to his people. Beneath his guidance, Drakengard thrives as a military stronghold and as a center of learning and culture. Scholars study the ancient tomes chronicling battles of yore, while artisans craft masterpieces inspired by the city's rich history. Despite its militaristic heritage, Drakengard is a city of hope, and its people are steadfast in their belief that their strength and unity will prevail against any darkness threatening their kingdom.

When it was first founded around 8000 years ago, Drakengard was known as Freewind. It thrived as a center of trade, culture, and innovation for decades, protected by its natural geography and a tradition of well equipped elite warrior clans that would evolve into the knight culture that would define Astana today. But the peace of Freewind was shattered when the ruthless kingdom of Zanhor, a militaristic empire from the east, set its sights on the prosperous city in 2000 BDR. Zanhor sought to crush Freewind's independence and claim its wealth, launching a brutal campaign to seize it. A long drawn-out conflict of on-and-off fighting for 30 years proceeds, with Freewind and its allies pitted against Zanhor. Zanhor's army laid siege to many encampments and cities amidst the Allies, its forces battering the walls and cutting off trade routes. Yet Freewind endured, its people inspired by their shared love of freedom and deep connection to the wind, which they saw as a symbol of resilience. Eventually, the war would break in 1970 BDR, ending in a victory for Freewind as Zanhor could no longer keep momentum to achieve its goals.

What really turned Freewind into Drakengard, however, was the brutal and destructive reign of Darum the Black, an infamous and violent dragon that played his own reign of terror upon the people. The city, long a symbol of strength and chivalry, was blindsided by the arrival of a newly roused campaign of terror from the Black Dragonhorde, the large local brood of dragons who had long began to dominate the skies and their peer dragonhordes. After having been largely dormant throughout the majority of the 30 Years War, dragons and man would come into the most direct conflict they ever had 2030 years later. Dragonrise would mark the turn of the global era, and within the next 50 years, Freewind would find itself the soul adversary of Darum, the ferocious dragon looking to claim Astana for himself. Drawn by greed and a thirst for destruction, Darum descended upon the city with an army of his kin, unleashing fire and ruin. Drakengard’s mighty griffon riders and its legions of knights fought valiantly, but Darum’s scales were impervious to their weapons, and his breath reduced even the strongest defenses to ash. The proud citadel, the Hall of Heroes, and much of the city were left in ruins. Amid the chaos, a mysterious figure known only as The Watcher emerged. Clad in dark robes and bearing a cryptic insignia, the Watcher appeared in Freewind’s darkest hour. They revealed their true resolve. In a harrowing battle atop the shattered spires of Freewind, The Watcher confronted the dragon. Wielding a mysterious and powerful sword, they pierced Darum’s impenetrable scales, striking directly into his heart. The dragon let out a final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing into the ruined city, his death marking the end of his reign of terror. With Darum’s death, peace slowly returned to the kingdom. Freewind began the long process of rebuilding, its people drawing strength from their unshakable resolve. A monument to The Watcher was erected in the restored Hall of Heroes, and the city chose to build amidst the corpse of its fallen adversary. The sword of the Watcher caused all of Darum's form to fizzle into nothing in a giant gout of purple fire, leaving nothing but a stone-like skeleton behind. Freewind also took on a new name, Drakengard, immortalizing their dedication to their tenacity and victory over this legendary foe.