[Book Series] The Jungles of Apes, Second Edition

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Violet
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[Book Series] The Jungles of Apes, Second Edition

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Jungles of Apes, Second Edition

The following is present on all volumes:
The Jungles of Apes, Second Edition

An Imgan History of Valenwood.

By Tibius Alericus

Edited by Ariela Vindisa
Volume 1:
It is here in the south-western corner of the continent that the The Great Apes of Tamriel were formed from soul that is soil. "Imga", roughly translating to "Earth-Born Kings" in Imgan, have existed since the Merethic, and have had a great many kingdom throughout the reign of elves and men. According to the tales of the mystics and chronicler-sages of the Apemen, their empires spanned throughout most of south-western and west-central Tamriel. Today, they live in harmony with their neighbors and the land, whether they be elf, man, or Orc.

During the Late Merethic era, the Imga of the day stood firm on their hold over what is now known as Valenwood, allowing the newly formed Bosmer to further push the Ayleids of the north out of the lands. Throughout modern day Colovia, Elsweyr, and the Cyrodiilic Heartlands, the Imga had lost many of their city states to the Ayleids, Centaur, and Khajiit who hungered for expansion. What remains of these original inverted, spire-like city-states are mostly lost to time outside of Valenwood, though a few remain today near the province's border.

With the clever green elves hungry for flesh and soil upon the interior of the forests and the Ayleid building their own blinding structures to the north, the great Imga, King Gurkaathen, had the foresight to form an alliance with the Bosmer. At the summit of Thah'Rukvi, Gurkaathen and The Sylvan Heart signed the Garden Accords, signed upon the blessed bark of the First Tree that is Falinesti, who had presided over the summit and had willingly given his flesh so that the Imga and Bosmer might prevail. The Garden Accords has remained the foundational piece of Valenwood law to this day.

The Bosmer were victorious, and so too was the Imgan Alliance. Seeing the combined might of both the great nation and the newborn race, the eastern cats grew timid and fled for a time. The Great Jungles of Apes had established themselves as a land not to be conquered, and as their neighbors trembled at its might, so too did both ape and elf flourish. King Gurkaathen had been become a saint among ape, and The Sylvan Heart, or "The Silvenar", would use this victory to expand his people's influence and number. The Imga, knowing the guile of these new elves, knew that keeping a firm thumb on their race would only lead to rebellion, resulting in yet another enemy for them to defeat. Instead, the Imga, lead by Saint Gurkaathen, opted to mentor their new residencies.

As the Kings of Thorimil and Camoran would eventually rise, the Apes would be their advisors, mystics, and councilors. The Bosmeri Kingdom of Camoria would grow more egotistical with each King or Queen Camoran, and thus would listen to their Imgan mentors less and less. If it were not for Arenthia's King Crito Thorimil's offerings to the great Imgan State of Nur'Hagathek in 1E 792, the Imga likely would not have considered returning to the forefont of Bosmeri politics, but rather would have taken them over in a civil war. The Imga would not have the same level of overt influence as it did during the reigns of Eplear and Arenth, nor would they ever again, but the Great Apes have no use for a strong guiding hand today, as the Bosmer show little concern for meddling in the affairs of the Imgan States.
Volume 2:
It's believed the Prophet Marukh was born between 1E 285 and 1E 288, though Imperial and Imgan scholars have debated furiously on the exact year. What we do know is that he was born just outside of Theguurin along the western Strid, one of a dwindling number of active Imgan under-towers of that day. An auspicious child, even by Imgan standards, Marukh took it upon himself to explore all that he could in his youth. Traveling to the Imperial City to study the budding theologies and myths, he found himself lost in the doctrines of various gods and cults not dissimilar to one another. One day while deep in his studies, they say he had been given a revelation by The One -- a deity of which all other gods and greater spirits are aspects of. He published what would be now known as the Alessian Doctrines in (approx.) 1E 310, though the Nedic peoples of the days are not known for their duteous dating, much less after Marukhatism came to be.

Marukh's teachings have swayed countless men, kings, and clergy alike, more so than your average Ape's syllabic symbolism. The Prophet Marukh is a contentious figure to the modern Imga, considered a "Relurkehet" or "Grand Heretic" in Imgan oratory traditions and scholarly traditions. He is recognized for his contributions to history, but is not considered a saint. There are, however, a small sect of revisionist Marukhatis present among the greater Imgan society.

Marukh's life's work would influence the continent for Millenia to come, and while the elves and Apes would feel little of their impacts -- for the elves are too stubborn and the Apes are too steadfast -- Marukhatism would be the catalyst for the Hestrian Wars, which would eventually bring themselves to Camoria's borderlands.

Prior to Camoria being dragged into the Hestrian Wars, the Altmer had visited their former colonials within the Empire of Camoria on occassion, however, it wasn't til the Battle of Tharribar in 1E 1030 that Camoria would begin to retain permanent embassies between the two governments. It was in the Bosmers' best interests to align themselves with beings such as the Altmer, and the more space between the radical Alessians and The Golden Ones, the better.

During these times, there would be many meetings with Altmeri diplomats, strategists, and nobles taking place in the Capitol of the Green's Heart. This sudden influx of Altmer visitors would allow many Great Apes their first introductions to The Golden Ones and their kind. Word spread of the Golden Nobles to all the Imgan States, as did tales of their riddled speech and mesmeric walk. What little direct interaction the visitors had with the Imga was spent with the Apes in awe of the Altmer, and a sincere desire to better one's self -- much to the pleasure of those Golden Ones. Over time, the Ape Men would recite the secrets of the Golden Ones, as their whispers had bled through the foliage in numerals only they could understand.

When Camoran Athranor met his end in 1E 1033, the Sap Elves were understandably feral -- as they are known to do in times of crises. If it weren't for the influences of the Altmeri diplomats and advisors, the Camoran Tribe would likely have allowed their ferality to take over themselves and unleashed the Wild Hunt. It was soon after the death of Camoran Athranor and crowning of Queen Camoran Nathigil as his successor, the skirmishes along the Strid River would soon cease for a time; And with it, the Altmeri influence would begin wane. As the Summerset Isles would be safe from the men once more, so too did its concern for the Camoran Empire. While many Altmer would remain in the Jungles and Marshes of Camoria and build lives amongst the Feral Ones, many more returned to their shimmering manors and spectra of spires.
Volume 3:
Throughout most of the First Era and all of the Middle Dawn, the Imga would prosper as would the Bosmeri Empire of Camoria, which would in time be conquered by the Empire of Reman. The decimated Camoran Empire would fracture under Imperial rule into various Kingdoms, not unlike the Kingdom of Arenthia, which remained strong due to both its Bosmeri double-speak as well as its ties to the Imgan States. The manish races settled into the Bosmeri gardens and groves, with little care for traditions, taking great care not to tred on sacred Imgan soil or claimed Orcish territories.

By the fall of the Serpent's Throne, the province of Valenwood, shallow husk of Camoria, was shattered under its own bureaucratic weight. As Kingdoms clashed and borders were infinitely redrawn, the Orcs of the jungles made quick work seizing leftover territory from warring tribes and exiled Dukes fleeing the poisons of the local flora and elf.

While the Sap-Elves waged their tribal skirmishes, the Fish Elves came from the southern shores to claim the Forest-Flesh as their own, and the cats had grown large and feral enough to no longer cower in the Ape Men's might. With both enemies at the throats of the weakened Imgan Allies, it was the Gold Ones -- The Altmer -- who came to their side. The Bosmer would yet again be spared from extinction. The valiant Altmer would chase out their southern nemeses, while also aiding in construction of several naval bases throughout the coast to ward off future invasions, they would fortify choke points along the Xylo to keep the desert cats out as well. It was clear to the Imga that these were beings worthy of respect.

The Altmer would follow in the Ape Men's footsteps and guide the Bosmer into a new era. Soon, the Golden Ones would be tricked by men with a clever-time. The Walk of Disruption by the lich-sage Zurin Arctus would cripple the Aldmeri Dominion. In vain, the strongest supporters of Altmeri Dogmas among the Imga, foreseeing these events as if a memory to come, would do their best to conceal their allegiances from the lich-sage's golem. Their scattered soils guide the Nabg of Imgan culture even today.

Gone were the days of the Reman, Serpent, and Golden Empires that held the province of Valenwood. Where the Golem laid waste to the treasures of Aldmeri Glory, the new Emperor would cast his own shadow along the jungles of Ape and elf. The great Aldmeri port-fortress of Diss left to warped rubble, built over by the Imperials as the great Emperor's Run. The Southern Point of Athaweh, taken over by the Agha of the Krisilthi Tribe as the Wise Ones fled what remained of their great port -- for The Southern Point, shortened today to Southpoint, would now be under the Bosmeri rule of Tiber-sympathizers. Even the city and Kingdom of Silvenar, which had been eternally ruled by The Silvenar, would be put under the command of the Emperor's niece, Kintyra Septim.

While many Ape and Bosmer indeed did benefit from the reign of Tiber Septim, I would be remiss to note that many more didn't see it as an improvement at the time. Particularly those Altmer left amongst the ruins of their great Dominion, as well as the Apes and Orcs who had little faith in the generosity of man during the changing of regimes.
Volume 4:

The Imga felt little affect of the tragedies that would befall Valenwood and the rest of the Septim Empire during the 3rd Era. Left relatively unscathed and withdrawn from the wars and politics of the centuries. With the exception of the Camoran Usurper, one might be under the impression that the Imga contribute little if nothing at all to the grander stage of Tamrielic events.

When The Usurper claimed the Camoran Crown, the Imga were among his greatest internal opponents, alongside The Silvenar, as well as Thorimil, Krisilthi, and Forrayn Tribes of Arenthia, Southpoint, and Greenheart, respectively. This would be the first time since the Dominion that Southpoint and Imga would be united as one, and would too be the first time since the days of King Crito Thorimil that the Kingdom of Arenthia would respect the Imgan ideals as their own.

The Usurper would not let this opposition rest, however. The Great Imgan States of Gel'Grahet, Duunakvi, and Pragthah were among the many Imgan cities to fall by The Usurper's hands, while the Greenheart towns of Hyarneth and Corithyrn would similarly be decimated. King Esladir of Southpoint would, too, be executed, and his much more supportive brother Dardir would be crowned King for a year -- before his loyalties were questioned and him too, executed. Dardir's wife, Cyldra Krisilthi, would carry out Haymon Camoran's wishes as Queen of Southpoint until The Usurper's eventual demise by Breton hands.

Neither Imga, nor the other Bosmeri Kingdoms had it worse than the Kingdom of Arenthia, however. The Thorimil Tribe, with a history of repeated double-speak and outsider sympathies, would be made an example of. Before Haymon would march onto conquer the north, he would raise his armies of undead in the city of Arenthia itself, killing any citizen who dared to venture out into that destructive wave of undeath. The Usurper would not immediately march forward, however, for he had his liches and vampires break through the gates of the palace where Queen Saraglith Thorimil laid in wait. Despite the fiercesome battle of magery on display within the palace walls, The Usurper returned with the corpse of the queen -- bound to his command. The day word of Haymon Camoran's death reached the jungles of Valenwood was a day of celebration, a day of celebration that continues in both Bosmer and Imgan households to this day.

The scars left from the Usurper's wake left the Empire in a state of distrust regarding the Green Elves. The Bosmer lost a great deal during that time, though not to the same extent as the Imga. The Feral Elves would once again turn to their old allies, the Ape Men, for guidance and solidarity. The Imga would established renewed communication with the Bosmer, and would share their knowledge of that-which-can-be-spoken with the foreign men that presided within the Kingdoms.

As Lylaweh Camoran would take over as Queen Camoran following Haymon's deserved demise, she would appease the Septim Empire and allow them to build even more Imperial Fortresses within the province, such as the Thormar Keep in Arenthia Kingdom. The graciousness of Lylaweh allowed her to see the value in appointing representatives of the Imgan States to the courts of all Kingdoms, Lordships, and Duchies within the province; Be them of elf or manish origin. For a time, the Clever Elves would not see themselves as too clever for Apeish Wisdom, though as they say in Imgan -- History forgets itself.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This historical thesis was given to the Scribes Guild under the guise of an impartial Imperial scholar. It is with great displeasure to inform the reader that the author is now known to be a failed academic known as Ugoorhan, an Imga whose area of expertise -- if one can call it that -- is historical fiction. Little of what is said as fact in these volumes are questionable, however, they are riddled with the same racial biases that plagues many of Ugoorhan's early works. Due to both the factual nature of this work, and the fact that the original volumes were already haphazardly published. It was determined that the best course of action would be to publish this edited version of the document. Correcting any factual errors found within, while retaining the original spirit of the author's work.)

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