CE: History

History of Edarin: Major Characters

The Historical Characters of Edarin span 2-3 generations. Many of them, due to the turbulent times, died young, and as such you will find as you read that what is 2 or 3 generations of humans also, through tragedy, becomes similar for the elves and any other races involved.

Windwarren (House Saghn)

1st Generation

King Heirahan: This Albian was fair in both feature and judgment. He ruled Windwarren in seclusion through both the Great Central War and the Iodaran Siege and was one of those lucky enough in such turbulent times to eventually pass on of old age, painlessly, in his sleep.

Queen Sirvahn: Much the same as her husband, Queen Sirvahn was a demure and proper lady who had both her husband's ear and his heart. From a noble line in her own right this was one of the rare couples who married for love over station-though, conveniently, their nobility was also well-matched. Like her husband, Sirvahn lived to see old age and eventually passed on peaceably some months after seeing the youngest of her four children corronated.

2nd Generation

Princess Namihine: The eldest of Heirahan and Sirvahn's children and their only daughter Namihine was also the black sheep of her family. A beautiful woman with sinful curves and dusky hair, she paid little interest in government affairs. Her younger brothers considered her bossy on a good day, obnoxious on a bad one. Sufficed to say she was determined to live her own life. Unfortunately, she chose the life of a warrior and while she grew to be one of the greatest Generals Windwarren has ever seen, this path led to her death in Southern Tirane towards the end of the Iodaran Siege. She was a fierce and determined woman who was well-loved, if perhaps not always very well liked. She never married and bore no children. At the time of her death she was engaged, however, to a gentle-natured human minstrel of modest background by the name of Eladon. He was devastated by the loss and wholly unaware that she was either princess or general until her passing, when her younger brother, Velurahd, went to great lengths to find the man so that he might know of her death and feel free to carry on with his life. Eladon spent the remainder of his life transcribing tales of the Princess's many journeys, which remain popular reading for their brave and romantic nature to this day. He never married.

Prince Giliadh: The second eldest and by far most famous member of House Saghn to exist to date, Prince Giliadh was known as a prophet gifted in scrying to the extent that even non-believers tended to take heed of his words. He was also a man not wont to sit still and wait for things to happen. With the aid of Moonhaven's Prince Lysander, Giliadh did much to aid in the war effort during the Iodaran siege, subtly instigating negotiations between Tirane and Ardenbau and eventually convincing his father to allow the elves of Windwarren to aid the Summer Lands in the war against Iodar, resultantly preventing Southern Tirane from being taken. The arrival of the Albians in lands far south of where they had previously tread was considered a turning point in the war and it was later chocked up wholly to Giliadh's brave and fevered speech on behalf of taking the action. He spent the rest of his life traveling as a prophet and negotiator until he mysteriously disappeared approximately a thousand years ago.

Prince Velurahd: The seemingly undistinguished middle son of Heirahan and Sirvahn, Velurahd remained loyal to family and country throughout his life. Neither a warrior like his sister, a holy man like his younger brother, or a sometime prophet like his elder brother, Velurahd lived the simple and non-descript existence of an aristocrat. If he was not brilliant, his kind heart made him well-loved among the people and he never had to do much to prove himself in life. He chose to spend his time as a diviner, and was neither particularly gifted or particularly unskilled at the task. In the end, he is best known for the ten years he spent searching for his sister's fiancé, Eladon, after her death. He went down in history as a man of great dedication even though he did little in life to make himself noteworthy among such brave and brilliant siblings.

Prince Harian: The youngest of Heirahan and Sirvahn's four children and born to rule as King when his father passed on, at the time of the Iodaran Siege he was yet a young man of some three hundred years. Rather than idle his time away, Harian spent his youth as a paladin serving Inve and later became known as a wise and strong King. He once saved Princess Ayan of Tirane from the phantoms of the Shadowlands, but swears it was for his brother Giliadh's sake, not the human's. While he has somewhat rough manners at times and a stubborn streak leagues wide, he is a good man and rules over Windwarren to this day, though age begins to creep up on him, much to his disdain.

Moonhaven (House Thevane)

1st Generation

Adaen: While playing little part in the history of Edarin and having passed before the Great Wars began, Adaen's choices could be said to be the catalyst for the Zhoan Civil War that began in the year 847 of the current Age. He was, for the most part, a good King, but even good Kings can make decisions that will alter history. So it was in this case.

Adaen had a brother, Bedoen, who was killed by a Crimsha in the forests of Moonhaven when he was very young. Having lost his wife to the sea some ten years previously, Bedoen's son, Aldarion, was left on his own at his father's death, and so Adaen, naturally, adopted the young Aldarion and raised him as his own. When Adaen failed to bear a son of his own, he named Aldarion heir to the throne of Moonhaven. Many disagreed with his choice. (see Great Central War)

Avidane: Adaen's wife and Queen, some six months after the birth of her first and only child, Olivia, Avidane came across a wild Apertaine Horse by the shores of Thel'Finan. While she did have her own mare to whom she was bound, she thought to treat a wound on the Apertaine's flank. Spooked and injured, the Apertaine kicked at her. The crippling blow to Avidane's mid-section prevented her from having further children and two years later the death of her own mare drove her to suicide.

Bedoen: Adaen's younger and only brother, Bedoen tread the wandering path of a ranger. His love, Anaria, was a shoar pirate who loved the sea more than she loved the idea of having a sun and settling down, so Bedoen raised the boy, who he named Aldarion, (a rustic Zhoan word used to describe the shelter one finds from a storm in the hollow of a tree) until he was eventually claimed by a Crimsha in the forests-a common end for the Zhoan people, unfortunately.

2nd Generation

Olivia: The daugher and only child of Adaen and Avidane, Oliva was a beautiful woman with a gentle heart and much-loved by the people of Moonhaven. With ebon hair and deep blue eyes, she was often thought of as a precious and untarnishable gem, but she was also a warrior and would do anything to protect her people. So it was that, though a woman could not ascend to the throne, Olivia was much loved among the people and many wished to see her as their Queen. These hopes were dashed when her father, Adaen, named her cousin Aldarion as his heir.

Two factions formed-those who supported the soon deceased king's decision for Aldarion to rule, and those who would have Olivia wed and have her husband rule under a token kingship.

Olivia wasn't particularly the marrying kind and supported Aldarion's reign, but the path one takes in life is not always their own choosing and soon she found herself caught up in a civil war no matter how much she might want to stop it.

In one such effort, Olivia found herself skewered by an arrow and thought herself as good as dead. When she woke, it was in the court of Ardenbau where she and King Kiergan quickly fell in love, Soon thereafter she bore twins-Arrien(the boy) and Aiiren(the girl).

When the Zhoan found that the Ardenbans had 'taken Lady Olivia hostage' a new war broke out and Olivia, resigned to the fact that she would never be done with battles, returned to finish what she had started years before. She was killed in the ensuing battle.

Aldarion: Like his cousin-about thirty years his senior-Aldarion did not ask for any war or bloodshed, and he certainly did not ask to be anyone's King. Nephew to Adaen and Avidane, cousin to Olivia, as a young boy he'd wanted nothing more than to follow the path of a ranger as his father had done, but things did not go according to plan and he found shortly after his two-hundredth birthday he was to be corronated. He tried to make the best of things, but the people weren't happy about the choice and Civil War ensued. His cousin, who he cared for as dearly as a beloved older sister, went missing, and was accidentally slain before he was able to reunite with her.

Aldarion discovered that Olivia had borne a deus son in her six year absence, and in this he saw a chance to strike a peace. Unfortunately, he was too late to save his cousin's life. The child he found in a field and knew instantly that the toddler was of Olivia's blood-he had the same look about him, or so Aldarion thought at the time.

When he got the child home he found not a son, but a daughter and through questioning the toddler found that there was not one child, but two-twins. One a boy, one a girl. A girl, however, did not solve the problem, and so, in a decision full of the rashness of youth, he raised young Aiiren as a boy and gave her a more elvish name-Lysander, an old word that once meant 'Valiant'-his own way of paying homage to the child's mother and named Olivia's 'son' his heir, claiming, 'should I ever bear a child, Lysander shall remain heir-apparent over that child.' To prevent a future conflict, Aldarion never wed and never had any children of his own, but raised Lysander as his own precious child of whom he remained very proud to his dying day.

He was killed as a yet young King during the Iodaran Siege by an enchanted centaur while standing ground with the Sentinels of the WatchPeak.

3rd Generation

Lysander(a.k.a.-Aiiren): The daughter of Moonhaven's Lady Olivia and Ardenbau's King Kiergan, Lysander was taken by her uncle, Aldarion, and raised as a boy so that she might become King and end the Civil War that caused her mother's death. Having been raised as a boy, she had the sensibilities of one and decided to travel the path of a ranger. Known as a Great Thrae'Goden General and shrewd negotiator, Lysander spent 'his' youth traveling the lands of Edarin and became closely entwined with Giliadh of Windwarren. Together, they worked to forge alliances and counter the Great Iodaran Siege.

But like Aldarion, Lysander had no desires to be king, and no matter how 'he' thought of it, placing a half-elf in the throne over all Zhoan peoples was just asking for trouble.

As things came to pass, 'he' handed both titles as General and as King over to one much better suited to the task-a dear friend named Serenzar who she felt would make a King like none of House Thevane before him had, having come from common parentage and understanding the people better than any noble could. The new house of royals took his surname-Il'lyan.

Arrien: Son of Olivia and Kiergan and Lysander's (Aiiren's) twin. [See Ardenbau.]

Other Characters of Note:

1st Generation

Beldaer: An archer loyal to Aldarion and father of Serenzar, Beldaer was known as a Sentinel of supreme talent with little interest in war and much interest in protecting the people of Moonhaven. While an elf from the Grand, he held no hostilities or prejudices against the elves from Thrae'Goden Valley and raised his son with the same sentiments.

Beldaer passed away during the Great Central War.

Gwyn: Serenzar's mother and a woman of little particular note other than that she was kind-hearted and as loyal to the people of Moonhaven as her husband was. She raised Serenzar on her own after his twelfth year and never remarried, eventually passing on of old age.

2nd Generation

Serenzar: Lysander's dearest friend and perhaps the only Zhoan other than Aldarion who knew her secret from the beginning, as children the two were inseparable and as adults they remained quite close. He did, however, curse his dear friend for so unceremoniously dumping her responsibilities upon his shoulders-but remains to this day a good and intelligent king.

It was all Serenzar's doing that tensions between Moonhaven and Ardenbau have long since abated, as he was an amiable youth who made fast friends with the eldest son of Ardenbau's royal house at the time, Daryen, and went to great lengths to aid him during the Iodaran Siege in defending Ardenbau's southern border. While he didn't arrive in time enough to save Daryen from his untimely death, Serenzar's efforts did drive back the attack and salvage what remained of Ardenbau's army. None mourned Daryen's passing more than Serenzar did, and his heartfelt condolences did much to salvage relations between the two previously warring nations.

Serenzar is also known as a great warrior for a number of brave feats, the most notable being the slaying of a Golgoth during the Iodaran Siege-and managing to survive the task. He is still well-respected through the lands of Edarin as a great hero-a reputation he claims he may 'never live down'.

Tirane (House Reinor)

1st Generation

Ilandine: A good king and wise General who proved his worth during the Great Central War, Ilandine, unfortunately passed away when he was but 45 years of age while on a trip to the city of Enwar near Lavidia Forest to personally select a horse for his daughter Ayan as a gift for her 15th birthday. One of the nearby fey thought to pull an amusing prank on the good King to give him a little fright-unfortunately, the horse he was looking at at the time was spooked and Ilandine got kicked so hard his chest cavity collapsed and his lungs were pierced, resulting in a rather unfortunate and unfitting death for such a fine King.

Belladine: The eldest of three sisters of an aristocratic family whose lands once extended over the better part of southern Tirane, Bella later took on the suffix 'dine' when she was wedded to Tirane's King, Ilandine. This particular family, whose surname, for the record, was Sagaan, had no sons, but three daughters, and all three, of high enough birth, were used to wed for political gain and not love. For what it may be worth, Ilandine and Belladine grew to love and respect one another deeply over the years, but the trials of her younger sisters affected Belladine greatly and she eventually grew into a quiet and contemplative Dowager Queen who said little and, while helping her children as much as she could without being a nuisance, spent much of her time alone, mourning for the tragedies that befell both Eudinae and Ilyana in their respective marriages and the loss of her husband when they were both yet rather young-Belladine was only thirty-five when Ilandine passed away.

Belladine's sisters:

Eudinae: (see Iodar)

Ilyana: (see Darendale)

2nd Generation

Arun: After his father's unfortunate death, Arun ascended the throne at the age of 17. A fiery and often temperamental young man, many of the people of Tirane wondered if he could become half the King his father was in the first years of his kingship. He was intelligent enough and raised in the ways of royalty, but very young and his ability to rule the country was questioned at first as his mettle was vastly untested.

Two years into his reign the Iodaran Siege began and many Tiranians thought themselves doomed, but it was under the leadership King Arun (or Arundine, though he often found the title far too formal for his tastes and preferred not to use it unless he had to-a trait that all kings thereafter seemed to have picked up on his example) that alliances were forged with both Ardenbau and Windwarren and Southern Tirane was held-thanks to his wise decisions-against the Iodaran Siege.

By his twenty-second year, none questioned his merit any longer and he managed to live the rest of his life blessed with good health, loyal retainers, and trustworthy friends-ruling over a country that loved him, sitting beside a devoted wife, and bearing three lovely children-but that is another, simpler story, to be told at another time.

Ayan: Two years Arun's junior, Ayan was an intelligent girl who held more sway over her brother than any advisor at court. Her story, for all intents and purposes should have been a simple one, but it is sufficed to say that without his sister's aid, Arun would not have been able to accomplish half as much as he did within his lifetime.

At the time of the Iodaran Siege, much was demanded of many people, and it was through Ayan's determined ride north to save the life of Prince Giliadh of Windwarren, her stubbornness, and a bit of twisting fate, that the Windwarren Elves and the dwarves of the Nohra Mountains eventually came South to aid in the war effort and turn the tide of things. Additionally, it was the arranged marriage between Princes Ayan and Prince Arrien of Ardenbau that eventually sealed the treatise between the two nations.

Ah, but there is a twisting soap opera of a love story involved in all of this, but historically, such things matter little, right? Sufficed to say, in time, Ayan rose to become Queen of Ardenbau, bore and raised a few wonderful children, and managed to find some happiness in life.

Ardenbau (House Kanan)

1st Generation

Kiergan: Once, long ago, mortal men ascended into godhood. One such mortal was a man named Meheras, once King of Ardenbau and later King of the Gods. The descendant of that wondrous man was King Kiergan, of the House Kanan. It was a mark of pride in a time where the Revenant Gods were still well-remembered and loved. These days, only those of religious orientations spare the old gods a passing thought, but when Kiergan was a young man he was well-known for his lineage and grew to have a blessed life into his adulthood.

It was when he was of some thirty years in age that things began to go downhill. It was the time of the Great Central War, of course, but this was all quite ordinary. The war between Ardenbau and Tirane had been going on for many generations, and the wars in Moonhaven had very little to do with him personally. So it was that one day, on a hunt with his son Daryen, he found a wounded Zhoan Elf lying face down in a forested pool. He immediately fished her out and, finding her quite lovely (though his intentions at the time had little to do with her loveliness and much to do with the fact that she was critically injured) brought her back to Ardenbau Castle to be treated.

He later found that her name was Olivia and knowing nothing of her particular heritage, fell quickly in love with her. Her feelings, seemingly mutual, spurred him on to take the elven lady in as his mistress-he was already married, after all-and within the year Olivia bore him twins, a daughter and a son whom they named Aiiren and Arrien respectively.

But the Zhoan thought he'd kidnapped their princess and another battle ensued which resulted in Olivia's death and the loss of his daughter who-after many months was presumed dead though no body could be found (see also Moonhaven: Olivia, Aldarion, & Lysander for further details)

Time and its ensuing events continued on, and after a period of mourning Kiergan managed to pick up the pieces of his life and move on-his one true love was lost to him, and his daughter had been killed, but he still had two sons, a wife, and by the time of the Iodaran Siege, a grandchild on the way.

Though there were other tragedies and joys that would come to Kiergan in his life, it is enough to say that he managed to live long enough to see his youngest son married and retire the throne, and living peacefully for another ten years playing with his grandchildren, until he eventually passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Thaea: Kiergan's wife and a strong and noble woman, Thaea's lack of interest in his love affair is perhaps the only reason the court of Ardenbau managed to avoid scandal when Kiergan took Olivia as his mistress. Like many marriages of the time, Thaea and Kiergan's was arranged for political convenience and they were never truly in love-but they existed side by side as dear friends and respected companions who kept no secrets from one another. She is known to have said once that Kiergan 'may have as many mistresses as he likes. I an now and shall ever remain his only Queen.' She was a shrewd and intelligent woman who, while not of any evil intent, well-knew how to manipulate the masses into thinking and acting in those ways she deemed 'most civilized'. She did not feel at all threatened when Kiergan begot two children on a Zhoan woman-for they were dear friends and she could see how much he cared for her. And if she had ambitions to see her son crowned someday she did not think she had anything to worry over-he was and would always remain Kiergan's eldest son whom he still loved dearly and no less than his two deus children. It was an untraditional familial arrangement, but it seemed to work well enough for them, even if it was perhaps a bit scandalous in nature.

But time can be a cruel thing, and the Iodaran Siege came. As High Prince and future King, Thaea's son, Daryen, was also General to the Army-it was considered good training at that time for kingship. He was rather unfortunately lost during the grueling battles at Rahadaan Garrison.

Even so, Thaea loved and raised Kiergan's other son, Arrien, as her own, and though she mourned, she never showed any signs of bitterness that one of her husband's 'bastards' should become King while her own son no longer lived. There had been enough tragedy for all of them without adding blame on top of it.

Through life she was a noblewoman, who eventually grew old beside her husband, peacefully playing with the grandchildren of her husband's long since gone mistress (who she considered grandchildren of her own) until her dying day.

2nd Generation

Daryen: Son of Kiergan and Thaea, Daryen lived to see both the end of one war, and the beginning of another. But a boy of some ten years when the Great Central War ended and he lost his younger sister, Aiiren, he later was lost himself at Rahadaan Garrison to the attack of a manticore within the ranks during the Iodaran Siege.

Between the two wars he lost much and gained much. His first wife, Daphine, was frail and passed away trying to bear child (the child, also, was miscarried) and it was many years before Daryen recovered enough to take another wife. More companion than lover, Ceris bore him one son, who did not emerge from her womb until after her husband's death.

He became great friends with Moonhaven's Serenzar, who rather accidentally stumbled across his army in time to save them from the attack of a Golgoth and whose efforts later overcame the Iodaran forces at Rahadaan Garrison, putting an end to that particular siege, though not before Daryen lost his life-still, it could be said that this friendship managed to save his country from being overtaken.

Sufficed to say, he played a small, but important role in the war.

Arrien: Twin brother of Aiiren and son of Kiergan and Olivia, the loss of his sister while still toddling affected Arrien deeply-he was unable to come to terms with her death and grew over the years to have a bitter and deep-seated hatred of all elves-not knowing that he was half-elven himself. He was too young to understand what was going on during the tail end of the Great Central War or to remember his mother-his family decided it was wisest not to tell him of his heritage, lest he do something rash.

Through the twists of fate and the often confusing paths that become history, Arrien was reunited with his sister, discovered his past, and eventually overcame his distaste for elves and the ways of elves. He adopted a small psyon child from Telsey whose strange ability to rip holes through time accomplished great feats during the war, and eventually settled into Kingship and Marriage-two things a young Arrien would have claimed he wanted nothing to do with. His betrothed was the Princess Ayan of Tirane, who was wedded to him to solidify a peace treatise between the two nations. They got along well enough and did eventually grow to love one another, though the pairing was neither's true love-and Ayan bore two daughters to him before time took her from his side as well.

Aiiren(Lysander): (see Moonhaven)

Daphine: Daryen's first wife, Daphine was frail and of common background. In spite of this, Daryen loved her dearly and fought to wed her. Eventually their parents relented, but Daphine's story is tragically short-she was a fragile woman who went into labor after only six months with child. Both the woman and the baby were lost. It was many years before Daryen had heart enough to wed again.

Daphine was also like an elder sister to Arrien, who eventually named his horse after her in memoriam. At the time, Arrien didn't realize this was a very Zhoan thing to do.

Ceris: Daryen's second wife who he did not marry until he was twenty-eight years of age, like Thaea before her was more a companion for her husband than lover, but did not particularly mind as such. She cared for Daryen deeply, but understood that she was not the great love of his life and was willing to accept as much as long as she was allowed to be beside him. She mourned deeply when Daryen passed on, and named his son after him when he was born-a month after his father passed away.

3rd Generation

Miranda: A human psyon who Prince Arrien rescued from attackers in Telsey before the city became known as Psyon City, Miranda had the uncanny ability to rip holes through space-time. It caused Arrien quite a bit of trouble over the years, but he raised her as if his own daughter. Being human, she eventually passed away before her adoptive father, but lived a mostly peaceful life after the Iodaran Siege as his adopted and eldest child.

Daryen (II): The only son of Daryen and Ceris, Daryen had a strong claim to Ardenbau's throne but did not desire it. While his Uncle Arrien reigned, Daryen accepted the task of heading Ardenbau's army and trained them rigorously should war strike again. While no one cared to do any further fighting, the memory of war remained heavy in the air for many years and Ardenbau's military wanted to be prepared for the worst. Daryen, though vastly untested, was considered a good General. He died peacably, reading a story to his grandchildren by the hearth one evening after supper.

Aiiri: Arrien and Ayan's first daughter, while Aiiri far outlived her human mother, she passed long before her father. She lived a simple life and gave him a few grandchildren as a matter of course, but times were peaceable and not much of note came to pass while she lived.

As a bit of trivia, mostly unimportant, Aiiri is a derivative of Aiiren-a name meaning 'night bloom'. She was named for Arrien's sister.

Daphne: Like Aiiri, Daphne was Arrien and Ayan's child-some eight years younger than Aiiri. Her name, derived from 'Daphine' means 'butterfly' and is now a common name to give to children of unnatural or exquisite beauty, but was, for Arrien, a name that was precious for more personal reasons. Like Aiiri, she had a peaceful life and outlived her mother but passed before her father.

Some time after the passing of Ayan's children to age, Arrien became somewhat lonely and though he did not marry again, he did take a mistress to keep him company, Reia, and she bore him two children. Now both Reia and Arrien have passed, but their two daughters remain alive and well.

Olivia(II): King Arrien's third daughter and eldest still living, Olivia is the daughter of a mistress Arrien took some centuries after Ayan's death. The mistress, while of no historical importance, was a simple and common woman Arrien found comfort in named Reia, of human origins. Though both of her parents have passed away, Olivia, retaining some bit of Zhoan blood, is expected to live some eight centuries or thereabouts. She is currently about 90 years old. Her father lived long past what was expected of a deus, passing away some fifty years ago. (see Government)

Irene: Five years Olivia's junior, Irene is also one of Arrien and Reia's daughters. Like her sister Olivia, she is expected to have a long life and lives to this day. (see Government)

Darendale (House Mavar)

Faeyon: The king of Darendale at the end of the Great Central War and through the better part of the Iodaran Siege, Faeyon was a mostly conservative man who didn't believe in interfering overmuch with the affairs of other nations. As a farming country, Darendale has long been able to sustain itself without the trade of other nations, and as such Faeyon was not terribly concerned over the affairs of other nations.

However, in the end this was the downfall of the Royal House of Mavar, as Darendale was quickly taken under Iodaran control via potions cast into the drinking supply and a thick-weaving of enchantment during the Iodaran Siege. The countrymen were used for making weapons and as additional bodies to send to war, and the royal family was captured beyond the fortress walls in their castle at Varin.

When the enchanted Darendalians made to break down the castle walls, a group of power-hungry vampyres took advantage of the situation and slaughtered both those attacking the capitol and the royal family in efforts to take the city of Varin for their own dark designs--to create a safe haven for Edarin's undead where mere mortals were neither wanted, nor needed.

While to this day some mortals remain in place and mostly un-hindered in the city of Varin, they are considered second-class citizens only as good as their skill at their chosen trade makes them to the vampyres and most often impoverished in the ruined city where undead thrive.

Ilyana: Darendale's Queen and the second of three noble sisters originally from southern Tirane wedded to various kings, Ilyana was also a known prophetess in her later years and well-protected by her husband and family--kept closeted away from those who would seek to make use of her. She only very rarely left the castle.

A beautiful and elegant woman, when of marrying age, Ilyana was courted both by Faeyon, and Dsenan of Iodar at the same time. While Dsenan's proclamations were more endearing, Ilyana was a sensible woman not wont to proclamations of love and felt in the long run she was better suited to Darendale's King and that he would do well by her. She told Dsenan that while she appreciated his affections, she did not believe they had any future together.

Whether or not Ilyana knew of the tragedy that would befall the peoples of both lands, no one ever knew. She kept her prophecies to herself, watching, but choosing not to interfere. It is doubtful that even her own family knew whether she was truly a prophet or if it was just one of the many rumors that tended to circulate about herself and her sisters.

Ilyana later protested the union between Dsenan and her youngest sister, Eudinae, but refusing to state her reasons for this the protest was overlooked--many believed it was her own selfish affection for the Iodaran King, that she did not want to see him paired with one of her own blood--but it remains nonetheless true that Dsenan and Eudinae did not make for a good pair. (see Iodar)

2nd Generation

Demetrius: Eldest child and only son of Faeyon and Ilyana, Demetrius was a kind but serious young man of some twenty-seven years when Darendale was attacked. He had not yet wed, though discussions of his marriage to a local noblewoman named Tavia had been cut short thanks to the Iodaran Siege. He was a good and loyal son who loved his family, but had done nothing in the span of his life to set him apart. He rarely left Varin and had never left Darendale. So it was that the attack on the castle in the once grand city of Varin found him vastly inexperienced and unprepared. Prior to the siege Darendale was a peacable farming nation-it wasn't until after the royal family was decimated that military might became important to the people of this nation-a day this prince would not live to see.

Sharyn: The daughter of Faeyon and Ilyana, Sharyn was a precious gem to all those at court and the apple of her family's eye. Hardly seven years old when Darendale was sieged and the castle was taken, Sharyn was best known for trailing along on her much elder brother's boot heels with a stuffed rabbit toy trailing along behind her. Intelligent for her age with bright blue eyes and blonde hair that had only begun to darken with age, in spite of her brother's efforts, Sharyn did not manage to escape the vampyres' wrath when the castle was sieged and the city taken any more than the rest of the royal house did. Everyone in the castle at the time of the siege was completely slaughtered and the castle tumbled to ruins.

Today, those with the closest claim to the royal line of Darendale are descendants of cousins of the family-already three or four times removed during the incident, and this far afterwards people with blood ties to house Mavar must go back through many generations to find any proof of it. The royal line has all but disintegrated and long since been displaced by military rule.

Other Characters of Note:

1st Generation:

Vardak: This vampyre led the rebellion against the city of Varin and house Mavar. While his initial intent was perhaps not as cruel as the end result, it was Vardak's 'Union of Vampyres' that effectively decimate the city and the countrymen and the way of life of all Darendalians.

Vampyres have long since been persecuted as evil incarnate with no place to call their own. One vampyre alone, while strong, is really no match for an entire nation. Persecuted heavily at the time, Vardak was a natural leader who forged the still-named 'Union of Vampyres' to address House Mavar in hopes of striking some kind of peace and perhaps acquiring some land or a small village of their own.

But those who followed Vardak, so long persecuted, had motives of their own that were not as righteous and what had been intended as a peacable discussion became a massacre where vampyres did as they pleased.

Vardak was not able to stop this massacre, but did manage to control the vampyres somewhat after it by claiming Varin as their own city. It was an unsteady compromise though. Vardak never approved of the massacre and the remainder of the Union didn't approve of him as a leader, feeling him too soft hearted. His second in command eventually slaughtered him and took his place.

Tethys: Vardak's second in command and most trusted friend, it was a cruel betrayal when Tethys betrayed Vardak-cutting off his head while he slept-and took the title as head of the UV in his place.

While not nearly as kind as his predecessor, Tethys is perhaps not as cruel as some, and rules over the Union of Vampyres and all of Varin in his place. While Varin's mortal citizens remain deathly afraid of this crimson-haired, ebon-eyed vampyre, they are aware that as long as they are useful to him and the UV he will not stand for their being killed needlessly. That is a small comfort.

Tethys remains the man in charge of Varin, now known often as the City of Vampyres, to this day.

Iodar (House Ordus)

Special Notes: Despite the fact that Iodar's peoples are predominantly Nymandine, in ancient times Ardenbau, Tirane, Delain, and Iodar were one huge nation. It was separated into three nations ruled by three royal brothers-Reinor, Kanan, and Ordus-which later becamethe names of the royal houses of each nation. That said, up to approximately two thousand years ago, the ruling house of Iodar was human, descendants of the third brother, Ordus, though the residents of this land have ever been the Nymandine, who find the climate to their liking.

The current ruling house of Iodar is House Dagus, a Nymandine line, but little else beyond that is known about the royal family.

1st Generation

Dsenan: Before the Great Iodaran Siege, Dsenan reigned over Iodar with a gentle and peaceful hand. He kept open trade routes with all adjoining nations and Iodar prospered. He was a good and kind king who fell in love with a noblewoman from Tirane named Ilyana. This apparently was not to be though, and the Lady Ilyana married King Faeyon (see Darendale).

Instead, it was proposed that Dsenan wed Ilyana's younger sister Eudinae. Finding her a beautiful woman who he thought he could surely grow to love and being in need of a Queen he accepted this proposal and they were wed on Eudinae's seventeenth birthday. Dsenan was nearly twenty years her senior, but such things have ever been common among royalty.

But unfortunately all good and kind Kings tend to be overshadowed by the dark designs of those around them and Dsenan was no different. Dsenan's younger brother Davorin had crueler intentions and a strong desire for power. With Eudinae's help, he betrayed his elder brother, locking him in the Iodaran Dungeons where he remained for the entire span of the Iodaran Siege as his brother, and then his nephew, wrought havoc across the land in his name.

Eventually he was reinstated to the throne once the truth of this deceit was discovered, but not before much blood had been shed.

King Dsenan, oft referred to as Iodar's 'true king', was unfortunately impotent and bore no heirs. On his passing he gave the throne to his most trusted advisor-a Nymandine man named Edal Dagus, founder of Iodar's current House Dagus who was in his own turn cruelly betrayed, but that is another story to be told at another time.

Eudinae: A young and beautiful woman-youngest daughter to a noble family from Southern Tirane, Eudinae was arranged to marry King Dsenan by her seventeenth birthday. She was neither unnaturally cruel or unusually kind and had the same weaknesses of all those young and beautiful.

At first, she wholly accepted her marriage, finding Dsenan to be a kind man who would not treat her unfairly, and at the prompting of her elder sister, Belladine, (see Tirane) she came to understand that she could hope for no better.

But at seventeen years Eudinae was still overtaken by childish tales of love and a desire to have a house filled with the laughter of many children. So it was that she was much distraught to find that her husband, despite his respect and care for her, proved entirely impotent.

The foolishness of youth swayed her easily to his handsome younger brother, Davorin, when the man began to pursue her, and eventually, believing he truly loved her, she helped him betray Dsenan and usurp his throne.

Eudinae soon regretted it. Where Dsenan had been kind and respected her and they had many an entertaining conversation (if there was little more to their relationship), once her usefulness had waned Davorin revealed himself as prideful and cruel and begot on her-unwillingly-an heir. Tossed aside entirely once the babe had no further need for her, Eudinae fell into despair. As a queen she had no real power, even the guards no longer took her seriously for fear of Davorin's wrath, and unable to effect anything, locked in the royal chambers day in and day out, Eudinae's despair grew dismal and she eventually used the bed curtains to hang herself from the chandelier. Her family was notified of her death with a letter only-claiming she became suicidal after she found she could not bear children.

Her body hung from the scaffolding of the tower for fourteen days as an example of what would happen to any who thought to betray the King. That Davorin did not actually kill Eudinae was of little matter. It still conveyed the same message: 'those who are not useful to me shall perish.'

Davorin: Six years Dsenan's junior, Davorin still got the idea in his head somehow that he had more right to the throne. Davorin knew of Dsenan's impotence and that the royal line would eventually pass to his own son, but this was not enough. Davorin himself desired the position of King. A bad egg from the start, Davorin was a cruel and calculating man who quietly disposed of his own wife, Deira, when he saw more opportunity in Eudinae's blossoming attraction. To express it more bluntly, it is rumored that Deira was murdered, but her body was, conveniently, never found.

He could fake charm and good will well enough, and convinced Eudinae that he loved her dearly and would make a far better king and husband for her, and managed to convince her to slip some sleeping potion into Dsenan's evening meal.

While he slumbered, Davorin had Dsenan tossed into the dungeon on false allegations that he was not the King in actuality, but a body double and impersonator for same, and that they must make haste to look for the true king. He had said body double killed and left half buried in a nearby ditch so the guards would not have trouble 'finding' their murdered king and there would be no argument to his own ascention to the throne. He was a cruel man, but not evil enough to murder his own brother, apparently, though none believed a word out of the betrayed Dsenan's mouth and he eventually gave up trying to convince the guards that he was the King in actual fact.

Of course, those who crave power eventually come to crave more power. The kingship of a desert nation was not enough-Davorin came to want access to the sea and began an attack on Darendale. With trade routes closed off immediately after Dsenan's death so the outside world would think his brother still ruled, it was a simple choice. His brother had long loved Lady Ilyana, Queen of that nation, and he had a rumor spread that due to some slight of hand during the courting he felt Ilyana was rightfully his and could not bear to be apart from her any longer-some ridiculous love story-the peasants eat that stuff up-and soon Darendale believed the attack was because Dsenan desired the Queen, not that Davorin wanted to claim the country so he had access to the sea.

But those who betray are often betrayed in turn. Davorin ruled Iodar for only fifteen years before he was murdered by his own son, who apparently did not wish to wait for the throne. Who put the idea in the boy's mind is anyone's guess. Many claim Sorth himself must have done it for a mere child couldn't possibly think up such deceit on his own-but there is no truth to either confirm or negate this.

2rd Generation

Dreya: Son of Davorin and Eudinae, Dreya's mother suicided when he was but two years old and the boy murdered his father when he was twelve to claim the throne for himself. Even as a boy he had a talent for what was then called the 'dark arts', but which, in this day and age, we know as the work of those clerics who choose to worship Sorth, the god of Darkness. How the boy ended up on such a path at his age is anyone's guess.

Sufficed to say corrupt men often breed corruption into their offspring, and Dreya was far more corrupt than his father had ever been. He ruled Iodar through fear and closed off all communication with the outside world other than what was necessary for survival, and even that was kept to a minimum so that many Nymandine starved in the dark years of Dreya's reign.

Eventually a small band of Edarin's greatest heroes infiltrated the kingdom and managed to evict him from the throne. The methods of this are cloaked in many rumors and tales that range from mundane in nature to wholly extravagant, but in the end we know at least that the boy fell from the topmost tower window to the ground below and died upon impact. He was fifteen years old.

Confusions of the past were cleared up and Dsenan, released from Iodar's dungeons, was restored to his rightful place as King of Iodar and peace reigned once more over the Lands of Edarin.

The below mentioned three nations, uninvolved in the Great Central War in any notable way, have by sheer force of luck, good fortune, and perhaps even the will of the gods, managed to avoid any great tragedies over the span of history. As such, only the rulers at the time of the Iodaran Siege will be noted below, and any immediate family, as any events preceding such are ancient history and wholly unimportant to the lands of Edarin at the current era.

Garumeth (n/a)

1st Generation

King Niram: Husband to Queen Lashani and a distant cousin many times removed, Niram's Great Great Grandfather was once King of Garumeth though he held no rights to the throne himself other than through marriage to his childhood sweetheart. His family was, however, always tied up in politics and Niram did a 'tour of duty' in his young adulthood, which remains common practice to this day. (Though Garumeth does not have a formal military, the majority of young men and women do what is known as a 'tour of duty' before settling into their chosen field-wherein a person takes on 'military patrol' of the country for a span of 2-5 years-this is common for all manner of citizen, but especially popular among nobility, and many nobles will do 2 such tours, the first in their twenties as a rite of passage, and another at 100 years as a milestone marking the beginning of their adulthood. Like many before him Niram did both tours. He was known as a kind and entertaining man, but one who had a foul temper when angered and who was fiercely protective of his family.

Queen Lashani: This proud woman was the second in a line of Garumeth Queens to bear the white emperor's streak in her tail. A thousand years previously it was unheard of for a woman to rule over Garumeth, but even at the time of the Iodaran Siege this land was under the rule of a Queen.

Lashani was considered a beautiful and fiercely determined woman and while she ruled Garumeth did not fall easily under Iodar's control-it was through enchantment alone that the task was managed and after the war the Queen went through great efforts to repair damages done by her people though she had not been directly responsible for things which occurred at that time.

She lived to see old age and grandchildren and remained mentally sharp until her dying day, knowing Garumeth would be in good hands with her daughter, Iliya, who also bore the emperor's streak, in charge.

2nd Generation

Prince Veran: Eldest child of Lashani and Niram, Veran was disappointed, if not surprised, that he did not bear his mother's streak. After a moody youth, Veran settled into a resigned adult who always did his duty for crown and country but had little passion for his work.

He was unfortunate enough to die during the Iodaran siege in the battle with Moonhaven.

Princess Iliya: Born unusually fair for a centaur, Iliya was nonetheless a stout and sturdy child who eventually grew into a strong woman. At the time of the war though, she was still a child and more greatly affected than any by her elder brother's untimely demise-he was something of a hero to the young girl and always kind to her. Many years later when she ascended the throne she said many of her decisions were made by thinking 'what would Veran do in this situation'. This method somehow worked for her and she ruled long and well. For all the years of her reign the country took a holiday of mourning on the anniversary of his death each year.

Xsenzar (n/a)

1st Generation

The Councilors:

Aloen Koiel: The Councilor who reigns over affairs of the Council of Elders itself and therefore the most powerful man in all of Xsenzar at the time, Aloen was a traditional man who did not believe in change of any form. So it was that when a messenger from Tirane came to request aid-and endured all the bureaucracy involved in getting to see the Council at all-this man promptly turned the request down cold without even first listening to it. Like many Dracon, Aloen was not only wary of foreigners, but saw them as inferior beings-his hate for humans in particular, however unfounded, dictated many of Xsenzar's dealings with the race, and while he lived, even trade with Tirane could be considered sporadic and unreliable at best.

Qin Espara: This man was in position to speak on behalf of the Xsenuei, or bridge-building class of the island of Xsenzar and while he rarely got far in his qualms, he and Koiel often butted heads as regards trade in Xsenzar during this era. Espara believed the mainland had precious stores of more durable stone that would improve the standard of life for the Dracon and so he was fervently for trade with the mainlanders. Even if he agreed on the fact that they were base and inferior creatures he thought they had their uses and so to some small degree he felt the affairs of the mainlanders also affected them. He rarely got very far on these arguments though, much to his disdain.

Nerana Isul: Nerana was the woman at the time in charge of the affairs of the Iragi, or mercantile/artisan, class. While one might think she would therefore be for trade with foreign merchants, in reality Nerana always placed her own best interests above those of the class who she was supposed to represent, and often thoughtlessly agreed to anything Koeil had to say.

Xion Shibanowe: While the lowest ranking of the council members, due to the circumstances and relations of other council members, Xion, charged with the affairs of the Mitze, or Military Caste of Xsenzar, was also the most influential. With Koiel and Isul always choosing the side against foreigners, and Espara choosing the side in favor of them religiously, if only to aggravate the other two, it was nearly always Shibanowe's vote on matters that saw things swing one way or the other. If a tie was reached, a compromise would always pend this man's advice.

While Xion himself kept his affairs private, there were rumors that he had, on occasion, secreted himself away to the mainland and an Albian lover-but these remain to be proven. In fact, most of his votes were against allowing further foreign intervention, but some of his decisions seemed to lean towards a certain unfounded understanding of foreign peoples that seemed unnatural. He was a wise man, but sometimes that wisdom was cruel and while highly respected he was never well-liked.

When Tirane asked for dracon aid during the Iodaran Siege, it was Xion's vote who cast down the movement. To this day, Xsenzar acts in a xenophobic manner-his choices would come to affect the land of the Dracon for millennia after his death. Many suppose if he had voted differently, Xsenzar would not remain today the isolationist nation it has been for thousands of years.

The Mitze's 2 Generals:

Trinda Oreth: This man was known for being reasonable and just, but with a violent temper. He also had a fairly laid back personality. Among the mitze, the hate of foreigners and foreign races is lower, as the military spends more time dealing with foreigners than all other castes. Trinda was known to be vastly indifferent to foreigners-unless, of course, they posed a threat to the dracon people as a whole.

Alunae Dershan: Trinda's indifference was balanced by Alunae's unforgiving attitude and strict adherence to the rules. She was often reckless and known for a strict policy of 'strike first, ask later'. Some jest that the entire 'good General/bad General' method of interrogation was named for these two, who were at odds with each other nearly all the time and didn't particularly get along at all. Still, for what it's worth Alunae proved the perfect counterpoint for Trinda and often kept people from walking over the man. She thought of him as a pushover, or a pet that she had to keep a close eye on to make sure he didn't wet the carpet.

While most of the councilors of Xsenzar at this time had many children, as regards notable historical characters only two other Dracon of the era are worthy of any particular note. They are:

2nd Generation

Ayame Shibanowe: Youngest child of Xion Shibanowe, Ayame was also considered the 'runt of the litter'. She was short and small by Dracon standards-hardly 6 1/2 foot and was not expected to amount to much. She often found herself irritated by the social requirements of class and had a defiant nature that also made her the black sheep of the family.

When her father turned down aid to Tirane, Ayame was one of only a very small group of Dracon who took it upon themselves to head to Tirane's aid, and the one who instigated the entire affair. She also almost single-handedly broke the Tiranian messenger out of prison.

After the war she wandered the mainland for many years before eventually returning to Xsenzar-reluctantly-for her father's funeral…and then disappearing once again. Her memory is greatly respected on the mainland for her courage and determination, but her name is all but taboo on Xsenzar, and when she is spoken of it is NOT with good will. They consider her aid to Tirane at the time of the Iodaran Siege an act of treason and a stain on the Shibanowe family line that they may never be rid of.

Phaedron Quiza: An albino blacksmith from the Iragi caste, Phaedron had the pleasure (and misfortune) of calling himself Ayame's best friend. Being of a lower caste and having little reputation to lose in the first instance, Phaedron nevertheless endured many a trial and hardship for humoring Ayame's recklessly defiant nature. He was a talented young smithy and many presume that the reason he was always so willing to aid the Councilor's daughter was out of some star-crossed love story-but this remains to be proven and exists as rumor only.

Sufficed to say Phaedron was a brilliant weapon-smith and once he set foot upon the mainland, while he did little to aid by way of actual fighting, Phaedron's skill with weapons was invaluable and he became Edarin's first artificer, blending weapon-smithing and magic together-this trade, brand new at the time of the Iodaran Siege-became invaluable. Previously weapons had to be forged and then enchantments cast upon them. While it still takes a very long time to create an enchanted weapon, the creation of the artificer class more than halved the time to create such weapons, and in spite of his aid to humans and to Ayame, even the Dracon look on him with some measure of respect for founding the trade-if perhaps they don't approve of the circumstances under which he did so.

Delain (n/a)

1st Generation

Governor Heath Ruvine: A human gentleman of upper middle age, Governor Ruvine became well-known for his 'open borders' policy during the Iodaran Siege. Under his strong leadership, the 'open borders' policy stated that any person(s) seeking refuge from their own nation in Delain would become an automatic citizen of the small, democratic country without further questions asked.

This policy became both a burden and a mark of distinction for Delain, who took in scores of children from Tirane led by King Arun of Tirane's own personal squire(who, for the record, was named Gnafe). It was no easy task to feed so many refugees, but Delain willingly accommodated them, and many, orphaned during the war, chose to stay in the peacable country.

Becca Ruvine: The governor's wife, Becca was not the type of woman to sit idly by at home. She is best known for holding a series of fundraisers through Delain to build orphanages to house the many refugees. After the war, this strong-willed and motherly woman went as far as to ride upwards into Tirane, undergoing restorations itself, and request monetary assistance from King Arun, as the majority of the children in Delain's orphanages were 'Tirane's children' as she so called them. In spite of the fact Tirane itself was in troubled times, King Arun was quoted to say 'how can I say no to such determination?' He'd laughed it off and for the first time in generations Delain found itself in an easy friendship with one of the nations that had once sought control over their lands. King Arun did not seem to have any interest in old grievances and when accused of trying to 'instigate himself into Delain's good graces so as to reacquire the land' by certain Ardenbau noblemen, the King claimed only that 'they seem to be doing quite well and I see no reason not to leave them to their own devices. I've had enough of fighting over meaningless things.' To the end of his days he had nothing but good things to say about Becca-'a strong and determined woman with a fiery temper and a good heart'.

While a historical figure by rights of marriage alone, Becca is better known for what she herself accomplished than for who she happened to be married to.

2nd Generation

Marin Ruvine/Elran: Daughter and only child of Heath and Becca Ruvine, Marin was a cheerful child who grew into a pretty and delicate young woman who was quick to both laughter and tears. She fell in love with her father's advisor when she was yet very young, and wedded him shortly after she came of age. While not particularly notable other than for her relations, she did happen to be known as a very talented cleric in her older years and people would come from far and wide for her gifts of healing and to pray beside her. After her death, Marin Temple was constructed in her honor-the tallest building in Trevalen and dedicated to the worship of Klaire, goddess of the seas.

Vaine Elran: Governor Ruvine's chief advisor, Vaine was known to be a just and fair man and handled many of the affairs of government. He was wholly trusted by the governor and many things were left entirely in his own hands-like the nature of prisoners and punishments, which Governor Ruvine had little taste for. More stoic than the Governor and many years his junior, he eventually fell in love with Marin Ruvine, their daughter, twelve years younger than himself, and they wed without much pomp or circumstance.

In the Governor's shadow, Vaine accomplished little, but it was a hard reputation to live up to. He was nonetheless well-known for reforming the prison system, claiming a nation opposed to violence had not right to treat prisoners so badly. Whether this was for good or ill, it went well with Delain's ideologies, and to this day prisoners in this country are better treated than anywhere else in Edarin.

For a detailed summation of Edarin's two Great Wars go here.

For a general overview and timeline of said wars go here.

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