Freehold of Ryliria

The **Freehold of Ryliria**, was a Hyllidan Old Freehold located on the northern shores of the Mainland. It broke away as a rebellious region of the predominantly Faerian Freehold of Mylmelaen in the so-called Rylirian Rebellion. This conflict lasted from 112 BW until 106 BW, ending with Rylirian independence under King Ryadel I.

Ryliria already had a low population before the start of the Third Human Rebellion. With the escalation of the conflict, it was one of the few Freeholds that was not (partially) conquered by the Kingdom of Humanity's advance into the North thanks to its geographic isolation. Ryliria was significantly impacted by the Divine War, as its shores were among those flooded by the God of the Oceans, Sylvir. The area was also ravaged by Dhydos, the God of Frost, turning its already infertile lands into frozen barrens.

After the Divine War, Ryliria, despite maintaining independence in the war, became a de-facto vassal under the Nytalyrian Empire like many other Freeholds. This was the result of the Nytalyrian Empress, Lyxis the Blind, solely crushing the Third Human Rebellion and turning Nytalyria into a global hegemon in the process. Without joining the Nytalyrians, Ryliria would have been economically isolated. This left Umafyl I in a relatively impossible position. His lands were ruined from the Divine War, economically worthless and isolated, and he now became subject to the tyranny of the Envoys of Magic. The Envoys were, on paper, Nytalyrian ambassadors acting as Lyxis the Blind's eyes, ears, and voice in the Freeholds abroad. In practice, however, they were powerful archmages, who often ran their assigned Freeholds like personal fiefdoms.

Ryliria was no exception. Umafyl I and his successor, Ryadel II, were constantly pushed around by Hykkron, an Archmage ofElectromancy and a local Envoy of Magic. This was a blatant abuse of the role of Envoy, yet it was a common one. Corruption within the Envoys was widespread across Enselonde, which increased tensions between them and Lyxis over centuries. It wasn't until 320 AW that those tensions boiled over when Lyxis declaring the Envoys disbanded. This resulted in the War of the Envoys between those loyal to Lyxis and the Nytalyrian Empire and those seeking independence from Nytalyria.

Hykkron sided with the rebel Envoys and immediately seized control over Ryliria in 320 AW. From this point onwards, Ryadel II had effectively become a prisoner in a golden cage, with Hykkron calling the shots. He and his followers defended Ryliria for the coming years, repelling numerous Nytalyrian assaults on the country. Yet, Electromancy could not hold off the Nytalyrians forever, and as the size and intensity of attacks increased, they eventually gained ground in Ryliria. Out of desperation, Hykkron turned to Blood Magic. While Blood Magic usually kills its wielder near-instantly, Hykkron was one of the unlucky few who managed to control it. Instead of the relatively swift release of death, his body was injured and rotted over an extended period. Victory on the battlefield came at the cost of Hykkron's body until he was bedridden. In 366 AW, unable to continue his war, Hykkron possessed the body of a nearby guard by the name of Niyimer, killing his original body and creating the first of many Thrall Kings in the region.

For four more years, futile attempts were made to liberate Ryliria from Hykkron's clutches, even as he became the last living Envoy in Enselonde. Living may have been an overstatement, as Hykkron had effectively become undead at this point. Having found a way to continue using devastating Blood Magic on the battlefield by using thralls as bodies, Lyxis the Blind agreed to peace. Ryliria, for lack of a better term, was not worth fighting over anymore. Hykkron could keep his fiefdom.

The War of the Envoys ended in 370 AW, as does the story of Ryliria. Ryadel II, long powerless, was exiled from the region, as Niyimer became the first Thrall King of the new Freehold of Hykkfjord.

## Rylirian Monarchs

* **House of Ryliria**
	+ Ryadel I, 112-14 BW
	+ Umafyl I, 14 BW-289 AW
	+ Ryadel II, 289-370 AW
		- Hykkron, 320-370 AW (de facto)
		- Thrall King Niyimer I, 366-370 AW (de facto)