Irekei: Timeline Gap

Irekei: Timeline Gap

I emailed Meridian a day or two ago with just some random curiosities that popped into my head while I was reading the lore yet again (I read it at least once a day). My questions revolved around what happened to Jall'kroda and Darivastor, along with the 1300 year gap in Irekei history. I also had a minor commentary about trees of life in the desert and Irekei building fortifications around water sources (thus, explaining the tree of life in the desert and how interior Devilman cities might contain several oasis). Here's what the Loremaster was kind enough to share:

Hey there!

Yes - I'm pretty sure that Jall'kroda died in the War of Flames. Without him to lead them, the various chieftains fell to squabbling amongst themselves, and that, coupled with the Elvish onslaught, pretty much shattered the Irekei as a unified nation. The survivors of the War of Flames were driven into hiding places way too far apart for them to easily communicate, and so the modern Virakt'al were born in isolation. The Irekei have slowly been building back up ever since. By the time of the Turning, they were just reaching the point where they were numerous enough to be a true "nation" again.

As for Darivastor, nobody really knows his fate. At some point before the War of Flames, he wandered deep into the earth to commune with the Dragon, and he never came back. Mant think he died down there, killed by the living stones (Dwarves, of course). He was a pre-Time Khalinviri, so he could in theory still be alive... or perhaps not.

There is a big gap between the War with the Hateful Ones and the Turning. In those 1300 years, I figure the Irekei lived as the Bedouin of Arabia lived. Virakt'al emerged back into the Burning Lands, met each other, intermarried, and fought bloody feuds. I figure every Virakt has a rich and detailed oral history of that time - who killed who, what heroes did what, etc. A few journeyed back into the earth, but didn't return, while some raided the Greenlands, but very infrequently. A lot happened, but nothing really earthshaking from a non-Irekei's standpoint. I could have handled that transition a little better, methinks, but you get the idea.

As for Darivastor, yeah, he is an ongoing mystery we're sitting on. As for the 1300 years, go to! Invent a long list of old chiefs, heroes, feuds, and blood wars. Virakt'al rose and fell in that time like dunes on the wind, and the desert in that span drank more blood than you can think of.

As for Trees of Life - be advised that it's not really a TREE. It's made of stone, after all. I'm not sure what one would look like when dropped oin the desert, but your idea for gardens is a fine one - I figure the Irekei would value water above almost everything else, and the ability to keep a garden (or even a potted plant) green could be considered a sign of status. We haven't built an Irekei city yet, but that time will come!

Thanks for the questions, and I hope this helps!

M

It always helps!

This stuff really wasn't critical to our culture, just a bit more elaboration on the Irekei lore. The bit about water at the end was very neat though!

I really like how we have 1300 years of no official history! We can invent entire histories to our Virakt'al, great adventures in the desert and what not, and it won't interfere with anything else (so long as we confine our tales to the Desert)! Very cool! What other race can boast such flexibility in their history, eh

Orignal Post By Vhayr