Lamdar

Nation
Capital: Danarion
Religion: “Belief in the Gods” is the central tenet. Above all, the Lamen Elves revere the concepts of Light and Life, both of which emanate from the deities. These two concepts are represented as the Sun and the Tree.
Flag: White sun on a blue field. Alternatively, when representing the priesthood, a white tree on a green field.
Climate: Oceanic (rainy and mild) in the west. Continental (four distinct seasons) further east.

Key Dates

  • 1 A.E. – Creation of the Elder Races. First Age (Age of the Elves, Xani Quilloren) calendar begins.
  • ca. 3000 A.E. / ca. 4302 Y.B.E. – Priests become aware of the gods through meditation.
  • ca. 3300 A.E. / ca. 4000 Y.B.E. – After a long persecution, the King of the Elves makes “Belief in the Gods” the central tenet of their society.
  • 5003 A.E. / 2299 Y.B.E.  – Expulsion of the Lonen tribe because of their unbelief. They become known as the Dark Elves in Lamen parlance.
  • 5201 to 5280 A.E. / 2101 to 2022 Y.B.E. – First war with the so-called Dark Elves.
  • 5571 to 5580 A.E. / 1731 to 1722 Y.B.E.  – Second war with the so-called Dark Elves.
  • 6000 A.E. / 1302 Y.B.E. – The Chief Lightbearer announces that the end is coming quickly, and that some elves today will live to see it.
  • 1 A.H. / 6986 A.E. / 316 Y.B.E. – Shadow War ends. Elven Kingdoms are severely weakened. The Chief Lightbearer and the Chief Healer announce a new age has begun, the Age of Humanity. A new tree is planted (Tree of Man, Dryas Vardoren) and a new star-gem enchanted (the Light of Man, Luné Vardoren) on the Holy Mountain. The new calendar (Age of Humanity, Xani Vardoren) begins. At the same time, elves realize the war is not finished and Seymus — the Dark One — remains undefeated.

HER PEOPLE

Lamen males reach an average height of 5 ft 9 in (1.73 meters), while females stand an average of 5 ft 3 in (1.6 meters). They are the tallest of the known elves. Their most common hair color is blond, though it varies. Like other elves, they do not grow beards.

GEOGRAPHY

The High Plain of Lamdar stretches east for several hundred miles. Serene vineyards of telanni grapes (especially near the coast), rolling waves of grain, and fruit orchards predominate for most of its extent. The land becomes less tame further east, before reaching the nebulous border with Londar. The easternmost outpost is Lunadrias, a fortified city and domain of the elf lord Benesti (who, at age 725, is one of the oldest elves alive, and has held the post for 600 of those years).

WEATHER

In the western part of Lamdar, including the capital, Danarion, there are long, warm, and sometimes hot summers, rainy and moderately cold winters with occasional snowstorms, colorful but brief falls, and verdant springs. Summer lasts from late Tidusca or early Brenua, well into the beginning of Nixtil. Falls last from Nixtil to Anthanos. Quintil and Albos comprise winter, and blooms appear on the trees by the end of Kaldsil.

The eastern part, including Lunadrias, features warm, often very hot summers, and freezing cold winters, where blizzards can last for many days.

WAR

The traditional weapon of the Lamen warrior is the quarterstaff. In ancient Lamen history, armor was very light; at most, they wore scale-mail vambraces and greaves. Helmets were sometimes worn; however, the typical image of a Lamen warrior was that of a man with flowing, wild blond hair covered in war-paint.

Though quarterstaffs are the traditional weapon of the Warriors of Light and Life, blades have always been wielded. Over time, the Lamen army has steadily become more heavily armored, with an emphasis on swords and long-knives rather than blunt instruments. By the 300s A.H., Lamen soldiers had begun wearing thick breastplates, as seen in the adjacent picture, and quarterstaffs became the exception rather than the rule. Traditional combats, duels and games remain predominantly unarmored battles of the quarterstaff, however.

Lamen armies are notable for the presence of healers. Among the Lamen, magical power is often manifested in renewal and healing. This provides an incalculable asset to Lamen warriors, although even healers cannot bring them back from the dead. In war, the Lamen king often hires auxiliaries: most often, archers of the Umen tribe and Nurnen stag riders. Hiring non-elves is naritas (an offense) and forbidden.

SOCIETY

Lamen society was once polygamous (many wives) but following the inception of the Age of Humanity (Xani Vardoren) the priests received a revelation that only monogamy was permissible in this era.

Overall, the society is separated into three tiers: (1) the King and his family; (2) the Priests, the Healers, and Lightbearers; and (3) the Commoners, affectionately called the Sojourners.

ENEMIES

The traditional enemies of the Lamen Elves are the Lonen tribe, whom they call the Dark Elves. They view the Lonen Elves‘ apparent atheistic views as an offense (naritas). Many wars were  waged in the Age of the Elves (Xani Quilloren) and armed struggles continue in outbreaks to the present era.

In more recent times, the Lamen Elves has fought a defensive war with the human Zarube kingdom to their south. Many Lamen Elves and their Umen auxiliaries have been captured and sold into slavery. This is viewed as an offense (naritas) and a sadness (moritas). The Lamen king is unable to recover them because the priests have proclaimed that, during the Age of Humanity (Xani Vardoren) no wars can be waged on human soil.

Tales featuring Lamdar

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