Loþra (Loe-thrah)

The Loþra are the guardians of Kovur. Nine of them are stationed at points in an arc facing the Kovuran border, fanning out 400 kilometers from Iþivis' outer wall, and are each assigned overlapping regions that they protect; they are the outermost defense of the Capital. Each Loþra sits approximately 10 kilometers from the border.

In Kovur, the Loþra are considered just as divine as the Celestials, and were instated as guardians of the country over a thousand years ago.

The Guardians

The creatures take the form of massive dragons, reminiscent of a variety of Ancients. They sit unmoving for the majority of their time, gargantuan statues of an unfamiliar stone towering above the surrounding hills and plains. Outsiders may think they were carved as monuments to the Arlasians ancient gods, completely unaware that the statues themselves are divine. They patiently await any souls that enter their protected domain, and with their eyes aglow, they read those souls if they detect any ill will.

The accepted formality of those entering the country is to pause and bow once the border is crossed. The Loþra immediately pick their souls for animosity, a read that may go completely unfelt and undetected. But as the guardians read deeper, they may feel disoriented and confused. This judgment can last seconds to only a minute. If the formality is ignored, however, the Loþra may awaken without hesitation and approach the intruder to give them one more chance to submit themselves to their judgment. Only once this judgment is complete will the Loþra remain dormant, or begin a Sweep.

A Sweep can vary in severity. They begin with the Loþra's awakening and approach of the entering entities. Depending on judgment, the Loþra may wish to merely intimidate the intruders and drive them away very easily. However, if one were to defy the Loþra or attempt to pass further, they will retaliate aggressively. They do not hold grudges, however; they only retaliate for as long as the intruder provokes them and remains in their territory.

Culture

The Loþra are considered not only the protectors of Kovur, but worshiped as gods of the dragon species. They receive praise just as the Celestials do, and have even been named by the people of Iþivis.