History of Man -- Book 1: Westrun Part 12

Until the Paper War (sometimes called the War of the Scrolls) of 3622ey the Tren people of the former Ald Morin were among the best educated and most civilized humans in Westrun. When their libraries were pillaged as a condition of lifting a seige of Elves, much of their learning was lost. That learning was, in part, restored by the knowledge of the Meni from the Principalities. What the Meni did not bring in books, they brought in experiential knowledge and fresh memories. In due course, much of what the Tren had lost was restored to them. For a time, Westrun was on track to recover the arts, sciences and architecture of a former, more glorious age. 

During the Lost Centuries, under the conflicts of the Decadon, the idea that man would someday achieve what the Vyrum had, was temporarily put aside. The sons and daughters of Heimos had little concern for libraries and academies. That disregard for learning relegated all former knowledge to decaying tomes on dusty shelves. But as destructive as the Lost Centuries were to the dream of human advancement, the signature event of the 43rd century ended that dream altogether. 

The Scouring was a mega tsunami that accomplished a level of destruction that neither war, dearth nor disease could match. In a span of single afternoon, an entire generation of the brightest minds was lost to Westrun. Both of the two centers of Vyrum language and learning (Treft and Watersedge) were all but destroyed. While those cities were swiftly repopulated in true human fashion by those of Tren and Meni descent, it was with stock that had long ago vacated the cities for life among the Fahr and Nandi -- people for whom learning did not have the same value.

Thus began the Years of Darkness.

From the 44th until the 48th century, learning among man was wholly vested in two rival groups: the Priests of the Grand Temple and the Magisters of the Dweomersecte. Each was loathe to share knowledge and each had a vested interest in promoting their own esoteric rites above the cause of greater humanity.

Unknown to most anyone, the library in Peakshadow had been built on the recovered pictographic tablets of Lyosha and was placed in the charge of the gray-bearded Fingermen who took vows to keep their knowledge secret. For more than four hundred years the High Kings of Westrun were sitting on a repository of information that was assumed to be little more than a record of deeds, titles, and patents of nobility.

Wald the Jurist was High King for three decades. His record of accomplishment nearly speaks for itself. He did prosecute Danforth's War which remains controversial. Judgment is divided as to whether the High Priest-motivated invasion of the Goblin Kingdoms pruned the goblin horde which later counter-invaded Westrun or, if it instigated the waves of attacks over the next decade. The answer is complicated and might not have a definitive answer.

In 4426 Fredirk of Bolden took the High Throne. His time on the High Throne is marked by the resurgence of the Fraternity led by Marin the Martyr -- who died in the first sortee after the Rangers were reconstituted.

Fredrik was followed in 4438 by Goren of Rath and he is credited as being the first of the High Kings in the Years of Darkness. He was followed in 4443 by Damon of Saklan.

Despite being seen as a hedge against the power of the High Priest, Damon's sentence was a disappointment to many. He was widely viewed as a puppet of the Grand Temple. It was often said that none could tell where the High Priesthood ended and the High King began. There are works of forbidden art that date from that period which show Damon with his lips uncomfortably close to the buttocks of one priest or another.

In 4528 Wallace VIII of Menea was sentenced to the High Throne. He was followed in 4540 by Gareth of Talir, in 4563 by Norfur of Bolden, and in 4581 by Larec of Rath.

In 4597 Norfur II, called the Heretic, imprisoned Kiran the High Priest of the Grand Temple and was excommunicated in return. The so-called war between the High King and the High Priest even saw the temple swept out and turned into an elaborate stables.

Peace was struck between Throne and Temple in 4610 by the election of Liam of Treft. Liam released Kiran in return for the concession that the High Throne would thereafter chose the High Priest from among those selected by the Priests Prime. Thus began the period known as the Captivity by the Grand Temple of Westrun.

In 4620 Liam was succeeded by Henrik of Menea, in 4641 by Vincent of Saklan, in 4650 Dominick of Collonia, in 4662 by Saren of Talir, in 4671 by Eldel of Menea.

Damon II the Everking was sentenced in 4691. Born with elvish blood in his veins, he reigned for nearly 100 years on the throne of the High King. He outlived five wives and used each to cement loyalty from his vassal kings. He was immensely popular with lords and common people alike. It was his vision to build a wall between the Greymantle Mountains and the Inner Sea -- a vision which was not realized until his successor.

Damon II was succeeded in 4792 by Jan the Bricklayer of Bolden. His predecessor had drawn plans and laid aside funding for the wall, but died before the work was begun. Jan undertook the project and became known for it during the 19 years of his rule.

When the Eight Kingdoms were remiss in providing men and arms to the High Throne, Jan saw to the establishment of chartered Halls and the reliance on many mercenary companies from far-flung lands. Jan himself founded the Silver Blades of Bolden, a light infantry company charged with some of the most difficult and politically sensitive actions for the High Throne.

Jan was succeeded in 4811 by Rolod of Collonia, and in 4821 by Beram of Menea who was also called the Chivalrous. Beram was followed in 4831 by Jan II of Bolden, in 4838 by Milytus of Menea and then in 4850 by Marten of Collonia.

Marten was also known as the Pauper King for overspending the High King's treasury and for prosecuting multiple simultaneous wars. Despite his profligate ways, Marten was beloved of the people and dedicated to his subjects.