History of Yew

Yew , founded on Justice

Yew was founded long before the period of darkness when the evil wizard Mondain ruled the world. The pastoral town is named for the dense population of Yew trees that surround it. Lumberjacks and crafters as well as apothecaries from the then young settlement of Skara Brae and the walled city of Britain had been travelling into the dark woods of the Deep Forest for ages. The voyage over the misty and icy passes of the Serpent Spine mountains was dangerous and only free during the Summer. Therefore many of the lumberjacks and herb-gatherer built small huts on clearings in the Deep Forest. At that time, there were still many druids living in groves in the Deep Forest. These were wise and spiritual people, learning the laws of nature and preserving its beauty and peace.
Also small groups of wild elves were said to hunt in the Deep Forest, but contacts with the human lumberjacks were rare.
Many years passed and what was once very few small huts spread across the whole forest, became a loose settlement in the western part of the forest, near the Lost River Bay, north of the Peaks of Disgrace.
The Deep Forest was still a wild woods with great spiders weaving their webs to trap the unwary traveller and trolls hunting, but the forest also was home to the ancient elves and the mystics of the Deep Forest.
When Mondain rise in power and the first dark age began, the Deep Forest became also known as the dark forest. From the Dungeon Shame came firebreathing wyrms to burn the settlements and from the Orc valley endless hordes of orc began to deforest the Deep Forest to feed the fires of their forges.
South of Yew, on the long road to Skara Brae, the bandits of the crossroads became a menace to the travelling merchants, mindlessly killing everybody.
But the unexpected happened, a stranger from unknown origin appeared upon the call of the Lord British. This stranger was able to defeat the vile Wizard, slaying him and shattering his source of power, the gem of immortality. The fall of the Wizard is said to be this, that the roots of the mountains began to shake, the trees began to moan and the sea to boil. But soon after, the hordes of Mondain’s minions withdraw. Without his will, they slaughtered themselves and were easy prey to the remaining forces of the free people.
The Dark Forest again became known as the Deep Forest. But while it is still a place of tranquillity and peace in many parts, being home to pixies, elves and men alike… some of the more powerful evils remain. After the Fall of Mondain, the more powerful of Mondains servants spread across the lands. Some of these dark men founded the evil town of Nokhmar south of Yew and posing a constant thread to the people of Yew.
The crypts in the eastern part of the Deep Forest are haunted to this very day and in their dark halls under the Serpent’s Spine, the orcs breed and forge weapons for the next war.

Lord British knew that the rise of Mondain was a result of distrust and envy and sent out scholars and philosophers to help unite the people. He promoted his philosophy of the virtues and brought the three artefacts of power – the Book of Truth, the Candle of Love and the Bell of Courage – places dedicated to these principles.
A group of monks, known as the Brotherhood of the Rose, pilgrimaged to the Deep Forest to seek wisdom from the druids. These monks were fascinated by the deep peace and many miracles of the woods as well as by the wisdom of the druids, who already were concerned with the concepts of justice. Therefore the monks settled down near the shore of Yew Bay and founded the Empath Abbey. The shrine of Justice was erected on the eastern border of the Deep Forest near the Lake of Remembrance.
By order of Lord British, the Royal Court and the Royal Prisons of Britannia were also built in Yew. The land's highest court is located to the northwest of the city of Yew. It boasts an extensive jail, though traditionally some of the worst criminals in the land are instead sent to the Dungeon of Wrong.
What was before the first Age of Darkness a small settlement, now became a centre of scholarship, second only to Moonglow. Judges, mages, merchants and many more educated and wealthy folk moved to Yew to enjoy the peace of the woods and work at the monastry, court or centres of scholarship. Back in these days, Yew was a more friendly and open place then it is today. Travelling groups of students came to visit the druids and learn from them the ways of justice and nature.
But while pleasant folks was then living in Yew, the elves withdraw deeper into the deep forest, founding the village of Andune which lies somewhere hidden beyond the Lost River Bay. Many elves vanished during the first Age of Darkness and only very few high elves still frequented the town of Yew.
Other people settled down near the Shrine of Justice and founded the town of Deepwater.
The monks of the Brotherhood began cultivating grapes and their vinery soon became renown all over the land.

The years passed and more and more humans dwelled in the town of Yew. It was still hidden under the branches of mighty Yew oaks, but at least in the town area, the Deep Forest lost most of its former secrets and deepness. Many inhabitants of Yew began to fear the elves. And only few knew, that there still were high elves meeting the monks, mystics and druids for discussions on the now established virtues.
Then came the events that lead to the so called Second Age. A group of dark cultists, known as the Followers of Armageddon tried to call Armageddon on the world, using dark and foul rituals. Two powerful lichs conspired with the cult, the Followers of Armageddon, and besieged Yew. Many monks died during that siege and more fled after the battle was over. A great many young men and old veterans from all the free towns and cities were sent out. Few returned from the battles. But in the end, the cult was stopped in their plan and their dark spell failed.
It was in the year 318 after the defeat on Mondain, when as result of this dark cult’s rituals, a new world was discovered. The Lost Lands. This discovery led to many young men leaving the Yew area and the forest quickly took back what was its since the beginning of the world.
Yew has lost many of its inhabitants. The monastry was heavily damaged, many books had been burned in the fiery battles and many scholars died. The economy was down and the once regular trade caravans to Yew now came seldomly. With many scholars and monks leaving and with the sorrows of the war still fresh in memory, Yew became again a settlement by superstitious people. The inhabitants began again to fear treason and sorcery.
The Abbey was rebuilt, but the age of scholarship and enlightment in Yew was once and forever gone.

Many years after the Followers of the Armageddon were destroyed, a second Age of Darkness began. The witch Minax, an apprentice of Mondain, gathered troops and tried to conquer the kingdom of Britannia. Minax had several lieutenants, two of them, the Gazerlord Kaltar and the Minax’ general Keeonean besieged, attacked and conquered Yew. The battle with Minax lasted long and Yew was freed. Again due to the great efforts and with huge sacrifices by the free people. Humans and elves alike. But Minax still was not beaten. The world changed under her terrible powers. Lakes and rivers became poisoned, the trees died and crushed bones are now lying around everywhere.
Noble Lord British was abducted by her forces and is missing since that very day.
Nystul, the royal court mage had been ordered by Lord British to find the hideout of Minax, but found during his research that there was actually not just one Britannia, but two facets of it. Many scholars even believe that there are many Britannias! This all is thought of as result of the shattered gem of immortality.
After Nystul succeeded in opening a stable magic gateway to this second facet, many of the free people fled to this facet which was soon known as Trammel.
The old facet, known as Felucca is still plagued by war of the factions, but most commoners arranged well with their new home.

They had hoped for peace, but alas peace prevailed only for some short years. Since the abduction of his friend and liege Lord British, the once respected Lord Blackthorn grew increasingly insane. What was once his thoughtful teachings of freedom and creative chaos, became the madness of lust for power. One day he vanished, only to reappear shortly after as a mechanical abnormity of nature. With Lord Blackthorn’s reappearance, strange new creatures, the Juka came and brought war to the lands. Behind Lord Blackthorn and these Juka was another great evil, Exodus.
The third Age of Darkness began. Blackthorn recruited many men from the regular army and appealed to their lust for power and wealth. They soon became known as the chaos dragoons. Juka and dragoons troops conquered Yew, enslaving the peaceful inhabitants and killing all those that resisted.
The war against Exodus was long, especially without the guidance of Lord British. Minor nobles and heroes tried to fill this gap but succeeded only in parts.
When all hope was lost, another new race appeared. The Meer. Those cat-like and nature-loving people seem to be the arch-enemies of the Juka. By using powerful magic, the Meer planned to destroy the Juka of Yew. Alas, their magic failed and misfired.
The destructive power of that spell perverted the life force of the Deep Forest and the animals living in it. The Meer eternals blamed the people and the land itself, for they claim it was already perverted. But for whatever reason the magic failed, it worked slowly but seemingly unstoppable. The once peaceful town of Yew became a swamp, drowned in the stench of death and decay. Abnormities of animals lurked the woods and killed anything that came near them. While the Juka withdrew Yew wasn’t saved. Again the free people succeeded at least in stopping that Meer spell in continuing destroying the Deep Forest and Yew. But the damage done couldn’t be undone.
Thus it mattered little to the people of Yew that Exodus was driven back and possibly vanquished that year. Yew was gone. The Deep Forest was split in two halfs, with a death fense and swamp in its middle.

The Elves of Andune are now the only known group of elves still living in the Yew area. Alas their village is hidden away and is situated on Felucca. The lumberjacks, herb-gatherers and people of Yew became even more superstitious and moved to the southern part of the Deep Forest, forming a militia. This so called Guardsmen Militia acts independently of the successors of Lord British and protects their people. But they are unfriendly to outsiders, despising the snobbery of the British people or the Skara Brae Rangers. Elves, as a result of this, are rarely seen in the inhabited area of the Deep Forest anymore.

As a result of the many battles and swamp, there is almost no trade with the other towns. Many villagers who could afford, moved away to either Minoc or Skara Brae, leaving behind the less fortunate. These are a rough and down to earth people. The use of magic is shunned and not few travelling mages found themselves thrown out of Yew and threatened because they dared to use a magic spell. These people even hunt elves, seeing in them a source of evil.

North of the swamp lies the Abbey of the Brotherhood of the Rose. It is still in a good condition and the monks continue in their service for the Principle of Love. Despite great efforts to enlighten the people of the southern Yew area, they failed. And more than once the monks have been accused of being unvirtuous or even traitors to the real people.

There are also only few druids left living in their groves. Many of the druids died in the battles that devastated Yew; others moved to Spiritwood. The remaining druids still hold high the virtue of Justice as well as the laws of nature. There are rumors of a group of Mystics and Druids just recently having formed a small settlement dedicated to scholarship and enlightment. It is also said that all travellers, be them mages or elves, will find shelter and protection there.

The eastern parts of the Deep Forest, near the Bay of Remembrance, are only inhabited by some rangers, trappers and lumberjacks. These people prefer the solitude of the wilderness and are better left alone. The town of Deepwater is now deserted, only very few of its citizens still live there.

The Feluccean village of Dreamstone also lies near Yew and Nokhmar. This town is home to many rangers that fled from the destruction of Yew.

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