Encura
A Rebellion Born of Tides
A Spark in the Depths
Like many of the greatest tales in the annals of Deuslair, this one begins with a single child. She belonged to the first generation of the race called Slithers, born to elves forever altered by the magic of the Roots of Life. Her mother, overwhelmed by the transformation and the crushing yoke of Dragsa's tyranny, chose to end her own life when the child was just an infant. A tragic act, perhaps her final defiance against her captors. It was a sentiment shared by many, as elves turned beastkin wrestled with a reality that twisted their essence and form.
The rising number of orphans posed a problem even for Dragsa’s cold-hearted mages. Their solution was pragmatic yet cruel: ageing elven captives, once scholars and warriors, were forced into servitude as caretakers. One such pair, Lasheal Enobril, a former sage, and Gaweyr Rash, a battle-hardened warrior, found themselves tasked with raising five orphans. Among them was an unnamed child who, with her turquoise scales glimmering and pink webbing between fingers and tail, bore little resemblance to her elven heritage. They named her Selene Ö Nen, after a moon goddess of ancient legend, inspired by the pride and determination that shone in her gaze even as an infant.
Under Lasheal and Gaweyr’s care, Selene grew into a child of boundless curiosity and resilience. Lasheal shared the myths and songs of a forgotten elven past, weaving tales of noble sirens and ancient waters. Gaweyr imparted the warrior’s craft, teaching Selene and her foster siblings strategies and skills passed down from elven glory days. Together, these unlikely guardians preserved fragments of a noble culture in a sea of despair.
Waves of Defiance
Selene’s formative years unfolded against the backdrop of a changing world. Dragsa’s mages established brutal academies where beastkin children were trained to serve as soldiers or cast aside as failures. Despite the oppressive system, Selene excelled, her strategic brilliance and bravery earning her a place of prominence in Dragsa’s ranks. Alongside her foster brother, Elion Cuendel, she rose through the army’s hierarchy, her insight and courage winning battles and recognition alike.
Yet, the rewards for her service only deepened her disillusionment. Her victories brought luxuries and acclaim, but the distant stares of her foster family reminded her of the hollow nature of her success. A moment of harrowing clarity came when Elion, risking everything to save a pregnant dwarven prisoner, was sentenced to death. Forced to carry out his execution to protect her family, Selene’s spirit fractured. She saw, with agonizing clarity, that no amount of loyalty or achievement would ever earn her true acceptance.
A Tidal Alliance
Haunted but resolute, Selene turned her strategic mind toward rebellion. The path was treacherous. Open defiance was suicidal, but covert alliances offered hope. Her first overtures were to the Medusas of Kallonia, reclusive masters of illusion. Through persistence and shared pain, she gained their trust. Next came the dwarves of the Redoe Alliance, whose unyielding resolve matched her own.
Years of meticulous planning culminated in a grand strategy to cripple Dragsa’s naval dominance. Dwarves crafted intricate traps, Medusas conjured veils of illusion, and Selene rallied her fellow beastkin to the cause. The operation unfolded beneath stormy skies, a daring gambit to free her people. Yet even the best-laid plans could not anticipate the betrayal of some merfolk who sided with Dragsa. The waters turned crimson in a massacre now remembered as “Kins’ Bloodbath.”
Though Dragsa’s fleet was devastated, the cost was staggering. Less than one-third of the rebels survived, and the nurseries where young beastkin were sheltered were razed. Among the fallen were Selene’s foster parents, who perished in a final act of heroism, carrying children to safety through smoke and flame.
The Tide of Freedom
Encura’s rebellion came at an unimaginable price, but it shattered the chains that bound its people. From the ashes of their shared suffering rose a nation defined by resilience and unity. Today, Encura’s seas teem with life and promise, its people a living testament to the unyielding spirit of freedom.
Selene Ö Nen, your story swells like the tides you commanded—unpredictable, powerful, and eternal. May the waters of Encura carry your memory forward, a beacon for those who dream of a world unbound by tyranny.
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