Celica Historia

The following is a documented history of Funonzi written by the great historian Celica Antoniade, First Scribe to the Immortal Queen Elarine.  It was translated into common by Archmage Vadel of Lionclaw Institute.  The first histories written by Celica are deeply rooted in elvish mythology and should not be viewed as total historical fact, though recent archaeological and thaumaturgical discoveries have shown that much of elvish mythology is rooted in truth.

## Written Text

### Futri ("The Three Lights")

Ere we found our world, there was Nox Eterna. As there was no light, so too was there no sight. As there was no sight, so too was there no knowledge. Thus, the advent of the First Light heralds the dawn of history.

The First Light emanated from the far-off Stars, who were the shapers of Fate and the bestowers of Guidance unto our Forefathers. The Stars delivered us from Nox and led us unto our world. The first sight of land was that of the Great Tree Xylo, which towered as high as the very stars themselves.

The Second Light came from the resplendent Sun, who unveiled the vast expanses of the world and all its plenteousness. With this newfound vision, the first civilizations were erected across the land.

The Third Light arrived from the tranquil Moon, who manifested during the Sun’s absence amid the first Night. The Moon proffered us serenity, comforting us that the Sun would not tarry long. Thus, the Night reminds us from whence we hail, and it is the Morning that pledges us that we need never return.

Verily, the Futri hath granted unto the elvenkind the Agiapyla, that we may present our offerings and gratitude. And the elves did coalesce around these Agiapyla, that they might bask in the very presence of their power.

And it came to pass that the city of Solapyli was built upon a great mount, in reverence of the resplendent Sun. Likewise, the city of Lunapyli was constructed within a great mystical wood, in reverence of the tranquil Moon. And the temple of Astrapyli was established deep within the roots of Xylo, in reverence of the guiding Stars.

And the elves raised the banner of the Sun, Moon, and Stars over their new home, and they named their home Funonzi, meaning “guiding light”. Indeed, the Futri had led the elves to their new home and aided in the building of their nation, and so the elves looked to the Futri for aid in finding an apt leader.

But the elves tried to appoint one of their own, and these talks quickly turned into scheming, and those who were deemed candidates gained a deep and destructive lust for power. Truly, the hearts of men are easily swayed by the temptations of power and greed. Thus it was that the elves cried out to the heavens, seeking guidance and wisdom from the gods. For they knew that without a righteous leader, their nation would surely fall to ruin.

In the elves’ desperation, the Futri responded in kind.  Thus came the Eclipse, and the words of the Futri echoed from the Agiapyla across the land:

“Hearken unto me, beloved children, ye who followeth the Light. Thy prayers and supplications hath reached our ears. Lo, we have guided thy path hitherto, yet thou entreateth for one to stand amidst thy ranks and lead in our stead. Thy faith hath not gone unnoticed. By the eclipse and the alignment of the stars, we doth grant unto thee a ruler. And her name shall be Elarine, Immortal Queen, Daughter of the Eclipse.”

Verily, Elarine was made flesh atop Solapyli, bathed in radiant beams of light. Her hair was of pale white, her skin a sheen rose gold. And those who came to the Agiapyli at the sound of the Futri's voice did witness Elarine's birth as the sun darkened in the sky. Lo, all across Funonzi, the elves were afraid that the Nox was returning. But upon Elarine's manifestation, the light of the sun returned, as did hope across the empire.

When Elarine looked around and saw her people bowing before her, she addressed them:

“Hear me, O children of the elves, for I, Elarine, have been conjured by the grace of the Futri to rule over this empire. I am a demigod, flesh and blood like unto thee, but blessed with the divine essence of the immortals.

Know ye that I come not to be served, but to serve. I come not to exalt myself, but to exalt thee, the people of Funonzi. Let it be known that my reign shall be marked by justice, mercy, and compassion. My heart is filled with love for thee, and I shall govern with wisdom and understanding.

Let it be written in the annals of our history that the reign of Elarine brought forth a time of great peace and prosperity. Let us work together, hand in hand, to build a better future for our children and their children after them. Let us set aside our differences and unite under the banner of a common goal, to make Funonzi a land of milk and honey, where all can live in harmony and joy.

And let us never forget the Futri, who have bestowed upon you this great gift of a demigod queen. Let us honor them with our prayers and our deeds, and let us never take for granted the blessings they have bestowed upon us.”

Thus spake Elarine, Immortal Queen of Funonzi, Daughter of the Eclipse.  May her words be remembered throughout the ages.

Above doth lie the genesis myth of the elves, oft referred to as the Tale of the Three Lights, or the Futri. From the earliest of days, the elves held a deep kinship with the Cosmos, venerating the celestial bodies as their deities. The realm, or perchance a state of being, known as the "Nox Eterna", is a matter of much debate. For there remain no living members of the elven pilgrimage to Funonzi, and so we are left with scant evidence.

The most commonly espoused theory holds that the elves came into being upon a continent far to the east of Funonzi, where darkness reigned unnaturally. If this is true, it curiously aligns with the origin of the Elken, who claim to have emerged from an eastern land shrouded in fog. Another theory posits that the elves arose from below the ground, and that the first elf to see the light of day had never beheld the celestial light before. Some support for this conjecture may be found in the discovery of ancient elven relics deep beneath the earth. A more fanciful theory avers that the elves arrived from another world entirely.

Regardless of their true origins, the elves pay scant heed to anything prior to the First Light, deeming it unworthy of study. There exists a profound generational shame and fear concerning their prehistory.

The dawning of what was known as the Funonzian Empire was marked by intense nationalism, racial strife, and religious zealotry. While the tale of Elarine's coronation heralded a hopeful message for the elven nation, the first several decades of her reign were beset by turmoil. The elves were strongly united under the banner of the Futri, and with this alliance came notions of how the empire should impose its will upon the world beyond. The particulars of this enterprise are shrouded in mystery, but not long after Elarine's coronation, the elves made their initial contact with the other sapient races of the world.

The first contact, notably, was with the humans, known at the time as “lowborn”.  Here is an account from this first meeting:

### Chamilogen ("The Lowborn")

Funonzi did tower high o'er the lands around, and could spy for miles in each and every direction. And thus were the Lowborn found. A whole race, sprung from the lands of the North, had been present since the time ere elves did arrive. These men were stunted in height, far shorter than any elf, yet they bore a savage boldness that was strange to the elves. The Lowborn were a people of warriors who had won many battles to seize the lands they now did rule.

The Lowborn were first happened upon by the scout Anich, who was sent north to chart the pathless woods betwixt the great mount Solapyli and yon far mount. Anich's journeying companions were caught by a host of Lowborn rangers, who spake in an foreign tongue and bore arms of robust metal. The wise Anich was able to calm the rangers, communicating using only his hands. And so did the rangers lead Anich and his men to a nearby Lowborn camp, situated in a cave that had once been the home of a large bear and her cubs.

Anich spent the next several days learning the ways of the Lowborn, like what they ate, how they fought, and most importantly, where they came from. When Anich returned to Elarine to give his report, he spake thus:

"Harken, thy Brilliance, I have come upon a great discovery. North of this mountain, in uncharted woods, I encountered a most peculiar sort of men. They were shorter than I, yet of great strength. I counted nearly twelve hundred, and that was but from a few camps. These men are fierce and hunt with ease, wielding heavy blunt weapons and wearing scant clothing. Although savage they may seem, they welcomed me and my companions, and were as fascinated by us as we by them. We revealed little of our origins, saying only that we were born of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. The men told us that they hailed from a city called Bragos, and were all born of Bragos the Brave. If the tales they tell of him are true, he must be the most fearsome warrior in all of Funonzi."

And it came to pass that Elarine, upon hearing the words of Anich, pondered deeply the revelation of the Lowborn and their leader, Bragos the Brave. Her mind, filled with wisdom and discernment, perceived the potential for both unity and discord in this encounter. Therefore, a council was called, and the leaders of Funonzi assembled to deliberate upon the fate of these newly discovered people.

Verily, the council was divided in opinion. Some spoke of the Lowborn as potential allies, warriors whose might could strengthen Funonzi against the threats that loomed. Yet, others were cautious, fearing the distinctions in customs and the unpredictable nature of these fierce people.

In her divine insight, Elarine spoke to the assembly, saying, "Hearken, children of the elves, to my counsel. These Lowborn, though differing in stature and custom, dwell within the same land as we. Bragos the Brave, their leader, is a force to be reckoned with. Instead of deeming them a potential threat, let us extend the hand of friendship. It may be that, together, we can forge an alliance that will fortify Funonzi against any foe that may arise."

Following Elarine's guidance, emissaries were dispatched to Bragos in Bragos, the city of the Lowborn. There, they were welcomed with curiosity and respect. Bragos, a man of robust stature and a leader seasoned by the trials of the North, received them in his great hall adorned with trophies from formidable beasts.

And it came to pass that upon the sacred grounds beneath the Great Tree Xylo, bathed in the soft glow of twilight, Elarine and Bragos stood facing each other. Elvenkind and Lowborn, representatives of their people, meeting for the first time.

Elarine, with her ethereal aura, spoke first, saying, "Bragos, leader of the Lowborn, I am Elarine, Immortal Queen, Daughter of the Eclipse. I bid thee greetings under the watchful gaze of the stars."

Bragos, a man of rugged countenance with a piercing gaze, responded in his gruff yet respectful manner, "Elarine, of the elves, I have heard tales of thy kind. Born of Sun, Moon, and Stars, they say. I am Bragos, called Brave by my people. We hail from the city of Bragos in the North."

Elarine nodded in acknowledgment, saying, "Bragos the Brave, thy reputation precedes thee. Thy people, the Lowborn, are a mystery to us. Share with me the history of thy people and the lands thou dost call home."

Bragos, leaning on his sturdy weapon, a massive club crafted from the bones of a great beast, began to recount the history of the Lowborn. "Our history is one of survival. We are born of the rugged North, where wild beasts roam freely. Our city, Bragos, was founded by my ancestors, warriors who conquered the challenges of the untamed lands."

Elarine's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she inquired further, "Yet, thou dost welcome us with open arms. Why, Bragos the Brave? What brings thee to this alliance?"

Bragos, regarding Elarine with a mix of wariness and respect, spoke, "In the tales of our people, it is said that alliances strengthen in times of shared trials. We have faced the beasts of the North, and ye, the elves, are born of celestial might. Together, we can forge a union that safeguards our homes from any shadow that may fall."

Elarine smiled, a radiance that seemed to echo the light of the stars above. "Bragos, thy wisdom is as bold as thy name suggests. Let this meeting be the dawn of a pact between our peoples. United, we shall face the challenges that lie ahead."

And it came to pass that Bragos extended his hand, a gesture of camaraderie, and said, "May the stars guide us, Elarine. May our alliance be a beacon that shines through the darkest of nights."

And in the passage of time, as the alliance between the elves and the Lowborn flourished, a subtle tension began to weave its threads. The harmonious melody that once echoed beneath the Great Tree Xylo now carried a faint dissonance. It was whispered among both elvenkind and Lowborn that the lands they shared were not truly shared at all.

Territorial conflicts, born from the differing customs and needs of each race, stirred beneath the surface. The elves, guardians of the natural sanctity, sought to preserve the delicate balance of the woodlands. The Lowborn, born of the harsh North, aimed to expand their dominion and secure resources for their growing population.

The council, once united in purpose, now found itself entangled in debates over the rightful boundaries of each realm. Bragos, once a steadfast ally, stood at the forefront of the Lowborn's plea for more land. Elarine, guided by the principles of balance and preservation, resisted such expansion.

Words turned to tension, and tension into conflict. The alliance, once a beacon of unity, faced its first true trial. Battles erupted across the contested lands, with elven archers and Lowborn warriors clashing beneath the ancient boughs of Xylo.

The Great Tree, witness to the harmonious beginnings, now bore witness to the scars etched by conflict. The once-shared grounds became contested battlegrounds, with both races seeking to assert their claim. As the battles raged, each side became entrenched in its conviction, unable to reconcile the conflicting visions for the future of Funonzi.

Elarine, torn between her commitment to alliance and her duty to preserve the sanctity of the land, sought a resolution. Bragos, driven by the needs of his people and the vision of expansion, saw the conflicts as a necessary trial for the survival of the Lowborn.

And so, the clash between the two races, born of shared purpose, unfolded into a chapter of strife and discord. The echoes of battles resounded through the sacred woods, a lament for the fading unity that once seemed destined to endure.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows upon the contested lands, both elves and Lowborn pondered the future. The alliance that once held the promise of a united Funonzi now faced the crucible of conflict, and the outcome remained uncertain in the fading twilight.