G. The Elvish Nation
Historical Overview

Fae history is as long as they are long-lived. This, of course, is a short way of stating that they have been here since Shaintar’s beginning. Fae legend speaks of Faelakar (‘the True Born’) born of the essans-void (Font of Essence) and traveling through the Veil to emerge “between the arms of Shanais and Targon” This early record is inscribed on a white stone pillar (to this very day no-one has seen the like of this material anywhere else on Shaintar) found encircled by nine stately trees close to the banks of Lake Shaintar – right between Shanais and Targon Rivers.
Much of what we know of early Fae from 5000 B.C. to 3570 B.C. comes from the scrolls written by the poet/druid/historian E’lara R’eva (a truly fascinating font of living history once one can overcome the sense of being utterly overpowered by her perplexing poetic speech and writings). E’lara writes of early wanderings of nine great etrans (clans) that strode the lands of Shaintar. 

The sojourn of the Nine strode in tune with the ever-changing leaves as they discovered the beauties in the song of the land. Once the land sang the song of many ages the Nine found they could not bear to leave. And so assembled as One and Many at the Ring of Nine Maidens found at Eldara. 
							                     E’lara R’eva 4183 B.C.

Nine Fae etrans journeyed back to Eldara and there they chose Ebiasaph Elfric as their Quo-unais. Ebiasaph created the very foundations that lead to the beginning of the Golden Age of the Fae 17 years later.
The year 3500 B.C. marks the start of the Golden Age of the Fae. Two surviving maps of this age show a vast and sprawling Fae Nation that stretches out from the Black Mountains to the tips of the Everwall and back down to the peninsula of the Freelands. All facets of art, culture, society, law, and economics now found throughout Shaintar sprang forth from the Fae Nation during this Age. 
But for all the wealth of wisdom & enrichment that the Fae brought to Shaintar it was not enough to defeat a coming darkness that would tarnish the Golden Age. In 2500 B.C. Vainar one of the Faelakar whom took on the responsibilities of the Soulfinder became horribly corrupted as he tried to purify the Nether region of Corelesia. The crack in the Golden Age of the Fae began with his fall. Both Fae in Corelesia and Shaintar felt a division happening. A war of ideals erupted in Faelakar and Eldekar (‘the High Born’) society between those who choose to remain true to the original principles held by the Soulfinder to guide & counsel the other races and those who choose to follow Vainar’s corrupted path to dominate by conquest & iron rule. Eventually the rift between the two sides grew so great that by 2400 B.C. a great many followed Vainar into the lands of Shaya’Nor. The integrity of the Golden Age of Fae collapses as the Nine great etrans fall to four. With so great an absence of leadership the remaining Faelakar and Eldekar leaders focused inward on keeping their society and culture from collapsing. The guidance of other races and regions fall by the wayside. Without guidance from the Fae Nation many races and regions strike out on their own. Some for good and some for bad, but neither had much direction as to unify under a single banner- the exception being Dregordia. The end result was that the Fae Nation shrunk tremendously to slightly larger than it is today.
Greatly disturbed by the forces of Flame and Darkness consuming the hearts, minds, and lands of other races Quo-unias Ebiasaph Elfric gathers together an Accord of Fae to render a course of action to stop the corruption of Shaintar in 2101 B.C. Ebiasaph gathered an impressive number of 900 Faelakar mages in 2100 B.C. They attempted to establish contact with the Ascended whom had largely remained silent. Vainar had knowledge of this gathering through his network of spies. At the crucial moment of channeling all their essence Vainar’s minions struck. The result was a magical cataclysm that destroyed Ebiasaph, all 900 Faelakar mages and sank portions of the lower southwest half Shaintar (early maps show Salamander and Sky Island were once part of the greater land mass of the main continent). The cataclysm created a vast inner sea and an island now known as Og m’Drakar which is forever charged with mystical energies. The Faelakar and Eldekar of Shaintar are greatly diminished. Many that remained were scattered throughout the lands of Shaintar. A few continued to guide the other races. But as Vainar and Ceynara’s powers continue to grow on the face of Shaintar there was little they could do to stem the tide of Darkness and Flame. 
The War of Flame erupted in 1500 B.C. and engulfed the land as Ceynara opens the 7 Cauldrons. The effects of the War are devastating as that the Fae and other races fight for mere survival. For three centuries the War of Flame raged and ravaged Shaintar. Many on the side of good were lost. It was only once the chosen Avatars of Illiana, Dranak, and Zavonis were either captured or slain that the Ascended choose to walk the lands of Shaintar. They captured and cast Ceynera back into Hell thus ending the War of Flame in 1200 B.C.
When wars end it generally signals a period of restoration and rebuilding. That failed to occur. The time period from 1200 to 1000 B.C. was marked by many minor wars over land, leadership, and resources. The infrastructure of Fae civilization collapsed and fell into ruin during this time. 
Many Faelakar and Eldekar leaders received a vision from the Ascended to bring their people to Og m’Drakar. At the Gather of the Eye in 1000 B.C. all races of Shaintar are urged to cease the warring between them. They are entreated that peace must now reign if any on Shaintar are to survive and rebuild. The Ascended make a binding declaration (one which Vainar also agreed to prior to the Gather) that they will no longer have so great influence over Shaintar and that all races must stand on their own. The Gather of the Eye heralded the Age of Peace and many Fae received the calling of the Path. Thus the first Fae druids came into being to help with the rebuilding and damage done to the lands of Shaintar.
But the Age of Peace is shattered by deception and war. Vainar did not hold to his agreement with Illiana, Zavonis, and Dranak. His hordes came sweeping out of Shaya’Nor to spread like disease across the land. From 700 B.C. to 175 B.C. Fae history is marked by war, pestilence, plague, and famine during and after the Age of Darkness. Most Fae and other races are pushed back into the peninsula now known as the Freelands. The Fae and other races defended that area against Vainar’s Hordes from 600 B.C. to the end of the Age of Darkness in 300 B.C.
Fae population is decimated by the plague known as Vainar’s Curse beginning in 300 B.C. Like their reaction to black iron, the Fae are especially susceptible to the plague and are the hardest hit of all the races. It is estimated that somewhere between 7,000 and 15,000 Fae survived. By 175 B.C. Cyria Eridor and E’lara R’eva combine their magic and druidic skills and developed a cure that stoped the spread of Vainar’s plague.
When Landra is raised to Soulfinder it heralded the dawn of the Age of Hope. At mark 0, Quo-Unias, Azhurin Eridor declares the Fae Nation reborn and marks the new age with a new calendar. Eldara is once again established as the center of the Fae Nation as the process of rebuilding began in 9 A.C. 
The dilemma on how to rebuild the Fae population is solved by an unusual romance. Solange Elswyth , a Faelakar takes the Life-Bond (a druidic ceremony that involves joining the two minds, two hearts, and two souls as One) when she married her beloved Zemos Al’astur, a human. Their union produced the twins, Tallas and Tegan in 45 A.C. and Kor in 49 A.C. As word of their children spread, the Quo-unias removes the taboo from interracial marriage with humans but forbids any other Life-Bond unions to occur as that any Fae doing so will die shortly thereafter their human mate dies. 
Interracial marriage between humans tremendously boasted the Fae population as many offspring termed Alakar (‘Earth Born’ or ‘ Hope Born’ depending on whom you ask) and M’adukar (‘ Simply Gifted’) are born. By 400 A.C. the population of Fae had exploded to roughly 60,000.
With rebuilding and population occurring at a steady growth the Elvish nation became the ruling society in the region known now as the Wildlands. A ‘Second Golden Age of the Fae’ arose as a renaissance of lost science, art, and culture is revived in 500 A.C. 
Prosperity and relative peace in the region allows Fae civilization to flourish and thrive once more. From 500 A.C. unto today there were only three major occurrences that really challenged the integrity and survival of the Fae culture and society.
The first event was the rise of the Kal Empire in 1724 A.C.  As the Great Exodus began to happen, the Fae Nation took it upon themselves to act as guardians against the forces of Nether and the Abyss. They sent an armed delegation to Jolokas ki Grilnas to ‘petition’ for a peaceful solution in 1736 A.C. and at the Battle at Barrinor many thousands of Alakar died. The Fae once again stepped in to thwart the evil of the Kal Empire at the Battle of Aralon. Realizing that the lands southeast of Shaintar were in danger from being conquered by the Kal Empire unless unified under benevolent rule of one leader, Cyria Eridor ventured out to find such a leader in 2391 A.C. Vol Al’Daya was given the support of the Elven nation when he proves himself to be a true leader of men. With backing of the Elven nation the Kingdom of Galea was born and, along with the Kingdom of Olara, stood as a stronghold against the expansion of the evil Kal Empire.
The second event was The Dragon War in 2216 A.C. Not only were dragons unleashed upon Shaintar, but Ceynara once again opened the 7 Cauldrons and joined forces with the Dragonlords. Faced with a war against two powerful forces joined together, the Fae nation was determined not to see another cataclysm the equivalent to the War of Flame. Mustering up the Dwarven Clanhomes, Olara, Galea, Dregordia and the Freelands they mounted a unified attack against the forces of evil. Many battles were won and lost over the course of the Dragon War. It was not until the Dragonlords arrogantly attacked Shaya’Nor that Vainar and Kal Emperor Harkor agreed to Quo-Unias Azhurin request to join forces with the free peoples of Shaintar at Og m’Drakar. And so 2234 A.C. marked the end of the Dragon War as the magical ritual to banish dragons is successfully performed.
The last event was The Betrayal War in 3021 A.C. Fortunately the war began and was quickly ended in 3022 A.C. But it was not without tremendous losses suffered by the Fae. The Elvish Nation sent many of it’s armies north along side Olarans to defend the southern kingdoms against the co-joined forces of both Flame & Darkness. The combined forces of the Kal Empire and the Hordes from Shaya’Nor were actually at the point of breaking through Fae and Olaran defenses when a miracle happened. As that evil usually turns in upon itself because loyalty and honor are not their strong qualities. Vianar betrayed his ally Ceynara by withdrawing troops and engineering the murder of Ceynara’s Avatar,  Glain Nollan. Ceynara and Vianar fall upon each other’s throats.. Ceynara is cast back into Abyss and  Vianar the Fallen was believed to be destroyed.
 
    Jonkeph Skein
                                                                                       Shaintar: Yesteryears and Today