Free City of Ilien

Ilien City Layout

History

The Free City was established in 1089 MA by a tribe of Andus soon after the Flight from Shadow. Named the "Free City" to celebrate their freedom from the wicked god Dyrosh, the villagers lived their lives as fishermen and hunter/gatherers while clearing the land for farming. Deretha, Fifth House of Andu, began clearing the lands now known as Ilien, and in the process downed much of the elves' precious Erebannien over the next hundred years. Most wooden buildings in the Free City that date to this period are constructed of wood harvested from the Erebannien.

The darkest chronicle in the history of the Free City came one year prior to the Battle of Mount Deismaar, when elves corrupted by the lies of Dyrosh attacked the eastern reaches of the city's influence with a particular vengeance. The elves slew entire farming communities, sparing no one. Militia was raised in defense, and the subsequent skirmishes drained much of the city's winter resources. Just as things were looking their worst, the forces of Roele and Haelyn arrived on their march to battle with the shadow of evil. They took nearly everything that was not tied down—food, water, weapons, and even the young protectors of the city for their holy quest. The result was a weary, depopulated city, ill equipped to survive the remainder of the winter. Many perished in the remaining cold months.

In the years following Deismaar, many of the unblooded common the free city of ilien survivors found a home in or near the Free City. Most blooded scions who came to the city were either killed in the rash of bloodtheft that would con- sume the next hundred years, or left the city to join in the unifying wars either for or against Roele. The Deretha, still the most powerful political family in the area, chose to follow Roele, and were granted as a reward a fief of the lands they had helped to tame.

They did not last for long, however, and by the time Roele died in 187 MA), the Free City was under the full control of the Baron of Diemed. Diemed had fared well in the campaigns of Roele. The Baron was both powerful and wealthy, and wanted a trading port along the Straits of Aerele. He approached the current leaders of the Free City, descendants of the Fifth House of Andu, with offers of protection and increased trade if they would become part of his Diemed holdings— though his real offer was hidden in the army he brought with him. The Free City could not stand against the baron's forces, and the city's governing council agreed. The Baron named the new province Ilien after his own late mother.

Magic was now on the rise throughout Cerilia, and many, especially awnsheghlien like the Seadrake and the Spider, were rapidly growing in power. But the Baron was a military man and did not fully under- stand the use of magic, relying instead upon his mighty military to hold his realm together. He did see that magic could be used to his advantage, and when Karn Aglondier, a former lieutenant of Roele at Diesmaar and trusted by the Baron, approached him and requested to be named Ilien's vassal, he quickly agreed.

Karn had sensed the great magic of the Ereban- nien in the east, and saw the opportunity as one of great power. He spent the rest of his days in Ilien, and before he died set plans in motion that would make the Free City of Ilien one of the largest and most powerful cities in southern Avonlae. Wielding their mighty realm magic, the Aglondier line pro- tected the eastern reaches of Diemed for hundreds of years.

Following the death of Michael Roele in his battle against the Gorgon in 1100 MA, the Avonlaer Empire was thrown into chaos—and the Free City of Ilien was no exception. Riots plagued the city for a month, followed by a severe decline in trade as the vassals of the Empire vied for Michael's throne.

As wars wracked the remains of the Empire, the Free City was left largely unscathed and trade boomed. Every blacksmith in the city was molding swords and each ship in the harbor was loaded with all kinds of military goods: armor, mounts, food, blan- kets, etc. No fighting occurred in the city, but it quickly became flooded with refugees from all across the empire.

Ilien's independence from Diemed came in 1405 MA, and the Free City doubled its size in the next 10 years, becoming a major trading port open to anyone with the gold to spend. The first of the "imported"—as the Ilienese call them—to set up shop in the Free City were a host of Khinasi traders. Many items available in Ilien, particularly crops and cattle, are not found in certain parts of Cerilia. In the course of a few years, the Free City of Ilien had become the jewel of southern Avonlae. In 1606 MR, following the long conflicts of Daen Roesone, Ilien was proclaimed a neutral domain to all of Avonlae. The Pact of Ilien was soon signed in the Free City's great hall by representatives of the realms of Diemed , Roesone, Endier, Ghoere, Avanil, and Osoerde. Only Aerenwae refused due to the influence of the elf wizard Aelies. Ambassadors of the signing domains have maintained embassies within the walls of the Free City ever since.


The most recent dark period in the City's history was the rule of Soleme Aglondier Aglondier. Soleme, called "the Twisted" by commoners since his death, assumed the throne upon his father's premature death and brother's disappearance. He quickly proved to be a wicked ruler, one wreaked by an insane paranoia generally believed to be the result of a mutation of the Realm Magic power.

It was Soleme the Twisted who created the Death Squads of Ilien, heartless warriors who walked the streets of the Free City, dispensing swift justice to the guilty and innocent alike. These inquisition-style squads were the terror of the city until they were abolished with Soleme's death in 1624 at the hands of his nephew, Moeran Aglondier, the son of Soleme's missing brother.

Moeran, the last of the true Aglondier line, brought kindness and nobility back to the realm— and such prosperity as had not been seen in the Free City since the time of his grandmother Axlea. The citizens of the Free City have thrived in the past 20 years, yet increasing the already great power and stature of the Free City of Ilien.