The History of Shangri-La and the Shepherd Republic

1. Shangri-La, the Island of the Moon

Shangri-La is not just another Island in the Sky, it is so much more.

Once the Island was connected towards Ragnarök as the Capitol of the land Lunaris, which lied right in the Middle of the Continent and functioned as main Government of Ragnarök where the Royal Order of Ten Moons was located.

The Royal Order of Ten moons was consisting out of all Ten current Kings of Ragnarök, as well as their adjutants and Bodyguards, here in Lunaris they discussed every matter concerning the entire Continent, from talks of King to King in times of offences and near warmongery.

The Leader of the Royal Order was the King of Lunaris, in ancient times this has been King Maranell Savarin Wolvenra and later on the Royal Family of the Kings younger Brother, King Marikos Savarin Wolvenra.

1500 years ago, Lunaris was the battlefield of the last fight or Ragnarök, before it vanished within the Plasma-sea, a Fight of the Tyrant Lycan, who had reached a drastic level of Political dominance, through deceiving, kidnapping and torturing politicians, violent assault on key figures in the government of other lands, as well as the excessive use and experimentation with Black Rano on his own body.

Through still unknown circumstances, he managed to not only find out about the true existence, but also about the location of 9 of the widely rumored 10 Spheres of the Moon-cycle, but even came into possession of them, making him, next to King Maranell Wolvenra, the strongest living being, which ever roamed the ground of Ragnarök.

As he managed to ignite a Civil war in all of Ragnarök, he revealed himself, while driving several original Royal Families out of the Continent.

Abyssinia's Royal Order, in an attempt to help and reclaim the Lands back from Lycan and his subordinates and to preserve and defend them until the righteous Royals would return, was pulled into the dark plan of Lycan, who had anticipated this move.

Through his march into the Territory of Abyssinia and his slaughter and pilgrimage in many lands as well as the sinful act of creating and unleashing ghouls without regard for anyone, a Global war was unleashed, which later went into history as the War of Sun and Moon and lasted for 25 Years.

Due to the massive weaponry of 9 of the 10 main-lands of Ragnarök as well as the incredible power of the 9 spheres, Lycan possessed an army and a firepower nearly unrivaled, with it he was even able to rip the entire continent of Abyssinia to pieces.

Stripped of a fair portion of their Continent as well as their Supreme Overlord and many other Kings and Queens, who died in Battle, Abyssinia had close to no possibility to defend itself against the overwhelming power and cruelty of Lycan, so long until he suddenly vanished from Abyssinia, as if he never was there in the first place.

Rumors had it that Lycan and his governing circle were dragged back towards Ragnarök by the return of the Ancient King Maranell Wolvenra, but facts and details about this remain uncertain and are shrouded in mystery and legends.

But after Lycan vanished, the Abyssinians as well as the Refugees of Ragnarök allied and fought against the remaining Lycanians, the subordinates and followers of Lycan.

For Abyssinia, or rather said, for what remained of it, the War was almost over, but in some regions, the amount of remaining Lycanians was still overwhelming.

The Remnants of this once glorious continent are today the Islands of the Savannah Archipelago, the Kingdom of Prairie and the Nippon Archipelago, which had drifted far away from Abyssinia's Dominion in these 1.500 years of uncertain peace.

But Ragnarök hadn´t it easy as well, as during the Final Battle, a Fight between Lycan and King Wolvenra as well as his own loyal forces of Lunaris, the entire continent of Ragnarök, minus Lunaris, dropped rapidly into the Plasma-Sea and was ever since deemed as lost.

The Last Sphere of the Moon-cycle remained on Lunaris.

Lunaris rose into the sky, away from Ragnarök´s Dominion, protected by none other but the returned King Maranell Wolvenra, but the Kings force had diminished drastically due to the centuries of isolation and his nomad-lifestyle as well due to his injuries he suffered in the Battle and so the once Glorious land began to break apart and out of the pieces which drifted away, The kingdom of Shepherd was created.

Protected by a royal Pair, which had been designated as such by the Ancient King himself, before he concealed the remaining Capitol of Lunaris, Shangri-La, before all eyes for 1.500 years, keeping it safe and afloat.

2. The Ivory Castle and its many Houses

The Wolpalaca, also known as Wolven Paladin Academy, or by its students as The Ivory Castle was originally an Institution for training the Paladins of Ragnarök.

It has long evolved into a school for nearly all higher aspects of life in Shangri-La, foremost for Paladin-Magic, Technology, Medicine and Healing Arts, the Arts of War, History, as well as the Royal Class which contains aspects of all other houses in one.

The House "Vermillion", is the house in which students which are adapted towards it, are getting taught in the rightful and responsible use of Nono and Rano.

Their House-Masters are Lady Rosella Armin, Master Paladin of the Silver Rank and Shane Redsign, Member of the Silver Guard.

The House "Azure", is the house in which students learn about the history of their world and region and are taught to become the Lore Keepers of certain regions.

Their House-Master is Sir Walzen Killick, Member of the Silver Guard.

The House "Obsidian" is the House with many soldiers and in which students are taught in the arts of war, learning how to defend their folk while defeating an enemy even if not killing them, magical and non-magical.

Their House-Master is Queen Shewani Suwa, originally Queen of Vulperia

The House "Marble" is the house in which students are taught in the high art of medicine and healing spells, as well as nature manipulation for the sake of restoration of environement.

Their house-Master is Lady Sherezade Burmilla, Head-Maid of the Royal Family.

The House "Platinum" is the house of technology, whether in simple or in magical engineering, in this house the students learn the rightful handling of everything mechanical.

Their House-Master is Lady Seraphina Million, Royal Head Engineer of Shangri-La.

The House "Gold" is the House of the Royal Class, in here all the students reside which have the needed qualities to become Leaders and Royal Knights and if the possibility arises, even Kings and Queens, their final test consists in the Cardinal Trials, the house also teaches much of the aspects of the other houses.

Their Housemaster is Lady Meiling Pandaria, Adjutant and descendant of Queen Panmora Savarin Pandaria.

The Houses do not compete against each other but in contrast support one another as each house is teaching an aspect which lacks the other house, all expect of the Gold House, which only a certain number of students visit anyways.

The House-Masters are Teachers in general, as well as Mentors towards the Students in their houses but also look after students of the other houses, if it is required.

Each one of them is trained and fully capable in their respective specialty and so the best Teachers Shangri-La had to offer.

The Wolpalaca is long not exclusive to the Inhabitants of Shangri-La, everybody who wishes, can choose a house after an evaluation test and participate in their lessons even from beyond Shangri-La.

Many of the Children who live with their parents in exile ever since the war, are visiting the Wolpalaca.

Next to the Main Lessons which are different, according to the Houses the students visit, the Wolpalaca also sports many general lessons, about the History of the Regions around Shangri-La, about the war of Sun and moon, and also in their race-specific magic and culture.

Next to the Wolpalaca, the Ivory Castle also holds the Royal Library, the Royal Quarters, as well as the Temple of hundred Gods in its walls.

The Royal Library is by far the biggest library of the World, as it houses many Books, Scripts, Scrolls and Documents, which King Maranell has gathered in his long life and century-long travel, it is open to anyone, expect of a few more advanced sections, some are also strictly restricted to just a certain group of people, for example the Silver Guard, or the King and his most loyal advisors themselves.

The Royal Quarters are of course the Royal Family´s own rooms, offices, the throne-room as well as the great Banquette room.

Only high Nobility and political Guests as well as the Royal Maids and Butlers are allowed to roam in this place, the general public can only access this place if they have a direct invitation by the King himself.

Each and everyone of the Butlers and Maids, is trained harshly in combat, as they are the first defense line between an enemy and the Nobles to defend.

The Temple of hundred Gods is but only a place in which many different religions are executed in their own private rooms, all of the Escapees of war and the nobles in exile can pray to their gods in this place.

Underneath the Ivory Castle lies the Reign-Circle, in which the Politicians, the different ministries and bureaucratic offices and the King debate about the different politics, laws and whatsoever concerning life in all of Shangri-La.

Next to this it also holds the War-room, in which the King and his roundtable, consisting of his advisors and ministers, the leaders of the silver guard, as well as once the Seven Swords debated about strategies and measures to take during times of war or the actions to take to prevent a war to break out.

Once also the Royal Order of Ten Moons had their talks and decisions made in this room, the Roundtable which stands in this room still reminds of these times.

Also the Reign-Circle houses the main branches of the different guilds of Shangri-La, from Merchant to Smiths towards Pastry-chefs, here all of the accounting business is done while their main facilities remain in the Bazar.

The Hill on which the Ivory Castle is located has been connected with four Bridges towards the Four Cardinal Towers in which the Four Cardinal Guardians reside.

They are King Maranell's mightiest Golems and along with the fifth guardian, said to reside somewhere in the Castle, they shall house the souls of five Saints who always wanted this world and its inhabitants to survive.

At the Foot of the Reign-Circles lies the two levels of the Capital City Moonstone, Uptown and Downtown, while all around the islands many smaller villages have been established, mostly inhabiting communities of the different refugee-races out of different Lands, which are grateful for the safety granted towards them but who, in order to not disturb harmony, mainly keep under themselves, still many of them go towards Moonstone in order to work.

There exist not that many different communities and their numbers are also not that high, the biggest are:

Stormhill, home to the Owlkuros and the Royal Family of Crescentia in exile, under lead of King Lux Nocturna.

Foxhole, home to the Foxunes and the royal family of Vulperia in exile,under lead of King Robin Suwa.

3. The Shepherd Kingdom and the Revolution.

The Shepherd Kingdom´s Era reaches from the founding through King Borealis and Queen Aurora Shepherd, to the time of the last two branches of this Royal Bloodlines of Shepherd, coming out of numerous ancestors:

King Reinheart Shepherd, Son of King Luxanimar Shepherd, who ruled over the northern half of the Shepherd Kingdom and his older sister Queen Eldora Shepherd, which ruled over the Southern half.

A Kingdom, divided of 9 Islands on each half.

On the Northern side lies Andalusia, Shetland, Mau, Sealyham, Basset, Bordaussie, Samoyede, Akita and an Island known as Armenia, which though is referred to in the Geography books and on maps, but about which no information has ever been gathered in any history books or report, it seems like no one has ever been there…, or anyone who did just never returned.

Originally it was a scientific Research ground for creating Beast-Hybrids during the Era of the belligerent States under the Lead of Sir Fenrir Wolfenstein.

It was the Birthplace of King Shiro Savarin, also known as White Savage the 1st and Maranell Savarin known as Maranell Wolvenra and their Siblings, born as simple biological War-machines.

After that facility was destructed during the Liberator Wars, a Prison-Castle has been established upon it, to keep the world's greatest Criminals inside until their death.

On the Southern side lies Aegan, Airedale, Spinon, Vizsla, the Darven Islands, Chartreux, the Korat Archipelago, Pharaoh and a Just as undiscovered island called Ragdoll, however there are rumours that this island actually does not exist anymore since long before the Shepherd Republic´s days, due to a terrible Catastrophe.

That is one version of the History, the other is, that in order to even the numbers, this island was merely invented by Queen Eldora to look as if she is not inferior to her little Brother.

Then there is a third Version of the History, that both these mysterious islands, are actually those territories, which the Federation of Abyssinia has reclaimed, during the Hundreds Lilies War at Malberry, wherever Malberry shall be, maybe it is a place at Armenia.

Once all these places were ruled by the following Bloodline of King Borealis and Queen Aurora Shepherd.

During the Revolution around 250 years prior to the events of the 2nd War of Sun and Moon, King Reinheart died, leaving his adult son, Crown Prince Reeve Shepherd and his little sister, Princess Maya Shepherd behind.

The revolution, which bordered in a civil-war lasted for about 10 years before it was resolved, during the revolution which also was cast against the new King and several attempted assassinations of both Children, the King decided to flee. from the persecution of the rebels which had already made their ways into the ranks of his on knights.

he knew he had not the posibility to further on be a king, thinking that the entire hatred lied solely upon him.

He decided to flee with some of his still loyal men, leaving his kingdom behind in the Care and under the rule of his little Sister Maya, which he loved dearly and didn´t wanted to bring her in danger while being pursued with him, knowing not whom to trust and who not, he took only his few most loyal men with him, mainly his friends of childhood times and some of the Paladins which his family once allowed to immigrate from their own destroyed home towards Andalusia.

Reeve knew that his little sister was still too young and might run into danger when he would let her stay in Andalusia, so he went as far as to travel first towards the border to Aegan, where he asked for an audience at the Queen.

He begged his aunt to take upon his sister, so that she´s safe until she reaches adulthood and decides what to do herself, offering his aunt his Half of the Kingdom in exchange for her help.

On the question why he would go so far, he said that he is not as strong and brave as his father , that he is not the leader the Land needs and sough for bringing back stability, and that he was targeted numerous times by assasins out of th eown ranks.

him being so weak was a reason why his subordinates and the folk do not respect him, nor do they listen to his orders much and only do things when they were necessary, as such a disrespected and weak King he would have no force to save anything, so he wanted to at least save his little sister by giving her into more competent hands.

As the queen hears his reason, she is reminded of her promise to her own brother and accepts the offer of her nephew.

It is said that King Reeve then, as the queen took her niece in, emigrated towards the mysterious Prairia Archipelago, braving the storms with his men, and so losing a great amount of his pursuers and assassins who were still after him, as predicted.

There he met, saved and later on married a Duke´s daughter and raised a whole new Kingdom from there out, hidden behind a wall of plasma clouds.

Princess Maya, which was too young to be put upon the throne as future Queen of the norther half and Andalusia, would have been killed by the rebels the moment she entered back to the land, to end the Bloodline of the Shepherds, at least on the northern Half of the Kingdom.

Therefore Queen Eldora decided to adopt her niece and raise her as her own, for she could not bear any children herself.

She let the young princess being brought to Siam, the Capital of Aegan, where her castle stood, and simultaneously announced that she was willing to make a compromise with the Rebels.

She would give of 90 % of the overall Shepherd Kingdom´s Territory to rule for themselves, if they would leave her and her adopted daughter with the remaining 10%, means the land of Aegan and Andalusia, and spare the life of the remaining nobles of both sides.

Accepting this demand with a written Document, the Shepherd Republic was born, Aegan and Andalusia however stayed under the Monarchy of the Shepherd Family, as the Royal Islands of Shepherd and although the name has changed over the centuries, have they lived on ever since.

However there were still some elements which weren´t yet happy with the whole development fearing that through the existence of Princess Maya and her family and the in the exile living King Reeve and his family, the Shepherd Clan might reinforce their political power, before deciding to take back the rule over the newly established Shepherd Republic, with its self-governing Islands.

They began to instigate many more civil-war in Andalusia, forcing Queen Acerola Shepherd, Great-Granddaughter of Queen Maya, who had lived at a palace on the Border, to have to move into Exile in the old Royal Palace of Siam, closing the borders to keep the folk of Aegan save.

This earned her the mistrust and hatred of those nobles from Andalusia, who had stood loyal to her all the time.

In the end the Civil war was resolved as those originally loyal to the Queen, turned on her and began to support the Rebels.

As they wanted to call in all other islands to unite against Aegan and Queen Acerola, Andalusia was shunned openly, by telling them, that they broke the Cease-fire-Contract and therefore no longer belonged to the Shepherd Republic, if they would not immediately cease their assault on Aegan and the Royal Family.

Refusing to cease their Open Hostility for several years, leading to the civil war 10 and 2 years prior to the events of the Massacre at Kranz manor, Andalusia was shortly before a new Civil-war, as food and resources began to decrease.

As the tension was at the boiling point and almost the entire population of Andalusia at the brink of extinction, Queen Acerola, tired of constantly fighting and with the support of the Noble houses of Aegan, offered a new Cease-fire contract as well as a Contract of Co-existence, if Andalusia promised to never again fight against Aegan.

Unable to resist, if they wanted to save their own people, the remaining once corrupt Governing Noble houses subscribed the Contract, much to the wrath of the two Radical Oppositions on both lands.

Who began to brood a new plan in the underground, leading towards the Massacre at Kranz Manor to set a statement, as two Noble Families from both Lands, The Kranz Family of Aegan and the Galahad Family of Andalusia almost entirely perished on that day, alongside members of many other Aegan noble houses.

Thought it was hardly ever proved, some say that some Noble houses of other islands, as well as Andalusia, secretly supported the Rebels of the Opposition on both sides, to make sure they get profit out of a new civil-war or even a new war, should the Monarchy fall.

In the Civil-War prior to that day, many mercenaries and sky-pirates had participated in killing off nobles and warrior-clans, most of all the rumored Darkspur Cartel under lead of their Don, Corvinius Dakspur, who had set his sights to make profit by selling powerful and ancient weapons from all around the republic, to several organizations, most of all to the mysterious New-Moon-Society, which operated in all of the Sheperd Islands.

4. The dignity of Warriors and Nobles

During the Civil war many people died, perished in the flames of war, many Noble-families of Andalusia had to flee, leaving their home behind…., other Clans who served as their Guardians were even almost completly or thoroughly eliminated in the process, fighting for their masters safety.

Their loyalty and dignity would not allow them to flee, betray and leave their masters alone just to save their own clans.

Their Dignity prescribed their faith, to die for the one they had sworn eternal loyalty to.

One such was the Sacher Clan, a Clan of mighty Caninu Warriors from Andalusia who were in the service of the Galahad Clan.

Another Clan was the Napage Clan, who was divided in Two Houses, the Warriors and the Governing house.

The warriors offered their service to other Noble houses as Bodyguards, accumulating the Family´s wealth, while The Governing house took upon the politics of Andalusia together with the other nobles, it was by far the strongest and most influencing Warrior-clan of all of Andalusia and they stood loyal to the Royal Family and their allies, which made them one of the main targets of the Opposition.

As the Revolution broke out, the Napage Clan fought hard and managed to save many Noble Clan, some of them even managed through their help to emigrate towards Aegan after gaining permission by Queen Acerola to enter, after swearing their allegiance and loyalty towards the Crown and the nobles of Aegan.

Free after the motto, save your life and dignity, rather than your wealth.

In an attempt to finally stop the Fighting in Andalusia, many Warrior Clans, including the Napage Clan engaged the Rebels, which were helped by Sky Pirates and private mercenaries of unknown origins and fiend soldiers, their numbers were strong and their weapons many but they were vastly outnumbered and in the end they perished, the Napage clan´s village, Rhodesia, was entirely burnt down and nearly everybody was killed.

As the fighting finally was over, the entire Napage Clan had perished, all but one single Boy, Calua Napage, son of Calborus Napage, former chief of the Warrior Branch, who was saved by the Kurvaz Militia, who, alongside the remaining warriors of Andalusia, fought to save the civilians who fled.

The Boy was first brought into an Orphanage on Aegan before the same was burned down by the Radical Opposition of their side, afterwards he was brought, by Air Marshal Baritone Kranz towards his home, Cycladia, in Aegan and into the Custody of the Galahad Clan, who served as their Butlers, Maids and guardians.

The Sacher Clan survived barely, the elders of the clan and the only son of their Leader, Gren Sacher, were the only survivors in the end.

As the elders died, the young Gren was adopted by the Galahad clan, the family whose servant and guardians they had been since the time of the Shepherd Kingdom´s foundation, as one of the Seven Swords of the Lunar King possessing Gladio Fulgur, the Lightning Sword.

The Galahad Clan, was a noble Caninu-clan from Andalusia, they always fought against the discrimination of the Felinekos and were often shunned by their Conspecifics for it, until the Hundreds Lilies War, as the Felinekos finally reclaimed their independency and the last Lycanians in the Shepherd Kingdom were put into prison at Armenia, apparently, before every record about that Island was erased.

As the Revolution in their own Land of Andalusia began 10 years ago, they had to flee in order to save their Lives, together with all the people in their duty, they made their way through the riven land, gradually losing more and more people and belongings, until they finally reached the border to Aegan, asking for Asylum.

The Queen allowed them the Exile in her land, but only if they would serve a Noble of Aegan instead, however as they were well known to the queen she would have led the in either way, but wanted to test them.

Wanting to save his family and friends, the Last Leader of the Clan, Lord Francis Galahad decided to accept that condition without hesitation, and so the Galahad Family and Gren Sacher, as well as many others of their original staff, began working for the Noble house of the Kranz Family.

The Kranz Family could only be described as the Aegan Counterpart towards the Galahad Family, their origins rooted in the kingdom of Prairie, from where they emigrated after a massive incident, known as the Battle of the Colossus, 150 years prior to the present.

Their Family had been a member of, O.P.P.E.F (Organization for Peace, Prosperity, Equality and Freedom in the Kingdom of Prairie) and was assigned to keep the old Documents about the Iron Giant and the Black Colossus under custody, before they were stolen in the Tragedy at Kranz Manor, 10 years before the event, out of which only Lady Opera Eushir Kranz of Cycladia survived, as last living member of the Clan.

Thus, in the end, from the Kranz Family only Lady Opera, Sir Gren Sacher and Sir Calua Napage survived the massacres at Kranz Manor and the Piracy Suppression Battle of the Korat Archipelago.

Ever since these three are standing in the Shepherd Republic as a symbol for Strength, Faith and Loyalty and even with the Incident in the Kurvaz Militia, as the rule of Bruno Dondurma ended, they were still much revered.

Unknown to most, they still seek to exact revenge for all the hardships they had faced and one of them seels to liberate Andalusia which was still in the clutches of corrupt politicians and the Darkspur Cartel, as well as an Ancient enemy, one he has a personal connection to, without knowing that fact just yet.