Mermerant

History

Third Age

The Mermerant are among the youngest of the races, their origins tracing back to when the Wanderers and the Indigenous peoples met. Their first breath occurred nearly a year after The Crossing, among runaway couples focused on building a life together. Their mixing meant they were busy proving themselves and less preoccupied with the long-standing feuds between Vular and Jomzaar, or between the Wanderers and the Indigenous.

 

Their dark age

The earliest known Mermerant are believed to have descended from Ogryl and Rimzir lineages in Great-Fjella, and from Jomzaar and Izir unions in Darin. Within a few short years, mixed couples gave rise to Mermerant children across all the isles. While runaway couples often sought refuge inland, those who bonded for power or strategic gain typically settled along the coasts. Naturally, these coastal unions became more visible and inspired others to cross ancestral boundaries as well, causing the coastal Mermerant population to grow more rapidly than their inland kin.

Yet what united them all was the suspicion, jealousy, and hostility they faced from both ancestral sides. In response, the Mermerant began to establish their own network of relations and alliances—drawing on their roots as they ascended the social ladder, they relied on one another in times of need. These early acts of unity formed the roots of what would later become their famous oaths, and sparked their cultural emphasis on honour, legacy, and displays of strength.

By the time the first generation of Mermerant children had matured and begun families of their own, a cultural preference for marrying within their own kind had already taken hold—unless a strong alliance could be made. Some elders warned of the dangers of inbreeding, advising instead to choose stronger partners to ensure healthier offspring and greater protection.

Skjald Vinotis

Tyveshoej, their first realm

In the year 42, Raul le Bridge led a large group of Mermerant to settle anew in central Fjella. Eventually they eyed a perfect place, upon arrival the convoy was attacked by a contingent of enigmatic Fautyr, forcing them to hastily organise a defence. Their accompanying mana manipulators played a key role in repelling the initial assault, and news of the siege spread quickly. Other Mermerant soon arrived, either joining the defence or launching attacks against the Fautyr flanks.

Within a week, so many Mermerant had gathered that the Fautyr retreated. Yet the defenders, wary of their attackers’ reputation, remained on high alert. Though they sent no summons, more Mermerant continued to arrive. Soon, hundreds were laying streets, building homes, erecting palisades, digging trenches and laying pit traps. Two weeks later, the Fautyr returned—this time alongside Ljósálfar, a large group of T’aurs, and two Stoicheian.

The 1,834 defenders braced for their final stand. But nothing occurred. The Stoicheian arrived the following morning. Fearing what they would do to them all, a young girl known as Leani Ze’Araki decided to confront them. Slipped past the lines and went out to meet them, arms out in defiance.

Overlooking the little, frail person. The Stoicheian read her mind. One of them started handweaving: colours erupted, energy swirled, and a mist deepened, turning the area into a swamp. Leani stood firm, arms spread in defiance. The marsh then liquified, causing her to plummet underwater—and then a Vornir emerged on the water’s edge. As Leanis’s final bubbles breached the surface, it grieved, and tears dropped into the newly formed lake, honouring her fortitude. This caused the Stoicheian to halt weaving.

The second Stoicheian then spoke: “We, Old Mistmaker and Red Ground-Burner, were sent to destroy you. But for Leani’s sacrifice, we will spare you.”

Flames burst from its hands, scorching a narrow strip of land into near-glass that stretched as far as the eye could see. “This scar marks where the sacred grounds of the elder races begin.What you have—Tyveshøj and the lake—is now yours. But cross it, and we shall return and destroy you.”

With that, they returned to the awaiting n’erectus and all departed.

The Mermerant never crossed Mariki and Wiqual’s Mark. Instead, they built a burial field along the scar, and a chapel at the lakeshore—naming it Lake Leani in honour of her courage. Over the following century, Tyveshøj grew into a thriving city and, by its hundredth anniversary, housed 7,500 citizens. Its landsknechts, once a militia raised for protection, had become a respected mercenary force.

Skjald Sigurd

 

Tyveshøj became the de facto capital of Fjella’s Mermerant. Mixed-heritage children from remote settlements were sent there to serve the upper class, become apprentices, or join the mercenary corps. Many soldiers later returned or spread to new regions, weaving a vast network of Mermerant military units across Fjella.

Their everyday challenges were more focused on proving their value by securing or farming the lands, serving others, and supporting their relatives. They expanded in quantity and prominence. Using Tyveshoej as an example, they began establishing new Mermerant settlements around Fjella, occasionally causing conflict with others. They intended to deploy men-at-arms to assist their relatives. Then every one of the selected walked to Lake Leani and knelt in homage to their lady in the lake.

They made Leani Ze’Araki a knight after realising the impact this had on army morale, and all nobles were knighted. Knowing the risk of excluding weapon-skilled lowborns, they devised vows that could be sworn, and if proven worthy, even a lowborn could become a knight. This created the groundwork for their knightly orders, and Liani was the sole female knighted for courage under the first emperor’s line.

 

Chivalry and the origins of knighthood

When not aiding their cousins gaining footholds, they began increasing the areas they controlled. At times these skirmishes resulted in horrific acts to win, so rules of conduct began to appear. Especially needed as expanders sometimes clashed with their own kin, which reduced the number of nobles considerably. Thus a ruleset for younger sons about becoming a knight (the errantry trials) surfaced.

As they strengthened their grasp on Fjella, the Mermerant spread further afield, often employing uncivil methods. These confrontations, occasionally amongst Mermerant factions themselves, resulted in horrible acts and significant casualties of nobles and knights. To remedy this, a code of conduct arose. Especially crucial were rules guiding younger sons through errantry trials.

Skjald Ulrich

 

The Mermerant didn’t confine themselves to Fjella. They established footholds on Dalip (58), Ljostari (60), Darin (62), Markeøy (67), Naldar (70), Utari (73), Mealis (75), Findon (77), and Midgard as early as 59. Carefully avoiding sacred lands of both Indigenous peoples and the N’erectus, they flourished and replicated the kinship networks pioneered on Fjella.

Each Royal House grew powerful, building castles, towns, and cities with great courts, layered bureaucracy, and swelling nobility. Their proud lineages bore distinct coats of arms, and when they marched to war or crusade, they cut a dazzling figure—unified only in ambition and the pursuit of power.

Their Third Age conflicts are too numerous to list, but their influence grew so vast they reshaped nearly every known kingdom. It is said that the Vular’s obsessive hunt for relics and lost lore was a direct attempt to counter the Mermerant’s growing dominance—and the very reason they were deceived into waging the greatest war ever known.

Skjald Sejrik

 

Fourth Age

Many Mermerant contingents had joined the forces of the Ljósálfar and were present on Ljostari when events spiralled out of control. Some argue that it was their direct involvement which drew the catastrophe so heavily upon them. As their most skilled knights and wisest mana manipulators began to see how the situation was unravelling, a few dared to astravel away—though only a handful survived, as most were either dissolved in transit or transformed into hideous aberrations.

Yet, just prior to the eruption of Mount Ljostari, some reappeared in their home halls and courts—some to be struck down as corrupted wretches, others to deliver dire warnings. And then it happened: Ljostari crumbled and sank.

The shock rippled across the world. Earthquakes thundered through the land, rending ancient Void Garden seals and unleashing raw, unbound energies. The lands surrounding Tyveshøj tilted, cracked, and crumbled. Some parts sank. Then came the Deep Blue Tsunami, its tainted waters crashing ashore, seething with strange energies that stirred the long-dead. Thus, the Arisen began to roam.

Though accustomed to hardship, conflict, and war, the Mermerant suffered greatly. Yet their greatest strength proved to be their far-flung presence across the world. Those who had escaped devastation or remained untouched by the Arisen incursions swiftly sent aid. Thus, by the time the first Liches appeared, the Mermerant had salvaged what could be saved. They mourned in quiet dignity—especially for the loss of Lake Leani, their capital Tyveshøj, and its three thousand years of lore.

In the year 66, they elected a new emperor from among their remaining kings. But the world had changed. With the rise of the Arisen, the growing might of the Liches, and the surging Hordes, things never truly returned to what they were. Where once they had held sway over nearly every kingdom, the Mermerant’s realms began to diminish and fragment. Still, they remained an important power among the Mannish peoples.

Skjald El Mary

 

At first, they refused to support the 1st Alliance, viewing it as a greater threat to their crumbling empire than Arisen, Liches, and hordes. But as the campaign gained traction, they began to see an opportunity. By joining, they might one day place a Mermerant upon the High King’s throne, and thus renew their dominance. Their participation proved decisive against the Torch and shifted the tide of the war.

However, as the High King was crowned, many Mermerants were stunned to see their monarch hand his crown to the Black Oak, effectively making them all his subjects. Furious over their emperor’s betrayal, fights approaching civil war sprang out between Mermerant loyalists and independenters. So as the Realm as such evolved in peace, things was burning under the surface.

Yet when the High King was finally crowned, the Mermerant were stunned to see their emperor kneel and place his own crown into the hands of the High King Black Oak—making every Mermerant his subject. Outraged at what they perceived as betrayal, unrest ignited across the realms. Civil strife broke out between loyalists of the imperial line and those who demanded independence.

Though the greater Realm settled into peace, Mermerant lands seethed beneath the surface. These internal skirmishes, which further fragmented their power and prestige, persisted right up until the Great Invasion. When it came, all Mermerant forces rallied as one. United in fury, they threw themselves against the invaders—especially the Pigryns, who learned the hard way what Mermerant lance formations could do.

Yell'a'Beard

 

Cartography

As such they are spread throughout all the realms Isles, and countries. They have enclaves and realms of various size and power, but the marked areas are where they eiter have an upper hand in leadership, or outright rule the lands.

the deep forests (the original fautyr disputes legacy)

the great rivers

castles, walled towns, the ports

coasts, valleys, plains, and mountains

 

the dukedoms (the location, the people of, the capital)

Midgard: Bebram, Etain, Falbur, Fridor, Fril, Gaslug, Keshon, Kustu, Ladris, Scia, Shoak, Spiy, Thayri, Trov, Udring, Zilbur

Utari: Bilza, Hokul, Quigly

Naldar: As some wanderers managed to gain foothold on the otherwise hostile N'Aldaan and slowly found spouses or ran off to other clan areas, they spread across Jabos, Karoly, Lioni, and Seviels. Gaining property and positions their success quickly brought more wanderes in and the sites with accepted wanderers saw a rapidly growing Mermerant population.

Most likely all would had been killed by local lords if not the wanderers and Mermerant luck lay in the n’aldaan hieracy. None dared in case these strangers had a higher blessing. Time has not cooled feelings about the N’aldaan running off and gossip still runs strong about those used for bond making. But in time the Mermerant grew so strong that very few N’aldaan clan lords found it wise to purge them.

As good as all Mermerant settlements on Naldar are walled in some way, and most are fortified and has contingents of mercenaries or knights errants. These are often quite skilled as they sell their services to N’Aldaan and we all know that loosing side participants seldom survive. These are in fact also what cleansed the Naldar Mermerant sites from most Arisen when they were born.

Skjald El Mary

 

Dalip: Aigon, Amrad, Bowei, Golny

West Fjella: Apal, Claun, Oglan

East Fjella: Grebi, Tornix, Usai

Markeoy: Braburg, Skium

Findon: Andalus, Skelop, Ugren

Mealis: Burfal, Osmes, Pearlin

Darin:

The Rim:

Skjald Ulrich

 

Organisation

From a scattering of refugees and a few well-married families, the Mermerant have, over the course of five millennia, shaped themselves into one of the most refined and complex societies of the Mannish races. What began as mere survival gradually developed into a vast, stratified structure—woven together through fealty, courtly intrigue, and ancestral bonds.

At its core, the Mermerant hierarchy is built upon layered councils. Settlement leaders—nobles of varying stature—form local courts alongside neighbouring rulers. These courts then elect representatives or subtly manoeuvre their own candidates into regional councils, each of which governs a greater isle. These island councils hold considerable influence and status, and it is rare for a lesser noble to rise to such ranks—though when they do, they are often individuals of exceptional brilliance.

Skjald

 

Society

Their noble structure is as follows:

• Emperor / Empress — Sovereign of all Mermerant
• Great King / Great Queen — Ruler of a greater isle
• King / Queen — Ruler of a country
• Duke / Duchess — Ruler of a region
• Count / Countess — Ruler of a county
• Baron / Baroness — Ruler of a settlement
• Knight / Damsel — Ruler of an estate or manor

Each noble level has its own courts, and anybody may appeal to a higher court—if they can afford the expense and muster the effort.

Beneath the nobility stand:

• Manipulators — mana manipulators, and religious figures
• Worker class — Peasants, fishers, and hunters
• Service Class — Traders, craftsmen, and scholars

Each greater isle elects a single Liaison, who takes a seat among The Nine—a prestigious council that elects one of their own to become The Mermerant, the political and symbolic head of all Mermerant. Once their social and political systems were firmly established—whether living in great castles, rural villages, isolated manors, or scholarly retreats—all Mermerant pledged fealty upwards, ultimately to the local King or Queen of their isle. However, they did not swear oaths to the Mermerant office itself.

Only once in their history, in 1250 FA, did their Kings and Queens legally extend their vows outside their isles. When Jörgûl Neõptûr, the former Mermerant, dedicated their people to the Realm, they were effectively obligated to the High King.

Many opposing voices, who saw such fealty as submission to an external power, began planning Jörgûl’s end. Despite their official commitment, the Mermerant maintained considerable independence, regularly disobeying the increasingly irritating “Law of the Realm.”

That oath, hard-won and fiercely debated, was nonetheless honoured loyally during the Great Invasion—even after the death of the Third High King. When the Cleansing Crusade ended, and the High King released them at the Grimsborg Memorials Revealing, the Mermerant laid down their foreign oath with quiet relief.

Skjald Vinotis

 

Armies

Their armies are composed primarily of elite knights and trained levies.

• Men-at-arms — Professional soldiers sworn to lords
• Militia — Levied commoners serving in times of war

The most famous among them is Den Godan, whose family famously chose the path of the Hordes, believing it better aligned with their nature.

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

Religious

To this day, Mermerant knights undertake pilgrimages to the ancient chapels that still shelter untainted waters from Lake Leani. In solemn rites, they wet their lips upon dampened grails, honouring the lost capital of Tyveshøj.

Their most sacred pilgrimage is the journey to Kistal, deep within Lake Mirror, where Hecl Zalenwa, founder of Tyveshøj, is said to still live.

 

 

Special

They are loyal to their oaths, no matter what.

Skjald Valgrif