garentoft 8354 Share Posted May 25, 2022 THE CHRONICLE OF THE AYRIKIV (OR, THE DEEDS OF AIJER’S PEOPLE) WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF BRENAINN “THE SCHOLAR” OF ARCHENBERCH, KING OF AIJER’S LANDS AND AIJER’S PEOPLE TRANSLATED BY THE HAND OF EIRIK BARUCH, DUKE OF VALWYCK WITH DEDICATION TO ANASTASYA BARUCH NÉE BIHAR, DUCHESS OF VALWYCK AND ISABEL BARUCH, VISCOUNTESS OF VORON. Published 427 E.S. Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing. TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE This Chronicle is one I first found within a cellar of Lichtestadt as a young boy, written in the older forms of the Ayrikiv language, it is largely incomprehensible to the modern eye, especially with the prevalence of the Naumariav and Common languages. Nevertheless, ever since the death of my wife in 423 E.S., I have dedicated most of my time to the translation of this Chronicle into Common, so that it may be accessible to all of the Ayrikiv people. The original title of this Chronicle is the Deeds of Aijer’s People, and while I shall not speak for the legitimacy of any of the tales or claims made within it, for they must be so ancient that none of even elven descent, would be able to remember their happenings, and so it must be assumed that this Chronicle is the only surviving description of the Ayrikiv of those times, from Duncan to Brendan. I hereby present to you, the Chronicle of the Ayrikiv. DONNCHADH “THE UNIFIER” | DUNCAN OF TOFT The lineage of the Ayrikiv people and their rich cultural history is a great tree whose roots can be drawn back to Donnchadh, the great uniter who brought the tribes of Horas, Iomhair, and Donnchadh together under one banner. The tribes three descended from Aijer, the namesake of the Ayrikiv people. Over time, the root Ayr was derived from Aijer, and thus his people were dubbed as Ayrian, though today we refer to them as Ayrikiv. The tides of time, however, have buried the true history of Aijer, though he was most likely a descendant of Harren, and thus our knowledge of Ayrikiv history is derived from Donnchadh’s time. It was through their virtue and diligence that the three chieftains had come to rule over their tribes, at this time there existed no such thing as dynasties or succession, and the chieftain was chosen by the right of ability to rule. Donnchadh’s father, Eachann, had been a merchant, and taught his son the thrifty ways of trade. Horas was known to be silver-tongued, and Iomhair was a famed hunter among the people. Indeed, at first, Donnchadh held no ambition to unite the tribes. He and his people lived a comfortable life as the mercantile tribe, trading frequently with the other two great tribes. The three tribes were of the same faith, and shared a common spiritual advisor, the Diviner Blaithair, known as Heaven’s Eye, for it was believed that God had allowed him to see through the veil of the Skies and bear witness to His will. It was upon a night of heavy thunder that the Diviner found Donnchadh and spoke of a Godsent divination, one that foretold a grisly fate for all of Aijer’s People. “A great battle shall come, and it may become the end of our people. Indeed, I must speak to Donnchadh immediately. For Horas, burdened by the snake, shall sway Iomhair’s people to turn upon him, and the rivers shall be washed red with blood.” -Blaithair, THE DIVINATIONS OF BLAITHAIR ‘HEAVEN’S EYE’ And so, Blaithair convinced Donnchadh that he was the saviour of their people, and that their people would all die if he did not intervene. But Donnchadh’s tribe was not one of warriors, his merchants would not be able to defeat Horas nor Iomhair in a war, and indeed, to do so would have only fulfilled the prophecy of Blaithar. And so Donnchadh began to plan, for he was a cunning man, and thought of ways to win the other tribes without a drop of blood spilt. To take Horas’ tribe, he challenged him to a game of Raalenbeargh, a traditional game that had run within the tribes for generations. The game was simple, both players were given ten wooden balls, which they must roll into a hole in the ground. As they neared the end of the game, Horas had four balls in the hole, and Donnchadh only three, and it indeed looked like he may be unsuccessful. But Donnchadh had a keen eye, for while he was on his final ball, one of his other balls had landed close to the hole, and so he rolled his ball with such aptitude that it struck the other, and they both rolled into the hole. Furious with the outcome, Horas proclaimed that he would never hand over his tribe, but his people were honourable, and he had agreed to honourable terms, and so they turned upon him, and forced him into exile. Horas travelled far north, settling down with the few he had convinced to come with him, and laid the foundations for a new tribe, the Hyppians. To best Iomhair would be a greater challenge, for Iomhair, while an excellent hunter, was also a paranoid man. He would not accept a challenge for his tribe if he was not assured of his own victory. Donnchadh knew that he would have to win through a challenge where he was at a disadvantage, but that did not defer him, for he was determined to avoid the prophecy and the end of their people. And so he challenged Iomhar to a competition between the two. They would set off into the Ubhailcoille, a forest near their tribes, in which there grew great apple trees, and there grazed many elk. In the Ubchailcoille, they would seek out an elk and hunt it, the first to hunt one and return would be declared the winner, and thus would come to govern all three tribes. They set forth into the Ubhailcoille, Iomhair booming with confidence. Both were armed with a bow and ten arrows, and only time would tell which would return the victor. Iomhair’s tribe believed that he would return within a day, but day turned to night, and night turned to day. It took four nights before one man had returned, but to the surprise of all, it was Donnchadh who carried with him the carcass of an elk. Iomhair never returned from the woods, yet the divinations of Blaithair claim that Iomhair, lost in the woods, turned to a spiritual lifestyle. “In the woods, the One-Eyed wanders yet, unable to escape from it, or perhaps he simply did not want to. Indeed, he had made his home in a large tree, and feasted upon the apples, and where his eye had been, stood great flames, and through them was His Will unveiled to the One-Eyed. He shall succeed me, that I know.” -Blaithair, THE DIVINATIONS OF BLAITHAIR ‘HEAVEN’S EYE’ While the three tribes had now been united under Donnchadh, they had no common home. Donnchadh took it upon himself to migrate the tribes, and moved them all by the river Bràdan, which was known for its salmon, which flowed through the Ubhailcoille. There, the tribe built their home, Toft, which was simply the word for Home in their tongue. But life in Toft was not easy, for there were age-old disputes between the three tribes, and those were not so easily cast aside. And yet, while there was still harboured anger and resentment for one another, the growth of Toft was enough to keep the tribes together, for none of them wanted to move from it, and they all knew that it would crumble without each other. Bràdan flowing through the Ubhailcoille, 301 E.S., by Iseabail MacTaverish. Donnchadh was proclaimed the Chieftain of Aijer’s people, the first to unite the tribe since Aijer himself, and more than a hundred years of division was, at least formally, over. Donnchadh’s mercantile upbringing, now that they possessed no tribes to trade with, was cast aside, and instead he devoted himself to the meticulous process of managing his people’s disputes. His court was frequented daily by those who wished to call upon the chieftain to settle their affairs. He took no wife, and according to Blaithair he lived to the age of sixty-seven summers. “Winter has come. The snow is falling upon our Aijer’s people. Many trees are shedding their leaves, and soon our tribe shall lose its greatest leaf, but from that shall sprout a great tree. Donnchadh has reached his sixty-seventh summer, yet this shall be his last. ” -Blaithair, THE DIVINATIONS OF BLAITHAIR ‘HEAVEN’S EYE’ As the winter celebrations that marked the half-year began within Toft, and gifts and merriment were exchanged among the people, Donnchadh settled himself down by the Bràdan, which was frozen over. As the celebrations ended, Donnchadh remained there, for he had passed. His cold corpse was brought to the Chieftain’s tent, and as per custom, a tomb was built for him to be put to rest in. As he had left no children, the tribe went about finding their new Chieftain. Some considered finding Horas or Iomhair, but Blaithair stepped forth, and proclaimed before them all who should be the Chieftain. “The boy had just turned sixteen summers, yet he would be the one. Great beasts of wood flowed upon water, and our people fished along grand rivers and massive lakes. Garen, son of Simidh, nephew of Donnchadh. He shall be the one.” -Blaithair, THE DIVINATIONS OF BLAITHAIR ‘HEAVEN’S EYE’ And the people did not question the divine will, for they trusted in Blaithair and his divinations, and too did they trust in the blood of Donnchadh, with whom Garen shared blood. Donnchadh’s death would bring no great troubles upon the people, for by Blaithair they were united in faith and trust of their new Chieftain, and so Garen became the Chieftain of Aijer’s people, and a spirit of camaraderie brewed amongst the people, for they looked forward to the golden future that they had been promised of grand rivers and great lakes. GAREN “THE SEALORD” | AARON OF TOFT Garen took it upon himself to rule with a lifted chin, for there were many in the tribe that had feared that their next rulers would not be of such spirit of that which Donnchadh were. Emboldened by the divinations of Blaithair, Garen promised that a new age would come for Aijer’s people. Despite this, he maintained a disinterest in actual government, and spent the periods of his early reign with the tribe’s scouts where heäd chart updated maps of the lands surrounding Toft. Garen maintained a journal of his travels, which remains the most vivid description of the lost lands of Toft. “We returned from the Ubhailcoille today. It had been taboo to enter it since the demise of Iomhair within it. The many trees provide many apples, and to domesticate these woods would allow us to turn these apples into an agricultural project. The hunters, however, fear that this would scare off the elk, but we’ve yet to locate a suitable nearby woods that would house elks like the Ubhailcoille does, so we have our doubts.” -Garen, THE JOURNEYS OF GAREN The domestication of the Ubhailcoille was the first great project of Garen’s reign. It was a large woodland, stretching from the Bràdan in the east to Muire’s Cliff in the west (Muire was the first great explorer of Aijer’s people, credited with the discovery of the Ubhailcoille. The reason as to why the western cliff bears her name, however, is lost). From north to south, the Ubhailcoille measured three days and two nights. Garen sent lumberes and farmers to the eastern part of the woods, where trees were cut down and replaced with farmsteads, which enjoyed the natural irrigation of the Bràdan, and fisheries, which enjoyed the naturally large population of salmon in the Bràdan. This gave home to a larger, much more industrious, part of Toft, which came to resemble a town to a much greater extent than the tribe had previously. What else remained of the Ubhailcoille was divided in three, the southern section, that which was the closest to Toft, was assigned to become a grand orchard of the apple trees that inhabited the woods. The central section was assigned to the lumberers, where they constructed three lumber mills, which would become essential to Garen’s later adventures. The final section, that in the far north, was, in a bid to appease the otherwise dismayed hunters, designated to remain untouched so it could continue to house elk populations. Seeing their successes in the Ubhailcoille, Aijer’s people rejoiced that they may prosper for another hundred years. But Garen had not been satisfied with settling their local area, and this domestic success only further fuelled his desire to charter further lands away from Toft. Instead, he turned himself to the supposed great lake that lay below Muire’s Cliff. “The north is now our dominion. The Ubhailcoille is ours, and whatever lies beyond it is outside of my concern. To our west, below Muire’s Cliff, is a great lake. It stretches so far one cannot see the end of it. Our next mission must be that, to reach this lake. If we can conquer earth, we must conquer water too.” -Garen, THE JOURNEYS OF GAREN The journeys west, in stark contrast to the journeys north, were perilous adventures full of unknowns. The north had been frequently travelled since the beginning of Aijer’s people, but the west was an uncharted territory. They did not march through the Ubhailcoille, for they knew that it would only lead them to Muire’s Cliff. Instead, they had to traverse the unexplored southern lands. “I do not know what fascination our people had with the northern woodlands, for they have, in truth, always been quite inhospitable and unwelcoming. To our south is a great field of grass, scarcely any trees nor water, only grass, and warm season flowers sprout. It lacks, however, the rivers that our north has, making it near impossible to farm.” -Garen, THE JOURNEYS OF GAREN The Rose Fields, as the south became dubbed in later years, due to its particularly large rose population when they were in season, remained as wildlands. Without the means to irrigate crops there, and without the domestication of animals at the time, these fields would have served no great people to Aijer’s people. Once they had travelled far enough into the Rose Fields, they would turn east, where they would eventually arrive at the great lake. Unlike the lakes and rivers that surrounded Toft, this lake was surrounded by sand, and gentle waves would wash in from the water. “The lake stretches so far, even now I cannot see the end of it. This must be what Blaithair spoke of. The people have taken to calling it a sea, perhaps before they cannot see the end of it. Garen’s Sea, that is the name they have offered it, in my honour. To be so treasured by my people is a thing I had not expected, and I now feel even more pressure to not let them down.” -Garen, THE JOURNEYS OF GAREN For some years, the discovery of Garen’s Sea was enough for Aijer’s people. Their desire for exploration and development satiated. Toft continued to prosper as it had, especially after the settlement of the Ubhailcoille, and Garen reigned over what was a content people. Garen’s Sea was rarely visited during this period, until Garen’s will to conquer the waters could no longer be subdued, and he set forth on a secondary expedition to the sea. Here, he called for willing settlers, particularly fishermen, to join him, in the hopes of establishing a smaller settlement by the sea to see what potential it held. The lumberers of the Ubhailcoille donated a great amount of resources to the project, and after two years by Garen’s Sea, there stood proudly the port of Loch Ubhail, named in reference to the wood that had been used to build it. “Three wharfs, six farms, and a granary. This is the beginning of Loch Ubhail, from where we shall conquer the waters. Far in the future, I am sure that Loch Ubhail will stand as a memoir of ancient conquests, and that our people shall treasure it forever.” -Garen, THE JOURNEYS OF GAREN The next years were not filled with great expeditions, instead they were fixated on innovation. Garen had set himself on the goal of conquering the sea, and now did not concern himself with either his unexplored south nor his unsettled south. The lumberers met frequently with carpenters in Loch Ubhail, and the first shipyard was built. After years of attempting, the lumberers and carpenters, now shipwrights in their essence, had managed to construct the first ship belonging to Aijer’s people. This proud vehicle was capable of resting upon the waves, and the first used wooden oars, pulled by the power of the men in the ship, to travel across waters. While the ships would later increase in size, requiring more manpower to sail, but also capable of carrying a greater capacity with them for larger expeditions, they would continue using oars. Garen, now hailed as the Sealord, spent much of his time sailing. He had, specifically for himself, had constructed a minor ship, so small that it only required himself to man it. With the sea supposedly conquered, Aijer’s people lived in bliss for a period. The beginnings of Loch Ubhail, 303 E.S., by Seamus MacDuff. The blissful period was, however, not made to last. The Blind Prophet, an aged man with no eyes, emerged from the Ubhailcoille upon a summer night, and came forth to Garen’s court. Who the Blind Prophet was is unknown, his existence had not been recorded before, nor would it ever be recorded after, yet the most popular belief is that he was Iomhair. Before Garen, the Blind Prophet spoke a harrowing prophecy, proclaiming that Aijer’s people had become arrogant in their victories, and that a southern enemy would arrive to humble them. “The Blind Prophet is a fool. Our people have not become arrogant, our pride is justified in our achievement. I shall not concern myself with the south, no people can reside there, we have seen so with our own eyes. The east shall be next.” -Garen, THE JOURNEYS OF GAREN To distract not only himself, but his people, from the Blind Prophet’s words, Garen proclaimed that a great expedition east would proceed. There were many eager to travel with him, hoping to forget about the prophecy. This, however, left Toft and Loch Ubhail relatively undefended, and on the first day of fall came an army to Loch Ubhail, proclaiming themselves to be the soldiers of Daibhidh of Hyppia, who claimed dominion and authority over all lands. The people of Loch Ubhail sought to send a messenger to Garen, but were unable to reach him and his expedition. In the meanwhile, Daibidh’s forces studied the boats that they had crafted, before they decided to return home to their lands. The messenger finally reached Garen, and by the time he made it to Loch Ubhail; the Hyppians were nowhere to be seen, and there were little traces of them left behind. A great panic ensued among Aijer’s people, for they knew this to be the southern enemy the Blind Prophet had promised them. Garen chose to station his forces in Loch Ubhail to remain with them himself, as he thought that Daibidh would return to Loch Ubhail. However, this was not the case, for the Hyppian navigators got lost when attempting to return to Loch Ubhail, and came instead upon the relatively undefended Toft. What ensued was a slaughter. The denizens of Toft were murdered en masse, and the city was nearly entirely burnt to the ground. Only the charred ashes remained of what had been Aijer’s peoples’ greatest achievement, a bustling and prosperous city with grand fields, a large apple orchard, industrious fishermen, and skilled hunters. The ruins that remained of Toft would stand as a reminder for Aijer’s people of what once was, and would come to later spark hope in them that they could return to it. From there, Daibhidh’s forces, which were said to have numbered over five-hundred men, ventured back south again, whether they had intended to or not, they stumbled upon Loch Ubhail again. Garen, who’s forces consisted of soldiers, the citizens of Loch Ubhail, and those who had fled from Toft, ordered them all to take to the boats and escape over the sea. Some boats remained unfilled as Garen and his men attempted their escape, and Daibidh’s men, opportunistic as ever, used the remaining boats to chase. The culmination came in a battle upon Garen’s Sea, Daibidh’s sizeable forces were easily able to chase down and wreak havoc upon Garen’s ships. Garen, ever defiant in nature, drew his blade, and chose to engage Daibhidh directly on the deck. It is said that their duel lasted three hours, and that a victor was not found until the battle was halfway submerged in the waters. Garen, who had fought valiantly, lay bleeding upon a sole plank, barely keeping him afloat. Daibhidh, along with the rest of his forces, departed home victorious. “And GOD descended upon the wounded Garen, and he spoke to him: ‘That to you, Garen, the Sealord, whose soul has bound itself to the sea. You and your descendants shall forever remain lords of the sea, for I shall make you so.’ And the light shone again, and it encapsulated Garen, and his form shifted, from that of a human to that of a great ruler of the seas.” -Eachann, THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST WHALE Eachann, a close confidante of Aodh, and who’s lineage would go on to become the Barons of Prarth, and who would go on to become one of the earliest historians of Aijer’s people, claims that he and the rest of those fleeing the battle witnessed GOD descend from the Seven Skies to transform Garen to the first whale. Despite their heavy losses during the battle, what remained of Aijer’s people rallied beneath the banner of Garen’s brother, Aodh, who made landfall with what remained of their people after sailing to the far west. AODH “THE SAVIOUR” | HUGH OF LYNFARTH On a distant western coast, far into Garen’s Sea, in a land that was completely foreign to Aijer’s people, Aodh made landfall. Had they not been steadfast and determined, Aijer’s people may well have perished from the tragedies that ended Garen’s reign. Instead, however, Aodh brought to them a new hope. The area which they settled was not unkind to them, not far from these shores were there woodlands, though these were not of the same magnificence as the Ubhailcoille had been. With what tools they had left, they managed to construct a basic settlement for those that remained. This place, which they would call their home for their foreseeable future, was dubbed Lynfarth. “With our hearts and hopes held gently in our hands, we, in our determination, made landfall on a distant shore, in a land which we did not know, but had been forced to call home. Here, we would be reborn.” -Eachann, THE BOOK OF AODH The founding of Lynfarth by Aodh, 346 E.S., by Iosac MacKay. The dire situation that Aijer’s people had been put in nevertheless brought upon them a degree of development and innovation, not out of a desire to, but out of sheer necessity. There were not many natural rivers the scale of the Bràdan by Lynfarth, but they managed to use existing rivers, as well as Garen’s Sea, to create irrigation for their farms. Furthermore, there were local populations of animals, such as sheep and cows, that Aijer’s people domesticated during this period, properly establishing themselves as an agricultural society. These developments were furthered by the discovery of nearby sources of materials, such as iron, which were used to further develop the tools used by Aijer’s people. “In our defeat to Daibidh of Hyppia, we came upon a new era. Donnchadh unified our tribes, and Garen led us to prosperity; yet these two predecessors did not compare to the persistent glory of Aodh. He dragged us from the brink of extinction and back to a state comparable to that of Garen’s. For that, he must be commemorated.” -Eachann, THE BOOK OF AODH While Aijer’s people had then operated under a despotic tribal structure, where the Chieftain was either chosen by he who stepped us, as Donnchadh and Aodh both had, or by the nature of prophecy, as the case was with Garen, the people had begin to consider the continuation of this structure to lack longevity. Instead they, inspired by Kingdoms more ancient than theirs, and the neighbours with which they had come to trade, sought to crown Aodh as the King of Aijer’s land and Aijer’s people, of which he became the first. Of the neighbouring Kingdoms and tribes that Aodh had, those soon found themselves in awe of the determination of Aijer’s people, and throughout the years did large populations of foreigners move to Lynfarth and Aodh’s surrounding lands, increasing not only the general population of Aodh’s Kingdom, but also their ability to expand their borders. That is not to say, however, that these new populations did not cause their issues among Aodh’s populace. These were people who did not yet see themselves as Aijer’s people, and nor were they seen by Aijer’s people to be so. That ancestry, to be descended from Aijer, became the matter of conflict for the rest of Aodh’s reign, one that was not so easily settled as Aodh would have hoped. Aodh did, at first, try to integrate those who lacked Aijer’s ancestry by encouraging mingling amongst people, but such efforts failed. In part because those who were of Aijer’s kin viewed themselves to be above mingling with those who were not, and in part because those who were not saw it as an effort to erase their individual cultures. “Our efforts were not exactly met with great excitement. Our kin, who derive their ancestry from Aijer, had no interest in mingling with those who had just come to our Kingdom. Thorvald’s tribe, as well as Irchhard’s kin, were both particularly met with disdain.” -Eachann, THE BOOK OF AODH From there on, Aodh had unintentionally managed to further dig a divide between the people of his Kingdom, one which could have come to end in bloodshed, were it not from the intervention of his eldest son, Raghnall. Aodh’s insistence on attempting to make amends between the people was, in some recollections, the largest reason behind the divide at all. In fact, both people would have been content with allowing a principle of to each their own, and it was only Aodh’s attempts at forced mingling and integration that caused a spark. “Aodh has both saved Aijer’s people from near extinction at the hands of the Hyppians, and almost brought them down himself by instigating a conflict with migrant tribes that attempted to join our Kingdom. Had Aodh left them alone, I am sure the consequences would have been less severe for him.” -Eachann, THE BOOK OF AODH Eachann was not the only one of this opinion. It was the majority of Aijer’s people and those of the immigrant tribes that also held these beliefs. Even Raghnall, who was Aodh’s eldest son, shared Eachann’s opinion over his father’s. Whilst Aodh himself bore no ill will from his own people, Raghnall and majority of Aijer’s people nevertheless saw themselves forced to deprive Aodh of the throne. Despite the drastic end to his reign, Aodh was allowed to live in peace among the people afterwards, and changes in policy by Raghnall allowed the conflict between those of Aijer’s ancestry and those not of it to die down. Seventeen summers after he was forced to relinquish the throne, Aodh passed away from old age, though no one quite knows how old he was in truth, for such records had been lost with Toft. Nevertheless, Aodh is remembered as the saviour of Aijer’s people; for without his leadership, they would never have survived the devastation of the Hyppian War. RAGHNALL “THE MONSTER” | RONALD OF LYNFARTH When one is willing to take the risk of deposing one’s own father, it is either because one has a heart of gold and the willingness to bring about change whatever the cost be. The second option, that one is a vain megalomaniac destined to continue down a path of madness, sadly seems all the more common in the world. Raghnall did, however, make a decent start to his reign. What first started as an interest in preserving the Kingdom and avoiding civil war over the ancestry of the people in it would eventually become indifference, and the people were simply left to their own devices. This did allow them to eventually warm up to one another, both out of a desire to, and out of necessity, for different peoples would come to dominate different trades, and as such a farmer of Aijer’s people would have to buy tools from a blacksmith of Thorvald’s tribe, who got the iron from a miner of Irchhard’s kin, and by the time of Iseabail and Eilidh’s reigns most had Aijer’s blood coursing through them, yet even the mere identity of considering themselves to be one of Aijer’s people had transcended that of merely being by blood, but rather that of a national identity amongst the people. Though one would do well to not give Raghnall too much credit, for for every virtue he held, he held five as many vices. Those who had been his father’s most loyal supporters throughout the years, including the historian Eachann, were swiftly brought to the sword and executed for alleged crimes and treason, affairs made up by Raghnall to justify these executions. With these rash actions in mind, Raghnall did not maintain the support of the populace for long. “Five summers into his reign, and if there is anything Raghnall has become known for it, it is his gruesome ways of torturing and executing those who raise as much as a finger at him. His newest method, which he is rather fond of, is to tie them by their legs, and have only their heads submerged in water until they drown.” -Fritz, THE GRUESOME Torture, murder, and executions, were the norm throughout the remainder of Raghnall’s reign, which all things considered is amongst the shortest of that of Aijer’s people. He reigned eleven summers before the Kingdom once again stood at the threat of a civil war, this time not because of any split between peoples, but all of Aijer’s people tired of the nepotistic and gruesome nature of Raghnall’s reign, and his little few supporters were amongst the military commanders, of which he appointed, and the nobility, of which he granted land. But even in those circles there were those that maintained greater popularity than Raghnall. He was not the only child of Aodh, while he had been the eldest, he had two younger brothers, both of which had careers within the military, the older Seoras, and the younger Ualdemagh, both of which were indeed more beloved by not only the people, but the military and the nobility, who considered them all but their own brothers. “Raghnall never made himself out to be someone who feared anything. The only thing he seemed to fear was his own brothers, those with the love of the people and the means to remove him from his throne. Indeed, one could always feel the growing paranoia in Raghnall’s eyes when the names Seoras and Ualdemagh were spoken.” -Fritz, THE GRUESOME The brothers Seoras and Ualdemagh, 307 E.S., by Seamus MacDuff. For the last three summers of Raghnall’s reign, there were regular uprisings by the people, which were usually simply left alone until they dwelled out. Raghnall, despite his vices, had realised that further bloodshed would only further invoke the anger of Aijer’s people. Soon, however, there came rumours that a plot had been started by Seoras to take the throne, and had orders sent out to capture him. It was none but the youngest brother, Ualdemagh, who brought forth Seoras to Raghnall in chains. “You will be the one to capture me, brother. You will use my death to rally all of the Kingdom against him, and you will stand victorious. You cannot convince me that this plan will not work, for this is a sacrifice I must make, for Aijer’s people.” -Seoras, SEORAS’ LETTER TO UALDEMAGH Seoras was promptly ordered to be executed in the most gruesome way that Raghnall had yet come to imagine. Seoras was dismembered into various pieces, and Raghnall then called upon the starving criminals of his dungeons, and made them eat Seoras. Once the Kingdom heard of the brutal execution of Seoras, which nevertheless was part of his and Ualdemagh’s plan, they immediately took to arms. Ualdemagh, who through handing over Seoras, had gained the trust of Raghnall, stayed by his side as the uprising came toward the castle, and walked out with him to address the people. “Raghnall stood upon the balcony, ready to address the people for the murder of his brother, but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, only blood came out, and then did we notice that he had been pierced by Ualdemagh’s blade from behind. The monster had been slain, proclaimed Ualdemagh, and that he would now rule.” -Fritz, THE GRUESOME Deceived by his own brothers, Seoras and Ualdemagh’s plan had come to fruition, and Raghnall was given no proper burial, his body was merely burnt along with the rest of the masses that had died during the brief uprising. With Seoras dead, it came upon Ualdemagh to take the throne of Aijer’s people, but yet the people were, after the latter part of Aodh’s reign, and the terror of Raghnall’s reigns, reluctant to immediately place their trust in Ualdemagh. UALDEMAGH “THE VICTORIOUS” | VALDEMAR OF LYNFARTH It was a necessity for Ualdemagh to win over the trust of his people, and he proclaimed upon the conclusion of the first summer of his reign, that they would march upon the Hyppia and seek revenge for the massacre that occurred during Garen’s reign, and preparations immediately began for such a war, everyone even remotely capable of fighting, both men and women, were mobilised and trained for the coming war effort. But even with most of the population mobilised, Ualdemagh had little confidence. “I have made a promise to the people, which in their eyes is the basis of my right to rule. We will avenge Garen and Toft. But, even now, with everyone ready and trained, I do not feel confident. I do not know where Hyppia even is, and the legends say that they number far more than we ever could.” -Ualdemagh, THE VICTOR’S JOURNAL There had always been stories in Lynfarth of a tribe of wizards, mages, and sorcerers, who lived at the peak of a nearby mountain, with magical and otherworldly abilities close to the strength of GOD himself. Ualdemagh was reluctant to pursue such rumours, but for every day that passed, he had lost more and more confidence in his army’s ability. He considered the majority of it to be incompetent, and the rest of it to be in it for selfish glory and therefore unwilling to properly sacrifice themselves for the cause. After some prodding, he was directed to the specific mountain upon which it was said this tribe lived, and began on a long journey there. It is said that it took him ten days and eleven nights until he arrived just at the foot of the mountain. Through these days, he had explored lands south of Lynfarth to an extent greater than any of his predecessors, who had been largely preoccupied with mismanaging the internal affairs of the Kingdom. He discovered fertile lands, which would later come to be settled by his people, and the mountain range where the tribe lived was rich in resources that his people would later extract. “I must be a fool to pursue this journey. I barely brought enough food to even reach the foot of these mountains. But the lands that I travelled through are promising, this reminds me of Garen’s journals, to travel across our vast world and see all that it has to offer. I understand now his desire to leave the walls of Toft so frequently, even if it brought upon him his own demise.” -Ualdemagh, THE VICTOR’S JOURNAL It took Ualdemagh another further three days and two nights to make it to the summit of the mountain. Once he had made it to the top, he was greeted by a powerful show of magic, for as immediately as he had greeted them, did they defensively raise arms against him. Swords wrought of fire and shields made from ice, those were the weapons which their warriors bore. “I have now spent six days and seven nights with this tribe. At first, I was worried that they would kill me, but once they came to know that I was of Aijer’s people, and not of Hyppia, they seemed to immediately trust me more. I found out in due time that this was because they had previously been a group of wizards in Hyppia, servants to King Daibhidh, the one who destroyed Toft. But his successor, one Iòsaph, had ordered the execution of all the mages, so they had to flee to these mountains, where the Hyppians could not find them. They have been observing our people, Aijer’s people, for a long time. They watched Lynfarth grow with great interest, and even for a time had considered joining our Kingdom, but feared to end up in a similar situation to the one that they had been in under Iòsaph. I assume that they would have been, at least under Raghnall. They have told me the location of Hyppia, it is to the east of these mountains, there we shall come upon it. They said that currently it is Crisdean that rules over the Hyppian people. An erratic but passionate ruler. They said that he does not deserve to carry the burden of his ancestors’ sins, but recognise that this is a necessity. I swore that I would not harm him. The tribe is coming with me to Lynfarth, not because they want to fight, but because I opened up to them about the hopeless stage of my forces. They promised that they would bless them, so that each would fight with the power of ten men.” -Ualdemagh, THE VICTOR’S JOURNAL The people rejoiced as Ualdemagh returned home, in the time he had been gone, some had begun to think that he had passed, and such would have left the Kingdom in great turmoil, for the young Ualdemagh had yet to father any children to take over the Kingdom after him, nor had Seoras, nor had Raghnall, and so if he were to die, so would the entirety of Aodh’s lineage. The wizards cast upon the soldiers their blessings in a grand ritual, and all preparations had now been made for the war. Even Ualdemagh now felt some confidence of their victory, that they may be able to march upon Hyppia and finally have vengeance. And so began Ualdemagh’s long march to Hyppia. They repeated the trek to the mountains where the tribe of wizards, mages, and sorcerers, resided and wished them well as they returned to the summit of the mountain where they found their home, and the army of Lynfarth, of Aijer’s people, continued due east from there. After another eight days and seven nights, it came upon the first settlement, a derelict ruin of what was once a smaller Hyppian village, which had since been abandoned. As they continued further into Hyppian lands, they came upon yet another village, which they ransacked with swift ease, and left the ruins in their wake. Some of the villagers who had survived had fled it, and warned the Hyppian King Crisdean of what was happening, and he mobilised his forces and set out to meet Ualdemagh’s. The Second Hyppian War had now truly begun. The armies first met by the River Druwk. Crisdean tried to parley, demanding that Ualdemagh’s armies leave immediately, else they be destroyed by his own. But Ualdemagh, nor any of his people, were to give in to any such demands. For they had strategically placed themselves on the other side of the River Druwk, and destroyed all the bridges, so that Crisdean’s forces would have to cross through it. The Battle of the River Druwk lasted one day and two nights, despite being outnumbered significantly, the blessing of the tribe upon the mountain helped Ualdemagh’s army see themselves through to victory. The Hyppians were soundly defeated, and the River Druwk would forever be remembered as the red river, for no longer how much time passed, it would still be stained by the blood of the defeat of Hyppia. The routing Hyppians did not surrender then, they instead retreated to the Capital, which was called Hippolys, and which was known for its great walls, which were thought to be impenetrable. And impenetrable they were, no matter how much siege artillery Ualdemagh used, he was unable to break through the walls, and instead had to find a different way inside. Scouting parties were sent around the city walls to scout for a weakness, where they discovered the aqueduct of Hippolys, which was the only breach in their walls. They utilised siege towers and crane equipment to lift the forces onto the aqueduct in the dead of night, which slowly and inconspicuously snuck themselves inside of the city. The Hyppian people were yet arrogant, and did therefore not bother to station troops to watch the walls at night. By the time dawn struck, and the sun greeted the populace of Hyppia, the entirety of Ualdemagh’s forces had made it inside the city, and they quickly divided to strike the garrison, the bastille, and the palace, where the majority of Crisdean’s forces were stationed. As they were just waking up, they had little to no time to prepare to defend themselves, and the garrison found themselves slaughtered with ease. The bastille was a different story, as it was a much more defensible building, as such Ualdemagh’s forces surrounded it and bided their time. In the palace, Ualdemagh was greeted by Crisdean, and the two agreed to a duel hand to hand, for Ualdemagh, like every other soldier, had received the blessing of the tribe upon the mountain, and knew that he would be able to take Crisdean. The duel was short, Crisdean attempted to strike first with a swift jab, but with his strength Ualdemagh blocked and sent Crisdean’s sword flying through a window. Without another word, Ualdemagh, overcome by rage, slew Crisdean, forsaking his vow to the tribe upon the mountain to not slay Crisdean. “I do not know what came over me. In the moment, as I looked upon the Hyppian King, it was as if I saw flashes of the tragedy his forefather brought to us. Toft burning, Garen slain. There was nothing else I could do, I had to kill him.” -Ualdemagh, THE VICTOR’S JOURNAL Victorious, as Ualdemagh is remembered, Aijer’s people laid waste to Hyppia and Hippolys, repaying the debt that was owed and avenging Toft. But as Ualdemagh returned to Lynfarth, he was greeted by the wizards, mages, and sorcerers, who lived atop the mountain, those to whom he had vowed to not harm Crisdean, a vow which he had broken. They cast upon Ualdemagh a curse, that he would be the last of his line. Ualdemagh’s victorious army watches Hippolys in flames, 343 E.S., by Iosac MacKay. Ualdemagh, who had grown to be superstitious after the victory in the Second Hyppian War, especially with the blessing received from that tribe, found himself in despair that his lineage would die and cast the Kingdom into another period of trouble. Nevertheless, he did still wed a woman, and the Kingdom held its breath as it was announced that she was pregnant. The curse had not made Ualdemagh infertile, for his wife gave birth to two twin girls, who were named Iseabail and Eilidh. But Ualdemagh could not recover, he knew that he would never father a son to carry on the Kingdom, and as a result, he took his own life only mere days after the birth of his daughters. ISEABAIL AND EILIDH “THE TWO-HEADED BEAR” | ISABEL AND EILEEN OF LYNFARTH Iseabail and Eilidh, born moments apart, lost both of their parents in the days after their birth. Their mother had died giving birth to them, for birthing twins was not sustainable in these times, and their father, King Ualdemagh, took his own life as the despair of the truth of his curse set in With no other witnesses left, the order of their birth, and thus the right of succession, was left in the air. Ualdemagh’s diviner, Tomag, was consulted on the matter, but even he could find nothing that alluded to which of these girls was meant to rule. Claimants began to spring from nothing, claiming that they had some sort of relation to Aodh’s line, but none of these could confirm their legitimacy, nor did any of those of the Kingdom’s elite consider them to be worthy candidates, but merely opportunistic vultures hoping to prey upon Ualdemagh’s demise. The Diviner Tomag eventually came to suggest an idea which he believed would stop the ongoing succession crisis. GOD had not given them two girls for no reason, they were meant to rule together. Peadair, who had been the highest commander of Ualdemagh’s army, and who had managed the affairs of the coming during the crisis, did then proclaim Iseabail and Eilidh to be the new Queens of Aijer’s land and Aijer’s people, that they both rule in unison by their own right, as GOD has deemed fit. “It is not the perfect solution, I must admit that to myself first and foremost. The nature of the monarchy has always been unitary, that one person holds the power. To split it between two would have implications, but I believe that these issues will be much less severe than the consequences of a larger crisis. I shall proclaim that Iseabail and Eilidh are the reincarnation of the two-headed bear of legend, that shall satisfy the people.” -Tomag, THE DIVINATIONS OF TOMAG ‘TWO HEARTS’ The two Queens enjoyed a relatively quiet upbringing, receiving education in rulership since their birth, whilst Peadair continued to manage the Kingdom’s affairs as Lord Regent. And no controversy arose from these Queens nor their Regency. The people were yet high on the victory over the Hyppians, and any misstep that may have been taken by Peadair was thus brushed away in favour of continued joy and celebration. By the time the Queens were old enough to rule on their own, they were also to be wed. Iseabail came to wed Mànus of Prarth, the grandson of Eachann, who would soon rise to be Baron of Prarth. Eilidh came to wed Iosag of Munkch, who was the son of Peadair, and who would rise to become Duke of Munkch upon his father’s passing. Iseabail would soon give birth to a son, Fionn, and four years later, Eilidh would give birth to a son, Camilieadh. The rest of their united reigns came with relative ease, for the saying that two heads is stronger than one prevailed. Unlike previous reigns, there were no larger issues at hand in the Kingdom, and Iseabail and Eilidh put their focus into land management and education. More noble titles were granted, giving them the duty of overseeing lands, in hopes that this would mean that lands could be managed in a more efficient and intense manner. The twin Queens Iseabail and Eilidh, 412 E.S., by Sorcha MacLaval. After thirty-seven summers, Iseabail would pass from an illness. And this brought upon the unaddressed questions of which Tomag wrote. Iseabail and Eilidh had been born together so that they could rule together, but now that one was dead, should Eilidh be stripped of her throne? And if it were so, would it be Fionn or Camilieadh who took the throne? “The first problem which I foresee for their reigns shall be as such: One of them shall die, and the other shall remain alive. It is highly unlikely that they will die together, and GOD is not often so kind as to let us have it easy. When this happens, we must choose, is their right strong enough as individuals, or is it rooted in their unity?” -Tomag, THE DIVINATIONS OF TOMAG ‘TWO HEARTS’ Fionn, who wished to press his claims, managed to garner a fair bit of supporters, those of a more superstitious nature that perceived Tomag’s proclamation so that the Queens were meant to rule together, and together only. Fionn, however, was easy to sway, and a promise of land and titles were enough for him to stand down, and swear to not claim the throne again. And so Eilidh’s reign continued on another eleven summers before she, too, passed away. And the twin Queens, commemorated as the legendary Two-Headed Bear, had ruled in unison, yet died separately. A despicable and cruel twist of the fates that make us in this world. “The second problem I foresee is as such: Both of them have now passed, and whatever temporary means we used to sort the death of the first shall now need to be addressed. They will both birth sons, this I am sure of, but which of these sons shall rule after them? To maintain a monarchy of two shall not be viable forever.” -Tomag, THE DIVINATIONS OF TOMAG ‘TWO HEARTS’ This once again brought the question of succession. Fionn had become a powerful noble, and was four years senior to Camilieadh. But Camilieadh was the son of Eilidh, and by traditional succession rights should come to inherit his mother. The two met in the palace courtyard of Lynfarth, accompanied by small forces, and stood head to head. “‘And I am the oldest’, spoke Fionn, to which Camilieadh quipped ‘And I am the youngest.’ And so they continued with quips such as this, insulting the honour of the other until night came upon the palace, before finally, in the dead of night, Camilieadh proclaimed: ‘We mustn't forget the oath of my cousin. For he swore to lay down his claim to the throne, yet here he stands. Do you wish an oathbreaker for King?’” -Tomag, THE DIVINATIONS OF TOMAG ‘TWO HEARTS’ And those words rang true within the hearts of Aijer’s people, for if there was anything they were bound by, it was their very honour. To break an oath, to not fulfil a promise, that was the greatest crime amongst these people, and so they proclaimed Camilieadh King, and Fionn was stripped of his titles and exiled upon a boat, where he set sail towards the sun in the far east. CAMILIEADH “THE SHAPESHIFTER” | CAMIL OF LYNFARTH Simultaneously Camilieadh inherited the most stable iteration of the Kingdom that was yet known, while it had also been on the verge of a succession crisis between himself and Fionn. Aijer’s people were increasingly tired of turmoil and conflict, and bothered little more than to exile Fionn and have conflict come to an end. Camilieadh was keen on the arts, and used the formidable treasury the Kingdom had built to commission artists, writers, musicians, architects, and any others which had skills capable of captivating the King. Through time this practice would come to drain the treasury, but the people relished in the cultural golden age that Camilieadh brought. An amphitheatre was also built in Lynfarth, which would regularly see actors perform plays written by the finest playwrights that Aijer’s people had to offer. The amphitheatre of Lynfarth, 310 E.S., by Seamus MacDuff. Camilieadh, despite this, grew increasingly unpopular amongst the nobility and the elite. The realm remained stable, but the ever looming threat of the treasury being depleted caused concern amongst them. At the same time, there were those that claimed Camilieadh to have supernatural abilities, that he were of a cursed both, able to transform his face and form at will. “For confirmation of what I had seen, I followed the King today. He passed around one corner, and the next came a new man from the other side, one which I recognised to be a frequenter of the local tavern. The King is cursed, he has a thousand faces.” -Luthais, THE TRUTH OF CAMILIEADH The works of Luthais, the biggest perpetrator of the belief that Camilieadh held these abilities, spread like wildfire amongst the nobility, but they remained unaddressed by Camilieadh, who simply continued with his tendencies. Women also began to claim that their fatherless children were the products of an escapade between themselves and Camilieadh in a disguise, and he did not protest, but merely obliged and took the children in. Once the treasury was almost entirely empty, the nobility began to grow concerned. They could not let the King, especially not one who used a thousand faces to besmirch his own honour, to continue this path for the Kingdom, but there were no other candidates for the throne, with the exception of the exile Fionn. And so they waited. One day, it was announced that the Queen was pregnant, and so the nobility used this as their sign. They, along with their armed forces, invaded the palace, yet once they arrived to Camilieadh’s chambers, there was no one there. “But this monster is a sneaky one, for he had used his ability to escape us briefly. But we are not so easily deceived, for he had chosen to disguise himself amongst his royal guards, and as such they were all slain.” -Luthais, THE TRUTH OF CAMILIEADH By the morning, the palace ran red with blood, every single member of Camilieadh’s royal guard had been slain, and they lay dead in the halls of the bloody palace. Luthais, who had spearheaded the efforts to overthrow Camilieadh, proclaimed himself to be Lord Regent, and they eagerly awaited the birth of Camilieadh’s son, Aonghus. Later speculators would believe that Camilieadh had not truly been slain as a member of the royal guard, that he had instead disguised himself as Lord Caomhainn, a travelling duellist, who was said to have shown people their own faces to defeat them during duels. AONGHUS “THE BUILDER” | ANGUS OF ARCHENBERCH The regency that surrounded Aonghus’ childhood was one of a fragile nature, and time and time again regents succumbed to pressure, and those who did not were overthrown. Throughout his first sixteen year of life, Aonghus had nineteen different regents for himself as King, the first being Luthais, who held such for three months, before he was slain in a duel by the aforementioned Lord Caomhainn, who proclaimed himself regent afterwards. Of those that followed after Caomhainn, only Eiric, Seumas, and Uarraig hold any significance. Eiric was an architect, the one who had designed the amphitheatre of Lynfarth, and in the seven months in which he held the regency, he diligently educated the young Aonghus in architecture and construction, a passion which would conquer the heart of the young boy. He relinquished the regency due to noble pressure, yet he continued to educate the boy from thereon. Seumas, who replaced Eiric, was a nobleman; his father were the Count of Tirental, which was on the fair outskirts of the Kingdom’s borders. A proud member of the noble regime, Seumas, who had certainly hoped to hold the regency longer than he did, crafted extensive plans and proposals for the construction of a new capital in the centre of the country, believing that Lynfarth, due to its location, had no further potential to grow. His plans were never seen to completion, or even to their beginning, as a storm caused his ship to wreck while he was sailing to Tirental. “Lynfarth has seen itself developed to perfection, the city cannot improve on its current situation. All of its resources are either depleted or currently being so, and it has no natural room yet for growth of the city. Even now, there are three cities larger than it in the Kingdom. The King must move elsewhere, or he, like his city, shall stagnate.” -Seamus, PLANS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEAMSDÙN Uarraig was the last of Aonghus’ regents, and the one to hold that position for the longest, being regent for little over a summer. Aonghus was, by then, capable enough by his own virtue, and it were only age and tradition that held him back from assuming the reins properly. Nevertheless, Uarraig had been a staunch supporter of Fionn, and in secret spent the treasury’s money on funding an expedition to locate Fionn. After the expedition had set sail, Uarraig’s involvement was discovered, and he was promptly executed, with Aonghus’ reign properly beginning thereafter. “The location of Fionn is essential for the future of this Kingdom. There is no doubt in my mind that Aonghus is just as cursed as his father, and that his son shall be just so. This entire line is cursed, and only Fionn can redeem us. That is my mission to you, sail the same way he did, until you may find his new home.” -Uarraig, LETTER TO UISDEAN The nature of Aonghus’ upbringing had made him a jack of all trades. He held knowledge in many subjects, arts, and crafts, but he were a master of none, with the exception of architecture, for the only consistent educator throughout his boyhood had been Eiric. Already by the age of sixteen, Aonghus and Eiric began drawing up plans for expansions to Lynfarth, but came to the same earlier conclusions which Seamus had, that there was no room to expand it any more. Aonghus then began a great survey of the lands, seeking a possible location for the construction of a new capital, which lasted for three years before any conclusive decision could be made, the area of Trìglais would be most suited. “Trìglais, much further to the east, is an area where free natural rivers flow through, which have their own smaller rivers that interconnect them and the surrounding area, would be most suitable for the development of a new city. What it lacks in natural resources, bar the exception of water and fertile lands, it makes up for in space, for there are no obstacles nearby. Besides, natural resources can continue to be taken from where they currently are, the goal of a capital is to create a home for a large population and government.” -Aonghus, AONGHUS’ SURVEY With Trìglais chosen as the location for the new capital, Aonghus began construction there, assigning Eiric to be the head architect. The first to be constructed was the White Palace, the centre of the capital, home of the government and of the King. It would be built of marble, taken from old mines that previously belonged to Hyppia, and now to Aijer’s people, and was nearly the size of four of Lynfarth’s palaces combined. From around the White Palace did sprout a city, for as soon as Aonghus moved, so did the people move along. But the plans were not without fault, for many of the men of tradition, most of whom resided in Lynfarth still, believed that the capital given to them by the saviour of Aijer’s people must remain so. The building of Archenberch, 350 E.S., by Iosac MacKay. Aonghus did not succumb to the pressure of those traditionalists who remained loyal to Lynfarth as the capital, and neither did they succumb to their King’s denial. With little armed forces remaining in Lynfarth, the traditionalists took Lynfarth for themselves, proclaimed one of their own, Simidh, to be the new King of Lynfarth, and rightful ruler of Aijer’s land and Aijer’s people. “To the King who cares not for the culture, traditions, and history or our people, we proclaim this: Lynfarth is ours, and I shall be King of it. We shall not bow to you, traitor to Aijer, we shall continue down Aijer’s path, for the betterment of Aijer’s people.” -Simidh, PROCLAMATION OF LYNFARTH But Aonghus remained unbothered, even such a proclamation was not enough to deter him from finishing the construction of his new capital, and all but Lynfarth had remained loyal to him. The rebels in Lynfarth were an issue for a later day, and throughout none of his reign did he take action against them, and they simply continued their lives with their false Kingdom. After thirty-seven summers, Aonghus’ new capital stood complete, the White Palace the shining beacon of the new beginning for this capital, and the people rejoiced. People flocked to this new capital, and within these first few years after completion it had already grown immensely. Aonghus dubbed this new seat of Aijer’s people Archenberch. “Come, all you of Aijer’s people, for a new capital for our people has been born. Archenberg, home of Aijer’s people, has been built, and the White Palace shall forever stand as an ode to both the past, present, and future. We are Aijer’s people, and our determination shall guide us forever forward.” -Aonghus, AONGHUS’ PROCLAMATION But the process had been long and hard, and while Archenberch now stood proudly, Aonghus had grown older and weaker than before. Only three summers after the completion of Archenberch did Aonghus pass away from his wear and tear. Alasdair, his eldest son, would come to take the throne, and for once since the beginning of the monarchy did the succession happen in complete bliss and peace. ALASDAIR “THE YOUNG WARRIOR” | ALEXANDER OF ARCHENBERCH Alasdair, a young man who was raised by the military, saw immediately to deal with the rebels in Lynfarth that his father had let fester. He rallied his armies, drilled and trained them for battle, before he rode west to Lynfarth, and arrived before the gates of the former capital. His forces outnumbered greatly that of the Simidh’s, who, despite the prospect of defeat, sallied out of Lynfarth to face Alasdair’s forces in battle. And while a crushing defeat was dealt to Simidh’s forces, Alasdair was slain in the battle, and so his younger brother, Anddrais, succeeded to the throne. ANNDRAIS “THE LAWBRINGER” | ANDREAS OF ARCHENBERCH Anndrais, upon hearing the news of his brother’s demise, rode to Lynfarth posthaste, joining the army in their siege of the city. Distraught and angered by the death of his brother, Anndrais did not relent in his siege on Lynfarth, and saw it continue until there was scarcely anything left of Lynfarth but rubble and ruins. The former capital of the Kingdom, Lynfarth, had been destroyed by his very hands. Lynfarth had been a symbol of the determination of Aijer’s people, the will for survival that had brought Aodh from the ruins of Toft and Loch Ubhail to found the city of Lynfarth, which now like those two before it, stood as a ruin. Once again, the past of Aijer’s people had been erased, this time at the hands of their own ruler. “The last symbol of Aodh has fallen. Lynfarth has been burnt to the ground by Anndrais. Our history crumbles at the seams every time a new King takes the throne, and I worry that one day, perhaps, that our history will be entirely forgotten.” -Labhruinn, CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE Anndrais was eager to see redemption in the eyes of his people. He hosted frequent merriments throughout the realm. He held tourneys, he hosted balls, he went carousing with his vassals, but none of these things gave him the forgiveness which he sought from his people. Faced with the realisation that he, in those people of his present, would not be forgiven, he sought to seek the forgiveness of the people of the future. In all of its history, Aijer’s people had never had a written law, and all law and duty had been determined simply by tradition or the will of the King. While that, in theory, perhaps could have worked, it rather often ended in lynch mobs by the people, who executed their own wills and punishments however they saw fit, had they enough support. The greatest minds of Aijer’s people were gathered together by Anndrais, and he proposed to them the simple idea: To create a codex of laws for all of Aijer’s people, so that none should face injustice in these lands. And thus began a process that would take many years, for it took them thirteen years before the codex was completed, and minds came and left the project, some even passed away. The undertaking of writing the Laws of Aijer’s People, 352 E.S., by Iosac MacKay. Yet at the end of it all it stood complete, The Laws of Aijer’s People, which should apply to all of Aijer’s people that lived in Aijer’s land, and should ensure the just treatment of all, and should create fairness amongst all. Traditionalists shunned the codex, believing that the oral traditions should weigh heavier than any piece written, though these traditionalists were far and few between, and the codex was hailed by most. While this were a success for Anddrais, it were also the only project which he saw to fruition during his reign. He contracted a fatal illness during the process, and his health had deteriorated greatly by the time the law was published. Not more than a summer and a half after, Aijer had passed away. By the laws of succession, which had been codified in the codex, his eldest son, Brenainn inherited. BRENAINN “THE SCHOLAR” | BRENDAN OF ARCHENBERCH Brenainn inherited in what was generally a stable period for Aijer’s people, Anndrais had created such a period by submitting his codex, yet Brenainn still had to dedicate much time to forming systems to see the execution of the codex properly. He formed a judiciary and law enforcement for the people in his early days, adhering to the principles that his father had created for such. But Brenainn was primarily a reader, and he had enjoyed his youth reading histories of Aijer’s people and fictions from other nations, and he grew up with these stories and tales which he enjoyed so much, and he read the works of Lahbruinn and shared his concerns for the future of Aijer’s people. He began firstly an effort to restore Lynfarth, not to return it to a city which could be resided in, but for it to stand as a monument to the past of Aijer’s people. “The faults of our Kings has been their desire for the future, with no regard for the past. No one has saw fit to honour our ancestors properly, but this I will change, this I must change, or we will be lost as Aijer’s people.” -Brenainn, BRENAINN’S JOURNAL Brenainn later ventured on a grand expedition, for Aijer’s people had not returned to Toft since it was burnt to the ground by the Hyppians, and the growth of the borders of Aijer’s lands had stagnated. Brenainn had gathered a group of explorers, historians, and settlers, who set forth to what was once Toft, but discovered that nature had long since erased anything that was once that city, with the exception of the Ubhailcoille, which still stood proudly for itself. “I had hoped to discover Toft when we arrived, but there was only the Ubhailcoille. Nature had not been easy on the ruins of the remnants of that burnt city, and it had erased it entirely. I had hoped to resettle the city, grow a settlement by the ruins but. . . Now, I think it is best we leave nature to itself.” -Brenainn, BRENAINN’S JOURNAL Bràdan flowing through the regrown Ubhailcoille, 307 E.S., by Iseabail MacTaverish. Leaving the Ubhailcoille to itself, Brenainn and his group travelled to Loch Ubhail, and found that the port had neither been burnt nor had it decayed. Whilst it had seen some wear through the years, it stood there, like a painting of what was during the reign of Garen, and Brenainn asked his settlers to resettle the port, and it would become the northernmost port of Aijer’s people, remaining in close proximity to the Ubhailcoille. Once Brenainn returned to Archenberch, he set upon the basis of forming himself a functioning council for the government of the realm. While every other King had had a council, these had only been in an advisory capacity, and required mostly the consent of the King for all matters. But Brenainn’s council held by their own right the rights to act upon matters of the Kingdom. And so Brenainn, seeing the governing of the realm in the good hands of his council, began to write a chronicle, one to tell the story of the Deeds of Aijer’s people, and so he wrote for the rest of his days, until he laid upon his deathbed with the finished work in his hand. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew2_dude 2130 Share Posted May 25, 2022 "Truly a grea' find to fill in the holes o' our families long history." Andrik J. Baruch would give his stamp of approval to his kinds work in translating the long history of a forgotten era. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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