Darkling History
B.A. = Before Adeodatus, A.E.D. = After Elder Drakes
King Orio’s Reign [363 - 503 A.E.D.]
Queen Libré’s Ascent [502 - 503 A.E.D.]
Modern Day [503 A.E.D Onwards]
Queen Libré’s Ascent [502 - 503 A.E.D.]
Modern Day [503 A.E.D Onwards]
Due to their previous sole use of Echo, a language with no written form, much of darkling history has been lost to time. It is assumed that they were once under the thumb of the Elder Drakes, like most of the Realm; many scholars argue that they may have first descended into the caves, leaving behind the surface world, to avoid their tyranny.
Their current Queen, Libré, has made an effort to introduce the common language of the Realm and record their histories so that it will not be lost again.
Their current Queen, Libré, has made an effort to introduce the common language of the Realm and record their histories so that it will not be lost again.
King Orio’s Reign [363 - 503 A.E.D.]
King Orio, the prior ruler of the darklings, took the throne in 363 at the age of just fifteen.
He did not ascend to power by killing his mother, the Queen before him, and taking the throne by right of conquest. The Queen died unexpectedly and suddenly in the middle of dinner. Not knowing what else to do, her court named her only child, Prince Orio, as her successor.
This was extremely bizarre; typically darkling leaders would have their successor decided through the right of conquest, where the new king or queen would defeat and kill the prior one, or an old monarch would name a successor of their own. But even in the latter case, it would usually be a wise member of their court, or a gifted warrior, not their spoiled son.
Orio would rule for a stunning hundred-and-forty years. As a leader, Orio was reclusive and spoiled. He never left his palace and was content to neglect most of his duties, keeping the taxes high to fund his and his aristocracy’s hobbies (of which his own was the cultivation of plants and fungi) and allowing the darkling kingdom to become isolationist.
Life in the capital itself during his rule was a different story, however. Both extremely paranoid and extremely superstitious, Orio was constantly vigilant for any sign of dissent in his court. He employed several paid spies within his castle to observe what others said about him: even the smallest of comments, or an odd look, were enough for him to order an assassination. Voidseers, viewed by the king as unnerving and unlucky, were banned from so much as entering Coronia during his kingship.
Orio had three spouses during his reign and several daughters, though his eldest child was a son named Prince Kanser. Given his own unusual ascent to power and increasing age, there was some question amongst his court about how succession would be handled; would he and Kanser set a precedent of primogeniture, allowing only direct descendants of kings and queens to rule, relegating the right of conquest to the past?
While they were busy considering this, few noticed the blind, white-furred darkling that had infiltrated the ranks of Orio’s servants until she had killed the king at his dinner and invoked the right of conquest to claim his throne.
He did not ascend to power by killing his mother, the Queen before him, and taking the throne by right of conquest. The Queen died unexpectedly and suddenly in the middle of dinner. Not knowing what else to do, her court named her only child, Prince Orio, as her successor.
This was extremely bizarre; typically darkling leaders would have their successor decided through the right of conquest, where the new king or queen would defeat and kill the prior one, or an old monarch would name a successor of their own. But even in the latter case, it would usually be a wise member of their court, or a gifted warrior, not their spoiled son.
Orio would rule for a stunning hundred-and-forty years. As a leader, Orio was reclusive and spoiled. He never left his palace and was content to neglect most of his duties, keeping the taxes high to fund his and his aristocracy’s hobbies (of which his own was the cultivation of plants and fungi) and allowing the darkling kingdom to become isolationist.
Life in the capital itself during his rule was a different story, however. Both extremely paranoid and extremely superstitious, Orio was constantly vigilant for any sign of dissent in his court. He employed several paid spies within his castle to observe what others said about him: even the smallest of comments, or an odd look, were enough for him to order an assassination. Voidseers, viewed by the king as unnerving and unlucky, were banned from so much as entering Coronia during his kingship.
Orio had three spouses during his reign and several daughters, though his eldest child was a son named Prince Kanser. Given his own unusual ascent to power and increasing age, there was some question amongst his court about how succession would be handled; would he and Kanser set a precedent of primogeniture, allowing only direct descendants of kings and queens to rule, relegating the right of conquest to the past?
While they were busy considering this, few noticed the blind, white-furred darkling that had infiltrated the ranks of Orio’s servants until she had killed the king at his dinner and invoked the right of conquest to claim his throne.
Queen Libré’s Ascent [502 - 503 A.E.D.]
Abandoned at an early age by her parents, the future Queen Libré had a humble beginning to her life. For many years she was forced to scavenge in the caves for food until a darkling mercenary named Andro found her wandering the streets. Though he did not normally care much for pups, something tugged at him and told him this one would be something incredible.
Taking the pup under his wing, he taught her everything. How to navigate her surroundings, how to communicate and how to be a darkling. When Libré learned of the kingdom’s status, she was furious. Dragons like Andro were suffering under Orio. It was at this time she decided her life’s mission was to kill the king and end his reign.
Leaving in the night during July 502, Libré vanished without a trace. Andro had never taught her how to write, and if she had told him of her plan before leaving, he never would have allowed it. Entering Orio’s stronghold in Coronia, Libré went undercover as a maid.
It would take her months to get close enough to the King. In the meantime, she met a knight named Talus. He was kind and funny and he made her smile. It was during her time with him that she finally figured out what love was, though this was not without its own sadness. She had little doubt that after she killed the king, he would want nothing to do with her.
After a year and six months of being in the service of the king, Libré finally got close enough during a dinner to slice King Orio’s throat. He bled out in front of his politicians. Knowing full well the rules of conquest, Libré proclaimed herself queen and saviour of the darklings that night. Her youth and disabilities made some of Orio’s old court doubt her ability to rule, but after much debate, she was crowned later that week.
Talus caught her the week after, proclaimed his love for her and told her he too had wanted to get close to the king to kill him. While the darklings were at first shaken by Libré’s actions, some have come to accept her.
Taking the pup under his wing, he taught her everything. How to navigate her surroundings, how to communicate and how to be a darkling. When Libré learned of the kingdom’s status, she was furious. Dragons like Andro were suffering under Orio. It was at this time she decided her life’s mission was to kill the king and end his reign.
Leaving in the night during July 502, Libré vanished without a trace. Andro had never taught her how to write, and if she had told him of her plan before leaving, he never would have allowed it. Entering Orio’s stronghold in Coronia, Libré went undercover as a maid.
It would take her months to get close enough to the King. In the meantime, she met a knight named Talus. He was kind and funny and he made her smile. It was during her time with him that she finally figured out what love was, though this was not without its own sadness. She had little doubt that after she killed the king, he would want nothing to do with her.
After a year and six months of being in the service of the king, Libré finally got close enough during a dinner to slice King Orio’s throat. He bled out in front of his politicians. Knowing full well the rules of conquest, Libré proclaimed herself queen and saviour of the darklings that night. Her youth and disabilities made some of Orio’s old court doubt her ability to rule, but after much debate, she was crowned later that week.
Talus caught her the week after, proclaimed his love for her and told her he too had wanted to get close to the king to kill him. While the darklings were at first shaken by Libré’s actions, some have come to accept her.
Modern Day [503 A.E.D. Onwards]
Queen Libré has ruled the darklings since January 503, and under her leadership, they have experienced a number of dramatic changes. This includes the introduction of the Common Tongue in schools, the promotion of written records, and general betterment of the lives of the lower classes.
Not all are content with Libré’s leadership, especially aristocrats in the highest positions of power. Libré’s new programs are not without their cost, and they are not happy with the idea of losing the luxuries they had gotten used to. Orio had been a paranoid recluse, yes, but as long as they had remained on his good side he did not threaten their wealth.
Since the King’s death, his eldest child and only son, Prince Kansir, has been determined to contest Libré’s legitimacy as ruler. Having been under the impression he would inherit after Orio’s natural death, like he did with his mother before him, he has not been content to sit back and accept Libré’s usage of the right of conquest.
Not all are content with Libré’s leadership, especially aristocrats in the highest positions of power. Libré’s new programs are not without their cost, and they are not happy with the idea of losing the luxuries they had gotten used to. Orio had been a paranoid recluse, yes, but as long as they had remained on his good side he did not threaten their wealth.
Since the King’s death, his eldest child and only son, Prince Kansir, has been determined to contest Libré’s legitimacy as ruler. Having been under the impression he would inherit after Orio’s natural death, like he did with his mother before him, he has not been content to sit back and accept Libré’s usage of the right of conquest.