The History of Kiadroth

The Kiadrothi Mages began as a clandestine order of sorcerers from Myraletch, originally known as the Sacred Order of the Kiadrothi. Their name, Kiadrothi, meaning "Balance of the Arcane," reflected their guiding philosophy: the pursuit of harmony between the forces of life and death, light and darkness, order and chaos. Unlike the necromancers of Myraletch, whose power was rooted in the manipulation of death and the bending of life to their will, the Kiadrothi sought balance in all things magical.

Early Isolation and Contempt for Necromancy

The Kiadrothi Mages held the necromancers of Myraletch in contempt for their ruthless obsession with necromantic sorcery. The necromancers’ methods, subjugating the dead, using forbidden rituals to prolong their existence, and bending life to dark purposes, were seen as an abomination by the Kiadrothi. They rejected the idea that power could only be derived from manipulating death and sought a deeper, more harmonious understanding of magic. They believed that the key to true arcane mastery lay in the balanced use of all magical forces, acknowledging the necessity of both light and darkness.

For centuries, the Kiadrothi Mages lived in isolation from the rest of Myraletch. They built their sanctuaries deep in the mountains, in hidden valleys and caves where the touch of necromantic corruption could not reach them. Their lives were dedicated to understanding magic in all its forms, both light and dark, in pursuit of a greater harmony between the natural and supernatural forces.

Though their power grew, the Kiadrothi Mages were seldom seen or heard from, their presence felt only through rumors and whispers. They worked in the shadows, studying, learning, and perfecting their craft, until the events that would change the course of their existence forever.

The Fall of Kael and the Kiadrothi's Intervention

When Kael, the Elven kingdom, fell under the relentless pressure of Myraletch's necromantic forces, the Kiadrothi Mages made their first major move. The collapse of Kael triggered a chain of events that threatened the balance of the entire continent. The dark forces of Myraletch had already begun their campaign of destruction, and the chaos that followed posed an existential threat to the world.

It was during the attack on Vron, the land ravaged by undead and necromantic curses, that the Kiadrothi Mages revealed themselves to the world. They fought fiercely, aligning themselves with the forces of light, and launched a devastating assault on the necromancers of Vron, who were a critical part of Myraletch’s war machine. Using a mix of powerful life magic and demonic pacts, they sought to free the world from the grip of Myraletch’s dark magic. Though their actions were considered heroic by some, their methods raised deep concerns.

The Dark Path of Demons

The Kiadrothi Mages’ use of demons in battle, however, cast a shadow over their supposed purity. They summoned demons from the depths of the abyss to fight the undead hordes, using the infernal creatures as allies in their war against necromancy. These creatures, while immensely powerful, were also destructive and unpredictable. The Kiadrothi did not shy away from making such pacts, believing that all forces, light or dark, had their place in the grand scheme of the universe. But the use of demons, creatures often associated with chaos and evil, made their methods too dark for many to accept.

While they fought for the forces of light, their means were deemed too extreme. The summoning and control of demonic entities to counter the undead and necromantic forces was seen as a violation of the very balance they claimed to protect. The demons, once summoned, were often left to roam and wreak havoc, further complicating the Kiadrothi’s already controversial position.

Exile and the Legacy of the Kiadrothi Mages

The Kiadrothi’s use of demons and their extreme tactics in dealing with Myraletch’s forces did not sit well with many of their allies or the other powers of the world. Despite their goals of restoring balance, their methods were considered too dangerous, and their alliances with demonic powers were deemed unacceptable. Faced with the disapproval of both their enemies and former allies, the Kiadrothi Mages were exiled.

Though their exile removed them from the forefront of the war, it did not erase their legacy. The Kiadrothi Mages were forced to retreat to the hidden corners of the world, continuing their study of magic and their pursuit of balance. They established secretive sanctuaries, far from the influence of Myraletch and its necromantic rulers, where they continue to practice their art.

Over time, the Sacred Order of the Kiadrothi transformed into something more enigmatic, a faction of mages that operates on the fringes of society, watching from the shadows as the world around them continues to spiral into chaos. They remain committed to their philosophy of balance, even if their actions are often misunderstood.

Kiadroth was born in fire and exile.

At the end of the Undead Wars, a cabal of brilliant Human Mages known as the Kiadrothi helped save the world by summoning demons to fight back the undead armies of Arekal Mordnakon during the siege of Grimvorne. Though victorious, their methods, summoning extraplanar beings and invoking unstable magics, were viewed as dangerously heretical. For their efforts, they were exiled by the very allies they helped save.

Sailing west, the Kiadrothi found a solitary island veiled by mists and surrounded by roiling sea. Here, they carved out a new kingdom, a place where magic would be studied not as a tool of fear or taboo, but as a divine force in its own right. They named it Kiadroth.

Geography and Layout

Recreated and shaped by Magic, the island is circular in shape, dominated by a massive magical formation etched into the land, a pentagram of cities, each aligned with one of the five primal elements: Ayr (Air), Fyre (Fire), Earth, Spyryt (Spirit), and Water. At the center lies the capital city of Ethereal, the seat of the Mage-King and the heart of arcane authority.

The Future of the Kiadrothi Mages

The Kiadrothi Mages stand at a crossroads, torn between the light they once fought for and the darkness they must occasionally wield to achieve their aims. While their exile may have distanced them from the world, their influence still lingers, particularly in places where the forces of necromancy remain strong. The Kiadrothi have learned to operate in the shadows, careful not to repeat the mistakes of the past while still striving for the balance they believe is necessary to preserve the world from total destruction.

In the end, the Kiadrothi Mages are neither purely light nor dark, but rather a mixture of both. They seek balance in a world that has long been divided, and their actions, though sometimes questionable, are driven by a desire to ensure that no single force, be it life or death, dominates the world. Whether they can ever truly achieve their vision or if their use of dark powers will ultimately lead to their downfall remains to be seen.

Cities of Power

Each city is a bastion of magical study, culture, and elemental mastery:

• Ethereal (Capital): Built atop a magical convergence nexus, it is home to the Mage-King’s Palace, the High Conclave, and the Astral Ziggurat. Ethereal bridges all schools of magic and serves as a neutral ground.
• Ayr: The floating city of wind-sorcery, known for skyships, towers that pierce the clouds, and its sky-born sentinels.
• Fyre: A volcanic city built upon flowing lava, with glowing basalt towers and forges that never cool.
• Earth: Carved into the roots of a mountain, Earth is a stronghold of geomancy, golemcraft, and druidic metalworking.
• Spyryt: A shadowed city in the hills, where necromancers, mindmages, and seers unlock mysteries of soul and thought.
• Water: A graceful city built around concentric canals and sapphire domes, home to healers, water-mages, and scholars of the deep.

Each city connects via leyline-enhanced causeways to Ethereal, forming a giant magical circle and pentagram, a Symbol of Perfect Balance, drawing power from all corners of the island.

The Ring of Warding: Mountains of Magic

Surrounding the inner circle is a steep and enchanted mountain range known as the Ring of Warding. These mountains are more than natural geography, they were raised by spellcraft, designed to stabilize the immense magical currents of the island. They form both a physical boundary and a magical shield, protecting the sacred center from intrusion, wild magic surges, and extraplanar interference.

• The Shale Gate: The only known land pass into the mountain ring, guarded by ancient living statues and puzzle-locks.
• The Eye of Vyraeth: A pristine mountain lake reflecting hidden truths, used for binding oaths and soul-cleansing.
• The Vault of Ash: A prison sealed below the city of Ethereal, holding cursed artifacts, immortal prisoners, and ancient knowledge deemed too dangerous for even the Conclave.

The mountains also serve as meditation grounds for spellwrights and monasteries aligned to the elemental powers. Their peaks act as anchor points for the leyline grid, making them strategically and spiritually vital.

Culture, Society, and Beliefs

Kiadroth is a magocracy, ruled by the High Mage-King and a Council of Archmagi, each representing one of the elemental cities. Magic is woven into every aspect of life, from agriculture to law to worship.

• Magic is Law: Arcane knowledge is codified, and mages are trained from youth according to their elemental affinity.
• The Arcane Castes: Citizens are loosely divided by magical path: Invokers, Scribes, Wardsmiths, Conduits, and Voidwalkers.
• Worship: While most gods are acknowledged, Kiadroth reveres The Source, a primal, faceless divinity said to have given magic to mortals. Some fringe sects venerate the Great Veil, the boundary between realms.

Ceremony, ritual, and scholarly debate are integral to daily life. Even artisans and farmers use minor cantrips. The line between the mundane and the mystical has long since blurred.

Defense and Diplomacy

Though isolationist, Kiadroth commands respect across Otara. Its magic, its philosophy, and its sheer arcane might keep even the boldest kingdoms cautious.

• The Sentinels of the Ring: Arcane knights who patrol the Ring of Warding and protect the elemental cities.
• Ley-Wardens: Specialized mages tasked with monitoring the flow of magical energy across the island.
• Voidseers: Rare clairvoyants and prophets who study the weave of fate from high towers.
• Portals and Embassies: Kiadroth maintains only a few magical gates connecting to the mainland, each carefully regulated.

The kingdom maintains strict neutrality in continental conflicts but has historically acted when magical balance is threatened, whether by rogue liches, wild gods, or otherworldly horrors.

Legacy and Identity

To outsiders, Kiadroth is a realm of mystery, grandeur, and otherworldly perfection, a land where mortals whisper to the stars and the earth replies. To its people, it is a sacred trust, a living arcane engine that must be balanced, preserved, and expanded for generations to come.

Few may enter its sacred heart. Fewer still leave unchanged.

Population Breakdown - Kingdom of Kiadroth