Vellant'im

The "Vellant'im" are a fictional people created by Melanie Rawn for her Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies.

The "Vellant'im", which means Swordborn or Sword-Mountain in the Old Tongue, are a warrior based people, who come from the "Vellanti" Islands far across the sea. The modern peoples of the Continent did not know of their existence until after the "Vellanti" invasion in 737.

History and Culture

The "Vellant'im" lived on the "Vellanti" Islands across the sea. The "diarmadhi", the rulers of the ancient Continent, went exploring, discovered these islands, and took them over. They, like their very distant relatives the "Merida", were forced to serve a sorcerous power against which they had no defense. Unlike the "Merida" who held the Desert and were an elite assassin force, the "Vellant'im" were mere barbarians. When the Sorcerers fell from power and their knowledge and ways were lost, the "Vellant'im" were forgotten by the "faradh'im" and the people of the Continent. To common knowledge, even the "Merida" did not remember their ancient brethren.

Years passed; new generations of "Vellant'im" were born, carrying the hate and drive for vengeance that fired their ancestors' souls. As the Continent forgot their existence, the remaining - and replenishing - "Vellant'im" stewed in their hatred and prepared for war. Probably due to the need to replenish their numbers after being driven from the Continent, the "Vellant'im" practiced polygamy. Women in the society were relegated to that of broodmare; their worth was determined by the number of sons, future warriors, they bore to their husbands. For this very reason - the ability to bear sons - wives were 'honored' in their society.

Due to their vengeful desire the "Vellant'im" culture was based on the warrior. The "Vellant'im" people trained for war, bred for war, dreamed of war. The mark of honor of a "Vellanti" man was the number of tokens he had taken from his slain enemies - for example if a "Vellanti" warrior had killed a "faradhi" he would tie the "faradhi's" rings into his beard. Once a "Vellanti" male was old enough to grow a beard, he was old enough to fight and earn his tokens of honor and prowess.

After generations of readying for war, the "Vellant'im" were strong enough and vast enough in number to begin planning their attack. They gathered information on the "Azhrei", the "Kir'rei", or High Prince, of the Continent. The High Warlord studied his adversary, studied how he thought, how he ruled, and how he fought. As the Warlord studied the ruler, he became fascinated by another: the Azhreia, the Sunrunner High Princess. Her strength and spirit caught the Warlords attention as she was so different from the women of his own people. he felt drawn to her and envisioned the day he would meet her, most likely on the day the "Azhrei" fell.

The Invasion

Stronghold

In 737 the "Vellant'im" invaded. They struck select targets on all sides of the Continent at the same time, surprising every Princedom and disabling each port quickly so aid could not be easily rendered. As the "Vellant'im" forces moved inland, they slowly converged on the Desert, the seat of the Kir'rei (High Prince) and the Continent's main strength. One of the "Vellanti" forces raged through the Desert, taking Keep after Keep until they reached Stronghold. There the "Azhrei" made his last stand. If the High Warlord had not arrived with his own army, the "Azhrei" would have won; but the High Warlord did arrive. As his men attacked Stronghold with renewed force, the Keep suddenly erupted into flames: the "Azhreia" had set it ablaze, her beloved husband's funeral pyre.

There was a new "Kir'rei: Pol, the "faradhi", "diarmadhi", warrior Prince.

The Dragon Token

The "Vellant'im" were winning the war on nearly all fronts - Goddess Keep was giving them trouble. The High Warlord camped outside the ruins of Stronghold, planning his next attacks carefully. Then, he was given a lovely present in the form of the "Kir'reia", Meiglan, and Rislyn. He held the two captive, knowing that while he did so, the High Prince's hands were - for the most part - tied. The High Warlord also knew that the Continent's forces were divided; the enmity between the High Prince and the Lord of Goddess Keep was deep and strong. He also knew that what "diarmadhi" were left were in hiding - and that they had not come forward to fight for the Continent.

Skybowl

The tide of the war changed unexpectedly for the High Warlord. Skybowl, one of the last free Desert Keeps, had been offered to him by its Lady, Ruala. He believed her defection in the hope of protecting her unborn child; it was a trap. Many of his men were poisoned. Not enough though. He went to war with the High Prince, who had now been joined by Andry, the Lord of Goddess Keep. They used sorcery. Hundreds of "Vellant'im" died. The High Warlord killed the "Kir'reia". Pol, enraged, killed him using his gifts. Pol then wrested control of the "Ros'alath" from Andry and, using all the "faradhi" and "diarmadhi" at his disposal, ceased the killing. "Vellant'im" instead fell unconscious by the thousands. Not a single blade was drawn that day - excepting Meiglan's death - yet the "Vellant'im", a fierce warrior people vastly outnumbering their opponents, were defeated. They were sent home, back across the sea in shame and in despair; neither their numbers nor their warriors' prowess could conquer the Continent. They were a defeated people. On top of that - they had to deal with Chiana and Rinhoel of Meadowlord.

Known "Vellant'im"

*Varek: Born in 698, he was the Second Battlelord of the "Vellant'im".

* "Vellanti" High Warlord: Leader of the "Vellanti" invasion. He had five wives and dozens of sons waiting for his victorious return.