The capital of Ryekarayn is Eraydon City, named after a legendary half-elf who died 10,000 years ago in sacrifice for his country. His enormous statue stands erected in the center of the town to remind everyone of the duty to their country. The city is mostly populated by humans, but many travelers go in and out every day. It is known for the two rivaling inns- The Rhysing Son Inn (owned by a very charismatic human named Rhys Son and even frequented by elves) and the Dark Shop (a place filled with strippers, prostitutes, and heavy drinkers owned by an even more charismatic, promiscuous, and outgoing dark elf named JA). If you frequent either place, the owner is likely to be a good friend of yours.

King Gidius (Gi-die-us) is the king of ‘all’ Ryekarayn- unless one is living in a Realm or city that is outside of his control- although, even then, the realms and cities are supposed to be under his reign. He is a very kind, generous king. He has been seated on the throne for little over 2 years and his young age (18) makes him easily criticized by those who disagree with him. He is charismatic, outgoing, charming, and all-together quite unlike what the people expected. His tyrannical father was assassinated by Gidius’ current lieutenant and advisor, Eua. It was once heard remarked by the king, “Sometimes I wish I was a farmer. Than all I’d have to worry about are vegetables.” He is married to a beautiful, kind woman named Eva, whom he met while traveling from the west of Ryekarayn for the coronation ceremony. They have had a very peaceful and intimate relationship- so it appears.

It is important here to note the politics surrounding King Gidius. His older twin, Tyehimba, was supposed to inherit the throne. However, when Tyehimba did not show up to coronation (despite the fact that he had been missing for only a few days), Gidius ascended the thone. Gidius, of course, states that he felt it was necessary to get someone on the throne immediately after the downfall of his tyrannical father. He also states that Tyehimba is currently unfit to rule since he is possessed by a demon. Tyehimba denies such claims, referring to Gidius as a rebel and a radical.

When he took the throne, Gidius had many of the people who had previously been loyal to his father imprisoned (excluding those who were loyal out of fear). Those who had been loyal out of fear lost their previous power and their estates were handed over to those who had led rebellions against the late king. He appointed Eua, the assassin of not only his father but many loyalist nobles, as his key adviser and lieutenant. A previous servant, Jotham, in the late king's court became his general. (I'll have to diverge here to state that Jotham has shown himself to be a splendid general. He is a very effective leader and strategist.) He attempted to make peace with all of the races, even the dark elves and the orcs (many without success). He does not believe in execution unless they are necessary for the protection of people. He is known for for giving even the most extreme radicals second chances by a mere apology and vow of loyalty. It is also rumored that he has an illegitimate child with his nursemaid.

But not everything King Gidius did can be viewed in a negative light. He did significantly lower the preposterous taxes his father had imposed on the people. If what he says about Tyehimba is true, he has offered his service honorably to his country, despite his insisting that he really wishes to lead a quiet life away from politics. He has also gained the respect of many of the elven people and even, to a degree, the centaurs. He rules with a fair hand and is wise for his years. He has removed much of the immoral behavior from the slums, given large sums of money in assistance to the poor, and leads a simple life. He has given much of the freedom back to his people.

One must further diverge from the present by addressing King Gidius and Prince Tyehimba's father. King Guyer was often deemed a tyrannical ruler. While he reigned, Eua worked for him as an assassin, killing off rebels. After the accidental murder of one of his (Eua's) lovers (an assassin working for the rebel side- something Eua was unaware of at the time), Eua, in guilt, turned against the king and assassinated him.

King Guyer had imposed high taxes on many of the people, giving this enormous some of money to his army and his loyal supporters. Those opposed to him were reduced to poverty, if not quickly executed. He took good care of his own and viciously persecuted those who opposed his rule. He had a quick temper and was known to be in high conflict with the elven races, which he attempted to exterminate from Ryekarayn. The dark elves were the exception. Darcarus and Guyer had a mutual respect for one another.

King Guyer reigned for a little under 40 years. For the first few years of his reign, the elves in his army co-operated. After failing to gain the loyalty of the elven species, however, he began to threaten and attack them. A great number of elves left his army, but those that failed to escape were quickly put to death. (Guyer furthered his pursuit of the elves and worked on exterminating their entire species from Ryekarayn. Many returned to Sevrigel and have had nothing to do with Ryekarayn since- though the general mistrust and dislike of humans goes back thousands of years.)

King Fathom is quite the opposite of the human king, Gidius. He is a rebellious light elven prince from Sevrigel who left to start his own kingdom in the Light Elven Forest of eastern Ryekarayn. He is arrogant, prude, and prejudice against all races except those of the elves, believing other races to be fickle, primitive, and generally immoral. The exception to the elves, of course, are the dark elves, who are ruled by his less than righteous brother, Darcarus (who began the race over 5000 years ago in rebellion against him). Fathom is highly respected, despite his flaws, for his intelligence, wise rule, and courage. He has been ruling on Ryekarayn successfully for about 7000 years. He has recently married a fairy woman named Alareise, the first king to marry a different race for as long as historical records have been kept. Some rumors have emerged that this was done to draw attention away from his previous failed relationship (believed to have been a secret marriage) with a demonic woman named Saphara, who left him for Raslyn.

King Fathom spends most of his time buried in books and studies, leaving his adviser very little to do by the end of the day. Veacerel is also Fathom's lieutenant and a model leader at that.

King Darcarus is the promiscuous, charismatic, and deceitful king of the dark elven race. When he is not sleeping with his men and women, he is off planning the next conquest of his enemies, of which other elven races, particularly the light elves, top his list. Those loyal to the elves are not far behind.

There are many other, smaller kings of the countless races of Ryekarayn.

Ryekarayn’s relation to the other islands is very good, with the exception of Sevrigel, which is populated entirely by elves who want nothing to do with the foolish business of the other lands. Sevrigel keeps to themselves- when they are not harassing Fathom to return. Dark Skull Island is populated mostly be demons and one, power-hungry mage, Raslyn, who is Eua’s rather twisted brother.

Some basic race info: The majority of dark elves and the other elven races hate each other- their way of living is usually very different. Dark elves tend to be wild and promiscuous while the other races tend to be more duty bound and ‘moraled’. Orcs also hate elves, although they have been known to get along with the dark elves, from time to time. Light elves are generally arrogant and prejudice, as that is their general society. Most other elven races vary. The other elven races tend to get along mildly well with the humans.

Note: Light elves can only have blond hair (other elven races can have blond hair, too, but blond hair is the only color light elves hair can be)- there are many races of elves, and the reason why this is a rule is because it is one of the ways the light elves generally differentiate between themselves and dark elves who returned to light elven society. To become a dark elf from the light elven race, a barbaric ritual is preformed which usually includes sex and sacrifice. Those who return or leave the dark elven race and return to the light elven race retain the dark hair that is passed onto them during the ritual. Ex-dark elves are highly out-casted by the light elves.