In the beginning…

The story of Doreinoir began with its founding city, the city of Osteinior. Legend has it that the founders were survivors from the burning, escaping its destruction from across the ocean and settled in the site where Osteinior is now situated. These founders married the local women from the surrounding countryside and began building a new city. The leaders of these survivors were known as the Einior in their own language or in the language of the locals, the Elders. Thus it was from them that the city of Osteinior, City of the Elders was named.

At the forefront of the Einior, was a charismatic orator named Harleek Yewuan. Though not the leader at first, he was selected from among the inner council of the Einior to lead them through the difficult period of resettling. To secure his people’s right to stay and build their homes in the area, Harleek married the daughter of the local leader, Kagoweh Cook, and began securing allies from around the region. Harleek rallied his people and through industrious endeavours built a bustling port city which acted as the entrepot of the region.

The Einoiredain, which the followers of the Einior came to be called, was not a single-leader centred group however. Harleek may be the face and mouth of the Einior but the heart and brain lies with the rest of the inner council. The genius behind the Einior’s strong diplomatic ties with their neighbours was the Einior named Innsajar Ratman. Innsajar was the one who convinced the neighbouring tribes that the Einior were worth having around and was better off as allies than enemies. He also convinced many of the neighbouring population to settle in Osteinior, fuelling Osteinior’s growth.

At home, Osteinior’s economic success was orchestrated by Kegwehn Egos. Kegwehn’s masterful planning of the industries and investments of the Einoiredain brought many trade deals for Osteinior. Kegwehn was also responsible for the building of Osteinior’s defence by having all male Einioredain from the age of 18 – 45 serve in the militia. This proved to be a wise move by the Einiors as they soon found a jealous neighbour who wish nothing more but to wipe them from the face of Elyria.

The 6 Day War

Sunrut, leader of the Turuli, was the primary potential suitor of Kagoweh before the arrival of the Einior. It was Innsajar and his genius that convinced Suntila, father of Kagoweh, to marry his daughter to Harleek. Sunrut was furious by this decision, but could do nothing as Innsajar had already bought over all his allies… all but one of his allies.

Onuj, a powerful sorcerer, was also a jealous women. She had her eyes on the handsome and glib tonged Harleek the moment he arrived from the ocean. Taking Harleek’s marriage with Kagoweh as a betrayal of her love for him, she conspired with Sunrut to bring about the destruction of Osteinior. Embolden by the presence of the sorcerer, Sunrut made the decision to attack Osteinior as soon as preparations were complete.

It took a mere 3 months for the Turuli to arm their soldiers with the best arms and armour from the best craftsmen found in the region, which they also managed to keep under wraps. No one in the region knew the Turuli were preparing for an attack, no one but Kegwehn and Innsajar.

It took some convincing even within the inner circle of the Einior. None were ready to believe Kegwehn and Innsajar when they informed everyone that the Turuli were planning on their destruction. To most, the emotions of Sunrut and Onuj were too petty and too personal a reason for them to mobilise the entire Turuli forces against them. It was not until Innsajar managed to buy over a renowned Turuli blacksmith that the Einior realised the scale of Turuli’s war preparations. Sunrut and Onuj had managed to convince all of the Turuli that the Einioredain were taking over all their trade and industries, and most importantly, their jobs. (Why build a wall when you can kill them all?)

By the time the Einior agreed that war was inevitable, it was too late to arm all their militia and prepare the defence. It was then the youngest of the inner circle, Harambi Ladhm, volunteered to act as the vanguard, hoping to buy time for Osteinior to ready its defence. Harambi took 300 of the bravest Einoiredain to a narrow passageway that he knew Sunrut will take. It was at this narrow passageway that the most heroic battle of the 6 day war was fought. Harambi held Sunrut for 3 days at this passage even with Onuj powerful magic raining down on them. Harambi was also rumoured to have taunted Onuj by thanking her for providing shade from the sun. It was not until a local shepherd, seeking reward from Sunrut, bought the Turuli around from the rear and encircled the Einoiredain. The 300 Einoiredain, including Harambi, fought to their deaths. Not a single one of them surrendered to the Turuli.

It was on the afternoon of the 5th day that Sunrut and his forces reached the outskirts of Osteinior. By this time, Kegwehn and the respected Einior General, Hotin Chyech, had already readied the defences of Osteinior. Innsajar, who rode out to seek out reinforcements from allies was also only a day’s ride away.

Hotin was the original leader of the Einior who led them across the sea, he handed over the mantle of leadership over to Harleek as he felt he was a better war leader than one in peace, that and the fact that he was no longer young and energetic enough to rally the Einioredain, a job that he believed Harleek did better at. At the arrival of Sunrut and his forces, Hotin rode out with a fraction of Osteinior’s forces to parley with the Turuli, hoping to avoid further bloodshed. Sunrut, being brave but hot headed, rode ahead of his forces ignoring the parley and began cutting down Hotin’s guards. By the time Hotin rode forward to stop him, Sunrut had already single-handedly took down 20 of the guards. Sunrut immediately demanded Hotin to hand over Harleek and Kagoweh, threatening to spill more blood until Hotin does so. Hotin immediately refused, adding more fuel to the already blood-crazed Sunrut. Sunrut struck out at an unprepared Hotin, immediately injuring his sword arm. At this point of time, the Turuli had caught up with their leader and charged through the ranks of Hotin’s guards. The Einioredain watched helplessly as their beloved Saviour and General fought to his very last breath.

Sunrut immediately assaulted the defences of Osteinior after his scouts informed him of the reinforcements that Innsajar was bringing. Hoping to end the battle without fighting on both fronts, Sunrut got Onuj to tear down as much defences as she could to allow his soldiers to breach the walls. As soon as Onuj released her magic, powerful wards in Osteinior activated to nullify almost all her spells, the walls of Osteinior suffered only little to no damage even with her most powerful magic. It was then that she realised that Innsajar had prepared the city against her magic and that he was a mage almost as powerful as her, not a simple conjurer that he has painted himself to be. Not wanting to give up this opportunity, Sunrut got his men to charge at whatever opening the sorcerer could create.

The battle lasted through the night, 200 Einioredain defended Osteinior bravely against a thousand over Turuli. Even with their better armour and weapons, the Turuli suffered heavy losses from their reckless charge against a walled city, but they did managed to gain a foothold within the city. Slowly but surely, the Turuli worked their way in and killed any Einioredain they saw, neither women nor children were spared.

It was almost just before the break of dawn that a horn sounded from the distance. Innsajar had returned to Osteinior with the reinforcements. Onuj sensed that the battle was lost and sent word to Sunrut to retreat. Sunrut refused to however. The Einioredain were down to their last 30 or 40 fighting men and he still a few hundred or so soldiers to hold off Innsajar’s reinforcement. He wanted to find Harleek and Kagoweh. He wanted nothing more than to put his sword through Harleek’s heart and to take Kagoweh away from him.

Onuj wanted the same for Kagoweh, she wanted to fry her alive with her spells and imprison Harleek’s soul to accompany her forever. But Onuj was of a clearer mind than Sunrut, she knew that Innsajar and Kegwehn had hidden the both of them somewhere that will take them a long time to find and time was something that she did not had. She could not fight against Innsajar and protect herself from an overwhelming number of troops, she knew she had to retreat and her greatest chance for revenge lay with Sunrut. Unable to convince Sunrut on the best course of action, Onuj decided to conjure up the illusion of Harleek and Kagoweh running away. Sunrut immediately gave chase, ordering his men to follow him.

While the Turuli losses was greater than that of the Einioredain, it was a still a pyrrhic victory for them. The Einioredain were already few to start with and now they were less. No victory banquet was held that night, and only the cries of mourning and the light of funeral pyres was heard and seen. The Turuli was gone for now, but who knows when they will be back to finish the job they started.

To be continued…

Link to the County of Doreinior