Almaren was settled first amongst the worlds of the Realm. It is a planet of lush forest and wild mountains. There are three main continents: Narril and Farrl in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Great Continent of Angfar in the South. The largest Eldar cities are on the two northern continents, including Talingal, the Royal Seat. The southern continent has widely scattered communities of both Eldar and Anfauglir. The Anfauglir have their largest Dun (Dun Leath) in a mountain valley near the northern coast, this is the seat of their prince who holds sway over all the Anfauglir and their highland settlements.
The Grey Moon, Anfauglir, is considered sacred by the Anfauglir, and it and their name is taken from the Great Wolf, the Guardian of the clans.
The first years of settlement, the Kindred had no contact with the Anfauglir, as the first settlements were on Farrl, but as the Kindred expanded to the other continents, there was more and more strife. The Kindred saw the Anfauglir as backward savages, and the Anfauglir saw the Kindred as not only invaders, but they though them to be evil spirits due to their advanced weapons and ships. At the time of the Founding, the Anfauglir were just developing the use of steel, most of their weapons were made of iron, or a very few that were made of Mithril, these weapons were only made by the Forge Priests, and mystical energy was put into the Forging, a weapon of this type could take many years to forge, and were only carried by the Great Chiefs of the Clans. Even though the Kindred had an advantage in weaponry, the Anfauglir made up for it in their knowledge of the terrain and the ferocity of their warriors. Over the centuries, the wars continued until the Time of Borrs and Lycculluss. Their friendship ended the wars and brought peace to the Rhiad. The Anfauglir have been led by the family of Borrs since before the time of the Kindred on Almaren, and Lycculluss was the youngest son of the ruling Rhi Almar. The strife on the planet and the wild nature of the planet has caused a hearty breed of Kindred to develop there, and some have adopted many of the warrior traditions of the Anfauglir, the Swordsmen of Almaren are justifiably famed throughout the Realm. The Rhiad supplies troops to the Sluagh, including the Swordsmen of Almaren, and the Anfauglir Clansmen with their great Claegmouraghs (claymores) and Drauga (short sword). The Rhiad has been watched over by a mysterious spirit named Evain, some say she came with the Kindred from the Homeworlds, others believe she is the spirit of the very planet. What is known by all is that many Kindred have been saved from certain death by her appearance, and she has also warned of great dangers to come upon the Kindred.
There is a Great Gathering of the leaders of both the Kindred and the Anfauglir every year at Rhi Almar’s court, where the great desicions are made for the year, each clan or Duchas is represented by either its local Noble/Chieftan, or one appointed by him/her to stand in council for him/her. The Great Gathering is also attended by the Order of Judges of the Drioa. They judge the lawbreakers and recite the law to the Gathering. The Olaavs record all that is put forth at the Gathering, and place it in the Great Libraries, and in the records of the Rhi, and of the Ard Rhi.
The Army of the Rhiad of Almaren
© 1997 Thomas Setzer