Solari Family/Draz
Introduction
A dark figure, hooded and cloaked, rides through the Shanandoah ducal castle gates. A fell wind howls at his back; the guards stare in awe as the looming presense approaches. Upon arriving at the entrance he climbs down off his black horse's saddle and beckons to be led to throne room. The soldiers quickly obey stealing wary glances of the mysterious figure as they bring him before the duke. Before the throne he kneels and looks up. The only features visible are his bright blue eyes which pierce the darkness which seems to surround this noble, enigmatic figure. Without warning, in a subtle yet commanding tone, he announces to the room "I am Draz, a noble of the house of Solari, and I hearby pledge my loyalty and service to this realm in trying times ahead."
Arrival in Dwilight
A Madina port night watchman gazes listlessly out over the ocean. It is the dead of night and the sea is unusually calm. Off in the distance he spots a looming black shape. At first he thinks his eyes play tricks, but the form continues to draw closer. Something about the vessel puts him slightly on edge, giving him the suspicion that this ship carries more than the regular shipment of simple trade goods. A thick fog seems to almost obediently follow the vessel cloaking the sea behind it in an impenetrable darkness. The watchman's eyes, helpless to turn away, follow the vessel as it enters the port. As the ship nears the watchman's eyes transfix upon a dark figure near the ship’s bow. Spellbound by this mysterious form the watchman scurries over to the pier at which the ship is docking. Oozing of fear and trepidation yet prodded ever onward by curiosity, the watchman ducks behind some crates near the ship and peaks around at the lowered gang plank hoping to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic figure. The watchman doesn't wait long for soon the dark figure emerges hooded and cloaked and wearing full on battle armor black as the midnight that engulfs them. The shape senses his presence and turns to face him. The watchman stares into the blackness where the figure's face should be only to see two bright, icy blue eyes that seem to speak of a sadness and solemnity he had personally never known. "You there, sentry, do not skulk in the shadows. I am Draz, lord and master of the noble house Solari; I have come to this land to help this realm in the trials that lie before it. Go now and tell your master of my arrival." Startled by the sudden subtle yet commanding sound emanating from the presence before him, the watchman immediately speeds off into the darkness of the city eager to finish this charge so as to put the whole unnerving affair behind him.
Aftermath of the Takeover of Panamana
Draz looks out at the morning sun from just beyond the edge of his camp. His eyes gaze admiringly as the orange, red hues of sunrise dance over the peaks of Panamana’s pristine mountains. Thoughts on the state of the republic flow through his head: monsters overrunning half of Madina’s provinces, the realm’s infrastructure being insufficient to support most of the newly arrived nobles such as himself, and the Lord Admiral’s plan to lead much of what little is left of Madina’s army in an attempt to capture a city hundreds of miles away on a completely different island.
Piercing the silence, “My lord, your scout has return.” announces his squire approaching from behind, breathless, having just run from the camp to deliver his urgent news. After waiting impatiently for a nonexistent response, he continues “Sir, I am afraid the earlier sightings are indeed accurate. The monstrous beasts that plague over half of Madina are here as well and in great number...sir...sire...” A small inaudible sigh escapes his master’s lips.
“Signal the men to finish breaking down the camp. We leave at sunset.”
“At once, my lord,” his squire acknowledges before racing back to camp to deliver the order. Draz takes in one last look of the surrounding landscape. Overcoming his internal reluctance, he turns around and slowly walks back to his camp to oversee the final travel preparations all the while wondering if he might ever receive the opportunity to gaze on Panamana’s mountainous beauty again.
