Crystoreeñ

## Background - The Exodus

The Crystoreeñ or *Ystoreeñ* (*Yo-store-N*) as it was call in the Old Tongue was the first major settlement in Artésque and the first capital of the Three's join venture into the new land. The Old Tongue translation of *Ystoreeñ* means roughly, "of hope" which for the most part, perfectly embodies the city. An opportunity to start anew after the years of war that brought about the downfall of Oválll (History). Of course, time worked against the Three as the great sickness known as the Krosta Ó Desatá continued to consume the remaining populations (Krosta Ó Desatá). Struggling to devise a way to live in harmony thus joined together the two largest tribes in marriage (the Únoff and Flóff); the union, which mostly was symbolic quickly became something far more. The reason, the Krosta Ó Desatá had by the early stages of the exodus from Oválll found its way into all of the current rulers of the Únoff crown. Meaning, that within a short amount of time the crown of the Únoff would simply cease to exist. To remedy this, Prince Lowdwin choose Lord Sheyda as the official Únoff successor. This drastically changed the marriage between Lord Sheyda and The Honored Aeróbeth, as the original peace treaty merely stated that the join venture would host one main city of peace, which would be known as *Ystoreeñ.* The reason was to ensure political tension between The Three were limited via a neutral area until the ruling crowns of both the Únoff and Dẃoff could successfully leave the land of Oválll. But this of course did not happen as the disease quickly overcame them. Only Emperor Gust and the first few batches of refugees actually made it into the new land before The Three were forced to impose strict board polices at the rapid rate of the Krosta Ó Desatá's was spreading. Nearly two months after the strict rules were set into place the pathway between the old land and the new was sealed shut via controlled rock-slides. Contact to the old crowns were lost just a few weeks after the order to seal the pathway was carried out. Emperor Gust, the only true ruler from the old land forbid his scouts from flying to and from the Oválll to ensure none got infected. However, with no contact to the old crowns chaos and panic began to sweep across the land as many feared the Flóff Emperor's expected subjugation of the other Three. Yet, Emperor Gust honored the treaty, both out of the desire to see the bloodshed that led them here come to an end and to ensure the safety of his daughter whom still resided within the *Ystoreeñ.*

## The First City

Once the Pegpolis (Flóff capital) crossed the mountains that separated Artésque and Oválll the total population of The Three barely crested Sixty thousand, with the vast majority of Refugees being members of the upper classes of each society or simple labourers brought over to help early construction on outpost. While the Flóff fared well in the early months with the Pegpolis serving as both the source of political power and sanctuary for the Flóff people, the other Tribes did not. The Dẃoff, for the most part remained in the smaller settlement of Passvórtall, with few truly going to the *Ystoreeñ* which was intended to be the bastion of life within the new land for the two land tribes. Instead, the Únoff populations within the first city shoot up at a rather unsettling level, something that distributed the other tribes that attempted to live within the city. Tensions came to a head very early as various Lords from the old world attempted to sway the young King Sheyda into officially sanctioning the city as the Únoff capital. Though, Sheyda did not succumb to the pressers of the Únoff elite, opting instead to honor the original treaty and ensure the city was open for all tribes, not just the Únoff. Angered though endowed with no real power other than the titles of the old land, many of the Únoff elite backed down from challenging Sheyda, something that gained the attention of many Flóff elsewhere in the land. The Flóff had seen the struggling of the two land tribes as the world's retribution for their previous victories in the old land, yet despite the smug attitudes that many Flóff began to carry, the simple truth of the time was that the Pegpolis could not support so many new Flóff. Sheyda's actions to the old elites and his union to Gust's daughter eventually brought a great influx of Flóff to the fledgling city, one that quickly helped balance the Únoff population. Though, neither would work together within the city, and many projects to better the city were sidelined to constant disputing about how best to manage the land around the city. Feeling superior, the Flóff within the city called on Emperor Gust to sway the Sheyda in their favor. Yet, in a rather stunning turn of events Aeróbeth denied her father access to the city, stating that it would go against the treaty for any crowns of old to have say within the city. Gust backed down and eventually agreed with his daughter, once more opting to honor the treaty.

Despite this, arguments among the tribes within the city persisted, with each attempting to lay more and more claim to the area. The territorial clashes within the city eventually became so bad that King Sheyda officially forbid any from laying true claim to an area. Effectively stating that if the city or rather the crown, either he or Aeróbeth did not sanction a homestead that the claims were not valid, as all land within their hold belonged to them, no matter the gold paid for it. Naturally, the restrictions of property made many Únoff leave the city, either out of anger or disgust for the supposed king. However, the idea that all claims would be backed by the crown rather than by contracts or coin brought about another change in the city's population, this time with a rather large influx of Dẃoff. Nearly a year had passed, though finally the city of hope had become a city of The Three. Under the guidance of King Sheyda and Queen Aeróbeth the city quickly began to flourish, expanding well beyond its expected growth rate and becoming a hub for new ideas between The Three.

## The Stoná

(See Márjx, Stoná section for additional context)

When the first scouts searched for a new land at the end of the Oválll many felt as though Artésque was perfect. The pure beauty of the land astonished all those who first saw it, yet something was unsettling about it. While exploration had never been a large interests within The Three, the fact that such a perfect land existed just beyond the Southern mountains was something that seemed almost impossible. Many of the Únoff who were a part of this first scouting mission into the new land remarked at how well the magic of it compared with that of the old. Within the first year of Artésque's settling, the reason became clear. A piece of Éordiarx's pure being was uncovered within *Ystoreeñ's* hold. The pure manifestation of magic was quickly seen as a sign of good fortune and proudly put on display within the city in a large tower. Yet, the presents was not only something symbolic, but also began to effect the residents of the city. To summarize, the presence of pure magic of the Éordiarx's very being furthered the magical exploits of the Únoff near it. It also altered the Flóff as well, yielding more magically attuned wings and abilities at the cost of their size. The Dẃoff too found benefits from the constant bathing of the Éordiarx's magic by growing psychically stronger and smarter within its presence. While a great help for those within the city, many outside saw this as a mixed bag. While some saw this as proof of the world's happiness at The Three's newly found peaceful ways there were others who grew fearful of their changed brethren. Despite this, the Stoná had an additional effect on those who walked in its light, namely a strange feeling of calmness that seemed to help stop senseless quarreling. To see the additional effects of the Stoná see (The **Célst**). For the following years until the rise of The Purple King were filled with propensity and joys the The Three had never experienced before.

## The Fall Of Grace

Within two years of the Stoná being found, the Crystoreeñ had become the strongest single hold within Artésque. Of course, by this time there was really only Pegpolis to compare it to, as all other settlements had barely moved beyond simply fortified town squares. As Nyota once stated, a week in the city felt like months and months were years in terms of what could be learned. Advancing quickly in terms of magic, population, and even political clout the power duo of King Sheyda and Queen Aeróbeth seemed poised to create an everlasting future of peace within their little slice of Artésque. Yet, tragedy befell the couple as Aeróbeth fell ill. At first, many feared it was the great sickness, yet it quickly became apparent that what ailed the fair Queen was something different. In an attmpt to solve the problem internally King Sheyda had the local school of Márjx, which at the time was the school of Álter Márjx focus on a cure. While their efforts did not lead to a cure, the studies of alterations on a living person did spawn a new school of Márjx, one that focused on ways to prologue life known as Nekřo Márjx. In the old land, Nekřo Márjx was banned from practice, though King Sheyda became very proficient in it as he attempted to heal his wife. Unable to solve the issue with help within the city, King Sheyda sought help from all over Artésque. Emperor Gust even employed the use of the Léux to cure his daughter, yet she continued to give into her strange sickness. Growing weaker with every passing day, within a month the Queen was bedridden too weak to move. Desperate for help King Sheyda once again called the other leaders within Artésque to the city. It marked the first and only time a gather of rulers ever visited the city. The newly elected Chancellor Clay represented the Dẃoff, Emperor Gust the Flóff, and the still new Princess Clarity represented the Únoff. It is important to note that while King Sheyda was himself an Únoff and the official crown holder of the Únoff, that the original peace treaty of the city established *Ystoreeñ* as a neutral entity, and thus during the course of Sheyda's rule he appointed a Princess from one of the old Lord's families to help manage the Únoff title. The meeting Sheyda had called was to be short, mainly a reminder that Aeróbeth was still in dire need of help at the Léux's failing. Yet, during the course of the following days the current Capital Mage, Svle Nyota befriended the King and offered to help right away. Knowing full well of the famous Nyota, Sheyda agreed and allowed Nyota access to Aeróbeth's chambers. The two did conduct a few attempts at curing the Queen as Nyota stated within the series, though after several failed attempts a frustrated Sheyda cased Nyota out. Of course, Nyota had no intention of leave without findings something to help the sickened Queen. With some convincing Sheyda agreed to again work with Nyota, though after some time had passed and Aeróbeth was better well rested.

Sadly, this did not come to past, at some point in time King Sheyda, being so distraught at the failings of so many great and power people became desperate and sought to use the full power of the Stoná to save his wife. Why exactly he did this and what exactly he did has been cause for some debate however. As Nyota clams, it was his fault for conceiving the King that he could save her, yet knowing full well that he had no idea how. As Nyota puts it, it was his boasting and later tartness after spending the night with a female companion of his that led Sheyda to using the Stoná without his guidance. Of course, as Princess Clarity, and even the devún say it was the influence of Clamor who some how infiltrated the city and sought to take advantage of the emotional Sheyda. Interestingly, Clamor never commented on this during the series, despite how often he was blamed and for his obvious motives at wanting the Fragment of Stoná later on. Whatever the case, King Sheyda attempted to use the power of the Stoná with a powerful Nekřo Márjx spell aimed to prologue Aeróbeth's life while she slept. Yet, what actually happened was that Sheyda's spell forced all those who had recently died to come back to life, the spell also seemed to have destroyed Sheyda's psychical body as well as his mind as he became an embodiment of Nekřo Márjx. Worst still was that his actions forced the Stoná to become corrupted at the unnatural spell. The Stoná a construct of Éordiarx's Súla after it fractured during the events of the Atre-ark (History) called out in pain to both the world and its creator. As the series explains in the first book, with the misuse of the Stoná Two Sisters appeared before Sheyda and engaged in battle with the unnatural being. In the end, the Two Sisters or rather the devún won yet at a cost. Sheyda's own Súla had become so tide to the city and his wife that he was unable to truly be defeated instead, when he was banished from the mortal world he began to take the city with him. Few new of the battle and fewer skill made it out before the city and all those who were in it vanished into a storm of magic. The city and miles upon miles of land that once had been claimed by it were gone in mere moments. The devún did what they could to ensure the safety of the other rulers though the life they saved in Emperor Gust was never the same after that day (Book one).

## Return (Spoilers):

To surmise and not ruin too much, the Crystoreeñ is later returned from the storm of magic that surrounds it in book eight thanks to the efforts of Clover Vines and devún Sóltina. Along with the cites' return was Sheyda, who once more rose an army of the undead, unable to understand what happen Sheyda once more attempted to bring his wife back to life, killing most of the city and various other attempting to bring the city back into the world in the process. He was later defeated as well as his army of the dead, though he vanished before a final strike against him could be struck. In somewhat happy turn events however, Queen Aeróbeth finally was cured and once assumed the role of leader for the remaining citizens of the Crystoreeñ. Currently, Crystoreeñ is back to being the neutral capital of the land, though its power and prestige forever tainted by the memory of Sheyda and the countless lives he destroyed.

## What Happened In the Storm?

As shown within books eight and nine, the Crystoreeñ was never truly lost, rather it was consumed by a storm of pure magic which sucked the heat of the land up and turned everything outside of the city into an icy wasteland. The city and people itself however survived, albeit cut off from the rest of the world and limited in their capacity. The Stoná saved the city by forcing it to sink underground and encasing it in a bubble of magic. The bubble of course broke when Sheyda was returned and with the bubble broken the vast majority of survivors turned to dust or joined Sheyda's army of the dead. As it is is explained, when the city was lost all those who would have died did not, and instead were kept alive just as Sheyda's intended spell had kept Aeróbeth alive. Those who were within the city when it disappear are now stuck to live their forever as leaving the city will turn them to dust. The children of these survives on the other hand who were not turned to the undead, are now to fearful to leave as the Crystoreeñ has aged rather differently than the world beyond it. What has only been twelve years for the world has been near fifty for the city. Though, the increased magical abilities of the citizens and the quickly growing food as well as the unique materials found within the city have created a booming trade businesses, as long as someone from outside comes into the city. The storm that originally swallowed the city is still spinning, though a magical portal created by Sóltina allows the city to stay connected to the world.