The fall of the Berutut Empire marked the end of the Age of Kings, ushering in centuries of fragmentation of nations into ever smaller factions of tribes, clans, and city-states. This era came to be known as the Age of Tribes, reaching its zenith with the proliferation of as many as three thousand tribes and clans scattered across Calandros.

Among these myriad clans stood the clan Decodra, a sizable kinship bound by blood and shared ancestry. Decodrans lived peacefully with the neighbouring clans by the shores of the vast Cyndoran lake in the heart of Calandros.

Dwelling deep within the lake was Iberius, a gigantic amphibious snail revered as the Lord of the Lake. Iberius held a special place in the hearts of the lake clans and was worshipped and fiercely guarded by them. The legend spoke of Iberius as the eldest and wisest inhabitant, surpassing in age even the ancient trees of the surrounding forest. The very harmony of Cyndoran hinged upon the well-being of this extraordinary creature.

One day, Valkar, a warrior from the Decodra clan, experienced a vivid dream. In this vision, Iberius, the revered snail, was bound by a rope in a boat, being transported by men from the Moraca tribe to the opposite side of the lake where their village lay. Amidst this scene, a gentle feminine voice, the spirit of the lake Sinthara, reached Valkar through a sorrowful song:

"Beneath the moonlit waters deep,

A tale of sorrow begins to seep.

Iberius, my love, in danger lies,

Bound by ropes, away he flies.

Oh, Valkar, warrior true,

I call to you, my heart askew.

In dreams, a plea I softly sing,

A forlorn melody on the lake's soft wing.

Moracas men with shadows cast,

Stealing Iberius, a moment's gasp.

A distant shore, a heart undone,

In the moonlit waves, my tears do run."

Valkar saw into the depths of the lake, where a mysterious bronze glimmered, embedded in the muddy bottom.

"Oh, Valkar, warrior so brave,

A vision shared, our fate to save.

In the deep, a sword you'll find,

To unite the clans, our fates entwined.

A blessing whispered on the night,

Eternity's promise, a glimmering light.

To the Moon's embrace, your spirit may sway,

But rescue my love, 'fore light turns to gray.

Dive deep, Valkar, where dreams take flight,

Retrieve the sword in the hushed moonlight.

Unite the clans, let destiny guide,

With Sword of the West, forever abide.

Oh, Valkar, hero of the lake,

A solemn vow, for love's sweet sake.

In your heart, the West Wind's song,

Together we stand, forever strong."

Startled by the dream, Valkar awoke. Compelled by this vision, he followed Sinthara's instructions, diving deep into the very bottom of the lake. As promised, there, he discovered the Sword of the West Wind.

Valkar summoned all the elders of the Cyndoran clans to share his revelation. The Moracans, a tribe residing on the North-Eastern side of the lake, were integral members of the Cyndoran inhabitants. As a formidable tribe, mightier than all the clans along the West Coast, Valkar recognized the need to unite the clans to stand a chance in the war against the Moracans.

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The elders understood the seriousness of the matter and voiced their concerns. The loss of Iberius, they knew, would entail a cascade of misfortune around the lake. Sinthara's mourning would bring forth great calamities and unexpected disasters. Her tears could flood the lake and wreak havoc upon their homes.

Panic gripped the assembly as the threat of war against the Moracans loomed. A voice of doubt emerged among the elders, challenging the reliability of Valkar's vision. "How can we be sure of this man's vision?" one of them questioned, addressing the assembly. "Are we to wage a war that could claim hundreds and bring enormous destruction upon us, based merely on this man's word? I say, no!" His declaration resonated, finding agreement among a majority of the elders.

With no time for prolonged debate, Valkar stepped forward, unveiling the sword before the elders. "Sinthara herself bestowed this sword upon me. She sang to me in the vision and implored me to save her love," he declared.

A profound awe settled on the faces of the elders, their silent whispers exchanging shared understanding. Unanimously, they agreed to the solemn task at hand, mustering a warband comprised of the most fearless warriors to embark on this perilous mission to rescue Iberius.

Night fell, and they set sail on three longships, gliding across the lake toward the Moracan village. The water of Cyndoran shimmered beneath the Moon's gentle glow. The lake's surface, undisturbed by the wind, lay tranquil, creating a perfect reflection of the heavens, capturing the stars and the encompassing silhouette of ancient trees.

Sinthara raised a thick fog that cloaked the lake, providing Valkar and his men with the cover they needed to surprise their unsuspecting foes. In the quiet hours of the early morning, they landed on the shores of Moraca, a swift and deadly force descending upon the village. The clash was fierce. Valkar and his men slaughtered most of the Moracans, compelling the rest to flee.

Unfortunately, they had arrived too late. Iberius lay lifeless and detached from his majestic shell. Valkar, feeling sombre, returned the shell and the body to Sinthara. The lake's spirit mourned the loss of her beloved husband, yet she spared the Cyndoran people from her wrath.

Valkar gently placed Iberius's body back into the lake, honouring Sinthara's wish. In a gracious gesture of appreciation for the valiant effort Valkar and his companions had made, Sinthara allowed him to retain the Shell, offering a melodious song by the lake.

"The Shell of Iberius, from the Moon's essence born,

Shall shield Cyndoran, in the night and morn. 

A token of gratitude, in its gleaming embrace,

Against dark powers, a guardian's grace," her voice carried on the wind above the lake, softly fading away.

The elders reached a unanimous agreement to unify all the clans of Cyndoran into a single tribe, one that would henceforth bear the name Cyndor. Convinced that Valkar was the chosen champion of Sinthara, they made him the First Chief of Cyndor.

Thus concludes the Legend of Valkar, a tale etched in the annals of Cyndor, where the echoes of his deeds linger amidst the rustling leaves and moonlit waters.

For centuries, the Sword of the West Wind remained an heirloom within the bloodline of Valkar. In the present day, it is carried by his successor, Luga, who led Cyndor in the Great Tribal War, asserting dominion over the entirety of Calandros from the shores of the Garoy Sea in the West to the Mountains of Tirich Karnaz in the East.

Following the war, on his coronation day as the King of Calandros, Luga, following the ancient tradition, journeyed to Mor'Kath, the titanic volcano at the heart of Calandros, seeking the oracle's prophecy for his reign. He ascended the black stairs to reach the oracle's lair by the side of the volcano.

The oracle added a drop of the King's blood into dark powder and cast the mixture into flames. As the flames danced and flickered, she beheld the tapestry of his fate.

"You will be blessed with two children, like fleeting stars, but only the third shall become your successor. Yet, his reign will falter, and the kingdom shall fall. The Wheel of Time is turning, and the Age of the Serpent is finally upon us. Be wary, for the Devourer of the Worlds draws near...