The Lions are a proud Faction. They believe in loyalty to each other and to their land. They have a saying: ‘no Lion stands alone,’ which is a code they live by and strive to uphold. Ruled by a monarchy and council, they return to the Heartlands each year to share in the celebrations and politics of Erdreja. The Lions once lived in the lands of Albion, but after a war with the Harts they were forced into exile. The Lions were forced from Erdreja to the magical land of Avalon through the vale from Albion. But they could not rest here a war with the alien Nosta Kar cost the Lions dearly and in the end Avalon its self was exiled from the Void back to Erdreja coming to rest at the center of a ring of islands known as Lantia.

"We will have our lands back one day. Anyway, I prefer coffee and biscuits."
- Unnamed Lions ambassador.

The history of the Lions has been a hard one and its origins remain unclear. Some say the Lions were born of Avalon, other say they were born of Albion. It matters little as both have been left behind as a child leaves its family home and makes its own mark on the world.
When the wars of the Dark Years finally ended, the Lions under the leadership of Lord Corvus were instrumental in bringing about the peace and treaty of the Gathering. Since that time, they have tasted both glory and bitter defeat. In 1095, Corvus elected to declare himself King of Albion. This did not go down well with many of the members of his Faction. Over the next two years, a civil war split Albion, and culminated in 1096 with the Lions being driven from their homeland, under the leadership of Jaddvor Erland, by the newly formed Harts Faction.
In defeat, the Lions journeyed through the mists of the Vale of Avalon seeking out Camelot, and the lands of the Pendragon of old. The journey took them beyond the world, to a realm that remained connected to Erdreja only by dreams and magic.

In exile, the Lions found themselves a new leader, Rhino Khazad. It was he who led the way to reform their command structure, and establish a kingdom in Avalon. Though heralded as a homecoming, the Lions of Albion received a mixed reception from the people of Avalon. Some welcomed the newcomers, whilst others harboured bitterness and resentment. However, both old and new Lions found themselves assaulted by the Nosta-Kar. An ancient and powerful race who claimed ownership of Avalon but whose roots seem to wind back to Aegyptus. The Nosta Kar War raged for three years at great cost to both sides, however the Lions were outnumbered from the start and had to draw on the aid of an entrapped Chaos Army that had been defeated long before. The two forces met and all but destroyed one another and the Lions were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
That same weekend however, the true strength of the Nosta Kar was revealed as the Progenitor - the Nosta Kar's Unliving Ancestor - brought forth two hundred legions of Nosta Kar warriors who were fresh that they might crush the Lions once and for all. Against such unbeatable odds, there could be no victory. Yet many Lions would have gladly stayed and died in the battle.

However, an alternative presented itself in the ethereal form of man who claimed to be a Prince called Gallowglass. He claimed that he could take Holy Isle from Avalon and restore it to Erdreja where it would give life to his lost kingdom of Lantia. For the love of his people, Rhino agreed, yet he himself was unable to leave as he was one with the land of Avalon now, and separation from the land for any long period of time would see him wither and die. So it was that Holy Isle was guided through the Void to rest on Erdreja and become part of the islands of Lantia.
Meanwhile, Rhino and six companions - Cheetah, Sunbear, Grey, John Lee, Hengist and Vulture - calling themselves The Gateguard, remained behind with the spirits of the Lion Fallen so that the Nosta Kar would not remain unapposed.

Lantian History
There is still much that is unknown about Lantia and much to learn. Lantia - as it is now - is relatively new to the world we know now. Prior to the last cataclysm Lantia was shielded, hidden and protected so that its beauty might not fade from the world. What little is known speaks of Drakken who seemed to be the architects of this land.
The Isles of Lantia lie south and east of the Heartlands of Erdreja, east of the Spine of Tebron, the northern part of which is known as The Empire or Eagle Isles.

Lantia is a single nation made up from a series of thirteen major - and several minor - islands. Lantian legend has it that the twelve major islands each carry an alignment and that together, with the central island, form some kind of balance. The extent of 'truth' in this myth has yet to be established for sure. However, there is much about the islands that is unknown in all regards.