Illynore: a History

The lush green hills of Illynore, as the story goes, were rolled out of the heavens by Tyche. Their highest peaks represented the land's good fortune, while the lowest valleys paid tribute to the hardships the kingdom was dealt, for fortune is not a one sided coin. Atop the highest point in the land stood Illynore Castle. Illynore Castle had been home to the Great House of Beaumount for generations. The Beaumount family tree was made of royal branches. Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses. A benevolent ruling family who sought the best for their people. They ruled with firm, yet loving grace over the land from Glendyr to the Glades of Skercity.

As the tales are told, the very lands of Illynore were touched by magic. The land of Gleaming Light, for not only the way the many lakes, waterfalls, rivers, and streams reflected the sunlight into a cacophony of colors, but also for the very magic than ran through the kingdom's veins. The legend goes that centuries ago a homestead stood stretching miles of land, a small fishing village along the river's edge - but when the land was shaken by a devastating earthquake the homestead fell into the water, submerged. The gods above reached down and touched the people of Illynore, tapping into the land's magic, and it's people were granted the ability to breathe the water. Causalities were low, while most of the homestead's people returned to the kingdom stories still tell of those who didn't, those who swam the rivers and streams out to the ocean, holding on to the magic they were granted. For centuries those with inquiring minds have come to Illynore, hoping the unlock the magics of the submerged village through means of alchemy.

While Illynore's fortune and magicks are widespread, what is also known is the Decade of Despair: the most tragic losses in the kingdom's history. The giants of Skercity for decades lived peacefully alongside the kingdoms of Illynore and Glendyr, but that all changed when the attacks began. They started on their own, giants of peace fighting those who wanted to expand into Illynore's land. Skercity's leaders fell, replaced with tyrants who's onslaught on Illynore spanned ten years, and three monarchs. The assassinations of King Braethen the First, followed by Queen Cordelia, and finally interim King Xerxes rocked the nation, as King Braethen the Second took control of the Kingdom, at the age of only twelve, he turned to the rules of Glendyr and implored them to help. Glendyr agreed, and the giants were fought back, but not all would be the same in Illynore again.

After beating back the giants, the King of Glendyr, a fortress of a kingdom nearly three times the size of Illynore, assumed control of the land. He left the ruling family with their titles and with their land, but Glendyr began funneling Illynore's resources: Fish, Shells, Stones of the Mermaidic Homestead, and most devastatingly: soldiers. Glendyr had many enemies and after the golden age of peace that lasted until King Braethen's twentieth year Glendyr began to wage a war against many nearby colonies, kingdoms, and budding communities. The war lasted nearly three decades, unable to stand up to the force of Glendyr Braethen was left without choice but to send more and more of Illynore's able-bodied men and women off to die. Once a ruling family that fought at the behest of their people, now they sent their people to die at their behest. Ravaged with guilt, and with no one to turn to for guidance, Illynore's interelations began to fall apart.

The people of Illynore grew tired of their new lives, the losses of their sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers - and as the last resort of a scorned people - they turned on their king. To gain their independence from the trials of war they staged a coup: killing King Braethen the Second, his wife Queen Guinevere, and many servants. While years have past and Illynore's uprising against Glendyr has not been treated lightly. Met only with more fighting: Illynore begins to crumble under the weight of war. The Gleaming Light being slowly snuffed out, though whispers are still told of the Princess who lives: sought by Illynore's detractors for death, by Glendyr's king for a royal marriage to his son, and by those still loyal to the Great House of Beaumount to save them from the tides of war and treason. The world waits for her. The world waits for Aurelia.