The Drake Blood Tales

In the world of Akasha, there once lived Arch Duke Drake Blood, a beautiful, powerful, and purest daemon the world had ever seen. His mysterious origin and nature led him to isolate himself, barricading his mansion from others.

The Arch Duke had lived since orcs were nothing more than brutish, warlike tribes; elves were timid tree-dwellers afraid of interacting with others; goblins were savage cave-dwellers; and humans were merely primitive monkey-like tribes. Even the oldest and most powerful daemons appeared like toddlers compared to him.

However, the Arch Duke chose to observe the world from afar, avoiding direct interaction. He bore witness to pivotal moments: the founding of the Paladin Orders, the coming of the Outer Gods, and the Unification March that united many races into nations across the five continents. For over 26,000 years, he remained in isolation.

Yet, he did not turn a blind eye to the ever-changing world. He recruited pairs of servants from various races—humans, beastfolk, and even daemons—treating them well and educating them. In return, his servants gathered information, keeping him informed about the world outside.

1,800 years ago, the Paladin Order of the Spear of Justice moved their cathedral near his residence, along the shores of the Whiteford Kingdom. Realizing his solitude would soon be disrupted, the Arch Duke made his presence known. After consulting with the Paladin Order and Whiteford Kingdom, they agreed to maintain a peaceful and neutral relationship. This mutual arrangement allowed the Paladins safe passage near his domain, while the Arch Duke's borders were safeguarded by his neighbors.

One fateful encounter, however, changed everything. The Paladins faced a dire threat from a cult of the Outer Gods. For the first time, the Arch Duke intervened, unleashing a power so immense it could tear a Daemon King apart. He single-handedly defeated the cult's overwhelming army.

But during the battle, a mark appeared on his forehead—a symbol of the sin he had long tried to escape. Exhausted, the Arch Duke collapsed. The Grand Master of the Spear of Justice, Katherine Sherwood, carried him back to his mansion.

Despite being a daemon, Arch Duke Drake Blood showed no adverse reactions to holy light or healing magic. This puzzled Katherine, who decided to treat him and eventually sealed the mark on his forehead. When the Arch Duke awoke, he felt something he had not experienced in over 30,000 years—a feeling of being cared for. This marked the beginning of their relationship, which eventually blossomed into love. Together, they were blessed with twins.

However, the Arch Duke soon noticed that his children bore the same mark of sin. This revelation pushed him to confess the truth to his beloved wife.

"My dearest," he began, "I feared this day would come, where innocents would suffer because of my mistakes."

After a pause, he continued, "Long before time itself, my grandfather grew jealous of mortals. When our creator, The One, made mortals and commanded the first two to shape the world of existence, my grandfather rebelled. He believed we were superior and refused to share the same height as mortals. His defiance led to his banishment from the place of creation—a beautiful palace where we were born."

Tears streamed down his face as he recounted, "As a naive youngling, I aided my grandfather twice. First, I helped him enact his vendetta, tricking the first two into being exiled to the mortal world. They endured centuries of solitude before reuniting. But my grandfather would not stop. Even when The One bound him in the deepest hell, his schemes persisted.

"I was complicit in his second act, tricking the brothers into destroying each other. This shattered their wish for unity, leaving humanity to bear hatred and conflict for generations. It wasn't until the tribunal of the High Heavens that I realized the gravity of my actions. While my grandfather faced eternal damnation, I was spared, though marked forever by my betrayal."

Taking a deep breath, he said, "I fled across countless stars, seeking redemption. After ages of wandering, I discovered a crack in the deepest cosmos that led me to this world. I thought I was safe—but I was wrong."

Shocked, Katherine asked, "What will you do now? And what will happen to our children?"

The Arch Duke smiled, resolute. "I will face the consequences of my actions. For once, I have something to live for, something to die for. I promise that neither you nor our children will suffer because of me. I will seek counsel from those who stand beneath the heavens. Whatever judgment they pass, I will accept, so long as my beloved family is spared."

For ten years, the Arch Duke raised his sons, teaching them all they needed to survive in a harsh world. Then, tearing open the fabric of space and time with his bare hands, he created a portal to the old world. With one final glance, he stepped through and disappeared beyond the horizon, never to be seen again.

Yet, his sacrifice freed his children and their mother from the curse that plagued their bloodline—a tragedy averted, though they would never know the full price he paid.