The Archkingdom of Grinalia
INTRODUCTION
The Daines Rangers are a mercenary organization originally founded just prior to the turn of the Fourth Period in the late forty-eighth century. Shortly after their creation, however, they became the rulers of the eastern half of Fondalar Peninsula, commonly referred to as Adorea Province. The leader of the rangers, called the 'archprime', is elected from among the group, and must be proven in courage, bravery, and fighting skills. The first of these, Neville Meyer, became the example of what an archprime should act and fight like.
A FORCE OF THE DOWNCAST
The beginnings of the organization are humble and crude. In the last days of 4760, Farburgh became a cesspool of gambling, prostitution, corruption and ever conceivable act of crime imaginable. The victims of such disgusting acts were numerous. A man by the name of Korlan Cessandra, a blacksmith of Farburgh, was inspired by the stories of the Confederation's legendary hero, Claxton Pollard. Korlan gathered a group of the oppressed, and led a stand against the crime lords of Farburgh. Aid from a nearby Kristonian army was requested, but none ever came. Korlan and those oppressed stood alone. The ensuing battle was a bloodbath, a mass murder of the oppressed. However, some of them were able to flee to the nearby mountains and escape the wrath of the captain and his lords. The battle was not a defeat, however, as retribution came swift and righteous from Lady Meyer. Farburgh was quickly cleaned of its filth, and seven of the town leaders were beheaded by execution less than four sets later.
THE BURNING OF FARBURGH
Those who escaped to the Daines Mountains regrouped, and became a loose band of scavengers, wearing green hoods and using cheap thieves weapons. As they grew in number, the locals began to take notice, referring to them as 'those rangers'. After the death Korlan in 4761, Neville Meyer was selected to replace him as archprime, having proved herself on many of her adventures. Following the ceremony, Neville declared the group to be named 'The Daines Rangers', and proceeded to march on the struggling town of Farburgh. In the dark of night in Freezmir 4761, Neville and four hundred victims of Farburgh's terrible oppression, fired a flurry of flaming arrows into the pallisade and houses near the wall.
The inhabitants fled the town, but were quickly cut down by Neville's rangers, who lay in wait outside the gate. In a night which became infamous across the entire confederation, Neville and her rangers slew two thousand citizens of Farburgh, including everyone left in leadership. Despite heavy pressure from the council, Lady Meyer refused to enact vengenance, and instead used the raid as an oppurtunity to move the location of Farburgh further east, solidify the defenses of the Kristar River.
AFTER THE THIRD MAGIC WAR
After the fall of Fondalar and Archia during the Third Magic War, Abeon became a very different place. The Northern Peninsula was divided into two countries, Adorea, the Blue Hills, and the Eternal Forest were now ruled by the remaining of the Daines Rangers. The new Archprim, Klavis Halfbourne, called the country the "Archkindom of Grinalia". The country was less ruled and more 'overseen', creating an anarchical nation of wild outlaws roaming the forests. After the death of Jaxson Arden I, Fondalar and Grinalia broke ties and became bitter enemies. Eventually, in 5302, Grinalia invaded Fondalar and occupied the entirety of Trouffen and Kristar, exiling Jax and Gwendolyn's son, Preston, to exile to Cizmark, where Fondalar withered into irrelevance for the next eighty years. The Archprime Klavis then turned his sights to the North Isles, and in 5344 5p, the Chambraids were driven out of Abeon entirely. Unbeknownst to the Rangers, they fled to the Dragonwing Isles where they were greeted with rage and revenge by their distant relatives living in the Kingdom of Wingoheil. By the mid 55th Century, Grinalia had conquered most of Abeon, including Fondalar, the North Isles, the Blue Hills, and most of Ardune and Ithrium.
CUSTOMS
Unlike the other kingdoms in northern Abeon, the Daines Rangers believe in the ancient Middleton Gods of Ithrium and Hofslond, deriving their power from the blade and crest of Ironell, the God of War. All members of the guild must be proficient in a multitude of weapons, including bows, spears, and polearms. This requirement only got stricter once they were given land by King Jaxson in 4785 4p. Arming the entire nation had effectively made the Daines Rangers the most feared army of warriors in all of Abeon by the fifth period.
ARCHPRIME MEYER
Soon after the founding of the Daines Rangers, warrior and legendary hero, Neville Terrifil Meyer, took on the mantel of leadership of the mercenary army, using the title 'Archprime', a mockery of the secondary commanders of Fondalar, called 'Surprim'. Neville led the Daines Rangers for fourteen years, until her untimely death in 4783 4p, during the bloodiest battle in the Third Magic War of Abeon- The Battle of Red Fields. The fall of the Confederation in the early days of Atember 4783, led to a sudden reemergence of six hundred Daines Rangers on Grinalia Plain. During the ensuing battle, the climax of the Fondalian Civil War, Neville and her rangers fought with Kristar, Trouffen, and the Merciful Trio against the alliance of the Blue Hills Kingdom and Adorea Province. Despite harsh grievances against members of each and every side, Neville and her rangers fought bravely, and saw the fall of the eastern provinces. This conquering of Adorea soon led to her rule over the east, officially declared Archprime of Adorea in Seolos. Her reign was cut short, however, when the Archian invaded Kristar Province in Octivii of the same year, beginning the Third Magic War. After her death, a massive statue of pure Kuphrux Ore was raised in the market gate of Adorea City, forever immortalizing the brave commander.
4781 - 5986
Type
Military, Mercenary Group
Alternative Names
The Archkingdom of Grinalia
Demonym
Danian
Leader
Founders
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
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