The Story of Valis De

So for Wednesdays, I plan to do a combination of news, bits of history on the world, and other miscellaneous things. I will continue posting a scene every Monday and Friday. For now, let us begin with the story of Valis De, Aleister’s hometown.

The Story of Valis De

“Welcome, have a seat, Niste. Let me tell you the story of Valis De.” The old man leaned back in his chair and leveled a warm gaze at a small boy with sun blonde hair.

“I am a well-educated man; I was a scholar here before all this mess.” He waved his hand at the window with a frown. Outside, a contingent of Phel’garian Fist walked by.

“But Kol Memnas, do you not like the Fist? They are here to protect us!”

“They protect only their own interests, to them men are only useful as slaves or for breeding. No, young one, they are no good for you or I.”

“But,” Niste lowered his voice, his lip quivering as he spoke, “isn’t saying such things treason?”

“Just this lesson is considered so,” Memnas leaned forward with a smile, “but you still want to hear the story, do you not?”

Niste nodded vigorously.

“Of the early days, not much is known. The city was originally built upon a set of ancient ruins, some that predate the Purging.”

“What is that?”

“Forgive me, I forget that the Phel’garians do not teach their young of such things. It is something that is also shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that during that nightmarish time, humanity was nearly destroyed by the dragons. We became barbaric creatures, little more than animals, who roamed the land in tribal bands. But ruins of the old world had survived. The place where Valis De stands is one such place; the extensive catacombs that spread deep into the earth below are evidence of that.”

Niste’s eyes widened. “We are forbidden from going down into those places. The mistress of the Center tells us it is dangerous.” His little hands shook in his lap, and Memnas smiled and patted Niste on the head.

“For once, I agree with your mistress. The catacombs, as legend says, are filled with horrid creatures from beyond the grave. One of the gifts left to us in the Purging; many of the deep places in this world are filled with such horrors.”

“But back to the city itself. You see, in those days the roads were wild, filled with bandits and vicious animals. Travelers of any sort found it dangerous and taxing to travel any great distance, and the trade route between the city-state S’efta in the north and the capital Restale to the south became all but untraveled. In an effort to secure more trade, the king of Destaria of that day, named Vyletem after Vylen the first king of humans, promised the land here to a group of merchants if they could tame it. As a result, the original ruling power in Valis De was comprised of powerful merchants.”

“It’s almost like S’efta is,” Niste said, “with a council formed of the wealthiest merchants.”

“Yes,” Memnas nodded in agreement, “but it was not to last long. During the Overland Skirmishes, when the Great Bridge was built, northern tribal folk conquered the city. There followed a period of bloody oppression here, and many decades went by before the kingdom of Destaria was made whole again. But it was then that the ruling nobles, selected from the houses of the Council of Nine at the time, were installed. And that lasted for many centuries, until now. Of course, you know the recent structure.”

Niste nodded with a proud look on his face. “The Luminar and her powerful Fist conquered the south landers easily, and now preside over them with a governor who rules with even justice and strength.”

“Oh how I have much to teach you, little one. But I think my old bones cannot handle more this day, so we must continue at another time. Perhaps tomorrow.”

After some protest, Niste acquiesced and left Memnas and the Old Hall of Records behind. Perhaps the mistress at the Center had no use for this old library, but Niste wanted to learn. Lucky for him, he had met Memnas, and his learning had just barely begun.