Warring Period of the Almadorians

The period between 1000-0 BCA, roughly a millennium prior to the formation of the modern Aurlûnor Velande, was marked in a perpetual state of civil war and conflict between the regional warlords of the former Kingdom of Almador. This period became widely known as the Warring Period of the Almadorians, the Almadoran Civil War, or simply the Warlord Era. During this period, the Brothian Migrations, the establishment of the Second Dominion of Ashura, and the invasion and migrations of the Krowfolk would occur. This would also be the era in which the rise of the Lelya-Earcala Dynasty and Sareariel Lelya-Earcala would occur, but only during the very last parts of the period. Many folktales and legends were written during this era, and the cultural legacy of this era continues into the present day culture of Aurlûnor.

King Hireon
King Hireon II (1270BCA-998BCA) of the Maxionic Dynasty was the son of King Cail II, and the last king of the Kingdom of Almador. Early scholars described him as a kind, caring person, yet disinterested in politics, and was said to have not got along with his father. It was always said that he would not be able to attend court meetings at times, due to favoritism toward his younger brother, Harnon of Inweye. It was due to this behavior that Hireon was considered a problematic potential successor to Cail.

Hireon's relations with his father continued to decline until he was disinherited on the death bed of his father, giving the throne to Harnon in the year 1220 BCA. This resulted in Hireon assassinating his brother and most of his brother’s clan to ensure that no one but him inherited the throne. Hireon ascended as Almador's new King in the year 1180 BCA.

The first years of his rule were marked with instability, and strife. In 1150 BCA, the Kumiho rebelled against the Kingdom of Almador. Hireon brutally suppressed this revolt, and was said to have given the whole of the Kumiho subject territory unreasonable conditions- leaving the region in ruins, refusing to send any aid to repair it- all to send a message to never rebel again. This handling of crises addressed by the royal court (as well as the varying dukes and counts in the kingdom's many provinces) only soured his relations with those leaders, with his attempts in trying to further centralize power in Sachómar. What made matters worse was that the king was heavily influenced by the intermingling of court eunuchs, which influenced his politics especially to favor the central power in the city itself. The construction of the huge palace, which started under the reign of his grandfather, was completed in 1143 BCA. This towering palace dominated the city and loomed over its poorer denizens. Hireon also was said to have been wasting country resources on lavish feasts to help improve his image, and ignored the common folk.

Decline of Control
The king's control over the country started to decline once he isolated himself within the capital. Crop yields started to drop far below normal, troops were not well paid enough, and most of the available resources were going only the lavish parties that were regularly thrown by Hireon’s court. The aristocratic nobility within the provinces acquired more power within their respective regions and begun to do what they please, starting to ignore the central government's whims, and as a result, some more ambitious nobles broke away from the kingdom altogether and fought among each other. Some more justice-seeking nobles, such as Huang Ruoyon, later becoming known as King Linye the Pacifier, openly protested against Hireon and denounced his actions against the common people. Peasants started to rise up against the Almadoran state with the worst peasant revolt known, the Orange Sash Rebellion, occurring throughout the northern and eastern countryside. The newly established Qanti-ruled Dominion of Ashura begun to expand its borders into the more oppressed Azeral-populated regions, and a new foe, known as the Krow Horde, appeared in the east, pillaging the countryside and starting wars against the elves living in the region.

It would take one loyalist by the name of Alcon Sandan to bring king Hireon to his senses and show him what was happening to the kingdom. As he peered at the maps and the reports that came in, Hireon was shocked, and was absolutely horrified in his actions. Alcon would point to the eunuchs whom he trusted as the ones responsible. But immediately as he said that, Hireon executed Alcon for suggesting such people who he saw as his fathers, would suggest such things. This however, would not be the last time Hireon would see Alcon.

In 1101 BCA, the Kumiho rose up again, however this time they would successfully secede from the Kingdom of Almador. This was due to the weak resistance in the Almadoran garrisons that occupied their land. This established the Queendom of Hampo under the control of Queen Kangjonnmuk and her dynasty that had been in hiding for supposedly centuries before the elven conquests of the region, and Kangjinmuk declared their previous treaties that were placed on them null and void.

By 1000 BCA, king Hireon's influence dwindled only to the areas surrounding Sachómar, even though he had de jure control over most of the region. The Kingdom of Almador was all but anything in name. A historical state of irony would put that he was killed by Alcon Sandan, the elf Hireon thought he would execute, when in reality he was secretly guided away from the city to form his own army. Alcon is quoted as saying: "To end your rule was a call from the Gods themselves. Ten-thousand years, and you destroyed it all. But I suppose that's how the cycle works, isn't it?". His death indeed ended over 10,000 years of rule, which is where it is thought the later Twin Dragon phrase "May you reign ten-thousand years" originates from.

Early Warring Period
Alcon himself did not take the throne but rather installed one of Hireon's cousins, Mirayen, to the throne. Though she would not prove to be enough to restore the already-collapsed state, as various warlords started vying for power, attempting to gain the upper hand and edge on one other. The early period was chaotic, full of counts, dukes, bandits, and peasant leaders that formed numerous polities. The exact number has not been confirmed, but some modern estimates put them at around 200 states and sub-states. Out of this chaos, many myths and legends arose, such as the heroine known as Lenwan the Brave, a Melwende-born fighter who assisted in the beginning of Melwende's rise to power and glory; or Yogan Orthris, the prince who held out in a city in eastern Linye and fought bravely against Locendur, located outside of modern Plagatéamar. Remnants of his fortress, Fort Angayen, still exist today in what is now Nir Province.

At the same time, the westward migrations of the Krowfolk to the occurred. Capturing the ancient city of Aircenmir, the Krows started massacring members of the Laica-Rille clan, and started their advance toward the west, taking over multiple other clans along the way. The Krow Massacre as it is now remembered, resulted in most of the eastern Almadoran warlord-states falling to the swift conquest of the Krow Horde. 50 years after their conquests, the Krow Horde adopted the moniker and banner of the Takumakken Empire.

Rise of Melwende and the Two Kingdoms Period
The Melwende were known for their aggressive militaristic expansions and were skilled engineers. They built many special fortresses, known as Star fortresses, and often used them as spheres of influence to assert their authority. Linye, meanwhile, was a more defensive power, and created fortresses that would stave off Melwendic attackers. Although Melwende was stronger than Linye, the two were locked in a rather dangerous stalemate.

By 530 BCA, many warring kings saw themselves fleeing toward one of the bigger powers of Linye or Melwende, reducing the many duchies and counties down from the staggering 200 to only about nine. However, fighting did not cease to be. The last of the ruling Maxionic dynasty would finally perish following the siege of Sachómar by Linye's king Isilmon II in 500 BCA; however it is believed that the bloodline was not completely extinguished, as it is possible it survived in the Kingdom of Tacua. At this time, the Melwende would march off against Alar-Aiwe, despite being longtime allies. Queen Cailanis, Melwende’s monarch, cited that this was for revenge for the murder of her long-time sworn brother Calion of Ulfar, a Brothic nobleman from the lands now known as Andorn. The war resulted in the extermination of the Alar-Aiwe and Fealocedur clans.

Despite there being more than two states still around at this time, the period is often referred to as the "Two Kingdoms" period, due to the two most dominant powers being Linwe and Melwende. However, there was much more going on during this period than those two kingdoms’ affairs. In the Kingdom of Tacua, the last king, Picunada, had only daughters. Although law only permitted rule of male heirs, the king changed it to allow his eldest daughter Ráviel III to become Queen of Tacua, making the state effectively a queendom. Queen Ráviel III is recorded to be related to the last Maxionic relative, with her bloodline tracing back to Maxion himself through extensive tests of her blood found in her tomb in modern day Tacua Province. Meanwhile, the Queendom of Hampo would find themselves allied with the Dominion of Ashura, with both Pharaoh Tariq VII "the Great" and Queen Kangjonnmuk IV "the Architect". These two would face off against the oncoming hordes of the Takumakken Empire, who were making gains their territories every day. They decisively defeated the Krow at the Battle of Blossom Hills, where Ashuran soldiers outflanked Krow Sun Warriors that were attempting to burn a fake supply depot set up by Queen Kangjonnmuk, who used herself as bait to lure them in.

The Rise of Sareariel Lelya-Earcala
Sareariel would declare independence in the year 118BCA, and form her own faction, alongside multiple other generals who were swayed by Sareariel's competency and charisma. With the constant military victories attributing to her name, and many battles that were headed by her, it would prove a massive blow towards Linye. As her base, Sareariel would unusually choose Lingrinwë, which would later become Lhûmar, which at the time, was seen as irrelevant village. However, despite the complaints, soldiers would agree that the position was indeed advantageous, as the village was located in between some of the former Kingdom of Linye's most busiest trading ports. As such, Fort Lingrinwë was established, and Sareariel would begin her campaigns against the Kingdom of Linye, as well as gaining loyalties from Linye and Melwendic generals to fight under her banner.

The major battle of Yu'shen Mound, saw a massive defeat for the Linye forces, which scattered most of them back to the capital of Linyemar, which it was sieged down, and burned. The Royal Family including the King of Linye, fled to Yi, but would die in 115BCA due to illness. Following this, what was left of Linye's forces, either surrendered to Sareariel, or formed minor warlord states, to carve out corners of the former empire. However, many of these insurrections were crushed, and eventually, by 113BCA, Sareariel would of conquered them all.

She would eventually turn her sights towards Melwende in the year 108BCA, where she would not be as merciful as she was towards the Kingdom of Linye. According to Sareariels, this would be one of the worst moments of her life before what came after such a conquest, as a massive slaughter by her soldiers, commanded by her, would ultimately burn, pillage and kill as many as over a hundred thousand people. Unnecessary bloodshed was caused throughout the country side, and many Melwendic cities and fortresses fell, with their inhabitants slaughtered or scattered. When she came to siege the capital of Turónshan, Sareariel said herself felt the worse dread in her life, as vengeance overcame her senses, and that "If it weren't from the innocent face of that one daughter of King Arcalnis questioning why I would slaughter everyone, I would of became a wraith, and my own soul would of been sold to Huayin right then and there.". The conquest of Melwende would end with a victory for her forces in the year 94BCA. The royal family was spared, and due to her slaughterings of many peoples, Sareariel decided it would be the best course of action to allow all the spoils to be redistributed to the people, and reconstruction of homes that were targeted by her forces.

Up until the year 0CA, Sareariel would of been one of the most powerful warlords in the land. She would then recall of her meeting a former Priestess of Galariel named Vinimanis, in which, would explain to her, that she kept on seeing her in her dreams. The two would form a close friendship, though, Sareariel would not understand what Vinimanis was talking about. A week before 0CA, Sareariel would of have strange visions, and strange dreams from a draconic voice, and a language she did not know. A being kept appearing in her dreams, which was said to have been a firey spirit. Upon preparing for a campaign to finish off the remaining enemies of the former Kingdom of Almador, Sareariel would be on horseback looking over a hill, and, when she returned, blank came to her eyes, without any reports of sound or that sort. Sareariel would wake up thirty seconds later in the middle of the now growing town of Lingrinwë, being knelt before, with Vinimanis hailing her as "Celestial Matron", and how her predictions were right. For some reason, Sareariel recalls the memories of the dragons, but not how she became such a matron, and stating that it was almost as if there was "two people that was in her mind", but would then, become one.

From here, this would be known as the "Celestial Ascension", in which the Matron shows herself, and would help bringforth the Vale Mandate. This was also considered to be the birth of Twin Dragon, going from a small cult of followers, to dramatically increasing due to Vinimanis' ramblings being true. Sareariel would proclaim the Aurlûnor Velande in the year 0CA.

Legacy
This entire period has been marked as the most important period within the foundations of the Velande, that spawned in many myths and legends that surround it. Books, epithets, eddas, poems and music related to the period are usually heard widespread, such as Blood and Romance, Crimson Peaks and The Divine Velereth. Art pieces are usually commissioned to be put on the many walls of museums and various buildings and houses with depictions of this bloody period. Many see it as a symbol of a dark time for the Celestial Elves, and a period that they do not wish to repeat again.

Controversy
According to historians, it is thanks to romanticized media and arts that misportray things that may or may not of happened during the period. For instance, the burning of Melwende was described as one of the greatest tragedies that has ever beshook the nation, with many cities, villages and even records of the Kingdom burnt to the ground. Despite this, many in the Velande are believed to think Melwende "deserved it", especially after the fact that portions of populace learned that their divine leader was at one point mortal, and was from Old Dun. Often, historical finds of the Velande such as the Velereth being defamed are banned for "extreme forms of slander".