Fyros History : New Beginning

Since the resurfacing from the Prime Roots in 2483, the Day of the Pyre has been celebrated in the Fyros capital every year to commemorate the sacrifice of the Emperor Cerakos II and the passing from the old life to the new in the Burining Desert. For symbolic reasons, this event takes place on the night of the winter solstice, which is simultaneously a period of grieving and a celebration of the return of the light that will gradually warm the earth, escorting it into springtime.

Traditionally, under the moon of the winter solstice, a procession of penitent miners carries an effigy of Cerakos II from Cerakos Gate, where the embalmed body of the mighty Emperor was cremated, through the streets of Pyr and back again. The procession represents the miners who first came upon the first kitin nest so triggering the Great Swarming. The effigy represents Cerakos II - who gave his life creating a diversion so that many citizens could escape to the east - and commemorates all those who died during the holocaust.

The procession begins at Cerakos Gate, moves down Arispotle Avenue, passes before the Emperor's residence then, taking Cerakos Avenue, travels back to Fyros Gate where the effigy is burned on the pyre. The funeral urn of Cerakos II is then delivered to the Emperor on the stroke of midnight as a symbol of continuity. And so the Emperor proclaims the beginning of the festivities in honor of the courage shown by those who have given their lives for the Fyros.

It is a highly significant fact that every civilization has chosen the winter solstice to celebrate the anniversary of a new beginning on the newfound lands. This season is seen as both an homage to those who have died and as a transition, symbolized by the beginning of winter, when the earth rests before it is reborn in the spring.

A universal calendar was adopted by the four civilizations in 2484 to allow better coordination in international affairs. It was devised as follows: a year is divided into four cycles of twelve months. Each month consists of thirty days divided into five weeks of six days each. The year begins in the spring, which traditionally starts on the first day of the month of Winderly.

Month Spring: Winderly Germinally Folially

Summer: Floris Medis Thermis

Autumn: Harvestor Frutor Fallenor

Winter: Pluvia Mystia Nivia

Days Prima, Dua, Tria, Quarta, Quinteth, Holeth (day of worship, whatever the religion)

Fyros Culture : Technology

Fyros technology is based on an intimate knowledge of fire. Centuries of observation and experimentation have led these peoples of the desert to develop techniques enabling them to increase material resistance through heat. An object is heated in fire to a specific temperature then slowly cooled in sand to toughen the fibre by reducing its brittleness. Situated behind Karavia Square in the imperial city of Pyr is the great Fyros forge. This forge was built according to the plans of the great Fyros crafter Xamus, during the reign of Leanon, and is able to temper all kinds of materials with great precision.

From the very outset of their civilization, the Fyros came to associate the wild flames that often scorched their lands with the dragon of the myth. Believing the flames to be a manifestation of the dreaded dragon, the Fyros bravely confronted and then learnt to tame the flames to prevent their wild rampage.

Sages under the rule of Hempios were prompted to further research to find out how to harness the destructive powers of fire. Thus it was discovered that acid on contact with air creates flames. This discovery not only shook the foundation of the myth of the Dragon but marked a turning point in Fyros mastery of fire. Indeed, this knowledge was extended to the manufacture of Fyros weapons, which are capable of blasting out fire, making the Fyros the most redoubtable warriors on Atys.

The road to fire mastery however has not been without sacrifice. Indeed experimentation has triggered many fires including the Great Fire of Coriolis which ravaged the cities of Coriolis and Destranon in the old lands.

Despite being capable of conjuring fire, the Fyros still conserve a natural source situated in the Burning Forest. This natural fire contains magical properties.

The Fyros quest for the cause of dragonfire led to the council of sages under Krythos to form a company of miners. This long mining tradition has made the Fyros excellent harvesters, allowing them to greater knowledge in the extraction of raw materials and leading them to develop techniques which increase potential extraction time of deposits.

Fyros Story 2

The Legend of Oflovak Rydon - told by a Fyros merchant

Oflovak Rydon had been a great traveller in the old lands and during the great kitin swarming, he shepherded thousands of Fyros from the capital city away from danger into the wilderness. On the morning of the seventh day he went to the crest of a dune to find his bearings when a halo of light came from the heavens and a great one spoke to him.

“I am Elias, the father of your condition and I will help you in this moment of need. Take your people to the east to the Ridge of Baldos where you will find a rainbow on the plain. Be swift, Oflovak .” On his bended knees, Oflovak gave his reply: “You have my word, Elias, and as long as breath shall fill my lungs it shall ring true.”

There was no time to lose, the wind could change direction at any moment and carry the Fyros scent to the kitin armies that were at present traveling south. Oflovak knew the dunes like the knuckles of his hand and, true to his word, led the multitude wisely to the Ridge of Baldos where there stood the promise of Elias. The rainbow carried them far away to a haven in the Prime Roots on another land, but little did Oflovak know that there could be no return once they had passed through.

By and by as more homins of every race made it to the Prime Roots with tales of horror and destruction, it became clear to Oflovak that even the rainbows would soon be destroyed by the kitins. The remaining multitudes of homins stranded in the kitin infested areas would never know the way to the sanctuary. But how could they be brought back? To bring anyone back means finding them first!

Again the answer came from the sky, this time at night. Throughout his life travels, Oflovak had developed a love for star-gazing and could tell where the clusters would appear according to the season. In this way he concluded that the Prime Root sanctuary must be situated far to the west of the ancient lands even though many thought they were to the east, as the rainbows had been located to the east of all the homin territories.

In defiance of his advancing years, Oflovak set out guided by the stars at night on the greatest trek. Every so often, aided by his apprentices, Deutheus Xaphaan and Kedgy Be'Cauny, he planted signposts that pointed the way back to the newfound lands. After many adventures, twice nearly losing his life and three full years of arduous travel, at last he came to a place he knew. The plains of Coriolis, where Fyros history had so often been made, stood before him scarred and maimed after years of kitin devastation.

He went from desert to forest, forest to lake lands, lake lands to jungle, spreading the word of the route to safe haven. I, with my parents, was among the first to take that route which opened the way for the Exodus. My greatest regret is that Oflovak Rydon, the savior of so many, never saw the rebirth of our civilization. But I sometimes fancy he is up there looking down from a cloud with Elias.