The Ruon Chronicles: Worldbuilding the History Part 2
Sifa and Nasjand: Twins on different sides of the divide
Hello again Dear Reader,
Hope you had a great weekend. This week really kicked off with a bang for me - luckily in a good way - and it seems to be whizzing along as fast as ever!
Today I’m sharing some more of the early history of Airtha-Eyrassa, starting where part 1 ended last week.
Sifa’s death — the Veil is put in place
The eldest of the Airus, Sifa, who was also Nasjand’s twin brother, went to Nasjand and his followers’ new home, but was slain by Nasjand and his body cast into the ocean. When the Airus learned of this, they started calling Nasjand Lewjan, which means ‘betrayer’.
In seeing what had happened and that death had now entered the world, Agrai put in place a Veil that would divide the mortal lands from the immortal lands. The immortal lands of light were pure and without sin, suffering, or death, while the mortal world had fallen and seemed now much like a shadow of its former self.
Both angered and saddened, the Airus took to calling Lewjan’s followers the Khaldun — servants of the shadow — and Lewjan’s followers revelled in their new name. And the Airus closed the passes of the Rhager Mountains and tried to forget that they and the Khadun were of one kin.
The Death of Leralia and the beginning of the Diminishing
After twenty-one years had passed, Sifa’s daughter, Leralia, went to her uncle Lewjan and the Khaldun to ask them to let go of and forget about their rage and return to the Airus. But Lewjan would have none of it or the pity that she felt for them. He had her stoned before delivering the death-blow himself. Then the Khaldun burned her body and scattered the ashes in the wind.
And it is said that Lewjan and the Khaldun’s minds were changed when they slew Leralia and hate and anger burned in them like never before, fed from Lewjan himself.
Hogtan - the one who had turned away
But there was one of the Khaldun who would not lift a hand against Leralia and his name was Hogtan and he was Lewjan’s nephew. Seeing this, Lewjan ordered Hogtan to be brought before him. And they bound him and made him watch the execution before beating him and taking him to one of the passes of the Rhager Mountains. There they told him to go to the Airus elders and tell them what had been done.
Having no other choice not the will to fight back, Hogtan went to the Airus’ lands where he was found and brought before the Airus elders. He told them all that had happened and prepared himself for death. However, he was shown mercy and taken to a room to rest and recover his strength.
Once he had recovered some of his strength, Hogtan swore loyalty to Leralia’s son, Eamund.
Attack on the elders
Lewjan’s followers crafted many weapons for themselves and went to the dwelling of the eldest of the Airus, attacked them at dawn, and slew them all.
Witnessing this brutal slaughter, the Airus crafted their own weapons with which to defend themselves.
The Battle of Redfield
After the death of Leralia and of the elders,Eamund, rallied some of the Airus and led a counter-attack against the Khaldun. They met on the plain known as Redfield, where only stunted trees and grass grew. This came to be known as the Battle of Redfield and was the first battle of many between the Airus and Khaldun.
Years of warfare between the Airus and Khaldun followed, and some took to calling this time of the Achtarian War the Days of Mourning.