The Veredor Chronicles: Book 03 - The Gate and Beyond (15 page)

Sword of Light, The (The Ecorian Sword) –
The Sword of Light was one of the three Astarian swords and also one of the Seven Relics brought by the Astarians to Veredor in the time of the first arrival. It was crafted by a being greater than the Astarians and given to the Astarians by the creature known as Pilgrim. The Sword of Light played a major role in all the battles of the Forgotten Age. It was used by the Astarian Fiora to contest the Prince of Shadows in the final battle of the Forgotten Age. The Sword of Light was later given to Toranah of the Knights of Shidon and later handed onto Jeriel the Just, the first Ecorian Emperor. It became a symbol of the Ecorian Emperors and was lost in the River Siarglas. It was later found by Saidrin the Great who joined the Fiorian Knights and later became their leader. After this time it was hidden and guarded by the Fiorian Order until the return of the Prince of Shadows when the sword was reunited with the Ecorian descendent.

Sword of Midlight, The –
One of the Three Swords of the Astarian people. The sword was carried by the Astarian Airleas in the battles of the Forgotten Age. The Sword of Midlight was lost at the end of the Forgotten Age. In the year 931 BL the Sword of Midlight was found by Emer Ecorian. From that day onward the sword was always carried by the Ecorian descendent until the time of liberation. The Sword of Midlight was generally considered marginally less powerful than the Sword of Light and the Sword of Darkness.

Tabarian Knights
– The largest order of knights in the Far Western Lands of Veredor. They were instituted by the Ecorian Empress Galiana in the year 1870 BL in order to protect the western borders of the Ecorian Empire from invasion from the Kingdom of Coran and Alber. They are allied to the Ecorians before all others. They later became a politically powerful order of chivalrous knights and remained until the time of liberation when they fought alongside the Irilian Order against the armies of muckrons that invaded the Far Western Lands.

Takalian Knights
– The Takalian Knights are an order of knights founded by the adventurer Takal in the year 468 BL. Takal was a master of swordsmanship and a hero to many people in Veredor. The Takalian Order was distinct from other orders as the prime precept of the order was allegiance to the king of the land. This meant that at times Takalians would occasionally fight each other in battle when in the service of opposing monarchs.

Ten Monachies of the Ecorian Arbiters, The –
The Ten Monarchies of the Ecorian Arbiters were the kingdoms that followed the end of the Ecorian Empire. They were mostly in the south of Veredor and included: Scaldonia, Ortaria, Silvor, Ateria, Vastoria, Irvaria, Dravania, Iarthar, Roven, and Glenia.

Three Swords, The
– The Three Swords were the only weapons brought to Veredor in the first arrival at the beginning of the Forgotten Age. They were treasured by the Astarians. The swords were forged by an unknown maker in the time before Veredor was settled by Astarians. Each sword magnifies the ability of the one that wields it by a measure of the belief and strength of will of the owner. The swords also protect their owners from ill will and magical curses. They cannot protect the owner from his or her own evil thoughts. They were used extensively throughout the wars of the Forgotten Age and played a major role in many battles. After the fall of the Prince of Shadows the three swords became known as: The Sword of Light, The Sword of Midlight, and the Sword of Darkness.

Umblan –
The people of eastern Veredor are mostly descendants of the Umblan people who settled in the land of Silvor in the Forgotten Age.

Veredor
– In ancient times the world was called Veredord by men and later was simplified to Veredor. The world was given the name Veredor by the first men who arrived in Veredor. The Astarians use several other names to describe Veredor. It is thought to mean: the world of the true, or the fair and gentle world. All men throughout all the lands of Veredor use the term. The mer and sprites also refer to the world as Veredor.

Veredorian Language
– The common language of men and mer is a close variant of the Astarian language. Originally there were three distinct groups of men that arrived in Veredor late in the Forgotten Age. Each group spoke their own language. The Eriulan Colony was in the land of Iarthar and originally spoke a distinct language; however, this language was lost at the beginning of the Forgotten Age and only remains in the names of places in the west. It is said the Irilian Order still maintain the ability to speak some old Eriulan. The second settlement was in northern Irvaria and was called the Alblan Colony who also spoke a distinct language that was completely lost over time. The third settlement was in the east in the land of Silvor and was known as the Umbralan Colony. The original Umbralan language continued to be spoken by people living in remote villages in Zyran and on some of the smaller islands in the Isles of Dawn until the return of the Ecorian Empire.

Wyverns
– Wyverns are small dragons that are sometimes referred to as orms or simply as dragons. They should not be confused with Great Dragons. Wyverns are extremely rare. Wyverns came to Veredor in the Forgotten Age. They were the main antagonists in the first wars of the Forgotten Age when thousands of them attacked the abodes of the Astarians. They vary in size from two to ten meters. There are two varieties of wyvern; the most prominent variety are smaller and have wings and are simply referred to as wyverns. The Lindworms are larger and wingless. Some wyverns possess magical abilities. Many wyverns can hypnotise their victims by making eye contact, especially if their opponent has a weak will. They possess a similar level of intelligence to that of men. They are often self-obsessed and lonesome creatures, but they will work together under a common leader if they see a personal benefit.

Zyranian Enforcers
– Zyranian Enforcers are an elite group of warrior wizards formed by the Order of Zyran and under direct control of the Gatekeeper of Zyran. They were formed in response to Azer Ecorian attempting to reduce the Zyranian Order’s influence in the Eastern Lands of Veredor. Zyranian Enforcers focus their entire training on the acquisition of magic that is useful in battle. Generally there were about a dozen Zyranian Enforcers at any one time.

Zyranian Order
– The Zyranian Order of wizards was founded by Jeriel the Just in the year 2000 BL. The Ecorian Emperor gathered together many isolated wizards and encouraged them to work together for the benefit of all. He gave these wizards the Island of Zyran and they formed the Council of Zyran which governed the island and the Zyranian Order. The Zyranians focused their studies on the acquisition of knowledge. They heavily influenced the kingdoms of the Eastern Lands throughout the ages. For most of history they were the largest of the three southern magic orders and often found themselves at odds with the Irilian Order. They were also suspicious of the Fire Order. The Zyranian Order suffered greatly from several invasions of the Eastern Lands. The first significant invasion was when the Northern Sorcerer Ondtast conquered Zyran in 1658 BL. It is said that a curse remained in the Zyranian Order because many Zyranians willingly served Ondtast against the Ecorian Empire. The second major event that severely harmed the order was the Skathean Empire that ruled the Eastern Lands from the years 968 BL to 686 BL. The Skatheans turned the Zyranians to evil ways and for almost three centuries the Zyranian Order served Skathean overlords in the armies of the Skathean Empire. After the fall of the Skathean Empire the Zyranian Order returned to their original precepts, but a tendency toward evil remained in the order.

THE HISTORY OF VEREDOR

This is an account of the history of the men of Veredor from the end of the Forgotten Age to the birth of Eben Ecorian.

2515 BL – The Astarian Fiora banishes the Prince of Shadows into the outer darkness beyond the Cosmic Gate. Fiora hands the Sword of Light to Sir Toranah, the last remaining knight of the Knights of Shidon. Fiora is never again seen in Veredor.

2500 BL Toranah the Mystic appears in the west by the Crystal Lake and gathers a group of young men and women together to form the Fiorian Knights.

2450 BL – Toranah the Mystic with his followers cross the Great Mountains through the ancient pass and expand the Fiorian Knights.

2435 BL – The Fiorian Toranah dies in Silvor.

2350 BL – The Astarian Lumen instructs a group of men in the magic ways of the Astarians. His students form the Fire Order. Lumen leaves Veredor.

2340 BL – The Fire Order build the Temple of Fire at the northern edge of the Old Guardian Mountains at the place where Lumen lived.

2310 BL – The Fiorian Order battles the Dark Clans in southern Iarthar. Many Fiorians die. The Dark Clans are destroyed.

2305 BL – The seven remaining Great Dragons teach their magic ways to the people of the north. The powerful students of the dragons become known as the Northern Sorcerers.

2300 BL – The Kaznor Empire is formed as the clans in the north gather under one emperor.

2280 BL – The Northern Sorcerers turn to evil around this time. In the land of Kaznor they discover the Star of the North, one of the Seven Relics of the Astarians. They seek to rule Veredor using the Star of the North.

2240 BL – The Fiorian Order discovers the existence of the Star of the North. It is known as the Great Weapon by the people of the time. The Fiorians plan to destroy the Star of the North. A group of mighty Fiorians storm the stronghold of the Northern Sorcerers at Lagad on the shores of the Bay of Night in Kaznor. They take the Star of the North and scatter the Northern Sorcerers.

2237 BL – The Fiorians attempt to destroy the Star of the North but find it cannot be ruined.

2220 BL – Several wizards leave the Tower of Fire and go west to form a new order. They establish the new order in Dravania by the Iril River. They later become known as the Irilian Order.

2190 BL – The Kingdom of Coran is formed in the Far West.

2170 BL – The Blue Caps of Vastoria and Ateria rebel against men. From this time onward the Blue Caps see men as a threat.

2150 BL – Tribes from Vastoria attack Ateria and occupy it for many years.

2110 BL – A flood in the Far Western Lands causes much suffering and destruction. The Irilian Order comes to the aid of the people which gives the order fame and favour for many years.

2100 BL – Jerial the Just is born in the village of Fairlight (later Faircastle) in the land of Irvaria. End of the First Age.

2090 BL – Tribal wars become prevalent in the Eastern Lands.

2080 BL – Jeriel learns the ways of the Fiorians from Lorcan the Mystic, his mentor and friend. Jeriel is gifted in the Fiorian arts but refuses to enter the Fiorian Order.

2075 BL – Fairlight is raided by Vastorian clans. Lorcan is slain attempting to protect the village. Jeriel inherits the Sword of Light from Lorcan. The survivors of the raid on Fairlight flee north into the Endora Mountains where they live for ten years. Jeriel is said to have spent most of this time alone high in the mountains living in a cave.

2065 BL – Jeriel leaves the Endora Mountains and travels to Dravania and settles for some time by the Crystal Lake. He befriends the people of Dravania, and they are impressed by his nobility and wisdom.

2063 BL – Jeriel falls in love with Adira the Graced of Dravania. They are married this same year.

2061 BL – Jeriel has a vision of Lorcan and afterward begins his mission for peace in the Eastern Lands. He gathers many good men and several Fiorian Knights to aid him in his quest to bring peace to harmony to all the lands of Veredor.

2055 BL – Jeriel, riding with his followers, brings peace and casts out evil from the lands of Irvaria, the Irvarian lowlands (Everdon), and Vastoria.

2045 BL – Jeriel brings peace and unity to Ortaria, Silvor, Ateria, and the lower regions of Scaldonia.

2040 BL – Jeriel marches across the Ancient Pass through the Great Mountains and enters the land of Dravania. He befriends the Irilian Order and with their help brings unity to the Far Western Lands.

2030 BL – Jeriel returns to Irvaria and begins the construction of the great city of Faircastle on the site of his home village that was destroyed years earlier.

2010 BL – Jeriel ventures across the Endora Mountains to the forests of Kaznor and is given the Silver Leaf by an Astarian named Acelin who once lived deep in the forest.

2008 BL – The Ecorian Empire is formed and Jeriel is elected emperor of all the lands he helped to bring unity and peace to. The Empire is later named the Ecorian Empire.

2007 BL – Jeriel the Just has a vision of an Ecorian Emperor riding a union across a field against an army of monsters. The field is named Jeriel’s Field. From this day onward Jeriel takes on the white unicorn as the symbol of the Ecorian Empire.

2000 BL – The Ecorian Empire is peaceful and strong. The Ecorian encourages his empire to value peace, honour, and truth. He gathers together many isolated wizards throughout his empire and forms the Order of Zyran, a powerful assembly of wizards who work for the good of all and the make a home on the Island of Zyran in the far east of Veredor. Jeriel forms an accord with the Fire Order. The Fire Order agrees to be allies of the Ecorian Emperor and to aid the Ecorian Emperor if a request is made.

1995 BL – Jeriel the Just dies in Faircastle and Adira dies seven days later to follow her love.

1994 BL – Aldis Ecorian, Jeriel’s son, is crowned Emperor of the Ecorian Empire. He works with all his might for the good of all men. He is revered by all.

1990 BL – Aldis Ecorian sails from Everdon to Ortaria to see his empire. He is shipwrecked on the southern coast of Ateria and rescued by a mermaid named Eryna. He is spellbound by her beauty and requests for her hand in marriage. The mer are outraged by the request and refuse. Eryna does not heed their warnings of her people and leaves the sea and goes to Aldis. They marry that same year and form the only union between men and mer in all of history.

1985 BL – The Fiorian Order diminishes and is seen less frequently among men.

1980 BL – All those who are sick are mysteriously healed throughout all the lands of Veredor. The year 1980 becomes known as the year of healing (The Year of Light). An autumn festival is celebrated among some of the people of Veredor (especially the Jeanians, Empyrians, and Irvarians) in memory of the Year of Light right up until the return of the Ecorian Empire.

1955 BL – A dark and mysterious force comes to power in the land of Roven, turning the people to evil ways. It was later said to be a Ri Draug from the Forgotten Age. As an older man Aldis Ecorian leads an army across the ancient pass through the Great Mountains and defeats the shadowy enemies at Laravin on the Siarglas River. To the sorrow of the empire Aldis Ecorian is slain in the battle. The Sword of Light, once held by Jeriel the Just and Lorcan the Mystic, falls into the river and is not recovered. After the death of Aldis Ecorian his true love Eryna returns to the sea to live with the mer.

1954 BL – Tiernan, the son of Aldis and Eryna, becomes the Ecorian Emperor. He strengthens the armies of the empire.

1949 BL – An oracle appears in the
Far Western Lands and takes refuge in the Oran Mountains.

1938 BL – Tiernan seeks to recover the sword the Sword of Light from the Siarglas River but fails in his task.

1920 BL – Fiorians become extremely rare around this time.

1912 BL – Bandits ravage the land of Scaldonia. Tiernan goes north to destroy the armies of bandits. Tiernan Ecorian decides to live in a cave in the Deep Desert of Vastoria. He lives with the people who are called the Jeanians. He becomes known as Tiernan the Silent.

1905 BL – An oracle appears in the Eastern Lands and takes refuge in the Gerish Highlands of Scaldonia.

1901 BL – An age of long war begins between the tribes of Alber and the Kaznor Empire.

1892 BL – Creatures of darkness appear in the Cold Lands of Scaldonia and gradually migrate south. Tiernan sends an army to destroy them.

1889 BL – Tiernan searches once again for the lost Sword of Light but again doesn’t find it.

1881 BL – Tiernan returns to Faircastle and dies. His only child Galiana Ecorian becomes the Empress.

1875 BL – The Kingdom of Coran raises an army under King Ravadrin the Proud and invades Dravania. Galiana leads an army against the Coranese force and takes victory near Jenrind on the Star River in Iarthar.

1871 BL – An oracle appears in the north and takes refuge in the Eranai Mountains near the Silver Lake in Kaznor.

1870 BL – Galiana establishes the Tabarian Knights. The Tabarian Knights are given the task of protecting the Dravanian border at the Tabarian River.

1860 BL – The Order of Zyran requests more independence from the Ecorian Empire. Galiana forms the High Council of Zyran to rule the island of Zyran in accordance with the laws of the Ecorian Empire.

1849 BL – Vastoria faces a terrible drought. Many people flee the arid lands.

1828 BL – Galiana is warned by an unknown mystic that a power from the north may one day destroy the Ecorian Empire.

1816 BL – Galiana falls deathly ill. A cure is sought after by many in the empire.

1815 BL – Edur the Unrelenting, a hero from Ateria, begins his journey to find the cure to Galiana’s illness. He journeys into the Swamps of Scaldonia to consult the Gerish Oracle.

1809 BL – Edur ventures far and eventually comes to Alber. He discovers the cure in the Icy Lands north of the Anga forest.

1806 BL – Edur returns to Faircastle after a great adventure and passes the cure to the dying Galiana. Galiana is cured.

1800 BL –A statue of Edur is placed in main square of Faircastle and remains there throughout the ages.

1791 BL Galiana dies in Orelin where she lived the remainder of her days. Her son, Galeran Ecorian, becomes emperor.

1789 BL – Galeran searches for The Sword of Light in the Siarglas River. He fails in his task like his grandfathers did before him.

1779 BL – A war begins the west on the border of The Kingdom of Coran and Iarthar. The Tabarian Knights battle the Coranese forces and hold them back.

1774 BL – Galeran travels to Coran to make peace.

1773 BL – Galeran builds a friendship with Rogan the Iron Willed, the king of Coran. Peace returns between the Empire and the Kingdom of Coran.

1762 BL – Evil grows in Ateria. An evil army is formed which quickly sweeps across Ateria.

1760 BL – Galeran underestimates the dark enemies; his army was beaten at the southern edge of the Endless Wall Mountains.

1759 BL – The evil forces in Ateria begin building a fortress at the sight of their victory over the Ecorian army. They begin to stretch their influence into Vastoria.

1757 BL – Galeran raises an army in Irvaria Minor (Everdon) and leads his army through the Grey Pass and across Vastoria. A battle is fought at the gates of the enemy fortress and Galeran takes victory.

1756 BL – Ateria is freed completely from the forces of evil. Galeran returns into the west.

1749 BL – Galeran lives a Ghrian on the Merhome Sea with his wife and son. The Ecorian Empire is peaceful for some time.

1731 BL – Galeran dies at Ghrian. His son Artus Ecorian becomes emperor.

1730 BL – Artus settles in Faircastle, the city of his forefathers.

1728 BL – Artus searches for the lost Sword of Light in the Siarglas River, but he fails like his ancestors did.

1722 BL – The Zyranian Order find the Star of the North.

1718 BL – Artus travels around his empire seeking the approval of his people.

1715 BL – Artus seeks out the Fiorian Knights and finds few remain.

1706 BL – Artus seeks out the Gerish Oracle in the swamps of Scaldonia, but fails in his search.

1701 BL – Artus discovers that the Zyranian Order possess the Star of the North. He requests that they return the dangerous relic to its hiding place. The High Council of Zyran vote against returning the Star of the North. The Zyranians believe the Star of the North will bring them power above all others. They are corrupted by the great power of the relic. Artus Ecorian seeks the help of the Irilian Order. He asks them to recover the Star of the North from the Zyranians.

1700 BL – An assembly of powerful of Irilian wizards travel from Dravania to Zyran and demand that the Zyranians hand over the Star of the North. The Zyranians refuse and fight off the Irilians and force the Irilians back. Later in that same year the Zyranians send a force to avenge the earlier attack by the Irilians. A battle is fought at the junction of the Irilian and Oread rivers. The Zyranians use the Star of the North against the Irilians. The Irilian Order is scattered and most of the Irilian Order is killed in the battle. The battle sparks a feud between the two orders that lasts for many ages. Artus, angered by the Zyranians attack on the Irilians, takes his army to Zyran and overwhelms the Zyranian Order. Artus Ecorian takes the Star of the North and throws it from the side of his ship. The ancient relic was never again heard of by men.