THE TORKANI QUEEN LIST

(Notes: the full names are only given for the most recent and most famous Queens. The list is somewhat abbreviated from the full version which would be recited at tribal moots etc. A list of Torkani clans no longer extant in 1620 ST is located at the end of this page)

THE GREAT RULERS

Know first that these are the greatest Queens and Kings of our people, inspired by Argan Argar to be the best of rulers:

Torkan Uzstrength, who showed the way.
Hagunda Boarheart, who did not falter.
Karendra Truehealer, who bandaged the wounds.
Xiolenna Shadowsong, who bargained well.
Harlaith the Peaceable, who did her best.
Arkilla Nightsword, whose memory inspires us.
Gustendra Duskseer, who spoke the truth.

Here then, is the list of our Queens and our Kings, and the deeds they performed:

FOUNDATION PERIOD (1320-1352 ST)

1st: TORKAN of the Kethimar (1320-1335)

Torkan first lead his people into the fertile lands of Kerofinela. The land was open and free for the taking in those days, so we settled between the Storm and Quivin mountains and established the triaty; Kethimar, Godori and Xenkori. The first steads were hewn from the wilderness, and Torkan was proclaimed the first king of the people who ever after bore his name. Pacts were forged with the Uz of Dagori Inkarth, even though in those days we did not dwell near their lands. An old fort was rebuilt at the northern edge of our territory, and it was there that we met with the Uz and began the first trade.
Three years Torkan lead his people through Kerofinela and then twelve years he ruled the steads before he walked into the shadows and left his spirit to guide us. Now we must all offer thanks to Torkan each year and ask that Argan Argar may continue to guide and inspire our Queen.

2nd: SWEYNAR of the Godori (1335-1341)

At first our lands were peaceful as they had been under Torkan's rule. But after a time, other tribes followed us into Kerofinela or entered from the north. These newcomer tribes were greedy for land, and cared not how low they stooped so long as they could steal some. They harried our borders but our King and our carls held firm until our foes fled like the cowards they were. Knowing they could not triumph by direct force of arms, they struck the King in the back with a magic spell and slew him.

3rd: ARGANAL of the Xenkori (1341-1346)

In the second year of his reign, Sigant of the Kethimar established the first stead north of the Dogbone Hills and founded his clan. The land was good for farming, and the Godori soon followed and built the first market town there. The sun-worshipping horse-riders attacked us then, but we repelled them and they came to fear our name.

4th: EMBRIK of the Kethimar (1346-1349)

The newcomers fought ferociously and with no regard for law or custom. They were bandits all, and while individually they were weak in battle, they came at last in such numbers that they overwhelmed our steads, and stole them for their own use, corrupting the wyters to their own ways. Embrik was a proud warrior, but not so skilled in the ways of Orlanth Rex. He sacrificed many of our carls in futile raids, so that when the time came that they would be of most use, few were left to fight. Thus, we lost our southern lands to the newcomers, and the King was slain by them, though many fell before his sword ere he met his doom.

5th: JENTOSAR of the Kethimar (1349-1352)

Many of the tribe moved north at this time, and new steads were cut in the Lizardwoods north of Goodfarm Vale. Members of all clans settled there and pledged their loyalty to the new Ostasing clan, whose leader had been chosen from among the Kethimar.

TRIBAL PERIOD (1352-1492 ST)

6th: HAGUNDA of the Godori (1352-1361)

When Jentosar died, there was no shortage of men who wanted to be the new King. The chieftains could not decide who was most suited for the task. So it was that for two whole seasons we had no ruler, and were sorely pressed by the newcomer tribes and the horse-people as a result. Hagunda was a cousin of the chieftain of the Godori clan, and skilled in the ways of both Vinga and Argan Argar. Seeing the plight that her people were in and that the men-folk were never going to stop their arguing any time soon, she and her companions went into Dagori Inkarth and forged new pacts with the Uz after persuading them of her ability in three tests which they set her. When Hagunda returned, she brought warriors of the Uz who joined with us to strike at our enemies. After this she was acclaimed Queen by all the chieftains and priests of the tribe.
Since her time, most of the rulers of our people have been women, for it was now clear to all that they are better able to deal with the leaders of the Uz. Despite the brave deeds of our warriors, the last member of the noble line of the Xenkori was killed near the end of her reign. The farmers of that clan went into the woods of the north, and accepted a leader from among the Godori as their new chieftain, and so founded the Borkarth clan.

7th: DANGINA of the Ostasing (1361-1363)

During this time the werewolves first came among us and slaughtered our animals and our children. Being creatures of chaos, although they often walked in human form they had no knowledge of the laws of Heort, and no understanding of how humans should act.

8th: SIGENDA of the Siganti (1363-1369)

Sigenda was the daughter of Sigant. In her reign the Alda-Churi raided for the first time and they have been our foes ever since. Lissenda, a cousin of the Queen, forged new steads in the west of the valley, and founded a new clan.

9th: ELGANE of the Borkarth (1369-1374)

The first stead of the Golvings was laid by the Queen's brother and his people settled there.

10th: JARANE of the Siganti (1374-1399)

At this time a foreign people who followed strange forms of Heort's Laws, came to live in the Indigo Mountains. They brought with them the worship of Valind, the winter god who wields the powers of Himile. These people were the Vandradi, and they would not acknowledge any King or Queen, but kept to their own council. The Queen decreed that, as the land they lived on was so pitiable, and they were so few in number, we should leave them to the Uz to do with as they wished. To the surprise of all, they survived, although they have never prospered to this day.
Also in this time, we heard word that the Alda-Churi, whose chieftains knew little of honour even then, had pledged tribute to a horse thief. After that, they had few foes besides us to expend their energy upon, save for what slithered out of Ginijji.

11th: RAKINI of the Kethimar (1399-1402)

12th: VALENSTA of the Lissendings (1402-1419)

When the chieftain of the Ostasing died, there was kinstrife between his nephews. Eventually, the followers of Asmand Bearclaw left the clan and travelled into the north where they appointed him chieftain against the wishes of the Queen. Those remaining in the south changed their name to the Ostoki, for they had lost many of their original kin. In shame at being unable to heal the wounds of the tribe, Valensta stood down and resigned her rule.

13th: KASTORLINE of the Kethimar (1419-1427)

The sun-worshipping horse riders were defeated in her reign, and did not threaten us again.

14th: KENDEBRYSS of the Borkarth (1427-1430)

During her reign, a new clan was forged in the steads of the south-west. Erlenda of the Godori became their first chieftain, and the Lissendings leant their support also.

15th: KARENDRA of the Golvings (1430-1437)

When the power of Argan Argar and Ernalda put Valind in his place, the Queen brought together the chieftains of the Ostoki and Asmandi clans and healed the kinstrife without further bloodshed.

16th: HANARIN of the Kethimar (1437-1444)

The northern tribes fought amongst one another at this time, and we grew prosperous as the Alda-Churi grew fewer.

17th: XIOLENNA of the Erlendings (1444-1458)

The mountain clan of the Vandradi came to us during her reign, to ask for the aid of Argan Argar against some enemies they had made among the Uz. The Queen agreed to parley on their behalf, but she was skilled in bargaining and made them swear by their cold god that they would give thanks to Argan Argar for seven seasons. This they did, and, as she had known would happen, Argan Argar made himself so valuable to them in that time that when the seven seasons were up they acknowledged him as their lord forever after. They pledged themselves to the Queen in gratitude for her wisdom, and were counted among our people from that day forth.

18th: HENRIK of the Kethimar (1458-1460)

He was the first king of the Torkani to undertake the rites of Ernalda. In his reign the attacks by the werewolves became more severe and many of the steads were laid bare by their attacks, for chaos was something we had not yet learnt to deal with. Finally, the King and his most loyal carls were slain by a pack of the ravening monsters when the moon was full in the sky and they were at their most dangerous. The werewolves ate their bodies and laid waste to the ancestral stead of the Kethimar, consuming every one of the cattle that was kept there. In sorrow we left the valley to the monsters, and the clan of Torkan was no more.

19th: ARLESTA of the Godori (1460-1470)

20th: EONISLARA of the Asmandi (1470-1477)

She joined with the southern tribes to fight against the werewolves, but though we wounded them severely, we lost many of our own warriors in the process. Hauberk Jon, who lead the battle, later became arrogant and tried to force the tribes closer together, even though the southerners would not respect our gods.

21st: HARLAITH of the Lissendings (1477-1495)

In the fourth year of her reign, Sartar Bondmaker came among us. He made peace with the Telmori, and the Queen accepted the new boundaries. But when he suggested that some of us give up our ways and live amongst other tribes in a crowded city, she refused knowing that our traditions would be weakened and our gods angered.
For all the magic that Sartar could wield, the Alda-Churi in the west were so treacherous that he could make no peace with them, and they raided us instead. At last, Sartar made a city and forged a kingdom. The Queen pledged her loyalty to the new ruler, so as to make peace with all the tribes of the land. But ever after we had the worse end of the deal. Seeing this, the Queen died in mourning.

KINGDOM OF SARTAR (1492-1602)

22nd: YANESTA of the Golvings (1495-1512)

The raids by the Dinacoli tribe against our lands became harsher in the third year of her reign. Hard pressed by Lunars and Alda-Churi to the north, the wicked Dinacoli sought to steal our lands rather than face their true enemies.

23rd: JORALISIN of the Erlendings (1512-1519)

At this time the Alda-Churi began to move east, to the borders of our land, felling the trees and angering the spirits. The King joined forces with the Uz, and stopped them at the Perilous Hills.

24th: INGOSSI of the Borkarth (1519-1533)

In the second year of his reign High King Sartar walked into the sacred flame overlooking the city he had made. Once again the Alda-Churi moved east, but we halted their advance at the banks of the Solfint, though it cost us the life of our King.

25th: FANTARL of the Siganti (1533-1538)

26th: ARKILLA of the Ostoki (1538-1559)

During her reign, a great temple to Lhankor Mhy was built in Jonstown. Our skalds went there for the investiture of the High Priest but they were not welcomed and spoke afterward of the poor learning of these Sages who could remember so little they had to write the tales down on parchment.
When the Lunars defeated Longaxe in Tarsh, the Alda-Churi returned to their raids on our lands. The Lissendings were hard pressed by the Dinacoli, who coveted the rich lands of our valley over the bleak hills of their own homeland. Caring nothing for the ways of honour taught us by Orlanth and Heort, they killed many men, and cruelly enslaved many women. Arkilla lead the fight against them, even in her twilight years taking up sword and mail to throw back the sun-worshipping foe. In her sixty third summer, she took a mortal wound from a poisoned Dinacoli arrow, and died amidst her relatives and loyal comrades. Long may her memory inspire our people.

27th: XERENA of the Godori (1559-1566)

In the second year of her reign, the Dinacoli burnt the steads of the Lissendings, took their cattle and sold the free women of Ernalda that they had captured into slavery. They broke the sacred hearth, and cursed the wyters of the clan. When the Prince did nothing, we refused to aid him at Dwarf Ford, and as a result he was slain by the Lunars. We strove to take back the lands that were rightfully ours, and no Prince could stay our hand. But the Dinacoli used evil fire-magics to strike down the Queen, and she died in the ruins of the first stead of the Lissendings.

28th: UMBRALINE of the Siganti (1566-1577)

The new Prince sided with the Dinacoli and caused such strife that we could never retake our lost lands.

29th: YANIOTH of the Golvings (1577-1580)

30th: TORGARL of the Ostoki (1580-1582)

The Alda-Churi, who did not yet include the Dinacoli among their number, were not so wicked in those days as they are now. So, knowing that the Empire presented the greater threat, Torgarl went with the High King to fight the Lunars at Grizzley Peak. He died there amidst a great pile of the bodies of his foes.

31st: GUSTENDRA of the Erlendings (1582-1594)

She spoke with the voice of prophecy and warned the Prince not to accept the Alda-Churi into the kingdom, but he was not as wise as his father and chose to ignore her.

32nd: NATALINE of the Siganti (1594-1597)

The followers of Yelmalio, god of light and treachery, seized control of the Alda-Churi tribes and so brought weakness to all of Sartar, fulfilling the dire prophecies of Gustendra.

33rd: BRANDGOR of the Golvings (1597-1609)

Woe came to all the tribes when the Lunars seized Boldhome and slaughtered the Prince. Chaos fought itself when the Lunars attacked the Telmori, and forced them to offer tribute to the Empire.

LUNAR OCCUPATION (1602 to Present)

34th: ESROLDESTA MOONSHADOW of the Godori (1609-1611)

While she ruled, some of the Alda-Churi who still held decent values rebelled against the unjust rule of their Yelmalion and Lunar overlords. They were crushed by Harvar the Iron Tyrant, who the Lunars rewarded by making into a false Prince. Ever since the Alda-Churi have been without honour or responsibility. For our support of the freedom fighters, the Iron Tyrant sent assassins who slew our Queen and desecrated her body.

35th: HINDALA CATSPAW of the Godori (1611-1616)

During her reign the tribes united and expelled the Lunars from the land. But through the treachery of the accursed Alda-Churi they reversed their losses and enslaved us all again. Having done so, the Lunars placed a false Prince on the throne of Sartar and possessed him with evil spirits. Having proven their perfidy for all to see, the Yelmalions give up all pretence of peace and honour and raided our lands with renewed vigour. Great is our suffering, but greater still our desire for vengeance against those who have wronged us.

36th: ENELA ASHBROW of the Asmandi (1616-1617)

She ruled but four seasons before she was struck down by a curse of Malia which the Healers could not cure.

37th: YRSA NIGHTBEAM of the Ostoki (1617-present)

She was already of the Vingans before she became Queen. The Lunars continue to persecute and tax us, lending their support to the Alda-Churi who raid our lands unceasingly. The tribal hall in Boldhome was burnt to the ground in the second year of her reign, and we no longer send envoys to the Pretender.

LISSENDING

    The Lissendings were an agrarian clan occupying the western end of Goodfarm Vale. They were eventually extinguished by the Dinacoli tribe of Alda-Churi, which now occupies their lands.

OSTASING

    The Ostasing were the first of the forester clans. In 1418, the Asmandi clan was formed from the northern Ostasing. The southern part of the clan was renamed the Ostoki. They originally occupied the region now inhabited by the Ostoki and Golving clans.

KETHIMAR

    This was the clan to which Torkan himself belonged and which formerly occupied Torkan's Vale. It predates the foundation of the Torkani tribe by centuries and was destroyed by the Telmori in 1460. Aside from the Vandradi, all the noble families of the Torkani clans trace their descent back to that of the Kethimar.

XENKORI

    The third member of the founding triaty (along with the Kethimar and Godori), this clan became extinct in 1359, although it had been in steep decline for a couple of decades prior to this date. Their original lands are now part of the territory occupied by the Kheldon tribe.

CLAN FOUNDATIONS

Kethimar	c.1050 - 1460	independent clan until 1320
Xenkori	1320 - 1359
Godori	1320
Siganti	1342
Ostasing	1349 - 1418	split into Ostoki & Asmandi
Borkarth	1359
Lissending	1363 - 1560
Golving	1372
Ostoki	1418
Asmandi	1418
Erlending	1429
Vandradi	1391	independent clan until 1452

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This page was last updated 15th April 1998 by Jamie 'Trotsky' Revell