11 - Llafwanwyr

Having discussed the founding of Burn and Atrenes, we must now take a step back a short distance in time to the late 1100s TY, and our focus shifts from Kafre'en back to Cremaia. There, we find the region formerly known as Maldona in a period of constant conflict over who should control what.

This conflict begins its close around 1198 TY, when the Elven ruler of The Verde, Luthais Chaemar, makes a pact with a young Ralyan lord named Deyami Ellowyn. These two manage to convince the mayor of Al'laren on Lake Tera'stios, Heome Selkar, and the leader of the largest Orc tribe, Tem Bremgush, that they should work together to bring peace to the region. Young lord Ellowyn quickly succeeds in rounding up support among the more Northern nobility, and the alliance is almost complete.

Together, this collection of leaders manages to hammer out terms of peace and trade between these disparate factions, even going so far as to reach out to the ratfolk leader, Nessiks, who agrees that the conflict in the area needs to cease. In so doing, they determine that a leader for the area is necessary, and Deyami Ellowyn is chosen for the role.

Contrary to the history of the region, and indeed, the foundation of most of Volara's countries, the transfer of power, such as it was, is civilly accomplished. Llafwanwyr is founded and has its first king in 1200 TY.

While this development is met with some consternation in Crandol - which has been accused by some of encouraging the conflicts in the area - the majority of Volara is entirely willing to accept this new player on the world stage. Helping things go smoothly is the relatively cosmopolitan nature of the new king Ellowyn's court. He accepts orcs and elves, ratfolk and gnolls with equal grace. As such, he grows in popularity quickly, and his first national projects as king are accepted by the people with little reservation (Of course, it wasn't quite as easy as I've made it sound, with a fair bit more wheeling and dealing in the halls of great and small. Still, as the founding of countries goes, it was perhaps the smoothest since Eltherean almost a millenia earlier. For a truly in-depth look at the foundation of Llafwanwyr, see "Loyalty, Leadership and Law: Llafwanwyr's Legacy" by Telamon Selkar (yes, a direct descendant of the Al'laren mayor). Also recommended is Garon Zum's "The Ellowyns", a frank but surprisingly positive look at Llafwanwyr's royal family, all the way up to the current King Dalen and his heir apparent, Davin.).

Soon, Llafwanwyr, with its central location, becomes a key stopping point in transcontinental voyages and a hub of trade. Ships from as far as Fandraya come to the port, and its reputation grows as the place to find anything.

This, combined with the growth of Te'ralyn, the discovery of gold in the Ordren Mountains, and the founding of the University of Llafwanwyr, leads to exponential growth in the fortunes of the new country and its people. The second and third Kings Ellowyn prove as popular as their predecessor, whose reputation stayed positive all through his life.

It could be argued that this late arrival to the Volaran geopolitical scene has become the single wealthiest and most prominent of nations, sitting as it does at the centre of the world, literally and metaphorically. Political gatherings are held there due to location, and ambassadors from all over are able to meet with representatives from almost every other nation with the certainty of safety and security. Gatherings of everyone from dockhands to nobles are held daily, and with everyone from elves to giants in attendance.

With Llafwanwyr prospering, there's only one thing left to do: a look at the relative peace of the past century.

NEXT: 12 - The Peace