Aiona

The Kingdom of Aiona is a legendary warrior nation that was obliterated approximately one thousand years before the time of the Athinorean Conquest. It existed on a distant continent to the east of Athinor and it's neighbours. Aionans were incredibly skilled at armed combat and the only recorded nation to remain undefeated in war until its destruction. In the modern era, its existence is disputed and generally considered mythical. However, the existence of Akirus Keldeth, the last surviving Aionan (by violating the rules of time) is proof that it did exist, but this is a secret known only by a few individuals.

History
Not much is known about Aiona's history other than what is retold as old stories, originating from sailors in ages past. The continent Aiona resided on was completely exterminated of all life, leaving its ruins abandoned and untouched for a millenia. It was founded and lead by a council of master warriors that sought to conquer the entire known world. For five hundred years, the Kingdom of Aiona dominated most of the eastern continent (known as Keyona), except for an area controlled by the Confederacy of Keyona, the original, primary inhabitants of the land.

The confederacy enlisted the assistance of powerful sorcerers to force a tenuous stalemate with the unstoppable Aionans. The sorcerers summoned a powerful dragon familiar to guard the border by offering weekly human sacrifices, but successfully managed to deter the Aionans, who were unwilling to risk a fatal defeat.

This obstacle was finally overcome with the arrival of the prodigal warrior, Akirus Keldeth, who convinced the council to mount an assault on the confederacy. He managed to fend off the familiar in a famous battle at the Gate of Keyona, allowing time for a small raid force to penetrate the enemy lines and slay the sorcerers conjuring the dragon. Following this triumph, the Aionan army systematically dismantled the rest of the confederacy, conquering the entire continent of Keyona within three years.

Aiona's downfall was the result of an unknown plague that wiped out the entire continent in a single day, causing the flesh of the people to rot from inside. Not much else is known from this apocalyptic event, as it was never recorded in history; only the partial recounts of Akirus Keldeth give light to the mysterious downfall of the kingdom. The only other known fact is that the blood of the Aionans was drawn moments before their demise by Irius, who used it to forge a mythical enchanted sword known as the Blood of Aiona. Their memories (but not their souls) inhabit the cursed blade.

No excavators have survived any ventures into the lands of Aiona, the air still being infected with the plague.