Pythion

In a time of chaos, the legions of Siroth ravaged the lands of Teleria, and the Dragonkin Empire as it was known was changed forever. In the ashes of The First Great War, the empire collapsed, its people ultimately leaving behind their former title in favor of a new beginning, calling themselves Lizardmen. In the heart of this era of reform, Pythion was born – a Lizardman blessed with wings, an extremely rare trait which resulted in shamans believing that he possessed the blood of dragons. This, they said, was a wondrous omen, one that may signify the dawn of a new age, one of hope and ambition for all Lizardmen. As Pythion grew older, the weight of expectation became arduous for him. He only found comfort in the words of his brother Skirax, who became his most trusted confidant. Skirax reassured his sibling that he was worthy of the praise he received for his tactical skill and magical ability. With his brother to guide and advocate for him, Pythion came to lead his clan with Skirax as his most trusted advisor. As time passed, Pythion came to fully embrace the prophecies, finally feeling worthy of the revelations that had once burdened him. With a fire of inspiration burning in his heart, Pythion was able to manifest the inconceivable, achieving unity between his people. After uniting multiple Lizardmen clans beneath his banner, the new era of prophesied rebirth and peace felt agonizingly tangible. The shamans continued to speak of his potential, singing praises as they reminisced of a time where the Dragonkin had ruled earth, sky, and sea, sparking Pythion’s desire for great conquest. Pythion called a great meeting to gather the loyal clans in the Sorrowlakes, declaring plans for great expansion – a war upon any who dared challenge the place of the Lizardman within Teleria. After gathering the clans at what became known as the Grand Moot of the Sorrowlakes to relay news of oncoming war, Pythion was met with betrayal. The elders of the united Lizardmen clans watched in utter dismay as Skirax came forward, challenging Pythion’s urging of war and shattering the union they had once shared. Disheartened by Pythion’s thirst for conflict, Skirax declared his brother disillusioned by the power foretold about him. He recounted the Sin of Dragons – a monumental event caused by the Dragonkin in which Siroth's hordes were given means to return to the mortal plane and terrorize Teleria – to all. The unspeakable sin was a result of the all-consuming pride of the Dragonkin, he said, and that he would not see the Lizardmen repeat that mistake. Pythion retorted in rage, and the brothers who once stood at each other's sides were unable to find common ground. They left the moot as enemies, the clans now forced to divide and choose loyalty to one of the brothers. Each brother amassed followers as the ideological conflict continued. Many Lizardmen felt war was imminent, the once-promised age of rebirth and reinvention only leading them to another cursed crossroad instead. On the eve of assured combat, Pythion was greeted by a being of legendary status. It was the last prince, Ramantu Drakesblood, an idol of the First Great War who had fought against the legions of Siroth that had come before. He warned Pythion of the Dragonkin's hubris – how the empire had fallen, and how a figure held in such glittering esteem could be a force of impending destruction. This fate was something Pythion could picture all too easily. The two Lizardmen spoke in confidence throughout the night, sharing tales of past and present. As dawn broke, Pythion laid down his weapon and went to speak with his sibling alone. Skirax, overcome with joy, welcomed his brother with open arms, and they laid their rivalry to rest. They emerged together swearing an oath that the Lizardmen would never repeat the horrors of the past. As the Lizardmen sheathed their weapons, the brothers realized that they had fulfilled the prophecies spoken over Pythion when he was born in their uniting of so many of their people. As a result of the resolution, a tradition would spawn with the location of the Grand Moot of Sorrowlakes coming to serve as a neutral meeting point – a space that provided future generations a place to settle disputes and forge alliances, one that would act as the birthplace of the legendary alliance known as the Gaellen Pact.