01.03.2026

From the Grand Library of Ang-Hegranes: Those Who Bled for Glory [Excerpt from The Castes of the Draunneath Circle]
            If there is a caste with uncertain origins, it must be that of what we (here in Naireanth) call the Drengriarhs. After all, any willing to grab a weapon, learn the most destructive cantrip can be considered a Drengriarh. Some tablets unearthed in our Heiminar contained a proto-word, and how at the time it was a loose-caste compared to nowadays. At least half pointed that most of those Drenavrh were farmers who knew enough to cultivate plants in the frigid Highlands of Nauheim, keep fields lush for their cattle. Doubtless, they bodies got honed through rigorous days at their farmsteads, making them ideal warriors, soldiers after a bit of training.
*Even some from the Maerrith-Caste were allowed to join armies, to earn their freedom in death.
Since the First Era of Mending, the monarchs across Thulyandiv seen it necessary to create a caste of warriors, whose life entails nothing but to shed blood and sweat in battle and prepare for the day of inevitable conflict. Before the rise of the Eminent Circles and Covens, this caste answered to the nobility at first. After numerous civil wars, they became loyal to their monarchs, drilled into them since their first ceremony where their role had been chosen. 
*In the east, for millennia the warrior-caste included only the thousand tribes of the Tengutsun, the spirits who sought the hardships and mortal thrills of flesh and bone, whose Samurai Clans served the Soratsun (Moonkynd) since their descent.
At the time by the Great Divinities and their ethereal servants, following the Second Demonic Crusade, by their priesthood. In some cases, the Thegrith-Caste carries out this procedure. 
For centuries, this caste remained on its own, without the possibility of Caste Movement. Up until the Subjugation of Nauheim and the Conquest of the Crescent and the Tear. After those, commoners and even nobility were allowed to join the Drengriarh-Caste later in their lives, by attendance of an Arcane or Military University. Within all Eminent Circles and Covens of Thulyandiv, they are the most commonly joined caste alongside the Vordriarh-Caste and the Volvaeth-Caste. 
Sub-Castes: 
  • Faufnisriarh: Members of the Caste serving in the Voidfaring Hosts, trained in all elements of Voidcombat, from boarding enemy vessels, to fight in the strange and differing climates of distant worlds.
  • Farmariarh: Members of the Caste serving in the Naval Hosts, trained in all elements of marine combat. Later ceased as a sub-caste, its members (on paper) rejoined either the Drengriarh-Caste or the Faufnisriarh sub-caste.
Warrior-Castes of the Other Members of the Draunneath Circle:
  • Soturiagh: The Warrior-Caste of Maurnia, of the Wondrous Coven of the Silvern Stag.
  •  Mothui: The Warrior-Caste of Kesothis, of the Sakhrath-Ib-Anath.
  • Zolnidhra: The Warrior-Caste of Wyruthrin, of the Coven of the Dusk-Weavers.
  • Hexegeraek: The Warrior-Caste of Grauburg, of the Adamant Circle of the Seven.
    • Wellegeraek: The Sub-Caste of Naval Warriors of Grauburg, of the Adamant Circle of the Seven.
Excerpts from the Heim-Vogue Magazine’s Article about the Militant Fashion of Eminent Circles and Covens: The Sorcerous Textiles.
Simurikh Leather: The renowned leather fabric of the Sakhrath-Ib-Anath, making up at least three parts of the Witch-Empress’s own ceremonial outfit. And a worthy rival of Dragonidh Leather. Like its rival, it aims to mimic the feather covered hide of the great Simurgh, who reign over the sky of Kesothis alongside the great and golden dragons.
  • Visual Traits: Texture supple and smooth as butter (a little warmed), with minimal crinkling. Sheen a little dull in dim surroundings, but gains a mirror-like, glossy sheen like high quality Panne Velvet once any kind of light touches it. Its drape, fluid and body-hugging drape that accentuates one’s curves and silhouette.
  • Arcane Qualities: Similarly to Dragonidh Leather, it increases once magical Talent, whilst also possessing the strength of mithril or orichalcum. Quite resistant against magic, recommended for hiking in the wilderness, or if one seeks fortune beyond our walls. Or even sometimes within. Easy to enchant too, and can hold at least 20 spells (but can easily be increased though it may hike up the price of a singular article of clothing), usually including a temperature conditioning spell to keep one warm in frigid wastes, cool under the blistering sun whilst lost in the desert. Or with spell keeping hunger and thirst at bay for several days.
  • Worn By: The Sakhrath-Ib-Anath; The Sub-Branches of the other Circles and Covens operating in the south; Adventurers and Seekers of the Crescent and the Tear, and Southern Heleion.

News and Commentary:
  • And March is finally here. My favorite season too. I wish we could have an eternal cycle of Spring and Autumn. Anyhow, time for some additional commentary.
  • First things first, will probably add different names for the Maerrith’s of the other nations later. Especially because the May story may feature a few from Kesothis.
  • Secondly, was thinking of including Heleion here. A bit undecided with them a little bit, whether the Grand Guilds and the surviving governments continued a caste system. The Empire did too, hence why they allowed their subjects to have them too. What I do know, that at the end of the Second Millennium of the Neo-Dawn Era, the caste system will slowly return.
  • And some trivia/behind-the-scenes history and logic on the names. Drengriarh simply came from the old norse word drengr (that also means bold man, gallant fellow) with an elvish suffix. Though presently, I consider it more as Nairenthian Suffix. Soturiagh likewise comes from I believe Finnish. It may change later, as I was also thinking of using the Hungarian Harcos or Katona with the iagh/agh suffix. Zolnidhra is from the polish word (Zolnierz) for soldier with a more drow/dark elf suffix. And swapped the previous T to a D, for a more aggressive pronunciation.
  • The Adamant Circle’s, I don’t exactly remember what word I just threw in to Google Translate (a bit of shameful admission) either wizard, witch or something to that, with a draconic suffix. Just wanted to give a more magical warrior sounding name in their case rather than the usually used Krieger/Kriegerin. 
  • And in the case of the Sakhrath-Ib-Anath, it came from Montu, the Egyptian falcon-god of war. Though I wrestled a lot with their castes. Initially (years ago to be precise), I envisioned them as a more Arabic and Turkish Black Rose (that at the time was Nordic and Slavic), but then my vision shifted, for a bit included Indian and Iranian elements, to the present day where its primarily Egyptian. Though have some leftover elements from the previous inspirations after being one of the prime forces of the Shalaionian Sultanate. But because there is no or very little ancient Egyptian vocabulary, I decided to use their gods for the castes. 
  • Regarding weekly progress: Finished editing the last of the march stories, the Shadow Archives titled Escaping Golden Shadow. A tale of smut, bondage and a little bit of action. All set on their equivalent of a private jet. Beyond that, started working on the April story involving Yngvaun and Tawheeda. Almost finished with the first chapter. Also started some preliminary outlining for the May Records of War/War Tales story, set on Votum Prime. That one will be smut, but leaning more towards the Horror Genre.
  • Lastly, its more of a distant future thing (both for Thulyandiv and IRL), but another plot line large as the Cabal one will be the Second Great War that will conclude the Neo-Dawn Era. And will see the completion of the Eminent Circles and Covens’ Thousand Year Plan. A plan that will have hints in stories involving Lythienne, Astrydril and some major players of Thulyandiv. 
  • Then will reintroduce the Federation, and introduce another ‘alien’ faction.
  • Anyhow, I rambled on enough. Thank you for reading this. Next week’s report will focus on possibly the Hersith-Caste. Or the Volvaeth/Seidhaeth-Caste.