Forestlore Ch. 4: Histories

a note on pronunciation: Anja- (AHN-ya)

Eliant- (eh-LIE-ent)

Ionquin- (ee-ON-quin)

Sunia- (SOON-ee-uh)

Shirekhron- (SHIRE-crawn) [meaning the Forest King]

Faalshire- in the ancient Sunian language [meaning Great Forest]

Jaledriel- (GEL-ed-reh-el); Drie- (dray)

Draghaan- (DRA-gahn) [meaning dragon]

4

"There was an incredible light before me, and the roar of Draghaans behind me. Sight and sound were overwhelming. All I remember then was fearing for my life; then there was a great cry from the Spirit of the Forest before she was contained."

~excerpt from Journals of Faalshire, Alyien Barthon

***

I Refuge

Long ago, the land of Ariet was dominated by a race known as the Sunian. They were men- mortal humans with only physical, bodily power. They possessed no conjuring or spellgift.

During the third era of their time began a great war known as the Battle of Kings. It was a brutal and bloody war between the three Ariet empires after their kings declared the ultimate test: whosoever conquered the others would reign supreme king of Ariet.

Fewer Sunians survived than were taken by death. But of those who lived, some had decided to leave behind their torn homes and burnt cities. They searched for refuge-- which they found when they stumbled upon an immense forest none had yet discovered.

The Sunian men quickly began rebuilding their lives within the forest. What they were unaware of, though, was that the Forest was filled with magic, created by the substance itself.

There began to be reports: sightings of small winged creatures, some inexplicably beautiful. People saw horned creatures like horses, humans with the tails of large fish, even trees that moved and spoke.

A fear and unexplained wonder fell upon the migrant dwellers of the Forest. What was this magic that seemed to be found around every corner?

"There were rumors of a great palace concealed by the speaking trees in the Forest. No one who ventured to pass the trees prevailed."

~excerpt from Journals of Faalshire, Liion Pardn

The theory spread was that the Spirit of Faalshire lived on, though said defeated by the last Draghaan. It was often said that she was found at night in dark crevasses of the Forest, and that the magic it possessed was from her.

***

II A Study of Encounters

After the time that had past, the Sunians made home in the Forest and had kept peace with the magic that surrounded them. Explorers discovered new information regarding other creatures.

The creatures with the tails of fish they called mermaids. Seemingly human, they spoke a language not yet deciphered by men.

The fair animals with the body of a horse and horns made of a rich, stone-like substance the Sunians called Uni-corns. Though they were rare and incredible to sight, they were pronounced immortal and regenerating.

Most recognizable at this time were the small winged creatures, Faeries. Harmless, peaceful, and speaking the language of the mermaids, they were seen in three forms: Spirit, Water, and Elemental. Spirits faeries appeared as faintly glowing wisps resembling a small human. Water faeries formed from dancing water itself; and Elementals were described as the most man-like. The color of the creature normally determined where it was found in its respected element of nature.

Finally, the speaking tree people the Sunians called Trinacht, after a traditional Sunian word meaning 'of the tree'.

III Return

Four ages* later, the Return came upon the Sunian migrants of Faalshire.

*in this text, an 'age' represents a period of approximately one-hundred years.

In this time a historic day was marked. Only was it described as the Return another half an age later.

"It was on no one's mind that this was upon us-- all of the sudden, it was like the accounts of the last Draghaan's attack. But once understood, it gave a sort of...hope. The spirit of the Forest shone brightly around the sky, on every face, sparkling through each eye. And thus, we knew a just rule was to be begun."

~excerpt from Journals of Faalshire, Syp Wierthold