King of Blood

Fate

Avalon was once a united continent. Neighbour needed not fear neighbour, centaurs roamed freely through the Ironwood. Kelpie's played harmless pranks on fae children who wandered a little too close to the Bleakwood moors and mer often visited the shores, collecting shells for children who paddled in their waters.

All fae were satisfied with the divine right of monarch; all except two.

Zadkiel and Arawan Einar, twin princes born on the same day from the same womb lived passively with one another, Zadkiel a man of the people and gentle scholar and Arawan a fierce warrior and defender of the realm. When their father passed, the men fought over who should inherit the title.

Each brother formed their own court, Seelie and Unseelie, and whilst Zadkiel grew smarter and more beloved, Arawan fell into a pit of madness, driven by the lust for, what he believed to be, his complete kingdom.

The kelpie's grew cruel, instead of teasing young folk, they dragged children to their deaths. The mer fled back to the undersea to avoid the fighting, never to be seen again past rumoured sightings at dusk. And the centaurs, who tried to fight back though deep in the Seelie lands, were wiped out one by one by Arawan's growing wrath. Avalon was a desolate country; the gods frowned upon the brothers for their greed. Evanora clouded over the sun. Alannis made the sea unruly and uncrossable. Amphorn brought down no rain for crops. Silvanus and his soil gave no yield.

The Endless War lasted twenty-two long years, ended only by the untimely death of Zadkiel the Omniscient. Once the war was won, Arawan could finally rest. Though one night as he slept, his eldest son drove a dagger through his heart, assuming the throne and continuing the assault of the Unseelie on the fairer folk.

The turmoil continued for another century and a half until two lovers, one born of dark and one of light, set out to unite the courts once again.