The Founding of Narim

The Founding of Narim
Feud of Houses Caperio and Selestine

By Dante Caperio,
Orator and Elder of Narim

It has come to my attention that in my old age, hardly anyone recalls the events that brought the town of Narim into existance. Should the new generation of Narimites forget their origins, I am almost certain that history would be doomed to repeat itself. The destruction and fighting that my generation has come to dub “The Endless Feud” is most likely one of the most horrific and yet oddly significant events to ever transpire in the Sherian Province. The history of the entire expanse of the region has never been recorded. Alas, I am but one man and can only shed a little light on the western portion of it. But I suppose that this is better than nothing at all. The following is the re-accountings of the events that led up to the creation of Narim, as the oral folk stories passed down through my family knows it.

Signed,
-- Dante Caperio

Shortly after the Great Duchy of Phondra and the Kingdom of Daittern had fallen, along with the establishment of Taralon by the Aelyrians, trouble began to brew. As a principle, no people enjoy being ruled by anything that seems to preside over them without regard to their own well being. Many descendants of the Phondran and Daittern felt the need for separation, for a true presiding power instead of something that felt like a military occupation. The Phondran descendants, nobility by the name of House Selestine, were growing restless in the area. Not many of them understood the logic of the Aelyrian Empire’s government. However, the members of House Selestine were not the types that made split decisions. They waited, they took in what was going on around them, and made an attempt to live with it. However, there was only so much a people could undergo before they decided to make an attempt at leaving. It wasn’t until much later though that anything with the Selestines actually happened. The Caperios were the dominating factor in the entire ordeal that lead up to the movement of House Selestine, the descendants of Phondra.

A cry had rung out one night, as the restless house of Caperio decided to make their move. The heirs of the Daeitterns had finally had enough of the military leadership in the newly hewn town of Taralon. Many of them rallied around one another and made to leave the town, (and to many: the entire Empire) behind.
“Too long have we kept a placid face,” spoke a particularly courageous member of the house, “but now... now it is time to leave! Forget these Aelyrians and their Empire! We shall rebuild our Kingdom! The Phondrans have become weak! Their eyes are blind to their own land. That makes it ours for the taking. On the western banks the Daittern kingdom shall be reborn!”

It is worth note that no one has ever figured out exactly why the name 'Narim' should be meant to honor of the Daitterns. However, many speculate that this could have been a word in the old kingdom that the people coined for something of great power or that demanded respect. Scholars have always been stumped by this solitary word. I, however, am of the firm belief that 'Narim' could have possibly been the name of either one of the first Daitterns or a word that they coined to mean 'Valor' or 'Strength'. Also, speculation has arisen that the city that came to be known as ‘Narim’ in the Aelyrian Empire existed prior to the emigration of the Daittern people. In fact, many cities in the Sherian have been recorded in history as having existed by the reign of Queen Candace. Some were noted to have been already functioning rather well, leading to the belief that they had existed much earlier. One of those cities is speculated to have been Narim. If this is true, then Narim was, in it’s own right, a fiefdom, ruled by house Selestine and the Phondrans for many patterns.

Only the next brightening, right as the suns were rising did the Caperios depart from Taralon, and make for the west, far away from Taralon and it’s wretched ‘Military guidance’ (which was more like a military occupation if you ever asked a Caperio) to make this fabled Narim. The journey was long and harsh, causing a few causalities here and there. I've been told it was a weary one, and the trail they blazed from Taralon to Narim was referred to as 'The Trail of Ruins' to symbolize the way they were leaving their ancestors’ ruins behind, and returning to their broken kingdoms.

When they had finally reached the banks of the Sea of Diana, whose waves tossed towards them like ferocious beasts, the daydreams of a prosperous port city reached their minds. It would be the starting of the new Daittern Kingdom. The site was perfect, a moderately thriving and quiet village with a lot of potential. The Grand Duchy of Phondra was unable to stop them, brewing resentment and hate in the hearts of the true Narimites. Until that point in history, the little village had been ruled over quietly by the Selestine family for many eras. But now was the time of reckoning. Driven by their hate for the Selestines and Aelyrians alike, the Caperios forcefully overtook the defenseless port, quickly establishing themselves as the rightful rulers. It was the perfect plan for the rebirth of a Kingdom. Or at least until the Selestines finally got word of what had happened. Now, considering their ancestors had worked with the Aelyrian government before in an agreement for wealth, it was no surprise that the Selestines were a very greedy people. Word reached them of the city-state being constructed to the West of Taralon, over the mountains and by the sea. It wasn’t long until gossip became stories, and stories became rumors. Tales of the wicked Caperios and their plans to usurp the Aelyrians’ control over the entire region became twisted rumors that invaded their every thought. That is, until they couldn’t stand the fact that the Caperios were once more getting the upper hand... and decided to follow after them, however late they may have been.

It wasn’t until more than half of Narim’s present-day core was built that the Selestines found their way to the city-state. Old rivalries became livid once more as the Selestines immediately began to fight for control. The wheels were turning in their heads – if they were able to get control of this age-old duchy, and take the control away from the Caperios... they could turn the tides, and get in the favor of Aelyrians once more. Perhaps even more wealth, more fame, and more fortune could come their way. If there ever was a fault to the great Phondrans, it was their affinity for betraying anyone at the drop of a hat if it meant they would come into the possession of more wealth to their names. Thus, the endless struggle for control of Narim began. However, legend has it that the gods themselves intervened upon the city of Narim, cursing both houses, and blinding them so heavily with their struggles amongst themselves that they never realized (until it was too late, of course) that there was a new bit of noble blood in Narim. The feud had lasted so long that the minds and the ears of the Selestines and Caperios became encased in the everlasting desire to defeat one another. Due to their lack of focus, the entire city was left wide open to be plucked up by any noble house that could handle it before the entire province was established, and cemented in time. The du'Galles, who had most likely made their way over from the Empire under the guidance of Sir Kelak when the lands were first overtaken immediately stepped up in an attempt to organize the political situation of the newly formed Province.

Speculation suggests that when the Aelyrians eventually noticed the rising town, various emigration towards the Sherian Province and notably, Narim, was the Aelyrian attempt to gain back a hold over the potentially threatening city. The main reason it had escaped their eyes in the first place was the fact that the Sherian was a vast wilderness, still under the rule of small kingdoms and full of difficult barriers. That had made the departure of the Caperios something that hadn't been noticed immediately. Eventually, the du'Galles would find favor, but many elders still believe them as successful leaders of a mission to thwart the return of the Daittern Kingdom.

I had always been told that the du’Galles gained prominence through the feuds because they held no part in them. Many of the new generations on both sides of the families fell prey to the smooth talking of the du’Galles, and eventually after the disappearance of Governor Tinlave, Adam du’Galle had won much favor. Legend has it that he was able to quell the feuding houses for a short while in Narim, which won much favor from the fellow settlers in the town. At least, it was long enough for his cousin, Michum du’Galle, to become in a position for Thane. Having won so much favor, Adam du’Galle was presented to Empress Alyssa Chrysinaria during her reign, and found himself the Governor of the Sherian Province. It came to no surprise to the people of Narim when he quickly turned, and elected Michum du’Galle, his cousin, the Thane of Narim.

Of course, that seems to actually be the most logical explanation. Even during this testimony, Michum du’Galle remains our beloved Thane. The tales had always stopped there, but being of Caperian descent, I have no idea how much truth these all will hold.

Olden tales tell of two twins, a sister, and a brother, that founded the fabled Phondra and Daittern Kingdoms of which the Caperios and Selestines eventually emerged from. The hate between the two families will always be present in the Sherian Province it seems. The city continued to thrive under the influence of Michum du’Galle and the new provincial governor as docks and shipyards sprung up, and the memories of the Phondra Castle and Daittern Ruins faded into the background of the savage, destroyed land before the Empire. It is my hope that not all of this will be forgotten lest the families continue to feud, and worse yet – forget the very reasons for which they continue to fight.