The Sacred Island of Valencion

### Inhabitants

People from all over the world, Priests, Oracles, Paladins, Clerics, Pilgrims, Visitors

## The Founding

Over a thousand years ago when humans were first spreading across the *Fathering Sea* a crew of Saltborn discovered the island of *Valencion* off the western coast of Aebros and near the south mouth of the sea. There, the Saltborn claimed the gods revealed themselves their, claiming the island was a sacred place where men could walk among the gods. The Saltborn built temples to these new gods, the Valenzi Court, and soon invited all people of all faiths to build shrines and worship their own gods as well.

## The Holy Crusades of Valencion

Valencion has been an island founded and shared by many nations, faiths, and priesthoods for over a thousand years. During its history, many Crusades for the control or sanctity of the Island have been waged, shaping it into the holy land it is today.

### The First Valencion Crusade, 729e4-736e4

Occuring nearly eight-hundred years ago, the first Crusade began when the rulers of Aebros claimed the island as their territory, taxing the temples for the protection of the Saltborn armies. The countries of Rovania and the Boarhart Lands responded by waging war against Aebros, as they too had temples built on the island and most of their people followed the Valenzi Court and made pilgrimages to the island to pay respects. The war laster seven long years, and much of the island was reshaped.

The war concluded with a treaty signed by the three rulers of Aebros, Rovania, and the Boarharts, all gathered in the Grand Temple under truce. The treaty allowed each kingdom to build an embassy on the island, and for the temple taxes to be equally paid to each embassy. In return the three kingdoms promised to forever protect the island so that all may come to worship in peace.

### The Second Valencion Crusade, 87e5-99e5

After nearly six-hundred years of peace for the island, war came once more to Valencion, but it was not brought in by any of the Kingdoms around the Fathering Sea.

A Dragon named Kultharax, from far away across the Burning Sea, traveled to the holy city covered in golden altars and shrines, temples stockpiled with offerings and holy treasures, and sacked the Grand Temple. The inhabitants either fled or were burned, and the dragon held the island for nearly twelve years, while also wreaking havoc to the coasts of Aebros and Rovania.

The Kingdoms around the Fathering Sea longed to reclaim their holy island and wipe out the evil of the dragon. The Three Kingdoms rallied their armies, and called on the temples around the world to send troops and supplies to fund the war. With the armies of Three Kings and a host of warriors from a thousand Priesthoods, the Kings of the Fathering Sea drove out the dragon and slain Kultharax. Orothus Burugatza I was the hero that slew the dragon and was named King of Aebros. The Grand Temple was restored and the remains of Kultharax were buried south of the Temple, in a place name "Dragonbone".

## The Third Valencion Crusade, 290e5

Lord Leonius Harthfel of Briny Gate Island, with his host of the Dawn's Inquisition and armies from Tareth, sailed to and invaded the Holy Island of Valencion and claimed the Grand Temple for Indamma, sun god of the High Elves. Leonius then established his son, Leobron, as Lord of Valencion and now rules in the castle of Dragonbone.

The Three Kingdoms of the First Treaty were appalled by this act, each responding by calling their armies to either oppose or support Leonius's Claim. But, unlike the Second Crusade, each kingdom now looks to use this war to levy their power and to claim the island for themselves. Rovania, led by Martulius Rovani-Aricarte, looks to claim the island and establish that only the Valenzi Court be worshiped there. The Boarharts, led by Rupert Boarhart, wish to gain a stronger military footing in the South of the Fathering Sea, and load their warships with gold and treasures from the temples, bringing riches back to the north. Aebros is currently spit, with many Houses in the North of the country supporting Leonius's Claim (and not wanting to anger the Tareth Elves who back him), but those in the south loyal to Queen Enara Burugatza object his claim and his upheaval of Aebros's long tradition of worshiping the Valenzi.

### Battles for South Pork and Olport Beach

   **10th of the Thundering Moon, 290e5.** With the increased strength from their elven brothers, the Dawn's Inquisition seizes more control of the island: the Boarhart's temple formerly of Lekaimos has been overrun, the surrounding district now dubbed "South Pork" by the Inquisition.

The Battle for Olport Beach carried on up until the third wave when new commanders of both sides took the field. Alavara of the Inquisition lead her troops onto the reddened sands, while Alexander of the Boarharts and House MacTíre arrived with his own troops and even a knight of his own house. The Boarhart calvary charged the Inquisition's line, but were stopped when a priest of Indamma hurled a fireball into their horses and incinerated half of their riders and all but one of their horses. The battle ended when the commanders ordered a ceasefire and agreed to determine the victor through trial by champions. The elven champion Awin Might was victorious and the beach was renamed in his honor "Might Port".

With the Inquisition's territory spreading, they now turn their eyes further south to the Aebros Embassy, and the other heathen temples they seek to burn.

### Sacking of Little Rova

**13th of the Thundering Moon, 290e5.** After suffering defeats by the Inquisition, the Boarharts turn their eyes to a new enemy: the former two kingdoms that held their peace treaty. The peace be damned, the kingdoms of Aebros and Rovania left the Boarharts to suffer in the Second Crusade, and the hillborn yearned to seek vengeance for their fathers.

Attacking Little Rova, Herick Drost the frostborn priest of Ro-Martö and hillborn Knight Ser Megwiss, and Razorback Rider Brocten Craed lead their troops into the town. They were met by several squads of Rovanian foot soldiers and lead by a Lion Master; the Rovanians were also joined by their Saltborn allies, and they sealed the roads with a shield wall blocking the Boarhart's riders. In the end the Boarharts were able to chase off the stubborn Rovanians from the town and claim a new victory for their kingdom.

The Rovanians left licking their wounds, but managed to retreat with most of their forces in tact. *Regroup, reform, retaliate*. This defeat would not lead to more.

### Sinking of Droogal's Temple

**30th Night of the Thundering Moon, 290e5.** On this Night, a tragedy has struck against House Boarhart and all frostborn everywhere. The Holy temple of Droogal (frostborngod of drunkenness) a site which has stood for nearly two hundred generations, has crumbled. The structure itself fell off its cliff face into *Fathering Sea* in only moments, leaving rumble behind. Those in holy orders in the temple during its final moments who survived tell of the earth trembling and a large fire ball attacking commoners praying for help. Temple leaders found the high priests mangled and flattened corpse in the ruins. Even more horrible, the sacred relic known as “Droogal’s Smile” (*a bust of the Gods Head*) is still missing. House Boarhart is still unaware who would dare attack a holy temple only two weeks from Droogal's high holy day, but King Rupert was clear on what the Boarhart would do next.

*”Know me cowards! Know me and know fear!”* King Rupert shouted within his great hall. By his order to all under the Boarhart, whomever can deliver information on who had completed this terrible deed would be given five hundred gold pieces. More over, whomever could then bring him these perpetrator's bones, Rupert would reward them with territory within his lands, nobility and a large fortune. Anger now swells within the Boarhart ranks but average commoners see this as a true curse. With alcohol storage supplies hit hard, the frostborn now will forever remember this catastrophe as *The Night of Bitter Ale.*

### Strike in the North

**Full Thundering Moon, 290e5.** The crew of the *Green Mary* was given intel that frostborn troops were planning to embark on a small fleet to join House Boarhart in the crusade. They were accompanied by Onrei Buton the Salt Mage from the Queen's ranks with a special spell scroll with which to sink the fleet. They had to sail across the full moon to intercept and ambush the fleet, once again outrunning the Black League. In total, two hundred frostborn were attacked and killed by the pirate crew and their ships sank to the depths.