09 - The Rise of Kafre'en & The Modern Age

This section deals with what most scholars would consider the beginning of the modern period, though I feel that an intelligent reader will agree that I've thoroughly explored the reasons why I disagree with the common position. Obviously, were it not for the unexpected nature of Steeleye's death, there would have been less chaos in Koledariel. By extension, had this chaos not existed in Koledariel, then Drakscar may never have left that region, and forced the changes that happened in Kafre'en.

Indeed, it was Drakscar and his followers in their self-imposed exile who first managed to carve out an area of the Northern continent for themselves. It can also be argued that his arrival and actions forced the natives of Kafre'en to move beyond their own rivalries in light of this new aggressor (as Drakscar was seen).

Drakscar and his followers arrived in Kafre'en in Tembres of TY 1111, landing just East of what would come to be known as Salinar. Salinar, at the time, was in the midst of an ongoing struggle between three rival magelords. Each of these mages supposedly had some measure of legitimate claim to the region, and each had the power necessary to effectively back up his claims against any but other talented mages. It has been argued that Drakscar's presence was the catalyst for the rise of the First Nine, the original Magisters of Salinar (I tend to agree, as this idea has been effectively argued by better researched scholars than I (see Dolaans' excellent “Salinar: The Founding”, Hale's extremely detailed “A Historical Overview of the Development of the Magocracy of Salinar: Volume 1-3”, or if nothing else is available, Wulson's well-researched but short and poorly written “Salinar: A History”).). Whether it was Drakscar's influence or simply weariness with the constant infighting, history tells us that the First Nine were in full control of Salinar and its surrounding area within five years of Drakscar's arrival in Kafre'en. Interestingly, there were no clashes between Drakscar's forces and the three magelords in power when Drakscar arrived. It is generally thought that he made some sort of appeasement gestures although the exact interactions between them is now lost to time.

In any event, Drakscar knew of Salinar's magic population, and thus chose to move Northwest, further inland. It was there, in the Northern wilds of Kafre'en that he founded the nation of Lawesee from a fortress just below the Northern Ice-Line. Of course, we know that it was not so simple as that. Certain tribes in the Northern wastes were not pleased by these new human aggressors. Drakscar and his men spent the better part of seven years fighting and negotiating with many of these nonhuman tribes. Those records from Koledariel that yet exist suggest that his siblings felt that Drakscar was the most warlike amongst them. For those with history to study, it comes as a surprise that Drakscar would bear such a resemblance to his father in both his bearing and in his methods of conquest. Like his father, Drakscar seems to have preferred peaceful negotiations in his development of Lawesee. While the development of his nation was not without its share of bloodshed, the land he was claiming/negotiating for was mostly undesired, with the exception of the portion of the country that lies below the Ice-Line. Drakscar's actions led to the formation of Volara's only nation (that we know of!) that extends past either of the Ice-Lines (For more information on Drakscar's accomplishments and the rise of Lawesee, I highly recommend Balious Joul's impressively written work, “Drakscar Triumphant: Lawesee and the Rise of Kafre'en”, from which I partly stole the title for this section).

While the formation of Lawesee was an impressive feat, its social byproduct may be seen as equally significant. As Drakscar built his nation of warriors, the people of the city that would become Marken prepared for war, fearing that Drakscar was building an army meant to attack them. Many would say that the rulers of Marken never lost this fear, despite a complete lack of military action from Lawesee. Marken, like Salinar, had been in the grip of rival powers. The two barons at war with one another chose to set aside differences in order to defend against the feared Laweseean aggression. As we all know, the two current rulers of Marken are in much the same position, but they call themselves “Dukes” now. This state of permanent stalemate in Marken has led to an economically powerful nation, as the people of Marken seem to accept and ignore their rulers' constant squabbling and have chosen to focus on the economic logic of their strategic geographical position in relation to Lawesee and have become Lawesee's most important trading partner. Since Lawesee has become something of a destination for those who truly wish to test their mettle, Marken has benefited from both the importation of goods and from the flow of would-be warriors who make their way to the farthest North (Many scholars, including the aforementioned Joul, have wondered why there has never been an uprising in Marken. I would humbly suggest that the people of Marken will have almost unlimited freedom as long as neither Duke gains full control. For further discussion of Marken, see the Llafwanwyr University Press book edited by Soren Delagarde, “Marken: Market Economics at Work”, which includes a number of essays analyzing the history and economic developments of that city state.).

By TY 1130, the three Eastern Kafre'en states were well-established, financially and economically sound. Salinar, under its First Nine, had opened the doors on Volara's foremost school of magical study; Lawesee had gained a reputation as the place where warriors went to test themselves against the most forbidding of environments; and Marken had an external influence that forced its rulers into playing nice with each other and with their own people. Each of these three city-states had become significant on the world stage, making Kafre'en a destination and a power for the first time since the end of the War of the Gates.

Even the most contentious of scholars will agree that, by TY 1130, we are in the Modern Age. From an intercontinental perspective, only one of the major political powers was missing at this time: Llafwanwyr.

Inevitably, there will be some reading this who will want to put forth the names of the other nations of our world that did not yet exist by this point. Some will suggest that Gochanrall and Burn are major political powers, while others will want to include Dofmariel and Atrenes. There may even be some who choose to mention Fandraya, Icemir, or Kazan.

I chose to use the term “major political powers” for a reason.

Essentially, one can make the argument that no nation formed after TY 1130 is a major player on the world's political stage, with the exception of Llafanwyr. Both Gochanrall and Burn have closed their doors to almost all diplomacy, choosing to remove themselves from contention, while most recognize Fandraya as part of Sendousha in all but name. Dofmariel is, in short, a smaller Koledariel with a different name, thus not really a new country. Atrenes is little more than a city of refugees. Many would agree that it exists simply because its more aggressive neighbour has not yet invaded. Finally, and with apologies to their few residents, both Icemir and Kazan are barely inhabited, for good reason, and simple lack of numbers reduces their political effectiveness.

My assertion regarding Llafwanwyr does not, however, reduce the significance of other events that were to take place in the time between Kafre'en's rise and Llafwanwyr's founding. First, I must write of Koledariel's fall.

NEXT: 10 - Gochanrall & Burn