Post by Trippy Hare on Oct 16, 2008 18:40:31 GMT -5
The Battle of the Holly Lands took place around roughly 37 NA, about two generations after the War of Oblivion ended and the Draconic Empire had collapsed. This battle would, eventually, foment the first Vayan Confederacy, and lead to the formation of Llanivaya and the union of sentient races within Ivorsherlet. When considering the formation of the Vayan Confederacy, it is vital to know that most sentient races did not coexist peaceably: indeed, most were bitter rivals, though none so much as the Lunis and Felis.
The origins of the Lunis/Felis rivalry are unknown, and fragmentary histories and oral tradition place it at around 120-140 PNA. The Lunis- or "Wolf" peoples- did not yet inhabit the interior of Ivorsherlet, and mostly roamed about the northern plains of Eshathar. This region was not particularly hostile, though the winters were far colder than in the interior of the forest. It is believed that the Lunis migrated into Ivorsherlet seasonally, wintering within the forest's subtropical climate, and hunting, gathering, and farming in the North during the warmer summer months.
The Felis- or "Cat" peoples, on the other hand, were native denizens of Ivorsherlet's tropical interior. No doubt, the yearly invasions of the Lunis- who were wholly unlike the Felis in both cultural values and physical appearance- created the tensions that would eventually erupt into hostilities. Both clans waged brutal guerilla wars throughout the early 1st century PNA, and into the 1st century NA. These skirmishes ranged throughout both clans' territories, and eventually encompassed other sentient races, as well. The Avians came to ally with the Lunis to avoid Felis predations, while the Weavers aligned with the Felis to preserve the tropical regions of the forest's interior.
The one region where fighting did not occur was the Holly Land: a pastoral clearing, situated on the rolling hills north of the forest center. Both clans considered the Holly Lands to be holy, and both sides buried their dead within it. As hostilites worsened and other sentients joined one clan or other, the necessity- and sanctity- of the Holly Lands grew.
Terran encroachments in Lunis territories in 12 NA further pushed Lunis into the forest's interior, escalating the clan warfare. Prisoners taken by either side were no longer killed, but sold to the Terrans as slave labor, as a way to further their suffering. Two such prisoners- a Lunis named Ralin and a Felis named Vaya- eventually became lovers, and upon escaping from Terran control, used a cave within the Holly Lands as an enclave in which to be together.
Upon being discovered, both clans dispatched warriors to the Holly Lands to capture the fugitives. A minor skirmish led to blood being spilled in the Holly Lands, which was seen as sacrilege by both clans. Though it is not known which side caused the initial bloodshed, both clans accused the other, and sent massive fighting forces to "purify" the Holly Lands.
Into this already chaotic mix, came a large contingent of Terran troops. Though these Terrans were simply scouting a tributary of the Alamy, and could not have known they were approaching the holy site of two powerful and hostile races, the presence of Terrans turned the tide of combat. Both Lunis and Felis now turned to expelling the "Roaches"- as Terrans were colloquially known- from the Holly Lands.
The result of this three-way battle was terrifying. Both Lunis and Felis clans had suffered considerable losses before the Terrans arrived, and the Terran force had far superior armor and weapons, as well as armored horses and supply wagons, which were hastily converted into makeshift fortifications. The only advantage the fairly primitive Lunis and Felis warriors had was darkness, as they could see at night, while Terrans could not. The next three weeks of fighting led to grievous losses among the Felis and Lunis, and the total annihilation of the Terran forces.
The battle's aftermath left the Holly Lands scarred and bloody, with wide swaths burnt to cinders and bodies littered on all sides. After such terrible fighting, both clans put aside hostilities in order to bury their dead, a task that consumed nearly a full month. Ralin and Vaya, who had survived the battles, spoke out for a union between their peoples. They argued that only such a union would prevent more Terrans from arriving, and only when both clans had joined forces had the Terran forces been defeated. The Felis were quick to agree, having suffered the worst losses, but the Lunis clan was only swayed when Ralin fought and killed Argos, an Alpha male and the most outspoken opponent of a union.
Eventually, what started out as little more than a detente became more and more concrete, with other sentients joining what would become known as the Vayan Confederacy- named after the Felis woman who had initially advocated it. Vaya lived long enough to see an initial "city" built in the Holly Lands, but passed away before the city of Llanivaya was constructed. Ralin would go on to become Llanivaya's first Judicator, though Vaya's death weighed heavily on him. He would pass away before his first term ended.
The Battle of the Holly Lands, which took place even as the rest of Eshathar was reeling from a catastrophic war, provided the catalyst for Vayan hegemony. A memorial obelisk now stands in the Holly Lands, atop the graves of Ralin and Vaya, who brought their peoples together by betraying them.
The origins of the Lunis/Felis rivalry are unknown, and fragmentary histories and oral tradition place it at around 120-140 PNA. The Lunis- or "Wolf" peoples- did not yet inhabit the interior of Ivorsherlet, and mostly roamed about the northern plains of Eshathar. This region was not particularly hostile, though the winters were far colder than in the interior of the forest. It is believed that the Lunis migrated into Ivorsherlet seasonally, wintering within the forest's subtropical climate, and hunting, gathering, and farming in the North during the warmer summer months.
The Felis- or "Cat" peoples, on the other hand, were native denizens of Ivorsherlet's tropical interior. No doubt, the yearly invasions of the Lunis- who were wholly unlike the Felis in both cultural values and physical appearance- created the tensions that would eventually erupt into hostilities. Both clans waged brutal guerilla wars throughout the early 1st century PNA, and into the 1st century NA. These skirmishes ranged throughout both clans' territories, and eventually encompassed other sentient races, as well. The Avians came to ally with the Lunis to avoid Felis predations, while the Weavers aligned with the Felis to preserve the tropical regions of the forest's interior.
The one region where fighting did not occur was the Holly Land: a pastoral clearing, situated on the rolling hills north of the forest center. Both clans considered the Holly Lands to be holy, and both sides buried their dead within it. As hostilites worsened and other sentients joined one clan or other, the necessity- and sanctity- of the Holly Lands grew.
Terran encroachments in Lunis territories in 12 NA further pushed Lunis into the forest's interior, escalating the clan warfare. Prisoners taken by either side were no longer killed, but sold to the Terrans as slave labor, as a way to further their suffering. Two such prisoners- a Lunis named Ralin and a Felis named Vaya- eventually became lovers, and upon escaping from Terran control, used a cave within the Holly Lands as an enclave in which to be together.
Upon being discovered, both clans dispatched warriors to the Holly Lands to capture the fugitives. A minor skirmish led to blood being spilled in the Holly Lands, which was seen as sacrilege by both clans. Though it is not known which side caused the initial bloodshed, both clans accused the other, and sent massive fighting forces to "purify" the Holly Lands.
Into this already chaotic mix, came a large contingent of Terran troops. Though these Terrans were simply scouting a tributary of the Alamy, and could not have known they were approaching the holy site of two powerful and hostile races, the presence of Terrans turned the tide of combat. Both Lunis and Felis now turned to expelling the "Roaches"- as Terrans were colloquially known- from the Holly Lands.
The result of this three-way battle was terrifying. Both Lunis and Felis clans had suffered considerable losses before the Terrans arrived, and the Terran force had far superior armor and weapons, as well as armored horses and supply wagons, which were hastily converted into makeshift fortifications. The only advantage the fairly primitive Lunis and Felis warriors had was darkness, as they could see at night, while Terrans could not. The next three weeks of fighting led to grievous losses among the Felis and Lunis, and the total annihilation of the Terran forces.
The battle's aftermath left the Holly Lands scarred and bloody, with wide swaths burnt to cinders and bodies littered on all sides. After such terrible fighting, both clans put aside hostilities in order to bury their dead, a task that consumed nearly a full month. Ralin and Vaya, who had survived the battles, spoke out for a union between their peoples. They argued that only such a union would prevent more Terrans from arriving, and only when both clans had joined forces had the Terran forces been defeated. The Felis were quick to agree, having suffered the worst losses, but the Lunis clan was only swayed when Ralin fought and killed Argos, an Alpha male and the most outspoken opponent of a union.
Eventually, what started out as little more than a detente became more and more concrete, with other sentients joining what would become known as the Vayan Confederacy- named after the Felis woman who had initially advocated it. Vaya lived long enough to see an initial "city" built in the Holly Lands, but passed away before the city of Llanivaya was constructed. Ralin would go on to become Llanivaya's first Judicator, though Vaya's death weighed heavily on him. He would pass away before his first term ended.
The Battle of the Holly Lands, which took place even as the rest of Eshathar was reeling from a catastrophic war, provided the catalyst for Vayan hegemony. A memorial obelisk now stands in the Holly Lands, atop the graves of Ralin and Vaya, who brought their peoples together by betraying them.