Dragon and the Lion

In the Lirioden House of the Golden Dragon Clan of the Esereti it is well known that some in the house show golden yellow eyes, hair that stands out like a mane and more pronounced fang teeth than is normal. It is a mark of shame, shocking and embarrassing amongst the other Houses that Lirioden parades about it's immorality and dishonor having mixed itself with the barabaric subhuman Beastmen of the Golam provinces. No matter that the delicate Esereti dismiss and ban slavery and grant sanctuary and low status to the Beastmen.

Within the House there are secrets. One secret is the myth of the mixed blood of the House. The myth is shocking enough. The truth stranger still. It is a secret tale that is the story of House ambition, cunning, cost and love between Ilithia Sha Lirioden and Mwoekon of the Bahku of the Shining Mountain.

Historical Basis

The Lirioden House in Imperial Year 607 moved the bulk of it's holdings to new Frontier lands far East of the ancestral lands in the heart of the Imperial Provinces. They battled monsters that roamed down from the mountains, the bands of barbarian Bahku. Ghenid, Titans, Bandits and uncivilized kingdoms that opposed the Imperial presence. They had found a vein of Arcane Crystal and had a mine of gemstones. They secretly practiced Sorcery and used the powers of things, demons from beyond, to help settle the land and secure it against enemies of the Empire and the House. Over 200 years the house had fought with , traded with and attempted to make a pact with the Bahku. House heads used their Sorcery to attempt to influence the Bahku, and to escape the restrictions that the Bahku had demanded.

Around the year 800 Ilithia Sha Lirioden was sent to attempt a new parley and negotiation with the Shining Mountain tribe. The negotiation party brought gifts and made promises. The Shining Mountain leader, Mwoekon agreed to listen and hold off raids for one year in exchange for goods and support from the humans.

Ilithia's party was waylaid by Ghenid on their route home and taken captive. One either escaped or was allowed to run back. The Bahku camps were closer and this is where the one ran. Mwoekon launched a raiding party on hearing from the runner. They tracked the Ghenid up into the mountains and attacked their camp. Here, things went from bad to worse as a Titans  Blood Mage with a band of Bugbear also appeared. The fight was quickly seen to feed the Blood Mage and the battle turned to sniper and stealthy attacks between the three side over the hours of the day. Things changed at nightfall and the Ghenid Ghosts brought their powers against the Titan Blood Mage. The Titan still drew blood from wounds on all sides to heal itself, caused them to gush and drain the life of the wounded and to summon a Blood spirit: blood red with talons, a beaked face, and butterfly wings. Ilithia also managed to convey to the Ghenid that she recognized the Titan as the enemy likely to kill them all. The Ghenid had of course many Aedoteerua: The Soul Chain placed on her and her party and allowed her to join the fight. Just before dawn she worked a sorcery and brought out a thing of darkness and purple fire to fight the Blood Mage and the blood spirit. The ghenid sent a wave of Ghosts and warriors while the main tribe sought to break the Bugbear line. The Bahku also joined against the Bugbears and the terrifying Titan with the goal of securing the humans. Mwoekon was able to reach Ilithia as she fought and they were able to escape while the Blood Mage Titan was on rampage. They spent several days fighting Bugbear and demon beasts with growing respect and admiration for each other. He saw that she had great spirit, wits and was a strong fighter. She saw the respect and kinder ways and honor of the Bahku. His strength, warmth and intelligence. Ilithia suggested alliance. Mwoekon spoke on how not even the great Oaths could be trusted to hold the humans. Amongst both people marriage was a recognized way of alliance - but none of the joined flesh would be produced to hold the alliance. It was known that as such unions between human and bahku were barren, from both willing and unwilling encounters. Once back to the tribe, Iliathia was taken home with the whole band as honor guard. The two stayed together growing more familiar. She suggested that she might stay amongst the Bahku as ransom of her Father's obedience to the agreements. It was agreed amongst the Bahku that Iliathia was trustworthy, though her father was not. But she was still under her father's control under the laws and customs of her people.

Once restored to the family Ilithia began a campaign to convince and secure her father's permission to make a political marriage. Ilithia said it was the heart that was the same between them and the outward was no matter. She also consulted the secret tomes of Sorcery in the secret rooms of the Great Keep. He did not approve of his daughter running off to live amongst the beastly barbarians, even if it gave the family a stronger grip on control to the east for a generation. He was revolted at the thought. Ilithia saw that the promises made were kept. Her honor grew Mwoekon's admiration. And Mwoekon would come to the estates frequently to "consult" and trade, and show his gold and gems. He stated he would have Ilithia as partner if she would have him. Finally, Ilithia left, sneaking away with the Bahku but leaving a note that her marriage to Mwoekon would be a permanent and lasting alliance between the peoples. Her father was enraged and followed after them the next day. Quickly after leaving family lands, Ilitia and Mwoekon slipped away from the main party and made marriage oaths. And Ilithia summoned a demon, a stitcher of flesh, that took from both and made children- one male and one female, and one that was neither or both, for itself as the price.

They returned to find the two sides in face off. They walked between the sides and showed the fusion children. The son was given to the tribe to keep and Ilithia presented her daughter to her father to take her place and act as the union of the two peoples within the family forever more. Her choice it is said was also backed by the Demon of purple fire and shadow that she still commanded. Her father relented and settled on dowry fortifications in the Bahku lands. The Bahku gave gifts of gems and gold. Ilithia and Mwoekon lived together in the tribes for many years but eventually made a settlement at one of the fortifications her father had had built. The Fusion children grew and showed signs of both lines, found mates and marriages and produced more mixed children. The fusion families see themselves as one on both sides, though the more pure humans of the family hold themselves superior, though lower ranked.

In the Bahku tribes are redskinned members with flattened faces. Few Imperials venture into these lands and the trade is strictly under control and supervision of the Lirioden Family. These Bahku show the fusion more than the humans in the family, who aside from fang-mane and eye occasionally throw bahku retractable talons (covered with gloves) and a layer of fine hair that is frequently shaved away. The family heads are typically fusion. The fusion is not explained to outsiders. They make their own conclusions far from the truth.

Date of Setting

807 Kuna Imperial Year