The Asfarix Family

Long ago, the people of Akar became the subjects of Raughir. When Raughir demonstrated his might by utterly destroying any cities which stood in his way, the people submitted quite readily. They reckoned that it was better to sacrifice a second-born son than to be utterly destroyed, but still they harbored deep resentment to their tyrranical master.

Soon, though, greed and hunger for power overcame the people's minds, and they set aside their previous feelings, for the most part. The region progressed very quickly, and became the seat of military and intellectual pursuits. The island of Funeng, just offshore, became a center for magical studies.

Raughir kept Akar from the whims and desires of the Fiends. He began to realize that he could afford to let the people of Akar flourish, and benefit greatly by their prospering. But such freedom inevitably led to several intellectuals speaking openly of the horrors of the Emperor. Raughir was not oblivious to this, however. He simply had those people killed, and elevated those who worshipped him to high positions.

Just after the Great War, which was also known as the Second Rift War, Raughir began the Great Purge. All families which were known to have performed less than optimally during the Great War were stripped of their ranks, and their leaders were killed. Other families, ones which had proven themselves, were given high positions.

The Asfarix family was one such family. Prior to the Purge, the Asfarix family was little known. They owned a large amount of farmland north of Tenigul, and several men in the family held high positions in the Imperial Army. It was a great surprise when Raughir made them the Governing Family of Akar. This decision would prove to be disastrous for the Demon Lord.

The Governorship of Akar was a hereditary title, and for three hundred years that family had the greatest honor in Tenigul. Tenigul became known as a city of honor during their rule, but it was well known that they were absolutely loyal to Raughir. The Governors would not openly execute dissenters, but they would exile them. And exile from Akar was rumored to be nothing less than a journey to Raughir's Altars. Often, the Sightless would aid in these exiles.

By the middle of the fourth century PY, the Asfarix Family was by far the most powerful family in all of Akar. Raughir feared that he would lose the loyalty of his subjects to their leaders, and to demonstrate his continued might, he began to show what truly happened to the exiles: sacrifices began again in Tenigul.

Saloh Asfarix was a young man when he saw his first sacrifice to Raughir; his father was the Governor. He was no fool, however, and he kept the feelings which welled up inside him secret. Saloh formed secret alliances with other like-minded individuals, and promoted them quickly within the Army. With his father's death, Saloh became the Governor, and the greatest general in the Imperial Army, aside from Raughir's Riftspawn officers. He led brilliantly against Durnalis, and he kept his true feelings ever secret. Raughir never believed he had a reason to mistrust Saloh Asfarix.

But in the moment of truth, when Raughir was poised to deliver the crushing final blow to the alliance of Durnalis, Gharin, and Anheldamar, the same Saloh Asfarix who had crushed Caldera turned his armies against Raughir's. His loyal friend, Admiral Dasiren Jessen, turned the Imperial Navy against the captains of Raughir who would not betray him. So it was that the Heroes were able to land on Funeng, and Raughir was killed.

Saloh returned to Tenigul as quickly as possible, and began to defend the city against all foreign enemies. He sought peace with Durnalis, but it was not to be. Many wished Saloh to become their King, but Saloh was wary of looking like Raughir's tyrranical replacement, and declined to take that title for a year, before finally accepting.

King Saloh of Tenigul was the first King of that city. He was well loved by the people, and he never allowed himself to be seen as 'greater' than the rest of the people. It was rumoved that he even ate common foods, and slept in modest apartments in the castle. He combined his continuing brilliance as a military leader with brilliance as a political one. But he was a solitary man, and never married or produced an heir.

King Saloh the First, Beloved of Akar, died in battle twenty-eight years after his legendary rebellion against Raughir. Though the circumstances of his death are well-known, those of his succession are not. It was his chief lieutenant, many said, who took up the King's ancestral helmet and led the Akarian Army to victory in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. None really knew the man's origins, and he called himself Saloh the Second.

Nobles across Akar were eager to support this new King; they believed that the Kingdom needed a powerful military leader, and this man was just that. He proved himself in battle, and made powerful alliances. Short months later, he was crowned King, despite questions of legitimacy, particilarly by members of the Asfarix family.

Nevertheless, the Asfarix were supportive of their new King. After all, there was no standing law which declared the Kingship to be hereditary. Today, this family is still the most powerful family in all of Akar, aside from the fledgling Royal Family. They hold all but a few of the most powerful military positions, and have alliances through marriage now with Durnalian nobility as well. They support their King, but there is little doubt in any minds that they would gladly replace him should he prove tyrannical.

OOC Note: The Asfarix Family is open to new players. A solid knowledge of the Asfarix and Akar are required for entry. Please contact the administration for background ideas and character concepts.

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