The Lonely Seeker
Page 36
~ Roquendagor: Commander of Mentollà
~ Curwë: Herald of Mentollà and Master of Essawylor Halls
~ Aewöl: Counsellor and Master of Essawylor Halls
~ Gelros: Hunt Master of Mentollà and Aewöl’s servant
~ Feïwal dyn Filweni: Guide of the clan of Filweni
~ Nelwiri dyn Filweni: Captain of the clan of Filweni
~ Luwir dyn Filweni: Commander of the clan of Filweni
~ Arwela dyn Filweni: Seer of the clan of Filweni
GENEALOGY
TIMELINE
-5000 LC: Six Deities (Ffeyn, Myos, Vars, Llyi, Llya, Llyo) rebel against the Gods and are banished. They choose a lost archipelago at the boundaries of the Mainland for their Realm. They name it ‘The Lost Islands’.
-3000 LC:The Elves awaken in the Mainland by the shores of the Inner Sea. They form nine different nations. The Assembly of the Gods offer immortality to the Elves should they accept their summoning and pay allegiance.
-2979 LC: The Deity of Storm, Eïwal Ffeyn, opposes the Gods about the future of the Elves. Along with the five other Deities of the Lost Islands, he secures the Archipelago as the last refuge of the Elves.
-2970 LC:Two Elvin nations (the Gold Elves and the Silver Elves) accept the gift of immortality and heed the Gods' call. They become the immortal High Elves. The Green Elves and the Blue Elves, along with the five other Elvin nations, refuse the summoning of the Gods and remain mortal. They are thereafter known as the Free Elves.
-2950 LC: Scions of the Greater Gods, the Dragons and the demons, the giants and the gnomes, roam the Mainland, terrorizing and enslaving communities of Free Elves. The migrations of the Green Elves and the Blue Elves begin.
-2810 LC:Eïwal Ffeyn enslaves the Giants of the Lost Islands to build the City of Stones, which one day will be known as Tios Lluin.
-2808 LC: The Green Elves settle in Essawylor by the shores of the Austral Ocean.
-2804 LC:The Blue Elves settle along the torrents of the Ivory Mountains, north-east of Essawylor.
-2800 LC: Eïwal Ffeyn, provokes the fall of a star from heaven. The meteorite hits the Lost Islands. The legend of the fallen star tracing the way to the last refuge of the Elves is born.
-181 LC: The High Elves rebel against the Gods and provoke their wrath. Despite the threat of divine retaliation, most of the High Elves return to the Mainland.
-151 LC: Victims of the Gods cursed manipulations, the High Elves are divided. The 'kin-slaying wars' begin.
-132 LC: An army of Men, the Desert Horde, attacks the Green Elves who dwell in Essawylor.
-16 LC: A navigator called Llyoriane, discovers the Lost Islands beyond the Austral Ocean. She is soon proclaimed Queen of the Green Elves.
0 LC: Queen Llyoriane leads the Green Elves to the Lost Islands. Their crossing of the Austral Ocean marks 'Year 0' of the Llewenti calendar (LC).
141 LC: Queen Llyoriane dies giving birth to her sixth daughter. Her ultimate consort, the Deity of War, Eïwal Vars, buries her in a tomb, concealed in 'The Secret Vale'. The Green Elves divide into six clans ruled by Queen Llyoriane’s daughters, the first Matriarchs: Myortilys, Llyvary, Llyandy, Ernaly, Llorely and Avrony.
251 LC: The Blue Elves conquer Essawylor from the Desert Horde. The clan of Filweni's dwellings extend to the southern beaches bordering the Austral Ocean.
508 LC:The last kingdoms of the High Elves in northern Mainland are ultimately destroyed by a mighty flood. The survivors flee the North.
517 LC: The exiled High Elves reach the edge of the woods of Essawylor. The Blue Elves welcome them warmly.
521 LC: Conflict rages between the princes of the High Elves. Aranaele, who wishes to settle in Essawylor, opposes Lormelin who aims to cross the Austral Ocean and find the Lost Islands. The war of Diamond and Ruby rages.
528 LC:Aranaele becomes Queen of Essawylor and rules her vassals and the 29 Blue Elves’ clans. Lormelin is proclaimed King of the High Elves by the majority of the noble houses. House Dol Lewin splits into two branches, the second one bowing to King Lormelin. Lormelin pronounces a terrible oath of revenge against those High Elves who fought him.
529 LC: The High Elves led by King Lormelin leave Essawylor onboard the clan of Filweni's fleet and cross the Austral Ocean to find the Lost Islands. They defeat Eïwal Ffeyn and imprison the Deity of Storm in the Sea of Cyclones.
531 LC:First war between the High Elves and the Green Elves: The armies of Lormelin the Conqueror defeat clan Llorely at 'the battle of Seagulls and Ruby'.
555 LC:Second War between the High Elves and the Green Elves: The armies of Lormelin the Conqueror defeat clan Llyandy at 'the battle of Owls and Ruby'.
591 LC:Third war between the High Elves and the Green Elves: The armies of Lormelin the Conqueror defeat the combined forces of clan Myortilys and clan Llyandy at 'the Battle of Ruby and Buzzards'.
640 LC:Fourth war between the High Elves and the Green Elves: The armies of Lormelin the Conqueror defeat the combined forces of the three clans of the west (Llyvary, Ernaly and Avrony) at 'the Battle of Ruby and Hawks'.
707 LC: The construction of the tower of Mentollà is achieved by the High Elves. The fortress controls the northern sea routes of Nyn Llyvary.
730 LC: Lormelin the Conqueror, founds Gwarystan, the capital city of his kingdom.
739 LC: Fifth war between the High Elves and the Green Elves: The armies of Lormelin the Conqueror defeat the combined forces of the three rebel clans of the west at 'the Battle of Ruby and Swans'. Lormelin is crowned King of Gwarystan and receives the tribute of five of the six Llewenti clans. Only the clan Myortilys refuses to bow.
1426 LC:Human barbarians of the Three Dragons' cult launch a first attack on the Lost Islands. Their raids are annihilated by the combined force of the King of Gwarystan and the five lesser clans of the Green Elves.
1677 LC: Human barbarians of the Three Dragons' cult launch a vast invasion of the Lost Islands. The great fortress of the West, Mentolewin, is burnt to the ground by a coalition of barbarian tribes. Men settle in Nyn Ernaly.
1785 LC: Human barbarians of the Three Dragons' cult launch the second invasion of the Lost islands. Men settle in Nyn Avrony.
2425 LC:King Lormelin the Conqueror is assassinated. The master of the Guild of Sana, Saeröl, is found guilty and sentenced to death. The young Norelin is crowned King of Gwarystan.
2509 LC: Human barbarians of the Three Dragons' cult launch the third invasion of the Lost Islands, 'the Great Conquest'. Nyn Avrony and Nyn Ernaly are utterly conquered by Men. New human settlements are founded on Gwa Nyn and Nyn Llyandy.
2511 LC: The last Elves of Nyn Avrony abandon their island. Gal dyl settles in the forest of Llymar.
2514 LC: Global conflict between Elves and Men across the Lost Islands. 'The Battle of Llymvranone' marks the beginning of 'the Century of War'.
2610 LC: Curubor and the last survivors of House Dol Etrond flee to Llymar Forest.
2611 LC: Tios Lluin is destroyed by the Barbarians. Death of the Protector of the Forest, Yluin dyl, father of Lyrine. Clan Llyvary, reinforced by clan Avrony and House Dol Etrond prevails and sanctifies the forest of Llymar.
2615 LC: 'The Century of War' is ended by the circles of the Druids. They convince all parties to agree 'The Pact'. Men and Elves accept the peace treaty.
2675 LC:Curubor Dol Etrond settles in Tios Lluin and starts to restore the ruins of the antique City of Stones.
2688 LC: The refugees of the clan Ernaly are entrusted with the government of Tios Halabron in the forest of Llymar.
2705 LC: King Norelin refuses to marry his cousin Terela Dol Nos-Loscin and denies his support to her house in the conflict against the Dragon Warrior Ka-Blowna. House Dol Nos-Loscin withdraws to its Principality of Cumberae.
2707 LC:The province of Ystanlewin in Essawylor is invaded by the Desert Horde. After the fall of his city, the heir of House Dol Lewin is banished by Queen Aranaele for rebellion.
2708 LC: A ship from Essawylor is cast
upon the isle of Pyenty. The Blue Elf, Feïwal, and his crew reach the Lost Islands.
MYTHOLOGY
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE GODS
•Ö, Supreme Being of the Universe, Creator of the world and of all existence, "The One Above"
THE EIGHT GREATER GODS
The Greater Gods are the eight mighty spirits who entered ‘Oron’, the World in lingua Hawenti, to begin its shaping. They completed its material development after its form was determined by Ö. Each of the Greater Gods added his or her own part to the Flow creating the world incarnate.
Their vision of what ‘Oron’ should have been was different. This led to a long conflict, called ‘the War of Elements’, between the four Gweïwali which caused many ills. The final shaping of the world and the geographical distribution between lands, mountains and oceans results from this terrible ordeal.
The Greater Gods dwell in their respective realm but frequently meet in the Island of ‘Nol Gweïwali’, ‘the Gods’ Isle’ in lingua Hawenti, which is hidden at the centre of Inner Sea, a beautiful land set around an extinct volcano, highest mountain of Oron. The Greater Gods include four sisters, named Gweïwely: Lyfea, Inatea, Menea and Kerea, as well as four brothers, named Gweïwali: Zenwon, Agadeon, Uleydon and Narkon. They refer to one another as brother or sister.
*
Each Gweïwal rules a specific realm of the world. Zenwon received the sky, Agadeon received the underworld, Uleydon received the seas and Narkon received the fiery inner core of Oron.
~ Gweïwal Zenwon: Greater God of Air, the heavenly King and Lord of thunder
~ Gweïwal Agadeon: Greater God of Earth, the Halls of the Dead King and Lord of the underworld
~ Gweïwal Uleydon: Greater God of all Waters, King of oceans and Lord of tidal waves
~ Gweïwal Narkon: Greater God of Fire, King of volcanoes and Father of dragons
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After the War of Elements had ended, the Gweïwely set about the conception of the world. Kerea governed chronological time, Menea ordered the movements of the moon and stars and thus created the seasons, Lyfea gave life to nature and last Inatea organized the settlement of Oron by the animals.
~ Gweïwele Kerea: Greater Goddess of Time, Queen of the celestial wheel and Lady of doom
~ Gweïwele Menea: Greater Goddess of Weather, Queen of the moon and Lady of stars
~ Gweïwele Lyfea: Greater Goddess of Plants, Queen of trees and Lady of flora
~ Gweïwele Inatea: Greater Goddess of Living Creatures, Queen of animals and Lady of fauna
THE TWELVE LESSER GODS
The Lesser Gods are the twelve spirits who entered Oron after its creation to give order to the world. The ‘Leïwali’, as they are called in lingua Hawenti, were powers created by Ö, to directly intervene in the world's course of events. They are part of the hierarchy of spirits that is predominant in Hawenti Mythology. The Lesser Gods’ influence greatly affected the destiny of Elves.
~ Leïwal Kor: God of Strength, Master of bravery
~ Leïwal Vauis: God of Discernment, Master of crafts
~ Leïwal Nelo: God of Charm, Master of arts
~ Leïwal Sorm: God of Agility, Master of physical prowess
~ Leïwal Ceres: God of Ruse, Master of oratory and wit
~ Leïwal Baos: God of Frenzy, Master of unforeseeable events
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~ Leïwele Sa: Goddess of Wisdom, Mistress of just cause and balance
~ Leïwele Layi: Goddess of Beauty, Mistress of seduction, love and pleasure
~ Leïwele Vha: Goddess of Loyalty, Mistress of honour and duty
~ Leïwele Sysa: Goddess of Strife, Mistress of retribution and affliction
~ Leïwele Wia: Goddess of Harmony, Mistress of peace and fulfilment
~ Leïwele Mnye: Goddess of Memory, Mistress of patience and commitment
THE DEITIES, DEMIGODS AND OTHER DIVINE CREATURES
The term ‘Deities’ or ‘Demigods’ refer to minor Gods and Goddesses, who can be mortal or immortal. Deities are the offspring of a god and a goddess, while Demigods are figures born from the union of a God with an Elf and who attains divine status after death. Both are referred as Eïwali.
The earliest recorded use of the term ‘Eïwal’ in the Lost Islands is by authors such as Curubor Dol Etrond and Sinear Dol Nos-Loscin.In late Second Age, they proposed a hierarchy of divinities as follows: the Greater Gods proper, or Gweïwali; the Lesser Gods, or Leïwali;the Deities and Demigods, or Eïwali (who dwell alongside the Elves in Oron); and the underworld-dwelling divinities like giants, demons and dragons.
THE DEITIES OF THE LOST ISLANDS
The Deities of the Lost Islands are part of the divinities worshiped by the religious Elves of the Archipelago (the Seeds of Llyoriane). They are considered as a fellowship of Elves’ protectors who defend their last refuge against the outside world. Their most sacred shrine is located in the Secret Vale of Llyoriane where their Archpriests (‘The Arkys’ in lingua Llewenti) dwell.
~ Eïwal Ffeyn: Deity of winds and storms, Divinity of freedom, rebellion and anger, the son of Gweïwal Zenwon and Leïwele Sysa and the historical leader of the Lost Islands Deities during their rebellion against the Gods.
~ Eïwal Vars: Deity of hunting, Divinity of war and strength, the son of Leïwal Sorm and Gweïwele Inatea, and the second consort of the Llewenti Queen Llyoriane, father of five of the daughters of Queen Llyoriane: Llyvary, Llyandy, Ernaly, Llorely and Avrony.
~ Eïwal Myos: Deity of illusions and shadows, Divinity of art, poetry and pleasure, the son of Leïwal Baos and Leïwele Sysa, and the first consort of the Llewenti Queen Llyoriane, father of her first daughter Myortilys, the ruler of the Dark Elves.
~ Eïwele Llyi: Deity of fountains, Divinity of love, beauty and the arts, the daughter of Leïwal Nelo and Leïwele Layi.
~ Eïwele Llya: Deity of nature, Divinity of fauna, flora and fertility, the daughter of Leïwal Nelo and Gweïwele Lyfea and the most prominent of the Lost Islands divinities. She is also known as ‘the Mother of the Islands’.
~ Eïwele Llyo: Deity of starlight, Divinity of dreams, fate, death and reincarnation the daughter of Leïwal Nelo and Gweïwele Kerea.
~ Eïwal Lon: Demigod of sunlight, Divinity of wisdom, born from an unmarried lady, named Meoryne Dol Valra.
Eïwal Lon is a mysterious demigod, born in the Valley of Nargrond after 800 LC. His divine origin was consecrated after his disappearance in the mines of Oryusk in 1000 LC.
ABOUT C.A. OLIVER
Biography
C. A. Oliver was born in 1971 and spent his youth between Oxford and Bordeaux. From an early age, he was an avid reader of both the English and French canons, and it was J.R.R. Tolkien and Maurice Druon who would come to influence his writing above all others. In his teenage years, Oliver and four friends began a tabletop role-playing game. Fifteen years later, after 3,500 hours of discussion, imagination and strategy, what began as a game had developed into an entire universe. As gamemaster, Oliver documented the gargantuan campaign’s progress. This fantasy world lay dormant for several years. Then, in 2014, after witnessing uncanny parallels with real-world politics, Oliver began to forge Songs of the Lost Islands, a fantasy series that draws heavily on the fifteen-year campaign. He started writing the first trilogy at Sandfield Road in Oxford, the very street on which Tolkien once lived. It was concluded at Rue Alexandre Dumas in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where Dumas composed The Three Musketeers. C. A. Oliver now lives between Paris and Rio de Janeiro, having married a Brazilian academic. Songs of the Lost Islands has been above all inspired by what Oliver knows best: the ever-changing winds of global politics, the depth and scope of English fantasy; and the fragile, incomprehensible beauty of his wife’s homeland.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It has taken me five years to write the first three instalments of Songs of the Lost Islands. But developing the world that is the basis for these books was an even longer process.
It is now thirty years since I first joined force
s with four of my closest friends to devise the world of the series. It began in the summer of 1989 with the creation of an RPG wargame campaign, in which different Elvin civilizations fought for the control of a distant archipelago. The arrival of Curwë and his companions in Llafal, an Elvin port on the island of Nyn Llyvary, marked the starting point of a story that would go on to last decades. For the first twenty-three years, we had no intention of sharing these myths, legends and adventures with anyone outside our tight-knit group. It was a secret garden, or perhaps rather a Dragon’s lair, rich with treasures built up over 3,500 hours of gameplay. No intruder ever broke their way into our various dungeons: the garage of 37 Domaine de Hontane, near Bordeaux; a cramped bedroom in Oxford; and a flat in Arcachon, with a beautiful sea view we never found time to enjoy. After the campaign had drawn to a close, the years went by and I found that I was missing the thrill of those night-time gatherings: the smell of smoke, the taste of wine and, above all, the noise of the rolling dice. I therefore eventually gathered the material accumulated over all those years of frenetic creativity, and soon realized that I possessed enough content for twelve books. The distinctive nature of this story lies in its genesis: characters, embodied by players, interacting with plots and settings developed by the game master. Outcomes were decided by applying a set of specific wargame rules, the authority of which was unquestionable. The result was quite stunning: a fifteen-year long campaign made up of dozens of characters, whose destinies were determined by both the roll of the multifaceted dice and the choices made by the players.