The Illenan Civil War

The Illenan Civil War was fought between King Shiel and his uncle, Eder, from 5112-5115 AGI. The royal court took sides, and the commoner fought where their lord's allegiance took them.
The length and ferocity of the war prepared the Illenan army for their later incursion into Merren, where they defeated bloodmages who did not have the skills to face the battle-hardened soldiers.

Eder and Netharin's father was ultimately the instigator for the conflict. To hurt his second son, he married Eder's love, Vhesha, off to his eldest, then forced him to marry Oserian, a woman he despised. In dethroning Shiel, Eder saw a way to destroy his father and brother's legacy and reunite with his love.

all artwork by Shanda Nelson via Artbreeder

History

It was a tragic accident on the high seas that led to the death of Shiel's older brother and the heir to the Illenan throne. A few years later, tragedy struck again when his father, King Netharin, died of a heart ailment. Eighteen-year-old Shiel, who never was supposed to inherit, became the king of Illena.
Not all thought a young adult his age would make a good king--including his uncle, Eder. A man whose jealousy over his older brother grew into a malicious dislike of his nephew, he declared his intentions of overthrowing Shiel and claim the throne for himself.

Civil War

The Illenan court divided between Shiel and Eder. Many wished to give the young king a chance, but others saw Eder as an older, more experienced man, and therefore, would make a better king. Despite machinations by his uncle, on Shenzhioh 27, Iced Breath, 5111, Shiel was crowned king.
On Khanzhioh 13 Tender Buds, 5112, four lesser seasons later, Eder attacked.
The older royal thought that he would quickly kill his young, naive nephew. He thought wrong. He had told his youngest child, Iavan, that he planned to assassinate the king, and expected his support. Iavan, who saw Shiel as a brother and felt far more loyalty to his cousin than the parents who hated him, rode to Shayd and informed Shiel of the coming storm.
With Artiste Loreval's help, they prepared for the assassin, and he died a painful death in shadowfire. Eder received his remains in a sack.

Shiel gathered his supporters and waited for his furious uncle to attack. The first battle took place outside the city walls, with Eder's men outnumbering the king's forces two-to-one. None thought that the young monarch could mount a worthwhile defense, and Eder's general, Unelen, planned the celebratory march through Shayd before the battle even took place.
Unsurprisingly, his people were not prepared for the fierce resistance. Loreval used the magickal well attached to the palace to create shielding for those loyal to the king, as well as wielded fire he rained onto the enemy. Astonished at the attack, the invaders floundered and were overrun by enthused, and pissed, Shiel supporters. Few were spared, including Unelen.
Eder retreated to lick his wounds and explain to his supporters why his son betrayed them and why they lost theirs in battle. As charismatic as ever, he convinced them that success was a matter of time, and turned to Gadric, once-Artiste of the Claws, and now his most loyal advisor. They plotted against Shiel together.

Eteilon's promotion to then-Prince Shiel's bodyguard was considered a joke. Neither of them saw it that way, and her devotion helped him live through the worst of the war.

Assassins

Eder and Gadric believed assassins would pave the way for their ultimate victory. Neither cared who got in the way, as long as they cared for the young king and Iavan, the traitorous son. These assassins all paid the price for their attempts. Eteilon, Shiel's bodyguard and advisor, was ruthless in her efforts to protect her king, and anyone who garnered her suspicion usually courted death. She became creative in packaging the remains and sending them to Eder, so he knew, she watched and waited. Eder's remaining supporters at court became antsy.
Major battles were fought between assassination attempts. Shiel, Eteilon, Iavan and Loreval managed more victories than defeats, and their troops moved ever so slowly towards Elben, Eder's mansion and headquarters. The closer they came, the more intense the fight. Thousands died or were injured.
Eder's troops began to lose hope because they saw his promises as empty, worthless. He gave grand speeches that buoyed them until the next defeat, and the mood grew darker.
Shiel found a simpler way to extract loyalty. He promoted those who proved their worth, rather than relying solely on noble birth to denote talent, and earned the trust and respect of the average soldier. They fought harder for him because they believed in him.
Three years later, with neither side gaining a strong advantage, nobles began to fret about the toll the war was taking on their pocketbooks and their lands.

Sikode

At this time, Shiel met Sikode. Iavan had watched him perform in a carnival act and realized his wielding potential. He asked about, discovered the Rakan had no link to his father, and brought him to his cousin's attention. Loreval watched as he showed his skill to the king, and advised that the monarch immediately hire the man.
Eder's supporters took this event as a sign that Shiel's support had weakened to the point that his victory was assured. They convinced him to send a catty letter to his nephew, offering to end the war based upon the outcome of a duel between Gadric and his new wielder. Shiel accepted with a smile.
On Khanzhioh 29 Hot Sands 5115, Sikode and Gadric faced each other in the Sheune's Temple of Eldyna's Grace, a place both sides considered neutral ground. Gadric, smarmy and over-confident, gathered enough power to strike his opponent down and burn him into ash. He still possessed the magick keys that allowed him access to the palace's magickal well, and he used them.
Sikode cast aside the attack. While Loreval had granted him access to the same well, he chose to battle without its aid.
Gadric fumed, and ranted, and became increasingly concerned that all his attacks were being deflected or absorbed by a foreign upstart who should have fallen once the touch of the palace's well impacted his shielding. Sikode calmly regarded him and formed his own attacks. Most were reflected, but not all, and he sneakily took advantage of the damage he caused. By the time Gadric realized the Rakan played with him, it was far too late; Sikode sent a shower of flaming darts through his shields and into his person, then triggered an explosion.
Gadric did not have time to scream. His blood, innards, bones and brains, splattered across floor and wall and all those noble supporters standing behind him, eager and sly about his victory. He probably would have been left there to stain the temple, had not the proprietess snarled at Sikode for his thoughtlessness. He dutifully burned the remains to ash--whether they were on noble clothing or a wall.
Iavan, with relish, helped shovel the grey matter into a bag and took it to his father's mansion.

Sikode earned lifelong hate from many mystery artists who had aligned with Eder. Their families had spent centuries solidifying their power and prestige through good breeding, and Sikode proved that a commoner had the capacity to destroy them all.
Some pointed out that he had aki n'di ori blue eyes. Individuals so gifted, if born with magick, outshone nearly all others in their wieldings. Gadric should have taken that into account before the duel.

Surrender

Eleven days later, on Nhavazhioh 8 Black Rocks, 5115, Eder officially surrendered to Shiel, more concerned about his life than obtaining the throne. The thought of being splattered across the floor in a similar fashion unnerved him. Iavan escorted his family and their retainers to exile in Diodan, and Shiel began the process of knitting his country back together.

After the Battles

The Illenan court had been sundered. Several families still supported Eder, however quietly, and those who were not exiled continued to undermine Shiel. His own mother was among them. Oserian had chosen her love's side and resented her fall from court grace when he lost. Shiel graciously forgave her, but made it clear, their luke-warm relationship was dead. Eder's people still attempt to use that break to their advantage.
From loyal subjects, Shiel created advisory boards whose duty was to restore Illena to its former glory as quickly as possible. He poured a considerable amount of his family's personal wealth into the endeavor, and started the process of revising laws and regulations, to make life more equitable in his country.

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