Codex Histories Of Altene Vol1¶
Histories of the Altene People From the Anguish to Tuchea
By Ulath Umbringer, Rose of Altene
It has been sealed with a wax impression of a perfect rose set over crossed lockpicks.
Table of Contents
- Altene Language Primer
- First Contact, Birth of the Wolfhounds
- First Contact, Birth of the Wolfhounds [continued]
- After the Anguish
- After the Anguish (continued)
- After the Anguish (continued)
- Heart of Altene
- Fist of Altene
Dedicated to the Allfather first and foremost and the blessings he has
given me My Sunshine and Star.
Altene Language
Altene a language of the people a primer
In writing this text I used as little Altene as possible but that does not
destroy the importance of language. At times I will use words foreign to the
non Altene, or I will keep a word because of its meaning. I will also use
some names which are well known to most Altene without great preamble
of who they are Erai'Theran is the name for Ereal in Altene, but in that
word is found blessed, good, holy, daylight, fire, light, and hope. It means
all those things, still that is another book these words will help you in your
reading.
Alterod: First king of the Esh'Alterod writer of the first contract.
Alteroy: youngest son of Alterod founder of house Umbringer
Erai'Theran / AllFather: Ereal
Esh: child
Esh'Alterod: Child of Alterod, Altene's name for themselves
Khoras: a hero of legend who's goodness and heroism has elevated him to
a saintly status often said, "that man is as honest as Khoras"
Sifaro/Sifara: Shield Brother/Sister
Ta'Sif: Guarding protector-akin to a dueling second
Birth of the Wolfhounds
First Contract, Birth of the Wolfhounds
It had come to pass that Ereal had found the Shepherd and sent him upon
world to find his children and teach them truth and everywhere he walked
he spread light, but some men would not see the light for it hurt their eyes
having been in the darkness too long, some even would use the name of
light in there evil deeds.
A group of children had risen in anger and the father watched their actions
frowning to himself for they had heard of light but with anger and greed
ignored it. Then the unthinkable happened, the ground was darkened from
the flight or arrows and when this cloud passed he saw the kind who's
heart was hardened upon his knees. Blood ran strong and dark from the
black shafted arrow which pierced his chest, his knees rested on his banner
for even his banner man in love had taken a sword in hand to defend the
stricken king.
The banner was stained in the blood of his people and he saw the evil his
greed had wrought he watched his people dying and regret stung his heart.
Tears flowed from his eyes and the Allfather felt mercy for this child.
Garbed as a healer in white he came upon the field and taking the king by a
shoulder drug him away. Clouds filled the sky and the battle broke, both
sides feeling fear and retreating to their lines.
Wolfhounds continued
For three days the king stayed in his tent setting down the will of the
Allfather. First it was decided that the people should not disarm and
instead prepare themselves for the fight to come against those wishing to
end world and do evil upon her. They would not become shepherds, no,
they would become wolfhounds. And the wolves would learn to fear for
the hounds were loyal and loving and killed not for the joy of death but for
the love of life.
So on the third day the king came from the tent his chest bear with no
mark of damage his people kneeled feeling him a being of great power,
And he rebuked them telling them of Erai'Theran and his mercy and of the
first contract, that day they named themselves Esh'Alterod.
After the Anguish
It came to pass in the days after the Anguish of Alterod that he led his
people in a strategic retreat attempting to break from a war he now knew
Ereal saw as unjust. Several of their enemies harried them day and night,
forcing Alterod to order his men to drop all not essential to life and help
with the evacuation of the children. Their luck ran out when their forward
scouts reported they were two days match from the sea. With no choice
but to fight they would have many men but few arms.
The troubled king contemplated his chances of saving some of his people,
had issued the order for volunteers to dance the dance of glory to give the
children and a few a chance to live on. As he walked about the camp he
heard a voice, young and pure, singing of defiance and courage His heart
hurt as he saw it was his youngest son Alteroy sharpening a length of wood
announcing, "They cannot have my fang but they shall feel her sting", as he
gave over his prized knife to an older more skilled warrior the kings face
broke into a wide smile.
Come the morning the enemy commanders assured of their victory against
unarmed men rushed to strike the back of the column only to see the
entire people step from the surrounding ridges armed and angry. Most
men dropped there arms outnumbered two to one but a few fought and
were soon routed. Alterod knew it was providence and though some of his
After the Anguish continued
men were now armed he was resolved not to lose such a valuable weapon
in his arsenal. For with this they would never be defenseless again. He
hardened the point in the fire as life had hardened his people making it a
weapon of purpose ordering those knowledgeable with the quarterstaff to
teach and all the people to learn.
All this done still for years the people traveled, their hearts full of
pain for the things they had done. Finally they came to the lands
of Tuchea and as her people watched the Altene with curiosity
they were in turn watched. Long past was the king's patience and
want to wander the lands of men his people were tired and his
heart was not hard to their suffering.
It came to pass a celebrated pirate band decided that the people
were an easy prey seemingly over loaded with women children
and older men, there delusion was firmly rebuked and the lack of
true training was made evident. In this the wisdom of the great
king struck upon his people's future. He watched the unending
infighting and feuds of the noble houses of the land. A parlay was
called for and in meeting with the Tuchean King he offered the
prisoners free then proposed that in exchange for a homeland that
his people would secure his line from assassination. Rumors hold
to this day that only three years before this the king's father had
fallen to an assassins blade and that his advisers held him a
puppet on the throne threatening his family for complacency.
After the Anguish conclusion
Around the time of the meeting the king changed all his consul
when the new Altene Bodyguard took station.
The king for services then rendered and future promised offered
land in the middle of the country clean good land. But Alterod was
given great wisdom and saw that this would surround his people
so instead he chose the northern peninsula of the Island of
Tuchea. It was a rocky, barren place, and the land not good for
farming or herding. It was a land as hard as he would make his
people to the enemies they would face. Some felt them foolish till
they realized the only thing the rocky land had in plenty was stone
to build walls and fortifications and soon the peninsula was almost
impenetrable.
Fist of Altene
The founding of the companies is a well recorded event as Alterod found
that the greatest asset he had was a hardened veteran army. How they were
divided and gained there specialties and names though is often contested
usually by the individual members of a group. They are the Grey Swans,
Black Wolves, Red Badgers, White Sharks, and the Lionesses. Together the
five companies form the Fist of Altene.
The Grey Swans are known for their grace and refinement preferring fast
hard striking light cavalry and lightning strikes.
The Black Wolves are hunters and rangers working together to bring down
large game stalking and attacking only to fade away.
Red Badgers are masters of defense and holding fortifications, known for
their tenacity and ability to snatch success from the maw of defeat.
White Sharks are the waterborne strike force of the fist launching in small
groups for extractions and landing behind lines.
The Lionesses are a sisterhood and accept only women into their ranks, it is
when it comes to protecting a person no one would challenge them.