History of New Melderyn
(as known by the average person)

The Pre-years

In 25 BT (Before Transport) by New Melderyni reckoning, during the high eldritch period, "traveling" was discovered. This discovery was harnessed within the form of ornate ohistas. These ohistas, thought to be of earthmaster origin, could transport masses of people over long distances. The "traveling" significantly weakened the shek p’var harnessing it, so began the necessity of "bondings" for protection. It is unclear if these "bondings" were some sort of promise, a Fyvorian enchantment, a ritual employing an earthmaster device, or a combination. Collectively the shek p’var of the old kingdoms kept this knowledge (traveling & bonding) a very closely guarded secret, especially from He Who Ruled. Some speculate that the Savoryans may still have the secrets locked away, possibly buried deep within their libraries against the day that "the people" should have to flee again. Revealing the secrets of the ohistas is a crime that, even today, would warrant execution.

By mid 12 BT, the rebel shek p’var of the old kingdom began subtly recruiting those with the best chances of surviving on a remote desolate mountain plateau. Unfortunately, these pilgrims were often shanghaied. Consequently, not all the new inhabitants were there willingly, regardless of their opinions of their tyrant's rule. This posed some problems in the early years. To further break clean, all old methods of time tracking were abolished, and the official calendar year was restarted as "Since Arrival" (SA). The plateau was rudimentarily mapped during this time. There was no obvious life indigenous to the plateau; indeed, some early maps indicate that there was even very little vegetation in the beginning. With the plateau being surrounded by undescendible cliffs and no other known means of escape by the average commoner, the refugees were effectively "bottled up" in their new home. It was agreed that the possibility of their new home being discovered by He Who Ruled was too great. The first establishment on the plateau was decided should be a military outpost to stave off any would be invaders. All knowledge of "travelling" was strictly controlled by the military, hence not allowing even exceptionally gifted shek p'var the chance to study and possibly learn how to explore beyond. This, the Savoryans hoped, would isolate them and not draw any undue attention that life existed here. This may have saved them from being ravaged by other potentially more powerful races.

Due to the lack of vegitation (and even fresh water) on the plate, many of the early shek p'var spent every ounce of mystical energy transforming the plate into a suitable for habitation. During this time Sul'cri and Gul'ren had a particularly strong influence with the council. Between the "travelling", creation/magnification of air and water, and other miscellaneous mystical ensorcelments, this era somewhat saturated the plate with magical residue. Current day Savoryans blame this for many of the unusual phenomena.

The Berelius Colony

Encountering no serious threats, Berelius Rock (as it was jokingly referred to as) was slowly becoming a full-fledged community, Berelius Colony. Berelius Rock was voted to be an independent colony by the council in 241 SA. Despite the apparent lack of threats, the colonists decided it wise to increase the outpost to more of a fortified keep, and still later, into a walled city.

It is rumored that the keep's (Caer Berelius, as it would soon be known) lower catacombs took over 35 years of continuous construction to complete compared to the scant five years it took for a fully fortified palace to be completed. Caer Berelius was of dwarven construction and crafted of an unusual stone found no where else on the plateau. There is no written record as to the designer nor any names or details of the crews that built the palace. As of 1075 SA, the palace is still the most impressive fortification on New Melderyn. Even though the legal right to establish the keep was given by the ruling council in 241 SA, its construction unofficially started by certain warlords about 204 SA.

The Free City of Cherifar

After many years, the colonists finally voted for a Berelius Colony charter for the city of Cherifar. This allowed the colony to tax its colonists for colonial improvements. Soon thereafter, the city's changes were many, running hot and cold water, a walled outer city, and public bath houses to name just a few.

With the construction of a city the colonists unified like never before. Aid from the council began to come much more quickly and readily than it ever had in the past. The New Melderyn nation acted as one, instead of individuals. This was a serious step toward solving the decade old problem of slow adoption of new proposals toward Berelius Colony's future. The 127 years of strife officially ended in 368 SA, with the declaration that Berelius Colony and the surrounding territories of the plate to be renamed the nation of New Melderyn from this time forward.

The council of New Melderyni soon realized the potential problem of there being not enough skilled artisans residing on the plate. Within 13 years, artisans such as blacksmiths, healers, farmers, stone masons, and even general laborers were being sent from the homeland to bolster New Melderyn's self sufficiency.

Those volunteering to remain behind to "keep an eye on things" were not willing to risk undue attention by losing its best artisans, so they sent captured enemy artisans and political refugees. These enemy disappearances were explained as lost ships (especially those attacked by the tyrant's armies), zun attacks, or other similar explanations. For example, some barbarian ships that had set out to attack one of the tyrant's cities mysteriously vanished in a freak storm the very night that the landing was to take place. Sorcery is rumored to have been used, but no concrete evidence was ever found.

King Balir the Bold

After several hundred years of rulership, the council decided that a figurehead should be elected with the power to make the less impacting decisions for the nation. Lord Marshall Balir was crowned to rule New Melderyn as King Balir the Bold, the first king of New Melderyn because of his daring military career. Even though given the title of king, the authority vested within that person was not absolute. For example, they were unable to veto any decrees made by the council. The immigration continued through his entire lifetime. Many militaristic laws on the books date back to King Balir's rule.

Queen Atrina the Desirable

The New Melderyni council elected Queen Atrina to the throne in 449 SA. Although being a very strict, yet popular monarch, she was most known for her promiscuity. The Life Day Festival was said to be the lucky day for any fair-skinned knight in her lady's service. During this festival a knight chosen for his valor, bravery, charm, chivalry, and most importantly appearance, was made king for a day with all the fringe benefits allowed to that station. Queen Atrina never married, but succeeded the crown to her bastard son Renin in 465 SA.

King Renin the Strong

Renin was given the crown when he was fifteen years old. An obscure uncle helped him rule until his eighteenth birthday. He turned out to be a very well liked (even loved) monarch, noted for his physical strength.

The Great Fire

In 471 SA, during King Renin's rule, the plate encountered it's first major disaster. A massive uncontrolled blaze destroyed hundreds and thousands of priceless tomes and royal archives. Some of these archives were warded from the heat of normal fires, but most were not. Because the fires were not of magical origin, this rules out the blaze was intentional. An old world sympathizer had claimed responsibility for the arson, and has not been seen since.

The issue of what to do was heatedly debated for many years. It was apparent that these records must be restored if possible. Since the Savoryans were the keepers of knowledge and many of their number were elves, the order was finally given to re-write the book, tomes, & official records. These were reconstructed through memory, divine guidance and piecing parts together. Records from this period are said to be mostly accurate (though no scholar will testify more than 80 percent accuracy).

Many an eyebrow has been raised about this turn of events. This is said by some, to have literally handed the Savoryans the chance to rewrite history as they see fit. It is a documented fact that whole tomes from this period have been broken into volumes to safeguard certain knowledge (such as the " travelling spell") from the common man. A few gaps are also notibly present. For example, in 490 SA when the immigrations ended, all written accounts of the journey were transcribed with great similarity, such as the following excerpt of the legend as recounted by Carro of Melnad, a failing merchant, that was given the opportunity to start again on the new frontier:

"...the people, the skilled, and the refugees, were selflessly saved from a failing oppressive (and very corrupt) dictatorship to the west of (redacted). We were saved by a powerful and mysterious Shek P'var, who transported by (redacted) ships to this brave new world. Against all manner of hardships, we commoners were treated as though WE were important. We would lie our lives down for such a nation, to embrace us, the wretched, poor, poverty-stricken as we were..."

Savoryans officially have never commented on these allegations. Oddly, all accounts redocumented seem to display a renewed sense of well being and patriotism for their adopted country. Whether phasing was pure honest relief, an oversight of some sort, a slackard scribe, or some other unusual occurance has never been proven. The Great Transcribe is still an ongoing Savoryan project.

King Azure the Complacent

King Renin's first two sons died at young ages due to a strange crippling illness. Renin always suspected it to be an Odivshe curse put upon his family line. For these and other reasons, King Renin proclaimed that all Odivshe were to be outlaws and executed when found. King Renin's third son Azure was crowned the fourth ruler of New Melderyn, upon Renin's death in 503 SA. King Azure the Complacent was quite possibly the only ruler in history to have made no "command decisions" during his nineteen year rule.

King Forn the Traitorous

King Forn was crowned king in 522 SA, after the death of King Azure the Complacent. There is little information to be found about this king. He had inappropriate dealings with certain individuals during his rule, which ended in his execution.

In 535 SA, the populous was stunned by the news that King Forn was to be executed. King Forn was to be executed for treason for allegedly reveiling the "travelling spell". The local populous never knew specifics for King Forn's decapitation, but were never the less shocked and bewildered as to who had the power and authority to sentence the king to death.

King Beltin the Stupid

These unforetold events left the nation with Beltin the Stupid as king. Some say the king decreed Beltin as heir to the crown in jest, but was tried for treason before he could rectify the change. King Beltin was never suspected or even charged for any of the events surrounding King Forn's death. He was just to dumb to be suspect for any misdeed. Nevertheless, Beltin ruled for 22 years until he died from a viral ailment.

King I'ginn the Mystical

Amid great controversy, I'ginn was crowned the seventh king of New Melderyn. He was the first king to be an accomplished shenava of no less than three different shek p'vars. Many feel the people are still not aware of all the magicks I'ginn cast upon the nation and the capital city.

I'ginn seemed to have a particular talent in long-lasting spells that took years to emerge. Some have hinted he may be responsible for the "soft gates", the "barrier zone", and many other unusual phenomena.

One of I'ginn's major accomplishments was the establishing of several groups of specific advisors to aid in decision making 564 SA. These advisor boards were created to aid, advise, and help create policy for the king. The boards are composed of scholars in very divergent fields of knowledge. These advisors live and work within Caer Cherifar, many have never since been seen by the outside world.

I'ginn ruled for many years and finally succeeded to his man-at-arms Tomal. No one is certain of what became of I'ginn. He vanished in a blinding flash of light less than 24 hours after relinquishing the throne. History tells us very little of Tomal, but being a military man, he was personally responsible for many improvements in his garrisoned forces.

King I'ginn II the Younger

A cousin to I'ginn, I'ginn II was also an infamous mage of reputed great powers. A mere two years after his coronation, I'ginn was assassinated. The assassin was never named, and never sought after by the royal guard. A fetching third cousin, named Genda, was crowned queen seven months later. She is said to have had hair of gold and all the brains of gold as well.

King Giltur the Gallant

Giltur was a relatively unknown noble of royal lineage, he ascended to the crown under New Melderyn's vague succession laws. Some say King Giltur ruled with an iron fist, just, but often inflexible. Any laws dating back to this rule are black or white with no gray areas.

The end of 691 SA brought a marauding army of humanoid zun monsters dangerously close to defeating Caer Cherifar's unprepared defenses. Until the attack at Cherifar, no indigenous life was known to exist on New Melderyn. The only other life forms to the plate had been intentionally brought there and released to procreate. King Giltur surmised that certain shek p'var had had some indication of the impending humanoid attack, but failed to forewarn the New Melderyni government. Such individuals would never make that mistake again.

The "Soft Gates"

A royal decree was issued that the source of these humanoid trespassers appearances was to be found and eradicated. In the early eightth century, a shek p'var named Baresi discovered several apparently natural portals, that opened at random allowing creatures to "gate" in. The Savoryans collectively believe that the immergence of the portals is a direct result of the high level of magic in use on New Melderyn up to that time. The Savoryans also believe that certain shenava knew of or forecast the possibility of such "soft gates" appearing on New Melderyn and opted not to reveal their suspicions.

Acting on the assumption that the Savoryans were correct, magic use on New Melderyn was halted, magic tomes were covertly requisitioned, enchanted items started to become misplaced, and powerful New Melderyni mages mysteriously vanished never to be seen again. It was a drastic choice between this and being over run with blood thirsty humanoid monsters. Latent mental powers, which had always been present in the New Melderyni people, was officially encouraged as an alternate power to arcane magic. These psionic powers did not appear to hasten or worsen the "soft gate" phenomena. There are 6 charted "soft gates" on New Melderyn, none of which are known to the general populous. These "soft gates" have come to be known as Baresi Points to scholars.

There is at least one magic dead area on New Melderyn as a result from the Tazmut's unsuccessful efforts to close a portal. The current theory of the "soft gates" is that they are a magically triggered, natural, non-magical phenomena. Since the abysmal failures to close the portals in 755 SA, no other attempts have been authorized by the New Melderyni government.

In the next 200 years the amount of magic use gradually increased (though still, at low levels compared to before King Giltur's rule), and subsequently has had no apparent affect on the existing gates nor have the creation of any new portals been reported. With the increasing magic use, the danger presented by the portals seems to be greatly ignored by the mage-class in general, but common magic use is still drastically limited by the outdated, but existing laws.

The "Barrier Zone"

There has been a reported "natural barrier" beginning to form around the edge of the plateau since as early as 704 SA, but no apparent royal interest has been generated. The "barrier zone" seems to entirely circle the plate at a rough 100 yard from the edge. The barrier seems to be non-existant in Cherifar. Some have experienced no resistance at times, while others have reportedly been as near as twenty yards from the table with no ill effects.

The shek p'var have noted the lack of wild talents being born with any psychoportation ability. The Tazmut have theorized that the "barrier zone" is the reason. All creatures approaching the barrier will feel a strong sense of aversion to the region. Some individuals apparently can approach closer to the edge than others, though the barrier itself does seem to thin-out unexplainably at times. This makes scholarly tests very difficult, if not impossible. The zone seems to draw out all thoughts from the creature's mind. If exposed for a prolonged length of time, the result is a coma from which the victim will most likely not awaken.

Some Savoryans greatly fear the barrier zone will continue to expand until (human) life can no longer be sustained on the plate. Many theses have been written on this phenomenon.

King Azure II the Gay

King Azure II was good-hearted, joyful, and rarely angered. Some say this, and his slow response, was a major contributor to the nearly successful attack by the humanoid army.

Seeing a royal response was not forthcoming, a reclusive mage, named Genin, personally assembled a large group of various shek p'var to do battle for the crown. They magically routed the second major humanoid attack of Cherifar in 929 SA, but did not destroy the bulk of their army. Today, many mistakenly credit Genin for single handedly defeating the zun hoarde.

King Azure II died from wounds inflicted from the attack, after two years of tortuous pain.

In 927 SA, the first true foreigners were discovered. Due to the isolationist mentality of the citizens of the plateau, this portends a possible discovery by the evil dictator that drove the New Melderyni people to flee here. These new-comers supposedly did not understand the common language and appeared to be completely unaffected by the "barrier zone". They were said to be very secretive and even when communication was established they refused to comment on their origins. Within a week of their appearance, the Royal High Guard escorted them to the audience of King Azure. A rumor of their deaths during a royal mind probe was all the proof of their existance that remained a month later.

King Telsir II

Prince Telsir was given the crown by Prince Azure III, because Azure wished to be the Lord Marshall and personally see to the defeat of the humanoid monsters and avenge his father's death before assuming the crown.

Upon coronation at the age of 10, Prince Telsir adopted the name Telsir II. The former Lord Marshall Delmon was appointed royal advisor until Prince Telsir reached the age of fifteen.

Lord Marshall Prince Azure III

Eight years later after raising the most massive army in New Melderyn's history, Lord Marshall Prince Azure III, still the heir to the New Melderyni crown, led an all out assault to purge the country of all monsters once and for all. Prince Azure rode out with 10 companies of troops and vanished without a trace, but he did leave a trail of near-human corpses. The legendary Wayfarer sword and the Healing Hand of Hardess, that he was supposedly carrying, were lost in the battle along with Prince Azure and his men. The Cherifar clock tower was rededicated to the memory of Genin's victory over the monsters and have a nation-wide celebration to ease the peasants worries over Prince Azure's army's disappearance.

Master of the Esoteric Arts

During 968 SA, King Telsir adopted Flayh Tovin as Master of the Esoteric Arts for the nation of New Melderyn. He was granted the title of Virana, the first and only mage to date to hold such a title. This position is not widely known nor advertised. Those that do know him can never recall seeing him cast a spell of any sort. He is reputed to be a master of mental arts as well. Tovin was 35 when he achieved Virana and has now served four monarchs and appears to be nearing his fifties.

First Night

Late in the year 998 SA, after several centuries of continuous daylight, a massive earthquake struck New Melderyn resulting in it's first night in recorded history. Some Savoryans believed a collision of some type may have occurred to the planet, resulting in a slight spinning motion of the world.

For the first month, the nightly darkness was complete. Then, the moon appeared one night and has kept a geostationary orbit since then. There has been no concrete evidence on any explanation to merit wasting more time and energy on mere theory. Night was now a factor that must be taken into account for, since it would take up half the daily cycle probably from this day forward.

King Azure IV the Lazy

King Azure was known for his procrastination. Many say that the only remarkable fact of his 42 year reign is that nothing happened. This is not far from the truth, no new laws or proclaimations were added during his rule. His throne was finally given to his daughter Atrina. An ironic historical note is that no mention is made as to whether King Azure died or not, and if so, of what.

Queen Atrina III the Proud

In the year 1053 SA, Queen Atrina III the Proud is crowned the 18th ruler of New Melderyn. She has no intentions of taking a husband (and therefore, naming a king), but she enjoys her dalliances. By way of such romances, she has bore four children Alianna (1057 SA), Coushara (1062 SA), Mishria (1065 SA), and Wireena (1069 SA). Under New Melderyni succession laws, any one of her daughters could one day rule. So each is protected as the next monarch of the plate. As princesses of the realm, no expense has been spared to insure their survival, including spells, tutoring, divinations, and personal enhancements. Also, due to their Laurealdan heritage and the psionic activity level of the plate, each is underway to being a master psionicist.

Holidays, Worship Days and Festivals

The annual Survival Day Festival not only commemorates Genin's sound victory. Celebrations, boistrousness, and drinking excesses are usually the norm on this holiday. Some also enjoy the traditional reenactments of "actual" historical fights. A true ceremony includes a great shek p'var who entones a few mysterious castings before the battles begin. Some will say this mage presence is a representation of Genin signaling the beginning of the war.

In 1038 SA during Survival Day, a group of head-strong adventurers boasted that they would recover the Wayfarer Sword and the Healing Hand of Hardess lost with Azure III. They were, also, lost and never found.

The 7th of day of each month is the day of worship for Halea, with the 1st through the 7th of Halane being the Banquet of Delight Festival. The 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month are the days of worship for Larani, with the 17th of Larane being the Feast of Saint Ambrathas. The 4th, 12th, 20th, and the 28th are days of worship for Peoni, with the 4th of Peonu being the Restoration Festival and the 14th through the 17th days of each month being their purification ritual. The 6th day of each month is the day of worship for Save K'nor, with the 6th of Savor being the Saint's Mass.