Prologue

The following excerpt is from "The Djeirh War" in A Glimpse of Byrian History, recorded in 1957 P.D by the royal scribe of King Lucien Crauft of Naru, first of his name. For authenticity, the tome was originally notarized, attested, certified, and acknowledged by His Majesty Sorden Crauft III of Galdur, Ruler of the Minded, and Great Descendent of the Savior of the Burned. The text has since been translated and redacted for simplicity and accuracy, as well as updated on the current events of the century regarding the well-being of Byria. These documents shall never leave the premises of the Narun royal library, secured and safely stored against weathering, separate from the common literature.

It was King Lucien Crauft of Naru in 1897 B.D who declared civil war on the Djeirh people both in retaliation and with the objective of purging dark magic from Byria. Most scholars and citizens alike believed this act was most likely spurred by the death of the king's late son, who had met his untimely death defending a small training outpost in the eastern wilds of the kingdom. It was reported the night before the declaration that a bloodweaver had seized the heir's body before taking his life.

This was the first time a Djeirh had been known to have killed a royal. His Highness, Vernon Crauft, had bore the magic of a mindweaver, the rarest of all natural-born abilities, but he had not yet grown into mastery at the time of his murder. King Crauft was considered fast-paced by the masses, who were known at the time to adore the Djeirh and their dedication to being the greatest healers and soldiers in history. Indeed, the bloodweavers' contributions to the health and safety of Byria were notable. Many thought King Crauft's decision to wage war to be rash, driven by grief.

It wasn't until 1903 B.D, six years into the Djeirh War, that the majority of fae, humans, and other races across Byria began to passionately side with the crown. During this period, there were many massacres of men, women, and children throughout each kingdom, many of whom were not involved in militant responsibilities or battle. While the Djeirh were not a densely populated people due to their well-known infertility, they remained numbered enough to take control of the war for the first 30 years. In fact, it was not until The Great Seven, the final 7 years of the effort, that the tide turned in favor of Byria.

Drumal was the innovative answer that the continent had been searching for. There had been rumors of a crowned ruler that the Djeirh had been following for the better part of the last three decades, which naturally concerned the seven kings of Byria. It was King Lucien Crauft who'd tasked himself and a large team of scholars and soldiers to discover a weakness in the bloodweavers. A captured enemy was extracted of critical information that ultimately led to the destruction of the Djeirh armies and bloodline; this information was the leveling concoction, drumal, that is extremely well-known today as one of--if not the most--rare intoxicant in alchemic history. While no one outside of a few royal select know how to create the oral mixture thanks to its devastating biological effects in the war, its impact in the success of victory is renowned across Byria.

With whatever temporary, makeshift royalty the Djeirh had followed into battle eradicated, the organization of their armies quickly fell, and it took less than a third of the time to take down bloodweaver forces than it took for them to start the bloodshed. By 1934 B.D, the war was over, and left behind were the captured Djeirh--along with millions of Byrian soldiers and citizens dead and a broken foundation to rebuild off of. The death of the land's mothers, fathers, and children could not be remedied, but there were solutions crafted after much discussion between kings to decide what to do about the multitude of other problems left in the fighting's wake.

Dozens of large labor bases were erected in every territory in order to supply the kingdoms with renewed wealth and peace. All Djeirh were sent to these communities (following incapacitation with drumal) to both keep them separate from the vulnerable people of Byria and ensure the regrowth of the economy.

End of original excerpt

As of 3768 P.D, there are 207 labor bases used as criminalized punishment for high-profile deviants causing disruption within the borders. The original 38 still stand today, representing their success and strength in the uplift of Byria. Among the most efficient and reputable are Mindur, Dreknal, Wirnalor, and Stronec, each producing the most vital number of stock and trade supply for the kingdoms.

The public has since forgotten about the fabled Djeirh War and its people, a minimized event in comparison to other wars and conflicts over land and power since the tragedy occurred. Bloodweavers now extinct, it is far simpler for the history to appear as a legend in a storybook for mothers to read to their children before bed. This natural progression of memory fade is crucial to maintaining amity within the continent and the operations of the labor bases, and thus prompts diligent protection of the information.

With the current, minor struggles between the north and south, driven by Zephyrian motives to expand faithful devotion to the gods and pushback--particularly from Naru and Eldoria--due to its potential implications on sovereignty, the exposure of Djeirh history is of no concern. However, these texts should remain in safekeeping for the reference and continued inheritance of future monarchs. There are no Djeirh left with bloodweaving abilities to disrupt this fragile intelligence, but the hearts of the scorned may be unpredictable if they discover their ancestry. People, especially humans, tend to be far too emotional when presented with reality; securing the details of the war is always necessary.

Long live the Pure.