Dun Keiba on Icarus

 

Castle Dun Keiba - literally meaning Castle of Racing. The history of Dun Keiba is somewhat short, but also dramatic.

The Castle's lands were settled shortly after the crash - but not so quickly that other Castles weren't already well established by that time. The lands themselves are forgiving only to those who know how to treat them right. Savannah lands dominate both north and south of Dun Keiba, mixed with rich grasslands and light, semi-tropical forests.

The climate of the lands is dual - during most months there is drought, then the Flood season begins in earnest with the storms coming from both east coast and the farther south mountains. They drench the lands and cause major flooding in low laying areas, fill normally dry lake beds, and provide enough livestock with water supplies that a great boon of births occurs around this event.

So far, there have only been a handful of years when no rain has fallen, and this proved almost disasterous to the local villagers. However, just over 200 years ago, the actual Castle of Dun Keiba was established mostly as a trade route stop - and there, overlooking a permanent, large freshwater lake and surrounded by the hills of Svaha'ren (meaning "tan passageway" in the local's dialect) this castle became the seat of Drak and human power.

At first, draks did not reside among the human population. However when nex necium began to plunder the area's livestock, a small armada was requested from among the other Castles. They took up the offer, and most of the armada's knights remained on at Dun Keiba.

From among those Knights, rose a strong willed leader, Nekali. He organized the laborers of the villages below, into helping carve out permanent living niches in the hillside. Interested in this activity, and bored with several years worth of placid life, the draks pitched in and began to hollow out their own caverns. Their Deep Caverns are located almost directly below the lake's edge, with a long tunnel up to the human habitation - and a watery exit where the heated water almost jet propells them into the lake beyond on the way out.

The humans picked up on the ideas of the other Castles, using training techniques to train their Ninja in defense of the Castle - there is usually a small group of Keiba Ninja in each village, plus runners to help inform fringe territories of any attacks.

The favored activity of Dun Keiba, however, is racing in all its forms. Since wild Racers have always lived upon these healthy plains, they have been tamed and used for many human endeavors including agriculture, but mostly transport - the speedy kind always suits them best.

Drak racing is equally popular so long as there are no attacks by insects or men. Even the fairy draks of the area get in on this action. The heaviest racing began to take shape around 100 years ago, around the transport caravan arrivals and departures from other Castles and areas.

The only way through the Svaha'ren is a narrow but well-traveled pass directly north of Dun Keiba. Most travelers know better than to move on by without paying a little respect to the Castle. Most merchants gather during the Flood and the few weeks before, to trade, party, bet and race.

On a regular basis, Mobs come up from the coasts when the flooding damages their hideouts - thusly on a regular basis, the Drak and Ninja patrols are set to watch for them. High Princess Teiya and her bodyguard Mulaqati regularly sent out patrols, and after his stint with the Ninja ranks he Paired with a remarkable Fire drak whose line still exists in Dun Keiba's halls.

It is considered an honor to serve on these Mob patrols, and even more importantly it gives the young Ninja something to do while they're in training. Otherwise they would remain in villages or the Castle most of their lives.

Princess Teiya had no children of her own, but her cousin's child became the High Knight after the current generation left the post. After that, two generations separate them from Almiron and Dominica, the current High Prince and Princess - not coincidentally Almiron is a Judge of potential Aspirants, and Dominica is more of a Drak caretaker than anything else.

It is not known who might lead Dun Keiba in the future: a child of one of these half-siblings, or someone of their choosing would be equally welcome.