The Kingdom of Lyris is a country in the Stornlands in Northern Magnamund. Its capital is Varetta. Its location, close to the Maakengorge, the Darklands, and Sommerlund, has made it an eventful location in history. It is the home of the Sages of Varetta, including Gwynian the Sage.
History[]
Early years[]
The city-state of Varetta was founded in MS 1520 by the Vaderish peoples, reputedly on the site of the ancient realm of Cynx. It was founded as a collection of multiple noble families, with sizeable kingdoms of their own, seeking issues to common issues on a council. This system of government initially worked, leading to migration from those seeking wealth and stability. As migration slowed, the city expanded outwards towards the banks of the River Storn, forming the nation of Lyris.[1] However, this migration caused the system to break down, as the kingdoms grew, and compromise became impossible. In MS 3590, the council was dissolved, in favour of a hybrid elective monarchy, where the ruler was the king of the largest kingdom, passing to its descendant if it remained so. However, Lyris' population was too numerous to count, leading to further chaos.[3]
After Sun Eagle completed his quest to find the Lorestones, one of the Lorestones was set into the throne of Lyris in the Tower of the King in Varetta. During the War of the Lorestones, Lyris was plunged into chaos, with all the families declaring open war on each other, killing many suitable rulers in the process.[3] The Lorestone was stolen by Salonese prince Kaskor, who set the Lorestone in a golden sceptre and wielded it in battle. Kaskor believed he was invincible, but he was killed on his royal barge during battle at Rhem, and the Lorestone was lost in the depths of the River Storn. It was said that the owner of the Lorestone was the true ruler of the Stornlands; many evil warlords sought the Lorestone, although they were never found.[7]
King Konral XI was appointed the next king during the war, but the level of respect he commanded was tenuous at best.[3] True power was usurped by his sons, each claiming their right to the throne, plunging the nation into further civil war, and neighbouring states taking advantage of the chaos.[1][2]
War with Eldenora[]
In MS 5083, during the events of Rune War, Lord Vandyan of Eldenora seized the throne, and conquered Delden, Magador and Salony, before setting his sights on Lyris and Palmyrion. Vandyan was able to do this due to his discovery of the Runes of Agarash, allowing him to summon the Vorka, powerful Agarashi long thought to be extinct. Many atrocities were perpetrated by the Eldenorians in Lyris, particularly, in the south.[8] Gwynian the Sage requested help from Lone Wolf, who called for a crusade against Eldenora to liberate Lyris and the Stornlands.[6] The New Order of the Kai marched to the outskirts of Casiorn and held off Vandyan's forces there, while Grand Master undertook a secret mission to destroy the Runes of Agarash, in the capital of Eldenora, Duadon. Grand Master was successful in their quest, and the destruction of the Runes also destroyed the Vorka on the battlefield, allowing the New Order Kai to lift the siege of Varetta and drive Vandyan's forces out.[9]
Evil stirs in Emolyria[]
In MS 5102, the Maakengorge lengthened further, destroying the ruins of Maaken on the border with Sommerlund, and most of the city-state of Casiorn. This heralded a new age of danger for Lyris and Northern Magnamund, with evil mustering in multiple places all at once. Thousands of Acolytes of Vashna began making pilgrimages to the Maakengorge, concentrating themselves in the ancient Lyrisan city of Emolyria, where they constructed a new underground base, Zekgazad. Unknown to the forces of Light at the time, the Nengud-kor-Adez had migrated to the Maakengorge, and the Acolytes were using it to power its forges and breeding pits, but most dangerously, attempting to bring back Archlord Vashna to Magnamund. Magador also invaded Lyris, without a declaration of war, seizing the town of Karkaste[5] and Fort Ruzja.[10] The ruler of Magador, Marshal Luthos Vorgada, was in secret an agent of Vashna, and had gained the favour of his spirit.[11][12][13] With Lyris having limited central control, only a limited coordinated response was mustered against Magador, and the Acolytes operated in the open, particularly in Helin.[2] Such was Lyris' desperation, they resorted to employing their former enemies of Eldenora to help.[8]
Lone Wolf dispatched Kai Grand Master Steel Hand to Emolyria, to discover and foil the plans of the Acolytes of Vashna, but he was captured by the Acolytes. Lone Wolf, sensing he was still alive, then sent Grand Master to finish his quest and rescue Steel Hand, during the events of Dead in the Deep. Grand Master successfully rescued Steel Hand, and the two attempted to escape from Zekgazad. However, in the process, the Dagger of Vashna — retrieved from the Plane of Darkness — fell into the Nengud-kor-Adez. The Dagger contained a portion of Vashna's spirit, and although the Dagger was unmade, this only served to release Vashna and merge him with the Nengud-kor-Adez, reborn as an avatar of Vashna, far more powerful than before. His rebirth caused the Nengud-kor-Adez to rise and destroy the city of Emolyria.[14]
After Vashna's return, earthquakes wracked the land around the Maakengorge, surrounding the Zaut with the Nengud-kor-Adez, rendering it inaccessible to the forces of Lyris. Vashna's forces brazenly constructed more forges and breeding pits in the Zaut, building up their forces even more.[15] Later that year, a new civil war erupted in the Stornlands, with the conflict formented by Helghasts. Assassins, possibly the Heldajdok-taagim, began murdering various nobles in the Stornlands, leading to Salony and Delden abandoning the Freelands Alliance.[16]
Geography[]
Lyris is located in the east of the Stornlands, where it borders Casiorn and Sommerlund. To the south it is bordered by Salony and Slovia, and to the west by Magador. To the north of Lyris lies the Quarlen Range, the wastelands of the Zaut, and the Maakengorge. Lyris' eastern and western borders broadly follow the River Storn.
Politics[]
Lyris is a kingdom, ruled by a king. During the War of the Lorestones, the sons of King Konral XI claimed the throne, sparking a civil war and dividing the realm into quasi-independent provinces. Since then, Lyris remains divided, with the king having only nominal control over the feuding provinces.[1][2]
The Stornlands are often in a state of civil war and infighting, and Lyris is no different. It is, however, one of Sommerlund's oldest allies.[4]
The emblem of the army of Lyris is a winged spur.[17]
Known rulers of Lyris[]
- King Konral X (during MS 5000)[3]
- King Konral XI (during the time of Archlord Gnaag)
- King Konral XII (during MS 5102)[2]
Known rulers of the provinces of Lyris[]
- Prince Tanveal II of Helin (during MS 5102)[2]
Economy[]
Lyris' main resources are agriculture, iron ore and mercenaries, the last of which reflects the infighting within the Stornlands.[1]
Lyris has roads to its neighbours Casiorn, Salony, Slovia and Magador. A trail leads through the Southern Durncrag Mountains to Kaag, although this is presumably unused, except in times of war. A trail to the Ruins of Maaken on the border with Sommerlund also exists, but the trail is long thought to be haunted, with even then-Kai Master Lone Wolf choosing a detour via Casiorn to be a better route than going via Maaken.[18]
Demographics[]
Lyris' natives descended from the Vaderish peoples from the west.[1] Its population was about 120,000 (of which 40,000 were of Vaderish descent) in MS 5000,[3] falling to 40,000 in MS 5050.[1]
It is home to the Sages of Varetta, amongst the oldest astrologers in Magnamund, of which its most famous is Gwynian the Sage.
Cities of Lyris[]
Emolyria was once a city of Lyris. However, after the Maakengorge was created, Lyris, which sat near the Maakengorge, was destroyed, and the surrounding land was turned into a wasteland where only Agarashi could live. What little ruins remained of Emolyria were destroyed in MS 5102, when the Nengud-kor-Adez rose in response to the rebirth of Archlord Vashna.[14]
Known people of Lyris[]
- High Solain Gwynian the Sage
- Solain Gavalandro[19]
- Delissa (after MS 5093)[20]
In the gamebooks[]
Lyris is visited multiple times in the gamebooks, although the main focus is usually in Varetta.
The Kingdoms of Terror[]
Lone Wolf traverses Lyris in The Kingdoms of Terror. The book contains much lore and many sub-plots about Lyris, such as Roark and Demonlord Tagazin, and Lone Wolf can obtain the Silver Bow of Duadon in a tournament after leaving Quarlen. Eventually, Lone Wolf will enter Varetta, where he will meet Gwynian the Sage, and proceed to Tekaro either via Soren and Rhem, or Amory.
The Legacy of Vashna and Dawn of the Dragons[]
In The Legacy of Vashna and Dawn of the Dragons, Lone Wolf traverses Lyris in passing. In the former, he is on a journey to Magador, and in the latter, he is rushing back to the Kai Monastery.
Rune War[]
In Rune War, Lyris (but mostly Varetta) is the target country to be liberated, but most of the book is actually spent in Eldenora from Grand Master's perspective. After Grand Master destroys the Runes of Agarash, the siege of Varetta is lifted, and the Eldenorian forces are destroyed.
Dead in the Deep[]
In Dead in the Deep, Grand Master travels to Lyris to undergo a quest to rescue Steel Hand from Zekgazad, constructed on top of Emolyria in the north of Lyris. They first enter Varetta to meet with Gwynian the Sage in the Halls of Learning. The player may also meet Delissa (who helped Grand Master in Rune War), depending on the actions taken.[20]
From there, Grand Master rides north to Helin, closer to the conflict with Magador, and where the Acolytes of Vashna operate more freely. Grand Master's main goal here is to enter Emolyria undetected, using a disguise, and will take them through the Northern Lyris Hills, possibly Fort Ruzja,[21] the Zaut, then finally Emolyria and Zekgazad.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Dever, Joe [1986] (2015-10-31). The Magnamund Companion, Internet Edition, Project Aon, p. 18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Dead in the Deep: §100
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Hahn, August [2004]. Lone Wolf: The Roleplaying Game, Dever, Joe, Mongoose Publishing, p. 212.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Trail of the Wolf: The Story So Far...
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dead in the Deep: §213
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rune War: The Story So Far...
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §119
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dead in the Deep: §19
- ↑ Rune War: §350
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §234
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §121
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §225
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §21
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Dead in the Deep: §350
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: Timeline of notable events in Magnamund, MS 5102 Solangor
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: Timeline of notable events in Magnamund, MS 5102 Hestangor
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §308
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §1
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §99
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Dead in the Deep: §47
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §232
| Northern Magnamund | Anari • Bautar • Bor • Caron • Casiorn • Chaman • Cloeasia • Danarg • Darklands • Delden • Dessi • Durenor • Eldenora • Eru • Firalond • Ghatan • Hammerlands • Hellswamp • Ixia • Kakush • Kalte • Lakuri Isles • Lourden • Lyris • Maakenmire • Magador • Nyras • Nyvoz • Ogia • Palmyrion • Ruel • Salony • Skaror • Slovia • Sommerlund • Tadatizaga • Talestria • Valerion • Vassagonia • Wildlands • Zaldir |
| Southern Magnamund | Andui • Azanam • Bhanar • Boden • Chai • Cincoria • Fernmost • Forlu • Halia • Ilion • Isle of Lorn • Karnali • Kasland • Kaum • Kelderwastes • Klarnos • Korli • Lara • Lencia • Lissan • Lunarlia • Mhytan • Naaros • Rezovia • Sadi Desert • Shadaki • Siyen • Starn • Suhn • Taklakot • Telchos • Vaduzhan |
| Other | Tay Solobo |
| Related articles | Magnamund |