Lore of Ispar - Aluvians

A circle of children and the flash of steel stopped Nayt al-Yad from his errands in the city of Tirethas.

The children had gathered around a shirtless, pale man who's skin was now bright red. The foreigner was flailing a broadsword about in a display of martial prowess. The children cheered and applauded until the man stopped and began to speak in a strange tongue.

He spoke again, much slower, but still none understood him. He then gestured hand to mouth, and Nayt realized that the man was asking for the life of the desert, water.

Beckoning him to follow, Nayt lead the fair skinned stranger to a nearby fountain. While the man drank his fill, Nayt prepared a poultice of aloe and agave, handing the bowl to him when he was done, and signaling for him to rub it on his skin. A smile crossed the foreigner's face as the cooling mix relieved his sunburn.

Thus began a friendship between the Aluvian, Bergard the Swift, and Nayt al-Yad, from whence each would learn the other's language and much of their respective homelands.

The Distant Past

Long ago, in the wilderness north of the Ironsea, clans of fiercely independent warriors feuded. They fought for land, for wealth, and for honor. It was a time of chaos and bloodshed. The High King of Aluvia was the ruler of these clans, but the power of the king waxed and waned based on his charisma or martial prowess - thus Dragen of Steyles' famous epigram, "The position of High King entitles one to thump the table and plead for order." During this time there were sinners and there were saints, but there was not peace. The Comet of 804 and the words of a mute farm girl, Jehanna Domremad, however, foretold that change was coming to Aluvia, beginning with the arrival of the Grand Armada of Viamont.

Viamont, seeking conquest, invaded Aluvia. On the 4th of Solclaim the army of Aluvia was shattered by massed ranks of storm wands on the Plain of Ayrifal. The invaders installed their own Royal Governor, Alfric I. Alfric's first step was to brutally purge any remnant of the royal line of High King Pwyll II.

The Aluvian clans tried to rebel against the Viamonters, but met with little success. For each failed uprising, brutal punishments affected all. The once proud and independent warriors were now thralls to a king not of their choosing, living a life bearly worth living.

Theolaud, son of Alfric, ruled Aluvia for thirty years, wresting control of the lands for himself, out from under the overlordship of Viamont. Some say this was to simply defend himself against King Elous VIII of Viamont over a suspected slight.

Alfrega the Mad, Theolaud's daughter, succeeded her father under questionable circumstances. Darkness and tyranny plagued the lands of Aluvia for 15 years during her reign. She married a Milantane, Kirne, and produced a heir, Osric. Her life is recounted in the historic text The Reign of Alfrega, by Midistaf the Learned.

Life in Aluvia changed with the coronation of High King Osric. Osric dedicated his reign to mending the divided country of Aluvia. He accomplished this by making peace with the rebellious nobles, lowering backbreaking taxes, and even naming his son after an Aluvian saint, Pwyll. Thus was born the greatest king of Aluvia, Pwyll III.

By the time of the rule of Pwyll III, the people of Aluvia had united as one, prospering under Osric's kind and just reign. Pwyll III banded together the kingdom’s knights, forming an order of honor and chivalry. Great castles were built and many of the factions that make up Aluvian society today were established. One of the greatest accomplishments of this era was the Code of Pwyll which laid out the tenets of knightly virtue and honor.

But under such golden leadership did the seeds of rebellion grow against neighboring Viamont. As Aluvia and Viamont neared the brink of war, an ambassador was sent from Viamont, offering a chance at peace. The treacherous ambassador did slay Pwyll III on the eve of war between the two nations. Upon hearing this, Aluvia’s knights and commoners alike fell upon their enemies and destroyed them, driving them from their lands all the way back to Viamont. With Pwyll’s death, Aluvia’s glory began to wane, but it is said that, when the kingdom is at its greatest need, he and his knights will walk the land once more.

The Present

Aluvia remains a strong nation, though it shines less brightly than before, its golden age behind it. Good King Cedraic has opened up trade with nations across the sea including the Gharu’ndim and the Sho and with that trade has come prosperity. To the west, however, Viamont bides: it will only be a matter of time, some say, before war returns to the land.