Aerafella

The Grand and beautiful country of Aerafella, center of the Silver Age Empire and leading province bringing forward a new age of enlightenment and prosperity to the people of Albion. Despite it's struggles with war, conflict, and destruction the realm continues to push forward.

Founding
In the year ___ Aerafella was founded by Farandal the Great, used as his seat of power to rule the rest of the Isles during the Silver Age Empire. It's capital Laetillia being the birthplace of its new Emperor, and home to the great Cathedral of the Age of Elves the very stones used to build it resonating with magic and power. Farandal used the secrets found within the Cathedral to help the lands surrounding the cathedral prosper, farmland springing with life and waters flowing sweet and strong. The city was quickly built around this wonder that he had wrought, freemen from all over the isles flocking to pledge their swords to their new ruler.

Post Empire
After the death of Farandal the Great, the other provinces he had brought under his rule splintered from the gem of the empire, Aerafella. The main province itself did not notice much of this, as there was too much squabbling among the royal houses to bother, every noble who could make it to the capital trying their best to carve out their slice of the pie. The fighting was hard, but no major conflicts came about until...

The War of the Three Princes
Among the rabble of lesser nobles and powerful houses Three Claimants to the throne gathered enough power and influence to truly vie for it's right. Yrsail the First Born, Thuurin the Strong, and Vysiir the Cunning.

Yrsail had gathered many houses and swords through what he claimed his birthright and inheritance. Farandal had never stated that the throne would be passed down through the normal line of succession, and had never truly named any his successor yet to many a noble house this seemed the best course. Yrsail was another Half-Elf like his father, expected to live quite some time still and had shown himself a capable if harsh leader at times. The Troll clans of Cuerl Istaniv pledged themselves to Yrsail, aiding him quite well as heavy infantry in the coming battles.

Thuurin the Strong was a Human Child of Farandal, already Old and far from the line of succession yet one of the greatest tactical minds in the Royal Family, and Grand Marshal at the time of his fathers death. Thuurin had the support of the remnants of the former army he could muster, well trained and ready to die for their new King. Highly beloved by his men, the general populous also was fond of Thuurin, as the stories of him personally defending the walls from invaders and leading the charge with his men had inspired so many during these times of strife. Thuurin himself was known to want the throne to restore stability to the Isles, hoping to be able to regain control of the splintered provinces upon taking it.

Vysiir the Cunning was another Half-Elven child of the former emperor, minor in influence and less close to the line of succession than Thuurin was, yet Vysiir used their underestimation to his advantage. Gaining support and backing of the various thief guilds, the Bauchen, and the budding Cult of Ferroniam Vysiir used every tool he could to bring his brothers down from the inside. Assassinations, ambushes, poisoning, propaganda, religious stirring of the masses, no tool was too low for Vysiir, and no blame ever fell to his feet. Vysiir eliminated each competitor until his was against the big leagues, which is where he would turn the tide of the conflict completely.

At the time of the War Yrsail held the Capital, claiming the throne physically if not completely. Thuurin had started his campaign to assault the city, trying his best to claim it with as little death to the populous as he could afford, a flaw that Yrsail used against him time and time again. The assaults and fighting lasted for months, all the while Vysiir went to work. Undermining both operations, doubt was thrown into the ranks. Thuurins men held well, but the patchwork of nobles that supported Yrsail started to buckle. Cracks being found in the defenses that made up the city. The final strike of the war though was a single slash of a dagger, across Thuurin the Strongs throat. Vysiir had finally gotten his attack through, slaying the Grand Marshall in his sleep, yet this time the assassin was caught, and spilled the beans. With Vysiir in the spotlight, Thuurin Dead, and Yrsail undermined by his own supporters a fourth brother stepped forward. Haendal the Wise, he who had kept himself removed from the conflict during this great war, absconded to the church while his brothers fought. Haendal came forward with the full backing of the Church of Aerafella behind him. Thuurins former army quickly rallied to him, seeing Haendal as a better alternative to the Man they fought or the Man who killed their beloved Marshal. Calling a meeting between the two brothers, Haendal through words managed to bring the remaining brothers to an agreement. The Noble Houses and Public against their claims very much had an effect on this outcome.

Thus the War of Three Princes Ended, and the Rule of Haendal began. burying Thuurin at his home of Joris Peak, Pardoning Vysiir of his crimes and enlisting his help with the upcoming work to bring the country back together, and bringing Yrsail as his right hand and defender of the throne Naming his Family the Glaive of Neitherin, a title to be passed Father to Son till the end of time.

Burning of Laetillia
Roughly a decade after the start of Haendals rule of Aerafella, a great fire broke out within the capital city of Laetillia, causing mass death and destruction throughout the city, killing about a fifth of the population within. Most of the fires started in barracks, and military outposts in the city, sending the King and his generals into high alert. Searching for rebellion, disgruntled nobles, or other enemies within there were none to be found. As if it was a portent of what was to come though several months later scouts reported an army on the Horizon, the forces of Rorchilde were a mere two weeks away, somehow slipping by and getting to the heart of the country in record time. Their forces prepared for battle, led by the Burning Avatar of their new God, the Lord of Light. Defenses were prepared as quickly as they could, to try and respond to the waves of hostiles bearing down on their home. When the armies of Rorchilde reached the capitals walls they were quickly breached by explosions divine magic, slung by the howling clerics of the Lord of Light. The fighting bloody but quick, Aerafellas forces were quickly pushed back to the Cathedral, while those left outside were quickly overrun and hacked into pieces to continue feeding the flames. Houses set ablaze, the city was ransacked by the Rorchilde forces for weeks, keeping the Aerafellans bottled up inside. Reinforcments were on the way, yet as soon as they were to come Rorchildes forces retreated. The Avatar of their Lord had burned out, and it was their time to return home. As they left many were slain by vengeful Aerafellens, not letting them claim their blood price so easily. Eventually the fighting died down, the Rorchildeans retreated back to their home, and Haendal left to pick through the ashes, vowing to never let such an atrocity happen again.

To this day the borders leading to Rorchilde are watched and guarded, alliances made with any other province willing to stand up to them should they attempt to attack again. Minor conflicts here and there, but nothing to the degree of the original Burning of Laetillia