Riches of the Orūzh

Helloria lay vast, stretching from the golden plains of the north, where fields of tall grass rippled under a warm breeze, to the towering forests of the south, where thick trees rose high and their canopies formed a dense shelter for the wildlife below. The earth was rich in the lowlands, while scattered rocks dotted the high ridges. Hills rolled gently to the east, and steep mountains rose to the west, their peaks often shrouded in mist. In the valleys, rivers flowed steadily, carving their way through the land, glimmering under the sunlight as they wound toward the coast.

Beyond the beaten grounds, the cities of Helloria were scattered across the kingdom. Stone and timber buildings rose in the valleys, their tall spires visible from afar. Aqueducts and bridges spanned the rivers, and wide cobbled roads carved through the fields, leading to bustling marketplaces where merchants peddled spices from the east, fruit from the orchards, and fish from the riverbanks.

At the heart of the kingdom stood the royal palace, towering above the lowly. Its stone walls, adorned with rubies and emeralds, glistened as a symbol of Emperor Yaxūla Hellor's reign. Though a ruler of great power, he knew his role was one of stewardship over the land's power, not dominion over it. His four sons, destined to rule one day, were raised with the understanding that their task was to maintain the balance between the people and the land, a responsibility that required not just strength but wisdom.

But the true essence of Helloria lay beyond the cities, in the wilds untouched by human hands.

Forests of oak and pine stretched endlessly toward the horizon, their shadows deep and mysterious. The underbrush was thick with ferns and shrubs, the air cool and damp beneath the trees. To the west, the mountains stood like walls, their rocky cliffs etched by time. Rivers carved narrow paths through the valleys, their waters cold and clear. Yet, in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, nestled among the foliage, stood the Orūzh, an ancient, towering tree whose roots stretched deep into the earth, grounding Helloria in its ancient power.

At the base of the Orūzh, the Laza tribe made their home. They lived in the wilds, their connection to the earth deep and enduring. The land here was different. It was wilder, untouched, and where the roots of the Orūzh were strongest. It was said the Laza could hear the whispers of the tree, its ancient voice echoing through the earth. They were the stewards of the land and protectors of the sacred grove where the Orūzh stood.

The Lazæns, guided by the sacred tenets of Zūhren, Kaelth, and Væsh, taught the people of Helloria to revere the land. From the flame of creation to the balance of order and the shadows of fate, the Lazæns spoke of the Orūzh and the powers it possessed.

Yet, despite the kingdom's prosperity, an undercurrent of tension lingered. The land was strong, but the people, though connected to it, were not immune to the forces of time and change. The harmony that had long defined Helloria grew fragile, and though the Orūzh's roots ran deep, not all was as it seemed beneath the surface.

In the quiet corners of the kingdom, whispers of unrest began to stir with the toll of the bell announcing Emperor Yaxūla's death.