Fifth Age

The Early Fifth Age (1167-1190 P.A.)
Complacent in their second golden age, the Elvenhan had largely became haughty and disdainful to their human neighbors. Though the Council of Avo spoke of peace, enlightenment, and vigilance, the populace disregarded their stern warnings. The use of magic had become widespread, and Elves were using it to satisfy even their most basic desires, even becoming dependant on its influence, while the Vaeliens were suffering from a major food shortage. The bulk of the Arylian military forces had been sent east, to investigate reports of fires and smoke rising from beyond the Daggerfall Mountains, and many druids were meditating in Thar’dalah. Alkar’are was largely undefended, and the Council was protected by only a handful of Phoenix Guards. It was, sadly, a perfect storm for the Elvenhan’s downfall.

1167 - The Battle of the Tides
The Elfgate south of Alkar’are was blasted open, and thousands of warriors poured through the gaping hole, as shards of crystal floated from the sky. Barbarian humans flooded the plains, and attacked nearby villages. None were spared these invaders savage wrath, and the sky grew oranges from the fires of the burning houses and forests. Men were killed, women ravaged and left to die, and crying children were enslaved or trampled. Before long, the capital was overrun with bloodthirsty warriors, who destroyed everything in their path. The Council was captured, and as they desperately questioned their attackers and pleaded for the safety of their people, a figure before them laughed maliciously.

He was the last descendant of Daelin, the former King of Varros, and he personally cut the throats of each immortal member of the Council of Avo. As the life drained from their bodies, he ordered his masses of tribals to invade the surrounding lands, and to take no prisoners.

1167 - Middas
Leotheras, sensing the death of the other immortals, ordered a contingent of San’lyn adepts to join in the defense of the Arylian homeland, despite his fears that doing so would reveal their presence in the world. A young Alexandros was among them.

Alkar’are, the single greatest bastion of Elvenhan power the world had ever seen, which had stood for over ten thousand years, fell that day. In the coming weeks, the human tribes would attack Thar'dalah, the druid enclave, and Ibelis, the home of a Treeal Shrine, and would destroy dozens of smaller villages. Though a force of Elven, Vaelien, and San’lyn soliders eventually stemmed the tide at Bloodmoore, prompting Prince Daelin and Leotheras to agree to an armistice, the damage had been done. Not a single living elf was left east of the Elrendar River. The Vaeliens, deemed ineffective for their part in the defense of the Elven homeland, were abandoned by the Elves, and the alliance of millennia dissolved, while the former lands of Ulthan were occupied by the tribals under the banner of Strom.

Major Results: The young Prince Daelin, now controlling the former Elvenhan capital and the lands surrounding it, Ulthan, had it fortified and gathered his closest advisors and tribal leaders, and gave them seats of power in his new empire, Strom. Outside of the walls, the human tribes began to settle in the ruins of the towns and villages they had sacked days before. Using captured prisoners, they rebuilt as best they could, though not before realizing that the Elvenhan’s magic was the only thing keeping the land fertile and arable. Within a year, the whole area became a desert wasteland just like the east, and became known as The Shadowlands. Daelin ordered the tribes to begin raiding nearby settlements to not only to subsist, but to capture prisoners to be used as slaves.
 * The Elvenhan were devastated. Without a leader, a capital, or any alliances, the Kingdom quickly began to totally fall apart. On the brink of total destruction, Leotheras ended his personal policy of seclusion, and left the Crimson Hall, bringing with him Alexandros and a small retinue of Blood Knights, leaving Elena in charge. He, a descendent of Avo, had fought bravely in the battle and rose to power immediately, uniting the splintering factions of Arylians and signing the peace treaty personally with Daelin. Declaring Eldrelas the capital of the Kingdom, and forcefully removing any who opposed him, Leotheras single-handedly saved Arylia from total annihilation.
 * The Vaeliens, without the mutual assistance from the Elves, were unable to protect their outlying holdings, and gradually lost influence in Edvensfall. Sensing a weakness in her people, Priestess Delerissa overthrew her father in a coup, and promised a revival in the spiritual ways. Fanatically devoted to their God, many Vaeliens supported his “speaker”, Delerissa, and embraced her religious zeal. She enforced a practice of strict isolationism, and leads the Vaeliens to despise the Elvenhan for abandoning them. She cuts off contact and support to Vaelerisan, who allowed half-elves within the city, which quickly fell to roaming beasts, and turned Vaeli into a police state. She formed the Order of the White Mage, a sect to___
 * The Elvenhan druids, in an attempt to heal the land of its devastation and maintain a hold on their lands, performed a ritual to cleanse Bloodmoore, though their efforts had little success. They were only able to partially mend the area, which became a dismal swamp, still occasionally haunted by vengeful revenants. They ultimately abandon the area after several of them are killed by malevolent shades.

1168
Alexandros, renowned for his impressive performance during the war, was a hero of the Elvenhan, though he was unable to ever reveal his San'lyn origins. For a year he lived in Eldrelas, where he continued to win the support and hearts of many, while he struggled coping with the death of so many of his friends during the war. Leotheras, seeking to expand the Arylia's weakened power base, attempted to indoctrinate the Daegon'hai into Arylian society. After they refused, he ordered them to be executed, viewing their soverignty as dangerous. Alexandros, viewing Leotheras's actions as tyrannical, races to warn the Daegon'hai, though few believe him. During the attack, many of the Daegon'hai were killed, though the Keepers and a young Vengeant were among the survivors.

Leotheras deemed Alexandros a traitor of the Elvenhan for his part in the Daegon'hai's defence. Now an outcast, he returned to the Crimson Hall, where he received a mixed welcome from his brothers and sisters, who thought him to be changed by the outside world. Though reclusive, he attracted the affections of Elena, who would later become his wife.

1169
Prince Daelin orders the construction of a massive mining camp north of Alkar'are, as all of the resources east of the Elrendar River have been depleted. Slaves captured during the war are forced to mine limestone and granite for the construction of fortifications.

1172
Vengeant and the Daegon'hai survivors

1180
Alexandros helped train and educate many younger San'lyn initiates in the absence of a proper leader, and eventually leads an expedition to survey the state of Edvensfall after the war alongside Elena. Their group is ambushed by slavers while Alexandros is out scouting. After tracking them for weeks, he discovers that the slavers are members of Strom. He is forced to endured incredible hardship, ultimately mercy-killing his wife, and eventually returns to find the Crimson Hall empty. He trains his mind and body for ten years in solitude to prepare himself to enact his vengeance.

1181
The Bough of Shadows is attacked by the Grey Watch and the Daegon'hai are completely annhiliated. Mih'ra is the only survivor. She adopts the name "Vengeant" in honor of her only purpose.

Vengeant travels for nine years, carrying Xavius, in her search for Alexandros.

1185
Dai'kober was attacked by Strom forces, and, after several weeks, falls to their superior numbers, with high casualties. Melchior is taken as a prisoner along with his parents. His father, Casper Ash, is killed by Prince Daelin, and his mother commits suicide. Melchior is indoctrinated into one of the Strom tribes for the false promise of his parents' freedom.

1188
Might's Breach's construction is finished, Strom now has a forward base with which to conduct raids.