Hallowvale

This article is about Hallowland (aka the Hallowed Lands), an ancient region. See The Hollows if you are looking for the article about a present-day region of Morytania.

The Hallowed Lands is a name given to a region—now encompassing Morytania, the Sanguinesti Region, and possibly parts of the Southern Sea—which was ruled by the Icyene from as early as the Second Age of Gielinor, eclipsing to the Vampyre during the Third Age, but may have still stood into the early Fourth Age. The kingdom was heavily wooded, but arable. The capital, Hallowvale, became known as Meiyerditch after Lord Drakan's conquest of the region.

History

It is unclear as to when the Hallowed Lands first arose. However, it is known to have finally fallen after the eight-century reign of King Ascertes and his Queen, Efaritay - possibly as late as the early Fourth Age.

“Eight centuries and score into the history of our land there came a darkness which fell about the land once called Hallowvale. The Queen of that sad time, an Icyene of once formidable power, became to be deposed by ‘his-dark-self’ and his hordes. Against all of her considerable will she was forced to kneel and attend ‘his-dark-self’ in order that she might save her loving husband Ascertes.”

Ambiguity

With the exclusion of Hallowvale, Saradomin's projected territory during the second age was negligible. Without a substantial force, Saradomin would have not survived the early stages of the war let alone the eventual near-dominance of a dominion even larger than Zaros' - making it likely Hallowland, or at least Icyene territory in the Mort Myre-region of Morytania, present during the second age (since most other territories already had occupants/alignments during the time of Zaros' reign). This contradicts some theories that Zaros held the entirety of Morytania, but his reach could have easily been restricted to the north coast - supported by Kharyrll being his only known stronghold in the area.

The story of The Fall of Six places Lord Drakan's conquest and reign during the third age, implying that the Hallowland was either completely or near-completely taken before we enter the fourth age. This is supported by the region being apparently permitted to Drakan in exchange for his services from Zamorak in the fall of Zaros in the second age: Drakan having no reason to delay being without alignment during the war itself. It's stated in the postbag that relations between Drakan and Zamorak weren't more than 'enemy of my enemy'. Although this is contradicted by FunOrb game, Armies of Gielinor, which implies the Vampyre were avid followers of Zamorak. However, many consider the Armies of Gielinor "official fanon", rather than full canocity.

The confusion arises as it's believed Zamorak attacked Morytania separate from Drakan's invasion. However, it should be noted that the Third Age did last 4000 years. This leaves room for Zamorak's invasion, eight centuries of King Ascertes (although it would have probably been mentioned if he was their only king), Drakan's conquest, and the events within the Fall of Six as Saradomin attempts to reclaim the land. If Zamorak did invade prior to Drakan, it's evident he failed to defeat the local forces, else Drakan would have been attack Zamorak, and not the Icyene - unless people are actually suggesting that Zamorak attack, conquered, then the Icyene invaded, managed to establish a kingdom, have at least two kings one of which with an eight-century reign and then be attacked by Drakan.

What's possibly interesting is that, if Zamorak failed, that Drakan might in fact be more powerful than the collective might of Zamorak's forces - unless Zamorak never really tried to invade, of course.

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The end of the Hallowed Lands came about when Lord Drakan invaded the region. He captured King Ascertes, and made false promises to the Queen to make her surrender. He then used his powers to flood the land and blot out the sun, turning Hallowland into a ravaged and largely inhospitable swamp - powers unrivalled by his kind millennia later.

He converted Hallowvale's cities into ghettos, where humans were (and still are) farmed for their blood, and subjugated the northern parts to Blood tithes. nl:Hallowland