Duren, the barn of humanity. Land of fertile grassy plains that fed the fastest horses on the continent, and people skilled to ride them. Although bordering on Xadia, the Kingdom of Duren had always relied on Katolean aid for its defense, providing him with horses and grain in return.
The Great Famine of 1234 did nothing but strengthen the friendly relations between the two kingdoms, and who does not know the story of the heroic sacrifice of the Three Queens-Annika and Neha of Duren, and Sarai of Katolis? And yet, if the populace saw its neighbour as a natural ally against the treacherous Elves of the East, the Durenian ruling classes began to fear the interference of what was becoming a too cumbersome friend. These fears were already present at the refined court of the "Fertile Kingdom", and took root in the young mind of Aanya III, the sovereign child ascended after the tragic death of her mothers.
What about Aanya? One of the most controversial figures of his historical period. Her supporters described her as an ideal ruler, strong, skillful with her sword as well as with her pen, a great reformer and patron of the arts.
According to the aforementioned Taleq of Duren, however, Aanya was "an assassin, ruthless and fierce, never satiated with the blood of his opponents and eager to extend his power to the four corners of the world, a bigoted incendiary of books… in a word, the divine punishment that fell on us dark magicians for daring to defy the Elves". Although Taleq, as a dark magician, is certainly not impartial, it should be noted that he never uses in all his chronicle such harsh words to describe Ezran, who even was his enemy.
You understand that before such discordant sources it becomes difficult for a historian to understand who was really Aanya III of Duren. But let's go in order.
In 1234, when he ascended the throne, Aanya inherited a fertile and prosperous kingdom, thanks to the sacrifice of his mothers. He found himself in the hands of a number of powerful courtiers who had no intention of letting them effectively rule, including the powerful Royal Guardian, the magician Shirbaz-master among others of Taleq himself.
Shirbaz had a clear political line, obviously favorable to dark magicians, and parallel to the Katolean - it is even suspected that he followed the directives given him by the High Wizard of Katolis.
The resemblance to what would have happened four years later to Evenere is evident, but it must be thought that at the time it was quite common for a young ruler to find himself entangled among courtiers more experienced than he and determined to everything unless to give up power.
However, if undoubtedly under the rule of Shirbaz the reign of Duren lived a period of economic and cultural growth, the political elites as I have already said began to fear that it was too dependent on Katolean will. This opposition movement found its leader in the charismatic legislator Kanun, but as an enemy the powerful class of dark magicians. Kanun was a wise man, not a warrior, and his followers were no less. Supporters of these two factions challenged each other in fierce verbal duels in the squares rather than in bloody battles. Shirbaz made the mistake of underestimating these new opponents and let them run: he did not intend to pass for tyrant by imprisoning his enemies.
And so the ideas of the Kanunists could circulate, and after long laps came to the ears of the young sovereign.
Thus came the year 1237. King Harrow was assassinated by the Moonshadow Elves, and as is known Viren soon established a personal dictatorship. In all this, no one in Katolis had the time or the means to support Shirbaz's position. Of course, no one would dare fight the Royal Guardian...no one but Aanya.
Her approach was both direct and effective: she went to the Royal Guard barracks, wearing her mother's armor. At that point, he turned directly to the guards.
"Soldiers of Duren-to whom have you sworn obedience?"
The soldiers, perplexed, could not do without answering: "to you, my queen".
"Then obey me. Arrest Shirbaz, guilty of High Treason."
The risk was high. The soldiers could simply refuse, or worse, rebel against her. But Aanya had done his calculations well: Shirbaz, as a magician, and of a peaceful nature, was not loved by the army. And so Shirbaz was exiled to Neolandia, and Aanya became de facto Queen of Duren.
What happened next is legend: Aanya's refusal to support the Xadian invasion of Viren, aided by his policy of independence from Katolis. The Battle of the Storm Spire, where he fought in the front line obtaining the esteem and respect of his soldiers. Peace with Xadia. And soon came the year 1238.
As the Pentarchy collapsed like a house of cards, and Ezran struggled to stabilize his position, Duren had virtually no repercussions. And so Aanya was able to promulgate the perhaps most controversial act of his reign, the Magic Bill. In it, dark magic was completely banned throughout the Durenian territory, and all who were discovered to practice it were harshly punished. It was a revolutionary act, far more drastic than even Ezran had dared to do. It is not known whether it was promulgated by a sincere conviction in the ideals of peace with Xadia. Perhaps.
Surely, it must be considered that the dark magicians were a rich and powerful caste, and hostile to the young queen. The Bill granted the young Aanya a drastic but effective way to finally eliminate this thorn in her side and take over the absolute power.
The results were tremendous: dozens of magicians were arrested, some of the most powerful even beheaded, while their wealth was confiscated. Priceless books of dark magic were burned on public squares. Moreover, the kingdom found itself for a long time devoid of magicians. But no matter how fierce, it wouldn't be fair to just talk about the bad side of the law.
In fact, the reign of Duren had never been richer. The monarchy was strengthened as never before in the history of the Kingdom. Kanun was summoned to court to begin work on a new Code of Laws enacting equality of men and elves before the Crown.
In a sense, the same policy as Ezran-performed more effectively and more brutally. According to Kanun, 1238 was "the year in which Heaven blessed Duren and her sovereign". According to Taleq, it was "the greatest catastrophe since the Fall of Elarion".
However, I do not intend to spend any more time with the events of Aanya III-after all, we will meet her again very soon following the story of Ezran.
We haven't talked about the last kingdom yet, Neolandia.
We haven't talked about the war.
