Fiction:Al-mi'raj Horde

 The dessert is cruel to make us kind.  "We will not attack another nation, unless attacked. Will not allow another nation to attack us or are allies, and will not intervene in the conflicts of other nations that are not our allies."

- Coalition Doctrine

The Alastorian Coalition is a neutral nation originally formed by the unified packs of the Vornax after a catalyst that turned their forest valley homeland into a barren dessert causing some of them to regress intro a primitive, savage state(called regressive) while some retained their intelligence(called Conducer). While somewhat barbaric in nature they mostly want to be left alone and only really take an interest in events happening outside their territory that happens to their allies.

The Cataclysm
At first the Voranax packs lived together in peace in harmony in their forest valley territory of Alastor, having built an advanced civilization. That all changed when a massive celestial body crashed into their territory devastating it. While several Voranax packs fled below ground deep into a series of caves, where as others were left on the surface. Those left on the surface watched as their homeland was reduced to desert and they themselves reduced to little more than primitive beasts. Eventually those who lived in the caves reemerged and saw what had happened. Horrified they launched a campaign to retake their homeland and reunite the packs of their Regressive cousins. Conquering these packs they found that the regressed were actually a tad bit more intelligent that first glances would tell, even capable of limited speech, referring to their more intelligent cousins as Conducers. The Conducers then began to teach the Regressives as much as they could with limited success. Along the way they also incorporated the species of the Vulk, Larnae, Neureon, Phantas, and Des Dragons.

Contact with the Mendel
10 years after the unification of the Coalition into a cohesive whole, a pack of Regressive stumbled upon a caravan of a another faction of species called the, the regressive attacked but were called off by their Conducer Leader the Mendel trade party asked to be taken to their leaders to establish trade and diplomatic arrangements. While at first weary of the Mendel, a shared sentiment, the diplomatic party meet with Kraxabru and began a trade agreement. After about month or so(hard to tell due to different calendars) of trade between the two, the leaders of the Tribes meet with the Alastorians, and, developed a deep trust in each other, becoming steadfast allies.

Organization
"Your whole pack is your family, an extension of yourself. All members must work together to make a successful pack, just as all packs must work together to make a successful Coalition"

The Coalition is divided into separate packs that dwell in community villages located in rocky outcroppings scattered throughout the Alastor Valley called Nestings and wander across their own tribal domain separated from the others by uninhabited areas of dessert. Nestings are composed of living and ceremonial quarters with families being assigned a smaller number of rooms in the Nesting. These packs are lead by pack leaders and chiefs who are elected by the all adult members of the pack, while the leader takes care of everyday matters, the chief is in charge of border patrol, maintainment, and other military matters. As long as the leader and chief take care of the people they remain in charge. While the packs mostly remain separate they will unite in times of crisis, or to help one another. There is a supreme pack leader and chief who leads the people in times of crisis, but mostly keeps to their own pack. The packs are run by a hierarchy that is based on fighting skill and leadership ability that determines their standing. Those who are crippled, disabled, or unable to become warriors for some reason are given other jobs of equal honor such as Raggas, Alkahestrist, or other such role.
 * Link

Castes=
 * Hunters - What most members of the Coalition are. Hunters are those who hunt for food and fight enemies. Most able bodied members are Hunters. In order to become Pack Chief one must be a Hunter. Any other cast can become pack Leader if capable enough.
 * Raggas - The priests of the Coalition. Raggas preach to the other members, counsel them, and provide magical support in combat. They are chosen from those who demonstrate magical potential. Raggas can commune with spirits and call on their powers. They can use this to strike their enemies with horrifying visions, plague them with nightmares, control the bodies of the dead like puppets, become ghost like, or cause lone enemies to simply disappear
 * Alchemists - Usually smart and curious individuals, Alchemists are trained in matters of knowledge and technology. Not only are they trained to preserve the knowledge and technology of the Coalition, but also to advance in further and to dig deeper than others to uncover what was lost so that the Alastorians can reclaim their rightful place as the valley's rulers.
 * Alkahestrists - Trained in the art of medicine, the job of an Alkahestrist is to treat the sick and wounded. They work closely with Alchemists to preserve and advance the Alastorians rather impressive medical knowledge. While not selected from those with naturally magical power they do seem to develop minor ones that help them ease pain and suffering.
 * Merchants - The most far wandering of all the Alastorian castes. Merchants job is to leave the valley and trade with allies. They also act as diplomats sealing deals with other nations as well as a loose form of spy, getting a read on the current situation in any one place outside the Coalition.

Packs=
 * Jade Dagger Pack -
 * Rose Dagger Pack -
 * Phoenix Dragon Pack -
 * Shadow Serpent Pack -
 * Iron Warrior Pack -
 * Blood Sword Pack -
 * Stone Crown Pack -
 * Crystal Spear Pack -
 * Golden Bull Pack -
 * Sun Daemon Pack -
 * Ruin Chaos Pack -
 * Soul Kaiser Pack -

Culture
The Coalition culture is one based on balance, honor, and integrity. They place special emphasis on the abilities of the individual and how their own special skills can be used to the benefit of the whole pack. Once they reach a certain age newborns are apprenticed to a warrior that specializes in the type of weapon they show skill in. The apprentice's mentor not only teaches them combat skills, but also personal honor, heroism, and integrity. As well as the delicate balance of their home environment and how to maintain it. They also teach them on how to improve on their skills and use them to benefit the pack and themselves. Those who are apprenticed to non warrior(such as healer, story teller, ect.) are taught the same skills but also one pertaining to their specific role. They also teach that one must listen to their own inner voice of harmony and justice. Water conservation is vital to Coalition culture, all water that can be conserved is so all the way down from excrement, as a rule water belonged to whole pack and when one died their water was extracted via naturally occurring stones, called Drain Stones, with strange magical powers that drained water from bodies they were placed in.
 * Link

The knife is an incredibly important part of Alastorian culture and is seen with an almost sacred reverence. Made of of fang these Kukri style knives serve in equal measure as an everyday tool as they do as a weapon. If drawn as a weapon an Alastorian Kukri must draw blood before it can be sheathed. This law was established to keep knife fights from breaking out(the idea being that if you draw a knife as weapon you better be willing to take a life) as any unnecessary moisture lost is seen as a sinful waste so to draw blood on petty disputes is look down on heavily. A knife can be drawn and sheathed for use as a practical tool at will.

Children are extremely important to the Coalition as life is highly valued in the harsh desert. It is no real concern if a child is born between sanctioned mates or not since the entire pack is viewed as ones family and not their blood relatives. Both males and females are equal and things like homosexuality and bisexuality are perfectly normal.

For the most part the Coalition maintains a neutral stance, staying out of most conflicts. They are however very defensive of their borders and do not tolerate any violation of them. They will however attack those who threaten them and their allies with an intense level of savagery.

An informal term for Alastorians is Asps or Adders, the Alastorians often use these themselves.

Religion
The Coalition worships a variety of gods, each associated with their own color, element, and rank on the celestial hierarchy. Their religion places emphasis on the relationship between mortals, gods, nature, and the balance between the three. Their are also frequently reoccurring themes of the inner heroism that exists in all mortals. According to them one must listen to their inner voice of harmony and justice. Their are however gods of destruction, servants of the the void, that work against the gods of creation in order to by turning mortals to their destructive influences in order to grow more powerful and destroy all of creation.
 * Link to Religion

Territory
"We have never needed a castle, this entire valley is our castle." The territory is a desert valley called Alastor somewhere near the south of Koldenwelt. Once it was lush a heavily forested, until a celestial body that crashed into it changed into a complete dessert. Now Alastor is a wind swept land of sand dunes, constantly battered by storms, and populated by many viscous life forms. There are however a few oasis that are shared by the packs of the Coalition in there struggle for survival. Most life here is aggressive and bizarre, becoming so in order to survive in the harsh dessert landscape.

Technology
Alastorian technology on the surface seems very primitive in nature. However they actually posses quiet a bit in the way of advanced knowledge, just a lack of resources that holds them back. They posses a fairly advanced form of writing and painting techniques and can forge surprisingly effective metal tools and weapons. However their access to metal is limited due to having to import it all from the United Tribes Mendel, they are however starting their own mining endeavors. Farming is limited to only the most hardy of plants and animals. They are also expert stone carvers and glass makers, in fact they export a large amount of glass to the Mendel in exchange for metal.
 * Link

As of now they are actually working on a project to dig into the rock of the Alastor Valley to find springs that may have been buried below the surface. The work has been slow and tedious, but if successful would allow them to put some of their old knowledge to use.

Species
Voranax=  and their larval form the Zeyk are a beat race with features of both reptiles, insects, and mammals. They have both an skeleton and exoskeleton, and their skin is a patch work of scales, carapace, and fur, as well as warm blooded. The younger Zeyk are short and stocky, with two clawed feet with the front ones being used as hands. Their heads are rigged with two sets of small mandibles on the sides of their mouth. Full grown Voranax are tall and thin, with three clawed feet and four clawed hands. Their heads are rigged and have two sweeping back horns with a mouth that has two sets of mandibles on the side, one smaller pair and the other larger. These jaws deliver a force of 3,700 pounds per square inch, capable of shattering bone. Both forms have a venomous stinger at the end of their long whip like tails that injects a potent Necrotoxin that causes necrosis in the unfortunate victim, killing most foes in a few minutes. They also produce an intense amount of heat that burns those who touch them without protection.

They tend to be aggressive and short temper and also have a sadistic side that comes out when battling an enemy causing them to enjoy causing their foes a painful death, however they have learned to keep this under control in non-combat situations and doing so is something all members of the species are taught at a young age.

Ulfhednar Elves=  are a strange race of beings that blur the line between Deiwos and Theriocephali. While at first glance they would appear to be fairly standard elves, pointed ears and all, closer inspection reveal that they have longer, wolf-like snouts, as well as sharper, larger teeth and claws. That and a thin coating of fur. The more involved in a battle they get though the less elfen and more wolfish they become. The snout lengths, teeth and claws get bigger and sharper, the fur becomes shaggier, and their posture becomes more hunched. While they will never become fully wolf, just like they will never be fully elf, this transitory nature does cast some doubt on what species they truly belong to. However most Alastorians consider them elves as the Ulfhednar identify themselves as such.

While fearsome warriors with a strange love for stealing livestock, the Ulfhednar actually have a love for trading and more than not act as merchants just as much as they do warriors. Unlike the other member races who tend to stick loosely to their societal roles they find themselves in, the Ulfhednar are much more strict about and often practice selective breeding of members rather than the more open views on sex the rest have. While regard as strange by many Alastorians no one makes much of a fuss about it as the Ulfhednar are effective members of the Coalition and do allow other members of their race to opt out of these practices if they wish(though other Ulfhednar will see them as strange for it in return).

Larnae=  are a group of limbed, brightly colored, snake like species known for their cunning and stealth abilities. Once part of a tribe that attack the Voranax and Zeyk before the cataclysm, they were eventually defeated when several of their number join the Voranax and Zeyk. When the cataclysm happened almost all retreated underground to remerge latter. They have scaly skin, with humanoid upper bodes, cobra like hoods, long, muscular serpent tails, powerful arms, cat-like ears, and can spit a potent hemotoxic from their unhinging jaws. Larnae also have a potent sense of smell, can feel vibrations, and see the body heat of other life forms.

They have difficulty controlling their urges and desires(particularly sexual ones) however many have learned to overcome this via meditation. Larnae can also be extremely vengeful and have intense sadistic urges towards their enemies. As they are cold blooded the vulnerable to cold and while very good swimmers, they find it hard to control their body temp in water(not much of a problem in the dessert), however when active they are lethal predators and are known for being exceptionally good climbers.

Neureon=  were originally a species of raiders that haunted the Alastor Valley, after the cataclysm they were left on the surface where most died. Those who did not were forced to join the Coalition for survival. Since then they have mellowed out and become dedicated members of the Coalition. Mostly crawling on six, two claws legs they stand on four using the front two to grasp weapons and tools. They are covered in scaly exoskeleton from which many long spines grow, they have long finned tails, and fanged mouths with four long mandibles coming out of the sides. While all individuals they have a strong swarm mentality and if one is harm then all Neureon present will quickly attack the offender.

Phantas=  are a mysterious ghostly race of smooth, almost liquid like bipeds with clawed hands and long snouts. They were discovered after the Cataclysm, but were apparently present in the Alastor Valley since the days of the Skrulking. While initially suspicious of the Coalition they soon joined out of necessity for their own survival. Strange being they are rare, but most are skilled magic users and a few have become potent elemental coordinators. Naturally superstitious they often serve as storytellers and healers as many are skilled with medicine, the military they are often used for stealth since their dark, ghostly bodies are hard to detect at night along side Larnae.

Zmeu=  are Lesser Kelodhros divided into eight tribes that inhabit the Alastor Valley, each tribes is a different color and possesses a different breath weapon as well as unique personality traits. Zmeu generally stand at seven to nine meters tall though they never truly stop growing and can live up to five hundred years so they can get much larger. They have pale under bellies that change color to match the sky above them as effective camouflage when flying, as well as scales as hard as titanium. All Zmeu have eyes that have a hypnotic quality to them.

Males Zmeu, called Dracs, never grow wings and are smaller as the grow slower, while females do grow wings and grown much faster so they are much larger. Females are the dominant of the species and live with harms of males that provide them with food and help protect their eggs. Female Zmeu care deeply for the males in their harem and actively morn the death of each one as do the males for the females.Zmeu are highly intelligent and very territorial, while they will generally ignore most ground based intrusions into their territory as long as the intruder is not hostile, they will fiercely attack any aerial intrusion. Zmeu highly prize wisdom, strength, and power and may give a certain trustworthy individuals their full name and allow them to ride them.

Military
"We are the warriors of the dessert. Moving swift like the wind over the dunes we strike from the sand and then vanish leaving their bones baking in the sun. REPENT MOTHERFUCKERS!!"

All members of the Coalition are trained in combat and thus virtually every member who is physically able counts as their military. For the most part they only fight in defense of their home territory, but will occasionally invade an particularly strong enemies territory if need be. for the most part they use hit and run tactics using the environment as their cover, but will occasionally go into an direct engagement if it is advantageous or if forced to.
 * Military

They mostly use foot soldiers, but also have cavalry that ride on dessert beasts known as Land Mantas that they have tamed. There are also several none ridden creatures they use in battle. They are also famed for their archers, who are highly trained, lethal long bowmen. The Coalition does have the technical knowledge to produce surprisingly effective ships(if the schematics are anything to go by), but not the resources to build them.

Espers
Espers are a rare group of individuals who posses the ability to use powerful magics in their battles against their foes. Espers when their powers are discovered are taken by the dragons known as to be trained so that they will know how to use their power and not let it get the better of them before returning to their pack. Depending on their power Espers will fallow a Vector, one for each of their gods.


 * Vector of Kiravas - Allows the Esper to summon and control metal, enhance their own armor and weapons, summon an Avatar of Metal, and animated discarded weapons and armor.
 * Vector Juraig - Allows the Esper to summon an Avatar of Fire, summon and control fire, summon and command creatures associated with fire, and become more powerful the angrier they get.
 * Vector of Yumeku - Allows the Esper to remote view other places, lift and damage objects and people via telekinesis, summon an incarnation of their Id, and create a mental shield around themselves and allies.
 * Vector of Xiris - Allows the Esper to generate a dark sphere that drags enemies in and implodes destroying them, fill their enemies with fear and despair, curse them with an incurable poison, and neutralize enemy magic.
 * Vector of Avura - Allows the Esper to manipulate the weather, teleport in a bolt of lightning, summon and direct bolts of lightning, and project their voice over miles.
 * Vector of Shaiwass - Allows the Esper to fill their allies with courage and hope, create hallucinations that seem real, mind control enemies via hypnosis, and project enemy magic back at them.

Individuals
Kraxabru= "Threaten my people and there won't even be a bloody smear of you left."

Kraxabru is a large powerful Voranax and is the Supreme Pack Cheif of the Coalition. He has green skin and yellow eyes with a large muscular body that is covered in battle scars. He is a calm, collected leader with a dedication to justice. He rules with an even hand and is firm but fair, giving out no favors, nor any disfavor. He hates to see others treat unjustly and with almost go out of his way to rectify such wrongs. His end goal however is the safety of his people and will sometimes go to extremes to ensure this.
 * Name - Kraxabru
 * Species - Voranax
 * Pack - Phoenix Dragon
 * Gender - Male

In battle he wields one of the rare metal blades and smashes through his enemies, crushing them like insects as he cuts them down one by one, the sword is also inlaid with Drain Stones causing an enemies water to be drained from them when the sword draws blood. He also wields a strange orb like object that fires bright green and purple rings cancel out any magic they touch.

Myerin= "My days of fighting may be over, but my days of leading the people are not."

The Supreme Pack Leader of the Coalition, Meyrin is an elderly Ulfhednar Elf who has been in the position of Supreme Pack Leader for longer than anyone in recorded Coalition history. Once a sleek, shiny grey Ulfhednar with bright green eyes, her age as since fade her fur to a dull, ashen grey and her eyes a much darker green. Myerin is a strict leader who expects the rules to be fallowed and those under her to always do their best to live up to the Coalition's ideals, those who do she makes sure to reward and those that willing don't she assure get the appropriate punishment.
 * Name - Myerin
 * Species - Ulfhednar Elf
 * Pack - Phoenix Dragon
 * Gender - Female

She is far more lenient towards young children having not learned all the rules yet, she does however expect them to learn from their mistakes will not tolerate willful disobedience. While to old to fight in prolonged campaigns she is none the less a formidable warrior who wields a powerful stone axe to hack her foes to pieces.

Huzaki= "I strike from the shadows to protect the light."


 * Name - Huzaki
 * Species - Phantas
 * Pack - Shadow Serpent
 * Gender - Female

Shiranak= "Do you want to start another war?! Do you?! If so then prepare to go to hell you bastards!"

A thinly built Voranax warrior with black skin and red eyes, Shiranak is an Esper fallowing the Vector of Juraig. A loner by nature, Shiran hates conflict and those who cause it or want it to happen often times flying into a rage when it does. He can be somewhat arrogant, but care deeply for his friends and(now long since dead) family and will refuse to let anything hurt them, putting his own life on the line in order to prevent them from getting hurt. This however has led to him being often very overprotective, but has learned to be a bit more lax when it comes to this. For the most part he is very quiet concealing an almost burning rage and hatred toward a seemingly cruel world that has caused nothing but him and those he cares for pain and suffering. He is also prone to angry and violent outbursts and has a short fuse even fore a Voranax.
 * Name -
 * Species - Voranax
 * Pack - Formerly Blood Sword, Currently Phoenix Dragon
 * Gender - Male

In battle he wields a bow, and kanabo with metal spikes and two knives made out of fang, and can generate wings of light. Often he will go berserk and unleash his Esper powers in a wild and reckless fury, he is working on learning more control though. He has a romantic relationship with fellow Esper Lilly.

Lilly= "It's clawing at the door of my mind, so whatever you do, don't make me let it out."

A female Larnae warrior with silver and pinkish red skin and electric blue eyes, she is a Esper fallowing the Vector of Avura. Lilly seems to have an almost bipolar personality that shifts depending on who she is with and the situation she is in. When around people she likes and situations she enjoys she can have a bubbly and excitable personality, if at times somewhat perverted. However when around individuals and situations she doesn't enjoy(or is more indifferent to) she becomes silent, grim, and nihilistic. She also seems posses an another facet of her personality that comes out in high stress situations driving her into a sadistic, murderous rage. She is however terrified of this side of her and tries to keep it under control. However no matter which side of her is in the open she always show great concern for her friends and family.
 * Name -
 * Species - Larnae
 * Pack - Formerly Rose Lilly, Currently Phoenix Dragon
 * Gender - Female

In battle she wields a metal scythe as well a whip, and can generate wings of light. She prefers to move at speed, often times relying on her erratic movements to confuse foes. She has a romantic relationship with fellow Elemental Coordinator Shiranak.

[[File:Green face.png]] Allies
Peace, war it doesn't matter we will stand by you through thick and thin!
 * - Our blades are united, to smite our enemies and keep the peace.

[[File:Blue face.png]] Friends
Hello, how may we help you?

[[File:Yellow face.png]] Neutral
Keep your distance please.

[[File:Orange face.png]] Hostile
Stay out of our territory, less we leave your stripped bones baking in the sand..

[[File:Red face.png]] Enemies
''Oppressors! Violators! REPENT MOTHERFUCKERS!!!''
 * - We drove you off before, we will do so again. Preeminently.
 * - We'll melt you ice away withe fire!

Quotes from others

 * add Your own!

"The Brothers of the desert truly deserve our respect. No matter what, they keep their kind together."

Trivia

 * Main Theme - Alin Theme
 * Some bases of the Vorox and Zesk from Bionicle, as well as based off Old pagan Prussian and Lithuanian Baltic Tribes, Fremen from Dune, and Dornishmen from A Song of Ice and Fire.
 * Is something akin to the fantasy equivalent of the.
 * Gorzill was inspired to create this after reading the book Wolfbreed.