The World
A Dark Fantasy World of Sorcery, Dragons and Demons
Explore the lore behind the Prophecy of the Kings — a realm haunted by ancient wars, vanishing sorcerers, and the ever-present threat of demons who snatch souls from the living.
Both this page and the FAQ describe everything you need to know about The Prophecy of the Kings series.
The Land of The Prophecy of the Kings
From the northern reaches of Hullin to the southern deserts, this is the land where the Prophecy unfolds — its rivers, cities, and ancient battlefields.
The Krell Wars
Long ago, the Krell Wars ravaged the land. Sorcerers on both sides wielded terrible power, summoning demons to fight their battles — creatures whose armoured hides no arrow could pierce, and who did not merely kill but tore souls from the living and the wounded alike. The demons could be called forth only briefly, and should a summoning fail, the summoner was dragged screaming into Hell. When the war finally ended, the sorcerers vanished without explanation, leaving behind only the crumbling ruins of a once-proud nation and a mystery that has never been solved. With their disappearance, the only known means of defeating demons was lost to the world.
The Demons
Demons in this dark fantasy world are not mere monsters. They are ancient, intelligent, and malevolent entities that hunger for mortal souls. A demon does not simply end a life — it condemns its victim to a fate more dreadful than death, snatching the soul from the living body and dragging it into eternal torment. They can be summoned by sorcerers, but the art is perilous and unforgiving. Even the bravest speak of demons in whispers, for a failed summoning means the demon turns upon its caller. Since the sorcerers vanished, no one has possessed the knowledge to summon or banish them, leaving the land defenceless should the demon hordes ever rise again.
The Dragons
Dragons are among the most powerful and mysterious creatures in the world — beings that can be both saviour and destroyer. A dragon summoned by Kaplyn is hailed by the armies as their last hope against the demon tide, yet Kaplyn himself dreads the very creatures others trust to save them. For years, dragons have stalked his dreams, and one name sharpens that terror into certainty: Shastlan, a dead emperor who brought ruin to his own world and whose darkness now reaches across the void. Whether dragon or shade, guardian angel or evil incarnate, these ancient powers refuse to be ignored.
The Prophecy
At the heart of the saga lies the Prophecy — a warning that Drachar's shade will rise again, and when that day comes, a demon horde will sweep across the land. Only sorcery can hold it back, yet the sorcerers have vanished and no one knows why. The people cling to denial, refusing to face the Prophecy, even as garlands and magical trinkets hang in window frames and doorways — frail, desperate charms against a darkness no one is prepared to face. As the signs multiply and fear spreads, the question becomes not whether the Prophecy will come to pass, but whether anyone can survive it.
Lore Entries
The Eldric
The Eldric are an ancient race of sorcerers, once guardians of the world, now vanished and feared.
An ancient and powerful people, the Eldric were once the guardians of sorcery and the only ones capable of standing against the demons. Drachar, an Eldric Lord, was cast out by his own kind and swore a terrible vengeance, forging an unholy pact with the demons that sparked the Krell Wars.
The Krell
Twisted servants of darkness, the krell are the demon-spawned warriors who march beneath the banner of Drachar's shade.
Tribes of krell were gathered and march to war alongside dark knights and grakyn. They are the foot soldiers of the demon tide, relentless and merciless on the battlefield.
Sorcery
Sorcerers are the only ones who can summon and banish demons, but they have vanished without trace.
When the war ended, the sorcerers vanished without explanation, and with their disappearance the only known means of defeating demons was lost. No one knows why they left, or whether they will ever return.
The Ruins of the Eldric City
A buried city of the Eldric, containing powerful relics and ancient secrets best left undisturbed.
Kaplyn, Lars, and Vastra journeyed beneath the ruins of an ancient city in search of a powerful relic. When Vastra called the true city out of its crumbling shell, he unleashed far more than he intended.
The Alvalah
A race of albinos who dwell deep in the Kinanor forest.
The Alvalah are a race of albinos, seldom seen beyond the bounds of their great forest. Lomar, who joins Kaplyn's company, is a prince of this people. He fears the Prophecy and believes he must travel with Kaplyn and the others if there is to be any hope of standing against the darkness.
The Prieste of Ryoch
A new faction seeking power over the very souls of men.
In Dragon Rider a new faction rises — the Prieste of Ryoch. They seek not merely power, but dominion over the very souls of men. The Prieste lure the young into their ranks and teach them to commune with their shaol, guardian spirits that can transform them into near-unstoppable warriors, merciless on the battlefield. While the kingdoms look outward for armies gathering beyond the horizon, the Prieste spread doubt and mistrust within, turning fear itself into a weapon.
Shaol — Guardian Spirits
Every person has a shaol, a guardian spirit — but some share a far stronger link.
A shaol is a guardian spirit, and every person has one. Some, however, share a far stronger link to their shaol than others. The Prieste of Ryoch become better warriors because their shaol communicates with them, warning them of danger. The strongest link of all allows a warrior and their shaol to communicate across an entire battlefield — a bond that turns the Prieste into near-unstoppable fighters, merciless on the field of war.
Grakyn
Flying demon-spawn that serve as the enemy's scouts and hurl bolts of fire.
Grakyn are demon-spawn that can fly. Their dark skin reflects light like oil on water, giving them an unsettling, iridescent sheen. They possess some magical capabilities: besides acting as scouts for the enemy, they can also hurl bolts of fire. Alongside the tribes of krell and the dark knights, the grakyn march to war beneath the banner of Drachar's shade.
Shastlan
A dead emperor who ruined his own world and now reaches across the void.
Shastlan is a dead emperor who brought ruin to his own world. For years, dragons have stalked Kaplyn's dreams, and one name sharpens that terror into certainty: Shastlan, whose darkness now reaches across the void toward Kaplyn's world. Whether Shastlan is a guardian angel or evil incarnate remains one of the deepest mysteries of the saga — and one of Kaplyn's greatest fears, for the very creatures the armies trust to save them are bound to the emperor he dreads.
The Nine Eldric Swords
Swords forged by the Eldric, weapons of the old sorcerers.
Nine swords were forged by the Eldric in the time of the Krell Wars, weapons of the old sorcerers who alone could stand against the demons. In the ruined Eldric city of Tanel, Kaplyn discovers one of the nine swords — a relic of a vanished age, and a sign that the power to resist the demon tide may not be wholly lost.
The Eldric Amulet
An Eldric relic that traps any but the Eldric within Ban Kildor.
The Eldric Amulet is an ancient relic Vastra covets, persuading Kaplyn to seek it out and thrusting him into a nightmare journey. A spell inscribed on the amulet traps anyone but the Eldric from leaving Ban Kildor — and when Vastra finally shows his true colours and betrays the company near the mountain's exit, that spell turns the three men to stone.