History

Here is a history, in progress as information is found and remembered, of Brigantia and her neighbors:

In ages past, long before there were place names, the land was occupied with dragons, goblins, elves, and the like.  The ancient races.  There are stories told about epic dragon wars, fought between the various dragon factions, that eventually laid waste to many lands.  The wars took their toll, even on the mighty.  The few dragons that were left after the ferocious battles crawled into their lairs deep inside the earth and slept.  Goblins retreated to their tunnels and rarely ventured to the surface, having an aversion to the sun and not wanting to mix with surface dwellers except to stir up occasional mischief.  The elves and other races that lived on the surface left the ravaged lands to find untouched places with forests, fertile soil, and clear running streams.  As time passed, a great deal of time as perceived by humans, the war-torn and scorched lands healed and became inhabitable once again.  In the area now known as the Isles of Myst, two main lands emerged, along with many smaller isles.

The surface of the tunneled isle grew into a forest with rivers and high mountains, set in the Mystic Sea.  Humans found this land, building a thriving port and trading center, today called Oldwyck.  The deepest tunnels were all but forgotten, along with the ancient races.  Most of the humans developed a great talent for explaining away evidence that the ancient races had ever existed, making up myths, fairy tales, history, and excuses.  Most were oblivious to evidence that the old races still existed alongside them, a trait that greatly amused most elves, fairies, and the like.  A few humans, though, did sense the magic...  Further south, in the sea called Elemental Myst, was the Kingdom of Aileach.

Aileach was established well before Oldwyck, shortly after the dragon wars, by the elven healers who had fled the unrest and destruction.  In their oral histories, it is said that the elves were led to the new land by their goddess, who dwelt there and kept vigil.  From it's small beginning, Aileach grew into a large, thriving Kindom led by a powerful elven Queen, who was also the high priestess of the land.  Aileach was a matriarchal society, the Throne passed down to the eldest daughter upon the Queen's death.  Aileach, too, evolved into a prosperous trade center and port, but it's main business was as a center of learning for healers, most of them being elven and female, but not all.  It was said that the land itself flowed with energy and magic that could cure and rejuvenate.  The healers of Aileach were sought out and traveled far and wide to help those in need.  Some were sent to dewll in other lands, some to seek new knowledge to bring back to Aileach.  It was a time of peach for many generations, the names of the most ancient Queens lost to the ages.

Documented Queens of Aileach, dates lost:

QUEEN EUDORA--Legends exist, even among the humans at Oldwyck, that Eudora reigned at Aileach.  An ancient scroll has been found in Brigantia that tells of an incident.  During Eudora's reign, the sea surrounding Oldwyck began to die.  It was learned that the dragon that slept beneath Oldwyck was waking, causing heat and toxins to poison the land and sea.  Queen Eudora and the Druid of Oldwyck helped make a potion and perform a ritual that made the dragon sleep again, healing the land and sea.

QUEEN HECUBA

QUEEN CHARA

QUEEN HAGNE

QUEEN BERENICE

QUEEN DELPHINIA--It was Queen Delphinia's daughter, Celine, who was loved by the wizard Roldan Aregood.  In tales told by the Brigantian Elder Taryn Nightthorn at the Brigantia Fireside Chats, we have learned that Celine's untimely death was the cause of Roldan turning to the dark side.  (See The Wizard's Tale Part 1 & 2.)  (Spoiler Alert:  Roldan's Uncle Darwin, who was the Court Wizard under Queen Delphinia, married following this incident, after Roldan was banished.  Uncle Darwin had a son named Eldon Aregood, also a powerful wizard of the Aregood line.  Uncle Darwin's side of the Aregood family exist to this day...)

QUEEN EIRENE--Eirene was a younger sister to Celine, and became Queen in her sister's place upon the death of queen Delphinia.  During the reign of Queen Eirene, Eldon Aregood was the Court Wizard.

QUEEN THALIA--Eldon Aregood continued to be the Court Wizard, the Aregood's being exceptionally long-lived.  Eldon eventually married and had a son named Balfour Aregood.

QUEEN SILENE--During the reign of Queen Silene, Balfour Aregood became the Court Wizard.

QUEEN HARMONIA--We know that Balfour Aregood continued to be the Court Wizard during the reign of Queen Harmonia.  Balfour married and had one daughter, Taryn Aregood, who inherited the Aregood magic and became a powerful sorceress.  Taryn Aregood married Albus Nightthorn, who was Balfour's Apprentice.

QUEEN MAEJA--It is written that Maeja was the Lady of Aileach, Queen and high priestess to her people.  She was descended from a line of ancient elven healers and the magic was strong within her.  Maeja was one of the Ladies who displayed a curious trait, in that her hands would tingle and glow with power.  She was able to channel this into use for healing and protection.
Queen Maeja's Court Wizard was Albus Aregood.
During the reign of Queen Maeja, it is documented that the dark wizard Roldan Aregood made an attempt to take control of Aileach.  Maeja sent the Princess Dareia and her younger siblings, along with the sorceress Taryn Aregood Nightthorn, through a secret portal to the enchanted Goddess's Grove, where evil could not infiltrate.  Then, Queen Maeja and Albus Nightthorn defended the land against Roldan's advances and sent him back to his dark tower to brood.

QUEEN DAREIA--Albus Nightthorn continued to serve as Court Wizard.  He and his wife, Taryn Aregood Nightthorn had a son, Silas Nightthorn.

QUEEN CYMONE--Silas Nightthorn served as Court Wizard.  SPOILER ALERT:  Silas married and had a son, Quentin Nightthorn, and a much younger daughter, Taryn Nightthorn, named for her grandmother, Taryn Aregood Nightthorn.

QUEEN ARIADNE--Quentin Nightthorn served as Court Wizard.  His young sister, Taryn Nightthorn, was friend and companion to young Princess Chloris.  As they grew older, Taryn, who inherited the family magic, decided to study as a healer at Aileach.  Taryn was sent to a far away land to study with one of her Aregood relatives...while Chloris became the next Queen.

QUEEN CHLORIS, LAST QUEEN OF AILEACH--The reign of Queen Chloris is well-documented.  She and her consort, Prince Sedric, had two daughters, Adela and the younger Esme.  In the Tale of the Lost Homeland, we learn that Roldan Aregood made another attempt to take Aileach, this time nearly succeeding.  He tempted the younger Princess Esme into taking the Seeds of Discord back to Aileach, their efforts foiled by a diligent little maid named Beatrice.  The effects of the Seeds of Discord, however, could not be contained, so the goddess Brigid actually intervened, sending a great storm and flood to wash away the destructive force.  In the process, most of Aileach was obliterated.  Only some undersea ruins and tiny islands remained.  Queen Chloris, Prince Sedric, Esme, the wizard Quentin Nightthorn, and most everyone else were killed.  the only ones left alive were those who were away in other lands, including Princess Adela, her trusty maid Beatrice, and a handful of traveling healers--including Taryn Nightthorn.  The goddess then raised the land of Brigantia, a land enchanted and protected by the goddess herself, to be a home for the healers and a sanctuary to all.  (SPOILER ALERT:  Taryn Nightthorn returned to aid the young Queen Adela, her dear friend's daughter.  However, she was a changed woman, preferring solitude to the company of others.  She eventually became the Guardian of the Brigantian Forest, spending most of her time deep in the forest.  Her life has been curiously long, even for an elf of Aregood descent...  She eventually became known as the Elder of Brigantia because of her longevity and accumulated knowledge and wisdom.)

QUEEN ADELA, FIRST QUEEN OF BRIGANTIA--After the death of Quentin Nightthorn, there was no longer a Court Wizard to aid the Queen.  As above, Quentin's young sister, Taryn Nightthorn, eventually became known as the Elder of Brigantia, serving as advisor and protector to the Crown.

QUEEN DYANTHA

QUEEN AYLLA

QUEEN CHRYSANTHIA

QUEEN LEDA

QUEEN DAMARIS

QUEEN MYRENE

QUEEN ELYSAVET

QUEEN VESTIA

QUEEN ISABEAU--with consort, PRINCE VARYN (a human, and King of Uthonia).  Queen Isabeau actually went to Uthonia herself, while she was still a Princess, in order to help with a horrible plague.  While there, she met Prince Varyn of Uthonia.  They married, although her mother, Queen Vestia, objected.  Queen Isabeau did not shirk her duties, but traveled back and forth between Brigantia and Uthonia.  She and Prince Varyn had one daughter, Contessa (Tessa).  As recounted by the Elder Taryn, Queen Isabeau met an untimely and suspicious death at a young age for an elf.  (Taryn Nightthorn always suspected that Roldan Aregood was behind this.)  Tessa's father, King Varyn of Uthonia, insisted that Princess Tessa remain in Uthonia after her mother's death.  Taryn Nightthorn, however, never left her side even when she had to hide in order to do so.  The Kingdom of Uthonia was destroyed by a Purple Fog.  Tessa saw the fog rolling in from a tower window, rand to retrieve her two nieces, Celeste and Amanda Susan.  Before the three could escape, they were just overcome by the edges of the fog.  However, Taryn had reached them and the three awoke to find themselves afloat in a boat near the shore of a strange land.  They were hidden there for several years, because Taryn once again suspected that the Wizard Roldan Aregood had produced the purple fog in an attempt on Tessa's life.  Although the details are not known,  the area surrounding Roldan's dark tower was enchanted and sealed in a place known as The Dark Tower Realm, serving as his prison.  This place is not generally known, and the entrance well-warded.  But....Roldan is a powerful wizard...

PRINCESS TESSA OF BRIGANTIA--