The Tale of the de l'Haven Clan

As told by: Sir Gregor-Gabriel de l'Haven, Archduke of Astranon

The gods looked down upon their world of Randarna, and they saw that it was beautiful. The islands of Astranon -- which translates from the languages of my forefathers as: "to the stars we will go" -- were the gem in their eyes, and there they planted the seeds for only the greatest of creatures: Those of great good and magic, and the mortals of peace and kindness, lead by the divine De l'Haven clan; the royal family that would become the ideals of evil on their island, and honour for the rest of the world.

Harmony reigned on the isle, through the Prayi-Turia (isolation of the elves) and the Aeri-Alanai (separation of the elven kingdoms), the first two of the Great Oppositions which ripped the mainland asunder. And then, in the last years of the glory of the De l'Haven family, the gods began to turn on their world. Petty cruelty and evil reigned over the lands. It was in this time that our family joined with our one true goddess, Kaika, she who watched over true warriors of mercy.

As Kaika turned against her father Raykama, the god-king, he sent a thousand plagues upon Astranon. The people revolted against their rulers, the cause of the scourge, and rose up in mighty battle to banish them. As Kaika cried for her people, Raykama reclaimed Astranon as the god's land, and brought the final curse upon the islands. Only the De l'Havens - sent into exile to the mainland - survived. This was the Forbiddance of Astranon, the First Sundrance, the fourth of the Great Oppositions.

In the land of Akrayne, the De l'Haven sought shelter in the Mount of the Hollow, the grand temple of Kaika. As the gods fought high above the world, the clerics became warriors, taught by the De l'Haven about battle. And the army grew and grew, and became knight-clerics, healers and fighters, governed by the ideals of Kaika.

And their goddess was happy with what they did. For in the decades that followed, the entire balance of power shifted as gods were slain by their kind. This was the Antithesis, the fifth of the Great Opposisitons, when gods died, and mortals became legends. In the final terrible battle, Kaika and her army of knight-clerics defeated Raykama. With his last dying breath, he called upon his Great Ices to cover the world, and kill all mortals but for those chosen by each god to be saved.

And as I stood beside my goddess and her hero, Takiniiakh, at the end of the battle, I, Gregor-Gabriel de l'Haven, was chosen by Kaika, the Valiant One, to be doomed by Rakama to wander the halls of the Mount of the Hollow for 3000 years, never dying, yet never living. Year after year I honed my skills in combat and magic, turning to the immortality of the undead. Until destiny stood, once more, by my side.

The spirit of the river was strong within her, with eyes and hair of purest silver. Born out of the waters of the River Takiniiakh, this girl named Ieadaschi was blessed and chosen by a goddess that stood against all that she believed in. A black vein ran through her heart, and yet Kaika chose her from beyond the grave to be the Silver Saint -- she who would restore the church of the Valiant One.

And so it came to pass that Iea was drawn back to the light and became my student. Into my family she was taken, and named in the ancient traditions -- taking my second name as her own. Dame Gabrielle-Gairloch de l'Haven she became, and took a husband to carry on the renewed bloodline. Katsumo was once his name, known as the son of the Seven Stars, heir to the throne of the Empire of Layne.

Many years passed and many strong children she bore to follow in the honourable ways of Kaika. Her people flourished, and hundreds joined the fold. Soon, it came to be that the gods were pleased once more with Kaika and her children, freeing her from exile, granting the Isle of Haven, gateway to Astranon, once more to the people. In the Year of Kaika's Peace, in the month of Solnara, the de l'Haven clan celebrated their homecoming after thousands of years.

Peace reigned and the people were happy and numerous. The Isle of Haven, ancient home of my family flourished. And one day, a great earthquake made the earth shudder and the skies turned to blood. The face of a dark man appeared in the heavens, and the earth shook once more. Then as he faded, the town of Solaria sank into the great rivers, never to be seen again.

Days passed as the earthquakes ceased, but there appeared a great light to the east of the island. Toward the light sailed three ships, hoping to find its source, yet one disappeared and the others sank. For a fortnight, I cast my incantations, praying for word from Kaika. And lo, she appeared to me, telling me of the dark man and his dark purpose in a far-off land. Men had been sent to our land in exile, their great city sunken below the waves of their seas, their fate entwined with our island.

And so the years passed, decades and generations went by. The De l'Haven clan and the people of Haven flourished, forgetting the tragedies of the past. The light in the water faded from view and the men were never seen.

Yet it came to pass that one of us, Safeire de l'Haven, aboard a ship travelling to the Islands of Baetar, came upon the light in the water. Into the light they went, not to be seen again for many years....

Last updated: July 28, 2000
Comments, questions, and general email to Janet O'Neil.

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