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Druid. Nomad. Adventurer. All these words describe the caring and down-to-earth Jade Galanodel. She was born to a nomadic tribe of Wild Elves in the Black Reach Mountains. Jade spent her formative years traveling the Korventine Empire and learning how to navigate the wilderness. Her mother had some Druidic ability which she passed on to her daughter. But when it was clear Jade had enormous potential, a mentor was found for her.

Galen of the Firelit Forest instructed Jade to be a Druid for a century. The two lived in the Firelit Forest together and Jade grew into a powerful spellcaster. Jade also got her first real taste of the cruelties of the world, as her Master Galen’s Half-Fiend heritage made him untrusted in cities.

After Galen passed of old age, Jade took to wandering the Eleste Lands. She made and sold maps and grew her craft of herbalism for income. Her travels led her to the great capital city of Eleste’si, a traditionally High Elf place. She faced racism due to being a Wild Elf. But she stayed when she met the reserved and charming Jasper Galandodel.

The two fell in love and spent many years in the city together. But Jasper’s parents did not approve of the match. The two absconded from the city, traveling together until they settled down in the village of Skyview.

It was a time of great happiness in Jade’s life, where she could be with her fiancé. She also formed a relationship with a Druid Circle that was based out of the nearby Firelit Forest, allowing her to continue her specialty and protect nature.

But the good times were not to last. A necromancer had made his way up the Amakiir River and towards Skyview, leaving death in his wake. He was sacrificing people to his god, the Life Drinker. Jade and her Druid Circle fought the necromancer in Skyview. They were successful in defeating him, but at a great cost. Jasper was killed while getting villagers to safety.

Jade was devasted. For decades she wandered alone. She had lost the will to live her life, and with it nearly all of her magical abilities. There were three things that pulled her out of this depression.

The first was saving the life of a reckless Half-Elven Paladin in Vesper. When he stood up to a group of criminals on the street, he was gravely wounded. She called up nearly forgotten power to heal his wounds. That man would later become her close friend, Brother Zok.

The second was finding an animal companion. She rescued a baby fox from a hunter’s trap. Calling him Foxy, she kept him as a pet and he brought joy and spontaneity back into her life.

The third was a frightening vision. Her connection with nature birthed a terrible vision in her mind. Of a city on the coast, Oceala, ablaze. Attacked by a great red dragon. Oceala was the home of her grandparents, a city they led with pride and kindness.

Jade knew she could no longer waste her life away in the shadows. Even if it meant relearning how to be a Druid all over again, she would protect those she cared about so that no one else would have to feel the pain she did.

We join Jade in the first book of the Thread of Souls series, the Phantom Five. She is living in Somberdale and is good friends with Brother Zok and the boisterous Captain Sen. Jade’s hope is that staying in this port town will allow her to hear rumors of any dragons. She knows that once she has a place to begin, she can hunt this red dragon down and stop it from destroying Oceala.

The Day of Sealing was a monumentous moment in history for Corventos. It was so impactful that it forever changed the way the people lived, and it ushered in a new era. Let’s take a look at what happened that day, and why it is remembered everywhere.

The Age of Dragons

Before the Day of Sealing was the Age of Dragons. This age took place between year 2000 and year 0 BDS. After the gods departed the world, the next most powerful beings took control. The dragons. They made great lairs for themselves, leveled cities, and altered the landscape around them. While this was an age of great heroes fighting back the beasts, it was also a time of great death and danger. All of Corventos knew something had to be done, or they risked extinction.

The Clairvoyant Arcane

A High Elf Arcanist named Viscera Dante rose to the challenge. She was a pioneer in the then new field of the arcane, and was performing extensive research on other planes of existence. She hatched a plan that would rid Corventos of dragons forever.

Her first step was gathering the most powerful mages of the time. This group of nine called themselves the Clairvoyant Arcane. Together, they created the Clairvoyant Mirror. It was heavily enchanted and built by using gems from other planes. This mirror would be able to open portals and keep them open long enough to force the dragons through. They would cast them from this plane of existence, never to return again.

The City of the Sun

To pull this off successfully, they knew they had to lay the perfect trap. Something that no dragon could resist. A hoard of treasure. Viscera enlisted the help of the Dwarves of De Behl Marr. Under the leadership of Dwarven King Vicrum Grodstrum, they delved into the great mountain and mined all the gold and gems they could find. The Clairvoyant Arcane also asked for donations of wealth and gold from other cities around Corventos, but De Behl Marr provided the vast majority.

Over a series of years, these treasures were shipped from the east of Corventos all the way to the desert in the west. The port city of Vonkai was established to facilitate this process. And two days north of Vonkai, in the middle of the Expanse, they built a city from all the riches acquired.

They called it Soleia, the City of the Sun. King Vicrum volunteered to lead this city. But it was designed as a trap. All the denizens that lived there were warriors and spellcasters. And the Clairvoyant Mirror was safely hidden within the very halls of Soleia.

The Day of Sealing

At last, the time came. Dragons descended on the city, ready to take the hoard for themselves. And when they did, the trap was sprung. The gathered armies revealed themselves and battled the dragons over the desert. Viscera Dante led her Clairvoyant Arcane in using the mirror to open portals. One by one, the dragons were forced through to other planes of existence. Even the reclusive giants of Corventos came to assist, using their superior size to drive back these violent foes.

Victory

Victory was hard won, and there were many lives lost. But Soleia remained standing, and Corventos was freed of dragons. The giants returned to their homes, and Vicrum remained King over Soleia to lead it into a bright future.

Viscera Dante and the Clairvoyant Arcane went on to found the powerful Citadel to be a hub of magical expertise. They also ushered in the new age, the Warding of the Planes, to ensure no dragon would ever break through again. Unfortunately, it was during an expedition to the Gloomdwell that all members of this group were lost to the dangers beyond. Only Lustrik Weaver returned, driven to madness.

The calendar was marked a new, the year starting at zero and the era referred to as “After the Day of Sealing”. Viscera went down in history, with a month, a comet, and even a bay named after her.

But ever since that day, planar travel has been illegal. And people have always lived in fear at what lies in wait on the other side of these planes.

Winter’s Eve is a tradition celebrated across Corventos from the 30th – 40th of Visceraloch. While it begins on the Winter Solstice, different cultures and religions have their own spin on the festivities.

What is Winter’s Eve?

Beginning on the Winter’s Solstice, this celebration happens the last ten days of the year. It focuses on the completion of one year and the beginning of a new. It is a time for resting and being with loved ones. Because of the shorter and darker days, many lights are lit across cities and small towns. There are typically shows, parades, singing, and food. Songs focus on the year ending, hopes for the new year, and giving gifts. A common saying throughout Corventos is “Blessings upon you!”, and it is inspired by the culture of the Forge King’s worshippers.

What is Thruumdar’s Workshop?

Thruumdar, the Forge King, is the god of crafts, work, and blessings. He is known for blessing his followers with specific talents and gifts, something that Dark Dwarf culture centers entirely around. During Winter’s Eve, followers of Thruumdar will build crafts based on their own unique skills and give them out freely to people. It is a show of generosity and a sense of community, earning this tradition the name Thruumdar’s Workshop. The saying “Blessings upon you!” derives from this.

How does the Korventine Empire celebrate?

There are large community meals based around their last harvest. Sweet potatoes, squash, and ham are all popular to serve. In the capital city An’Ock there is a big focus on Thruumdar’s Workshop. A large area of the city is converted to a gift buying center with supposed Dwarvish-style food and clothes. But the focus is more on spending money rather than the true root of this tradition.

How does the Expanse celebrate?

The Festival of Reflections is popular in the desert settlements. Boats will sail out onto the water at night and light colorful lanterns. The colors represent the gems brought to the great city of Soleia for the Day of Sealing, a historical day that banished the dragons from this plane of existence. It is said if you look at the reflections of the lantern lights on the water, you might see a glimpse of what the new year will bring you.

How does Eleste’si celebrate?

Known as the City of Blossoms, Eleste’si’s famous cherry blossom trees are dormant this time of year. So, it is a tradition to paint wooden cherry blossoms and hang them from the bare branches across the city. Some tree farmers grow these trees for the people to bring into their homes and decorate.

How does Oceala celebrate?

This beautiful tropical and coastal city celebrates by honoring their protector, Majora. They give offerings into the water in hopes Majora will continue to guard the city for another year. Sometimes, the great dragon turtle will emerge and tell stories to the people gathered on the beaches.

How does the Iron Gauntlet celebrate?

Within the Monastery of the Fallen Star, the monks will write on slips of paper what they hope to banish for the next year. That might be bad habits, struggles of the community, or even difficulties across Corventos as a whole. They then burn these papers. But across the wilder and more remote parts of the Iron Gauntlet, they build large effigies of scary monsters and burn them in hopes of banishing negative spirits.

How does Sunspire celebrate?

The City of Ensemble will host a large community-centered party in the middle of the city. It celebrates diversity and the acceptance of everyone. They will craft a huge Sunspirian symbol in the center of the plaza and people are free to leave tags on it for items they need. Other people can choose a tag, get that gift, and leave it at the Sunspirian symbol.

What is the Festival of the Dawn?

Followers of Li’alda, the Lady of Light, will celebrate the Festival of the Dawn. Their temples and shrines will shine with a multitude of yellow lights.

What is the Festival of New Life?

Naydrin, the Life Giver, is celebrated with the Festival of New Life. Her followers commemorate surviving the year and the new life coming for plants, animals and people when spring comes around again.