The Kingdom of Olaran

Overview
The Kingdom of Olaran is a location set within the world of Adrasil and is the central setting for the Weekend Warrior Experience events. It is designed to incorporate a variety of different historical and fantasy elements to create an immersive world players can exist in. The concept of Olaran was first utilized in the film The Rangers: A Shadow Rising and has been featured in several other shorts by both The Forge Studios and Fell & Fair Productions.

Olaran sits in the center of Adrasil and is a feudal society with a long standing monarchy since its unification by its first king, Alirion. With a geography as varied as its inhabitants, it is one of the more powerful kingdoms in the known world. While generally peaceful, there has been a long standing rivalry between Olaran and its southern neighbor, the Vasíleio tis Goltha, which has gone as far as war on several occasions. Its eastern neighbor, Arkadia, is neutral to both countries but its own government is closer with that of the former kingdom.

Currently, the kingdom is in a tumultuous state due to the assassination of King Osiric during the event known as The Autumn Feast, as well as the sudden revelation of Osiric's long lost son, Randar.

The Elves of Adrasil (11,348 YBL)
There are many legends regarding the creation of Adrasil, but what is known for certain is that its first inhabitants were the Elves. Said to be "caretakers of creation," the elven people were a long lived and advanced people. Magic was still present in the world at this time, and the elves used it to great effect in shaping the world around them. A people of tradition, they worshiped a deity known as Luminos, the Lord of Light and creator of Adrasil. However, some of their ranks began to disagree regarding the very existence of Luminos and a rift between the different ideals developed. Seeing an opportunity to gain more power, an elven noble named Lord Dagran Magan set about experimenting with creating a race of his own, using dark magic to create Orcs. However, these powers corrupted Dagran and his followers transforming them into the Shadow Elves.

The Fallen Age (7,241 YBL)
This period of time was known as The Fallen Age, and with the secession of Lord Dagran and his comrades a war began that would wreak havoc across Adrasil. Those who remained loyal to Luminos began calling themselves High Elves, and the forces of light and darkness clashed for nearly a millennia. The war was hard fought, but the forces of evil seemed destined to prevail, especially as the now King Dagran had forged a powerful sword and imbued it with his very own vitality in an attempt to attain the powers of a god. The High Elves fell before his blade like wheat before the scythe, and this "Etcher of Souls" was a terror to any foolish enough to stand in its path.

The Birth of a Prince (3284 YBL)
Dagran, now with a host of darkness at his command and a nigh invulnerable weapon, looked to secure his reign by producing an heir to his empire. So it was that Korlan, The Shadow Prince, was born. Raised to be a vicious warrior in his own right, Korlan grew to be a cunning and powerful elf. It seemed as if all light would be snuffed out from the world, were it not for a weakness Dagran had not predicted: his own creatures' traitorous nature.

The Age of Rebellion (2032 YBL)
The last of the High Elves used what little strength they had to muster a force to face the Shadow King and a great battle commenced. But as the final victory seemed at hand Dagran's own creations turned on him and tore him to shreds, their thirst for blood unquenched merely with High Elf blood. Soon it was the Shadow Elves who faced extinction, as the unlikely alliance of orcs, goblins and high elves took to hunting down all those who had chosen to follow Dagran down his path of evil. The King's sword and son, however disappeared mysteriously before any of their enemies could find and destroy them both. The fighting continued for many more years, with the first races of elves and orcs spilling blood or retreating into the far and hidden places of Adrasil.

The Final Creation (732 YBL)
In myth the deity Luminos was devastated by the destruction of his creations and, seeing that creatures of pure light or pure shadow could not survive without turning to the wrong path, he made one last creation: humans. Shorter lived then elves but with more intelligence than orcs, these people soon became the ruling force across Adrasil, taking the place of the ancients with few exceptions.

The Rise of the Nine (732 YBL to 3 YBL)
These humans took to Adrasil like flies to honey, their mix of both the light and shadow within them creating a balance that allowed for growth and adaption. Slowly families became clans, clans banded together to become tribes, and these tribes staked their claim all across the land. It is theorized that the first human city in what would become to the Capital Region was Ka'Ramar, set on an island where the Coldfell and Keldaran Rivers met. Other regions began to take form, nine in total, in the area that would become Olaran. The warriors of Lannock, The Thornwood, and Murnock warred with the Golthans as the people of Grimmock were harassed by raiders of unknown origin. In the north, the harsh terrain of the Borderlands saw the last remnants of the orcs forced across the Coldfell River into the barrens, and those in the Highlands pushed the green skins deep into the Grimmock Mountains.

In this time of chaos, a son was born to an unknown chieftain of lesser known tribe. He was named Alirion, which in the Old Tongue means "Strength in Unity". When his son was barely four years old, the chieftain left for a battle with one of the other tribes, never to return. The boy's mother died of disease soon after, and so Alirion was shunted to an enclave of priests with the intent of keeping him from taking his father's position. He would be raised by these priests in the ways of Luminos, despite the many other religions and philosophies that had begun to pop up around the regions. In some tales of his origin, these priests were the last of the high elves in hiding, and through them the blessings of Luminos were passed on the Alirion. He soon had a vision of all the regions under a single banner, and hoped to achieve that goal no matter the cost.

Another of the wards of the temple, a girl from Lannock named Laeritia, became fast friends with Alirion and they talked often of a the latter's dream to rule a unified country. When they finally came of age, the pair left the confines of the temple to seek their fortune in the world. Through many adventures and with the help of their charm and cunning the two gained some rapport as both warriors and beacons of Luminos' light. Soon they had gathered a motley crew of hunters, trackers, and the occasional mercenary and formed them into a group called the Rangers. Each took a vow to unify and protect the nine regions under the leadership of Alirion, and swore fealty to the Path of Luminos, becoming the first of what would be known as The Warriors of Light.

The Great Unification (3 YBL to 0 YL)
The leaders of the various tribes saw Alirion as either a threat to their dominion or a potential ally against their own enemies. The first few tribes he and his warriors met fell into the latter category, but before they knew it their people devoted themselves to Alirion's cause. It was said that he shone with a light unlike any other, and his words commanded the respect of even the fiercest and wild of warriors. The first battle The Warriors of Light fought was a resounding victory for them, and bolstered by their leader and cause they continued to win battle after battle. Soon tribes were surrendering or joining the man who was becoming known as "The Great Unifier" and he was able to win control over the region of Lannock, before he began encroaching into the territory under the rule of Ka'Ramar.

The chief of Ka'Ramar was no fool, and he knew he stood no chance against a siege with the great army that was headed his way, despite his fortress's formidable defenses. So he came up with a plan to force the young leader into a bargaining position. He sent his stealthiest warriors to infiltrate Alirion's army and capture his friend Laeritia. They were, in part, successful, capturing the woman and attempting to return her to Ka'Ramar. However, on their return journey the clever warrior escaped in the night, having broken free of her bonds and, as the legend goes, finding a Great Stag to escape upon. Rather than admitting their failure, the spies took a local farm maid of similar hair and build to their master just in time.

When the great host of Alirion approached the chieftain took "Laeritia" to the top of his wall and threatened to kill her if he was not left in peace. Not knowing the hostage was not his friend, Alirion tried to approach and negotiate, only to watch in horror as the chieftain slit the poor girl's throat and threw her body back into his fortress. The fool had thought this would intimidate the young warrior, but he was sorely wrong. With a righteous fury Alirion cursed the chieftain's name and swore an oath before Luminos he would see the fortress razed for the murder of his friend.

That very night, a group of Rangers took a daring mission to swim the Keldaran River, scale the walls of the fortress and open its gates. As the first light of dawn came over the Plains of Olar, the Warriors of Light assaulted the fortress, led by Alirion himself. It was said that the Light of Luminos shone from his eyes and sword as he slew all who came before, his wrath empowered by his holy vow. True to his word, the warrior destroyed the fortress stone by stone, and none inside survived save the women and children. The foolish chieftain was found hiding in the highest tower, and begged for mercy from his enemy. No mercy was shown, and Alirion dispatched the man without a second thought.

Word of this incredible feat by such a young leader spread quickly across the other regions, and a convocation of the leaders of all the regions, with the exception of Grimmock, came and swore fealty to him. Thus in the first Year Under Luminos, Alirion was crowned king of eight regions on the Plains of Olar, with the ruins of Ka'Ramar as the backdrop of his coronation. Raising his banner above him, the King proclaimed they now all were on people in this field, renaming his people the Olar and thus the Kingdom of Olaran was born.

The stories speak of a feast held to honor the young king, the likes of which were never seen since the days before the elves fell. The celebration only grew as Laeritia, safe and alive, arrived to meet her friend and comrade to his great joy. He asked for her to be his queen, as their dream had been achieved together and therefore should be ruled together. Laeritia Staghunter accepted without hesitation, and a priest from the temple at which they had been wards together wed them on the spot. And so the kingdom now had a queen as well as a king, and there was much rejoicing among the newly unified people.