Adventures in Arcadayn
The realm known today as the Kingdom of Visala was originally settled by the Daleman hill tribes, who are descended from a mixture of early Northlander peoples from the far west and the Outlander tribes (Sakan and others) from north of the Twin Passes. The Krithians came next, and gave the Dalemen lands the name of "Feria" ("wildlands"); their colonies of Sivia ("civilized," in contrast to Feria), Iluar and Kastir were founded shortly before 300 KC [Krithian Calendar] (VY [Visalan Year] -120). Conflict was common between Krithians and Dalemen, with frequent raids, skirmishes, and even major wars during the fourth century KC (VY -100's).
With the help of faerie allies from the far west, the hill tribes seized Sivia and Kastir, which they held for over 20 years in the "Aelfhild" (Elf War: 330-352 KC; VY -147 to -125). The citadel of Caerdin Har (the core of present-day Kelm Har) was begun during this occupation. Krith eventually reclaimed these lost colonies, but not before the colonists had a taste of greater independence under Daleman rule. Sivia and Kastir rebelled a century later, in 469 KC (VY -8). The Empire had nearly crushed the Northern Rebellion when its Outland colony, Tembar, followed example and revolted. The Empire diverted its attention to suppress the uprising there. This allowed the northern rebels to recover and, in time, to force a truce (in VY 1, or 477 KC) which granted the new Kingdom of Visala its independence. The two kingdoms continued to have frequent border disputes in Iluar throughout the lifetime of Visala's first king, Inbron I. Upon Inbron's death (VY 24), a Celestian prophet named Ororant created the Asanoi, two talismans of powerful priestly magic. In the hope of sealing a lasting peace between the two kingdoms, Ororant gave one Asanos to the new Visalan king, Eofric, and the other to Emperor Drykar of Krith.
The primary concern of the new Visalan kings was to forge a peaceful union between the former Krithian colonies and the older Daleman hill tribes. The road to this goal was long and bloody, but under the reign of King Elminar I (VY 74-127), the hill tribes pledged allegiance to the crown of Visala. The kingdom's borders soon expanded to include the Dales, Kralor and Komar--wilderness regions dominated by the Dalemen even to this day. Expeditions were made into the Blackwood, but the fearsome tales which the (rare) survivors brought back curbed expansion in this direction. Instead, a line of sentry forts were erected along the wood's border. With Daleman aid, the northernmost forests proved much more hospitable, and pioneers began to explore into northwestern Feria, which earned the name Riversmidst for the number of waterways found in its wooded hills.
In the 3rd century VY, Merlessa, Theocrat of Amarwar, successfully wooed a Daleman lord, Edar Kirak of Tath, and made him her consort. Their romance is a favorite ballad in Visala, especially in the Dales, Sivia, and Haria. Merlessa is revered as the patron saint of lovers and marriage among the Quadralunic Cults in Sivia and Haria. Her descendants still rule Sivia.
Distant Tembar again affected Visala's history when it and Krith entered into civil war (796-819 KC; VY 320-341). Krith repaid Visala for its aid during this war by ceding long-disputed Iluar.
The colonies in Riversmidst formed into a confederacy of baronies, which declared their independence from Visala in VY 366. Due to the difficult routes between Riversmidst and the rest of Visala--a narrow "safe" belt of forest to the north of the Blackwood, and a hazardous sea-and-land route through barbarian territory to the south--the secession was resolved peacefully. Relations between the two nations tend to remain friendly due to the numbers of Dalemen on both sides of the border.
The current King, Hamir I, succeeded his father, Elminar V, five years ago (VY 512). The present royal family has a pronounced strain of Daleman ancestry; Hamir, like many of his line, served as a ranger in the "passlands" of the Dales in his youth.
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This page last updated 11/5/2003 by Timothy E. Emrick. | Copyright 1998-2003 Timothy E. Emrick.