The Heir of Nothing

Prologue: A History of Prophis

Thousands of years ago before there was technology and democracy, we were ruled by the times of old. Where kings and queens ruled over the lands and people. Kingdoms had risen and fallen throughout history. None larger and more ancient than that of the kingdom known as Prophis. A once prosperous kingdom riddled with history.

Prophis had many kings and queens throughout its long reign. Some notable kings such as Edmond Northburn and Leonidas Vaylore. The kingdom of Prophis was ruled by a king for centuries until, a young woman from a house slaughtered in The Savage Scourge, engaged in the games of the court. She fought and schemed her way to the golden throne of Prophis. This woman would bring about the reign of many justful and great queens for the kingdom. No more were the women of noble birth cast aside for a son or married of to produce heirs for a lord. They would inherit kingdoms, lands, and fight in battles.

This history will follow and recount the beginning of this queen's reign. The first true ruling queen of Prophis, Queen Calista Siobhan. But to understand this queen's history we must learn of the lands and houses that resided in Prophis. Look to the biggening of our queen's story on what sent her down the path of becoming a ruling queen, The Savage Scourge.

There were six great lands that resided in the kingdom of Prophis. Not to say there weren't other lands important to Prophis' prosperity. But these six lands housed the most noble and great houses within the kingdom. They were the backbone of Prophis, without them the kingdom would have fallen quickly.

We shall begin with Goldstone Keep, the residing home of the ruling king. It was situated within the center of the continent. Many houses and farmlands residing around it. A large portion of the Great Silk Road converged through this area. The Great Silk Road traversed throughout all the lands of Prophis, an area where trade was conducted. The largest source of trade taking place in Goldstone Keep. It was this Great Silk Road and its gold that lead to Goldstone Keep earning its name. Within Goldstone Keep there sat a throne made of pure gold, it would glint its golden light throughout the throne room when the sun's beams would catch along it. Wars hand been fought, and blood had been spilled for hundreds of years to obtain this throne.

It was here where the ruling family, House Northburn, lived. The king during this time that of Aldrich Northburn and his queen Helena of House Gailwen. They had three children: a son and two twin daughters. Their son and heir to the golden throne, Prince Edric Northburn. Their two daughters, Princess' Lilibet and Lucia Northburn. Princess Lilibet would perish in the Great Plague that ran through the kingdom a year before The Savage Scourge. While the rest of the family would die during The Savage Scourge.

To the North lay Devonkury better known as the "territory of the devils". It was deemed this due to the dangerous forest that surrounded it. Named the blood forest due to the trees that leaked a ruby colored sap. It was believed to be the gods worldly punishment. Devonkury was a harsh and unforgiving land, the summers unbearably hot and the winters harsh. Crops were few and unremarkable in these lands.

Yet, Devonkury was known to produce the most fearsome and skilled warriors. Every noble house and those who wanted to be known for greatness went or were sent to Devonkury. Many of the royal guard and city watch men came from Devonkury.

The ancestor who had put House Northburn on the throne came from these lands. Their descendants still ruling over them, those of House Vaylore. A house with a long bloodline of strong capable warriors. Many songs and tales had been told throughout the kingdom of the men of House Vaylore.

Leonidas Vaylore would rise up and take the golden throne form House Northburn, this would come to be known as The Savage Scourge. His wife, Queen Josephine of House Ionescu had given him three sons. His firstborn and heir to the golden throne, Prince Theolonis Vaylore. A second son and heir to Devonkury, Prince Antonius Vaylore. Lastly, his youngest and the queen's favored son, Prince Dragos Vaylore.