Elantion - Valentina Massano

Valentina Massano

Elantion The Scion, the Vagabond and the Rebel

Elantion The Scion, the Vagabond, and the Rebel

Book One

Text and illustrations

Copyright© 2018 Valentina Massano

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the authors prior consent.

First edition: April 2018

English edition: September 2020

Translator: Giuseppe di Martino

Publisher: Tektime www.traduzionelibri.it

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and events are products of the authors imagination. Any reference to real people or events is purely coincidental.

MAP OF DRAELIA

FOREWORD

The story you are about to read was born by chance, inspired by my great passion for video games and the fantasy genre

This adventure has been long, exhilarating, and satisfying, but also difficult and often disheartening. I had fun drawing the map of this world, imagining the paths my characters would tread, and I enjoyed sketching their faces on a simple notepad to make them more real.

As the story evolved, and my ideas really started to take shape, it all became easier from there. I was always accompanied by my old iPod, and by the amazing music of Wardruna, which were the only things that allowed me to focus during the drafting and creation of this universe of mine.

Since this is the first in a series of books, I decided to indulge in a long prologue that will explain some of the various quirks of this new world.

I am open to your criticisms and advice, and I hope you enjoy reading my work.

Valentina

CHARACTERS

Kaj Holden: the Scion, the descendant of Aidan III.

Efren Melvin: illusionist mage of Olennon.

Byron Gardrick the Inexhaustible or Five Fingers: Captain of the Army of the King of Draelia, Osman IV, until his forces were defeated.

Arvid Brownbear: Chieftain of the Brownbear Clan and of Rimetooth, and Hormargs father.

Hormarg Brownbear: Arvids son.

Gerd: Arvids maid.

Corald II the Castigator: King of Draelia from 287 to 308 F.R., known for his Purge of Olennon.

Osman IV the White-Haired: Last King of Draelia, reigning from 308 to 324 F.R., and often called the White-Haired due to the hair color he possessed from a young age.

Gwen I the Wise: Queen from 126 to 144 F.R., when she abdicated. The last sovereign of the realm to be remembered as a descendant of Aidan III.

Elrik II the Incompetent: Gwens brother, and King from 144 to 148 F.R.

Aidan III the Peacemaker: King of many virtues, chiefly remembered for the Great Reconciliation.

Kendrick: mage of the Fellowship of the Veil.

Vernon Davey: Lord of the Snowbay.

Jorgen: a capable warrior, and Vernons right hand.

Ellen: the last living Archmage of Olennon.

Clarice the Vagabond: a travel companion of Kajs.

Cilna: Kajs friend, and a young lady elf.

Yenven Hushblade: King of the Elves, and the latest in a long dynasty.

Ireid of the Furrowed Brow: Counselor to the King of the Elves.

Fanyr Alatin: General of the Elven Army, and a trusted friend of the Kings.

Atraed Talril: Captain of the Nidath City Guard.

Gihnaan Taleln: nobleman of Nidath, and the scion of the Taleln family, an eternal rival of the Hushblades.

Radris Taleln: Gihnaans uncle.

Sandeir: keeper of the Esyrel tavern.

Tilwen the Learned: Supreme Druidess of the Sacred Druidic Circle.

Fyar and Nelieth: High Druids of the Sacred Druidic Circle.

Dolost: High Druid during the era of the Second Tulvaren Invasion, and creator of the Key.

The Boldaxe Clan

Oloice Calrek the Braggart: youngest in his family, a brave warrior, and a good friend of Clarices.

Dreyn Calrek the Irascible: Oloices older brother.

Odrig Goldfinger Skàg: sole heir of the Skàg Family, and the man who administers the Clans income.

Kalborg Bator: second-born of the Bator Family, and the man who oversees the Clans political matters.

Oran Bator: firstborn, and Kalborgs brother. He serves on the Council as an old member, and he is a connoisseur of dwarven traditions.

The Goldhammer Clan

Rargon Ironfist Tasild: King of Tetirstad.

Aglas Tasild: the Kings sister, and current Regent of the throne.

Rahla Tachros: representative of one of Tetirstads most prominent families, and known for her leadership skills and rebellious nature.

The Ironmaul Clan

Baslic the Turncoat Jokun: head of the Jokun Family and of the Ironmaul Clan.

Hisel Jokun: Baslics wife, and manager of the Clans affairs.

Hrig the Spineless Jokun: Baslic and Hisels sole son, known for his lack of importance.

The Slums

Daryk: disowned by his family, he is now the leader of the criminals in the Slums.

Big Ear: the name everyone knows him by. One of the most cunning and treacherous dwarves in the district.

Culun: one of the dwarves in Daryks gang.

The House of Khelun

Athal Khelun: King of the Tulvars, Conqueror of Elantion, Commander of the Royal Guard, and head of House Khelun.

Zund Khelun: firstborn, Crown Prince, and General of the Draelian Campaign, as well as Commander of the Black Guard.

Sheera Khelun: second-born, and Commander of the Violet Archers.

Ziglan Khelun: third-born, and Commander of the Ragers.

Auril Khelun: fourth-born, and priestess of the goddess Thta.

Ramil Khelun: fifth and last of the royal progeny, and Commander of the Heavy Cavalry.

The House of Urgal-Khun

Yvalee Urgal-Khun: High Priestess, the Kings wife, and mother of the royal progeny, as well as an outstanding representative of House Urgal-Khun, the perpetual right hand of the Khelun.

Kyon Urgal-Khun: head of the House, and Yvalees cousin. Commander of the infantry legions.

Enetor Urgal-Khun: Kyons brother and Yvalees cousin; on the surface, he deals with the thorniest issues in support of the King, but he is capitalizing on his vast spy network.

The House of Irbhun

Lokle Irbhun: head of the House, Commander of the armys heavy forces, and loyal follower of Zund.

Rerik Irbhun: Lokles brother, and an excellent trader.

Deelnat Irbhun: Lokles daughter and Reriks niece.

Belal Irbhun: King of the Tulvars who led the army tulvaren during the Second Tulvaren Invasion of Elantion.

The House of Naled

Darno Naled: head of the House, and Zlers father.

Zler Naled: Darnos son, and Commander of the armys archer regiment.

The House of Turag-Khalin

Terke Turag-Khalin: head of the House, and Commander of the cavalry regiments.

Datnu Turag-Khalin: Terkes niece, killed by Enetor to safeguard the rise of the rebellion.

Others

Lyrus: Supreme Necromancer, and the oldest of all.

Snort: an uggar working for Lyrus.

Radash: a resva that has climbed up the ranks, becoming Captain of a group of soldiers loyal to Enetor.

Rodvar: a resva chosen by Zund to captain the Black Guard.

The Battle of the Brushwood Plains signaled the end of the Invasion, but all the Monarchs witnessed, upon returning to their realms, were death and ruin. The Great Reconciliation marked a crucial moment in historymost especially the tragic point in time during which it was signed. The document was prepared with expertise, and endorsed by all of the Monarchs of Elantion. That happening, so pivotal and without precedent across the millennia, was to be the turning point, and so the beginning of a new calendar was declared. The following year would not be called 1062, but rather Year Zero F.R. (Following the Reconciliation). All of the prior years were now labeled B.R. (Before the Reconciliation).

Excerpted from the tuecan manuscript, Chronicles of an Invasion, written by Master Xuapan.

611 B.R.: the First Tulvaren Invasion.

1056 B.R.: Aidan IIIs coronation as King of Draelia.

1059 B.R: the Second Tulvaren Invasion.

1061 B.R.: the Great Reconciliation between humans, elves, and dwarves.

Anno 1 F.R.: the Order of Masters splits into the High Order of Magic and Alchemy, and the Symeris Order of Arcane Scholars.

51 F.R.: Aidan IIIs death.

126 F.R.: Gwen I the Wises ascension to the throne.

304 F.R.: the Year of Penance against the mages of Olennon, courtesy of King Corald II of Draelia.

The summer of 324 F.R.: the Third Tulvaren Invasion.

PROLOGUE

As the Peoples believed, Nemnairil was the abyss in which the worlds of Elantion, Tesgaran, Lysirdor and Alceas floated. It was a dark dimension, stretching infinitely in all directions, and was shaped by the First Goddess, TakRah, at the genesis of time.

These worlds had been shaped over many eras by the Six Titans, spawn of the First GoddessIsevir, Nobar, Selfe, Kedal, Elatenn, and Odnir, each dominated by primordial forces. Upon them, the pantheon and their offspring gave shape to the progenitors of each of the Peoples. The dwarves derived from Tesgaran, the elves from Elantion, and the humans from Lysirdor.

And above it all, hidden from view by the Plane of Judgment where the souls of the dead were appraised, Oldenheim was given shape. This was where the pantheon settled after leaving the Peoples to their own devices. In Oldenheim, the passage of time lost all meaning, and it was to Oldenheim that the souls of the meritorious earned access. Below it all, the Great Void was formed, where those damned and excluded by the Realm of the Gods were cast for eternity.

Tesgaran, (which meant Realm of Rock in Old Dwarvish), was the home of the dwarves and the trolls. It was a cold and rocky world, constantly covered by clouds and swept by blizzards. Its mountains towered high into the skies, interspersed by deep canyons.

The dwarves, stocky and muscular from the outset, were skilled miners, and unmatched when it came to identifying precious metals and gems. They dug tunnels, cities, and mines in the depths of Tesgaran. The fires of the grand forges allowed them to craft any weapon or object.

The trolls, who were much taller than the dwarves, sported long arms, huge hands, and grey stone-hue skin. They dwelt upon the surface of Tesgaran, and they discovered that in some areas, the heat generated by the dwarves underground forges had melted the perennial ice, enabling flora and fauna to proliferate. So they decided to found their villages there, giving rise to a tribal civilization.

The two Peoples soon realized they needed each others skills to survive. While the trolls ensured the dwarves access to food, skins, fabrics, furnishings, and medicinal herbs, the dwarves could offer them weapons, armor, work tools, gold and silver artifacts, and jewels and gems of any shape and shade.

Lysirdor simply meant Lands of the Humans. A world with a mild, sunny climate, covered with vegetation and populated by animals of all shapes and sizes, humans thrived by building cities everywhere, dividing into disparate cultures. The Seafarer Humans inhabited the islands and coasts, their skin turning darker and their stature shorter with the passing of generations. They were traders of pottery, as well as fish and other fruits of the seas. Near their cities bordering the plains, weavers prospered. They were excellent shipwrights, and expert navigators.

The Plainswalker Humans settled in the large and vast grasslands of Lysirdor. Their temperate climate allowed the Plainswalkers to be skilled farmers, and breeders of some renown. They made a living selling the yields of the land, and soon garnered fame for their high-quality milk- and meat-derived products, such as cheeses and hams.

The Humans of the North settled in the frigid climate amidst mountains, fjords, and forests. They were hunters and shepherds. (They were also growers, albeit with little to show for their efforts.) Their main wares were leather, objects fashioned from bones and horns, and gold and silver artifacts of exquisite make. They became experts in the forging of weapons and in the production of woolen fabrics.

These diverse cultures did not always live in complete harmony, and many a battle was sparked over the years. Their gods took a liking to their desire to assert themselves and fight, so they decided to ascend, and let them live by their own power. However, the gods also loved all manner of vice, and before long they took to lying with men and women, siring demigods who engendered bloodlines endowed with magical powers.

Elantion, which meant Abode of the Elves in Ancient Elvish, was unsurprisingly the home of the elves.