Kian I

Kian I
1st Monarch of Sommerlund
Race	Sommlending
Birth date	MS 3396
Birth place	Tay Solobo
Status	Dead
Death date	MS 3445
Death place	Maakengorge
Nationality	Sommerlund
Dynasty	House Kian
Titles	King of Sommerlund (MS 3434–3445) King of Tay Solobo (unknown–MS 3434)
Predecessor	Tor II (King of Tay Solobo)
Successor	Braern I
Weapon	Sommerswerd
Affiliations	Sun Eagle (protégé)

King Kian I (MS 3396–3445) was the fourth King of Tay Solobo and first King of Sommerlund. Under his rulership of Tay Solobo, he led the Sommlending through the Great Voyage across the Northern Void, eventually reaching the land that would be called Sommerlund. Wielding the Sommerswerd, a gift from Kai, he fought against the Darklands forces and their allies, driving them beyond the Durncrag Mountains and founding Sommerlund, becoming its first King.

Biography

Tay Solobo and foundation of Sommerlund

Kian was born in MS 3396 in Tay Solobo. He became the fourth King of Tay Solobo, succeeding King Tor II. During Kian's rule, Ishir appeared to him, bestowing the Sommlending gifts of health and intelligence, allowing them to design better ships, capable of crossing vast seas. In MS 3433, Ishir and Kai compelled the Sommlending to leave Tay Solobo and voyage across the Northern Void, to fight a rising tide of evil: The Darklords. The Sommlending constructed Sommerships using Ishir's wisdom, and undertook the journey, called the Great Voyage in MS 3434, abandoning Tay Solobo in the process.

The Great Voyage was a great struggle, as they faced threats conjured by Naar. During the journey, the Sommlending received further blessings from Ishir, blessing them with fortitude, intelligence, technological knowledge, and magical knowledge that would become the foundation of Left-Handed Magic and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star. The God Kai also blessed the Sommlending, giving Kian the Sommerswerd, a weapon of mighty power, and gifting the warriors exceptional abilities of strength and mind, which would become the foundation of his namesake, the Order of the Kai.

In MS 3434, the Sommlending landed on Magnamund, on present-day Anskaven. They first fought the garrison of Giaks and Doomwolves south of Anskaven, inflicting the first defeat on the Darklords forces in 400 years. Subsequent battles were also won by the Sommlending, escapating from Giaks and Doomwolves to Drakkarim, Crypt Spawn and Nadziranim. Kian and his forces eventually sieged Dejgazad, with Kian slaying Warlord Zangar with the Sommerswerd with ease. The Drakkarim were routed and fled beyond the Durncrag Mountains, and Dejgazad was razed to the ground.

King of Sommerlund

With Zangar's defeat, the Sommlending settled the land, founding Sommerlund, with Kian as its first King, styled Kian I. Kian I ordered the construction of four great cities: Holmgard, Toran, Anskaven and Tyso, as well as fortifications to monitor the Durncrag Range. He also decreed that "every Sommlending must have a lord", which became a basis of the noble hierarchy of Sommerlund. The Brotherhood of the Crystal Star was also founded under his rule, based off the Sommlending magicians who had participated in the wars prior.

The Sommlending chose to befriend the natives of the Lastlands, in contrast to the Darklords. A particular friendship was struck between the Ulnarians of Durenor and the Vassa of Cloeasia. Under Kian I's rule, the Sommlending-Durenese Alliance was signed with Durenor, an alliance that has stood ever since.

Kian I passed away in MS 3445, and he was succeeded by King Braern I.

Legacy

Places named after Kian I

• Kian Bridge, Holmgard
  • Kian Bridge Road
• The barbican atop the South Gate of Anskaven is called "The Kian"

Monuments to Kian I

• A granite statue in Crovan, County of Tyso, depicting Kian I slaying a Drakkar Ligaoknar
• A statue in Citadel Park in Anskaven, set upon a tiered Kirlundin white stone plinth
• A statue in Barons Park in Ruanon Town, set upon a tiered white stone plinth

Sources

• Dever, Joe [2017]. The Realm of Sommerlund. Cubicle 7, pp. 7–9.