The History of Kirishai

By: Sanji Hyuma Takashi Bokenjen, Apprentice Historian

The history of Kirishai is a story best left to the elders. As I am merely a student of the deeds of our honorable and courageous people, I hope you will understand that the timeline which I highlight is incomplete, and perhaps some is even partial fabrication from those who do not wish to reveal the truth. Yet, what is truth? The conquerors will tell the story which best glorifies them; the bards will tell what is most romantic; I must tell what has been revealed to me. Much of the history focuses on the changes of the First House. As an apprentice, I have chosen to explore the history of each House as I gain rank; other Houses will be further detailed as I learn more of them.

In 103 of the Evandarrian calendar, Taniko Yoko Takashi Bokenjen was chosen to lead a party of dark elves from Draelonde to explore the southern regions of Avalon. Taniko, a fine politician, and her consort, Yukio Toda Gabe Bokenjen, a renowned warrior, organized the expedition and set off for adventure and glory.

In 105, the expedition reached the area which is now the vale of Tyrangel. The party bravely survived a hard winter, which quickly turned to a harder year. Skirmishes with local barbarian tribes above ground and goblin populations below began to sap their strength and many of the younger Vornae suggested looking further south for better prospects.

Finally, in the early months of 107, the expedition meet Corsairs. The Corsairs looked similar to Vornae, yet they were able to breathe underwater. While Yukio negotiated with the Raven Tribe of barbarians, Taniko traded spell verbals, including “Wither Limb” and “Death,” to the Corsairs for their guidance to acceptable caverns. Yukio, a staunch opposer of necromancy, returned, his fury at Taniko echoing through the vale. Yet, her treachery enabled the expedition to move into suitable caverns, and for this, many party members looked favorably upon her. The group entered the caverns and on July 17, 107, the city of Kirishai, meaning “Black Haven,” was founded.

The next seven years saw a great deal of city planning, as well as a number of births and light migration from Draelonde. The Magistrate’s Office came into power as a neutral force helping to keep balance within the city as Houses vied for power. A total of 15 Houses demanded acknowledgment, and competition for rank became quite fierce. House Donsai, one of the least powerful Houses, was crushed by House Katsu and House Toda before it could even establish a firm foothold.

The “fun” really began, however, in 193. Taniko decided to take a gamble and attack House Eukie-Kurai over control of the Magistrate’s Office, a force neither could truly claim. Taniko had been growing more and more bitter as she realized that she was actually only a figurehead for her consort. In the resulting battle, House Takashi was bereft of almost all its power as House Eukie-Kurai and its allies, House Susumi and House Toda, moved swiftly to overtake it. In the final battle, Yukio was assumed slain and Taniko entered the Healer’s Guild in seclusion, abdicating rule of House Takashi to her daughter. House Takashi’s loss of honor and members left it so weak that it soon fell towards the bottom of the rankings. At the same time, House Blodwin began rising to dominance through its strong hold on the Mercantile Center.

Fifty years passed before Taniko made another attempt at gaining power. Working from within the Healer’s Guild, she wrested control by murdering the Guildmaster and “Enslaving” key members of its council. By the time the rest of the council members began to suspect, she had replaced a number of the members with loyal supporters.

After years of holding the First House in name, but not power, Kiku Blodwin married Tenji Yamato Eukie-Kurai in 254. House Eukie-Kurai, then the Fifth House, fielded great military might, but House Blodwin still controlled the Mercantile Center. The joining of the Houses was a success, and House Blodwin suddenly had the military force to command the respect its rank deserved. However, once Tenji learned of the relative weakness of House Blodwin, he demanded that his honorific be used as the dominant one for their children. To pacify him, Kiku renamed the city Eukie-Kurai, a move which cost her greatly in honor.

The next 200 years are still considered a time of peace and prosperity in which the city began to thrive. The Kinoko Hatake (mushroom fields) provided plenty of food for the city, and fruit and some meat were regularly acquired from the surface. In addition, the underground lake, Mizzu Kurai, also called the Grimere, yielded a variety of fish. The Uchi Shinda (Healer’s Guild) and The Majutsu (Mage’s Guild) established themselves as centers for training and experimentation. the Chi Shinzo (Fighter’s College) gained increasing numbers of applicants and the Kai Gaku was created as a hub for all other studies, including history, political science, and alchemy. Further, formal Tea Houses were formed in each of the Houses as centers of specialty fighting styles, entertainment, trade, and political machinations.

In 450, the Suramu cavern wall collapsed and a horde of undead flooded the city. The Magistrate’s Office called every citizen to take up arms and fight against the abominations and their leader, a huge revenant called Skullseer of the Puma Tribe. Skullseer’s Necropolis is partially accessible from the caverns and he is able to hold out against the siege. Also in 450, shortly before the cavern wall collapse, Taniko Yoko Takashi died, leaving the Healer’s Guild in more neutral hands.

After 37 years of fighting, Skullseer appeared to be defeated. In later years, we have realized that he was merely rebuilding his army, and Vornae interested in learning necromancy had been studying with him since the end of the siege.

In 523, the Corsairs returned to the city through the underground lake. War begins over Taniko’s original treachery of giving them necromantic spells. Since neither group can effectively attack the other, the fight drags into a stalemate lasting twenty years.

Perhaps violence breeds violence. In any case, even after these two wars, our people still were not satisfied with the state of the city. In 565, the Honor Conflict began to reach a head of the issue of slavery, partly due to conflict with goblin tribes to the north. Some of the goblins were being used as house slaves and many of the various House elders disagreed with the practice. Tenji, a Traditionalist, headed that side against the slavers, who included Kiku.

After a long and bloody war, Tenji tried to face down Kiku and was killed in 587. The pro-slavery faction won and Kiku encouraged the City Council to change the city’s name back to Kirishai.

In 593, Sorn Eukie-Kurai, Kiku and Tenji’s youngest son, returned from the surface world and killed Kiku in vengeance for his father’s death. Kiku resurrected in Hollym and waited to see what her son would do with the House. Sorn, with the help of Phyrra Tenshi, seized control of the House. Together, they re-opened the issue of slavery and convinced the City Council to abolish slavery in all of the Houses.

For a year and a half, Sorn and Phyrra held a tenuous grasp over the House through Phyrra’s astute politicking and Sorn’s strong military background. Kiku waited until her son and his consort traveled to Tyrangel City and, in their absence, reclaimed control of the House. With Kiku’s help, Phyrra was placed on the council of House Tenshi. Since then, Kiku has been seen very little and some question whether or not she is even residing in Kirishai.