The Fall of Rozzi

King Arin and the fall of Rozzi

Roughly 650 years before the Dragon Onslaught, in the annals of Eroth's history, the tale of the ancient Kingdom of Rozzi stands as a testament to a time of unity and grandeur. Situated in the northern reaches of the land, Rozzi was a realm of verdant valleys and towering mountains, where the seasons painted the landscape in an ever-shifting tapestry of beauty. Its people, known for their resilience and hearty spirit, thrived under the benevolent rule of King Arin von Rozzi, a leader whose wisdom and valor were as renowned as the kingdom he protected.
King Arin, a figure of both strength and compassion, led the Rozzian Knights, an order of warriors unmatched in their bravery and skill. Known as the Guardians of the North, these knights were the embodiment of the kingdom's ideals – loyalty, courage, and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of their people. Clad in armor that gleamed like the winter snows of Rozzi, they were a sight to behold, a symbol of hope and security for all who resided within the kingdom's borders.
Rozzi, with its bustling towns and tranquil villages, was a hub of culture and commerce. Artisans and traders from across Eroth were drawn to its markets, rich with the bounty of the northern lands. Scholars and bards gathered in its halls, sharing knowledge and stories that wove the fabric of Rozzian culture. The kingdom was a melting pot of ideas and traditions, where innovation flourished alongside ancient customs.
But the peace of this noble realm was not to last. A fateful night brought a terror from beyond the known world – a Nightwalker from the Penumbra – that tore through the kingdom's defenses and brought despair to its people. King Arin, ever the fearless leader, rallied his knights in a valiant stand against this otherworldly foe. The battle that ensued was fierce and fraught with peril, a testament to the might and bravery of the Rozzian Knights. Yet, despite their prowess, the Nightwalker's power was overwhelming, and King Arin fell, a hero's death that would mark the end of an era.
In the wake of this tragedy, the kingdom found itself at a crossroads, its future uncertain. King Arin's children, Vilith and Azzo, inherited a realm shaken to its core, a people in need of guidance and protection. Their subsequent choices, driven by desperation and a yearning to safeguard their father's legacy, would lead to a transformation that would forever alter the course of Rozzian history and give birth to the divided realms of Nothrozzi and Sothrozzi.

The Deal and the Curse

In the wake of King Arin's tragic demise at the hands of the Nightwalker, the kingdom of Rozzi was engulfed in a shroud of despair and vulnerability. The mantle of leadership fell upon the young shoulders of Vilith and Azzo, King Arin’s children, who were thrust into a maelstrom of chaos and fear. Their father's death not only left a void in the kingdom's heart but also exposed it to threats both from within and beyond its borders. Desperate to protect their people and preserve the legacy of Rozzi, Vilith and Azzo sought a solution that would turn the tides against the seemingly invincible Nightwalker.
The siblings turned to ancient and forbidden lore, delving into realms of knowledge that their father had cautiously avoided. In their search for power, they came upon a being they believed to be an ally, a creature of immense power shrouded in mystery and shadow. With the fate of Rozzi hanging in the balance, Vilith and Azzo made a pact with this entity, beseeching it for the strength to defeat the Nightwalker. The being acquiesced, granting them the power they so desperately sought, but the price of this boon was far greater than they could have imagined.
In the wake of the Nightwalker's defeat, a curse, dark and irreversible, descended upon the siblings. Azzo found himself consumed by an insatiable thirst, his flesh pale and his nature forever altered – he had become the first vampire of Ro'Kroya. Simultaneously, Vilith underwent a transformation of her own; her body twisted and contorted, giving way to the form of a werewolf, marking her as Ro'Kroya's inaugural lycanthrope. These changes were not mere afflictions but profound alterations of their very beings, endowing them with immense power yet cursing them with eternal hunger and a duality they could never escape.
The siblings soon discovered the extent of their curse: Azzo's ability to create other vampires came with the caveat that none but he would retain immortality, and Vilith realized that true werewolves could only be born, not turned by bite or scratch. This revelation was a painful reminder of the weight of their decision and the irreversible path they had chosen. Their newfound powers and curses drove a wedge between them and their people, leading to fear, mistrust, and eventually, the division of their kingdom.
The once united Rozzi fractured under the weight of this new reality, giving rise to the realms of Nothrozzi and Sothrozzi. Azzo, embracing his vampiric nature, retreated into the shadows, establishing a haven for his kind, while Vilith, burdened by her lycanthropy, sought solace among those who accepted her altered form.