Bern Vralas

Introduction
The city of Bern Vralas was the oldest cities on the sub-continent of Helmia ruled by the Berneric people of Noxnorr from days undated, to 0 TE, to the dissolution of the Sterling Crownlands.

This page solely focuses on the city of Bern Vralas under the control of Noxnorr, the Silver Coalition and the Sterling Crownlands, for history following the collapse of Owyddnorr look; Kyydrosil, Daelyria and Owyddnorr.

The City of Bern Vralas was in the hands of the House of Benilwyn until the collapse of Owyddnorr

History of Bern Vralas
The following comes from the Northern Lights - Volume 7 - Bern Vralas

" The Lunthir were among the first people to inhabit the subcontinent of Helmia. Far before the Noxist migration into Helmia occurred, the Lunthir people had already begun building many towns and villages throughout the region of Luel Bern in North Western Helmia. Before the arrival of the Noxists into Helmia, the Lunthir traded heavily with the ancient peoples of Aul Aer, the Aulmers. Most notable for modern historians is the existence of Lunethir jewels on Aul Aer and Aulmer pottery in Luel Bern. Following the Noxist migration and the Nox-Aulmer War trade slowed down, however during the Silver Age a friendly trade rivalry re emerged between the cities of Bern Vralas and Elren Vrocht.

The Ancient Lunethir people were, similarly to the Ancient Noxists, a mainly oral people, with only one known Lunethir written text. That being the Elrenrov or The Scarlet Death

Extract from The Scarlet Death

'The Scarlet Death, a deadly curse

Brings darkness and life’s reverse

The lilies beauty fades, they turn to dust

Their petals gone, their fate unjust’ The Scarlet Death tells the story of the Red Tulip plague, a devastating epidemic that wiped out nearly all the Lilies of the Valley from Helmia. The event was particularly distressing for the Lunethir who held the flower sacred.

The Lunethir were not a very religious people, they held sacred the Moon and the Lilies of the Valley, which they thought was an extension of the moon. Their limited faith concluded in a swift conversion to Noxism as the beliefs mirrored the Lunethir

The Lunethir spoke far more than they wrote, and they spoke in a language unique to Helmia and a language that went on to merge and mix with what would become the common Noxist tongue, Words such as 'Lunethir' and 'Bern' as well as Names like Marnawyn and Emgynel derive from Lunethir.

On the topic of languages, the word Lunethir is directly translated to: 'Those who follow the moon'.

Culturally the Lunethir were very similar to the ancient Noxists, due to the harsh climate of Luel Bern a culture of communal living as well as communal respect formed, and not adhering to respectful behaviour was considered deeply offensive. Moreover, it was considered bad manners for the Lunethir to complain about illness or injury. Unfortunately for some this lack of complaining led to the tradition Laemar, or the great jump. A right of passage for the youth within the Lunethir. The Laemar involved a young Lunethir jumping from a high place, typically a cliffside, into a small body of water. Unfortunately the laemar would become the largest cause of death within Luel Bern during the Silver Age with six and a half Mayors of Cradbern as well as many local citizens perishing from the activity (Mayor Lidyn Raemlyr didn't die from the Laemar, however he wasn't quite sane following it).

House Benilwyn would come to hold great power in Luel Bern following the Nox-Aulmer War, And House Benilwyn would retain control of the Luel Bern territory and rulers of the Lunethir until the fall of Owyddnorr in 55 TE. The Lunethir people would join the Gildrich of Noxnorr in around -300 TE after many years of Noxist conversion in the area.

Unlike the Stensars and Aulmers, the Lunethir would join the Gildrich of Noxnorr peacefully. It occurred after many years of Noxist conversion in the area.

During Noxist rule the cultural perception of the Lunethir would change, for one the name Lunethir would fall out of use and be replaced by Berneric or more usually written as Bernish. Moreover during Noxist rule the lilies saw a major resurgence in population and would become the symbol of the Berneric people.

At around -200 TE, Marnawyn Benilwyn, the Valdenvraeld of Luel Bern ordered construction to begin on a grand palace near the peak of the tallest mountain in Luel Bern. This 'Bern Vralas' or Mountain palace would begin its life as a holiday home for House Benilwyn and would later in life become the largest Noxist city. The Palace surrounded the last Cerfáu remaining in Luel Bern (The Cerfáu were large stone replicas of lilies, The time of their construction is unknown).

The Berneric people fought alongside the rest of Noxnorr against the Gildrich of Galaend. While the centre of Luel Bern remained quite peaceful villages and towns in the Southern Swamps of Luel Bern did see fighting.

In 0 TE following the uniting of the North and the South of Helmia under the Gildrich of Noxnorr a peace began to form that would last until the Trillium War. Luel Bern grew stably and Bern Vralas, now a burgeoning town, grew immensely in power and importance, however the city of Cradbern still remained the centre of power in Luel Bern.

The Berneric people, while present, did not play a major role during the werewolf attacks between 0 -> 7 TE. However, like all other Noxist cities, the Berneric barred entry for werewolves into their towns.

Similarly representatives from Luel Bern were not present during the signing of the Silver Coalition, however the majority of the Berneric population outwardly supported a unified and protected North under the Silver Coalitions banner.

Along with the beginning of the Silver Coalition the Berneric began construction of the Dunflalveal Port.

During the early Silver Coalition the Berneric towns grew steadily slowly and peacefully, however the Berneric people were opposed to the people of Braddanoch joining the Silver Coalition as they saw Braddanoch as a risk to Berneric interests in the Sea of Bern. Their plea was ignored. During the Great Golden War no Berneric citizens joined the peace keeping operations of the Silver Coalition however outwardly promoted peace in the region due to the proximity of Bardonia to Luel Bern. In 15 TE the centre of power in Luel Bern moved from Cradbern to Bern Vralas alongside construction work in the Awyriell district. With the movement of power also came a refining of duchy borders of Luel Bern however would be reworked in 20 TE and would remain as the borders until the dissolution of Owyddnorr in 55TE.

During the Silver Coalition Bern Vralas experienced major construction, notably the Courthouse of Bern, Great Tower, Great Lighthouse and Flaeheldvel and Mr Willy roads were constructed. While peace remained in Luel Bern, for the house of Benilwyn a major trial would begin, on the day of the New Year. Sovdal 24 TE in the temple of Aftonsal, Lord of Luel Bern, Vroghyn Benilwyn is praying on his yearly pilgrimage to the city. The city is quiet following a night of celebrations. Until, a sound of marching begins from the Eastern city and within mere moments the city is aloft in flames and cries. An army appears, an army not of foreigners but of northerners, at their helm, Avreham Basha Seyoh of Najer'ajad, chief diplomat of the Coalition. Benilwyn retreats to the hall of lords in Sovdal as cries of revolution burst. From the hall of lords Benilwyn hears, "I, in my capacity as High king, do announce that the Silver Coalition is no more: It is dissolved, and in its place stands the proud Sterling Crownlands.  We are the one nation of the true North; any challenges to this ideal shall be met with the sword. That is all, O' leaders of the world. May you view upon our glorious revolution as the Noxist deities of Afton, Roris, and Luna continue to guide our step. A full moon rises in tonight's eastern sky, upon the new year. Undoubtedly, this shall be our year; the beginning of a new era in Rathnir." and thus the Sterling Crownlands is born.

A revolution without bloodshed, forced to yield or face the combined might of the Sterling Crownlands, the people of Noxnorr remain quiet. Yet the Noxnorric would not accept this false king whom dared to crown himself within their most holy site. In the hall of lords the Valdenvraelds of Noxnorr plot, under the guise of the Green sheep, they would take back control. The people of Luel Bern were discontent, their freedom and independence was seemingly striped under the rule of the Crownlands. 26 TE after serving under High King Avreham Basha for a year the second coup begins, In a meeting between Empress Capricious of Yimmu-Audal and High King Avreham Basha the Noxist rose up. Cavalain Caprea, the High Priest of Noxism slew the High King and upon the conclusion of the second coup crowned Gwaendal Fievleii as the new High King of the Sterling Crownlands. The house of Benilwyns were absent from this event as Lord Vroghyn Benilwyn overslept believing the meeting was the following day. (True story). With crowning of Fievleii he became known as the 'Twice King' and the Sterling crownlands would enter the Trillium war against their former Trillium allies. The Battle of Urnu-Arrak was a devastating day for the Berneric, many young men went off to war and never returned home, Four Hundred and Twelve Berneric soldiers, young and old, lost their lives in the Trillium War, notably Sir Cársei Benilwyn, Commander of the Berneric army perished in service to the High King, pushed off the Audalii stronghold. Many tombs were carved into Mountains throughout the Luell Bern duchy in ancient Lunthir tradition; these tombs were lined with Lilies. The day is remembered as the Árvedioch, simply the War in Berneric dialect.

The Berneric law system was defined during the Silver Age, with the First Trial of the Sterling Crownlands being the first trial adhering to the new legal code of Luel Bern. The trial began with an act of treason by Cavalain Caprea, the act in question was the planting of a Red Tulip on Berneric soil. Caprea claimed that his colour blindness caused him to mistake the tulip for another flower, however this only led to a reduced sentence. Caprea attempted to gain a duel to the death to define his fate however High King Juli Aulder denied this request. Subsequently the second trial of the Sterling Crownlands occurred as members of the jury from the previous trial were caught attempting to bribe the defence lawyer and High King Juli Aulder in an attempt to have Caprea executed for his crime. The members of the jury attempted to take matters into their own hands and murder Caprea; however failed and both fled. One of the jury members Mr. Primeval turned himself in to law enforcements and claimed that his action of assault was purely in jest, his claim was denied and he was sentenced to Berneric jail, however upon request he was executed by High King Juli Aulder. The other member of the jury remained elusive and whilst in chase by law enforcement threw himself from the high walls of the Awyriell district of Bern Vralas, he perished upon impact with the ground. The first trials of the Sterling Crownlands had massive implications for Luel Bern as well as the entire Sterling Crownlands. The act of Duelling was officially banned in all Sterling Crownlands territory (A ban which was eventually lifted for Bum Pits throughout the Sterling Crownlands) as well as the enforcement of proper flower planting standards in Luel Bern.

Bern Vralas expanded heavily during the Silver Age, the once capital of Cradbern was absorbed into the city and Bern Vralas would officially become the largest Noxist city following the appointment of Vroghyn Benilwyn as Petty king of Noxnorr.

On the 26th day of the second month of 38 TE, Vroghyn Benilwyn and Juli Aulder were married, the day should've been remembered for the festivities and the bum pit fights however following the proclamation of marriage the two kings spoke their final words. In unison the kings spoke “We regret to announce that - though, as we said, these many years is far too short a time to spend among you - this is the END. We are going. We are leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!” before vanishing in the eyes of the crowd of family and friends.

The will of Benilwyn is stated as such.

- His Bar in the silver citadel: to the Dead kings Tavern Inc.

- His properties in Luel Bern: to Cyrnn Benilwyn his son

- His properties in Owydd Bern/Keja’jad: Baram Basha

- His Properties in Owydd Owydd Bern: to the Silver Citadel and Cyrnn Benilwyn

- The Title of Duke of Leul Bern: Cyrnn Benilwyn

- The rights to use the Berneric flags: Lokki de nuuk

- And the allowance of Athaz the Traveller, whose symbol is the red tulip, to enter the city of Bern Vralas and Luel Bern.

And thus began the end, the City of Bern Vralas slowly began to decline as did the North, Unity slowly became a thing of the past, Three High Kings in a week is not the definition of stability. The lack of stability caused mass migration away from many Northern cities including Bern Vralas. The dissolution of the Sterling Crownlands only furthered the decline of Bern Vralas. It was said that in the city of Snow and Stars that the snow fell silently and the stars brought no light. This is the history of the city of Bern Vralas, for many years it was the greatest among the Noxist cities now the city lies in ruin at the hands of foreign rule.

For now the light does not shine bright atop the mountain of the moon but one day the light may return.

Written by Hann Tröjönns"

Briefly Bern Vralas was ruled by Owyddnorr, a successor state of the Sterling Crownlands, however this did not last many years as Owyddnorr was very unstable. Following the collapse of Owyddnorr Bern Vralas was tossed from state to state.

GEOGRAPHY
Bern Vralas sits on a peninsula in the Sea of Bern (Sea of Mountains). A very mountainous peninsula containing some of the tallest mountains in Helmia. Bern west of the Vel river (White River) which leads to and through the Great Swamps of Helmia. To the South and North of Bern Vralas lay Vel Bay and the Berneric Bay. To the West are the Crad Mountains (Stone Mountains).

Bern has many external regions mainly Tower Mountain sat on the other side of the Vel river, Mesa island On the South side of The Vel Bay and The Great Lighthouse of Bern which sits to the South West of Bern. Many other small Islands and atolls lie in Bern such as; Dolphin Island, the Moon isles and Luna island.

Across the Vel River and Vel Bay are The Avredg Forest and the Oevre Swamp.