Patreon Insights: The Birth of Ferran Llyr

Hello again. We are here for part 2 of this trilogy with the birth of what is now the Principality of Ferran. Before we go into that, I'll go into some details about the region that don't tie into its eventual evolution from a land occupied by various tribes and clans to the Principality of today. 

The first of these details is where the region is located. Ferran is situated on the western side of the Talrasian continent with Særis to the north and the Shield Mountains to the east. This location, along with some very important geological and meteorological factors, has led to the region being extremely fertile and rich in both fauna and flora. It is also theorised that the region played a vital role in early human migration and possibly even in their evolution, though such theories are still hotly debated by paleoanthropologists. This is partly due to there not being enough data, there being two more proposed cradles of early humankind, and scholars being biased.

Now you might be wondering why I'm telling you all this as it probably seems a wee bit superfluous. It's because much of this ties into some very key moments in the birth of Ferran Llyr. Fortunately, what I've said so far should be enough context for now. As such we will fast forward to the same point we started with yesterday. Like Særis, the Ferran and 2.5 thousand years ago was comprised of a large number of clans. Unlike Særis however, this network of clans came about following the collapse of an ancient civilisation that controlled the entire region. 

Ancient Ferran also differed in that it had a fair number of smaller interconnected clans as opposed to the larger and more typical clans of Særis. The Ferran clans were typically comprised of small communities that acted as kindred even if they weren't related by blood. Polycules were also fairly common amongst those that lacked blood ties. This is further facilitated by there being much more movement between the different clans, which is why I described it as a network of clans. 

A good way of imagining it is that when the cities of their old civilisation collapsed, they started to spread out over a larger area, but they kept the mindset of social mobility and that comes from being part of a larger community. As a result of this mindset, there is less separation between the clans even if the cities they once belonged to are a distant memory.

Furthermore, the transient network of clans meant that once the secrets of iron working were learnt by one clan, it was barely a matter of time before the rest followed suit. Alas, even with the knowledge being widespread amongst the clans, it took a good while longer for them to capitalise on it in the same way Clan Særis did. Fortunately, Clan Særis wasn't a threat to the clans and wouldn't be in a position where they could be a threat for a long time.

The clans remained much the same way for 500 or so years, at which point they started forming into larger communities. This continued up until the double solar eclipse that created the Ferran race. In addition to turning many of the people in the region into Ferran, everything else was also transformed in one way or another, including the land. As such, everything was significantly more dangerous than it had been before the eclipse and the communities had to grow even further if they wanted to survive the aftermath.

Fortunately, the generally communal disposition that had been fostered by the people was enhanced by the goddess' touch and the need to survive so the civil growing pains were mitigated. Additionally, some key figures were able to rise up in the wake of the mini cataclysm that was the the eclipse, including a few Ardents. Together they united the surviving Ferrans and the humans that weren't touched by the eclipse with one of them becoming the first Ferran Queen.

They spent the next few centuries adapting to the moon-touched landscape and everything that came with it as they didn't really have anywhere else they could go. Pretty much everything about their homeland had to be relearned and rediscovered as there was a very real risk of being caught unawares by a moon-touched plant or creature.

Before too long, however, the Ferran had fully adapted to their moon-touched homeland with the humans taking a while longer because of the lingering Resonance. It was at this point they started fostering positive relations with Særis as each nation was able to provide something of value to the other. Ferran would even offer a degree of martial aid during the Great Særan War in the form of 3 Ardents and roughly 100 skirmishers. Whilst this might not seem like much, they were critical to several battles.

After the was, Særis named Ferran a true ally and relations between the two nations remained strong for centuries. This isn't to say there weren't any rough patches, but they were negligible in the grand scheme of things. Alas, Ferran wasn't able to avoid hostilities from foreign powers indefinitely, even with Særis as an ally. 

As a consequence of their involvement in the Great War, Ferran managed to attract the eye of the Ru'eni Empire to the east. At first, this didn't seem like an issue, but to the Ru'eni, Ferran was a fertile goldmine and precious real estate. This became ever more apparent as they expanded further west and zoned in on the only easily navigable pass through the Shield Mountains.

The first Ru'eni incursion happened 732 years before Rowan was born. The Ferran were able to hold them off, but the Ru'eni didn't stop with just the one attempt. They tried again and again, each time bringing a larger force. Eventually they managed to break through and the Ferran had to rely on gorilla warfare as they mustered an Awakened Vanguard to push the Ru'eni back. 

At the same time, the Ferran king travelled to the Azure Court with only a single honour guard to ask Særis for aid. As he stood before the Særan king, he dropped to one knee and offered his crown. Fortunately, Særis had not forgotten it's debts to Ferran, so the Særan king told him to rise in order for them to be able to come an arrangement that suited both of them. In short, Ferran would become an almost completely autonomous vassal state with the king maintaining all his titles and Særis would send an army south to bolster the Ferran defence against the Ru'eni. Furthermore, the eldest Ferran princess would marry the the second third Særan prince and any future Ferran rulers will hold the title of Prince or Princess, instead of King/Queen. It is because this that the nation is now called the Principality of Ferran.

Anyway, the Særan Army rushed to south and the Awakened Vanguard started pushing back the Ru'eni incursion. With news reaching them that backup was on the way, they were able to push the Ru'eni back to the pass, though at great cost. When the Særan army arrived, only one Ardent still lived. The Ardent in question was Keilan, who is to this day, one of the most important Ardent's in Ferran history.

There have been several more attempts in the centuries since then, but all have failed as a result of the combined forces of Ferran and Særis. And thus, here we shall end this Insight. But before I go, I want to explain why I referred to the nation as Ferran Llyr in the beginning. The name means Hearthfolk Home, with Ferran meaning hearthfolk and Llyr meaning home. It's not a direct translation, but it's enough to get the idea across.

Now technically, the Llyr is still part of the official name but it is usually omitted. as people are lazy can usually work out if your talking about the place or the race based on context. In modern times, it is mostly used when referring to Ferran that come from Ferran. The term for this being Ferran na Llyr. This phrase is also where Rowan's family name of Naliir is derived from as Liir is the Old Ferran and modern Midiran way of saying Llyr.

And with that, I shall say good night. Join me tomorrow for part three of this trilogy where we look at the birth of Rowan's homeland of Llen Færa.