Aluvian Lore

The Aluvian Kingdom on Ispar lies east from Viamont. To the south lies the Luparvium Mountain Range which constitutes a natural border with Milantos. The Canfeld River flows from the Luparvium Mountains to the Ironsea. Along its shores, the great forests of Aluvia lie, which provide Ispar with the vast majority of its building lumber, but are also home to highwaymen, bandits, and thieves. One of those forests is Lellen Wood.

Important cities and fortifications include the city of Celdon, the fortress of Thrushhaven and Castle Holdfast.

History
In olden days, the land now known as the High Kingdom of Aluvia was home to feuding clans of warriors. When the Rouleans brought imperial order to most of the lands around the Ironsea, they saw no benefit in conquering the Viamontian peninsula, and the tribes that would become the nations of Viamont and Aluvia remained chaotic and disorganized.

During the reign of High King Pwyll II, the Viamontian army, under the command of King Elous VI, invaded Aluvia. Pwyll II led the defending armies of Aluvia, which where defeated in the battle of the Plain of Ayrifal. Pwyll II died in the battle, along with his sons and male cousins. The remainder of Pwyll II's bloodline was rounded up and executed by the Viamontian Royal Governor, Alfric immediately after his victory.

During the rule of Queen Alfrega, granddaughter of Alfric and daughter of Theolaud, the Aluvian resistance against the Viamontian occupation became more organized. An important faction were the Orts under the leadership of Hendac Tharesun and Harlune.

Only during the rule of Osric, peace was established. By the time of the rule of his son Pwyll III, the peoples of Aluvia had united as one, prospering under the High King's kind and just reign. Pwyll III banded together the kingdom's knights, forming an order of honor and chivalry, and so began a golden age.

When Pwyll III was slain by an ambassador from Viamont on the eve of war between the two nations, Aluvia's knights and commoners alike fell upon their enemies and destroyed them. With Pwyll's death, Aluvia's glory began to wane, but it is said that, when the kingdom is at its greatest need, he and his knights will walk the land once more.

Aluvia remains a strong nation, though it shines less brightly than before. King Cedraic opened up trade with nations across the sea including the Gharu'ndim and the Sho and with that trade has come prosperity. After years biding their time, the Viamontians under King Varicci I started a second wave of invasions of the other Isparian countries, also invading Aluvia. This time however, the Aluvians, having learned lessons from the past, managed to keep the Viamontians at bay, be it with heavy losses. The Aluvians put up a tenacious resistance against the superior numbers of their old foe. To this day the war in Aluvia continues, locked in a stalemate.

Timeline
The following information has been pieced together from numerous sources, and some dates have been changed to continuity errors. For more information, see Continuity - Aluvian History.

In Dereth
When the first Aluvians came to Dereth Island, they were enslaved by the Olthoi. Two of their number, Thorsten Cragstone and Elysa Strathelar, fought to liberate their people with the help of Asheron. Though Thorsten did not live to see the end of the campaign, the Aluvians became free once more. Elysa Strathelar founded New Aluvia and became its Queen.

Culture
Aluvians are a fiercely individualistic and warlike people, quick to anger but with a strong love of justice and fairness. Though often suspicious of things new and strange, they are friendly and always prepared with a little help if they can spare it. They are loyal to their feudal lords, but expect to be well-treated in return.

In the Winter Season, the Aluvians celebrate the Solstice, that day of the year in which the night lasts longest. The Aluvians respond to the oppressive darkness and feeling of isolation by gathering together in good cheer. Illuminating their houses with colorful candles, they prepare the harvest into vast feasts. During the Solstice, all Aluvian towns are warmly lit, and the normally cagey northerners make a habit of cooking hearty food for one another, buying one another strong drink, and sharing both around the hearth, accompanied by the funniest jokes of the preceding year. The monastic orders of Tirius the Lightbringer, Solvus Mistdweller, and the Dark Lady Meerthus walk abroad in their dun robes, distributing food and the blessings of their aspect of the Triple Mother. Travelers in the Aluvian Kingdom will find themselves treated to their fill of food and drink, with no payment asked. For the Aluvians, Solstice is the time of brotherhood.

The Code of Pwyll
"It not for all of the people to walk the path of high honor. For some it is enough that they follow the path of low justice. But we, as knights, shall take the high road." - High King Pwyll III

One of Pwyll III's greatest achievements was introducing the notion of nobility to the ruling class. In his time and since, The Code of Pwyll has dictated the conduct of both lords and knights: the common folk of Aluvia have come to expect no less.

The Code of Pwyll consists of ten rules. The first Five are the Path of Low Justice, which are usually sufficient for the commoner. The second Five are the Path of High Justice, which are to be observed by all nobility, in addition to the Five rules of Low Justice. Below is the full Code of Pwyll, along with the shorter version taught to those of low aspirations and lowly station.


 * 1. Work your lord's will in all things, for he must look upon the whole land and see that wrong is put right.
 * 1. Work your lord's will in all things.


 * 2. Guard the weak, for they cannot guard themselves.
 * 2. Guard the weak.


 * 3. Guard the young, for they are our future. Even the inexperienced young squire may one day become a lord.
 * 3. Guard the young.


 * 4. Slay no one for doing a thing unto you that you would have done unto him, for one day you might die in the same manner.
 * 4. Slay no one for doing a thing unto you that you would have done unto him.


 * 5. Obey and honor those above your station, for as they stand above you, so do they keep the sword from falling upon your head. All parts are necessary for the whole.
 * 5. Obey and honor those above your station.


 * 6. Treat not lesser persons with dishonor, for as they stand below you, they form the very ground that supports your feet. All parts are necessary for the whole.
 * 6. Treat not lesser persons with dishonor.


 * 7. Let your word be your bond, for when stripped of steel and cloth and youth, a knight has nothing else.
 * 7. Let your word be your bond.


 * 8. Grant succor where you may, for as the need of others is made less, so too the burden of the knight is made less.
 * 8. Grant succor where you may.


 * 9. Be fair in all judgments, for you too may you one day be judged. Justice has no mouth with which to speak and no hands with which to enforce the laws, so we must be her eyes and we must act as her hands.
 * 9. Be fair in all judgments.


 * 10. Let nothing stand in the way of justice: the word of the law is not always its intent. Let your judgments be tempered by circumstance, lest you punish wrongly.
 * 10. Let nothing stand in the way of justice: the word of the law is not always its intent.

Internet Articles

 * Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Aluvian
 * Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Aluvian/Aluvian Factions
 * Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Aluvian/Loredane's Invitation
 * Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Aluvian/The Underground City
 * AC:DM CD Lore - Aluvian Heritage
 * Character Creation - Racial Lore: Aluvian
 * Character Creation - Naming: Aluvian

Factions

 * The King's Men
 * Knights of the Golden Flame
 * Knights of the Shield
 * Order of the Gauntlet
 * League of Merchants
 * Scholars of Pwyll