A BRIEF HISTORY OF AVASHIRE
by Daylar de'Otaros

Prelude:

The realm of Avashire predates Britannia by nearly 3,000 years. It's history is vast, it's conflicts are many and it's tales are enough to fill countless volumes of books. Avashirian history is organized by "Ages", which correspond to the Lord which is in rule at the time. Since most of the large turns in history relate to changing of rulers, this system has served it's purpose well. 

Since the entire history would be too vast to contain in this missive, the brief history I scribe herein is merely an accounting of the last two ages of Avashire. These periods are known as the Age of Rivelin (the current age) and the Age of Aldamar (the age before). It is these two ages that provide most of the background to my lineage, and the lineage of the Abbey. While I omit much, partly by plan and partly by lack of historical correctness, this brief history will serve to offer a basic understanding of where our Abbey comes from.

I should also note that the years are noted as "AA", which means "After Arrival". Avashirian history began recording years when our forefathers first arrived in the land through the mysterious green moongate. The original settlers were a mere band of 12 men and 15 women, all between the ages of 18 and 31. There were no other Humans in the realm, and thus they began to record history based on years since their arrival.

Age of Aldamar (3192-3203 AA)

The age of Aldamar began in 3192 AA when the half-elf Vilo Aldamar took the throne after killing Lord Fedarium, the ruler of the previous age. Lord Aldamar had suffered a serious wound to his stomach and was unable to produce offspring. With his crown set to pass from him to his younger brother, Elias, his family lineage would be safe so long as he married a queen who had no children. 

Being a rather homely half-elf, he used his authority to call audiences of available women in which he would select his bride. Almost immediately, a buxom, black haired dancer caught his eye. Motioning his guards to her, they took her into the back room where his mages examined her body to ensure she had never given birth to a child. Content that she was a virgin, Aldamar took Matila to be his Queen.

All seemed well for the first year, and Aldamar was sure his rule would stay in his family after his demise. But politics are always in play in Avashire, and racial tensions are high. Pure humans tend to despise the "half-breeds" even more than they despise the pure elves. Any man or woman with even a remote trace of elven blood in their lineage are considered half-breeds, and are looked down upon by the "pure humans."

Queen Matila was a conniving pure human, who sought power above all else. She was part of an underground movement known as the "Purebloods", who were intent upon cleansing ruling lineage of all elven blood, as it had been over 500 years since a Pureblood ruled. A year after their wedding, the Queen was impregnated by a hulking warrior, hand selected by the Purebloods to produce an heir who would be physically and mentally superior to the half-breeds that had been ruling the land.

The obvious risk with this plan was how they would hide her pregnancy from not only her Lord, but her servants as well. As soon as she moved into the Castle, she replaced all her servants with those who were Purebloods. So by the time she was with child, she could easily seclude herself with those loyal to her cause - with the exception of her Lord.

Shortly after she knew she was with child, the Purebloods struck a deal with the hideously evil creatures known as the Sidhi - eternal enemies of all elves and men. These creatures were born out of the evil dregs below the Wasteland and were the subject of many nightmarish tales told to children. Small in physical stature, these round, purplish creatures were adorned with razor sharp splines that grew on their backs and arms. These splines as well as the long horns on their heads were often used as weapons, when they did not wield clubs or spears.

The biggest cause of concern for any ruling Lord of Avashire revolved around protecting "The Wall", which was a magical field stretching between towers that ran the entire length of the border between Avashire and the Wastelands. The Wall was the only thing that kept the hordes of Sidhi from overwhelming the lands of Avashire, and numerous garrisons and patrols were constantly monitoring the Wall.

How the Purebloods were able to strike a deal with the Sidhi is unknown, yet somehow they did. They furnished the Sidhi a set of plans and spells which would allow them to breach the northern portion of the Wall. Since each portion of the Wall worked on different spell algorithms, there was little fear that the entire Wall would collapse. However, by supplying a small portion of the algorithms, the Purebloods would effectively divert Lord Aldamar away from his Castle.

Their plan worked to perfection, and Lord Aldamar led the forces of men and half-elves against the Sidhi in the northlands for nearly 18 months. By the time they battered the Sidhi back into the Wastelands, Queen Matila had bore her son - Endor Rivelin.

The next 16 years the Purebloods raised Rivelin among their elite warriors and scholars, training him to be Lord of Avashire. Queen Matila nor any in the Castle saw the boy during the entire period. Lord Aldamar returned to his rule, but the battles against the Sidhi had changed him. He was hardened and callous. He abused his authority, and took many Mistresses. But perhaps his most heinous deed was his destruction of the ancient Bard's Guild. I shant include that tale here, as it is contained in the description of the Beggar's Feast Tapestry.

In the year 3203 AA, Aldamar became ill with the blood sickness, an incurable disease that slowly raises the temperature of the blood until it eventually boils through the veins, torturing the person until they either go mad and take their own life, or until their brain cells burst from the heat. The coward that Aldamar had become, he took his life the evening he learned of his sickness.

Age of Rivelin (3203 AA - To Present)

As soon as Aldamar was pronounced dead, the Purebloods acted. Rivelin was escorted to the Castle where he was presented before the Council of Mages as the rightful heir to the kingdom. Obviously doubtful of the tale, the Mages worked their magic to determine if the 16 year old boy was indeed a son of the Queen Matila. When the results came back indicating that he was indeed her son, he was given the crown.

The Purebloods celebrated, seeing their Victory as complete, yet their celebration lasted only hours. For during the inaugural celebration, Lord Rivelin called forth his mother before himself and the Council of Mages. Ever ignorant to her passion, she assumed he meant to grant her some honor. Instead he renounced her, and spoke the treason she was part of in the destruction of Lord Aldamar.

The Queen, and all those who helped conspire against Lord Aldamar were convicted and burned at the stake that next morning. The remaining Purebloods were in shock and went into hiding. The very day of the hanging, Lord Rivelin sent a legion of troops to search out and destroy these "Purebloods" who would discriminate against race, or bloodline.

The Council of Mages was confused as to why Rivelin would betray those who put him into power, and were wary. As they questioned him as to why he would do such, when he was obviously trained in deceit and treachery, he motioned a man forward to him.

A man wearing a simple brown rope came forward to stand before Lord and Council. Pushing back his hood, revealed a man of middle age, with a balding head and a simple brown topknot. Lord Rivelin address the Council, "While I was schooled in the ways of combat, lies, treachery and deceit, this man was the one I choose to listen to above all others. His name is Ca'arn Olandi, Monk of the Avashire Abbey. He taught me the ways of Truth and Honor, and it is those ways in which I choose to live - and rule."

How could such happen? How could those raising Rivelin not know of the teachings that Ca'arn Olandi offered? The answer is long, and requires much detail from the past. Suffice it to say, in this short missive, that Abbey ground has always been considered sacred. Even the rogues of the day would not set foot upon Abbey soil unless they had a noble purpose. It was Rivelin alone who would journey to the Abbey, for lessons twice a week. The Purebloods had thought the Monks of the Abbey weak, and after a short meeting between them, were convinced the Monks would teach according to their doctrine.

Yet Ca'arn and the Monks were wiser, and held no fear of the Purebloods. They taught the boy the ways of Truth, Love and Courage and hoped that to those ideals he would follow. They cautioned the boy, as he grew older, that he should not betray his teachings to the Purebloods, lest they destroy him. And so it was that Rivelin choose the way of Virtue and was the first Lord in over 100 years that was adored by his people.

All did not end well, however, with the Monks. The Purebloods figured out what had gone wrong in their plans. In a last ditch effort at revenge, they sent information regarding the construction of the precious "per Ankh" and it's secret passages below ground to Rothkar and the dark elves. The information was enough to allow the dark elves to penetrate the magically defended building and burn it to the ground. 

Many Monks died, although Ca'arn and the remaining Council of Monks escaped, the loss was irrecoverable. Many tomes and scrolls were lost in the blaze, and the Monks of Avashire have yet to recover to this day.

Yet time moves on, and Rivelin still is Lord of Avashire to this day. He rules with a firm, yet Just hand and has vowed the destruction of Rothkar and the dark elves.

Conclusion:

As I spoke of before, much has been left out here, including the involvement of the Pirate King Vestril, my father. There are vital links between Pirate activity and the dark elves, yet those tales are for another time and another place. Perhaps in a reflective period of my studies here, I shall pen more of that tale to parchment....

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