Asharion
The Eternal Flame
The City Of Asharion
Asharion is a vast and ancient island that lies between Val’ Aerah and Nimerath, a sacred land belonging to no mortal kingdom but to the gods themselves. Though isolated from the rest of the world, its people thrive in harmony, guided by their own royal bloodline and a deep spiritual connection to the Valthanars. Upon the towering peaks of Asharion dwell the Phoenixes, divine, flame-born creatures gifted to the Asharians by the gods as a reward for their unwavering loyalty. Unlike any other realm, the Asharian people speak Elmaen, the celestial language of the Valthanars, taught to them directly by the gods in an age when the bond between mortal and divine was unbreakable. Their kingdom stands as a living reminder of this sacred bond: a realm shaped by faith, sustained by tradition, and blessed with the eternal fire of the Phoenix.
Enarel Eh Velar Thar
The people of Asharion honor the gods through grand temples built of white stone and phoenix-forged metal, each structure glowing with a gentle warmth that symbolizes their eternal devotion. At dawn and dusk, the Asharians gather to offer prayers to the Valthanars, reciting ancient hymns in Elmaen, the divine language gifted to them by the gods themselves. Their worship extends also to the Phoenixes, the sacred creatures bestowed upon their people as a celestial blessing. Shrines dedicated to these flame-born guardians rise across the island, where offerings of light and song are made in gratitude for their presence. At the heart of Asharian belief lies their sacred motto: Enarel Eh Velar Thar—We are the Eternal Flame. This guiding truth shapes every aspect of their culture, reminding them that their loyalty, their spirit, and their fire will never fade.
The Bond Between Asharians and the Phoenixes
Throughout the ages, the people of Asharion have lived in perfect harmony with the Phoenixes, the divine flame-born creatures gifted to them by the gods. Though the Phoenixes soar freely above the island’s sacred peaks, only a very small number of individuals, across all of Asharian history, have ever managed to form a true bond with one. Such a connection is extraordinarily rare, for a Phoenix will only yield to someone whose spirit burns with exceptional strength, purity, and resolve. Those who succeed do not simply command a Phoenix, they unite with it. Their souls intertwine, becoming one living essence shared between two beings. The bond is absolute: if one dies, the other follows, for their life force is forever linked. In moments when this connection is awakened and the Phoenix answers its partner’s will, the human’s eyes ignite, their irises turning a vivid flame-orange, mirroring the fire of the creature they are bound to. This sacred union stands as one of the greatest honors in Asharion, a living testament to the divine trust bestowed upon their people and to the eternal flame that defines their destiny.
Τhe Era of Emberfall
Asharion flourished during the Second Era, known as Emberfall (EF), an age defined by radiant flame, divine favor, and the soaring presence of the Phoenixes. Spanning 4,280 years, Emberfall marked the height of Asharian culture: a time when their temples blazed with sacred fire, their kings ruled in harmony with the gods, and the Phoenixes watched over the land like living stars. But the era came to its tragic close with an event remembered in sorrow across all of Nirya: The Silence of the Phoenix, the moment when the divine flames dimmed, the sky grew still, and the bond between Asharion and their celestial guardians was forever changed.