The First to Return – The Reawakening of the Radiant Citadel

Expedition

After centuries of slumber, the Radiant Citadel was rediscovered by Sholeh Alamae, a renowned scholar and explorer from Akharin Sangar. Her expedition was driven by a lost celestial map found deep within Sangari archives—an artifact older than any known dynasty, detailing a legendary city that once united civilizations. Determined to reclaim this legacy, she assembled a coalition of scholars, planar navigators, and diplomats, leading them into the Ethereal Plane in search of the lost city.

After centuries of slumber, the Radiant Citadel was rediscovered by Sholeh Alamae, a renowned scholar and explorer from Akharin Sangar. Her expedition was driven by a lost celestial map found deep within Sangari archives—an artifact older than any known dynasty, detailing a legendary city that once united civilizations. Determined to reclaim this legacy, she assembled a coalition of scholars, planar navigators, and diplomats, leading them into the Ethereal Plane in search of the lost city.   Their journey was perilous, fraught with rift storms, predatory entities, and the ever-present danger of planar collapse. After months of searching, they detected the pulse of the Auroral Diamond, guiding them to the Citadel’s dormant remains.   However, they were not alone.   For decades, Gith settlers had already been living among the ruins, having stumbled upon the site generations earlier. Though they recognized its significance, the Citadel remained lifeless—its ancient magics inert. It wasn’t until Sholeh and her Sangari explorers stepped foot within the heart of the Citadel that the city’s long-dormant energy roared back to life.   At that moment, the Turquoise Lion, the Dawn Incarnate of Akharin Sangar, awakened within the Preserve of the Ancestors, unleashing a brilliant radiance that flooded the city. This marked the first reawakening of the Citadel’s true purpose.   Immediate Impact & Political Shifts
1. The Speaker Must Be Chosen
With the Turquoise Lion now active, it became clear that the Radiant Citadel could not function properly without a Speaker. If one was not chosen, the city would begin to shut down once more—a system designed to prevent incomplete restorations.   This led to the first political crisis, as no single member of the expedition had been prepared for governance. While Sholeh Alamae had led them there, she had no interest in ruling. After weeks of debate, Akharin Sangar officially appointed its first Speaker, securing the Citadel’s stability and setting a precedent that would force every future civilization to do the same.   2. The Gith Are Relegated to the Gith Quarter
Though the Gith had inhabited the ruins for decades, they had never awakened a Dawn Incarnate, meaning they were not considered a true founding civilization. The Speakers ruled that their presence had no claim to the Citadel’s governance, relegating them to the Gith Quarter, where they maintained their own system of rules and authority.   This decision cemented the political hierarchy of the Citadel—with later civilizations inheriting a world already shaped by Akharin Sangar’s influence.     Contributions & Lasting Changes
Infrastructure & Governance
Akharin Sangar’s explorers restored the first civic functions of the Citadel, including activating communal spaces and protections. Their legal and bureaucratic expertise formed the basis of the Speakers for the Ancestors, though later civilizations would reshape it over time.   As the first civilization to return, Akharin Sangar’s early dominance in governance set a precedent that would later be challenged by other civilizations, particularly Siabsungkoh and San Citlán.   Expeditions to Rediscover Other Civilizations
With the Citadel stabilized, Akharin Sangar launched expeditions to locate other lost civilizations. Their records pointed to Tletepec and Shankhabhumi as the next civilizations to be found.    

• Tletepec (1254 DR): Rediscovered through Akharin Sangar’s historical records, which hinted at ancient volcanic trade routes.
• Shankhabhumi (1259 DR): The Citadel’s revival restored planar currents that allowed Shankhabhumi’s mystics to locate the city.
• Siabsungkoh (1294 DR): Would later become Akharin Sangar’s biggest political rival, challenging its early influence over governance.

• Akharin Sangar was the first civilization to return, restoring the Radiant Citadel’s core functions.
• The Turquoise Lion, their Dawn Incarnate, awakened upon their arrival, triggering the need for a Speaker.
• The Gith had already been living in the ruins, but since they were not a founding civilization, they were pushed into the Gith Quarter.
• Akharin Sangar’s governance structures became the foundation of the Citadel’s political system, shaping future conflicts.
• Their first major expeditions led to the rediscovery of Tletepec and Shankhabhumi.