The continent of Everyon was first
seen by our people some 1200 years ago as they sought for refuge. Our old
lands, known as the "Anvil of Rhynn", to the west had become
contaminated. All was peaceful there untill 200 years before the great
migration. Then, some mage unleashed powers unknown to the delvers of the
Arcane Arts. A rift was opened between the worlds and hordes of creatures
henceforth unknow to us, entered our homelands.Mightily our people strove to overcome
them and, for a while, their resistance held. Soon most of our fair lands
were destroyed and we were slowly forced to the sea. We found safety, locked
within our seaholds, but, only for a short time. Soon, even there we were
being decimated. Our only hope lay in crossing the great sea to some new land
believed to lie to the east.Under the protection of our mightiest
mages we built ships. Huge ships, capable of travelling hundreds of leagues
and carrying some 75 score people. Half a hundred ships did we build and
sundry smaller for provisions, equipment, and livestock. 75,000 men, women,
and children set sail to carry our seed to safety, to a new home in the east.
For a year and three months we sailed;
through fair weather and foul. Almost 4,000 did we lose. Mass burials at sea
became a common occurrance. The food became scarce and only through the
prayers of our priests did we survive. Only when hope had all but perished
did the Gods of Light show us the way.It was young spring when we sailed
into the greates bay we had ever seen. The Atlarian Bay,
named for the lookout who first spotted land. At the southern end of the bay
we landed and spent much time in praise to the gods.
Soon the colonists, using the ships
for materials, had built a small village named Tunal'ake, which
meant First Home. while a second group, led by At'lar the lookout, went north
and founded Ak'alar. The beginning of the Golden Land Province.
The next several years were spent in
the production of crops and laying in of usable goods. The people were blest
in that the area they had come to was fertile and had but a short winter.
As all colonists, they soon became
interested in the new world around them, and they began to explore. The area
about the bay was weel-enough known to them so they set out further afield. A
group ventured south while another, east.
The eastern group soon came upon the
Central Plains region which was already known on its outskirts.
Many lowgrasses and rock with little or no life beyond small animals. Then
came the forbidding mountains, craggy, forlorn, they were named
Toorleca or Mountains of Shadows. Long months they passed to
the north till winter came and they made camp at the northwestern edge near
the exit of a great river and called their camp (village) Locari
or simply: Winter Home.
The southern scouts moved along the
shoreline then east. Extensive exploration began the 7th year, in the
Plains of Salandra between Tunal'ake and the imposing
forest to the south. They came finally to several large mounds looking like
barrows and here they spent the winter.
At first spring, the southern group,
led by Gandalor the Ranger, moved further south to explore the
forest. South even till they reached great mountains and a mighty river
flowing north. The mountains, with their red glow from volcanic activity were
named the Salis'yar or Heart Fire Mountains.
Here the explorers felled trees to
make rafts to aid their search. After but three trees were down, the party
found themselves surrounded. Strange beings, taller than the average human
but of lighter frame, and armed to the teeth with bows and nets. The scouts
were taken prisoner and Gandalor spent the remainder of the summer with these
people, learning their languages and their customs.
He came to know them well, these beings
who called themselves Lios Alfar. At the beginning of winter of
the 8th year, the scouts returned to Tunal'ake with a group of these
Light Elves to speak of truth and alliance. This, the first meeting of
man and elf is recorded in Gandalor's Treatise.
During this time, the eastern scouts
left their winter home and moved south along the base of the Toorlecas
where they met with a great river moving north through the mountains. Part of
the force constructed several small rafts and set north, thinking to travel
through the mountains to their Locari. The rest would set out east and
then later return to meet with the river force.
Those travelling by boat never returned
though the returning party waited long. They named the river
Elath y Salys'leyath or the River of Heart Tears for their lost
friends. Afterwards, they explored the region extensively and, near the
foothills, found a structure covered in weeds and vines. A great hexagonal
building some 6 stories tall and seemingly ancient. For weeks they sought
entrance but to no avail. After much discussion they set out for home. This
was the 10th year since landing.
This WebPage was created by Michael Brown and all information, (except where noted) is copyrighted to Michael Brown, 1998