This page serves as a purpose to give a quick overview of factions that have previously existed within recent history of the Valley, and have since disbanded or were dismantled. Ancient factions, or factions that were beyond the Valley, are not mentioned here.

Each section will give a quick talk about what the faction was like, their beliefs/culture, a history of their leaders, their tasks, a quick cover of their known history, as well as a collection of known characters that were previously a part of this faction [may be slightly outdated at times!].

Members and folks hoping to join in future openings are permitted to use this information and create a character that was a part of these factions before being where they are now in their life. If you have any questions regarding these factions, feel free to reach out to staff.

Gaelkin had an unnatural connection to cinder and flame, though it was unknown how they formed fires - it was noted that there would often have the stench of burning flesh considered only to be smelt in wildfires - which was later confirmed to be when they 'buried' their dead. The Clan would hide in cliffs, their songs heard eerily moving across the waves which locked their land in place. 

They were once nomadic, once being known as gentle singers who sang the song of spirits who had died long before but due to the wars they found themselves in between Eirmuir and Gaelkin - they were trapped, until the Clan died. Their once gentle souls were shaped to become secretive and combative, trying to survive in land that attempted to churn them into feed for the sea-dwelling beasts.

There are hopes that the Clan will return, whispers of hope sparking across those who remain - but there are some who wish to refuse to allow the Clan to regain its spirit after death.

Waterthorn's recent history lies in deceit, one where others must prey on the weak so they may ascend.

Heilang's rise to power started when she first fell for the son of the Old Thorn, Amias, next in line to become the Gurun. There were promises of a bright future with her at his side, and for a time, she believed this. Shortly after, Amias had grown tired of the ways his father would direct Waterthorn, believing his father to waste the talents and resources that the Ravine could provide. With Heilang at his side, he began to form a revolution, gaining favor in secret amongst those in Waterthorn. Shortly after it began to take root, Amias revealed that when the time came for him to rise to the position of Gurun, he would be taking another to sit beside him, but revealed it would not be Heilang as he had promised, but another.

Heilang set out on a path of revenge after being scorned, and she had begun to dwindle whatever favor Amias and his to-be had created. Enraged by this, Amias sought to eliminate Heilang and her threats. He planned to murder his father and ascend to Gurun, and paint Heilang as the murderer so she would stand trial and be removed through execution, all while painting himself as the martyr and earning the final pieces to rise to power.

Heilang however had learned of this plan, and did not play into his game. It was found out by Amias's chosen lover alongside Heilang that he had been the one to draw his own father's blood, and thus, a trial was begun against Amias. It had ended with Heilang rising to power after being viewed as a hero, and challenging the sitting Kiln with their decision of death for the Alphason. She had been appointed officially as the new Gurun of Waterthorn, and Amias was sentenced to live his life as an exile beyond the Ravine. Any who sided with Amias still, and remained in his favor, left with the Alphason, and chose to live in exile as well.

Waterthorn had begun to be overtaken by the rot shortly after Heilang's ascension as Gurun. This rot siphoned the life out of every living thing it came across, infecting them with an incurable illness and poisoning the silt they stood on. Heilang had begun to call for an investigation, but it did not make it far before the Gurun herself became infected, and not long after her bold rise to power, crumbled, and could not survive the rot.

Word spread quickly about this, and it was not long before cries of the One-Eyed Lady's death reached Amias's ears. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to seize what had been ripped from his grasp, the Alphason returned, and staked claim to the title. It was his by birthright, after all.

Not long after his return, Amias sent word out to any Waterthorn exiles that still danced along its borders that he had returned to his rightful place, and granted them a safe return to their home should they chose. Amias was quick to get to work to repair his home, as though his methods may have been questionable in morals, he truly had a deeply rooted love for it, and would do anything to protect it from those who sought to bring them harm.

The Rot, however, proved to be a more formidable foe than Amias had realized. He was quick in sending out Thorns to investigate the Rot, and return with whatever information they could find. However, the information they gathered would not be enough. The Rot doubled in its effort, and crept closer and closer to Waterthorn's densites. Amias made the difficult decision that Waterthorn's land had been infested with a curse, and was no longer inhabitable. They had to abandon the Ravine, and in time, they would learn what they could to eradicate the Rot and restore Waterthorn to what it was. This would never come to be, however.

As they fled the Ravine, the Rot followed, and when they crossed a river hoping that it would cut off its advancement, a mist emerged. Some ran, others remained at the river, frozen out of fear. A large majority of Waterthorn became caught within the mist as it surged over the river and flooded their minds. Visions of death and rot and decay, of themselves and those they loved, flashed like lightning, struggling to stabilize between reality and the hallucinations. Others became erratic and enraged, unable to determine friend from foe. The mist infested them for some time, before it retreated back to the other side of the river.

As those infected by the mist came back to their sound minds, they found themselves entirely alone. Some were able to meet back up together, but the vast majority of Waterthorn was left stranded. Additionally, Amias was never seen nor heard from again. There was no sign of where he had gone, no scent trails, no blood spilled. He had simply vanished, like the mist plucked him from where he stood and took him with it when it retreated. 

Waterthorn was left without a Gurun, and scattered across the Valley, became just a whisper of a faction. The surviving members made their way to the other factions and sought sanctuary there, while others took on the life of a dispersal, many seeking out ways to return to their home. One thing was for certain though; Waterthorn's lands were uninhabitable, and none could step foot beyond the river without meeting their untimely demise.