r'Ash

The Great Protector

r'Ash was an Lilith Anuran follower of Phrixus, betrayer of Amukk, and Great Protector who used Shield Magic.

History

r'Ash was born underwater in a lily pad home, unaware of the surface world that was above. She knew naught but the water, and was raised to worship Kadakalan, the God of Survival, whose Temple was nearby in the swamps of western Udai.
r'Ash, however, did not believe in Kadakalan's ways. She wanted to do more than survive. She wanted to live for some kind of code, to fight for something. To purely live has no purpose, but to live with purpose brings meaning to the mundane.

To the Surface

r'Ash and a group of friends were playing around beneath the waves one day when her best friend, c'Lon, dared her to swim up above the water. r'Ash took the dare and swam up.
As her head broke the waves, she saw the sun shining, and saw other Anurans climbing around on trees. r'Ash was in awe of the world above, a place where her parents said only adults could go. She now saw that they were hiding beauty from her. That there was more she never knew about.
At the age of 16, r'Ash set out from the swamps, heading east on land into the mainland of Udai against her parents wishes. She heard it was dangerous, but she didn't care.

"If there is still a purpose for me out there, then I will fight for it. Until that day, I fight to find it."

— r'Ash

Around Udai

r'Ash traveled around Udai for two years. Here, she defended herself against attacks from Orcs and Korvians alike. The Orcs wanted a fight, but the Korvian nobles wanted her as a slave.
r'Ash was horrified at the outside world, the violence and depravity found within it. Yet that gave her a small idea. She had dreams of a better world, and while she didn't know if she could bring them, perhaps she could at least keep those dreams safe. Perhaps she could foster them for the future. Perhaps she could protect those who could bring about change.
That was when she stumbled upon a Temple at the center of Udai, which was offering exactly what she wanted. A Temple to the Mortal God of Mercy and New Beginnings, Amukk. A Temple that was beckoning for her to come.

An Honorary Draconian

There are few non-Draconians who hold a special place in Draconian society. Thanks to Sirlini Glirdog, Village Chief of Ealla around r'Ash's time, r'Ash was able to get into that honored group with Sirlini herself and the Korvian Sinner Caerxan.
r'Ash is seen as an honorary Draconian, a woman who was born in the wrong place but who found her way home among her people. Even followers of Helle acknowledge r'Ash's place in their history.

Life

476 ME 521 ME 45 years old

Temple of Amukk

They offered her a new beginning at this Church. They said that Amukk could help her spread mercy, and that she could bring about true justice through his teachings and his will.

Amukk by Jarhed

She even met Amukk himself, who explained what he wanted to her. He explained his idea of justice, and that it was the one, true justice of the world. He then sent her out to spread his justice.
r'Ash was with Amukk for a year and a half. She stopped Orcish attacks and witnessed as the other priests offered the Orcs a choice:

"Start anew in peace, or the only peace you will know is the grave."

r'Ash didn't believe this was what Amukk taught. She saw others perverting his judgement, his justice.
Because Amukk was once a mortal, some of his followers fashioned themselves not as mouthpieces of his will, but as those who were on an equal level to him. For they, too, were mortals with holy power. Yet they failed to realize where that power came from: Amukk. Their very own God.
r'Ash's thoughts went beyond and against this ideal. She began to work, without even thinking, against the priests of Amukk.
She would say to them:

"As men and women of the cloth, our duty is to follow our Lord's word. Not to preach our own. Our word is worth nothing but the deed that follows."

— r'Ash

Aaldir by Jarhed

Sailing the Seas

It was decided that r'Ash would be sent on a mission in 498. The Temple of Amukk was one of the few ports in Udai, but due to the nature of their mission, they would need someone inconspicuous to help them get past Ruzrugh.
r'Ash, along with some priests, boarded their boat and found that Amukk, unaware of their mission, had advised another to join them. A young Nephilim named Aaldir. Melthrum, one of the members of the Mage Trio, had brought Shadow Magic to Udai, and Aaldir had gained it. Aaldir's father was one of Amukk's angels, and so he spoke directly to Amukk.
Aaldir, r'Ash, and the others made their way to Ruzrugh, where r'Ash donned a false robe and pretended to be a wandering traveler whose ship was headed to Perilun. The Mammen of Ruzrugh sent her on her way, seeing no cargo on the ship that needed to be inspected.
r'Ash was taken by the waves as they passed. Waters not unlike where she once lived now passed her by in an instant, and she began to understand how truly vast the world was.
She did sail to Perilun, where the Amukk followers met up with another man and his religious worshippers. Vilthiar Hirakris and the Priests of the Temple of Helle.
Vilthiar had gained an item, like Aaldir, from the Mage Trio. This time from Salasar Feaphed. That very year, a Goblin Lord named Sliq Monion tried to gather all of the Item Magics, and the Monions stopped him. The Mage Trio picked up the scraps and scattered the items that Sliq had gained so they could not be gathered together again by any force in the world. Helle, however, was the Goddess of Greed, and she wanted everything she could get her hands on. She convinced Amukk, who owed her a great deal, to aid her, saying it was for justice that they bring the Items together.

Vilthiar Hirakris by Jarhed

The Heist

Helle's number one target was the Temple of her brother, Phrixus. They had their Head Priest, who was already an Item Mage, but aside from that Salasar Feaphed had dropped off a second item to them. Now, two Priests of Phrixus were Item Mages, the Head Priest was the Shield Mage, and the next in line was the Poison Mage thanks to Salasar.
The plan was to kill the both and take their items. It would be a stealth operation, utilizing Aaldir's shadows, Vilthiar's Copy Magic, and r'Ash's sneaking capabilities.
However, as r'Ash snuck in, she overheard the Head Priest, Uuxik Arroth, delivering a sermon about what justice truly was.

"Understand what justice is. Justice is protecting the innocent and weak. Justice is making sure those that hurt others get what they deserve. Justice is keeping the natural order, and making sure it is not disturbed by evil, but progressed by good."

— Uuxik Arroth

r'Ash found this to be quite a stirring lesson. She had long wondered what justice was, never getting a clear answer at the Temple of Amukk. She had questioned her purpose for much of her life, but as she realized that this was the man they were here to kill, she began to have an idea.
r'Ash jumped from the ceiling to try and stop Vilthiar Hirakris from killing Uuxik Arroth. She tried to protect him, but as she managed to stop him for a moment, Aaldir used his Shadow Magic to kill Uuxik, hanging him as he heard Goof Troope did to Sliq Monion.
Uuxik saw r'Ash trying to help him, and in his final moments, he said to her,

"Protect the people, little frog. Protect Drachad, protect the followers... protect yourself."

— Uuxik Arroth

Drachad Daxur by Jarhed

Uuxik died, and Vilthiar turned, ready to kill the other Item Mage priest, Drachad Daxur. Drachad had been given poison magic, and even as he tried to fight, it was clear that Vilthiar's Copy Magic was too much for him. He was impulsive and rash.
Vilthiar swung his blades, about to cut into Drachad, when a barrier appeared between them. r'Ash had taken the Shield from the dead Uuxik, gaining Shield Magic as well as a renewed sense of purpose. She would dedicate herself to protecting everyone.
With Drachad's help, she was able to drive the followers of Helle and Amukk out of the temple, and she swore to Drachad:

"Give me the cloth, my brother, for I stand with you now ready to worship a God of Justice. Ready to protect all I can."

— r'Ash

The Temple of Phrixus

r'Ash spent the rest of her days as a Priest in the Temple of Phrixus. She would bless people with all sorts of protections, making shields with her magic and gifting them to those who make pilgrimages to the temple.
Living with Drachad, the two became like siblings. Often r'Ash, despite being younger than Drachad by over 20 years, often had to coach him on what he should and should not do. Drachad was very impulsive. Drachad, then, taught r'Ash about the world and Phrixus, as Drachad became the new Head Priest.

The Child

In 510, Phrixus laid an egg, and out of it came a golden Draconian named Thaamis Tazziros. This was a Demi-God, whom Phrixus intended to be his savior. He had tried already with Salasar Feaphed, but had failed. Thaamis was his next attempt.

Phrixus by Jarhed

r'Ash raised Thaamis as her child, teaching him everything he needed to know. She taught him that he must protect all people, and that it is his duty to place the lives of all others above his own. He was at first confused, as he had celestial blood coursing through his veins, yet ultimately he understood.

Sacrifice

r'Ash heard of the 520 Massacre done by Drixodal Vortrin, the 62nd Grand Wizard, where Aaldir was able to use it to gain leverage in the Temple of Amukk. She had also heard that Vilthiar Hirakris had died and passed his item onto a young Draconian boy of eleven named Vornush Wrakris.
She knew her time was ending, and thus decided to prepare a special vow. She had become the Archpriest of Protection, and began to perform a ritual of Protection on the Temple. With it, she blessed each and every stone, taking two years to carve an inscription on all of the stones so that the interior was blessed from every inch.
r'Ash's blessing prevented all priests and devout followers of Helle and Amukk from entering the Temple.
As she finished the final brick, Vornush Wrakris, the new Copy Mage Priest of Helle, arrived. Beside him was Linfire, the Head Priest of Amukk, alongside Aaldir. The three of them said they would kill r'Ash and then the rest of the Priests. Vornush Wrakris said to her:

"What Hirakris failed to do, I will finish. I will take the items, I will take this temple, and I will take the Valley of Creation. I will take it all... and even that will not satiate my greed."

— Vornush Wrakris.

Vornush Wrakris by Jarhed

r'Ash decided not to flee. She had only one brick left, as it was being blessed. If she left now, the enemies could enter the Temple. So instead of making a shield around herself, she made one around the temple as the final blessing began to take effect.
While the barrier was around the temple, she fought the three priests. She defeated the young Wrakris, and even managed to defeat Aaldir. Wrakris grew enraged at his defeat, while Aaldir said:

"If only you chose true justice, r'Ash. We could have been unstoppable."

— Aaldir

r'Ash simply responded:

"The only thing that is unstoppable is the will of the people. We are merely servants of it."

— r'Ash

Linfire, who not only was the Head Priest, but was also the collective will of all of the former Judges of the last World Court, however, was too strong for her. He used various magic types against her, but dealt the final blow with his blade, as the Judges' voices rang out to Drachad:

"Taste justice, traitorous priestess."

— Linfire

Drachad ran to the exit, watching as r'Ash was killed. Yet he was blocked off by her barrier. He witnessed not only her death, but also saw as her blessing completed. As her barrier fell and Linfire took her item, Vornush Wrakris tried to enter the Temple. Yet he was unable to do so. Drachad laughed in his face, knowing he was safe from Wrakris's wrath:

"How can you kill your opponent and still lose? You're pathetic... my sister is laughing at you from Heaven, and all you can do is watch as everything your greedy little brain craves is taken from you. So, this is for my sister!"

— Drachad Daxur

Drachad gave a send off to r'Ash, sticking his tongue out at the three attackers and shooting out poison into the sky, making it rain poison around them. They fled, and Drachad was able to take r'Ash's body and bury it. It lies in the Northern Islands around the Temple of Phrixus, though no grave marks it. Drachad knew that would attract Necromancers and so he refrained. Only he knows the burial location of his dear sister r'Ash.