History of Borost

The History of Borost is difficult to trace with a satisfactory amount of precision, but a general timeline has been agreed upon by Dwaerkar scholars. This commonly-acceptable timeline is known as the Biredich narrative, and is the one that should be used for nearly all purposes, outside those dedicated to a specialized investigation of the lore of other races.

However, the Biredich narrative is unacceptable to many of the non-Dwaerkar races and cultures in the land, as it is insensitive to their religious or cultural concerns. For the sake of thoroughness, a brief overview of the principal competing narratives of the land -- how it came about, how it became populated, what has transpired since, and so on -- will be presented in this article.

It is important to note that legend mixes with reality with alarming frequency in Borost, particularly among the simple-minded folk. For this purpose, it is important to understand that all of the following narratives, except for the Biredich narrative, include legendary components, which many consider to be factual in accord with the narrative they prefer.

Biredich narrative


The Biredich narrative, also known as the Dwaerkar narrative, is the account of choice of the Academia, including many Borostí and Tirsosí scholars, as it includes the least amount of legendary elements. Nonetheless, it is difficult to trace its earlier segments with satisfactory precision. Regardless, it is widely held to be the most authoritative account of the land.

This narrative is named after Tzulft Biredich, a Dwaer who successfully compiled the narrative into the Compendium of the History of Borost and the Nearby Lands, which remains the definitive account of history, and the account of choice of the academia.

Prior to Borost
As would be expected, there is no evidence as to what existed before Borost acquired the space and matter which it currently possesses. The continent was most likely formed through natural processes, and is thought to be a peninsula of a larger landmass to the north.

The majority of Dwaerkar, adherents of the Faith of Kel, believe that the Lonely God lived alone in the Immaterial Plane. Most believers in Kel maintain that Kel is eternal. Eventually, Kel fashioned the Skeleton of the World, the offspring of his thought. With Magic the first of the Arts of Kel, He forged All Lands, known and unknown, including Borost. Of course, there is no evidence to support this description.

Early Borost
Early archaeological records of Borost, as found in many ruins and artifacts, seem to indicate that the first inhabited the land. They first settled the plains and prairies of the south, and gradually expanded north, where they occupied the forests and the hills of Vaalsebossen and Hyrost. The people were divided into a large number of competing war-clans, enlargened families that fought for power and land.

At some point in this timeline, the Covenant, the faith of the Borostím, arose. This religion is believed to trace its origins to somewhere in the negative fifth milennium (fifth milennium before the landing). No texts survive to record this gestation, but fragments of the writings of this time can be traced through the holy texts of the Covenant.

At the same time as the rose to occupy Borost, many other Símic races also rose throughout the continent. Most importantly, the city of Tirsos was established to the South of Borost by the in roughly -4220. They are the first-known urban people to inhabit the continent, as well as the first to discover agriculture, mining, the refinement of iron, and many other such traits of civilization. It is believed these discoveries slowly travelled north, where they eventually became adopted by the.

Koss Gaer
Many legends surround Tavres Ilsím, the first king of the. His rise to power has been lost to time, but it is known he established Koss Gaer, his capital, in about -2200. Koss Gaer flourished at the centre of the new country, which at that time was largely uninhabited, and grew into one of the largest cities on the continent, with settlers forming new cities in Bryn Gaer (Goustad) and Kellinstyddyn (Kelinschap), Bahyrst, and Myddynslys (Middenhal).

However, Koss Gaer was destroyed and abandoned during some time near -2050. Biredich maintains that the destruction of Koss Gaer was likely the result of civil strife, possibly a succession crisis, as Ilsím was known to have perished at around the same time. The, however, refuse this hypothesis, citing supernatural events for the destruction of the city.

Ilsím line
Following the fallout of this cataclysm, Elven Borost continued its growth. The capital became Koss Dyren, where Lynten Ilsím assumed the throne of his grandfather.

From the -20th century to the -19th, Borost’s size and influence grew rapidly, as did its wealth, and the kingdom came to be at the centre of a trade network stretching from the cities of the Great Swamp to Tirsos. In no small part was this a result of the Borostím’s own significant contribution to the crafts, and arts, which spread throughout the continent.

In -1900, however, this system of trade began to shrink, as the city-states of the Serpent-folk became progressively more hostile to the símic realms. The Serpent-folk, in those times, did not attack in Invasions, but as a regular state, and periodic wars erupted between Borost and the Serpent-folk Tochal League, a league of city-states. The Tochal-Borost Wars, as these became known, lasted for centuries. Ultimately, Elven Borost was able to push the Serpent-folk back into the Great Swamp, and erected great fortifications around it.

Following the conflicts, the lizardmen ceased to be a significant threat to Borost itself. To the displeasure of its enemies -- principally, the Southern men and Tirsos -- the Kingdom of the Borostím remained quietly wealthy. The growth of the new capital, Koss Dyren continued in step with the growth of the Borostím’s wealth.

At this time, Lynten Ilsím perished and was succeeded by his son, Kelyn Ilsím. Kelyn was known for his lavish and grand taste, who immediately used the treasury to erect enormously expensive castles and monuments throughout the land. Ultimately, he ordered the construction of the great monument of Heneb Kelin in the middle of Kossllyn lake, whose cost amounted to more than three years of revenue for the entire realm. The royal crown plunged headlong into debt.

Kelin’s showy style drew the ire of a number of his vassals, which led to the King being exiled to his own edifice just as it completed construction, his ships kept from shore by a navy of the rebellious Marquis Celyn Cylfred, ending the rule of the short-lived Ilsím dynasty and beginning that of the Cylfred dynasty.

Cylfred line
Meanwhile, in the northwest of Borost, the Kingdom of Alenreic was established in -1328 by the human Thaile of Gundt. Alenreic remained small and peaceful during this time, securing its borders from invasion by its elven or serpent neighbors through the payment of tribute to both.

King Celyn Cylfred began a period of isolation for the Kingdom which only ended under the reign of King Emrys Cylfred, which began in -1218: under Celyn’s rule, many public works were begun, including baths, sewers, and aqueducts in the great cities of Borostím, grand temples, new roads, and the reconstruction of living space for the commoners. For his efforts, Celyn gained the title of “the Builder,” beginning a tradition of assigning titles to the kings of Borost.

Celyn was followed by Gawrys Cylfred, “the Eldest,” Anirrin Cylfred, “the Devout,” and Dynol Cylfred, “the Musician.” The details of their reigns were lost after the Grand Library at Koss Dyren was destroyed, although they are generally known as fairly unimportant rulers: collectively, their reigns ended somewhere around -412, when Eyla Cylfred, the first Queen of Borost, was crowned.

Eyla's rule was marked by the end of isolationism and the forging of new ties with both Tirsos and Alenreic, as well as the reconstruction of various monuments and the patronage of philosophy and the arts.

Despite her magnanimous nature, she suffered from controversy as a result of multiple courtships, and was ultimately assassinated in -623. The crown was then disputed between her two children, Deryn “the Red” and Gwyn “the Pious” Cylfred. This resulted in the War of the Siblings, which only ended in -549, when the death of Gwyn left Deryn as the only claimant to the throne, and she was crowned Queen shortly thereafter.

Deryn’s reign is broadly recorded as a brutal one: traitorous elements and opponents to the Queen were blackmailed and assassinated without mercy, and Deryn’s network of spies, martial strength, and vast treasury allowed her to remain largely unopposed throughout her reign.

By -223, the crown passed to Deryn’s son, Mair Cylfred “the Great”, whose reign was broadly seen as more compassionate and wiser than that of Deryn. Under Mair, the kingdom entered a period of reconstruction, although the utter destruction of the Duchy of Tyllstir (modern Tielsland) showed that Mair was also unwilling to tolerate dissent.

Tyllstir was ordered to be a land “devoid of speaking life,” with natives of the country either slaughtered or forced to leave. Mair was succeeded in -18 by his daughter, Aderyn “the Just” Cylfred, who revoked the orders that Tyllstir be left lifeless after the first Dwaerkar settlers arrived in +0. This led to the now-forgotten Dwaerkar celebration of the Day of Friends, begun in honor of Aderyn’s generosity.

Dwaerkar arrival in Borost
In the first of Aalderas, of the year +0, the first Dwaerkar landed in Borost. They were led by Ouwe the Founder, who established Ouwestad, and were followed by many family members and the elderly. For many years, the Dwaerkar began to carve their imposing capital into the rock of the Barends. The dark elves knew not to expect a city to be built underground, for which reason the power and mastery of the Dwaerkar remained undetected for many years.

Middling years
Meanwhile, Aderyn’s rule gave way to that of Berwyn “the Selfish” Kaelwyn in +164.

The Invasions
In the winter of +220, the First Invasion was launched. Borost forsook the request for aid from the Realm of Men which came so far as to scar the northern reaches of the elven kingdom. Fortunately for mankind, they proved skilled enough in arms to repel the invaders in bitter combat, and few were the serpent-folk who penetrated Alenreic. However, the men of Alenreic became embittered by the Borostím’s failure to help them against what was obviously a common threat, and terminated the alliance between both realms.

Subsequently, Berwyn was wise enough to reinforce the northern border -- a task for which he enlisted the help of the Dwaerkar, who not only erected fortresses in the Tammerllyn (Tamersberge) mountains, but were also responsible for the construction of the long fortifications, now largely abandoned, along the Cadarnfford (Bolwerksweg). The strength of the western fortifications managed to defeat the brunt of the Second Invasion, which largely penetrated the Realm of Men unscathed (as men refused to offer combat, an offer which the serpent-folk were happy to accept), in +240.

After the Third Invasion, the fortifications of Borost were completed, which greatly augmented the defence of the Kingdom. As a reward for their service, Berwyn granted the Dwaerkar the right to settle along the Afon Haul (Zonstroom), leading to the modern size of Tielsland.

War of Ÿphergund
In +431, the War of Ÿphergund erupted.
 * +431 -- The War of Ÿphergund begins.
 * +453 -- Fragmentation of the Dwaerkar freeholds.

Following the death of Molgart Ÿphergund in +453, Clan Ÿphergund vanished out of existence. Clan Ythred rapidly seized control of Ouwestad, and presumably the helm of the Dwaerkar people. However, the demise of the Ÿphergunds broke the contracts of vassalage of many generals. Six of the great generals of the Dwaerkar, along with their soldiery, declared that certain "freeholds" now existed independently of Ouwestad. These were:


 * Sjael Korthodum, who declared the independence of Helderen.
 * Hodrick Leenenden, of Terbrug.
 * Teris Draatelhand, of Vaalsebossen. Succeeded by Jurig Gorthoadum.
 * Keris Anderast, of Hyrost.
 * Woltar Reimart, of Tederland.
 * Selt Yulthermand, of Westerbos.

Notably, Clan Ÿzerhand, a former vassal of Clan Ÿphergund, remained loyal to Clan Ythred.

Clan Ythred faced insurmountable odds -- his personal levies of 50,000 troops against the combined force of his generals (some 300,000 troops). With bitterness and frustration, Wuldan Ythred yielded. He recognized the sovereignty of the freeholds -- on the condition that they continued their efforts against the elven forces.


 * +458 -- End of this war.

Conflict and stagnation

 * +510 -- Ythred's War
 * +523 -- Izlentenft War

Present day

 * +545 -- Present day.

Borostím narrative, 'Orthodox'
The Orthodox narrative of the Borostím is widely held by the clergy of that people. It is popular among all of the dark elves. Nonetheless, its accuracy and reliability are now subject to close scrutiny.

Please note that the events herein illustrated are presented in the Dwaerkar calendar.

Borostím narrative, 'Heterodox'
The Heterodox narrative of the Borostím is the newest account developed by that elven populace. It is largely upheld by the Borostím academia, and attempts to solve many of the inconsistencies presented in the Orthodox account.

By the nature of its genesis, the Heterodox narrative has gestated a large number of tributary narratives. For that reason, only the central branches of this narrative -- as agreed upon by nearly all those who subscribe to this account -- will be presented. A brief summary of points of important contention will be presented at the end.

Please note that the events herein illustrated are presented in the Dwaerkar calendar.

Free Cities narrative
The Free Cities have taken to maintaining a stoic grip on their Tales of Old. These tales, nonetheless, have been vastly disproved at this point, and are only believed by radicals and extremists in Borost.

Scholars largely believe that the Free Cities thusly adhere to their old credences because they remove that the modern Orthodox and Heterodox narratives have become tainted by Dwaerkar culture and the Fatherhood.

The Old narrative, as it is also known, is very similar to the Orthodox narrative. However, there are a number of important differences, which are listed below: