DAUGHTER of VENUS BACKGROUND HISTORY

 The worldbuilding in the Daughter of Venus series is complex and detailed.

 This is the first in what will be a series of posts explaining the history and lore.

BACKGROUND HISTORY

Daughter of Venus takes place on the planet Ayandoh (eye-an-doe), a parallel world to Earth. The story of Ayandoh's creation will follow in another post.

The country of Gowerland exists on the continent of Nebella. The continent contains two distinct regions, separated in the northeast by the impassable Mountains of Meeshatri. Prior to the arrival of Godric and Bain Gower (aka Godric the Grave and Bain the Banisher), the entire continent was known as Nebella.

The power-hungry brothers passed through a Veil in northern Nebella during the Transit of Venus in 1639. Both were high-ranking officers in the British Army and were accompanied by a party of soldiers. They carried with them the best technology of the time, including compasses, telescopes, and, of course, guns. Nebellians thought these objects magical and considered Godric and Bain (and, to a lesser extent, their inferiors) powerful witches of a foreign magic.

Rather than disagree with or mock Nebellian beliefs, Godric and Bain were wise (and cunning) enough to play along, using the beliefs to their benefit. They pretended to be fellow believers and claimed to have been sent by the goddesses on a mission to protect and defend Nebella. So impressed were the Nebellians that they brought Godric, Bain, and their party before The Council, Nebella’s form of government. The Gower brothers and their men pledged their allegiance but plotted and schemed behind closed doors.

The brothers and their men soon found allies among Nebellian citizens of all classes. Through them, they learned that whoever possesses control of the Tablet of Destiny* becomes the ruler of Nebella. Currently, this was the queen. The Tablet was under heavy guard that included magical wards and enchantments. Only the queen herself could lift the final enchantments, which presented a problem.

Another problem the brothers encountered was the Loinnai (low-in-eye), the so-called light elves. Kind, benevolent, and wise, the Loinnai were sent to Ayandoh by the Mother (goddess Ayanella) to serve as guardians and advisors for the planet’s people as well as nature. They saw the brothers for what they really were and attempted to convince The Council and the citizens of Nebella not to trust them. After being openly insulted and dismissed and their counsel ignored, they left Nebella. This lifted their protection of the continent and allowed Selenites (dark elves) access to Nebella for the first time in history. The Selenites and the Gowers became allies.

Ultimately, Godric tricked the queen into showing him the Tablet and seized control of it and the country, becoming the first Gower king. Bain became his Hand, or second in command. They quickly set upon clearing the land of “lesser” races such as dwarves, grotts, and halflings. The brothers also wanted to rid the country of witches (aka Vedosh) because they were afraid of their magic, but they decided to use them for their powers first. The Vedosh were rounded up and given a choice. They could fight for the Gowers or see their loved ones killed one by one until they either agreed or were themselves killed.

The citizens revolted, but because the Nebellian culture had always been one of peace, weapons and skilled civilian fighters were scarce. With the army, the Vedosh, and the Selenites at their disposal, Godric and Bain won the war. The surviving members of the decimated non-human races were either enslaved or sent to small, contained territories around the country. The sites of the territories were carefully chosen near mines and other resources, and their true purpose soon became clear. They were work camps, much like Nazi concentration camps.

Once their rule was secure, the Gowers ordered the death of all but the most loyal Vedosh. Those who survived the cull and all future Vedosh were given the same offer as before the war – serve the Gowers or suffer the consequences. As time went on, each generation of Gower kings became less tolerant of and more deadly to the Vedosh. Under the current reign of King Ulric, Aeric’s father, the only Vedosh permitted to live are Seers, also known as oracles. Vedosh still exist in Gowerland, but their numbers are few and they hide their powers for fear of detection and capture.

The Mountains of Meeshatri served as a barrier that protected the area northeast of the new Gowerland from the scourge of the Gowers. These Nebellians regained the Loinnai’s trust and counsel, once again earning protection from the Selenites. To this day, they continue to follow traditional Nebellian customs, including matriarchy and treating nature with respect. As such, they avoid bloodshed as much as possible, including living a vegetarian, near-vegan, lifestyle.

 

*Further details about the Tablet of Destiny are found in book two of the series, An Enemy Defined.