Story of Avad
Avad, the middle son of Jiran, had a unique upbringing compared to his brothers, Kadaman and Itamen. Avad showed huge interest in history and arts, engaging in combat training only when necessary. His early years did not hint at his future role as Sun-King, a position he neither sought nor expected.
Avad spent his childhood in the Palace of the Sun, located in the Carja capital, Meridian. The turning point came four years into Jiran’s infamous Red Raids. Ersa, an Oseram warrior, was captured and forced to fight in the Sun-Ring. Miraculously, she survived, only to be made a palace slave by Jiran. Avad befriended Ersa during her enslavement, aiding her in gathering crucial information. Eventually, he played a pivotal role in her escape to the Claim.
Kadaman and Avad, Jiran’s sons, strongly opposed the Carja raids and human sacrifices, viewing them as senseless violence. Kadaman, as the eldest son and expected heir, mistakenly thought Jiran would stop the raids if he asked. But when he did, Jiran shockingly sacrificed Kadaman too. This brutal act showed Avad that Jiran was unreasonable and needed to be overthrown.
On the evening of Kadaman’s execution, Avad and his men left Meridian for The Claim, planning to gather an army from different tribes to overthrow Jiran. Jiran declared them traitors. In The Claim, Avad reunited with Ersa and met her brother Erend. They had already formed ties with Oseram groups opposing the raids. The siblings helped Avad unite these groups with his forces to create the needed army.
After months of planning, Avad and his army, known as the liberators, began their march towards Meridian. They faced Jiran’s loyal Kestrels and some Carja soldiers. However, the liberators’ advanced Oseram Cannons, a new weapon, quickly broke through the city defenses.
Most of Jiran’s supporters, mainly Sun-Priests and nobles, fled, leaving behind the freed slaves and lower-class Carja, who supported Avad.
Jiran sent his queen Nasadi and son Itamen to Sunfall with his champion, Helis. Avad asked Jiran to surrender and had to kill him when he refused. In reality, Ersa delivered the fatal blow as Avad hesitated.
The victory was Avad’s, but Jiran’s followers weren’t completely gone. Helis and High Sun-Priest Bahavas formed the Shadow Carja, a breakaway faction.