Anarkos was the leader of the Hedonian movement in Draka for protesting to eliminate all government regulations shortly after the fall of the monarchy. He and his followers, the Hedonites, would endure years of public scrutiny and violent clashes with opposing citizens until they finally decided to journey into the Great Plains to claim their own land and create a society that would be free of law.

The Hedonites came across Tamros, a town that was abandoned over hundreds of years after a great fire. Not much information was salvaged by historians, since most recordings and artifacts had been destroyed; however, many structures remained intact as they were built of marble and limestone. The town had never been restored out of speculation that the hot climate would spark another great fire, and so it was abandoned and left untouched. With emerging greenery and wildlife, Anarkos figured there had not been a fire since. So, it became the settlement for the beginning of a revolutionary society, and it was renamed ‘Hedona’.

Hedona started off as a peaceful place. Individuals were able live freely without rule and law. The core ethical principles they abided by were to respect one another and accept responsibility for their decisions. As Anarkos would famously say, “Respect and responsibility are the essential pillars to supporting a prosperous society which are carried on the shoulders of each individual.”

The Hedonites would thrive for years mainly by exporting marble and limestone, as well as other minerals, to their neighboring lands. Their abundance of supply and demand allowed for many to reap the benefits. Business owners would either trade for crops, goods, or currency, which the Hedonites began creating and accepting within their own society. Some disapproved, as they believed that physical currency was a tool created by governments to maintain power and control over their people. Still, the Hedonites prospered with fulfilling lives through their work and indulged in various forms of pleasures while maintaining their core ethics of respect and responsibility.

Hedona boasted a popular reputation by the youth throughout all of The Lands. It started to attract non-believers, lawbreakers, and runaways. These newcomers would arrive to Hedona without the indoctrination of Hedonian ethics, simply searching for an opportunity of freedom. They would prioritize pleasure over anything else with no regard to anyone but themselves. This led to an increase in theft, violence, tribalism, and widespread diseases. A sixty-year-old Anarkos whose vision of a peaceful future for himself and his followers began to fade, as Hedona was becoming entrenched in malevolence. Anarkos saw no end to this declining society he had helped create. He told his youngest and most faithful son, Demis, to leave Hedona and find a new home.

Several years had passed since Demis left. Hedona was experiencing hotter climates than usual and a longer drought. A famine spread, and neighboring lands stopped selling their crops. Anarkos sought help from an old friend who had become one of the largest business owners in Hedona, employing hundreds of people. Anarkos asked for him to send men to Plaros and negotiate for the buying of crops in exchange for their hard working hands. The old friend agreed and sent five hundred of his strongest men to crusade through the Great Plains. He had strictly told them to negotiate in a peaceful manner and to not cause any harm. The men agreed and journeyed towards Plaros with empty wagons and crates in hopes to return with an abundance of crops.

Late that evening, Anarkos took a stroll through town. He came to the entrance of a tavern of what appeared to be an orgy of people in a dim candlelit setting. Anarkos peered through and watched drunkards pouring wine into each other’s mouths, and naked bodies. Men were stripping down the clothes of unconscious young girls while older women were laughing beside them. Bottles were shattering and voices were yelling on top of one another. He left and continued walking the streets. An old beggar started pleading as he heard Anarkos’s footsteps. His eyes had deep gashes and he was missing a few limbs. Anarkos cried and ran away towards the end of the street.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass vile containing purple liquid. Tears leaked through his closed eyes, and in one gulp, he swallowed it whole. The glass vile slipped from his hand, smashing onto the ground below. Blood slowly trickled out through his nose and ears as he fell to the ground, convulsing in sheer agony. The only sounds heard in the dead of night were of men laughing, women moaning, garments ripping, wine spilling, beggars pleading, and his own screeching. It was a symphony of chaos until the Conductor silenced Anarkos and let the others play on.