“To defy death itself.. Is to master it.. To acknowledge it.. And to be reborn from its remains..” - Drogalmaar, era XXXX
Ashen - A variant of undead which is tied closely to infernal nature.. A race created from bindings between Pyromancy and Necromancy, and chained by dark mental shackles from the one who started the curse to begin with.. While some break free from this cycle of internal and external war.. Most still serve under the cursed hands who continue this cycle, as well as the fallen dark lord trapped within a long lost blade..
The curse of Ashens was made long ago, when war was raging under the lordship of a dark necromancer named Drogalmaar, who created the Ashens as a means to claim all of the world.. Even beyond the confines of Cinderfell.. But he was defeated and banished by warriors of light, led by his rival, Tuzvahriin.. Upon the dark lord’s fall, the Ashen horde scattered to all corners of the land, hiding away in what became known as Ashen Hollows, enclosed areas naturally maintained by heat, in order to preserve themselves..Despite this, and most starting to claim their own fates.. They still serve under the will of their creator.. Believing one day he will return with a new host.. But until that day comes, they either serve themselves, or serve the Ashen Dinokaar, the four lich-like beings Drogalmaar made in his living days, to pass on his will, and continue the cycle from the shadows..
Now.. the Ashens have been long abandoned.. Lost to time, and forgotten from memory.. But rumor has it, they have been getting more and more active with the return of a certain sword.. Voidkindle..
Variants
There are three known variants of the Ashen Race.. all following a sort of chain of command..
Ash Spawn - The low cannon fodder of the Ashen species, basic in nature and no will for themselves, they serve the Ashen One who killed them, or claimed them through Mentality means. These are the most common variants, as they likely represent every weak mind who fell to the dark armies.. They can be summoned in numbers by the Ashen Ones they serve..
Ashen One - Warriors who were specifically bound to the curse by the cursed sigils Drogalmaar created for his undead forces.. These beings hold a conscious mind, most serving their creator’s interests after being cursed for so long.. These rare variants are the heart of the Ashen Species, as they can control the armies of Ash Spawn under their command, in a hive-mind style fashion..
Ashen Dinokaar - This variant was created personally for Drogalmaar’s goals of conquest, and continue to spread his influence in their own personal twisted ways.. Only four of these are known to remain after the dark wars long ago.. This circle of lich-like beings acts as the overriding will to the Ashens as a whole.. Being able to bend the wills of Ashen Ones and Ash Spawn to their serving interest.. Willing.. Or not..
These four are divided.. And serve their own interests.. Though they still willingly serve their dark master.. Awaiting the day they discover his fate, and return him to this realm.. Once then, they will serve the darkness once more..
Cause of Affliction
Any living being can be bound as Ashen if one of these occur:
Drogalmaar or his Dinokaar bind a soul to the curse themselves. Living or dead can be converted. This is usually done by either rituals, or the unique sigils Dinokaar carry.
The subject kills an Ashen One or an Ashen Dinokaar.. Taking the sigil they carried for themselves.. This does not apply to Undead or other Ashens.
The Cycle of Mentality
All Ashens are at risk of mental weaknesses due to the nature of Drogalmaar’s curse.. A way to weed out the weak in his forces, while claiming strength for his defeated armies..
Should an Ashen One be killed, they shall be reborn as Ash Spawn, destroying their mental state and forcing them to serve the same way Ash Spawn do..
If the Ashen is killed by a living mortal, the mortal takes the curse for themselves, slowly becoming Ashen.. And the Ash spawn that served the fallen Ashen One, will now follow the victor.. Even the fallen Ashen One themselves..
If an Ashen One claims the life of another Ashen One.. the Ash Spawn that served the fallen, will serve the victor.. As does the fallen Ashen One..
If the Ashen One is killed by an undead or some kind of natural means beyond a fair fight.. The sigil is broken for this Ashen One.. the Ash Spawn and the fallen Ashen One returning to the collective hordes maintained by the Ashen Dinokaar.. To which ones the hordes are collectively gathered to.. Is unknown and random..
To Break this Cycle and this curse, one versed in Bewitchment- Mysticism, will need to study the Sigil and break it- thus freeing those from the Ashen Binding and completely putting them to rest, whether they be an Ashen One, Spawn, Husks, Etc.
One thing is clear: If you are binded to the curse, you will remain with it as long as the curse persists as a whole.. Your soul is bound to something beyond the normal afterlife.. And you will serve.. Well beyond the many afterlives..
..there is a rumor that the two blades cursed by Tuzvahriin.. Can exempt this cycle other than using Bewitchment.. banishing Ashens for good.. Or claiming them for themselves..
Abilities/Strengths
Ashens are strongly attuned to Pyromancy, and as such will be more attuned to all variants of heat and flame..
Ashens are restored by flame or heat attacks, not harmed.. Absorbing the heat for themselves.. Even Ash Spawn can heal to an extent from intense fire damage..
Ashens can use fire attacks easier than most, and as such will cast them as their sole source of magical attacks.. Either by setting themselves and their weapons aflame, or casting fireballs or waves of fire! Tread with caution if you hate being burned.. Even around Ash Spawn grunts..
Ashens are bound outside of death, due to the nature of the curse.. As such.. It isn't so easy taking them down..
Ash Spawn are mentally lost warriors composed of ash and stone.. So they will fight even if they start being torn apart.. Head destroyed or arms ripped off?.. Still will charge.. Only after enough damage is applied to the husk, will it finally fall.. Regardless of where or how it's applied by.. So single, high-damage strikes are favored here.. The main target point is against the torso, as this surface holds most of the Ashen’s form.
Ashen Ones retain similar capabilities as Ash Spawn.. Being able to restore their physical forms after periods of time outside of combat, however not as rapid as Ash Spawns can..
Weaknesses
Ashens are strongly attuned to both undead Malignant Mysticism, and Pyromancy.. So naturally they have very common weaknesses..
Strongly Weak to water, ice and holy spells. Plain and Simple.
Being exposed to damp or cold environments also have been known to slow down and fatigue them, while short prolonged exposure will be fatal.
While these creatures can regenerate their form, if they attempt to reform too much, it exhausts their energy.. Deplete enough, and they will fall for good.
If you deprive an Ashen of access to open air, they can perish quite quickly as their flame will go out being deprived of oxygen.
Ashens can be fought by many means and many elements, physical damage and magical damage. However the most vital weakness.. Is Mentalism.
Mentalism is a core design of the curse by Drogalmaar, meaning Ashens are strongly vulnerable to Mentalism spells and influences.. They are more attuned to the specific kind of Mentalism Drogalmaar and his Dinokaar use.. So if Mentalism is used by two parties, it is more favored to the dark ones..