History[]
Sol Regem was born in Xadia at an unknown point in history and was initially the Dragon Prince known as Anak Araw.[1] He mastered the arcanum of the Sun over several years, growing into an Archdragon. He eventually met Aithne Solaire, who became his beloved mate and queen.[2]
When Sol Regem witnessed Aaravos's daughter, Leola, granting magic to humans, he reported the action to the Startouch Elves, for she had disrupted the cosmic order.[1]
In the ancient days, Sol Regem was said to have used his fire breath to create the Sun Primal Stones.[3] 200 years before the division of Xadia, Sol Regem rose to power and became the King of the Dragons, with his era starting approximately 1200 years before birth of Azymondias.[4] During his reign, Sol Regem became the venerated symbol of all that was beautiful and glorious about Xadia.[5] The Sunfire Elves in particular revered Sol Regem, as they repeated the shape of his horns in their crowns, weapon designs, and architecture.[6] They also named the Six Horns after him.[7]
When a human mage named Ziard discovered dark magic by draining the essence of magical creatures, Sol Regem arranged a meeting with the mage and demanded that he and his followers relinquish dark magic. Ziard pridefully refused, believing it would be nothing less than regression for humans incapable of magic, looked down on by the other races as "lesser beings". Sol Regem coldly insisted that Ziard's people were and always would be "lesser beings", which only angered the mage. When Sol Regem ordered him to relinquish his staff, Ziard stated that it was in fact of a gift from one of the "Great Ones", enraging the Archdragon.[8] Though Ziard reminded Sol Regem that he promised his safety, the Archdragon cunningly assured that he would be very safe at their meeting place, far away from the great city of Elarion, threatening to burn it and everyone in it as punishment. Though initially horrified, Ziard was convinced Sol Regem was bluffing, so the Dragon King took off towards the city to turn his threat into reality. In desperation, Ziard siphoned magic from a flock of Sunbirds, forcing the Archdragon to break off his attack and focus on the mage, blasting a stream of fire that incinerated Ziard, but the mage managed to cast a fireball at the Archdragon's eyes. Roaring in pain, Sol Regem dove to a body of water to extinguish the flames, which left him scarred and blinded for the rest of his life.[9] He then flew towards Elarion and destroyed it along with its inhabitants. However, some of the citizens managed to survive due to the intervention of Aaravos.[10] Sometime after the incident, Sol Regem stepped down as King of the Dragons and was succeeded by Luna Tenebris. In his fury, he also inadvertently buried Aithne Solaire alive but was unaware of his actions. The mystery of Aithne Solaire's death has haunted Sol Regem for more than a thousand years.[2] Since then, he chose to roam the Border on his own with bitterness.[5]
First Saga[]
Sol Regem was resting near the Border when he sensed the presence of Rayla, Callum, and Azymondias.[11]
When Rayla, Callum, and Zym found that sneaking past Sol Regem was futile, they reluctantly attempted to reason with him. Rayla pleaded to Sol Regem to let them pass so that they could return Zym to his mother Zubeia, but the Archdragon decided to give them a choice: they all die or simply let only Callum die due to the Xadian belief that all humans are evil. Despite Rayla's claims that Callum was different, Sol Regem was enraged upon sensing traces of dark magic in the human and decided to kill him regardless of his compassionate nature. After a lengthy chase, Rayla, Callum, and Zym were able to trick Sol Regem into chasing the scent of Callum's scarf and had him trapped in a stone arch, which allowed them to continue their journey to the Storm Spire.[9]
Second Saga[]
Sol Regem eventually freed himself from the stone arch and continued to roam Xadia with bitterness. He was eventually found by Karim and Pharos who attempted to beseech him to reclaim the power he lost and drive humans away from Xadia once again. However, Sol Regem refused to help them since he was not the mighty Archdragon that he used to be and returned to his slumber.[12]
Sol Regem was furious that Karim returned to him with Pharos and Miyana. But before Sol Regem could kill the three Sunfire Elves, they presented him the Sun Seed that they wished to use to restore his eyes. Sensing hope, Sol Regem claimed that he did not need to see and commanded them to heal his wings instead so they could rain fiery justice down upon the humans.[13] Karim and Pharos performed the spell that restored Sol Regem's wings, and Pharos acted as the Archdragon's eyes.[14] However, Aaravos was possessing Pharos's body and tricked Sol Regem into attacking Katolis instead of helping Karim's army. Sol Regem was gravely wounded following the attack and had a bitter reunion with Aaravos at the Valley of the Graves. When Aaravos revealed the truth about Aithne Solaire's fate, the furious Sol Regem devoured Pharos's corpse before choking and immolating himself until only his skeleton remained.[2][1]
Sol Regem's skeleton continued to remain in the Valley of the Graves before it was eventually removed several days after Aaravos's defeat.[15]
Book One - Moon[]
Echoes of Thunder[]
Sol Regem appears in a flashback as Aaravos narrates about the magical world of Xadia.
Book Two - Sky[]
Breathe[]
Shortly after Callum, Rayla, and Zym crossed the Border and entered Xadia, they come across the resting Sol Regem with dread in their faces as the Archdragon of the Sun wakes up and lets out a growl.
Book Three - Sun[]
Sol Regem[]
Callum, Rayla, and Zym take cover behind a rock as they still find themselves in front of Sol Regem. Rayla informs Callum that Sol Regem is known as the Sun King and that he used to be the King of the Dragons a long time ago, but he became a symbol of rage and bitterness after he was blinded. As he is blocking the way to Xadia, they decide to try to sneak past him, using his blindness to their advantage. The plan fails due to Zym's fearful whimpering and they flee desperately as Sol Regem breathes fire at them. Rayla decides that there is only one course of action - reason (which is her least favorite). She addresses Sol Regem directly, bowing to him. She asks his permission to re-enter Xadia, using Zubeia's name and explaining that they are transporting Zym, the son of Avizandum. He gives his permission to them both to pass, but will not allow Callum, considering him to be a wretched, evil human. Callum tells her to go on without him, but Sol Regem gives the ultimatum that either Callum dies or they all die. Rayla tells Sol Regem that some humans are evil, but not Callum, that the only reason Zym is alive is because of Callum and that he could have had her captured or killed, but he did not. She begs him to allow him to pass, saying that she could not have rescued the Dragon Prince without her friend. Sol Regem sniffs and says that he smells the reek of dark magic on Callum and that he must die. Callum declares that if he must die, then he must. Rayla, however, points out that Sol Regem has a weakness in that he can only use his fire breath every few minutes. Callum suggests that they could trick him and create a false appearance by attaching his scarf, which carries his scent, onto Rayla. Though it is a dangerous escape, using this and other distractions, they successfully navigate past Sol Regem and trap him in a stone arch.
Book Five - Ocean[]
The Great Bookery[]
Sol Regem is sleeping inside a secluded cave in the middle of a desert when Karim and Pharos visit him. When Sol Regem is awakened to the presence of the two Sunfire Elves, he orders them to go away. Karim introduces himself and informs Sol Regem that humans are once again living in Xadia and conjures a hovering fireball in an attempt to beseech the Archdragon of the Sun to reclaim his rightful place as the true King of the Dragons. However, Sol Regem responds by displaying his deteriorated body and revealing that he was already losing hope before he lost his sight. He extinguishes Karim's fireball after he forlornly proclaimed that the sun will never rise again for him. Sol Regem chooses to return to his slumber and orders the Sunfire Elves to go away for the last time.
Book Six - Stars[]
The Starscraper[]
Sol Regem is sleeping in his cave when he senses Karim, Pharos, and Miyana approaching. He tells the three Sunfire Elves that he is not willing to show mercy twice and orders them to leave under the threat of incineration. However, when Sol Regem smells the Sun Seed, Karim reveals his desire to restore the Archdragon's sight so they can drive the humans out of Xadia together. But Sol Regem claims he does not need to see and commands the Sunfire Elves to instead heal his wings so they can rain fiery justice down upon their enemies.
The Red Wedding[]
Sol Regem reveals himself to Karim's followers after Miyana used a horn to summon him. Karim commands Pharos to serve as Sol Regem's eyes before they use the Sun Seed perform the spell that heals Sol Regem's wings.
However, Aaravos has been possessing Pharos's body and tricks Sol Regem into flying towards Katolis instead of attacking Janai's army.
We All Fall Down[]
Sol Regem arrives at Katolis and starts to burn the kingdom with his fiery breath. The soldiers use ballista bolts to pierce Sol Regem's thick hide, but the Archdragon continues to wreak havoc across Katolis. In a desperate attempt to protect the people from Sol Regem's wrath, Soren frees his father Viren from the dungeon so the latter can perform the "Hearts of Cinder" spell that will make everyone immune to the Archdragon's fire.
Upon finishing his rampage, the gravely wounded Sol Regem rests at the Valley of the Graves where he has a bitter reunion with Aaravos. Sol Regem roars after Aaravos thanked him for his service and referred to him by his original name: Anak Araw. When Aaravos warns Sol Regem about learning the true fate of Aithne Solaire before dying, the Archdragon angrily demands the Startouch Elf to divulge what became of his beloved mate. Aaravos reveals that Sol Regem buried Aithne Solaire alive in his blind fury. Sol Regem initially denies Aaravos's statement, but is forced to accept the deep, dark truth after realizing that Aaravos did not lie. Sol Regem devours Pharos's corpse out of grief and rage, only to slowly choke on it. Aaravos mockingly taunts Sol Regem that he will die choking on his own pride and arrogance. Sol Regem inadvertently immolates himself as he tries to breathe fire, and his lifeless body collapses to the ground. The flames engulf and burn Sol Regem from the inside until only his skeleton remains in the Valley of the Graves.
Stardust[]
Sol Regem's skeleton continues to remain in the Valley of the Graves as Aaravos tells the story of his beloved daughter, Leola, to Claudia and Terry. Aaravos revealed that Sol Regem betrayed Leola to the other Startouch Elves, who sentenced her to die for breaking the cosmic order. Terry says that Aaravos's story of love transformed into a story of revenge upon pointing Sol Regem's skeleton to Claudia.
Book Seven - Dark[]
Death Alive[]
Sol Regem's skeleton continues to remain in the Valley of the Graves as Aaravos chooses to disguise himself as a human so he would not draw unwanted attention.
Inversion[]
Sol Regem's skeleton continues to remain in the Valley of the Graves as Ezran and his allies battle and chain Aaravos down.
The Titan and the King[]
Sol Regem's skeleton continues to remain in the Valley of the Graves as Ezran converses with the chained Aaravos before restless spirits arrive by nightfall to free the Startouch Elf.
Dying Light[]
Sol Regem's skeleton continues to remain in the Valley of the Graves as Ezran discovers the Nova Blade disguised as part of the Orphan Queen's statue.
Nova[]
Sol Regem's skeleton continues to remain in the Valley of the Graves as Ezran and Zym prepare to fly to Lux Aurea with the Nova Blade to destroy Aaravos's physical body. The Archdragon's skeleton is eventually removed from the Valley of the Graves several days after Aaravos's defeat.References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Book Six, Chapter 9: "Stardust"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Book Six, Chapter 8: "We All Fall Down"
- ↑ Tales of Xadia - Official Handbook
- ↑ San Diego Comic Con 2019
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Book Two: Sky (Novel)
- ↑ Callum's Spellbook
- ↑ New York Comic Con 2021
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 7: "Beneath the Surface"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Book Three, Chapter 1: "Sol Regem"
- ↑ Elarion's Midnight Star Poem
- ↑ Book Two, Chapter 9: "Breathe"
- ↑ Book Five, Chapter 4: "The Great Bookery"
- ↑ Book Six, Chapter 4: "The Starscraper"
- ↑ Book Six, Chapter 7: "The Red Wedding"
- ↑ Book Seven, Chapter 9: "Nova"