|
The History of the Dhe'nar
<< PREVIOUS • Tomes
of Elanthia • NEXT >>
I. Noi'sho'rah (80,000 - 55,000 years ago)
II. The Departure (50,000 years ago)
III. Rhoska-Tor (50,000 to 45,000 years ago)
IV. Sharath (45,000 - 30,000 years ago)
V. The Fall of Sharath (30,000 - 25,000 years ago)
VI. The Great Fire (25,000 years ago)
Author's Comments:
 It
is to be noted that the Faendryl and the Dhe'nar take quite the
opposite view of the elf called Noi'sho'rah; in the view of the
former, he was a madman, and the latter, a prophet. It is our duty
as Chroniclers of all to present each view in turn and permit the
student to form his own conclusions.
It is to be further noted that but for the turn of Tahlad Tsi'shalar's
beliefs as influenced by Noi'sho'rah, and their subsequent departure
from the elven lands, there may have been an eighth elven house.
But for the actions of Noi'sho'rah and his influence over Tahlad,
the elven race's history may yet have been different; mayhap there
would have been eight noble Houses and our destinies quite changed.
It is only in rare cases that a single individual so strongly affects
the whole of history's pattern.
The student of history who wishes to consider the departure of
the Dhe'nar faction from both perspectives should, in addition to
this document, reference the History of the Faendryl Empire, a copy
of which is stored in Library Aies.
Compiled by Aeranch Jaern - Chronicler, Library Aies
I. The Beginning (80,000 - 55,000
years ago)
In the time before the formation of the great Elven Houses, at
the dawn of Dhe'nar tradition, stood the one who most exemplifies
all that Dhe'nar strive to be. In this time, the elves were still
faithful servants to the Arkati.
Born of the elven race, before the great divide, he grew at the
knees of the Arkati, drinking in their lore and wisdom with open
ears and a keen mind. He served as an acolyte to the Arkati, their
voice to the elves when all stood in chaos and only that fine intervention
kept the world stable.
He spent hours in weapons practice, honing his skill until even
the most feared warriors thought twice about dueling him. Honored
as a master of the whip blades, he was also honored for his closeness
with the Arkati. Through him, they honored the elves with the way,
the path and the discipline to achieve power.
This was Noi'sho'rah.
As the elven race began to ascend from their servitude to the Arkati
and form into its seven separate houses, Noi'sho'rah objected to
the rising political structure that would become the Great Houses.
He found one among the elves who still listened to the words of
the Arkati and still honored their ancient wisdom and insight. This
young priest, Tahlad, was one of the few who showed understanding
when the elven race became fractured by the power hungry. In Tahlad's
opinion, many of the elves had begun to walk a different path, seeking
only quick results and fast power, forgetting the true way of the
Arkati and their own virtual immortality.
One of these power seekers, nephew to Tahlad, brought the decision
that the elves would now seek a new path, vastly different from
the true way: the formation of the House system. Tahlad, disciple
of Noi'sho'rah, delivered the news to the temple where Noi'sho'rah,
now growing older but no less honored, listened with quiet displeasure.
Noi'sho'rah, wise enough to see the inevitable fracture of power
within the forming elven houses, counseled Tahlad, showing him secrets
of the Arkati that would strengthen him as he endeavored to hold
together what could not be held. Noi'sho'rah took the news himself
to the Arkati, informing them of the future failure of the elven
nations and the impending disaster that lay before them.
Little is known of that meeting, except the results. Noi'sho'rah
appeared one more time before his people, warning them of the doom
that lay before them if they continued to fight among themselves
for petty positions of power. Korthyr, nephew of Tahlad, laughed
in the face of Noi'sho'rah, taunting him for being obsolete and
refusing to grow in power as Korthyr did. Noi'sho'rah, disgusted
with his own people, raised his hands to the heavens and darkness
filled the room. All eyes were blinded and only the voice of Noi'sho'rah
could be heard as he prophesied for his people.
"Know you that if the elven nation falls, if you fail to follow
the true way, the dead themselves shall rise up against you. There
shall come one with more power than has ever been wielded and she
shall lay your Houses to waste. You shall stand helpless before
her, your own petty bickering paving the way for her to take even
the mightiest of your cities. Her touch shall be felt for generations
and you shall never again rise to the power you had before her arrival.
For those that follow the way, there shall be a steady rise in power.
The way shall lead them to safety, even in the midst of the greatest
danger to face Elanthia. Those who remain firm in the faith will
never need fear retribution. Lose your way and you will feel fire
from the heavens. Always though, the way stands open, even for those
who have lost it. Return again to your beliefs and you shall regain
your favor with the Arkati. I go now to stand with the Arkati, and
my eyes shall be on my people always."
When the darkness cleared, Noi'sho'rah had vanished. Among the
Dhe'nar, tradition says that he has been seen since, in visions
and prayers, but never again has he walked among his people. To
the Dhe'nar, Noi'sho'rah stands as their representative to the Arkati,
their voice in the heavens. A common Dhe'nar admonition is "Stand
firm in your beliefs, as our history shows us the terrible wrath
Noi'sho'rah can inflict upon our people."
II. The Departure (50,000 years ago)
After Noi'sho'rah prophesied for the elves and ascended to be with
the Arkati, Tahlad gathered his followers, who became known as the
Dhe'nar, meaning "first born" in reference to being the
children of the Arkati. Tahlad led them away from the forming elven
nation, never again to return. As Noi'sho'rah had instructed him,
Tahlad led his followers first to Rhoska-Tor, where their strength
would be tested and their power forged by the dark power of the
barren wasteland. Then, when the time was right, they would move
south through the Southron Wastes and into the jungles to find their
promised land.
III. Rhoska-Tor (50,000 to 45,000
years ago)
The Dhe'nar spent 5,000 years living in the barren plains and caverns
of Rhoska-Tor. It was during this time that the Dhe'nar learned
not only the art of survival, but also honed their arcane skills.
The dark essence that had been left behind by the Ur-Daemon War
not only tainted the appearance and psyche of the Dhe'nar, but it
also had a powerful effect on the flows of magic in the region.
Among the Dhe'nar, it is said that a Dhe'nar warrior has the soul
of a dragon and the hunger of an Ur-Daemon, and there is little
doubt this is partially true. The Dhe'nar magi learned to use the
dark magic of the region, adding it to their already potent library
of spells taught by the Arkati themselves. The control of the undead
and the summoning of the elements into a physical manifestation
were but a few of the skills the Dhe'nar learned while in Rhoska-Tor.
The Dhe'nar knew the power of what they learned and the importance
of guarding its secrets. They kept few written records, passing
on their knowledge orally. What few records they did keep were not
only written in the spidery runes only a true Dhe'nar warlock could
read, but also closely guarded by the magi and priests. It is rumored,
however, that one tome, The Book of Tormtor, was lost somewhere
deep within the caverns of Rhoska-Tor.
After 5,000 years (as Noi'sho'rah prophesied) the Dhe'nar left
Rhoska-Tor in search of their promised land. They headed south,
through the Southron Wastes and into the jungles, where they founded
Sharath, which remains home to the Dhe'nar to this day.
IV. Sharath (45,000 - 30,000 years ago)
Deep in the jungles far to the south of Rhoska-Tor, the Dhe'nar
founded their home city. Tahlad, long the leader of the Dhe'nar,
never lived to see the dream become a reality. Although he died
shortly after leaving Rhoska-Tor, his remains were carried throughout
the journey.
They placed Tahlad's body in a crypt in the center of the jungle
and began construction of a great city around it. They named this
land Sharath, which means "promised land". Here, in Sharath's
jungles, the Dhe'nar government developed to what it is today.
The people were divided into four castes: the worker caste, the
warrior caste, the temple caste, and the warlock caste. Each caste
served an important role in their society and worked with each other
in their goals.
The city of Sharath grew into a sprawling mecca. The Great Temple
was built, along with the Tower of Arcane Arts. Shialos du S'karli,
The Library of the Way, was built, in it was placed tomes documenting
the teachings of Noi'sho'rah and the Arkati.
V. The Fall of Sharath (30,000 - 25,000 years
ago)
Over time, the Dhe'nar fell victim to the same circumstances that
drove them away from the elves so many years ago. The Temple, the
Magi, and the Warrior castes began to vie for power internally and
the political treachery that ensued was devastating. In a bold political
move, the Priests of the temple proclaimed that they themselves
were "gods" and that their wishes were to be followed
over all others. Though there were many opposed to this, any who
disagreed with the temple were brutally sacrificed to set an example
for the others, and thus over time most of the temple's opponents
were either slain or went into hiding. The Temple's priests sealed
the library, Shialos du S'karli, and the entrance was hidden. To
go anywhere near the library would mean certain death at a priest's
hands.
VI. The Great Fire (25,000
years ago)
On one fateful day, the High Priest announced that the Dhe'nar
were to be blessed by the heavens. Almost all of the Dhe'nar gathered
around the base of the Temple to await the celebration. The resulting
horror that ensued had been predicted 30,000 years earlier by Noi'sho'rah;
divided by petty bickering, the Dhe'nar would fall.
Screams of fear were quickly quieted as fire fell from the heavens
and the earth opened up beneath the feet of the unfaithful. For
50 days and nights fire rained down upon the jungle of Sharath.
A great mountain pierced the heart of the city, destroying everything
the Dhe'nar had created. Almost ninety percent of the Dhe'nar died
in the cataclysm. Those few who had not attended the gathering were
the sole survivors. It is said that these few had remembered the
prophecy of doom, and had hidden in the jungles to avoid questions
about why they would not attend the ill-fated celebration.
When the fires finally ended, the survivors emerged from the jungle
caverns to see that a great mountain stood where their city had
once reigned. Oddly, the jungle around them was still there. Every
tree, every shrub, was standing as if nothing happened. However,
upon closer inspection, the survivors discovered that the jungle
was composed entirely of gray-black ash. Ever since, Sharath has
been known as the Forest of Ash.
|
HOME
