he Krethamas tells the story of Draekaver Saldaxin. When the world of Tera’vall was young and the drakadremaar vied for its control, Teshdremor chose a single champion to lead her people into victory. Jarec, her first child, served more as a spiritual figurehead than military leader. They would follow him to the very ends of the earth, into battle if necessary, but his limited exposure to combat would surely spell their doom. Instead, Teshdremor asked her children to choose one of their most proficient fighters to receive her blessing and become a grand general of her armies.

Though many veteran draka strived for the honor of becoming Teshdremor’s champion, only one could pass the scrutiny of the Star Mother. Some candidates were adept with weaponry and tactics, while others displayed a more inherent understanding of the arcane art of Amoryr, their goddess' powerful gift. They clearly believed the winner of this contest would be the draka who could successfully blend magic and mettle to become a truly versatile fighter.

“Select from your numbers those who are the greatest warriors. I will test their worthiness.” - Teshdremor

Jerseq was the first to earn the favor of her people. A fighter at heart, Jerseq’s limited knowledge of the Amoryr was sufficient to enchant her Baxir blades to improve their ability to hold an edge and penetrate tyrvamen armor. Having lived much of her life as a thief, she was more versed in the areas of stealth and assassination, but was nevertheless an effective warrior. Her raids on the tyrvamen settlements at Cagille Bluff and Torbou Hall made her renowned among her fellow draka. Her attractive form and charisma served to increase her popularity, particularly among the draka infantry companies she was occasionally assigned to.

Next was Araidal, a massive draka who had spent many hellish years in tyrvamen gladiator camps. Stronger than two men and naturally armored, he was a treasured asset of his handler, Gamesmaster Ordin, a man who made his living off vicious blood-sports and slave trading. When the War of Truths began, Araidal and his fellow gladiators, some tyrvamen, were released from servitude and formed a band of capable marauders. They called themselves the “Unchained” and the chaos of war provided them many opportunities to gain riches and power. Purely a fighter, Araidal had no reliance upon the Amoryr and instead used his natural strength to overpower his enemies. His time with the Unchained also taught him rudimentary battle tactics and leadership skills, both of which he was willing to put into service for the Star Mother.

Finally, Saldaxin answered the call of his goddess. Within him flowed a wellspring of magic, his ability to craft and control its powers unprecedented. The fatigue that commonly followed the use of spellcraft did not affect Saldaxin – he seemed tireless despite the power he regularly wielded. His command of the arcane was as frightening as it was amazing; none other could compare. His aptitude with martial weaponry was minimal, though his choice of a massive mace required little skill to smite his enemies. Until the war, Saldaxin had lived in solitude at the Spire of Presada and did not associate with his kind or their kingdom. His only allegiance was to his goddess, the one creature who afforded him his power – he surmised it was his responsibility to do her bidding in this time of unrest.

The Star Mother’s test was simple: the three contenders would fight one another and the victor would become her champion. When near death, the fallen combatant would be removed from the competition by Teshdremor and later returned to full vitality. Though not a worthy champion, they would still be needed in the war effort. When the time came, the contenders met for the first time on the plain of Ortou before the occupied capital of Einaron.

The battle was not nearly as climactic as many had hoped. Most thought Jerseq would prevail, her versatility in weapons and Amoryr an advantage over her opponents. They had seen her triumph over draka twice her size and entire groups of tyrvamen bent on seeing her end. Others felt Araidal would crush his challengers with sheer strength and brutality. The draka were fearful of the rogue Saldaxin and thought his pride would lose out in the face of the devotion his opponents had for Teshdremor. They were very wrong.

Jerseq used her charm to propose a temporary alliance with Araidal against Saldaxin. The sorcerer was a renegade to his people, aloof and unconcerned with their troubles until the promise of more power was offered to him – he could be dealt with first. Araidal agreed.

Working together, the two failed to pose the intended threat to Saldaxin as he easily bound them within invisible chains summoned up from the ground below. It was a simple yet effective spell to hold them fast. The constricting bonds squeezed the life from Jerseq as Saldaxin calmly looked on, words of power readying another spell to destroy Araidal as he too writhed within his bindings. Defeated, Jerseq was removed from the fight while Araidal’s more muscular body resisted the crushing strength of the chains. He would provide a greater challenge.

The next spell began to siphon the life force from Araidal, the warrior weakening as his essence now served to strengthen Saldaxin. A wise choice, for when Araidal finally withered and collapsed, Teshdremor spirited him away and initiated the next level of the challenge. An impromptu decision, she called upon a swarm of draka guards to fly down from the fortress nearby and descend upon the waiting Saldaxin. Impressed with his ability to dispatch two seasoned fighters, she would now see how he stood against a small army.

Over one hundred draka engaged Saldaxin on the field, many attacking from the air, others landing nearby and charging in. Saldaxin eliminated much of his airborne opposition with a fan of flames shot from his hands, while those who survived met the spiked head of his mace. Arrows and spears shot from above were deflected by a luminescent shield of light, while the energies stolen from Araidal allowed Saldaxin to overpower the other draka and bat them aside like flies. To say he was fearsome would not fully describe Saldaxin that day; when only he remained standing, even Teshdremor felt wary of his might.

Having won against amazing odds, Saldaxin rightfully became the champion of the Star Mother. Sadly, the decision came too late in the war, as the resourceful tyrvamen, with aid from their god, struck back at the draka with surprising effectiveness. Even the great Saldaxin would have been lost to their raging horde. Instead of losing her vital champion, Teshdremor returned Saldaxin to the Spire of Presada to sleep until she called upon him again. So that the tyrvamen would not destroy the tower and her champion within, she then buried the structure deep beneath the earth in a chamber sealed with magical traps. Saldaxin heeded the wishes of his goddess, went willingly into the tomb, and entered his slumber to wait for her summons.

“Sleep until I have need of you, champion. Our people will rise again, and on that day they will need your leadership. Rest now; I will send for you.” - Teshdremor

An age would pass before he was called upon again. The Ca’alanora rose from the ashes of the First Kingdoms of Men, the draka were driven underground, and the world saw the wonders of high technology. The Amoryr, Ai-yvir in the new tongue, rightfully belonged to the draka, but the Ca’alanora devised ways to adapt it to do their bidding, the energy now named Wei and serving as a convenient fuel for their machines rather than a mystical art meant to be mastered. Soon however, with disguised draka whispering in the ears of Ca’alanoran researchers, the great society was divided – one half held onto their technology while the other embraced the Wei as not just a tool, but a part of life. Aptly named, the War of Lies tore through the Ca’alanora with Teshdremor looking on, biding her time and waiting for the correct moment to return her children to greatness. Soon the race of man would destroy itself and her draka could retake Tera'vall.

Come the Third Era and a new rise of mankind, Teshdremor’s patience wore thin. Tera'vall’s population saw little decline after the War of Lies and instead grew as new races were born alongside remnants of old. The next generation of tyrvamen was strong and wise, born of Ca’alanora survivors and the Aa’shren – forgotten refuges from Einaron, one of the First Kingdoms of Men. They now called themselves eynamen in honor of their god. Dwarves rose from pureblood Bol'darvan, Ca'alanoran technologists. Elves were born of the Weisar, Ca’alanora who succumbed to the call of the arcane arts in the Second Era. Tera'vall was now Terrin and the gods, in hopes of establishing a more perfect balance amidst the mortals, created races such as the Avenel and Jota to populate its lands. The Deremijig, ancient enemies of Fedfarhan, emerged from their shadowed land to wreak havoc and claim Terrin as their own. Thankfully, the sheer confusion of it all allowed for Teshdremor's champion to walk the lands without impedance. The Third Era promised to be a difficult but worthwhile conquest.

“Oh, I did it. All my fault! We were digging, and Barin warned me not to use the twenty-pound charges, but I did anyway. I blasted a hole right to Ves, I did. Boom! When all the dust cleared and we went back down into the tunnel, we saw that it opened up into an underground chamber easily the size of twenty dragons. Humongous! I’ve never seen such a thing – the walls were polished smooth, like glass, and the ceiling was dome-shaped. At the center of it all, probably three thousand feet in, a black tower rose like the bony finger of death. The traps scattered about that thing were not of mortal make…” - Dalid, dwarven excavator

Saldaxin left the Spire of Presada around 1100 AR. The exact date of his coming is unknown and can only be approximated given his public appearances and records kept thereafter. Acting under Teshdremor’s instruction, Saldaxin first set out across the continent of Thara, seeking draka and preparing the eynamen population for the Star Mother’s return. His powers had waned in his long slumber and, awakening to the Third Era, he found that the Amoryr had changed to be more palatable to eynamen rather than draka. It no longer carried his goddess’ blessing. Wei, not Amoryr, was the new power in the realms. The Ca’alanora had engineered this change, but their cleverness was of no consequence; Saldaxin would soon be able to manipulate the new energy just as he had the old. He needed only time. The few draka that traveled with him then realized that despite this minor hurdle, he was even more terrible to behold in person than any story they had ever been told. With him also traveled the Sunderer, a mace as tall as common men and designed to crush bone and rend flesh; in Saldaxin’s mind, it was perhaps his only worthy companion.

Weapon in hand and a journey before him, Saldaxin had prepared himself to relearn many of his previous skills. What was not anticipated was his encounter with the Veslord Gazelem, an abyssal creature who had escaped the bonds of damnation to pillage the lands of Gautai. The people of the Commonwealth, even the king, lived beneath the weight of his mighty hoof and had suffered so for many years. Now Gazelem was presented with a challenge worthy of his attention, and he eagerly agreed to meet Saldaxin and battle him for control of Gautai and all of Thara. This would be a perfect test of Teshdremor's champion.

Saldaxin Battles Gazelem
Art by S.C. Watson

Many who had seen the encounter tell of a climactic battle with fire, wind, and lightning, while others report Gazelem fleeing at mere sight of the powerful draka wizard. Others add that Saldaxin was accompanied by an iyudrakal named Sable – a true dragon that fought by his side and fell during the engagement. Despite conflicting stories, the Krethamas clearly states that Saldaxin overwhelmed Gazelem and drove him back to Ves – it is never said precisely how this came about. It is doubtful any will ever know the truth of what occurred that day, though it was made certain that Gazelem would trouble Gautai no more. The Veslord vanished, and the taint he had placed upon the land and its people was reversed by dawn. Overnight, Saldaxin became a savior, receiving praise from people who should have rightly feared his every footfall.

“When the Veslord fell, it was like a curtain was pulled back, and the sun came in. Our crops dinnae spring right back to life, that took time, but the water was clear again. The grass green. And we owed it to one draka…” - Adimer Stout, lord mayor of Besias Mill

Upon hearing of his victory over Gazelem, Teshdremor presented Saldaxin with a gift: Ajermerak, the Bloodmace. Quite simply, this mace was designed to siphon the life essence of those it struck. Anything less than a killing blow would leave his opponent not only greatly injured, but severely weakened while Saldaxin would grow stronger. It was a very effective weapon that was true to its name; bloodshed fed the mace, which in turn fed Saldaxin. Accepting this gift, Saldaxin returned the Sunderer to Presada, where it would rest should he have need of it again. But as Saldaxin trekked to and from the Spire, he saw that news of his accomplishments was rapidly reaching the masses. The eynamen he met along the way displayed an inherent fear and yet an undeniable respect for the draka, and why shouldn’t they? Had Saldaxin not freed them from a Veslord’s tyranny?

Saldaxin, not Teshdremor, was being hailed by the people of Gautai as an enemy of evil. There was no time to spread the message of her return before he, the messenger, was being touted as a deity given flesh. Eynamen embraced him as a hero, and draka – many of which came to the surface to witness the return of the Star Mother’s champion – found him more impressive than any tale of their creator. News of “the deliverer” spread throughout the Gautai territories and worked quickly to dispel the many stories of draka being the ruin of mankind. Eylin and their other gods had forsaken them, leaving them to die under Gazelem’s rule. Now, the coming of Saldaxin brought the chance at a new life.

This level of worship was overwhelming and, to Saldaxin, eventually served to feed his arrogance like the rivers feed the sea. Here was true power, something that he had not yet tasted – the power to change the lives of many for the better, and to have mortals humbled by the mere mention of his name. For all the Star Mother’s greatness, it was the efforts of her earthly vessels that made the most difference. She had abandoned her kind at the close of the First Era, was silent throughout the Second, and now expected adoration in the Third; how could she command any loyalty now? Why should her people stand in awe of her, and not themselves?

Now, Saldaxin had fully awakened. He instantly saw the potential of his people who, in spite of years of isolation, remained strong in body and spirit. The world was ready for them, and Saldaxin was prepared to lead them – not as an agent of Teshdremor, but as their king. Eynamen, old enemies from ages past, were quite manageable when they understood their rightful place beneath a draka ruler. It was Saldaxin’s own standard that then rose above his growing army, not the Teshdrenoral. All past reverence for the Star Mother and the gods of men was now of no consequence. The future of draka and eynamen lay before the two races, and Saldaxin was there to be their guide.

This disobedience enraged Teshdremor. Here was her champion, the leader of her armies and harbinger of her return, acting entirely for himself without regard for her or her will. It was almost inconceivable that her carefully laid plan could go so quickly awry. Snatching him away from reality, Teshdremor appeared in a corporeal state to confront Saldaxin and, if necessary, utterly destroy him for his vanity and insolence. Champion or not, his popularity with the masses could not be tolerated. Looming over him, larger than existence itself, Teshdremor demanded an explanation for his actions.

Rumors suggest that at this time, Saldaxin usurped Teshdremor’s power by preemptively lashing at her with the Bloodmace. The Krethemas explains that Saldaxin’s attack on the Star Mother was purely in defense as the dragon queen vengefully snapped at him, threatening to crush him within her massive jaws. No matter the reason behind it, the Bloodmace struck Teshdremor upside her elongated muzzle, rending her scales as easily as it would tear through any exposed flesh. As designed, the Bloodmace then drained a portion of Teshdremor’s essence, a small piece of her nearly unlimited power then transferring to Saldaxin. The result was jarring, returning Saldaxin to Terrin while the Star Mother reeled backwards into the abyss of Iaara.

Upon awakening, the change within Saldaxin was immediately noticeable. A flex of his clawed hand would stir the wind as a bellow from his lungs would shake the earth. His influence was acting entirely without aid from the Wei – no spells, no incantations were required. He had touched the soul of a god and was now very nearly a god himself. The power of his will was now all he required to bend the world of Terrin to do his bidding.

Confidence surging beyond all measure, Saldaxin gathered the armies of men and draka who would now worship him not only as a hero, but also a deified king. Commoners felt empowered in his presence, and trained soldiers nigh invincible. To them, he is more than a savior; he is Draekaver, the Dragonlord.

“Dragonkind have long been protectors of our world. The odium that surrounds them is a fallacy – they are not ravenous beasts. They are not proponents of wickedness. The Draekaverist Church hopes to correct this, to bring dragonkind into a positive light and see that their rule is reinstated. Under their wing, you will be safe, protected, prosperous…” - Druevek Thabar Orind

raekaverism, also known as Saldaxinism, is a monotheistic religion gaining momentum in the west. The Draekaverist Church was established on the continent of Thara and maintains a strong influence upon the country of Gautai and its commonwealth of states. The Lorus Empire has been somewhat more resistant to Draekaverism and still maintains ties with the Triad Church despite Saldaxin’s destruction of White Paula, the Triadic holy city there.

The Draekaverist doctrines aim to unite all the races of Terrin beneath a single banner. Their beliefs state that iyudrakal dragons and drakadremaar were naturally meant to be the rulers of Terrin and their supremacy over all races should be recognized and enforced. Presently, much of dragonkind are reviled and forced to live in almost complete isolation when rightly they should be free to live as they wish without fear of persecution. The Draekaverists hope to change this by showing that a society ruled by dragonkind can be peaceful and prosperous, far more than any kingdom of man. This has largely been proven by an improved quality of life in all lands controlled by the Draekaverist Church; criminal acts are infrequent, the people are healthy, and trade is very profitable.

Aside from being the central figure of his own religion, Saldaxin also heads the Ren-redan – a committee within the Draekaverist Church designed to unite the Terrin’s many drakadremaar clans. The Ren-redan is made up of representatives chosen from the senates of three major drakadremaar cities: Srathenaar, Vrethikaar, and Dreirenaar; a fourth representative will be added once construction of Karathaar is finished and Saldaxin’s kingpriest is in place there. Saldaxin chairs the Ren-raden council and also occupies a seat on the Vrethikaar senate to satisfy his political ambitions, though he often favors church over state.

“Imagine his luck. Saldaxin is a kind and benevolent half-god and now a munificent king, too? Oh, excuse me, an emperor… right. Emperor of a holy empire. I’m not complaining – I like draka. I really do. You should too, because they’ll be running things soon enough.” - Jeridon “Jeri” Hawkflight, Csegrean historian

aldaxin has yet to ascend to true godhood and therefore does not have a separate earthly avatar. He is his own avatar, possessing the mortal form of a male draka with golden scales, black horns, and an impressive pair of functional wings. He has a mortal mate and queen, the Draekaivan Issoba’al, and two sons – Sal-zeram, the oldest and heir to the throne, and Kiringath, the younger and gentler prince of Vrethikaar.

Given his power, it is likely Saldaxin can assume other forms, though his ability or willingness to do so has not been documented. Many feel that although he possesses unspeakable power, he delights in appearing as a common, arguably mundane draka not unlike his brethren. Saldaxin himself would claim such a form allows him a more direct involvement with his followers, permitting public appearances where his disciples might witness his splendor. Those who have crossed him know that it also serves to inspire overconfidence in his enemies – something he can then easily exploit as he reveals his true power.

Despite his abilities, Saldaxin continues to rely upon the Bloodmace as his weapon of choice if participating in martial combat. He can summon and dismiss the item at will and does not often carry it in plain sight. When he requires the mace, it will be there for him. More commonly, Saldaxin will be seen unarmed but wearing drakadremaar infantry plate specifically altered and enchanted to tirelessly serve the Dragonlord; no sword will split the armor, no arrow will ever pierce its breast. Also, the Draekaver and his family occasionally travel via a Beliale airship he “liberated” from their Somerton shipyards on the cape of Gilkhidar. Apart from this vessel, it is understood that the Draekaver has a large collection of magical and technological items; his penchant for dwarven technology is surely more than an idle interest.

Holy artifacts are common among priests of the Draekaverist order. Even initiates may carry some small magical device, likely a wand, to facilitate the use of minor magic. More powerful items are reserved for those truly worthy of them; the use of enchanted robes, armor or weaponry only permitted when a priest has shown willingness to sacrifice for the Church. None of these items are made by Saldaxin himself, but instead are commissioned from drakadremaar makers and then blessed by the Dragonlord annually at a Ren-raden conference, the Radenor Gathering, or more often during select meetings of his high priests.

Drakadremaar Senate in Vrethikaar
Art by Thang Le

he Draekaverist Church is comprised mainly of casual believers. These common folk live their lives in much the same manner as they had before joining Draekaverism, but now also pay a tithe to the Church. This small fee may be paid in wares or monies donated to the Church in return for the protection of its soldiers and favor from Saldaxin. This support has been particularly desirable in these troubled times, as the gods have become silent and new and dangerous cults rise almost daily to threaten the populace.

All races may join the Draekaverist Church; it is not restricted to draka, as some may believe. In fact, a large portion of worshipers are eynamen from common walks of life. Elves, dwarves, and orcs also hold membership within the church, though their numbers are understandably few. More and more true dragons are also finding a place in Draekaverism, as it favors their kind more than other draconic religions, including Tirvalleism.

"I see a new religion almost every season, but this Saldaxin stuff is really something I can get behind. What has Eylin done for me lately, other than letting my crops wither and my cattle keel over and die? Have you ever even seen Eylin? In flesh? In visions? I haven’t. But I have seen Saldaxin. If anything is meant to be a god here or in heavens above, it is him. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself. Stand in awe." - Tavis, Gautai farmer

The Draekaverist Church has prominently influenced Gautai for nearly one hundred years and continues to extend into neighboring Tharian countries despite resistance from the Lorus Empire. In time, the Draekaverist message will reach past the shores of Thara and to other nations beyond. Many Athlassian traders and sailors are already speaking of their encounters with the Tharian drakadremaar bearing Saldaxin’s sign, and Draekaverist encampments have been seen throughout the Csegrean Peninsula. Despite this expansion, it is likely that Gautai will remain the center of Saldaxin’s holy empire, as many of his original temples are located there – the largest of which also serving as a tomb for his iyudrakal companion, Sable, a black dragon known for his steadfast service who perished in the battle against Gazelem.

More recently, Saldaxin has gained a powerful following in the western lands of Athallas. Draka of the Csegrean Peninsula, many who were forgotten by the kingdom of Csagrada for countless years, have resurfaced to follow Saldaxin into a new age. These primitive draka, also called Jiyndrakar, have moved away from Csegre to reestablish themselves on the Sawtooth coast of Gilkhidar in the newly constructed citadel of Vrethikaar. With Saldaxin leading them out of Csegre, their primeval culture of wooden huts and spirit-worship has advanced to more closely resemble the modern, civilized Ayrdrakar of Valanoi. Vrethikaar’s amazing architecture of carved stone is a testament to this.

"He may be magnanimous and powerful, but he is not good. Draekaverism is better as a political movement for our kind and nothing more.” - Unknown

No matter where they may tread, Saldaxin’s faithful march under banners of yellow and black and the sign of the Iydelac. Also known as the Dragon’s Claw, all Draekaverist priests wear an iydelac pendant that acts as a means of telepathic communications between wearers of the token. Once seen as Saldaxin’s personal seal, this symbol has come to represent draconic dominance of the known world and his steady rise to power.