History

Early Enden History.

The peasants were driven from their land once their feudal lord was slain in combat, they began their wandering for a new place to settle. They called themselves Enden which means 'in exile'. Ere long they entered a large foreboding forest, their plan was to save time so they could settle before winter struck them. They trekked many a long mile until they neared the center of the great wood, here they spied a clearing, in which was contained the large and great tree Esragoth. They saw a great, almost blinding light, only the bravest of the peasants ventured forth to see what was there. In the clearing they met Aralea, the great goddess, here they were given permission to settle if they would protect the great tree for all time for it held the fate of the forest, should it die then the forest would fail.

Historians note: it is most likely that the peasants were indeed driven from their homes as this coincides with a great period of upheaval in that area. Although all people of Enden claim that their goddess greeted them it was most likely a story contrived by the few that ventured there.

As the rest of the peasants arrived they rejoiced. They had a place to call their own. Many didn't believe the story of Aralea though a few gave praise to their new god. How ever with spring past, and winter looming the fledgling community faced starvation unless they were to find a source of food. The community lacked a leader, without leadership they would fall into squabbling, and so Aralea provided. For from the great forest a large man strode, his name was Giloven. His hair was jet black and his voice was loud and filled those who heard him with a feeling of hope. He was a natural leader, though some were distrusting as he was not of their kind. Giloven calmed their fears, he claimed to have been sent by Aralea to look over them. He gave them a name, Enden; this gave them an identity, a common goal to work for. Giloven organized hunt parties, groups to forage for food, lumberjacks to cut wood for building and fire. By winter a small settlement had grown around the great tree Esragoth and they had great stores of meat for Giloven was a mighty hunter, and he taught his men well.

Historians Note: Giloven was most likely a stranger who took advantage of these peoples beliefs to get himself a position of power, as it was the people of Enden benefited greatly from Giloven's ability to lead and hunt. He formed them into some resemblance of rangers, teaching them the ways of the forest over many years; he organized great fields of wheat to be planted to supplement their diet of fruits and meats. However soon would come the great religious wars.

And yet some where not grateful for all Aralea and Giloven had done for the people of Enden. Some muttered that Aralea didn't exist and that Giloven was conning them. Soon all of the fledgling community had divided themselves, the supporters of Aralea and Giloven, and the people who wanted him exiled. Soon this turned into a bloody war, with Giloven's supporters quickly being driven out of the town. However Giloven taught his men the skill of archery, the skill of moving silently and without being seen. In one quick lightning strike the unbelievers as they were called were driven into the forest and never heard of again. Giloven vowed that such a war would never rise again. He constructed four great temples. One in honour of each god. For each temple he selected the most devoted of the people to become the priests. These priests would preach the word of Aralea, Gilreon, Shalindra and Renaya and thus make sure that the people of Enden would never doubt their gods again.

Historians note: Many small communities have had similar wars. With so few people it is easy for sides to appear and tensions rise. Here the leadership of Giloven won through and secured Aralea to be the deity of Enden forever. Also here began the priests of Enden, they were most helpful in my research of the Enden people and are as near to scholars as the people of Enden get. However I always felt there was a lot that they were not telling me, and a lot they weren't telling their people.

The great winter occurred many years later. The snows were thick and the frost was hard, the crops had failed as winter had come early, as Spring approached the snows showed no signs of stopping, food was running low but the people of Enden could survive on low rations, yet there was a greater danger. Creatures of the wood had become hungry, with the lack of food they would even attack a human settlement. They baying of the wolves worried Giloven. He ordered the people into the great hall. The priests ran up and down the huddled groups, whispering words of comfort. Giloven took his bow and with his five bravest rangers he set forth. The people heard many howls of pain from the wolves but heard the screams of men as well. After many hours all was silent and they ventured forth. The snows had stopped and the sun had broken through the clouds. Many paw prints in the snow indicated a horde of wolves with numbers unheard of. The bodies of four men were found. Each had their throats ripped out. Much was the lamenting of the people and they were given heroes burials, and were remembered as saviors of Enden. The people searched but found no sign of Giloven. Finally one league from the town they found the last of the brave rangers who accompanied Giloven. He was not dead but his wounds were grievous and he would not recover. With his last ounce of strength he told the Head Priest of Aralea the true fate of Giloven. The ranger had been willing himself to live through his pain to give the ill tidings and now let himself slip into death. The head priest looked both angry and scared at what he had heard. He wouldn't tell another soul the fate of Giloven. From then on only the Head Priests of the four gods of Aralea know the true fate of Giloven. Not even the Kings of Enden have known the fate of their forefather. Now that Giloven was gone they named the town after him, for he had sacrificed everything to help them and now he was with Aralea. Giloven had a son, loved by all, he was made leader of the people of Enden. However as the Enden grew the title of leader became king as the people of Enden became a small nation in their own right. The line of Giloven so far has never failed. The King that currently sits on the throne has the blood of Giloven in his veins, so it has been and so it will always be.

Historians note: this was the most important event in early Enden history, it set the shape of the Enden culture for all time, as you will soon see. I couldn't find out the fate of Giloven, I asked the Head priest but none would tell me. I pressed them and they threatened to stop helping me in my task, so there I let it rest, whatever happened I believe Giloven found his peace atlas, though to some of the Enden he is almost hailed as a god now. With much of the truth being lost in time.

Most of the Enden had been centered on their great town of Giloven. Though soon the hunters found that they were searching further a field for prey, many would secretly admit they wanted to find if Giloven was still alive somewhere, unable to return. It became impractical to keep returning to the town of Giloven. They began to construct their own small houses in the forest, eventually most hunters and indeed most people of Enden were living in small hamlets in the forest. Maybe a few close families would make a little community, of course the people would return to Giloven, but soon it became more of a place to come and trade than a place to come and live.

Historians Note: This constantly moving community is unique in that they all trust each other and feel they can leave their homes unguarded for maybe months at a time before returning. This trust I am sure has evolved from the nature of their predicament as I have seen first hand how all the people of Enden rely on each other to survive.

History Missing

For many years after Roland's reign the people of Enden lived in plenty, however as is the way with this world it was but the calm before the storm, for soon the people of Enden would enter the Age of Strife. A dark period where the great tree Esragoth failed to bloom for many years and pain and misery ruled the land. It thus began with the reign of Bethor. Bethor wasn't loved by the people and his reign would not be remembered if it was not for one fateful meeting. He was wondering alone in the forest where he came across a band of strangers. As he approached them he realized they weren't of Enden. These were in fact mercenaries from a far away land that had become lost in the woods. Taking pity on them he invited them back to Giloven, where they could rest and be given guides. The mercenaries gladly accepted the offer. One thing that had always annoyed Bethor was that he never felt in control. Though he was king many of his subjects lived in the woods. After he drank to much he told the leader of the mercenaries this. They came to an agreement. The mercenaries would enforce Bethor's rule. Bethor was all too ready to agree but he wasn't told what the mercenaries wanted in return.

Historians note: By the description of the mercenaries I was given I believe they came from the south. Whether they were looking for work or just a small town to bully it is not known, what is known that their actions would sour the Eden's opinions of the outside world for many, many years.

The mercenaries soon rounded up the rangers, despite many threatening to attack them. However the word was that they did the bidding of Bethor and so they grudgingly followed them. However Bethor hungered after one thing, gold. He had seen small gold coins that the mercenaries carried. Bethor was overcome by the beauty of gold and wanted his own. The people of Enden were put to making bows and other such goods which were stockpiled in huge warehouses which they were forced to build. Then one night a strange group of travelers came, in exchange for gold they took the bows and marched south from where they had come. The mercenary Captain and Bethor shared this gold, and for a time Bethor was happy. Soon though he wanted more gold and so the people of Enden were forced into their great labors once again.

Historians Note: From what I can tell Bethor had become something of a tyrant and the people of Enden were just slaves. Before no outsider had ever been allowed inside Giloven for very long. Now merchants were constantly moving in and out bringing gold and taking rare carvings and bows. To what ends these goods where used for none know. To which land they were taken the Enden don't know. All they do is that this was a time of great sorrow, where freedom was taken and their way of life destroyed.

After many years had past the people of Enden began to lose hope. However it is told that Aralea saved the people from their fate. One night Bethor was visited by Aralea in a dream. She asked him why he had done this. What had he gained? Gold, was that a good enough reason to enslave the population? For many weeks he had this same dream, the guilt began to bore into his very soul until finally he gateway. He strode to the Mercenary Captain, his head held high for the first time in many years. He gave him an ultimatum, leave or face the wrath of Enden. The Captain took a minute to think about this. Turning to Bethor he gave him his answer, a knife in the ribs. As Bethor fell something gave way in the people of Enden. They over powered the guards to the warehouse and snatched up the bows. Although they lost many they drove the Mercenaries out of the forest.

Historians note: Aralea talking to Bethor in his dreams is most likely propaganda from the priests of Enden though the story of his guilt may most likely be true. The real reason why Bethor changed his mind is not known. He may have been murdered and this story created over time. What is known is that the people of Enden drove the Mercenaries from their homes though their troubles were not over.

The first thing that was done was to bury the gold. It tarnished the souls of who ever possessed it. Once the evil had been buried a new leader was needed. Bethor's son had died in slavery so it fell to his daughter to become the first ruling Enden queen. Her name was Ellebeth, and her reign was filled with trouble and woe. She had been left with a kingdom in turmoil. As the Enden tried to return to their old way of life they discovered although The mercenaries had gone the merchants still returned, fearing that the word would spread and new mercenaries would return the Enden faced their most shameful decision. The merchants must not leave the woods. Many evil tales were forgotten as the Enden rangers hunted down each and every merchant. They mourned the death of the merchants who had done nothing wrong but the Enden would never again trust the outside world and no more strangers must be allowed to find the Enden people.

Historians note: it took me many weeks to get the priest to admit to me what had happened. It seems they rarely talk about such thing. Though I did discover that they raised a memorial to the merchants. However evil this hunting down of merchants sounds once I cross referenced this time with other records it seems that the disappearance of the merchants meant that no other would dare venture into the forest and the safety of the Enden was assured. Though I am sure many people who read this will be horrified, if you have read details of what happened to the people of Enden during Bethor's reign (for many details were too horrific to write down here) you would understand why they took such drastic action. To this day this remains Eden's secret shame and one of the few black marks on their kingdom.

However Ellebeth's reign would be marred by many more tales of woe, none greater than the great fire that almost consumed all. It was a hot summer. All around animals staggered around searching for a place to drink. The people of Enden had stopped hunting. To do so in such heat was pointless. However just when it seemed to be getting cooler disaster struck. Somewhere in the forest a spark was struck, from this one spark the forest began to blaze. At first the people of Enden ignored it. It was far away and the rains would soon come. As the fire came closer the rains did not come. Some rangers were even forced to leave their homes deep in the forest. After a full week of the blaze the people were overcome with panic. Many died vainly trying to defend their homes from the undefendable. Giloven began to swell with the amount of refuges that poured into it on a daily basis. Soon the red of the blaze could be seen from Giloven and the smoke thick. Ellebeth made the second hard decision of her reign and ordered that all trees near Giloven save Esragoth would be cut down to save the town. The people began to work. Anyone who could wield an axe was given one. Many trees fell. The people mourned them as they cut them down. One by one a large clearing was made and the fire passed by. Many days later the rains began and the fire died down. Only then could the Enden look at the devastation that had been wrought. Acre upon acre was now nothing but blackened ash. At the time it seemed they would never recover from such a catastrophe. However as they stared, Ellebeth smiled, the people followed her gaze, the first leaves that had been seen for many years were growing on the great tree Esragoth. This meant one thing, hope.

Historians note: The great fire marked the end of the Age of Strife, which had lasted almost 40 years in all. I got the feeling that many things happened between the fall of Bethor and the great fire but the priests wouldn't tell me. Perhaps they haven't forgiven the outsiders yet, perhaps it involves us. I do not know all I do know is that Bethor's reign lasted 10 short years. It seems the Enden are missing 30. What happened in this time I could only guess, though one day, when they trust me, I may find out and then I may tell the world. All I can say for now is the Enden may not have always been kind and good. I have set my assistants to research all records they can find from this missing period from surrounding cultures, who knows what I may find. My only clue is that Ellebeth was later named, Ellebeth, the bringer of Sorrow.

Modern History

The written history of the Enden goes back only around a 150 years, and that has been written within the last few years, by oral accounts. Everything else is based on legends and myth, and the words of the few Learned who survived Rahzkan's marches through the land. Much of the history is not very interesting, but the recent history is what shapes the Enden in this very day. The hatred that the Enden hold of Rahzkan and the south comes from when he marched south through the Bloodlands and to more of an extent, when he marched north again. When Rahzkan marched south with his small militia, they destroyed much of the forest they marched through, and the Enden, as tree lovers, were disgusted by this and became cold to Rahzkan then, but never took action as of such before he marched north, this time closer to their lands. Rahzkan's scouts told the captains of his army of a forest community, with shelter and supplies, nearby, on his march north. Rahzkan was never one to turn down supplys for no cost, and sent a party of men to the town to demand food and weapons. When the party arrived they were greated by an armed force of men, some in tall wooden supports high in trees, others in wooden towers, and others simply standing in front of them. The huge army had not exactly been difficult for the Enden to track and they had begun preparing as soon as it appeared apparent the army was heading for their town, the only large settlement of the Enden, called Giloven. Giloven was, at its peak, a small, but still beautifull city. It was almost entirely wooden, even the temples and the palace was made of primarily all wood, it being the only readily available resource in great amounts. Giloven was located in a large clearing, though much of it was fields, and in the very center stood a mighty tree, it was called Esragoth, and regarded as the center of the Enden kingdom and was where corinations had been made for as far as any Enden can recount. The Enden army was mightily outnumbered, but the Enden's were well equiped and used the trees and terrain well. Even though they were putting up a brave fight, they were losing. The King of the land at that time, Garet Elvaraldor, commanded his advisors of state and his own personal bodygaurd, to take his son, Aragon, who was 14 at that time, and leave Giloven and continue the Enden kingdom. They took many of the wommen and children too, and fled away as the rement of the Enden army along with the current King, gave their lives for Aragon and his party. Aragon did not return for over a week, during that time they hid in the trees, surviving on nuts and berries. When they did return, they found their city burnt and the Great Tree chopped down. Much of the party sat down and wept, but eventually they set about buring the dead and recovering what they could. Amongst the dead they found Kind Garet, and they wept yet more at his maimed body. Garet was buried and Aragon crowned King of Enden in front of the stump of Esragoth. After buring the dead and recoving all they could, they left Giloven and set off on a march to find the site for their new city. They decided on a smaller clearing, and named it 'Anorf' which is from their ancient language, belived to mean 'The Second'. One of the first actions King Aragon took was to found 'The table of Esragoth', named after the Great Tree from which the table was made of. Five people were granted permission to sit at it, apointed by the King, who would lead the table. This table is the ruling sect of Enden, but still under the King. Of other history the is little, and most of it would hold no intrest to anyone other than a dedicated Historian, perhaps one day I will put them into writing also, but translating the language of the ancient Enden is no easy task, and I must rest now.

Respectfully yours, Hilnorn Ril, Historian of Adellion.