The island of Aro is named after a demigod of the same name. Known as The Conflicted God. In the early days on the island’s colonization, the effort to tame the island was spearheaded by a charismatic and brilliant demigod known as Aro. During a particularly fierce battle for dominance of the island, Aro took a battleaxe directly to the head, cleaving his brain in half. This blow would have killed any mortal man. Unfortunately, Aro was not a mortal man. He survived the injury and the gift of his eternal and undying nature became a curse. His personality now seemed tied to the cycle of the moon and the sun.

By day he was a cold and calculating individual; exhibiting none of his former charisma but all of his former tactical brilliance. Without the burden of hedonistic desires to hold him back, he quickly developed an aggressive, ruthless, and frighteningly efficient strategy for conquering the island. He accomplished this goal within a month of the accident. This version of Aro renamed himself Biblis and was referred to as such by his followers.

By night he was the life of the party. Unable to control desires or emotions his charismatic fun-loving qualities were amplified to an uncomfortable degree. He spent his nights dancing until his feet bleed and singing until his voice was hoarse. He would drink and eat until he was dangerously drunk and painfully full. He felt every emotion a hundredfold. His anger was as fierce as his remorse for feeling it. This new version of Aro loved too deeply and mourned every slight until his eyes ached from crying. This version of Aro referred to himself as Dastiko.

The dichotomy eventually drove him mad. Each half of his personality growing to resent the other. Two factions developed, each lead by half of Aro.

The factions collaborated briefly to build an enormous wall dividing the island in half. Aro was to live inside the wall; tending to his academic followers by day and his hedonistic followers by night.

Aro’s more academic followers developed a monastic order. They sought enlightenment and happiness through discipline. This half of the island became known as Aro Biblis.

His more hedonistic followers developed a vibrant culture, worthy of a god of parties. This half of the island became known as Aro Dastiko. Modern day Aro Dastiko is a popular destination for those looking to have a good time and perhaps bend the laws of the empire slightly. The island is under the control of the neighboring superpower of Dreb but the ruling class has taken a rather hands off approach when it comes to Aro. As long as they pay their tithe, that is.