History((Copied from a tome on loan from the New Verai Archives, placed in the Library of Ivory by a scribe of Ma'at))The first Verai is a kingdom with both mortal and divine origins. The Isle of Khemmis and the surrounding lands that are the heart of Verai once lay in the mortal realm. By the decree of the god Shéduin and by the grace of the goddess Kai and the goddess Khementári, the lands that would become Verai were relocated to the Vanai Yera, the Land of Mists, for the protection of the child-god Min. Long before this, however, the Lands of Mists had been a refuge for the enchanted peoples of many other lands. After its relocation Verai soon became a haven in the mists for mortals as well--particularly for those persecuted by the followers of Isefet. Over the years, and as a result of this steady stream of newcomers; many of the lands of Verai were renamed, often for the former lands of the newcomers who settled there. In Verai, many of these cultures, which would have otherwise been completely eradicated, are still preserved. Ironically, these lands of Verai are sometimes mistaken for the original lands of the people who came to settle there; but, with the exception of Khemmis, that is not the case. Among those who came to dwell in Verai in the Land of Mists, were some who called themselves the people of the goddess Danu. Their legends tell us that they did battle with the sons of the sorceror-king Milesius, and the Demoness, Scotephi, a follower of Isefet. Driven from their homeland, the people of Danu came to the Land of Mists, guided by the Lady Chrysalis, an Elven woman from the lands of the fire top mountain. They were welcomed by the people of Verai, and their leader, Sir Ian Cameron na Greine pledged himself to the service of King Min and was made a noble of Verai. Lord Cameron married the Lady Chrysalis, and many years later, King Min took their daughter Ailliana as his wife. The people of Verai prospered for many years under King Min and Queen Ailliana; and the royal couple was soon blessed with three children--Kertavin Taithan, Sardor Grendel, and Elspeth Cora. Anar smiled upon them, and all was well. But King Min's good fortune only made Isefet more jealous of his brother Aser; and Isefet rallied the demonic hordes of the Abyss to his cause. They breached the gates of the Am Duat itself and the chaos that ensued was terrible to behold. Led by Aser, the spirits of the Am Duat fought bravely, but the battle was hard and the forces of Isefet soon stormed past the first four gates of the Netherworld. Min, and his mother, Aramina, were called to fight by Aser's side in those perilous times. Together they turned the tide against the horde, drove the demonic forces back, and retook three of the gates. But unbeknownst to them, the treacherous Isefet had learned the whereabouts of the people of Verai, and directed his retreating forces into the heart of the Land of Mists. The demons ravaged the land, destroying everything in their wake, and struck at the capital city of Verai, itself, the floating isle of Khemmis. The priests of Aser prayed to the gods, for aid. And Queen Ailliana, herself, led the forces of Verai to war. The war raged for days, and the queen was struck down. Word of the Queen's death spread quickly, and without either her or King Min to guide them, the people of Verai's hope turned to despair. Fearing the worst, three of the king's most trusted counselors were chosen and charged with taking the young princes and the princess to safety outside the Land of Mists. To improve their chances for survival, they were separated from each other and brought to the mortal realms to be raised in isolation from the people of Verai and from each other. The priests of Aser who survived, and who remained in Verai after they left, say that Aramina and her son Min later returned to Khemmis in Verai; and Min, in his grief at the loss of his beloved Ailliana, worked a most dire and powerful ritual. So great were the magicks, that it is believed they took his life. It is said that Aramina prophesied that one day her son would return, greater than ever before. But what became of Aramina, herself, is not known; for she has not been seen from that day to this. For thirteen years, the children of King Min and Queen Ailliana were raised in hiding in the mortal realms. In 991 CE, Sardor Grendel and Elspeth Cora were reunited in the Realms of Valehaven and founded New Verai. In 992 CE, Sardor left the Realms of Valehaven for "old" Verai. In 993, Kertavin Taithan came to dwell in the Realms of Valehaven and was proclaimed king by the peoples of New Verai. In 994, Prince Sardor sent word that he had re-taken the towns of Thera and Camlann and the southern half of the Sepat of Valen in "old" Verai; but he feared that the gains they had made would be short-lived without reinforcement. Already engaged in a war in the mortal realms against the Kingdom of Chimeron, Verai's king made the decision to return to the Vanai Yera and fight to reclaim the old Kingdom of Verai. In a race against time, King Taithan opened the gates to the Am Duat and led the greater part of the forces of New Verai through them, and from thence to the Land of Mists. Less than a year later, the Kingdom of New Verai was dissolved after it was discovered that followers of the god, Arioch (believed to be in league with Isefet), had infiltrated the ranks of the New Verai aristocracy in the absence of King Taithan. Despite heavy losses sustained by the forces of Verai, the Sepats of Valen, Tamuria, and Caer Wydyr were completely re-taken by early 996. In 1001, the last of the demon hordes were driven from the rest of Verai into the Abyssian Voids; and the reconstruction of Verai was begun. In 1002, the war with Chimeron was declared ended in the lands of New Verai; and a peace treaty was signed with Chimeron's new king. |
Created by Freesia Den'ier (Bethany Tozier) at 08-03-22 00:03 AM
Last Modified by Freesia Den'ier (Bethany Tozier) at 08-03-22 00:03 AM