Epilogue
Braey, a country long forgotten by history and time in the ever-changing world. Legend as it is, the land was steeped in magic, mystery, and myths, home to kings and queens who rose and fell like the seasons passing, to the Mortis Gods that once walked the earth, and people whose names have long since been lost. These people walked the thin line between heroism and villainy in tales as old as time itself—ordinary people who’d gone unnoticed and memorable magic wielders descending from the Black Witch, Queen Amelia Black.
They say the country was split into six districts. Entwood Forest shadowed the heart of the lands, separating four kingdoms from each other, while vast emerald hills and endless fields as far as the eye could see separate the other two to the south. What were these kingdoms, you asked? In the far south, sat Osland, boarding the Dragon Sea, a hopeless kingdom full of greed, selfishness, and hate. War was a game to the Oslandic people, and consequences mattered only when Khama came knocking. Home to the spiteful and power-hungry Castling Family, the destroyers of peace, it’s a kingdom few people dare enter, especially if they are descendants of magicfolk.
Also in the south was the one peaceful kingdom of Ronan, partially submerged in emerald grasslands and bordering Entwood Forest. The kingdom had its hard times, tormented by constant threats of war from Osland, but a part of an ancient alliance known only as the Triarchy. Ronan was known for its strict entry laws due to the constant threat of war, but also for its freedom and determination to help the Ronanian people thrive. Once known as the kingdom of love, it’s suffered its fair share of heartbreak and loss, most notably when sweet Queen Tara Barnes fell long before her time, taking with her her eldest son, Prince Gideon, and casting the once-peaceful kingdom into disarray.
To the east of Braey, another kingdom sat, Daro, a kingdom legends say was far beyond its time. Cities of stone and painted windows, home to skilled craftsmen of every kind, from simple bakers to extraordinary stone masons and carpenters. In the kingdom of trade, there was always something for everyone, always something to do, and places to visit. None more so than the towering Ravenspire Palace, home to the royal family. Daro was a kingdom that thrived on prosperity and was no stranger to magic. A part of the Triarchy Alliance, it was, for the most part, a kingdom of peace and love. But make no mistake, the Daroian people were always prepared should war come knocking, although welcoming, they always had a healthy dose of suspicion when it counted most.
To the west of Braey, another little kingdom lay, known only as Erised. This sleepy little kingdom was anything but foolish. Leaders in prosperity and peace, the Erisedian people were always prepared for the possibility of war. With skilled warriors, both men and women alike, they were second only to those of Angmar. Erised lay partially submerged in Entwood Forest, and its closest neighbor was weeks’ travel away; it was quiet with beaches, mountains, and lakes. A second home to magic, myths say, the lost ruins of Dragons Blood Castle still hold secrets of times long past, including the actual name of the Dark Sorceress and details of the most powerful queen ever to live, The Witch Queen.
The final kingdom, steeped in magic and living mystery, lay in the far north, parted from the rest of Braey by the thickness of Entwood Forest and vicious storms. It’s said there was one safe path to Angmar. The kingless lands were home to the magicfolk, skilled warriors, Healers, and unmatched rangers. They say Angmar was the place people went to disappear, but also to find passage to lands across the Dragon Sea. A kingdom forgotten by most, it was rich with history and natural beauty. Legend suggests a queen lived there, hidden in the shadow of the mountains and unfazed by the unpredictable weather, the Shadow Queen, the protector of magic and the people of Angmar.
No war found the stormy kingdom, for no one with ill intentions ever got past the mysteries of Entwood Forest. Even so, the people helped in times of war and sickness, Magic Folk lent their magic, while healers helped the sick and wounded. A curse or two for those who thought it wise to bring war, death, and destruction.
You wonder about the monarch of each little kingdom —the royal families that rule with peace and love or with hatred and spite. Well, let’s dive into them.
Osland had cycled through many Royal Families, each one rose to power through violence and fell the same way. Revolt and Rebellion often accompanied politics and royalty. Some of the most notable were the Snow Family in the 10th century, and the Rockwells in the 12th. The Davos family ruled the longest before being annihilated in the late 16th century. Then, from the late 16th Century until the Great Invasion in the 19th century, the ever-scheming Castling Family came into power. Most notably, monarchs from the Castling Rule include Neim Castling, whose greatest love was his own sister, Jenera. Queen Jessica Castling, the Bastard Queen, as history remembers her, and the ruthless pair of Queen Gora and King Cristophsys - The brother sister duo that hated the world and everything in it, especially if they were denied their unreasonable and often outlandish demands.
Ronan, too, had its own fair share of royal families; however, none were as memorable or stood the test of time like the Volaris family. Ruling from the 14th century until the Great Invasion of the 19th century. Among those who ruled were Calvin Volaris—the broken king, Orion Volaris—the king who was never meant to be —and the legendary Queen Cassandra II, The Brave. Royalings from other kingdoms, too, rule Ronan, most notably Princess Cassandra Oserth of Daro, who ruled at Orion Volaris’s side, and Lady Tara Barnes, who became the one true queen of Calvin Volaris, the mother of a dynasty they said her to be.
Daro had the ancient and powerful Oserth Family at the helm of the monarchy. Their only rule for marriage was simple: the Oserth Name would live on; every royal child born would carry the Oserth name, regardless of which parent was royalty. Still, Daro was unique among monarchies; whether male or female, the eldest child would consistently be named Heir, prepared to take the throne and lead the kingdom into a new era. In case you’re wondering, the Oserths ruled from the 10th century until the Great Invasion of the 19th century. Fair but fierce rulers who stood the test of time. Among their most famous kings and queens are King Morrad, King Fabian, King Aemond, and the only truly born Queen, Elena. Who ruled alongside her husband, the Erisedian Lord, Alejandro Deveraux.
Erised is home to the longest-reigning royal family. The Iseult Family ruled from the 5th century until the 19th Century, when the Great Invasion occurred. Erised’s royalty is intermingled with those of other kingdoms, and foreign lords and ladies from across the Dragon Sea. Most notable rulers include Valentine Iseult (II, V, and VII), Revan I The Broken, Queen Tatia of Ronan, and The Witch Queen of Angmar, Alyssa Black. However, to date, the most notable figure in the Iseult family tree was never a queen; in fact, she renounced her royal title and family name entirely. Princess Viserra Iseult later to be known as Lady Viserra Black by adopting her mother’s name and renouncing her royal title.
And finally, Angmar, although Kingless for the most part, did have a royal family once upon a time. Descendants of magic, the Black Family once ruled before it was assumed they went extinct (not the case—history hides them well). The family was different from others as only women had magic, although men could pass on the gene. The Black Witch herself, Amelia Black, remains the most notable Queen; however, her descendant, Alyssa Black, did rule Erised. It’s rumored the mysterious Shadow Queen was also a descendant of Amelia. Other notable monarchs of the Black line include King Nazgil, King Morgoth, Queen Alexandria, Queen Freya I, and the figure only known as the Black Prince.
Now, dear travelers, a decision lies ahead. Continue forward and join me as we venture into 1576, or turn back and continue your voyage in an ordinary world. The choice is yours. If you choose to travel forward, I shall see you on the road through Entwood Forest; if not, I wish you fortune in the modern world.
