Scar Headbringer by John Karnay

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The new city of Atlantis would be the shining gem of Gareth's rule. The city's weight in gold was spent to make Atlantis the greatest Capitol city on all of the continents.
For fifty years, two generations of crafters poured their souls into the soil and stone of Atlantis. It was and remains today one of the greatest spectacles in the known world. Pilgrimages to the city were constant, and the land surrounding the crown jewel flourished with rich lords. The pale white marble stone that line the walls of the city's complex canals still prove to test the imagination of its visitors. The long tendrils stretch the entire distance from the city's center to the Atlantic Ocean drawing all travelers to the epicenter of the city. The circular design of the inner city waterways is one of the few remaining wonders left from the First Age. Gold, marble and enchanted adamantite metal line every structure, from the highest pillar of the Emperor's ruling house to the engraved marble seating inside the chariot arena. After five hundred years the city still shimmers in the setting sun and glows crimson and gold every dawn.
With the Fomorians driven from the eastern sea lanes, Gareth expanded his kingdom across the Atlantic Ocean to the east, building new outposts in foreign lands of Mediterania. In the port outpost of Tartessos, Gareth established a gateway for trade across the Atlantic. Soon the unexplored east was an open doorway for Atlantean trade. Gareth encouraged the trade of not only resources but of culture as well. Clerics were sent abroad, educating and converting his new lands to the Atlantean religion and way of life, while also capturing valuable aspects of their own cultures and integrating it to Atlarian's doctrine. With in a year, shrines were built to all of the Atlantean gods in the new city of Tartessos. Atlantean culture spread, bringing Atlarian's beliefs to the rest of the world.
Gareth ruled for one hundred years, blessed by Atlarian with unnaturally long life for his deeds. Atlarian favored his most beloved city and his most faithful servant with power and godly boons. His mages were privy to knowledge beyond this plane of existence. Undefeated in battle and at peace with his god, Garath died of natural causes on his one hundred and twenty fifth birthday. He left behind for his sons a long legacy of benevolence that no future ruler of Atlantis could hope to match.
Gareth's sons continued in his footsteps, further expanding his empire. For hundreds of years, the ruling class of Atlantis grew in power, size and ambition. The untamed eastern lands of the country called Tarshi was home to the new city of Tartessos. With good fortune and admiration gifted to Atlantis, ambition soon became complacency. No force on the planet would stand against Atlantis on land or sea. The power of Atlarian and the Atlantean army ensured peace by submission. But all too soon the sons of Gareth learned to neglect the blessings that faith and devotion had brought.
Atlarian's shining star showed signs of moral fading.