The Emperor of Quur is kept from dying of natural causes such as age of disease by the power of the Crown and Scepter, and can only die by violence.

The Vane are not actually this, but achieve either completely stopped aging or aging so slow it's not outwardly apparent via use of their natural shapeshifting ability, which has the side-effect of rejuvenating their bodies.

All of the Vor races used to be this, but sacrificed their immortality long ago to shore up Vol Karoth's prison, leading to the creation of the mortal races of the present day.

Affably Evil: Relos Var maintains a remarkably laid-back avuncular demeanor for a millennia-old dragon wizard intent on freeing an ancient evil and overthrowing the gods.

He mutters 'my condolences' under his breath in reply, and is surprised when she finds that worth a laugh.

Actually Pretty Funny: When Kihrin meets Lady Alshen D'Mon, she introduces herself as his stepmother and his birth father's wife.

Gadrith isn't as sadistic to Thurvishar, but clearly views him as one part experiment, one part leverage over Relos Var and never treats him as an actual person with feelings.

Abusive Parents: Darzin is horribly cruel to both his legitimate son Galen and to Kihrin who isn't actually his son but his half-brother, but who he claims as his son.

The series consists of the following books:

Especially since it turns out Kihrin may be destined to destroy the world. There are far more powerful forces at play than Kihrin realizes, and some of them are very interested in him, and a small group of other special youths whose paths he will soon cross, indeed. Of course, the intrigues of House D'Mon are only a very small part of the events unfolding around the world. As it turns out, going from Rags to Royalty isn't as much fun as its made out, especially since your newfound family is rotten to the core and a cesspool of cutthroat intrigue.

Then it turns out one of those wizards may actually be Kihrin's long-lost father - which, incidentally, makes him a member of House D'Mon, one of the most powerful (and corrupt) noble houses in the empire. Kihrin, a young but talented thief, is carrying out what he thinks is a routine burglary when he inadvertently stumbles upon two evil wizards, the victim they're torturing, and the powerful demon they've summoned. In the heart of the great city of Quur, capital of the empire of the same name, evil is afoot. A Chorus of Dragons is a High Fantasy series by Jenn Lyons.

The ruin of kings