The Crown of Zivia

''This is an article about the novel. For the article on the artifact with the same title, see The Crown of Zivia.''

The Crown of Zivia is the 1st volume in the The Crest of Zabutur series. It centers around the return of Zivia, the last of a powerful shapeshifting race known as the Jalenga, who during the previous Age, ruled most of the known world. Now, awakened to a world where her people are gone and only a few crumbling ruins even indicate their existence, she must come to terms with this new world and learn to grow and adapt as it did.

The story also focuses on the Zukuren princess Leto Irizari and her struggles as she comes to terms with her history and who she has become; as well as the struggles of Zelgiaz Katara, as she deals with tribulations surrounding her family and a crushing addiction to coin and greed.

The novel was originally devised in late October 2015, in line for NaNoWriMo 2015.

Setting
Like every book in the series, The Crown of Zivia takes place on Mencu, with the primary focus being the continent of Tsominku. While there are scenes in the Renkida Kingdom of Shioru on the tailwinds of Isikiro's Purge, most of the book takes place in the border town of Niamei, or in the Koldizé Empire proper among the elves, hence the Elven Civil War being the climactic highlight of the novel.

Chronologically, the novel takes place in the year 4587 of the 182nd Age, and covers the span of a few months and years as the war unfolds, as well as a series of other conflicts surrounding both the hunt for and discovery of the Crown of Zivia,

Plot Synopsis
A bunch of spoilery stuff happens here.

Characters
Given the enormous size of Mencu's cast of characters, a great many different characters appear throughout the series in many different roles with various levels of significance.

Central Characters
Characters pivotal to the plot of The Crown of Zivia. These are the key players, protagonists and antagonists