The Unification of the Shadowed Realm

Very long ago, when men were just discovering the world they inhabit, the Fair Ones of the Shadowed Realm were already forging small principalities and petty fiefdoms, each fighting or forming short-lived alliances with its neighbors, none holding dominion for long.  That was until the son of a warrior-prince, Auberon Marc Turin came to power over his little kingdom.  From there the charismatic and, strange for a Fair One, focused and single-minded prince used force of arms or diplomacy to gain dominance over the adjoining principalities, forming the Grand Fiefdom of Quiet-Fell-Dale.  The princes and princesses of the other fiefs either joined Auberon's side, allying themselves closely to the powerful Fair One; or they opposed him, such as the princes of Black-Post.  Auberon's wars and policies of expansion continued for a century, some domains thrown into chaos as they tried to oppose him especially at the urging of Stephen Fir Argent, the cunning and brooding prince of Black-Post.  Quiet-Fell-Dale finally won the wars when John Tel Cobalt, prince of Gossamer Reach, added his army and clever mind to the might of Auberon's alliance.  Stephen Argent decided to surrender, at the persuasion of Fiona O Yulla, princess of the Green Lands and the newly possessed City of Fifty Tears.  Jack Hoarglass, prince of Glass-Fold and Lost Wind Moors, led many of his fellow princes and princesses to peacefully accept Auberon's rule.  Auberon, instead of ruling as an emperor from Quiet-Fell-Dale, built a new city on the banks of the Fyn River; Fiaill Meri served as the seat of the high kingship of the Shadowed Realm, where the princes and princesses of the realm would gather and elect one, not just of their own ranks but any Fair One they saw fit, to rule as lord of lords, prince of Quiet-Fell-Dale, and High King of the Shadowed Realm.  Auberon was elected the first High King by his supporters, as well as Stephen Fir Argent and some of the princes at first resistant of Auberon Marc Turin's rule.  There was stability at last in the Shadowed Realm under Auberon's high kingship; trade prospered amongst the still autonomous principalities; family feuds were controlled or restricted; and travel to the natural world was regulated by the High Law of the land.  Then word reached Auberon's court that the Mighty One, Darmun, and his kin were planning an invasion of the Shadowed Realm.  The Mighty Darmun had been ruling the mortal world for ages now as dictator, ruling with an iron fist of industry and unquestionable authority over men, which the Fair Ones had not cared about; for what were the concerns and troubles of men to them?  But the news of this planned invasion spurned Auberon to send Dane, a Fair One knight from the court at Fiaill Meri, to aid the human Boron, who had just discovered the power of magic long known to the Fair Ones.  Knight Dane never returned, but Darmun was overthrown and the invasion of the Shadowed Realm disappeared with him.  And so the Fair Ones cared no more for the toils of men, though they continued to visit their world and cause fun or mischief, much to the consternation of humanity's immortal guardians.  As the human world was a constant changing sea of politics and nations, the Shadowed Realm remained in a state of peace for ages, with only minor intrigues and heroic adventures to mark the passage of time.  That was until the high kingship failed.  No one was sure who the assassin of the High King Remus Ley Kirkwall was; some said it was one of the ilk of the Mighty One, Darmun; others that it was a human, hired from the mortal realm; and yet some others said it was a Fair One, perhaps a prince, perhaps Stephen Fir Argent had ordered it.  No one knew, and no one still knows.  But at the meeting to elect a new high king, all the Fairy Princes and Princesses could not come to a decision on who to elect, each was either voting for him or her self, or for some bold knight or humble country fairy. So the throne remained empty.