Dragon Crisis

In the previous thousand years dragons ruled the land of Covania and partially Reton, then known as the Reach. The dragons called themselves the Usermaatre and it's leader Ozymandias resided in the Valley of Kings, scholars debate whether this is now know as the Ashlem Rise, the Cunning Expanse, or an area between the two.

Reginald Hayton tired of their greedy overlords began a nation-wide revolution, planning the overthrow in secret and mounting a surprise attack, killing many dragons and starting the Dragon Crisis.

King Reginald Hayton

Sir Renfry Bernhardt
During the Dragon Crisis Renfry commanded from the front lines, his strength and bravery resulted in the death of Arrissith, Qavros, Opailth, Brovarria, and over sixteen other dragons.

Dame Lilian Dawnspire
Dame Lillian who was instrumental in organising Covania’s army and logistics during the Dragon Crisis, her arcane knowledge led to the exploit of weaknesses in a majority of encounters with the dragons.

Sir Lambert Irving
Like King Reginald, Lambert grew up as an orphan half-elf under the dragon rule, this aided in the bond between the two. Lambert took up the role of King Reginald’s closest and most effective bodyguard, dispatching countless dragon cultists that attempted to harm the King, tales say that the King was never harmed, not even by a mosquito under Sir Lambert’s watch.

Ozymandias, King of Kings
Arrissith, Queen of Coast
Qavros, King of Desert
Opailth, Queen of Jungle
Brovarria, King of Mountains

8700 First Strike
Reginald had in secret gathered the support of ~250 peoples and set in motion an attack on three dragons during the summer tithe, these attacks occurred in cities of Graycott, Ferrabreeze, and Covania. On the day of the tithe each dragon was trapped and then killed by collapsing pillars of stone upon the unsuspecting victims then keeping in front of the dragons clear, using spears to their sides and back of head.

Following the first strike Reginald encouraged the three towns to 'appease the dragons' by giving larger tithes and claim it was a small group who had conducted the attack. His close friend Lambert aided in initial logistics and easing tensions with the dragons as more attacks occurred over following years in random towns, none as successful as the initial strike, but did result in a couple deaths of dragons and wounding of many more

8742 Death of Brovarria and rise of Renfry & Lilian
Escalation of the war was slow until the death of Brovarria. Before the winter tithe in Covania, King Brovarria learned that there was a plan to slay a young dragon during the tithe. Brovarria took the young dragon's place hoping his greater age, surprise appearance, and knowledge of the attack would counter any ploy.

Brovarria was mistaken as two new members of the uprising Lilian a wizard who was studying weakness of dragons and Renfry a mighty warrior, the two employing tactics the King of Mountains had not planned against. This attack was the largest and most public fight in the 42 years since the first strike. Lilian utilising magic and enchantments to allow Renfry to get close enough to use newly developed dragon slaying weapons.

8743 Slaughter and rebirth of Covania
A week before the spring tithe Ozymandias had grown tired of the attacks and angered by the death of Brovarria launched a surprise attack on the grand city of Covania, razing the town so much so that no ruins remained and it's original location lost to time. It is suspected that it was Ozymandias' hopes that the destruction of Covania would demoralise the uprising.

Reginald hearing of the slaughtering and its potential to disband the movement took the chance and declared himself King, no longer just a leader of secretive dragon killing group but a public figure against the tyranny, he named his new Kingdom after 'the first victim of the Usermaatre.' and thus the Kingdom of Covania was born, rallying thousands more to his cause against the dragons.

8787 Assassination attempt on Reginald
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8825 Death of Arrissith
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8887 Glassing of the crossroads
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8900 The Final Attack
Suffering losses, in an all out attempt Ozymandias took his remaining King and Queen, Qavros and Opailth, alongside four other adult and two young dragons to assault Sunwood, after he had learned that Reginald had ordered his forces to return to recover and plan their next attack. This was however was a ploy by Reginald, the order to return was true but defences and traps had been laid to protect Sunwood.

Sunwood had developed and implemented a new range of defences including an array of large enchanted ballista, while the exact nature of the enchantment is a closely guarded secret, witness reports describe the bolts guiding themselves and dealing considerable damage. Many had thought after the Dragon Crisis these weapons were dismantled but similar described weapons were witnessed during the Ashlem War thousands of years later.

After Usermaatre's failed attack on Sunwood, King Reginald Hayton proclaimed victory and began his uncontested rule over Covania. He was a harsh and brutal King but much more forgiving than Ozymandias and rest of Usermaatre. While dampened over time, this initial governing has given Covania a reputation for strict law and unforgiving strength.

Little is left of the Usermaatre, only poems and hard to reach ruins remain. Scholars speculate that Ozymandias is still alive to this day as the death of such an ancient and well known dragon would surely travel across all worlds. Others suggest that after his defeat Ozymandias either died alone in seclusion or gone into a deep slumber.