Chronicles of Guy d'Aimonne
Historical Overview
The Chronicles, better known as the Chronicles of Guy d'Aimonne, is the primary contemporary source of the history of the Blossom Fields during the 400s to early 500s of the Age of Rule. Written by the noble-turned-religious brother Guy d'Aimonne, his Chronicles begin with a recording of the daily goings-on of the chantry at Brothersbry, before spiraling into a wider history of the political turmoil and upheaval of the Braelean Hedge Wars. Through his personal knowledge and connections to the major political figures of the era, Guy d'Aimonne and his work provide a crucial source for the thoughts of someone living through a tumultuous period in the history of the Vinelands.Background
Following a vision at a young age, Guy d'Aimonne, a young noble from House Aimonne of Surlee, joined the Choir of the Blessed Steps. After a brief stint preaching to the valesides against the primordial gods, Guy's status as one of the most highly educated brothers was put to use and he began chronicling the daily goings-on of the chancery at Brothersbry. When the Fall of House Braelea began in 450 AR, Guy's status as the only remaining heir to the Braelea-allied House Aimonne saw him whisked away to Somae just in time. There he began chronicling the broader conflict, and through his personal talents and connections put together a revealing portrait of the major players and events in the region during the 400s of the Age of Rule.Literary Overview
Books
Lost Early Works & Book I
442 - 450 AR
Little survives of Guy d'Aimonne's earliest works. These preceded his official Chronicles and mostly documented his journeys around the valesides of the Blossom Fields. During this time he focused on converting the rural residents of the region away from the worship of the primordial goddess Mistra, towards the officially sanctioned worship of Vestria, her daughter and the ruling goddess of Anhara. Snippets from these works survive as quotations in other sources."It was my duty for some time to wander the valesides and speak to those whose beliefs are somewhat out of date. Our place is to remind them that our faith is in Vestria, daughter of Mistra, and it is now the turn of those gods of Her line to rule, with full respect to those whose importance came before." - Guy d'Aimonne, surviving snippet from his early worksBook I of the actual Chronicles covers the daily life at the chancery, a type of monastery, at Brothersbry. While an interesting glimpse at life as a religious brother in the early 400s, it rarely references the outside world and thus has little worth as a source for the wider political happenings in the lead-up to the Fall of House Braelea. This is much to the chagrin of historians, as the immediate causes of the conflict have been obscured by later propaganda and the nostalgic sentiments of the valesides.
Book II
450 AR
The second book of the Chronicles is an abrupt change of pace and tone. It discusses Guy's rushed flight south from Brothersbry to Somae, in the Eastmarches. With the change of setting comes a change in the author, who enters into a discussion with the reader, examining and explaining the events and issues at hand, rather than the more matter-of-fact Book I."Word has come from Surlee Rock that House Braelea has fallen. I suspect I am the last Aimonne, and the order will send me into the Eastmarches for my own safety" - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'AimonneIn the second book, the reader is also introduced to the major players in Somae, specifically Guy's distant cousin, Lord Pelain III Thewisy, his court, and the trickle of exiled Braeleas, especially Lord Raymon II Braelea and his heir Alain.
Book III
450 - 457 AR
The third book of the Chronicles picks up after the mysterious death of Raymon Braelea and discusses the ascension of his son, Alain III. Here Guy d'Aimonne joins with his contemporary and fellow source of the Hedge Wars, Sir Rys Thewisy, in casting Alain as a tragic figure, especially after the battle at Arlbre in 454."Who amongst us can swear we could act differently, having seen our closest friends and allies, who delivered us from certain doom within the ruins of our burning childhood home, cut down as they fought for our birthright?" - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'AimonneWhile Rys Thewisy's Blood Red Blossoms is a source for the military aspects of the Hedge Wars, especially day-to-day campaigns of Etien IV Braelea, Guy provides an insight into the Thewisy court. While Pelain Thewisy is in favor of immediate military intervention in the Blossom Fields, he is talked down, and the Thewisys take over the running of the war from the Braeleas, beginning the clandestine raids and uprisings of the mid-Hedge Wars.
Book IV
457 - 460 AR
The fourth book of the Chronicles stretches from the start of the uprisings to the beginning of the Ciderwinde League. Guy offers a somewhat behind-the-scenes view of House Thewisy's attempts to orchestrate uprisings across the Blossom Fields, giving particular attention to the failed coup attempt at Cleavehill and the resilience of House Perry."Lord Pelain had no interest in the vacillation of his advisors, and wanted to take the field immediately. I cautioned patience, as they did, but my heart broke for young Etien. " - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'AimonneBesides the affairs of war, the Chronicles also discuss the complexities of the Braelea court in exile, which is split between Lord Alain and the more aggressive advisors of his deceased father. Guy offers further defense of Alain Braelea and a nuanced view of his mental status for the time.
Book V
460 - 471 AR
460 marks the start of the Ciderwinde Uprisings, led by House Cyrton, which saw the cities along the fertile and productive Ciderwinde Strip erupt in revolt. This effectively reduced the Semillon territory to the northern coastline, and dramatically escalated the war, both in territory involved and the type of warfare, as the powerful navies of House Reed intervened."The chantry at Brothersbry, where I spent so many of my days as a young man, has been turned into a rock in a sea of destruction. The lands around the Timber, full of good Vestria-worshiping folk, have been razed by marauding sailors from House Reed and the besieging Company's scavenging parties." - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'AimonneThe fifth book remarks upon the hopeful tone these events brought about in Somae, who saw the forces arrayed against the Semillon Free Company as insurmountable. Guy, both as a religious brother and one who traveled the valesides extensively, and thus knew many of those involved in the actual fighting, takes a sorrowful tone with these writings. While an undeniable Braelea Loyalist, he cannot help but lament the ever-escalating losses of life.
Book VI
471 - 476 AR
The sixth book of the Chronicles cover momentous events not just for the course of the Hedge Wars, but for the author himself as well. 471 saw Etien Braelea, the young heir, sneak away from the safety of Somae to raise a ragtag army of allies in the Vinelands. He quickly becomes lord of House Braelea after his father dies, according to Guy of shock upon learning his son has taken the field. While this is where Rys Thewisy's work becomes the main resource for historians dealing with the Hedge Wars, Guy's Chronicles are an important emotional glimpse."While I will never trade in the mottled green robes of the Choir, to receive the deep red of the Crimson Quill was an honor. I can only imagine how my young self would have felt to know an organization we so admired would bestow an honorary membership for our hard work." - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'AimonneAs a sympathetic voice in defense of Alain, with whose death Guy is now one of the last surviving nobles from the exodus from Surlee, Guy takes on a deeply morose tone. Having seen so many of his relatives and friends die, he expresses his fear for the fate of his pupil, Etien Braelea, and the death of the houses who have risen to support him.
Book VII
476 - 506 AR
The seventh book sees Guy pivot from mourning over the death of the young Etien, to an attempted return to chronicling religious matters. Despite his best efforts, his sorrowful tone at the increasing death tolls in eastern Anhara continues, especially as this marks the start of The Threshing, a long and brutal conflict with al-Tahat.Significance
The Chronicles offer a crucial and nuanced look at the historical events in the Blossom Fields during the 400s. It gives not only an accounting of them, but a behind-the-scenes look at the motivations of the major players from the perspective of an insider, aware of his own biases and opinions. This makes the Chronicles a rare work when it comes to primary sources, especially from the Age of Rule, as they are often relayed through legends or a tangential relationship with sources and facts. Not only do the Chronicles offer a reliable historical accounting and insight, but a look at the emotional complexity of the author. This is especially important to modern scholars, and the Chronicles are quite popular with the Crimson Quill, as people from the Age of Rule are often cast in a simplistic and brutal light.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Vellum / Skin
Authoring Date
442 - 506 AR
Location
Authors
"I humbly present the begining of Book II of my Chronicles. As I am here to divulge the doings of lords and knights, the events great and slaughters vast of the tumultuous events that have afflicted our beloved Blossom Fields, I ask, if a humble brother like myself am lucky enough to have them, the readers of the days yet to come to reflect on what has gone on here, and seek to understand the events of the day outside of the meager means one such as myself has to relay them." - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'Aimonne
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