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The Champions of Rajaat was a group comprised of the fifteen most powerful students of Rajaat, the Warbringer, as well as the main perpetrators in the genocidal wars fought during the Red Age. Many of the Champions would go on to become the sorcerer-monarchs of Athas.

History[]

In the days of the Green Age, during the period known as the Time of Magic, Rajaat, the First Sorcerer, was occupied in seeking out the most power-hungry and capable arcane adepts and psionicists of the day. He did this by establishing numerous magical academies where he openly taught preserving magic to the people of Athas. However, Rajaat had much darker plans in store, as he wanted to destroy the races of the Rebirth - all of whom he saw as monstrosities. He set his hatred for one of these races, the humans, aside, for he knew that they had great potential for evil, but could also be easily manipulated by the promise of power.

In the Year of Priests' Contemplation of the 144th King's Age, Rajaat abruptly closed all his schools and turned all of his students away. All, that is, except fifteen individuals that had proven to be his greatest students as well as those who possessed the darkest hearts. These fifteen became his Champions, and in a ritual which took place at the Pristine Tower , the First Sorcerer channeled the energy of the sun into the tower and through an object of his own creation called the Dark Lens. This transformed the Champions into immortal beings of tremendous power, masters of both psionics and defiling magic. However, this transformation didn't only affect the Champions, and the sun turned from a bright yellow light in the sky to a dark crimson. Basking in the sun's ominous red light, Rajaat put forth his challenge to the Champions, demanding they destroy all races born of the Rebirth so that Athas could be returned to the Blue Age anew. And so, as they stood on the verge of godhood beneath the Dark Sun, the Champions set off from the Pristine Tower, and the Cleansing Wars began.

While the Champions succeeded in annihilating many of the Rebirth races from the face of Athas, a cruel betrayal would come to be uncovered in the Year of Desert's Vengeance of the 164th King's Age. The Champions came to learn that Rajaat, who had promised them and their human kin that they would rule Athas following the Cleansing Wars, was instead colluding with the halflings and in reality intent on giving them the world in this new Blue Age. After this revelation, a majority of the Champions rebelled against their master brought him down. However, it was made clear that they, despite their enormous powers, couldn't destroy the First Sorcerer. Instead, Gallard, the 6th Champion, devised a plan that split Rajaat's essence from his physical body. Aided by the Dark Lens, Gallard then forged two magical prisons where Rajaat's two halves could be imprisoned. The First Sorcerer's essence was sealed within the deepest reaches of the Black, which was dubbed "the Hollow", and his physical remains were encased in a tomb of dark stone, the Black Sphere.

Knowing that Rajaat was far too powerful to allow his prisons to contain him forever, the Champions decided to elevate themselves even further, and Borys, the 13th Champion and leader of the rebellion, used the Dark Lens once more to begin their transformation into dragons, the ultimate and most powerful life form known to their master. Borys himself was chosen to be Rajaat's jailer and was allowed to accelerate his transformation even further. In the end, Borys became the Dragon of Tyr and the other champions went on to become the sorcerer-monarchs of Athas.

The Champions[]

The Champions of Rajaat[]

No. Name Title Cleansing Completed Notes
1st Sacha of Arla Curse of Kobolds King's Slumber, 147th King's Age Sacha stood by Rajaat during the revolt. He was rewarded by the other Champions by being decapitated. His reanimated head would then go on to serve as advisor to Kalak and Tithian in their roles as kings of Tyr.
2nd Kalak Ogre Doom Guthay's Defiance, 160th King's Age Kalak assumed the throne of Tyr and served as its sorcerer-king until the Year of Priest's Defiance of the 190th King's Age, when he was killed during the Liberation of Tyr.
3rd Dregoth Ravager of Giants Unsuccessful Dregoth became sorcerer-king of Giustenal following Rajaat's defeat but the rest of the remaining Champions saw him murdered after he came dangerously close to becoming a true dragon. His death was not final, however, as he arose as an undead dragon who now rules the subterranean city of New Giustenal.
4th Myron of Yorum Troll Scorcher Unsuccessful Myron failed Rajaat so thoroughly that he was killed and replaced.
4th Manu of Deche Troll Scorcher Friend's Contemplation, 164th King's Age Replaced Myron. Later took the name Hamanu and seized the throne of Urik.
5th Uyness of Waverly Orc Plague Friend's Contemplation, 156th King's Age Took the name Abalach-Re and became the Grand Vizier of Raam.
6th Gallard Bane of Gnomes Ral's Reverence, 160th King's Age Took the name Nibenay and now rules the city that shares his name as its Shadow King.
7th Sielba Destroyer of Pterrans Unsuccessful Sielba became sorcerer-queen of Yaramuke, however, both she and her city were destroyed by Hamanu.
8th Albeorn Slayer of Elves Unsuccessful Took the name Andropinis and installed himself as the Eternal Dictator of Balic.
9th Tectuktitlay Wemic Annihilator Wind's Slumber, 162 King's Age Took the throne of Draj for himself and became the city's self-proclaimed godking.
10th Keltis Lizard Man Executioner Unsuccessful Took the name Oronis and became the benevolent sorcerer-king of distant Kurn.
11th Lalali-Puy Aarakocra Scourge Unsuccessful Became the Oba of Gulg.
12th Wyan of Bodach Pixie Blight Ral's Slumber, 155th King's Age Wyan stood by Rajaat during the revolt. He was rewarded by the other Champions by being decapitated. His reanimated head would then go on to serve as advisor to Kalak and Tithian in their roles as kings of Tyr.
13th Borys of Ebe Butcher of Dwarves Unsuccessful Led the rebellion against Rajaat and was chosen to be his warden. He was then transformed into the Dragon of Tyr and now rules the city of Ur Draxa.
14th Daskinor Goblin Death Ral's Defiance, 155th King's Age Became the reclusive sorcerer-king of Eldaarich.
15th Kalid-Ma Tari Killer Unsuccessful Took on the mantle of sorcerer-king of Kalidnay. He and his city were later lost to an unknown calamity. While only ruins linger on Athas, his city stands among the misty shadows as a Dread Domain of Ravenloft.

Notes[]

  • According to Faces of the Forgotten North, published by athas.org, Borys of Ebe wasn't the original 13th Champion of Rajaat. That honor instead befell Egendo of Carsys, who was sealed within a stone tomb beneath the city of Hogalay.

Sources[]

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