
This particular entry focuses on the Fire Region of Okoto. Included are the current major houses of the region, each of which rules over several smaller, minor houses, as well as any living or dead Protectors relevant to the current state of Okoto. Any and all events detailed within are dated BE (Before Ekimu’s Fall) and AE (After Ekimu’s Fall).
It should be noted that the Fire Region has undergone significant expansions since the War for the Throne. While they have historically always been a strong region, until recently, the size of their territory was quite small; now, however, they are easily the largest region on Okoto. Their conquering of the former Jungle Region has forever changed the political landscape of Okoto – for if one region can conquer another, who is to say that they will not try it again?
THE FIRE REGION
“Fire and Blood”
MAJOR HOUSES
(AS OF 328 AE)
House Aodh
“Fire and Blood”
Currently headed by Lord Burnmad, who has commanded the Fire Region since 310 AE. He was responsible for the destruction of two Skull Warriors in the year 316 AE, leaving Voxumo the Usurper open to further attacks and distrusting of his remaining allies; this ended up being vital to the success for Pulse Vatten to take his rightful place upon the throne. Lord Burnmad also led the Fire Region in later conquering the Jungle Region to end the War for the Throne.
House Aodh has ruled over the Fire Region for so long that the exact length of time is unknown, though most place their ascension around 102 BE. Its various members have often ruled over the Fire Region as a council of sorts; the Heads of other houses report to the council, who then in turn would report to whoever rules over the Fire Region at that time. Unlike other regions, where the ruling houses took command via conquest, House Aodh controls the Fire Region thanks to a complex set of political alliances and trade agreements, each tied together so that betraying House Aodh is to break ties with the rest of the Fire Region as well. Several houses have made this mistake through the years, and each has been extinguished for it.
House Ember
“The Flame Consumes All”
Formerly headed by Lord Imrukii, who was executed in 317 AE by Lord Burnmad for attempting to kill him and seize control of the Fire Region for Voxumo the Usurper.
Currently headed by Lord Dragonstar, who was assigned command of the house both by Lord Burnmad and by the decree of the Mask Maker Pulse in 318 AE. During the War for the Throne Lord Dragonstar helped Pulse to discover the long-lost Mask of Time, while also providing him with intelligence, having served on the Usurper’s council. Since the War for the Throne, he has served as one of the Guardians of the Ancient City; the day-to-day duties of running House Ember are performed by an unknown Protector under his command.
Much like House Aodh, House Ember has existed for over four centuries. This is thanks in part to its many ties to House Aodh – of all the houses in the Fire Region, House Ember is most closely tied to House Aodh politically. Its size is of note as well, for House Ember provides more than half of the Fire Region’s soldiers, and the second-largest portion of the region’s workforce – particularly the region’s forgers.
House Ash
“Naught Remains but Ash”
Both the former and current head of House Ash are unknown. They have publicly retreated into the shadows after the mess with the Usurper, and were already unknown to most of Okoto thanks to their particular role in the Fire Region.
Perhaps the most noteworthy member of House Ash in recent memory is none other than Voxumo the Usurper. After discovering his ability to craft Masks of Power in 291 AE, he played an instrumental role in what would later become known as ‘Voxumo’s Rebellion’ from 295 AE to 297 AE as a figurehead for the rebellion to pledge loyalty to. After Trijhak the Mad was slain, Voxumo took command over Okoto. His reign was fraught with distrust and malcontent, and eventually ended in another rebellion that would later become known as the ‘War for the Throne’.
House Ash was once nothing more than a servant caste in the Fire Region, on top of being its smallest house. Its status was raised 100 years ago by the current head of House Aodh after they helped to foil an attempted coup by House Darkfire. While House Darkfire was dismantled entirely for their treason, House Ash was rewarded for their loyalty and elevated to the status of a major house. Nowadays all members of House Ash receive rigorous training in order to serve as royal guards to House Aodh, cementing their loyalty for years to come.
House Coal
“Fuel for the Flame”
Current and former heads unknown.
Noteworthy members include RG, who served on the council of Voxumo the Usurper until dying in 317 AE thanks to the misuse of the Mask of Time by Pulse Vatten.
As the largest supplier of coal on Okoto, House Coal has stood the test of time without ever resorting to violence due to its sheer value to the Fire Region and Okoto as a whole. With coal mines stretching across its entire territory, the threat to threats has historically been simple; any attempts to infringe upon House Coal’s territory would end with the mines being collapsed.
Members of House Coal are often unconcerned with anything found in their mines that is not coal, and many have been known to actively throw out anything mined that cannot be used as fuel. Despite the naïve image this has caused, the rest of Okoto has still been forced to acknowledge that House Coal’s mining skills could rival even the Earth Region in its prime, and their innovation in safety techniques and mechanisms (as well as their complex and advanced air filtration systems) are some of the most advanced technology present on the island.
House Kindle
“From a Spark, an Inferno”
Current and former head unknown.
The largest major house in the Fire Region, House Kindle provides nearly half of the regions entire workforce – and the second-largest portion of its soldiers. House Kindle is notable to the rest of Okoto for the numerous services it exports; particularly the Stone Region, for whom it has purified all shipments of water from the Water Region since the War for the Throne.
House Boscage
“Fire and Ashes”
Currently headed by Lord Smoke Monster, who was the Acting Ruler of the Jungle Region during the War for the Throne until being forced to surrender upon the conquering of the region by Lord Burnmad and the Fire Region. Through some smart political maneuvering, Lord Smoke Monster managed to keep his life and position, and now serves as Lord Burnmad’s primary envoy to the jungle-half of the Fire Region.
Formerly known as ‘House Cage’ before the conclusion of the War for the Throne and the conquering of the Jungle Region, House Boscage is the largest of the three surviving major houses from the Jungle Region. It began to shift into its current form at the beginning of the War for the Throne, when it replaced House Hinterland as the ruling house of the Jungle Region. Eight years ago, upon the conclusion of the War for the Throne and the conquering of the Jungle Region, House Cage expanded its territory and accepted the surviving members of many decimated Jungle houses into its ranks, officially forming House Boscage. As a sign of their loyalty to the Fire Region, they took on new house words – modelling them after the words of House Aodh and the Fire Region. Due to the nature of House Boscage’s formation, its members are involved with a wide variety of activities.
House Hinterland
“Growing Strong”
Formerly headed by Lord TimeLord, who went missing in early 317 AE at the beginning of the War for the Throne. Although never confirmed, many suspect that he was murdered by Nato of House Greavesy and Terrorsaur of House Rayne, who were both under arrest and escaped custody around the same point in time.
House Hinterland currently lacks a proper head, with most of their ranks wiped out in the War for the Throne. Lord Smoke Monster currently commands the house, though rumors suggest that he has been training the late Lord TimeLord’s heir to take his father’s place at the head of the house.
As the former ruling house of the Jungle Region, House Hinterland was primarily involved with governing the region, and was the smallest ruling house on Okoto. During the War for the Throne, with no heir of age, its last head handed control over to Lord Smoke Monster of House Cage upon his death, and House Cage subsequently replaced the smaller House Hinterland as the Jungle Region’s ruling house. This move ultimately saved House Hinterland when the Jungle Region was defeated and ravaged by fire during the War for the Throne, as the Fire Region forces concentrated their efforts on the larger House Cage. That being said, most of House Hinterland was still crushed during the war, and now only remnants of it remain, stubbornly clinging to their ideologies with the belief that the house might one day return to its former glory.
House Briar
“Our Roots Go Deep”
Formerly headed by Lord Lazuli, who perished during the conquering of the Jungle Region in 320 AE.
Currently headed by Lord Tekulo, who served on the council of Voxumo the Usurper and acted as Lord Smoke Monster’s right hand during the War for the Throne, and has continued in that role since, helping to smooth over the former Jungle houses relations with their new rulers in the Fire Region.
Other noteworthy members include Underscore, who acted as the Jungle Region’s lead Diplomat before his untimely death due to the misuse of the legendary Mask of Time in 317 AE.
Of all the major Jungle Region houses, House Briar weathered the conquering of the region the best. Where House Hinterland was decimated, House Cage survived only by absorbing other houses, and all other major houses were destroyed entirely, House Briar remained mostly intact. As the best herders and farmers in the Jungle Region, their skills were necessary to help the Fire Region begin making use of their new territory, as well as restoring the portions of the region that had been reduced to ashes. As the farthest major house from the Fire Region, their territories also remained mostly untouched.
HISTORY
BEFORE 352 BE
Like the rest of Okoto, the Fire Region at this time consisted mostly of wandering tribes, with no permanent settlements.
352 BE – 348 BE
The First Council of Fire and the City
By the year 352 BE, both the Earth Region and the Jungle Region had adopted the House System with the aid of the Mask Makers of the time. Fearing that they might come under threat from their neighboring regions, the tribes of the Fire Region all met together to discuss a formal alliance. The gathering was also attended by the Mask Maker Vakama, who of all the Mask Makers had always had a closer relationship with the tribes of the Fire Region.
Within a month, the various tribes had all agreed upon terms for a formal alliance. Going against the advice of Vakama, the tribe leaders decided not to elect a single leader for the region; instead, they formed the ‘Council of Fire’. The Council of Fire consisted of the leaders from every tribe in the region, ensuring cooperation for the good of the many.
The first action taken by the Council of Fire was to begin the construction of a massive walled city, large enough to hold every tribe in case of an emergency. With every tribe working together, construction was finished within four years, and they moved onto their next project.
348 BE – 340 BE
The Walls
By the decree of the Council, the tribes began construction walls along the Fire Region’s borders with the Jungle Region and Earth Region. For eight years the tribes of the Fire Region toiled endlessly, determined to keep themselves safe from the more technologically advanced Jungle and Earth Regions.
During this time, Vakama forged the Mask of Fire – the first of the primary elemental Masks of Power – and gifted it to the Fire Region for safekeeping in 345 BE. In return, the Council of Fire gathered and in thanks, renamed the city in the Mask Maker’s honor. Vakama City was officially christened as such in 344 BE.
In 343 BE, the fears of the Fire Region were proven partially true when the Eastern Wall was attacked by forces from the Jungle Region. The builders managed to hold off their attackers until reinforces arrived with the Mask of Fire, which was then used to burn the Jungle Region Okotoans until nothing but ashes remained.
While the Western Wall was completed early in 343 BE, it took an additional three years for the Eastern Wall to be completed, as attacks from the Jungle Region became commonplace – but the Eastern Wall was built all the same.
337 BE – 336 BE
Adopting the House System
When the tribes gathered in Vakama City and the Council of Fire met in 337 BE, the decision to adopt the House System was largely a formality. During the construction of Vakama City and the Walls, the tribes had split apart and merged back together naturally, as likeminded Okotoans grouped with those that they got along with best.
As such, every Fire Region tribe was officially disbanded, and the different groups each elected their new leaders, who in turn formed a new Council of Fire. Within a year, the houses of the Fire Region had been decided and each had left Vakama City to find lands to settle in. The names of these early houses have all been lost to history, but their legacies remain intact.
331 BE
The Council of Fire Meets
In the year 331 BE, delegations from each house gathered in Vakama City as the Council of Fire met once again. This particular meeting is said to have been where the Fire Region began to burn their dead to honor them, as one of the Council members perished in the midst of the gathering.
314 BE – 308 BE
The First War for the Wall
For nearly two decades the Fire Region lived in relative peace, without any noteworthy events taking place.
This changed near the end of the year 314 BE, when a large force of Jungle Okotoans struck at the southern tip of the Eastern Wall. Unprepared for the attack, the Fire Region forces stationed there were slaughtered, and the Jungle forces took command of that portion of the Wall. Over the next several months, the Jungle Region seized control of the Eastern Wall piece by piece, until the Council of Fire was informed and Fire reinforcements were sent to the Wall.
For the next six years, the Fire Region and Jungle Region warred over the Eastern Wall, with neither region able to claim solid ground in the conflict.
While the Fire Region could have easily burned down the jungle with the Mask of Fire, the Jungle Region now had its own elemental Mask of Power. The Mask Makers in the Ancient City had also warned the Fire Region against such drastic measures, threatening to bring their full powers down upon the region if significant damage was done to the jungle.
Unable to make use of their most powerful weapon, the Fire Region instead sent envoys to the Water Region in 307 BE, proposing an alliance. The Water Region agreed, and soon, thanks to their own elemental Mask of Power, the Jungle Region began to dry up even as Water forces started to invade. Under attack from two sides, with their livelihood crashing and burning around them, the forces of the Jungle Region were forced to admit defeat within a year.
307 BE
An Alliance of Fire and Water
Influenced by their successful alliance during the War for the Wall, the Fire Region and Water Region leaders met in 307 BE to establish a more permanent alliance, as well as an extensive trade agreement.
This alliance would remain strong for centuries, lasting right up until the Stone Plague in 54 BE.
306 BE – 106 BE
Establishing Traditions
For the next 200 years, the Fire Region kept mostly to themselves, aside from minor disputes with the Jungle Region and Earth Region. Many of the current traditions of the Fire Region were established during this period, including the quasi-religious reverence they now hold for the element of fire.
Even more importantly, it was during this period that the typical approach to leadership was given shape, as the Council of Fire set a pattern of ensuring the good of the Fire Region above all else. While this would usually mean ensuring the good of Okoto itself – or at the very least, mutual benefits for their allies and trading partners – the Fire Region established a reputation for not being afraid to actively take steps against other regions if the Council of Fire felt it necessary.
By the year 106 BE, the Fire Region was divided into approximately seven different regions, with nine major houses whose leaders made up the Council of Fire – House Blaze, House Ember, House Darkfire, House Coal, House Burn, House Flare, House Kindle, House Ackar (whose members commanded the Western Wall), and House Raanu (whose members commanded the Eastern Wall).
102 BE
Patrus the Proud conquers the Stone Region
In 102 BE, reports reached the Fire Region that a single Okotoan known as ‘Patrus’ was uniting the entire Stone Region under his banner tribe by tribe, by right of conquest. The Council of Fire noted the sudden advancements, as well as the reactions of the other regions (particularly the Ice Region and Stone Region), but otherwise, Patrus the Proud had little impact on the Fire Region… barring one individual.
101 BE
Lord Aodh of House Blaze
The current Ruler of House Blaze, Lord Aodh, had closely studied Lord Nato’s rise to power within the Ice Region, and had continued to follow the Ice Ruler’s movements. With the news of Patrus the Proud, Lord Aodh set his sights on the Stone Region as well, and infiltrated both regions with his own spies to study them.
Within months, Lord Aodh established a spy network that stretched across Okoto, reporting the movements and plans of all six regions to him, while he himself analyzed each and every plan that was reported to him.
100 BE – 96 BE
The Rise of House Blaze
Modelling his plans on a combination of Lord Nato’s negotiations and Lord Patrus’s conquering, Lord Aodh spent the next seven years putting them into action. Travelling with his lead traders, diplomats, and advisors, he visited each and every house in the Fire Region to establish new alliances and trade agreements, in the name of ‘uniting the Fire Region further against their foes’.
By 96 BE, alliances and trade agreements had been formed with each house in the Fire Region individually. Thus far, every alliance and trade agreement could be easily explained under the guise of paranoia; Patrus the Proud’s rise had dramatically shifted the political landscape of Okoto, after all, and it was only natural to become worried.
But Lord Aodh did not stop there. His next move was to meet with both House Ackar and House Ember at the same time – where he revealed the fine print in the alliances and trade agreements with both houses. The alliances and trade agreements officially declared that House Ackar be dissolved into House Ember, while at the same time permanently indebting House Ember to House Blaze. Greedy and power hungry, the Okotoans of House Ember agreed without a second thought – and within a fortnight, every member of House Ackar was either dead or absorbed into House Ember.
With his new powerful allies in tow, Lord Aodh next met once more with House Kindle and House Raanu. With House Ember to back him up, Lord Aodh established a new set of alliances and trade agreements with House Kindle that tied House Blaze, House Ember, and House Kindle more closely together than ever before – while also indebting House Kindle to House Blaze, as he revealed that the prior alliances and agreements made with House Raanu declared that House Raanu be dissolved into House Kindle. With three major houses working together, it took less than three days for all of House Raanu to be wiped out or absorbed into House Kindle.
With three major houses irrevocably tied together in the Fire Region and two others crushed, the rest of the Fire Region and Okoto took notice, as Lord Aodh’s endgame began to reveal itself. House Darkfire, House Burn, House Flare, and House Coal all banded together.
95 BE – 93 BE
The Fire Civil War
For the next three years, the Fire Region warred with itself, as Lord Aodh was forced to resort to conquest in order to control the region. With the strength of House Blaze, House Ember, and House Kindle behind him, he locked himself into contact with the forces of House Darkfire, House Coal, House Burn, and House Flare – led by Lord Roy of House Burn.
For over a year, the two sides remained deadlocked; but in late 94 AE, an overwhelming attack led to the complete eradication of House Flare, with not a single member of the house surviving. Having witnessed the lengths that Lord Aodh would go to, Lord Kapura of House Darkfire surrendered peacefully in early 93 BE. He willingly signed onto a new set of alliances and trade agreements that tied his house to House Ember and House Blaze, with House Darkfire indebted to both for allowing its survival. Left without House Darkfire’s firepower, House Coal soon gave in as well, and received a similar gift of mercy.
Now standing alone, House Burn retreated into their borders, resorting to guerilla tactics. They lasted for six months before the rest of the Fire Region managed to breakthrough and destroy them so thoroughly that only dust remained.
92 BE
The Rise of House Aodh
In early 92 BE, after winning the Fire Civil War, House Blaze was officially renamed ‘House Aodh’ in honor of their Lord, and his status as the first Ruler of the Fire Region. Thanks to Lord Aodh’s cunning, even if the other Fire Region houses had been smart enough to use it as an excuse to violate their new alliances and agreements, they could not – for each agreement tied them to the name of Aodh itself alongside House Blaze.
Although House Aodh was officially formed in 92 BE, it is commonly accepted that it actually originated around ten years earlier, when Patrus the Proud’s conquering of the Stone Region influenced Lord Aodh to begin making his own plans.
91 BE – 78 BE
Peaceful Times and Makuta City
For 13 years, Lord Aodh ruled over the Fire Region peacefully and without issue. In 78 BE he journeyed to Makuta City, where for the first time he met with the Rulers of the other regions on Okoto – including both Patrus the Proud and his heir. During their meeting, the aged Patrus spoke at length with Lord Aodh before leaving, journeying to the Water Region to set sail on his final adventure.
57 BE – 47 BE
The Second War for the Wall
The Second War for the Wall began when a portion of the House Coal mines collapsed underneath the Eastern Wall, leading to a portion of the Wall collapsing as well. The Jungle Region forces nearby wasted no time in seizing the area for themselves, and in the blink of an eye, the two regions were at war again.
By now too old to lead the Fire Region into battle himself, Lord Aodh reformed the Council of Fire, using the heads of the other Fire Region houses to advise him and lead the army in his stead. His son and heir, an Okotoan by the name of Nuhrii, led the forces of House Aodh. Nuhrii was brutal and cruel both on and off of the battlefield, but even he was unable to make significant headway against the Jungle Region.
When the Stone Plague began ravaging the Stone Region in 54 BE, Lord Aodh sent a small force of only ten Okotoans to help, but all contracted the Stone Plague and perished before reaching their destination; due to the war, the Fire Region could not afford to extend any further offers of help. When the Stone Plague spread to the Water Region, Lord Aodh was forced to ignore them, despite it souring relations between the two regions.
Slowly but surely, the Fire Region began to push the Jungle Region forces back – rebuilding the collapsed portions of the Eastern Wall as they did so. Lord Aodh, rapidly turning decrepit in his old age, resigned his position to Nuhrii in 47 BE. The two remained isolated for a week, before venturing out to meet with the Jungle Region leaders.
At the meeting, every single Jungle Region leader – as well as Lord Aodh – died in their seats, their drinks having been poisoned. With the Jungle Region forces now in disarray and the Fire Region forces hungry to avenge their fallen Ruler, Lord Nuhrii easily decimated the enemy before falling back behind the Eastern Wall, ending the Second War for the Wall.
After the war’s conclusion, Lord Nuhrii maintained the Council of Fire, using their political acumen to his advantage. It was also at this time that the name of Lord Aodh was immortalized – as with every head of House Aodh to follow, no Fire Okotoan would ever be given that name again.
40 BE
The Last Mask Makers
When word reached the Fire Region that the Mask Makers Archean Borne and Vatten Borne had both passed away, Lord Nuhrii journeyed to House Archean in the Stone Region and then to House Vatten in the Water Region to personally express his condolences. Following in his father’s footsteps, these meetings were also used to establish new political ties with both regions.
Almost immediately upon his return to the Fire Region, Lord Nuhrii gathered a large armed force under the orders of the last Mask Makers, Ekimu and Makuta, and added them to the Okoto army gathered in the Jungle Region. There, they witnessed the appearance of a great temple, which brought with it several Fire and Ice Okotoans.
One member of the Council of Fire – an Okotoan named Keahi – was sent to the Water Region to speak with the visitors. Though Keahi was unable to gather much from them, he was able to later inform Lord Nuhrii that they were from a distant future, and had warned them to be watchful for creatures of shadow.
5 BE
Makuta’s Retreat
For the next several decades, the Fire Region was ruled in peace. Lord Nuhrii eventually stepped down in 8 BE, allowing his heir – Lord Vohon – to take command.
When the Mask Maker Makuta retreated deep into Makuta City in the year 5 BE, Lord Nuhrii journeyed with Keahi to the Ancient City, where they attempted to warn Ekimu of the dangers that Makuta would bring forth. They were unable to convince him, and both perished on their journey back home.
0 BE
The Long Night Begins and the Massacre at Makuta City
Having summoned some of the highest nobles from all six regions to Makuta City, Makuta showed off his newest creation – a special Mask of Power that he claimed had been crafted using all six of the main elements of Okoto. Despite the warnings of Ekimu, Makuta donned what he had called the ‘Mask of Ultimate Power’ in front of the crowd.
Accounts from the incident were few and far between, but each of them agreed that the Mask of Ultimate Power must have been responsible for what happened next. The sky over top of Makuta City went as dark as night in an instant, and the temperature dropped to near freezing in seconds. Skeletal warriors twice the size of the Okotoans present crawled out of the ground and began to cut Okotoans down where they stood – only for the fallen to rise back up and begin attacking their brethren in turn.
Unprepared for such a brutal assault and such dark magic, many of the Okotoans in Makuta City were slaughtered, including Patrus II, the current head of House Patrus. Ekimu managed to escape the city with a small squad of 22 Okotoans, 1 of which was from the Fire Region. They managed to retreat back to the castle of House Patrus, where Ekimu was able to convince the Stone Okotoans to begin mobilizing against their new enemy; in the meantime, the lone Fire Okotoan managed to return to the Fire Region, where he warned Lord Vohon before collapsing dead to the ground.
The Long Night
There are little to no records from the Long Night; nearly all of Okoto and its population were wiped out, with less than 2000 Okotoans still alive by the end. It is known that the Long Night lasted for 12 years, and at its end, the Okotoans as a whole began to refer to themselves as ‘Protectors’. Both Makuta and Ekimu were lost as well, leaving the original line of Mask Makers extinguished. Many members of the Fire Region survived by retreating into Vakama City, keeping it defended at all costs. Lord Vohon and his heir both survived in this manner, leading the remnants of their region through the Long Night.
Due to the lack of records, as time passed and those who survived the Long Night passed on, the entire ordeal was slowly forgotten and erased from history. The Protectors of modern times still believe that Makuta crafted the Mask of Ultimate Power, but there their understanding deviates from what actually occurred; for modern Protectors believe Ekimu and Makuta clashed with each other in a mighty duel, one that wiped out Makuta City and ended with both Mask Makers dead in the sand. Their current dating system, as such, is flawed, and is twelve years behind.
0AE – 5AE
Keep on Burning
Thanks to the cunning of Lord Vohon and his heir, while most of the Fire Region’s population was decimated during the Long Night, there was not a single house that died; as such, the rebuilding process was a simple one. Enforcing the loyalty of other houses to House Aodh was a simple endeavour following the Long Night, ensuring that even the most bitter of rivals would cooperate in the rebuilding of the region.
184 AE – 191 AE
The Third War for the Wall
Nearly 180 years of peace followed the Long Night; where other regions remained in a perpetual state of uncertainty (regardless of whether the threats ever truly panned out), thanks to the alliances and trade agreements tying the entire region to House Aodh, the Fire Region was secure and united.
In 184 AE, the Jungle Region Ruler of the time – a Protector by the name of Tanma – struck at the Eastern Wall, using the attack to unite his region, which had been descending into anarchy. Although the initial attack was easily repelled, the Fire Ruler – Radiak Aodh – was infuriated by the Jungle Region’s audacity, and retaliated in full. Within weeks, the conflict had descended into an all-out war.
Hoping to snuff out the Jungle Region before too much damage could be done, Lord Radiak made an alliance with the Water Region, hoping for a repeat of what had won them the first War for the Wall. Unfortunately, the Jungle Region had made an alliance as well – with the militarily superior Ice Region. While the Water Region’s northern borders were under siege, additional Ice Region forces also travelled to the Jungle Region to assist against Lord Radiak’s forces at the Eastern Wall.
As the war began to tip in the Jungle Region’s favor, Lord Radiak became desperate for allies; while the Stone Region forces refused to get involved, citing their dislike for both Jungle and Water, the Earth Region pledged their support at last in 190 AE.
In their first battle, the Earth Region forces betrayed the Fire Region, while additional forces began sieging the Western Wall.
With the region under attack from all sides, Lord Radiak enacted his final gambit. Relinquishing his position to his heir, Vultraz, Lord Radiak rode out to battle at the Eastern Wall with the Mask of Fire – where he activated the elemental Mask and created a fire so fierce and powerful that he himself was burned alive. The fire consumed the lives of every Earth and Ice soldier stationed at the Eastern Wall, along with half of Lord Tanma’s forces and nearly a third of the Jungle Region itself, ending the Third War for the Wall in a single shot.
With no reason left to fight, the Ice Region surrendered to the Water Region and retreated back into their territories – but the newly christened Lord Vultraz was not finished. Reclaiming the Mask of Fire, he rode to the Western Wall, where he mercilessly burned every single Earth Protector that he could see before they too retreated. Still furious with the Earth Region’s betrayal, Lord Vultraz pledged that the entire Earth Region would someday burn for what they had done.
209 AE
The Death of the Mask Maker Vezon
When the Mask Maker Vezon died in 209 AE, his heir – a zealous supporter of the Faith – gave the Fire Region and Ice Region ten years to eradicate the presence of the Knights of Ekimu within their borders before the rest of the island would intervene. While Lord Vultraz did not particularly care for the Knights himself, he considered the threat insulting, and subsequently welcomed any and all Knights into the Fire Region simply out of spite – while also helping them to hide from the Faith in the process.
218 AE
The Darkfire Rebellion
By 218 AE, the Knights of Ekimu had all but vanished from the face of the Fire Region – but the region itself remained favorable towards them, and refused to commit itself towards the Faith. House Darkfire, loyal to the Mask Maker and the Faith (as well as greedy for power) tried to rebel again House Aodh and assassinate Lord Vultraz.
They were nearly successful, slaughtering many Knights and members of House Aodh – but the intervention of House Ash, led by Lord Telius, bought Lord Vultraz enough time to organize a proper defense and retaliate. After pushing back the initial strike and killing those responsible, Lord Vultraz gathered forces from House Ember and together, House Aodh, House Ash, and House Ember crushed House Darkfire entirely, eradicating their line. As thanks, Lord Vultraz raised House Ash to the status of a noble house, and Lord Telius joined the Council of Fire.
Having proven his abilities to both defend his home and subsequently wipe out those responsible, Lord Vultraz – and by extension, the Fire Region itself – were now relatively safe from the grasping claws of the Faith and the Mask Maker.
291 AE – 294 AE
Trijhak the Mad and Planning the Rebellion
In 291 AE, the Mask Maker Trijhak ascended to the throne, and rapidly became known for his extreme mood swings and bloodthirsty, violent temper. At this time, a member of House Ash named Voxumo was discovered to have the blood of the Mask Makers in his veins – opening the door for a possible rebellion, particularly with an insane Mask Maker on the throne tearing apart his own alliances left and right.
For the next three years, many powerful Protectors across Okoto began to plot in secret. The Fire Region allied with houses from the Stone Region, Ice Region, and Earth Region in this endeavour, knowing that the Water Region remained loyal to Trijhak and refusing to work with the Jungle Region.
When House Qendroj and the Earth Region fell back under the influence of loyalists in 294 AE, it briefly delayed the rebellion – but not for very long.
295 AE – 296 AE
Voxumo’s Rebellion
In 295 AE, the Fire Region and Ice Region both began to actively rebel against the throne, battling with the Ancient City and the Earth Region, whose loyalists were the only ones to answer Trijhak’s call.
The rebellion was a war of attrition, resulting in heavy losses for all involved until the Stone Civil War ended with House Raqmu victorious. Led by Lord Bronze, the Stone Region joined the fray, and within weeks victory was within the rebellion’s grasp. At the end of the war, while Lord Bronze led the assault on the Ancient City and slew Trijhak the Mad, House Aodh led the charge on the Earth Region.
There, the Fire Region finally made good on Lord Vultraz’s promise from so long ago; though their Ruler perished in the battle, the forces of the Fire Region took great pleasure in exterminating the entire Earth Region. Fires were maintained at the entrances to mines all across the Earth Region, and every last possible Earth Protector was cut down.
297 AE
Aftermath of Voxumo’s Rebellion
With the Earth Region seemingly wiped off of Okoto (though a few Protectors managed to survive, infiltrating other regions and posing as their Protectors), the newly christened Mask Maker Voxumo left the regions to govern themselves for a year so that all could recover from the war. During this time, House Aodh solidified their hold on the Fire Region, and re-armed the defenses along the Eastern Wall to prevent an attack from the Jungle Region.
316 AE
Lord Burnmad Aodh
In 315 AE, Lord Burnmad took over as the head of House Aodh and Ruler of the Fire Region after his father passed on. Now privy to information he had lacked previously, Lord Burnmad determined that Voxumo was doing a poor job of ruling over Okoto, and in 316 AE, he sent several Protectors to infiltrate the Ancient City with orders to destroy the remaining Skull Warriors and kill Voxumo.
Although they were able to destroy two Skull Warriors, the team was ultimately killed by the rest, with the final team member barely making it back to the Fire Region with the Mask of Fire before perishing. The incident caused Voxumo to expel all Protectors except the members of his personal council from the Ancient City, sealing all known entrances as he retreated within.
317 AE – 319 AE
The War for the Throne
By early 317 AE, Voxumo’s relationship with both the Fire Region and the Ice Region had deteriorated, leaving only the Stone Region’s loyalty still guaranteed. Although the Stone Region’s military might was enough to threaten any attempts at an uprising, the poisoning of their water shipments from House Rayne in the Water Region wiped out half of their population, leaving both the Stone Region and Voxumo vulnerable.
Through his lead trader, Lord Imrukii of House Ember, Lord Burnmad had established a ground-breaking trade agreement with the Water Region and Jungle Region – though the terms of the agreement were seemingly broken soon after by Lord TimeLord, the Ruler of the Jungle Region, when he accused Nato of House Greavesy and Lord Terrorsaur of House Rayne of treason and jailed them both.
The Fire Region remained neutral in the conflict that was brewing until the trial of Nato, Terrorsaur, and several others in the Ancient City, which Lord Burnmad attended alongside Lord Imrukii, as well as Dragonstar of House Ember and RG of House Coal. During the trial, RG was slain when the Mask of Time (which had been re-discovered by Dragonstar days before) was misused by Pulse of House Vatten.
Following the trial, Lord Burnmad officially allied the Fire Region to Pulse, heir to Trijhak the Mad, alongside the Water Region and Ice Region. When Lord Imrukii attempted to assassinate him and seize control of the Fire Region for Voxumo, Lord Burnmad executed him. He then took up the defense of the Ancient City, as well as manning the Eastern Wall in anticipation of an attack from the armies of Stone and Jungle, who had retreated into the Jungle Region.
After the death of Voxumo the Usurper and the surrendering of the Stone Region, the Fire Region remained most heavily involved in the conflict. With the Stone Region retreating (and watched over by the Ice Region) while the Water Region defended their own borders as well as the Ancient City, the Fire Region continued to battle the Jungle Region… until at last, Lord Burnmad had had enough.
He did not just end the War for the Throne.
He ended the Jungle Region itself.
In late 319 AE, using the Mask of Fire, Lord Burnmad set the jungle ablaze, starting at the Eastern Wall – and then the Fire Region forces relentlessly advanced into the jungle, continuing to push the enemy back and setting more of the jungle ablaze. Piece by piece, Lord Burnmad conquered the Jungle Region, until nearly two thirds of the jungle had been burned away and Lord Smoke Monster of House Cage, acting Ruler of the Jungle Region, finally surrendered.
323 AE
The Earth Region Returns
In 323 AE, to the surprise of everyone, a large force of Earth Protectors rose from underneath Okoto, led by a mighty being that they called Kulta the Skull Grinder and protected by a legion of 100 Skull Warriors. The Fire Region remained neutral towards them, though their history left the relationship between both regions strained at best.
A new faith called the ‘Faith of the Skulls’ soon appeared in the Earth Region; while the Protectors of Fire remained mostly indifferent to the Faith, the Protectors of Jungle took to the Faith almost immediately. When a rival group calling themselves the ‘Knights of Ekimu’ declared Kulta and his Skull Warriors to be monsters, their words were mostly ignored by the Protectors of Jungle, though many Protectors of Fire took their words to heart.
324 AE
Tahu, Toa of Fire
In an attempt to make peace between the Faith and the Knights, the Mask Maker Pulse summoned the six heroes of legend to Okoto. Tahu, Toa of Fire, soon went to work as the guardian of the Fire Region. As the Jungle Region was no longer its own entity, Lewa, Toa of Jungle, instead began serving as the guardian of the Ancient City.
NOW
The Fire Region’s relationships with the Water Region and the Ancient City remain very strained following the War for the Throne and the Conquering of Jungle – and with their rocky history in the last 150 years, their relationship with Earth is not much better. Their relationship with Stone is equally strained and rapidly worsening, as the Stone Region’s frustration with relying on the Fire Region to purify their water supplies grows. They have managed to maintain a cordial relationship with the Ice Region, but even the northernmost region is now wary of the firepower at Lord Burnmad’s command.
Within the Fire Region itself, tensions are high between the Protectors of Fire and the Protectors of Jungle, and the peace remains fragile, as their leaders must actively work to prevent a civil war from breaking out, knowing it could spell the end of the Protectors of Jungle. While the Protectors of Fire remain as loyal to House Aodh as ever, there are some who wonder whether Lord Burnmad and House Aodh have finally gone too far by conquering the Jungle Region, and some now actively seek their downfall from the shadows.
The Fire Region’s regional words are ‘Fire and Blood’ – and Lord Burnmad’s actions may have doomed them to that exact fate.
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