AGE ONE: The Beginning

These lands have welcomed many visitors over the centuries, humans and others besides. Yet this generous world also had a host of its own: the Elves. However much humans might claim to be the older race, it simply is not true. The earliest records of the Elves, the true inhabitants of this land, were written at the very start of the Second Age. Believed to have sprung from the heart of nature itself, their origins remain unknown. Humans first glimpsed them deep within the ancient forests. Those who saw them felt mingled wonder and curiosity, while the Elves themselves approached these visitors to their world with a quiet friendliness. They first became visible in the deep, untouched south-western forests near Poynaz Village, living among the trees, hunting there, sustaining themselves within the woodland. Though similar to humans in form, the Elves were vastly different in ability. They were slender of build, tall of stature, with finely pointed ears. Their finest gifts were a piercing gaze that could cut through the darkest night and senses so keen they could hear the faintest whisper of nature. It is said that unless they chose otherwise, their very presence was impossible to detect. In the desperate battles of later ages, countless tales tell of invisible arrows flying out of the forests, saving human armies from utter destruction at the darkest moments yet neither humans nor dwarves knew then who these mysterious saviours were. The Elves made their existence publicly known only at the dawn of the Second Age.

In this verdant world a kingdom was growing day by day: humankind. Mortal beings carrying within their hearts an undying ambition and a yearning to shape the world in their own image. From the very first day of their existence they remained bound and loyal to the land they had built. That loyalty found its reward in time. Lush olive groves, fertile soil, and the rains that fed them... Though their numbers grew, they consumed in an orderly fashion and produced more than they consumed. Their ever-multiplying generations brought with them a sense of leadership and ever more refined forms of governance. Where once only the eldest and the wisest had authority, in time that tradition gave way to a more absolute and institutional power. In the six hundred and twenty-eighth year of the First Age, humankind united under a single throne for the first time.

What set Esthe apart from the rest was not strength of arm alone; he also possessed a profound wisdom rarely found in any ordinary child of the wild. Much of his life was spent learning from what nature dealt them and giving meaning to all he saw. On his counsel the lands were mapped out, the peoples of each region hunting and sheltering within their own borders. Alongside the hunt, farming and animal husbandry took root as well. Wild horses were tamed, barren earth was broken by the plough, and the first seeds destined to bring abundance to the realm were entrusted to the soil.

Aroblin Esthe was forty-two years old when he took the throne. His son Hail was thirteen. As the years passed the royal system grew and the House of Esthe lived in prosperity. Aroblin's wife Nimaor closed her eyes at forty-four, taken by an illness no one could name. That relentless loss settled over the entire realm like a dark cloud of mourning. At the foot of the steep mountains against which the present Tien Keep leans, an eternal resting place was built for Lady Nimaor. A tomb of stone and great sculptures gave form to the grief of all the people. After Nimaor's death, Hail too began to examine everything he encountered, just as his father had done. He sought cures for illnesses. He was twenty-nine when Esthe handed him the throne, yet he was at least as learned as his father. Under Hail's rule humankind advanced on every front. Beyond the hunt, healing herbs and certain remedies were discovered. To withstand the harsh conditions of the wild and the ever-stiffening winters, sturdy stone dwellings were raised against wind and frost.

One branch of humankind was born short, as though seized by some relentless affliction, and their stature never grew. The first king Esthe regarded their condition as an unfortunate defect or an unknown illness, and so he raised no objection to their being kept apart from the rest of the people. But his heir Hail noticed that these short folk were stronger and hardier than ordinary humans. This stout and powerful people, who until then had been enslaved by the tall folk, set out under the leadership of Mitron on a great migration away from the king's lands and into the high mountains, determined to write their own destiny. Unlike the others, this outcast people had a deep passion for craft, stone, and the mysterious beauty of the underground. In the kingdom Esthe had founded they had known only the title of slave. Following the pioneer named Mitron, hundreds set out to build a kingdom of their own.

After years of relentless stonework and the subterranean genius of the dwarves, a magnificent palace was carved into the heart of the mountains. Yet sadly, Mitron, who had led the People of the Deep from the very first day of that historic migration, did not endure to the end. At the age of eighty-two, Mitron died within the very palace he had built. A stone monument was raised for him at the foot of the mountains, just as the Monument of Nimaor had been. Upon Mitron's death, Hail wished to visit the short folk one last time.

Riding his horse, Hail was quick to notice the smoke rising from the mountains. The closer he drew to the tomb prepared for Mitron, the more the very ground seemed to fall into order, a stone-paved road appearing before him. When he saw the vast stone gate rising opposite the tomb he dismounted in astonishment. The king spent hours walking through the magnificent halls this once-enslaved people had carved into the heart of the mountains. When darkness fell he arranged a commemoration ceremony, attended by all the people of the region, to ease their grief. A small podium had been prepared for Hail. Walking slowly toward the place from which he was to speak, the king was still lost in thought about the palace. How could this people, half the height of humankind, work stone with such flawless mastery? Pulling himself from those deep reflections, the king turned his gaze to the crowd before him and spoke in a full, clear voice:

In my father's time it was believed you had fallen prey to some unknown illness, and as though that were not burden enough, you were made slaves. You broke stone, cut wood, slept in the same places as animals. Only three riders came from my palace, and only we know what you have accomplished. Within the authority held by my father and by me, my word is law. I, King Hail, declare you free. No longer are you under anyone's yoke. You are the People of the Deep, Dwarves... From this day forward you shall be known by this noble name throughout the realm. In your palace the first seed of your own kingdom shall be sown and it shall grow with each passing day. You owe a debt of honour to Mitron, and that is why your kingdom must bear his name. At this moment we all stand before the Mitron Palace that he built, and we raise our cups to him.

When the speech was over the eyes of all the dwarves shone and their faces broke into smiles. They had believed the great king had come to take everything they possessed. Yet they were met with a respect they had never known. When the king's words were finished the new heir was already clear. Mitron's son Malor would sit upon the throne and rule.

For centuries the lands ruled by dwarves and humans were filled with peace. The first planted seeds blossomed into flowers, trees grew tall, and many kings gave way to their sons. The old generation passed, replaced by new and stronger generations. In time there was not a patch of earth left untrodden, not a stream left undrunk. Before his death, Hail granted all the peoples of every region their freedom. Thus all found peace. Two years after his death, some of the dwarves returned to their old lands and began building a great palace in memory of the king they had lost. Stones gathered from the mountains were stacked and arranged around Hail's tomb. As the years passed, a new palace, smaller but magnificent compared to Mitron's, was completed. That new palace, named after Hail's son Sinraen, housed the kings of humankind for centuries.

As the years passed, the traces of Hail still stood upon the world. Through his decree of freedom given before his death, dozens of new regions and cities came into being. That meant new kings and new leagues. Yet by Hail's word these new leagues were also bound to the kingdom that his own heir would watch over.

The turbulent years of the First Age had taught humankind to live side by side under the same sky with the dwarves, the People of the Deep. Near the age's end, when Hail's son Sinraen also died of illness, his sister took his place. Since Sinraen's only son was still very young, Lady Elian governed the people for thirty years and in the end handed the seat to the rightful heir. Toward the close of the age, plagues arose for which no cure could be found, and the heirs to the throne passed one by one into shadow, the crown changing hands often. Yet the heirs of Aroblin Esthe always remained on the throne.

AGE TWO: Growth

The reign of King Sain began with an unprecedented event that would change the fate of the realm forever. To the story of dwarves and humans who had long shared these lands, an ancient race hidden in the shadows for centuries now joined. At first everyone feared these beings who wandered and lived in the forest. But in the years when Sain came to power, the leader of this race paid a mysterious visit to Sinraen Palace. The envoy who arrived resembled a human with his golden hair and slender bearing, yet in his manner he carried an ancient nobility not of this world. He was noticed by the sentinels before he ever reached Sinraen's gates, and everyone lined up before the walls. The people watched him with curiosity. King Sain emerged from his palace. Accompanied by the palace guards he walked toward the gates. While the people looked with suspicion at the visitor at the gate, Sain called out in a full voice: Guards, open the gates and admit our guest.

The stranger who entered with slow steps was received by the king and brought into the palace. Behind the palace's heavy doors a secret meeting lasting hours took place, and not a single whisper escaped to the outside. As the day turned to crimson King Sain announced he would address the people, and the curious crowd surged in waves into the palace courtyard. After a time Sain emerged alongside the stranger and began to speak in a loud voice. All the people watched him with curious eyes:

We have long been trying to make this world we share with the dwarves an easier place. Our ancestors built this palace. The dwarves carved the Palace of Mitron into the heart of the mountains. As our lineage grew, certain questions began to arise in our minds. Are there other intelligent peoples in this ancient realm besides ourselves? We had in fact believed ourselves alone throughout the ages. Yet today we learn that we humans are not the masters of this world. Today we have met an entirely new people who lived here before us and who are still among us.

After the king's words, the harmonious voice of the noble stranger broke the silence:

Greetings, children of men, lineage of the king. I am Darien, son of Halde. I am charged with bringing you the greetings of our queen, Elf Praguh. I have lived in this world under Praguh's command since the time of Esthe's rise to the throne. Our people dwell in the Golden and Dalron forests. By the gift of our queen we live longer than you do, and by certain gifts of ours you cannot know of our existence unless we choose it. But with the founding of kingdoms and the building of great palaces we wished to make ourselves known to you. In the forests surrounding the roads leading to the entrance of Mitron Palace stand our great halls. In the same region lies Faelwyn, where Queen Praguh resides. The world we have built in peace today may be shadowed by dark clouds tomorrow. That is why we are your friends.

When Darien finished speaking the people were still looking at one another in astonishment, unable to make sense of what had come to pass. Many were looking into their king's eyes, trying to understand the truth. At that moment Sain smiled at his people and placed his right hand on Darien's shoulder. That gesture seemed to confirm Darien's words and prove that they were friends. All the people bowed to the ground as though wishing to show their respect and greeted the young Elf Darien. Darien, who responded to this welcome and respect with a smile, turned toward the king without long delay and bowed slowly before him.

Thus the Elves joined the mortal peoples with such an epic event and changed the fate of the realm forever. A few days after Darien's visit, Sain too mounted his horse and rode to Faelwyn. He was hosted by Praguh for three days. That the dwarves had failed to notice this magnificent elven hall rising at their very side for so long became a subject of ridicule among humans. For a time they even refused to accept the existence of the Elves and turned away their visitors.

In the years that followed, many illnesses were defeated through the skills of the Elves, the wounded and the sick were healed. In every region various healing houses began to be established. The scouts who lived in the wild and were skilled in hunting gradually came to study these plants. These earliest scouts, forged in the heart of the wild, had demanded a voice and legal standing in King Sain's court. But since Sain, who worshipped power, did not wish to share his authority with anyone, most of the scouts severed their ties with Sinraen. A few years later the scout leader Eva was found dead in the forest. Though two arrows were lodged in her body, the tracks around her pointed to a far larger group; the master huntress had been overcome by the merciless laws of the forest. After Eva's death, the scouts who had scattered to every region were shunned by the people and driven back into the wild once more.

In the middle years of the Second Age, the dying concept of scouting brought many problems with it. The people of Sinraen, suffering shortages of both food and medicine, began to form small hunting companies from among themselves. Later, as needs grew, these companies expanded and became the first scout units loyal to the king, placed under the command of Bamri, the king's ancient companion and most trusted commander. The gathered scout soldiers in time became specialists in the bow and in hunting.

Toward the close of the age, humans and dwarves had grown accustomed to the presence of the Elves. A large portion of that rare memoir which Sain himself had penned to guide the generations after him was devoted to speaking of the Elves and their gifts. The lines read as follows:

Fifteen years have passed since they first appeared before us at the age's beginning. My face is now furrowed with the weight of years and old age has made even the dropping of words from my lips a heavy burden. Yet Praguh is unchanged. The years have left not a single mark on her noble face, not one strand fewer in her hair, and the ancient light in her eyes has not dimmed. With their words and by their very presence alone, they possess an unmatched gift for bringing stillness to a mortal soul. A few days ago I attended an elegant banquet at Faelwyn, hosted by Queen Praguh. Amid the noise of the dwarves at the table I was tasting the dishes one by one. I took a sip from the water in my cup. At that moment I felt something foreign slip down my throat, but so as not to break my composure I supposed it was nothing more than a bread crumb. At that very instant Praguh, who had been patiently listening to the dwarves' endless noisy conversation, suddenly turned to me. Sain, son of Esthe... What you swallowed is not a bread crumb or an insect. It is a golden leaf. Of the leaves that have seen rain, only those that turn to gold are used by Elves. It will bring you no harm; on the contrary, an enemy who wishes to take your life will now need to lean far more heavily on the powers of darkness in order to overcome you, she said. She read my thoughts amidst all that noise. I suppose the dwarves did not notice this Elven gift. Perhaps my aged mind is playing games with me.

Timeline

AGE 1

• 248 - The period when humans began forming their first small companies. The years when the founding dreams of Timmolin first began to take shape.
• 301 - The first great independent company, Timmolin, was founded under the leadership of Laruz.
• 352 - Upon Laruz's death his son Senre succeeded him. Lord Laruz was taken to the region now known as the Golden Forest, where a tomb was built for him.
• 441 - Timmolin was destroyed due to the poor governance of heir Senre and uprisings led by many who believed injustice had taken hold. Humans began living scattered and disorderly once more, as they had two hundred years before.
• 586 - Aroblin Esthe was born in the Tepeduz region. Twelve years after his birth his mother died, and fourteen years later his father, unable to bear the grief of losing his wife, followed.
• 612 - Esthe came to be seen as a leader by other humans and began seeking cures for many illnesses.
• 615 - Esthe's son, the heir Hail, was born.
• 619 - For the first time a system by which all humans would be gathered under a single ruler began to be discussed. The learned from across the world gathered frequently to debate this matter.
• 628 - The first and greatest kingdom was founded. King Aroblin and Queen Nimaor now ruled.
• 640 - Queen Nimaor died of an unknown illness.
• 644 - Esthe, due to his age and illnesses, handed the throne to his son Hail.
• 651 - Healing herbs were discovered for the first time. The first map was also drawn.
• 654 - The dwarves, under the leadership of Mitron, left the king's lands and began a great migration into the high mountains, determined to write their own destiny.
• 655 - Mitron and his companions set out to carve a magnificent palace into the dark heart of the mountains.
• 671 - Lord Mitron closed his eyes within his own palace. Word of this palace, which Mitron had built before succumbing to exhaustion at eighty-two, had reached the ears of all the human peoples. A few days later the palace was completed and the king came to the region. There, for the first time, the People of the Deep won the right to independence. The new Lord of the palace was Malor, Mitron's sole heir.
• 679 - The right to freedom and independence was granted to all peoples by King Hail. Thereafter, again by the king's command, regions and cities were formed.
• 681 - King Hail died on the lands that are now Sinraen, and clouds of sorrow covered all the world. The People of the Deep began building what is now Sinraen Keep to show their loyalty to the king.
• 715 - Hail's heir, Sinraen, died of illness in his palace just as his father had, and his sister took his place. (Lady Elian)
• 717 - Cities and regions reached their present-day borders; every race living in the realm began building its own deep-rooted culture and traditions.
• 721 - Healing houses were established in certain regions, and by the queen's command unauthorised entry to the forests was forbidden.
• 726 - Many illnesses were defeated and the number dying from sickness began to diminish with each passing day.
• 729 - By the command of Queen Elian, a great statue of Esthe was erected in the heart of Sinraen. By the dwarves, of course.
• 730 - Large winged creatures were encountered for the first time in Dalron Forest. Various names were given to them.
• 735 - Some bold hunters and knights began tracking the winged creatures seen over Dalron. Very few returned. The tales told by those who did gave rise to fearful legends of ancient dragons among the people.
• 745 - Queen Elian handed the seat to her nephew, the rightful heir, Sinraen's son.
• 826 - In later years, the last eggs of these ancient creatures were hidden deep within what are now the Dragon Caves by the king of the time, Mirob, thus preventing their complete extinction.
• 826-1000 - Many kings came and went. The world grew and became more liveable with each passing day. The greatest innovations of the First Age had been the work of Queen Elian. Everything she had done came to be better understood with time. The blood of Esthe was still preserved and the royal family continued to reign. The First Age drew to a peaceful close, leaving as its legacy those tranquil days in which it had begun.

AGE 2

• 1001 - King Sain took the throne. In the same years the Elves openly revealed their existence for the first time, and Darien came to Sinraen Palace to deliver Praguh's message to the humans.
• 1003 - King Sain travelled to Faelwyn and met with Elf Queen Praguh. The first formal bond of friendship between humans and Elves was forged.
• 1012 - Many illnesses were treated with the help of the Elves. Healing houses were expanded and the first serious studies of plants in the wild began.
• 1024 - The scouts demanded a voice and official status in King Sain's court. Their demand was refused.
• 1029 - Scout Leader Eva stopped orc raids with her ambushes south of the Golden Forest. The roads between Sinraen and Faelwyn remained safe for a long time.
• 1034 - Eva was found dead in the forest. Despite the two arrows lodged in her body, how the event unfolded was never known. The majority of scouts scattered and withdrew into the wild once more.
• 1042 - The first regular scout units loyal to the king were established under the command of Bamri.
• 1058 - King Sain, in his later years, penned his famous memoir concerning the Elves and Praguh.