**Searching through a dusty library nestled in Leyanara, you finally find what you came for. Pulling the rather heavyset book from where it rested on it's shelf, you can make out, despite the worn cover, a Silver lined mountain, with a diamond at the center. Lugging it over to a table,you open the book carefully and begin to read...
Chapter One
The first Elven Settlers of Leyanara have their roots in Anaya, a grand city bordering the coasts of one of the Ahdsurian Isles. During the height of the God Wars, a realm spanning civil war amoung the Gods, Anaya was attacked by a massive demon horde. Although Anaya fought bravely, it was inevitably futile, as the city was overrun.
During the chaos, Commander-Priest Dien Na'loth was able to reform his men, and cut a path out of the chaos, straight through the demon lines, several thousand civilians in tow.
They managed to make their way to the coast, harried by demons everystep of the way. When they reached the coast, it seemed as though it was all for naught, as the demon horde closed in behind them, with no ships to take to the sea.
However, Na'loth did not despair; The stories tell that he simply knelt, hands met in prayer to the Gods of light.
It is said that then, even as the demon horde marched upon them, a golden figure, suspended above the water, appeared; and the water froze, a path several miles long, reaching from coast to coast.
Dien rose and hurried his people forward, traveling along the path of ice.
Without hesitation, the demons followed; But where they stood, the ice melted, and when the water touched their flesh, they burned.
And so Dien led his people to the mainland.
Chapter Two
Reaching the shores of modern day Talibar, Dien knelt and touched the ground, offering thanks to the Gods for their safe passage.
And thus he led his weary people onward, north, where he believed his people could hide from the war.
As the climate became colder and colder, his people wearier, every day he would stop at some field, some snow touched shadow of a mountain, and gazed long and hard at the surroundings; and every day, he shook his head slowly, and continued onward.
This long and treacherous march has become known to the people of Leyanara as the Silent Journey, as even in the most faithful of hearts doubt took root, wondering if they were lead to nothing but a cold death.
But one day, his people starving and freezing,Dien once again looked upon the land. It is said he saw a silent, cloaked man at the base of a hill; and thus his mind was made.
"We are home," he said, turning to his people. "We shall go no further,for we are finally home."
Dien named it Layanara, meaning "Hidden Jewel", a place where his people could be safe from the war, a place to make a new life.
** The next several chapters deal with how the refugees carved out a place alongside the mountain, faced hard winters, but eventually succeeded. You flip past them quickly.
Chapter Eighteen
During nearly all of it's long history, Leyanara has remained isolated and hidden, even for many years from the New-and-upcoming Talibarian Empire.
Never did the people stray far often from the cities, perhaps one or two scouts;for the longest time, the city had been composed by nothing but elves.
But after the God Wars, when the dwarves began to leave their mountains once more, a dwarven people encountered the Leyanarans. The dwarves told them of recent
events, and the two peoples struck a deal; Gold to help them create a stronger home atop the mountain. The dwarves agreed.
Gradually, most settlements alongside the bottom of the mountain emptied into the new mountain city, only a few sparse homes remaining.
This event bonded the two peoples, and introduced the dwarves to Leyanara. The two peoples tended to act as seperate groups, however, the dwarves living deeper within the mountain itself.
** You flip through the book again, skipping several irrelevant Chapters**
Chapter Twenty-One
It is somewhat surprising that regardless of the now Dominant Talibarian Empire, Layanarian remained hidden until some 150 years ago, when Imperial Scouts reported an amazing mountaintop City.
In response, a small division of Imperial Footsoldiers, as well as an ambassador, marched to Leyanara. They were stopped halfway up the mountain by seven golden robed elves.
They stated to the ambassador that they shall allow the Talibarian Empire to own the land as well as the city, as long as they were to be left to their own and no Talibarian people were to enter the city.
The ambassador agreed, and left, bringing the strange news.
Decades passed, Leyanara becoming a mysterious, legendary place; Apart from their traders, they still acted as their own "nation".
And then, about fifty years ago, the then Council of Leyanara made a surprising decision; To open their land to more free trade, immigration, and influence.
And thus, for the first time, humans walked amoung the Leyanarians.
It was never made clear as to why the Council made this decision, and is still subject to debate amoung philosophers.
** To your dismay, the remaining pages seem to have been ripped out by someone. Sighing, you return the book to the shelf and exit the library.
Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:11 pm