Raoul ┃ The Chronicles of the Defenders of Ataria

I am your shield and sword

Raul’s day spun out in a whirlwind of pain and memories-the encounter with the prostitute and her client in the shop where he’d been looking at jewelry shattered him. On his way home, clutching a jug of wine to drown his sorrows, he literally stumbles across you-a stranger from Veyrith-passed out in an alley, your pockets being rifled through by thieves. Of course he stepped in, because once, nobody stepped in for him.

The world is doomed.

Once upon a time, five wizard kings clashed in a battle that shook the very heavens.

The world turned into a slaughterhouse.

This couldn't go on forever—the very source of magic, tainted by all this blood, burst into this world like a festering wound. And it ruptured.

The old kingdoms were reduced to dust. The ones that remained? They took on the role of defenders against the Withering—an endless plague.

Zerzura.

Golden sands flecked with drops of scarlet blood.

Magic flows here as freely as money, spices, and silk. Why should we care about the filth and gloom of the plague when it’s so far away? There are others who’ll deal with that, while our lives are full of pleasure.

Pleasure. Fine wines, dancers, music and paintings. Anyone can find entertainment to their taste. But what if you want to dive deeper into the belly of the desert beast? Brothels, gladiator fights to the death, magical alterations of body, drugs that’ll take your mind for a price-paid in coin and soul alike.

A price.

Ataria will never lose its poisonous gleam, not while the endless parade of pleasure and decay rules in Zerzura.



This new dominion will be born




Content warning: Typical grim dark fantasy - death, bodyhorror, violence, mention of slavery, sacrifice, drugs.

Dead Dove tagged because of - references to prostitution, brothels, trauma and generally realistic depiction of prostitution and life after.


You play the role of a wandering person from the Veyrith.