Themblise history is not perfectly recorded. The time before the Feylands is mostly a mystery – a dark, forbidding time of monsters and mayhem. Both historians and common folk believe that pre-Feylands Themble was uncivilized and lawless. Very little has survived, and much less has been recorded. The general fear and hate of the Fey has caused much of the artifacts to be destroyed over time – buildings, objects, and scrolls. As remnants were obliterated, ignorance increased, which in turn continued to build the frightening reputation of the Fey. Attempts to communicate with the civilized and Fey creatures in the Feylands have historically been wildly unsuccessful and generally bloody, not to mention controversial.
Below is the history of Themble, as according to Themblise historians.
Before the Feylands:
Time before the Feylands is limited to broad, mere guesses. At some point, written Old Themblise came into being. The three surviving, documented scrolls give little information to the lifestyle and culture of the pre-Feylands Themblise. All three are contracts – two on territory landmarks, and one on the sale of grain. Who they were written by – Fey or a civilized creature – is unknown.
From evidence from the early Feylands centuries, Themble was largely undeveloped. Creatures generally lived in small villages with the rare larger town. Agriculture was not anywhere near the massive scale of its current proportions. It is theorized that this was due to the lack of community in these villages, which prevented the different species of creatures from working together cohesively. This may have been due to a high degree of trustworthiness towards neighbors, a result of instability and unpredictability, or a high degree of migration.
The two territory contracts are unmarked by any sort of governmental seal, suggesting that villages ruled themselves. It may have been that the villages had little contact with each other, so that no government rose to unite them. Another popular theory was that the Greater Fey prevented any form of government to rise, or that they were a kind of disorganized ruler.
The Creation of the Feylands (Year 0)
Historically, this is a blank spot for historians. The forced relocation and entrapment of the Fey happened within years – although the exact time-frame is not known. Nor is it known how or why the Fey were imprisoned within the Feylands, as well as any civilized creature that was within the vicinity, or born thereafter. The few and far between records immediately after this time document horror and confusion, as devastation, ruin, and death was laid waste during this forced relocation. Even then, there was nothing but speculation on who – divine or otherwise – caused the Fey to flee north and created the Feylands. There is no mention of when the Feylands obelisks first appeared – making some historians wonder if they appeared suddenly, or were always there.
The First One Hundred Years (1-100)
The first three hundred years of post-Feylands history is filled with discovery, but more prominently, war. These were the foundational years, where villages began to grow into towns, and uncertain governments rose and connected these towns. Temevair, a Lambrose dragon, was the first to create a monarchy. While her reign did not last long, she began the tradition of monarchies, which would become the main type of government in Themble.
The Time of Discovery (100’s-300’s)
Towns were becoming stable, and trade was beginning to appear. Explorers and cartographers like Charn charted Themble, while inventors began creating technology that had never been seen before. New agricultural techniques appeared, such as better irrigation, rotating crops, and improved fertilization. Boats became more reliable and navigation improved in accuracy. These times laid the foundation for the future technology of Themble, which would one day lead to great ships, massive palaces, and flourishing, dominating fields of crops.
Growth of a Culture (300’s – 600’s)
During these two hundred years, Themble began to develop its own unique society. Themble was trading extensively throughout the Sparrow Islands. In 659, Themble resumed trade with Darid after nearly two hundred years of passive aggressive animosity. By trading with other societies, Themble began to receive more than just new products and materials. Experimental art forms and music began taking root alongside new crops. Through this, Themble began finding its own style, becoming more distinct from the neighboring Farsni and Darid.
The Modern Monarchies (600’s – 760’s)
Pemembras, Bevenkras, and Croon had all been founded by 500’s. However, as monarchs were killed or died and wars fought, these three monarchies drastically changed in size and shape. The last modern monarchy, Maithas, took form over the united ruins of two past monarchies in 669. The last 160 years saw all four monarchies stabilize and come into their modern territories.
The Black King (765-Current)
Rise to Power
In 765, the monarchy of Maithas was overthrown in a one-night coup by an underground rebellion led by a mysterious unicorn called “The Black King.” The earliest record of the Black King goes back to 760, when a ink-colored unicorn first appeared as a servant in the Maithan palace under “Nobody.” Despite his private and unknown background, Nobody was successful in building a secret army over the course of five years.
In one night, the Black King went from being an unforgettable and bland servant, to a monarch. On Aspairoon 7th, 765 “Nobody” and his secret army overthrew the Maithan government in a one night coup. Both King Surcel Ral and Queen Consort Mentira Ral were killed in the attack. The Black King had arrived. Down came the shooting star flowers and up came the honeybee.
Although his initial introduction was shocking, the Black King was dismissed as dramatic as he spent four quiet years rebuilding the impoverished and corrupt Maithas. Selling gaudy furniture, rabbits, jewelry, and wine, the Black King began reversing many of the laws and healing the economy and the country. The citizens, slow to trust and slower to forgive, did not easily respect the new king.
The First Maithan War
However, with the guidance of a trusted counsel, the monarchy began to rebuild. On Leemair 6th, 769 the Black King surprised Themble by announcing war on the neighboring monarchy Bevenkras. While the two monarchies weren’t on the most stable of terms, there was little reason to start a war.
Bevenkras was not unified, as its acorn woodpeckers Queen Lodel and King Consort Jut were massively fighting, threatening to get a divorce, and splitting the monarchy with it. It took a little over a year for the Black King to conquer his second monarchy. On Peaser 19th, 770, the monarchy fell, and the yellow and black flag was raised.
The Black King spent two years stabilizing his larger monarchy, having doubled its size in a year. Having access to the sea opened up many trade opportunities, but the Black King began to eye the profitable viticulture and aging monarch in Pemembras.
The Second Maithan War
Aspairoon 21st, 772 the Black King waged war on his southern neighbor. Pemembras lacked the strong army of Croon, but its proud citizens were willing to fight for themselves, even if they did not love the Merchant’s Council. The Black King’s army was much smaller than the Pemembran enemy, but they were boosted with recent victory. With General Warlic’s genius strategic maneuvers, and the sudden fall of several of members of the Merchant’s Council, Maithas won on Aspairoon 3rd, 774, nearly two years after the war began.
It is now Corlen 7th, 774, six months after the war. The Black King has remained in Pemembras, attempting to squish out the last of the rebellion. Only, he’s having a larger struggle than he planned with the proud Pemembrans, thanks to the Revolutionaries.