Allhung of Tilledecst

**Allhung of Tilledecst** was a Ahremian priest and scholar from southern Mercia who lived during the reign of Belland, one of the later kings of the Kingdom of *Mershye* (Mercia).

## Life

Little is known about the more personal aspects of Allhung's life, even though he is one of the most prolific writers from the original Kingdom of Mercia. Allhung was born around 470 SY in Mercia. His original name was Allhung Ced-Dirie, placing him in the Cedirie family. He was born or at least raised in the town of Tilledecst (now called simply Tildec). His first name, *Allhung* is the combination of old Ahremian *all* (son, son of) and *ohung* (marsh fisherman). Considering he also grew up in Tildec, a town near the marshy delta of the Slorend River, his father was most likely a fisherman. This story also matches with a later nickname he was reffered to as by some which was Allhung the *Nersh* - *nersh* being, in old Ahremian, a word used to describe the stench and look of someone who spends time in and around salt water (roughly translated to Allhung the Salty).

Using these clues, a rough idea of Allhung's backstory can be constructed. By the time Allhung was a young man he had been made a *serett* of Eulbrox Abbey, near Orroux. A *serett* referred to a junior priest, more specifically a monk who was still in religious study before becoming a full brother of Charin (Pretorism had yet to reach this part of Ahremia yet).

In around 500 SY he wrote his masterpiece, *Mershia*, a 190 page manuscript written in old Ahremian which detailed the condition of northeast Ahremia during Allhung's time. He presented the book to Belland, the King of Mercia, who had the book copied and sent to various monasteries around Mercia. Belland also made Allhung *hege* (cheif priest) of Eulbrox Abbey. Allhung was made the personal scribe of Belland, who he followed during his various diplomatic visits. Allhung wrote another piece, *The Condition* (sometimes translated as 'the situation') which seemed to further detail the politics of the region. Unfortunately, Allhung died soon after this piece was finished. A couple years after he died a civil war would break out in Mercia which led to the destruction of Eulbrox Abbey completely. This destruction destroyed all copies of *The Condition* and the original copy of *Mershia*.

## Literature

Although Allhung is known to have written a couple of pieces in his time, only one survives - Mershia. Mershia chronicles the people and lands of Mercia, and their rough boundaries. It also covers the settlements and families of the land. He also goes into detail about the history of the Mercian royal family and the politics and wars of his time. Some of his most famous quotes are when he speaks on modern Ahremian cities and describes their condition in the 6th century SY. On Dilare, the capital, he says "Dilare, or Dilare castle-town. The squat town sits against the banks of the great river, fortified beyond (the level of) the other cities. Dilare houses those Mercians which serve the king, who resides in the 'top-of-the-town' on the hill near the souther edge." on Slorend, he says "...and from Ridest the river reaches its last city, that of Slourend. Slourend and Tilledecst, the city in which I myself hail from, both sprawl out across the unfavorable waters of the Slourend delta. The salt from the sea blows a cold air across the city Slourend, seeming to freeze the town in a state of dispair."