Lyrast

The Ancient Land

The second largest continent is ancient Lyrast. Here, Yrūn civilizations rose amiss the war-torn lands of Elder races. It is from this great continent that the tribes of humanity stemmed, beginning their great migrations to the many corners of the world. Sages of Yrūni-history have traced all migrations to the vast eastern continent, where still standing on its southeastern shores are great cities (some ruined) of unknown antiquity, once peopled by followers of great and ancient gods.

Before the Yrūn made the Land of Lyrast their own, the continent was ruled by the Dwürden Mor of Gemürjordok. From the mountains of Mor Jòrdok, the Dwürden kings sent armies to the Kodürn Mordos (present Cadìrili Coast, Fuldìr Lir, and Sōlòrnri Peninsula) to wage war against the Vulmuri Eylfāe. To this day, the region is littered with the destroyed and abandoned walls and keeps of the First and Second Age.

In the Second Age, the Land of Lyrast was thrown into discord with the rise of Zirak the Ice King. The Ice King ruled the frozen wastes of present-day Neð-Zìrak and Vardū Varsta for over a thousand years, sending his mindless armies south into the heart of Lyrast. During this time, the Dwürden retreated into their mountain homes, leaving other races (i.e., the people of Lyr Lyras) to contend with the demi-god Zirak and his legions. The Eylfāe sealed themselves off from the Land of Vulmùra, and withdrew all forces from the marches of Kodürn Mordos. Zirak fell quietly sometime before the arrival of the Yrūn. His disappearance was so quiet in fact, that the Dwürden believe that he did not perish, only sleeps.

Regions, Geographic

People

Lyrast is littered with the remains of many of Teréth End’s oldest civilizations. Here lies the abandoned Dwürden kingdoms of Dori Lōð, the sunken stones of Lyr Lyras, the ivory spires of Tiki Ikíttir, and the oldest cities of the Yrūn (built by the children of Emer): among them Marádö, Siríndar, Urzar, and Vazàrēa.

People of Lyrast include:

  • Ardègasyr (Ard., people of Ardègas)
  • Azìjilyr (Azj., people of Azìjil)
  • Cidìrilyr (Cid., people of Cidìrilar or the Cidìrili Coast)
  • Da Chàryr (DaC., people of Da Char)
  • Dirínjikyr (Djk., people of Dirínjik)
  • Dori Lōðyr (DorL., people of Dori Loð)
  • Evìrinòryr (Evr., people of Evìrinor)
  • Jadakðyr (Jadk., people of Jadàkða)
  • Kir Jùlūnyr (KirJ., people of Kir Jùlūn)
  • Kitàlskyr (Kit., people of Kitàlsk)
  • Nulàryr (Nul., people of Nular)
  • Orvàlyr (Orv., people of Orval)
  • Saráskyr (Sark., people of Sarask)
  • Solòrnyr (Sol., people of Solorn)
  • Tarskesh (Tar., people of Tarsk)
  • Tayàla (Tay., people of Tayal)
  • Tiki Ikittiri (Tik., people of Tiki Ikíttir)
  • Tolómiryr (Tol., people of Tolomir)
  • Varstyr (Var., people of the Vardū Varsta)
  • Wistìryr (Wis., people of Wistir)
  • Zalūnyr (Zal., people of Zalū)
  • Za’rìnaryr (Zar., people of Za’rinar)
  • Ziràkyr (Zir., people of Zirak)

Dwürden

The Dwürden have an ancient history in Lyrast, having emerged (according to their records) from Mor Jordok early in the First Age. Their legends claim that the world was free of the inimical Eylfāe and most others at that early time. The only race (according to Dwürdeni history) to predate them in Lyrast and elsewhere were the elemental Hôrks and Jȳar whose claim to life in the conventional sense is debatable. The first Dwürden settled in the prehistoric caves and tunnels that connected most lands throughout Teréth End. These subterranean avenues provided them with access to all continents save Emer, for the Hôrks refused to travel to that place. In this manner, the Dwürden traveled from Lyrast to all corners of the world and established kings in distant lands. As clans moved outward from Lyrast, their cities grew sparse and their populations dwindled. By the middle of the First Age, the Dwürden were spread too far to contend with the arrival of the Eylfāe.

Yrūn

During the Second Age, Yrūn immigrants arrived from mysterious Emer (though no records of that place or the people that lived there remain) and settled along the southeastern coasts of the Vulmùri-Lyrasti all-continent. Their arrival went unheeded by the Eylfāe of Vulmùra. The Dwürden however, took notice of the “new” race following the March of the Ikìtikírittik. In addition to a growing military prowess, the Yrūn were prolific breeders. For each generation of Dwürden offspring, the Yrūn produced three.

The Ikìtikírittik welcomed the newcomers as farmers welcome a plentiful harvest. The Dwürden watched with great interest as the tides of power turned. For years the Ikìtikírittik were able to enslave or massacre the Yrūni newcomers without opposition. The stone age weapons of the Yrūn were no match for the enemies’ carapaces. When the Ikìtikírittik swarms reached the region of Julun however, they encountered Yrūn armed with crystal weapons that were stronger and sharper than they’d encountered before. Soon, the tides of power changed, and the Yrūn became the pursuers. The Ikìtikírittiki-Yrūni battles soon pushed inland toward the mantidae homeland (i.e., Great Steppe). In 3/223 ER an Yrūni militia reached the Spires of Tiki Ikittir. Generations of conflict against the Ikìtikírittik had fashioned a culture of war among the Yrūn. Following this war, the Dwürden were alarmed to find that when the Yrūn were not fighting the Ikìtikírittik, that they turned their bronze and crystal weapons against one another. If the Dwürden were unable to make peace with the newcomers, it would only be a matter of time before the Yrūni weapons were turned against them too.

Nomenclature: Lyrast Dekàlic: Lyrast (place), Lyrásti (pertaining to), Lyrástyn (resident), Lyrástyr (people)