Athirey - the Dawnkeeper

Overview

Athirey is not merely a dragoness, she is an ancient Elder Dragoness, a living embodiment of wisdom and compassion who has seen countless ages pass and has borne witness to the rise and fall of entire civilizations. She has watched the world's history unfold from the secluded peaks of the Valpine Mountains, nestled between the realms of today's Lynora and Sturmgard, where she resides in quiet contemplation, far from the grasp of mortal conflicts. Her presence is a closely guarded secret, known to only a few who speak of her as a guardian, a saint, and a myth.

History

The War of Ascension and the Cataclysm

During the time of the 2nd World, when the Elves and Dwarves were the pinnacle of mortal power, Athirey watched with sorrow as the War of Ascension unfolded. This war, born from a desire for supremacy, pitted the arcane mastery of the Elves against the technological brilliance of the Dwarves. The conflict was devastating, culminating in the Cataclysm, a world-altering event that shattered continents and plunged the world into an age of frost and ruin.
Athirey observed the carnage with a heavy heart, disheartened by the endless cycle of arrogance and vengeance that drove both races to nearly annihilate each other. As Dragons of her kind often do, she chose not to intervene directly, seeing the war as yet another display of mortal folly. Yet, when the icy grip of the Cataclysm began to suffocate the world, something remarkable happened - Elves, Dwarves, and Humans of the west put aside their differences and worked together in their struggle to survive.
Guided by the selfless acts of Saint Arish, who led the Jermane tribes and the Feynarin Elves across the Nord Sea to safety, Athirey saw the potential for true unity for the first time in millennia. The sight of these once-bitter enemies standing side by side, healing and rebuilding, filled her with a joy she had not felt in ages. It gave her hope that the world might someday transcend its endless cycle of conflict.

Isolation and the Vigil of Hope

In the centuries that followed, Athirey retreated deeper into her isolation in the Valpine Mountains, choosing to remain a silent sentinel as the races of the world evolved. She watched with a guarded heart as they rebuilt their civilizations, nursing the wounds of the past. From her high perch, she could see the distant fires of progress and the occasional sparks of discord, yet she did not intervene.
Athirey knew that her presence would only draw attention, and she feared that meddling in mortal affairs might reignite the flame of conflict. She was wise enough to understand that true change must come from the hearts of the people themselves. So, she remained hidden, a silent guardian, content to let the world flourish on its own terms.

The Vallerian Invasion

When the Vallerian Empire launched its second campaign to reclaim Arboria in the face of the spreading Faith of Light, Athirey’s resolve was truly tested. The Vallarei Empire, driven by its belief in racial superiority, sought to subjugate the realms of the north, labeling the Humans and their allies as lesser beings unworthy of the lands they inhabited. The invaders swept across the Valpine Mountains with their banners raised high, and it seemed as if nothing could halt their relentless advance.
In this moment of dire need, Athirey broke her self-imposed isolation. She descended from the mountains with a fury that echoed like a storm, her roar shaking the earth itself. With fire that rivaled the sun, she laid waste to the Vallerian forces, turning their legions to ash and scattering their ranks. Her intervention was swift and decisive, stopping the Vallerian armies in their tracks and saving countless lives. The Dragoness had revealed herself to the world once more, not as a conqueror but as a protector, a living testament to the values of compassion and strength.
Exhausted by the effort, Athirey returned to her lair high in the mountains, where her loyal Kobold servants nursed her back to health. Her act of selfless bravery was celebrated across the northern realms, and her name was sung in the halls of Sturmgard and Lynora as the savior of the north. The people of these lands, forever grateful for her sacrifice, hailed her as a saint, a guardian who had come to their aid when they needed it most.

The War of the Storm King

Athirey's trials did not end with the Vallerian invasion. As the world began to heal, a new threat arose in the form of the Dragon Emperor, the Storm King, who sought to eradicate all magic users in his quest for dominion. He commanded vast armies of Drakkin, dragon-like humanoids who followed him with unwavering loyalty, and Dragons who had fallen under his sway. The Storm King's decree was simple: mortal magic was to be purged, its practitioners hunted down and destroyed.
Athirey, a Dragoness of the old world, feared for her own life as well as the lives of those who still believed in the magic that had shaped the world. She refused to join the onslaught led by her kin, hiding herself away to avoid being hunted as an enemy by the very beings she once called her own. In the face of such a dire threat, she chose survival over pride, knowing that if the Storm King succeeded, there would be no place for her or any who believed in the magic of the world.
When the Storm King was finally defeated, and his forces shattered, Athirey once more emerged from her seclusion. She opened her lair to the Drakkin who had fled the Dominion, those who defied the Storm King's decree and sought to preserve their magical heritage. They came to her as exiles, as lost souls seeking purpose, and she took them in as her own. To these Drakkin, she offered guidance and protection, seeing in them the same potential for unity and understanding that she had once witnessed among the Elves, Humans, and Dwarves.

Legacy and Reverence

Today, Athirey remains in her mountain sanctuary, a symbol of hope, wisdom, and defiance against tyranny. Her legend lives on not only as a Dragoness of immense power but also as a saint of the Light who embodies the virtues of compassion, wisdom, and self-sacrifice. She continues to watch over Arboria, her telepathic presence a silent comfort to those who seek her counsel, although few are ever deemed worthy of her attention.
Athirey's legacy is not merely that of a Dragon who saved the northern realms, but of a guardian who believes in the potential for harmony among all races. Her willingness to come to the aid of the weak, her refusal to stand by as magic was threatened, and her choice to shelter those who sought redemption, all speak to her true nature - a Dragoness who has transcended the primal instincts of her kind to become a beacon of wisdom and light.
As a saint, Athirey represents wisdom, compassion, and the unwavering belief that even in the darkest times, there is always hope for a better world.

Current Status

Reclusive yet watchful

Current Location

Valpine Mountains

Species

Dragons

Age

200,000 Years aprox~

Sex

Female

Eyes

Ember

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

White

Aligned Organization

Faith of Light