#BlkDragon*Inn - User contributions [en]

History of Elluria

2016-11-22T04:45:10Z

Stygian: /* 471 (1001 ER) */

The nations of [[Tollor]], [[Elluria]], [[Emil]], [[Sevule]], and [[El-Ekki]] do not use the [[Arangothian Calendar]]. The great Ellurian hero Kel Ellure decreed that dates would be reckoned from the year of [[Ellurian Religion|Gitaro's revelation]] to Polar. Dates before this year are usually noted as BG, or "Before Gitaro's Revelation." Tagran founded the city of Tagrana in Arangoth in the year 530 by Ellurian reckoning. The year 470 in Arangoth was the year 1000 in the Southlands. For clarity, dates given are by the Arangothian calendar, with Ellurian dates in parentheses.

=The Beginnings=

'''2280 BT - 755 BT (1750 BG - 225 BG in Ellurian Reckoning)'''

What is known today as the Southland Peninsula was at first inhabited by numerous tribes of barbaric peoples. These peoples lived in mud huts and lived from hunting and fishing until the city of Dol was erected around 2280 BT (1750 BG) in the valley of the Rainbow River near the site where Lueril (which would later be renamed Kelsville) would be built in 245 BT (285 AG). The people of Dol were called Dolluthians, and they built several cities around the Rainbow River valley, which were governed as independent city-states.

The Dolluthians lived a relatively peaceful life until a mass migration by a people known as the Loquites around 1915 BT (1385 BG). The Loquites overran the Dolluthian cities, but were promptly driven out. The Dolluthians conquered the Loquites after several years of bloody warfare, and subjected them to slavery and servitude. The Dolluthians led a peaceful life once again until 1553 BT (1023 BG), when they were conquered by the Harons, a barbaric people from what is now Emil, who had somehow managed to develop the processing of iron ore. The Harons destroyed much of the Dolluthian civilization.

The Haron Empire lasted only until 1540 BT (1010 BG), and it crumbled into several small kingdoms with a variety of Dolluthian influence. The Dolluthians managed to rebel against the Harons and destroy them after a very bloody war in 1512 BT (982 BG), but the survivors were too few in number to rebuild their civilization, and they scattered to various other places, possibly to what is now Sevule and El-Ekki. The region went through a dark age until 1005 BT (475 BG), when the Teldanari settled in a city called Jorafel. The Teldanari traded with the barbarian descendants of the Dolluthians and Loquites, whom they named the Tollor peoples. These Tollor peoples rose up against their Teldanari neighbors in 938 BT (408 BG) and drove them out of Jorafel, which they renamed Tollor. The city of Tollor thrived peacefully until 755 BT (225 BG), when the Aslarian Empire conquered all of the Southlands.

=Under the Aslarian Empire=

'''755 BT - 198 BT (225 BG - 332 ER)'''

The Aslarians introduced the Tollorians--as well as some of the undeveloped peoples of the Southland Peninsula including the J'Lontz and the Emilians--to the methods large scale agriculture and used their city of Tollor (which they renamed New Rispith) as an outpost for trading the region's vast wealth of grain and lumber. They built the cities of Norlin and Garusk in 658 BT (128 BG) and 645 BT (115 BG) as trading centers to the far away lands of Arangoth and Vallaria. The port city of Pearl (which was later renamed Ellure) was established in 475 BT (55 BG), and thrived as not only a port for Aslarian trade, but a cultural and artistic shrine of the area. The Aslarians taught the Tollorians the use of their alphabet with their Tollorian language instead of the archaic Teldanari hieroglyphs they had been using. The Aslarians also made sure to keep the various tribes of the region separate. In the year 530 BT (1 ER), a poor farmer named Polar had a vision that led him to the island of [[El-Ekki]] to receive a [[Ellurian Religion|revelation from the gods]], which was the origin of El-Ekki's importance as a sacred place to the Tollorians.

While the Aslarians had ruled with a relatively light hand for centuries, their policies began to change under the influence of a new cabal of Viziers that took power in the 204 BT (326 ER). They enacted policies to mandate the use of the Aslarian language for all public business and commerce, and suppress the native religion in favor of Munism. These policies were deeply unpopular and sparked an uprising. The Aslarians were finally overthrown by the Tollorian people led by the legendary Kel Ellure in 198 BT (332 ER). Tollorians commemorate their liberation on the 21st day of Second Seed, the day that Kel Ellure's army captured the Tollorian capital. Over the next year and a half, Kel Ellure's army swelled as more people flocked to her banner, and she pushed the Aslarians back to the great fortress of Dashlirak. Though she wished to destroy the Aslarian fortifications lurking on the doorstep of her fledgeling nation, the siege became too costly to maintain and she was forced to admit defeat for the first time and abandon Dashlirak and return to Tollor City.

=The Reign of Kel Ellure=

'''196 BT - 135 BT (334 - 395 ER)'''

Kel Ellure was crowned Queen of Tollor in 196 BT (334 ER), and became an icon of the Tollorian people. She declared that the Tollorian Kingdom's boundaries were to the sea at the west and south, to the mountains at the east, and to the Northland forest to the north. Kel Ellure was a spiritual leader as well as military leader to her people, and dated the new Tollorian calendar from the year of Gitaro's revelation to Polar rather than the year of her birth or coronation. She declared nine days of thanksgiving to the gods following her coronation and made a pilgrimage to the island of El-Ekki, which became the foundations of the Del-Ot festival. Kel Ellure was not only a female ruler in a patriarchal society, but a legendary figure loved by the entire nation. Many traditional proverbs and popular songs were attributed to Kel Ellure's authorship. The neighboring Allarian people so loved the Great Kel Ellure that they soon were known as 'Ellurians', and their cities of Lueril and Pearl were renamed Kelsville and Ellure respectively. Her reign was a peaceful one, with only a brief border dispute with the Kingdom of [[Emil]] in 143 BT (387 ER). There was a massive funeral in Tollor City upon her death in 135 BT (395 ER). Stories of her adventures are still told in many different lands to this day.

=The Reign of Jeon Ellure=

'''135 BT - 118 BT (395 - 412 ER)'''

Jeon Ellure was the only child of Kel Ellure and was crowned king after her death. He was by no means a great leader like his mother. His poor diplomatic policies lead to a war with Emil from 126 BT (404 ER) to 123 BT (407 ER). Tollor was forced to surrender after many costly battles, and Emil took control of the city of Garusk. Jeon was always overshadowed by the memory of his great mother, and eventually he committed suicide by hanging himself with his bed sheets in 118 BT (412 ER).

=The Golden Age=

'''118 BT - 82 AR (412 - 612 ER)'''

Jeon Ellure left three sons and one daughter after his death, and his eldest son Lucus succeeded to the throne. Upon his death, his son Dachard became the new king of Tollor. The reign of Dachard I, his son Alvin, Alvin's grandson Dachard II were peaceful and prosperous. Following Dachard II was the boy king Regari Ellure who was crowned in the year 82 (612 ER), but several days later he was thrown from the palace tower.

=The Rise of the House of Vilgren and the Elluria Campaign=

'''82 - 91 (612-621 ER)'''

The Vilgren Family of Norlin, led by Lord Treshire Vilgren, claimed the Tollorian throne after the death of King Regari, who left no heirs. The Sor Family of Ellure disputed this openly, and the provinces of East and West Elluria declared themselves an independent kingdom in 86 (616 ER). The Vilgren's army attempted to seize Elluria and take it back into Tollorian control, but the Ellurians, aided by the Emilians, fought back, and a very bloody war raged through the Southland until the Tollorian army's final triumph in the year 91 (621 ER). The Tollorians reclaimed the city of Garusk as their own.

=The Reign of Treshire Vilgren I and the "Dark Age"=

'''91 - 147 (621-677 ER)'''

After the victory over the Ellurians and Emilians, King Treshire I instated the Rules of Conduct, a list of elaborate laws and protocol. The purpose behind these laws was to control the people, and it gave unrestricted power to the throne. King Treshire I also dissolved the High Council, which he claimed to be against the word of the god Nyl. The High Council fled to the Northland Province and remained under the protection of the J'Lontz giants. King Treshire I was infuriated, and he sent his Royal Guard to find the Council members, but none of the guards returned. Treshire I responded by ordering a siege of the Northland forest, thus preventing food and supplies from reaching the people of the Northland.

The Emilians decided that this would be an opportune time to retake Garusk in 115 (645 ER). This resulted in another bloody conflict called the Rat War, which eventually ended with an Emilian surrender in 116 (646 ER). King Treshire I declared any "anti-Tollorian" peoples to be enemies of the state, and that any Ellurian, Emilian, and J'Lontz that infringed upon any of the Rules of Conduct be put to death. This resulted in the execution of thousands of people between the years between 116 and 147 (646 and 677 ER).

=The Reign of Winthorpe Vilgren I=

'''147 - 199 (677 - 729 ER)'''

A rise in the Tollorian population led to famine and plague, and as Winthorpe I took the throne, the peasants were already restless. Winthorpe I devised a plan to keep their hatred focused otherwise. He separated the Ellurian and Tollorian villages and circulated rumors that one people were trying to overthrow the other. This was the beginning of a hatred that would last over two hundred years. Winthorpe I did, however, sign a peace treaty with the J'Lontz in 179 (709 ER) which stated that he would cease the violence against the J'Lontz tribe if they would resume paying taxes to the Tollorian government. This turned out to be more than the essentially poor J'Lontz could pay, and the Tollorian Army attacked the J'Lontzek stronghold in 181 (711 ER). The battle lasted for 17 days, and a horrifying number of J'Lontz civilians were slaughtered. The Tollorians marched into J'Lontzek to find it empty. The puzzled army marched back toward Tollor City, and they were annihilated along the J'Lontzek Trail. This was a day to live in infamy as far as the Tollorians were concerned, and it was later known as the Massacre at the J'Lontzek Trail. However, the number of women and children killed during the previous battle outnumbered those Tollorian soldiers lost in the 'massacre' five to one. Winthorpe I caught a terrible case of Leturian fever in 199 (729 ER) and became incapacitated. His 17-year-old wife (and cousin) Talya took over his duties as ruler of Tollor.

=The Reign of Talya Vilgren and the Penede War=

'''199 - 270 (729-800 ER)'''

When Talya Vilgren was crowned Queen of Tollor, she was its first woman ruler since Kel Ellure, and the people suddenly became optimistic. Talya was still a Vilgren, however, and she maintained Winthorpe I's policy of dividing the Tollorian and Ellurian peoples. Some argue that she was the most progress-oriented Vilgren leader. She oversaw the building of many roads and bridges throughout Tollor, almost all of which are still around to this day. The Emilians came to see the exceptionally long rule of a woman on the throne as a weakness of the Tollorian people, however, and they attacked the city of Garusk in the year 270 (800 ER). They were repelled by the Tollorians who, along with the support of the Kingdom of Tyranor, descended upon Emil and seized the city of Locand. The Emilians surrendered after 3 months of war. Queen Talya never knew about the Tollorian victory, however. She died in her sleep the morning of the Emilian surrender.

=The Silver Age=

'''270 - 309 (800 - 839 ER)'''

Queen Talya's grandson was crowned King Treshire II in the year 270 (800 ER). With the Emilian Kingdom defeated, King Treshire II married a Tyranori princess to reinforce the alliance between the two kingdoms. The Tollorians and Tyranori had the south seas to themselves. King Treshire II ordered the building of naval bases in Sevule and El-Ekki in 273 (803 ER) which was used by the two kingdoms to guard their trading routes against pirates. Business boomed in Green Hills and Tollor City. "Half the world's grain is grown in but a portion of this small kingdom," wrote a visiting ambassador. The times were not as grand for the Ellurian and Sevulian peoples, who depended on fishing as the staple of their economy. The new safety of the southern waters promoted over-fishing, and soon there was no fish to be found. The Sevulians revolted in 307 (837 ER). There was a series of battles in which both sides took heavy losses, and the Tollorians finally withdrew from Y'Kiomi in 309 (839 ER).

=The Reign of Treshire III=

'''309 - 314 (839-844 ER)'''

Of all the Vilgren rulers King Treshire III was the most well-liked by the Tollorian peasantry. He was a charismatic, adventurous man and an excellent public speaker. His addresses to the Tollorian people were legendary, and his contributions to charity were unmatched. He granted El-Ekki its independence in 313 (843 ER). When Brackish invaders attacked Norlin, Treshire III insisted that he fight against them, despite the advice of his royal court. He was killed in battle in 314 (844 ER).

=The Brackish War=

'''314 - 319 (844-849 ER)'''

No one really knew who the Bracks really were, aside from the fact that they were migrant barbarians that had come across the south sea by ship. They viciously attacked the port city of Norlin, paying no attention to the etiquette of warfare. They seized control of the city in 315 (845 ER), and took Kelsville in 316 (846 ER). They were driven out of Kelsville in the same year, however, and expelled from Norlin in 318 (848 ER). By 319 (849 ER), the Tollorian and Tyranori navies, though weakened considerably, had driven away the Brackish savages.

=Recent History=

In the year 374 (904 ER), the J'Lontz giants of the Northland declared their independence from Tollor. The Tollorian crown did not recognize their independence, but made little effort to exert control over the territory.

In the year 462 (992 ER), Winthorpe Vilgren was crowned King Winthorpe II of Tollor. In 466 (996 ER), Tollor and Emil again battle each other in a conflict called the War of the Hordes. This short and indecisive conflict further inflamed the tensions between the Tollorian northern provinces and Ellurian southern provinces.

==Tollorian Civil War==

'''(Also known as The Griffon War) 466-467 (996-997 ER)'''

The southern provinces of Tollor rebelled under the harsh rule of Winthorpe II. Imperialists under King Winthorpe fought the Loyalists under Sir Charles Ruflin. Winthorpe enlisted aid of Griffons from [[Griffon's Aerie]], but he was defeated at the battle of Potter's Hill. Sir Charles enlisted the aid of the peoples of the Northland, and a contingent of elven archers and J'Lontz giants countered the griffon assault. Winthorpe went into exile on [[El-Ekki]], where he died not long after. The the capital of Tollor City was renamed as Ruflin City. Sir Ruflin was proclaimed as a hero of the kingdom, but he retired from public life after the war and declined to take a seat on the newly formed High Council. A High Council of nobles ruled briefly, but tensions between the Tollorian northern provinces and Ellurian southern provinces almost led to another war. The Province of West Elluria threatened to secede, and the young Sir Eldryn Ruflin, adopted Son of Sir Charles, impressed many with his eloquent oratory and skillful mediation of the crisis. The High Council offered Sir Eldryn the crown, and he became Eldryn I, King of the Tollorian and Ellurian peoples. In Last Seed of 467 (997 ER) King Eldrich of the nearby kingdom of [[Emil]] died, leaving his lands to his only child, the fourteen-year-old Laravel of Marland. Eldryn wed Laravel to join the Tollorian and Emilian kingdoms for the first time ever. The new Pan-Ellurian kingdom was known simply as Elluria.

==The Tyranori War==

'''467-468 (997-998 ER)'''

A military coup in Tyranor shifted the balance of power to the mad and occasionally demonic General Redsword, who immediately began to build his Dark Army. He attacked [[Teldanar]], the long-time enemy of Tyranor, and took the Teldanari completely by suprise. Within a few days Queen Lieshazionne was thrown into a prison in Yorklawn. The Dark Army then conquered [[Bahr]], and sent an ultimatum to King Eldryn demanding that he surrender or be destroyed. A powerful Tyranori force in the east soon defeated the Emilians, taking the cities of Arausch, Locand, and Marland within a matter of days. The Emilian army scattered and retreated to Lachstan. King Eldryn dispatched troops under Sir Roger Dulrin to Locand to begin the grim task of taking back Emil. Sir Charles Ruflin took command of a second force to relieve Lachstan, and then marched toward Arausch with a mix of Ellurian and Emilian forces. With victories at Arausch and Pine Marsh, the Ellurians were able to descend on the remaining Tyranori position at Marland. Redsword, outnumbered three to one, retreated back to Tyranor, where his forces were pinned against Akulek Ridge by a combined Ellurian-Teldanari force. Redsword's troops finally turned against their commander and forced his surrender. He was sentenced to death by the victorious allied forces, and his last words before being hanged were an ominous vow to reuturn. Tyranor was divided up between the victorious countries and ceased to exist as an independent kingdom. Those rebellous elements of the Tyranori who could not stand the yoke of their conquerors fled, many to goblinoid Bahr.

==The Southland War==

===468 (998 ER)===
King Eldryn drowned in the Rainbow River in a tragic accident. The Green Hills Plague erupted in Second Seed of 468 (998 ER), decimating the fertile farmlands of East Elluria. Without sufficient manpower to tend to the year's crop, there was a poor harvest. This led to famine and riots in the autumn and winter months which the young Queen Laravel was ill-equipped to deal with. She issued a plea to neighboring countries to come to the aid of her starving people, which some interpreted as a sign of the Queen's weakness. Central authority in Elluria began to unravel as nobles started setting themselves up as local warlords, especially in the northern parts of the kingdom that had been the base of the deposed Vilgren dynasty's Imperialist supporters. Some Tollorian nobles referred to Laravel as the Dark Queen and resisted efforts to re-assert royal authority.

===469 (999 ER)===
A Tollorian noble named Lord Ciroj attempted to destablize Queen Laravel's regime in order to make a bid for a throne. He sent ships flying the Ellurian royal colors to make an unprovoked attack by an the Aslarian port of Selrose Bay, burning much of the city to the ground. He also sent a unit of mercenaries to conduct raids along the Ellurian border with Aslar, falsely carrying Aslarian banners. Aslar declared war upon Elluria, and the Ellurian Royal Dragoons under the command of the grizzled General Andros marched north toward the Aslarian border. General Andros's forces were intercepted by a coalition of Tollorian nobles led by Sir Ekkelrin Maltenel who believed that the threat of war was overblown, and feared that the army's true objective was to subdue the Tollorians. They refused to grant the troops passage through their lands without concessions from the Queen. Neither side was eager to shed Ellurian blood however, and the two sides came to terms after Sir Ekkelrin was convinced of the Aslarian declaration of war. Drachean Dizzy 'Tashli' Longtongue, a kender, was still King of Aslar by lottery but was due to be sacrificed in a few months to make way for the randomly chosen successor. Aslar was considered the more powerful nation, but had not been at war for two centuries, while most Ellurians were well-blooded from several recent wars. Aslar made extensive use of mercenaries in the early stages of the war while their slow and ponderous war machine mobilized. The famous Aslarian scholar, artist, and author Dhakus Maribagh led the Aslarian army as the King's Supreme Arms-Vizier. Arangoth, Teldanar and most other countries declared themselves neutral, but the Korthai Pirates joined with Aslar and began sinking Ellurian ships.

On the 21st day of Second Seed of 469 (999 ER), Aslarian forces conquered the Ellurian city of Dulsi on the anniversary of Kel Ellure's victory over the Aslarians six and a half centuries earlier. Lord Ciroj, the city's defender, was unaccounted for after the battle. It is not known whether he was slain during the sack of the city, or whether he fled into exile. The following month, Queen Laravel succumbed to the Green Hills plague and died. The High Council elected Lord Cyran Eäril-Galindë of Borgeon as the new King of Elluria. The High Council of Emil ordered the Ellurian banners taken down upon Laravel's death and instead elected the deceased Queen's kinsman, Prince Dankin of the House of Eber, as King of Emil. Prince Dankin sent a chest of gold to Aslar as tribute and concluded a separate peace with the Aslarians. Sir Ekkelrin was also a candidate for the throne and took offense when Cyran was chosen instead as the new monarch. He instead negotiated with the Aslarian viziers and accepted the position as Aslarian governor of the province of West Elluria.

At the end of the year, Aslarian King Dizzy Longtongue, unsuccessful at stopping the war, was ritually executed and a new King was chosen by lottery: an Assi 'savage' from the Nie Valley. The new King concluded an alliance with the Assi, who began harassing Arangoth's borders, and presumably began aiding Aslar in its war effort. The alliance came to little and did not last past the year's term of the Assiman. The Assi king reneged on the deal with the Korthai, and they harassed Aslarian shipping in retribution.

===470 (1000 ER)===
The Southland War continues. By 470 (1000 ER) the tide had turned seriously against the exhausted Ellurians. The Capital of Ruflin City fell to the Aslarians in Sun's Dawn, and General Andros was slain in battle. King Cyran was captured after the battle and sentenced to death, and conducted himself with dignity and bravery at his execution. Many Ellurians fled to El-Ekki, where the remnants of the Ellurian High Council created a Government in exile. Aslar seized large swaths of Ellurian territory, expelled a great number of Ellurians from their land, and plundered captured cities to compensate their army. This created a refugee crisis, and many Ellurians who were able to book passage on a ship were given refuge in Arangoth and on Myst, creating two new towns in AngelSinHorna and Vekkilmaril respectively. Those unable to flee were forcibly relocated by the Aslarian army to an area of northeastern Aslar infamous for its poor, rocky soil. The Assi King of Aslar was sacrificed to the Muns at the end of the year and replaced with another astonishing candidate, a Zul Kiran orc.

The [[Alesian Imperium]], a nation previously unknown in Veth, arrived in Elluria from far across the Southern Sea in Hearthfire. The Ellurian Government in Exile had sent out emissaries secretly to several countries in search of military aid, and contacted the Alesians through intermediaries in Bahija. These fierce and disciplined warriors were said to have burned their boats on arrival in the Southland, sending a message that they were here to stay. The Ellurians and Alesians were also aided by the privateering Black Sheep airship and its owner, Resque Maessen. Though it was not widely known, the far-ranging Maessen was the one who put the Ellurians in contact with their saviours.

===471 (1001 ER)===

The Alesians, under the leadership of General Larold Vertonthen and Prince Etaudus Paralor, inflicted a series of defeats on the Aslarians, pushing them back to the Aslarian fortress of Dashlirak. The Aslarians sued for peace and negotiated a treaty that restored the boundaries of the two countries to their original positions before the war. The treaty recreated the kingdom of Tollor from the former Tollorian province as a buffer state between Aslar and Alesian Elluria. Treshire Vilgren, son of the deposed Winthorpe II, became King Treshire V of Tollor by agreement of the Alesians and Aslarians. The provinces of East Elluria, West Elluria, the former annexed Tyranori territory, and the the Northland became the new Alesian protectorate of Elluria. The peace settlement also acknowledged Emil's independence, effectively undoing the unification of the late 460s. By this time, the Northland was firmly under the control of the Alesians as well, and is considered part of Elluria. The Alesians made overtures of friendship toward the J'Lontzek giants, a marked change from the treatment they suffered under the Vilgren dynasty of Tollor. The treaty also called for the return of all displaced Ellurians from Aslar, and for all Aslarian troops still on Ellurian soil to return to Aslar.

Aslarian troops mutinied when they heard of the terms of the peace treaty, and they captured and executed the Vizier who signed it. Dhakus Maribagh was recalled from retirement to lead troops to quell the mutiny. Upon meeting up with the mutineers, Maribagh's troops also mutinied and threatened to execute their commander if he did not join them. The mutineers seized the fortress of Dashlirak, and the Alesians laid siege to the mighty fortress that even Kel Ellure failed to conquer. Dhakus Maribagh led a breakout and escaped with most of his forces, and the Alesians demanded harsher peace terms. In the end, no treaty was officially ratified by either side due to the instability caused by the mutiny and the execution of one of the ruling Viziers, and an uneasy truce remained the status quo. Prince Etaudus Paralor, the new ruler of the Alesian protectorate state, ordered the execution of Sir Ekkelrin for treason, and put the Tollorian noble to death in gruesome fashion to serve as a lesson. Sir Ekkelrin's left limbs were chained to one cart and his right limbs to another, which were then pulled in opposite directions until he expired.

[[Category: History]]

History of Elluria

2016-11-22T04:39:01Z

Stygian: /* 468 (998 ER) */

The nations of [[Tollor]], [[Elluria]], [[Emil]], [[Sevule]], and [[El-Ekki]] do not use the [[Arangothian Calendar]]. The great Ellurian hero Kel Ellure decreed that dates would be reckoned from the year of [[Ellurian Religion|Gitaro's revelation]] to Polar. Dates before this year are usually noted as BG, or "Before Gitaro's Revelation." Tagran founded the city of Tagrana in Arangoth in the year 530 by Ellurian reckoning. The year 470 in Arangoth was the year 1000 in the Southlands. For clarity, dates given are by the Arangothian calendar, with Ellurian dates in parentheses.

=The Beginnings=

'''2280 BT - 755 BT (1750 BG - 225 BG in Ellurian Reckoning)'''

What is known today as the Southland Peninsula was at first inhabited by numerous tribes of barbaric peoples. These peoples lived in mud huts and lived from hunting and fishing until the city of Dol was erected around 2280 BT (1750 BG) in the valley of the Rainbow River near the site where Lueril (which would later be renamed Kelsville) would be built in 245 BT (285 AG). The people of Dol were called Dolluthians, and they built several cities around the Rainbow River valley, which were governed as independent city-states.

The Dolluthians lived a relatively peaceful life until a mass migration by a people known as the Loquites around 1915 BT (1385 BG). The Loquites overran the Dolluthian cities, but were promptly driven out. The Dolluthians conquered the Loquites after several years of bloody warfare, and subjected them to slavery and servitude. The Dolluthians led a peaceful life once again until 1553 BT (1023 BG), when they were conquered by the Harons, a barbaric people from what is now Emil, who had somehow managed to develop the processing of iron ore. The Harons destroyed much of the Dolluthian civilization.

The Haron Empire lasted only until 1540 BT (1010 BG), and it crumbled into several small kingdoms with a variety of Dolluthian influence. The Dolluthians managed to rebel against the Harons and destroy them after a very bloody war in 1512 BT (982 BG), but the survivors were too few in number to rebuild their civilization, and they scattered to various other places, possibly to what is now Sevule and El-Ekki. The region went through a dark age until 1005 BT (475 BG), when the Teldanari settled in a city called Jorafel. The Teldanari traded with the barbarian descendants of the Dolluthians and Loquites, whom they named the Tollor peoples. These Tollor peoples rose up against their Teldanari neighbors in 938 BT (408 BG) and drove them out of Jorafel, which they renamed Tollor. The city of Tollor thrived peacefully until 755 BT (225 BG), when the Aslarian Empire conquered all of the Southlands.

=Under the Aslarian Empire=

'''755 BT - 198 BT (225 BG - 332 ER)'''

The Aslarians introduced the Tollorians--as well as some of the undeveloped peoples of the Southland Peninsula including the J'Lontz and the Emilians--to the methods large scale agriculture and used their city of Tollor (which they renamed New Rispith) as an outpost for trading the region's vast wealth of grain and lumber. They built the cities of Norlin and Garusk in 658 BT (128 BG) and 645 BT (115 BG) as trading centers to the far away lands of Arangoth and Vallaria. The port city of Pearl (which was later renamed Ellure) was established in 475 BT (55 BG), and thrived as not only a port for Aslarian trade, but a cultural and artistic shrine of the area. The Aslarians taught the Tollorians the use of their alphabet with their Tollorian language instead of the archaic Teldanari hieroglyphs they had been using. The Aslarians also made sure to keep the various tribes of the region separate. In the year 530 BT (1 ER), a poor farmer named Polar had a vision that led him to the island of [[El-Ekki]] to receive a [[Ellurian Religion|revelation from the gods]], which was the origin of El-Ekki's importance as a sacred place to the Tollorians.

While the Aslarians had ruled with a relatively light hand for centuries, their policies began to change under the influence of a new cabal of Viziers that took power in the 204 BT (326 ER). They enacted policies to mandate the use of the Aslarian language for all public business and commerce, and suppress the native religion in favor of Munism. These policies were deeply unpopular and sparked an uprising. The Aslarians were finally overthrown by the Tollorian people led by the legendary Kel Ellure in 198 BT (332 ER). Tollorians commemorate their liberation on the 21st day of Second Seed, the day that Kel Ellure's army captured the Tollorian capital. Over the next year and a half, Kel Ellure's army swelled as more people flocked to her banner, and she pushed the Aslarians back to the great fortress of Dashlirak. Though she wished to destroy the Aslarian fortifications lurking on the doorstep of her fledgeling nation, the siege became too costly to maintain and she was forced to admit defeat for the first time and abandon Dashlirak and return to Tollor City.

=The Reign of Kel Ellure=

'''196 BT - 135 BT (334 - 395 ER)'''

Kel Ellure was crowned Queen of Tollor in 196 BT (334 ER), and became an icon of the Tollorian people. She declared that the Tollorian Kingdom's boundaries were to the sea at the west and south, to the mountains at the east, and to the Northland forest to the north. Kel Ellure was a spiritual leader as well as military leader to her people, and dated the new Tollorian calendar from the year of Gitaro's revelation to Polar rather than the year of her birth or coronation. She declared nine days of thanksgiving to the gods following her coronation and made a pilgrimage to the island of El-Ekki, which became the foundations of the Del-Ot festival. Kel Ellure was not only a female ruler in a patriarchal society, but a legendary figure loved by the entire nation. Many traditional proverbs and popular songs were attributed to Kel Ellure's authorship. The neighboring Allarian people so loved the Great Kel Ellure that they soon were known as 'Ellurians', and their cities of Lueril and Pearl were renamed Kelsville and Ellure respectively. Her reign was a peaceful one, with only a brief border dispute with the Kingdom of [[Emil]] in 143 BT (387 ER). There was a massive funeral in Tollor City upon her death in 135 BT (395 ER). Stories of her adventures are still told in many different lands to this day.

=The Reign of Jeon Ellure=

'''135 BT - 118 BT (395 - 412 ER)'''

Jeon Ellure was the only child of Kel Ellure and was crowned king after her death. He was by no means a great leader like his mother. His poor diplomatic policies lead to a war with Emil from 126 BT (404 ER) to 123 BT (407 ER). Tollor was forced to surrender after many costly battles, and Emil took control of the city of Garusk. Jeon was always overshadowed by the memory of his great mother, and eventually he committed suicide by hanging himself with his bed sheets in 118 BT (412 ER).

=The Golden Age=

'''118 BT - 82 AR (412 - 612 ER)'''

Jeon Ellure left three sons and one daughter after his death, and his eldest son Lucus succeeded to the throne. Upon his death, his son Dachard became the new king of Tollor. The reign of Dachard I, his son Alvin, Alvin's grandson Dachard II were peaceful and prosperous. Following Dachard II was the boy king Regari Ellure who was crowned in the year 82 (612 ER), but several days later he was thrown from the palace tower.

=The Rise of the House of Vilgren and the Elluria Campaign=

'''82 - 91 (612-621 ER)'''

The Vilgren Family of Norlin, led by Lord Treshire Vilgren, claimed the Tollorian throne after the death of King Regari, who left no heirs. The Sor Family of Ellure disputed this openly, and the provinces of East and West Elluria declared themselves an independent kingdom in 86 (616 ER). The Vilgren's army attempted to seize Elluria and take it back into Tollorian control, but the Ellurians, aided by the Emilians, fought back, and a very bloody war raged through the Southland until the Tollorian army's final triumph in the year 91 (621 ER). The Tollorians reclaimed the city of Garusk as their own.

=The Reign of Treshire Vilgren I and the "Dark Age"=

'''91 - 147 (621-677 ER)'''

After the victory over the Ellurians and Emilians, King Treshire I instated the Rules of Conduct, a list of elaborate laws and protocol. The purpose behind these laws was to control the people, and it gave unrestricted power to the throne. King Treshire I also dissolved the High Council, which he claimed to be against the word of the god Nyl. The High Council fled to the Northland Province and remained under the protection of the J'Lontz giants. King Treshire I was infuriated, and he sent his Royal Guard to find the Council members, but none of the guards returned. Treshire I responded by ordering a siege of the Northland forest, thus preventing food and supplies from reaching the people of the Northland.

The Emilians decided that this would be an opportune time to retake Garusk in 115 (645 ER). This resulted in another bloody conflict called the Rat War, which eventually ended with an Emilian surrender in 116 (646 ER). King Treshire I declared any "anti-Tollorian" peoples to be enemies of the state, and that any Ellurian, Emilian, and J'Lontz that infringed upon any of the Rules of Conduct be put to death. This resulted in the execution of thousands of people between the years between 116 and 147 (646 and 677 ER).

=The Reign of Winthorpe Vilgren I=

'''147 - 199 (677 - 729 ER)'''

A rise in the Tollorian population led to famine and plague, and as Winthorpe I took the throne, the peasants were already restless. Winthorpe I devised a plan to keep their hatred focused otherwise. He separated the Ellurian and Tollorian villages and circulated rumors that one people were trying to overthrow the other. This was the beginning of a hatred that would last over two hundred years. Winthorpe I did, however, sign a peace treaty with the J'Lontz in 179 (709 ER) which stated that he would cease the violence against the J'Lontz tribe if they would resume paying taxes to the Tollorian government. This turned out to be more than the essentially poor J'Lontz could pay, and the Tollorian Army attacked the J'Lontzek stronghold in 181 (711 ER). The battle lasted for 17 days, and a horrifying number of J'Lontz civilians were slaughtered. The Tollorians marched into J'Lontzek to find it empty. The puzzled army marched back toward Tollor City, and they were annihilated along the J'Lontzek Trail. This was a day to live in infamy as far as the Tollorians were concerned, and it was later known as the Massacre at the J'Lontzek Trail. However, the number of women and children killed during the previous battle outnumbered those Tollorian soldiers lost in the 'massacre' five to one. Winthorpe I caught a terrible case of Leturian fever in 199 (729 ER) and became incapacitated. His 17-year-old wife (and cousin) Talya took over his duties as ruler of Tollor.

=The Reign of Talya Vilgren and the Penede War=

'''199 - 270 (729-800 ER)'''

When Talya Vilgren was crowned Queen of Tollor, she was its first woman ruler since Kel Ellure, and the people suddenly became optimistic. Talya was still a Vilgren, however, and she maintained Winthorpe I's policy of dividing the Tollorian and Ellurian peoples. Some argue that she was the most progress-oriented Vilgren leader. She oversaw the building of many roads and bridges throughout Tollor, almost all of which are still around to this day. The Emilians came to see the exceptionally long rule of a woman on the throne as a weakness of the Tollorian people, however, and they attacked the city of Garusk in the year 270 (800 ER). They were repelled by the Tollorians who, along with the support of the Kingdom of Tyranor, descended upon Emil and seized the city of Locand. The Emilians surrendered after 3 months of war. Queen Talya never knew about the Tollorian victory, however. She died in her sleep the morning of the Emilian surrender.

=The Silver Age=

'''270 - 309 (800 - 839 ER)'''

Queen Talya's grandson was crowned King Treshire II in the year 270 (800 ER). With the Emilian Kingdom defeated, King Treshire II married a Tyranori princess to reinforce the alliance between the two kingdoms. The Tollorians and Tyranori had the south seas to themselves. King Treshire II ordered the building of naval bases in Sevule and El-Ekki in 273 (803 ER) which was used by the two kingdoms to guard their trading routes against pirates. Business boomed in Green Hills and Tollor City. "Half the world's grain is grown in but a portion of this small kingdom," wrote a visiting ambassador. The times were not as grand for the Ellurian and Sevulian peoples, who depended on fishing as the staple of their economy. The new safety of the southern waters promoted over-fishing, and soon there was no fish to be found. The Sevulians revolted in 307 (837 ER). There was a series of battles in which both sides took heavy losses, and the Tollorians finally withdrew from Y'Kiomi in 309 (839 ER).

=The Reign of Treshire III=

'''309 - 314 (839-844 ER)'''

Of all the Vilgren rulers King Treshire III was the most well-liked by the Tollorian peasantry. He was a charismatic, adventurous man and an excellent public speaker. His addresses to the Tollorian people were legendary, and his contributions to charity were unmatched. He granted El-Ekki its independence in 313 (843 ER). When Brackish invaders attacked Norlin, Treshire III insisted that he fight against them, despite the advice of his royal court. He was killed in battle in 314 (844 ER).

=The Brackish War=

'''314 - 319 (844-849 ER)'''

No one really knew who the Bracks really were, aside from the fact that they were migrant barbarians that had come across the south sea by ship. They viciously attacked the port city of Norlin, paying no attention to the etiquette of warfare. They seized control of the city in 315 (845 ER), and took Kelsville in 316 (846 ER). They were driven out of Kelsville in the same year, however, and expelled from Norlin in 318 (848 ER). By 319 (849 ER), the Tollorian and Tyranori navies, though weakened considerably, had driven away the Brackish savages.

=Recent History=

In the year 374 (904 ER), the J'Lontz giants of the Northland declared their independence from Tollor. The Tollorian crown did not recognize their independence, but made little effort to exert control over the territory.

In the year 462 (992 ER), Winthorpe Vilgren was crowned King Winthorpe II of Tollor. In 466 (996 ER), Tollor and Emil again battle each other in a conflict called the War of the Hordes. This short and indecisive conflict further inflamed the tensions between the Tollorian northern provinces and Ellurian southern provinces.

==Tollorian Civil War==

'''(Also known as The Griffon War) 466-467 (996-997 ER)'''

The southern provinces of Tollor rebelled under the harsh rule of Winthorpe II. Imperialists under King Winthorpe fought the Loyalists under Sir Charles Ruflin. Winthorpe enlisted aid of Griffons from [[Griffon's Aerie]], but he was defeated at the battle of Potter's Hill. Sir Charles enlisted the aid of the peoples of the Northland, and a contingent of elven archers and J'Lontz giants countered the griffon assault. Winthorpe went into exile on [[El-Ekki]], where he died not long after. The the capital of Tollor City was renamed as Ruflin City. Sir Ruflin was proclaimed as a hero of the kingdom, but he retired from public life after the war and declined to take a seat on the newly formed High Council. A High Council of nobles ruled briefly, but tensions between the Tollorian northern provinces and Ellurian southern provinces almost led to another war. The Province of West Elluria threatened to secede, and the young Sir Eldryn Ruflin, adopted Son of Sir Charles, impressed many with his eloquent oratory and skillful mediation of the crisis. The High Council offered Sir Eldryn the crown, and he became Eldryn I, King of the Tollorian and Ellurian peoples. In Last Seed of 467 (997 ER) King Eldrich of the nearby kingdom of [[Emil]] died, leaving his lands to his only child, the fourteen-year-old Laravel of Marland. Eldryn wed Laravel to join the Tollorian and Emilian kingdoms for the first time ever. The new Pan-Ellurian kingdom was known simply as Elluria.

==The Tyranori War==

'''467-468 (997-998 ER)'''

A military coup in Tyranor shifted the balance of power to the mad and occasionally demonic General Redsword, who immediately began to build his Dark Army. He attacked [[Teldanar]], the long-time enemy of Tyranor, and took the Teldanari completely by suprise. Within a few days Queen Lieshazionne was thrown into a prison in Yorklawn. The Dark Army then conquered [[Bahr]], and sent an ultimatum to King Eldryn demanding that he surrender or be destroyed. A powerful Tyranori force in the east soon defeated the Emilians, taking the cities of Arausch, Locand, and Marland within a matter of days. The Emilian army scattered and retreated to Lachstan. King Eldryn dispatched troops under Sir Roger Dulrin to Locand to begin the grim task of taking back Emil. Sir Charles Ruflin took command of a second force to relieve Lachstan, and then marched toward Arausch with a mix of Ellurian and Emilian forces. With victories at Arausch and Pine Marsh, the Ellurians were able to descend on the remaining Tyranori position at Marland. Redsword, outnumbered three to one, retreated back to Tyranor, where his forces were pinned against Akulek Ridge by a combined Ellurian-Teldanari force. Redsword's troops finally turned against their commander and forced his surrender. He was sentenced to death by the victorious allied forces, and his last words before being hanged were an ominous vow to reuturn. Tyranor was divided up between the victorious countries and ceased to exist as an independent kingdom. Those rebellous elements of the Tyranori who could not stand the yoke of their conquerors fled, many to goblinoid Bahr.

==The Southland War==

===468 (998 ER)===
King Eldryn drowned in the Rainbow River in a tragic accident. The Green Hills Plague erupted in Second Seed of 468 (998 ER), decimating the fertile farmlands of East Elluria. Without sufficient manpower to tend to the year's crop, there was a poor harvest. This led to famine and riots in the autumn and winter months which the young Queen Laravel was ill-equipped to deal with. She issued a plea to neighboring countries to come to the aid of her starving people, which some interpreted as a sign of the Queen's weakness. Central authority in Elluria began to unravel as nobles started setting themselves up as local warlords, especially in the northern parts of the kingdom that had been the base of the deposed Vilgren dynasty's Imperialist supporters. Some Tollorian nobles referred to Laravel as the Dark Queen and resisted efforts to re-assert royal authority.

===469 (999 ER)===
A Tollorian noble named Lord Ciroj attempted to destablize Queen Laravel's regime in order to make a bid for a throne. He sent ships flying the Ellurian royal colors to make an unprovoked attack by an the Aslarian port of Selrose Bay, burning much of the city to the ground. He also sent a unit of mercenaries to conduct raids along the Ellurian border with Aslar, falsely carrying Aslarian banners. Aslar declared war upon Elluria, and the Ellurian Royal Dragoons under the command of the grizzled General Andros marched north toward the Aslarian border. General Andros's forces were intercepted by a coalition of Tollorian nobles led by Sir Ekkelrin Maltenel who believed that the threat of war was overblown, and feared that the army's true objective was to subdue the Tollorians. They refused to grant the troops passage through their lands without concessions from the Queen. Neither side was eager to shed Ellurian blood however, and the two sides came to terms after Sir Ekkelrin was convinced of the Aslarian declaration of war. Drachean Dizzy 'Tashli' Longtongue, a kender, was still King of Aslar by lottery but was due to be sacrificed in a few months to make way for the randomly chosen successor. Aslar was considered the more powerful nation, but had not been at war for two centuries, while most Ellurians were well-blooded from several recent wars. Aslar made extensive use of mercenaries in the early stages of the war while their slow and ponderous war machine mobilized. The famous Aslarian scholar, artist, and author Dhakus Maribagh led the Aslarian army as the King's Supreme Arms-Vizier. Arangoth, Teldanar and most other countries declared themselves neutral, but the Korthai Pirates joined with Aslar and began sinking Ellurian ships.

On the 21st day of Second Seed of 469 (999 ER), Aslarian forces conquered the Ellurian city of Dulsi on the anniversary of Kel Ellure's victory over the Aslarians six and a half centuries earlier. Lord Ciroj, the city's defender, was unaccounted for after the battle. It is not known whether he was slain during the sack of the city, or whether he fled into exile. The following month, Queen Laravel succumbed to the Green Hills plague and died. The High Council elected Lord Cyran Eäril-Galindë of Borgeon as the new King of Elluria. The High Council of Emil ordered the Ellurian banners taken down upon Laravel's death and instead elected the deceased Queen's kinsman, Prince Dankin of the House of Eber, as King of Emil. Prince Dankin sent a chest of gold to Aslar as tribute and concluded a separate peace with the Aslarians. Sir Ekkelrin was also a candidate for the throne and took offense when Cyran was chosen instead as the new monarch. He instead negotiated with the Aslarian viziers and accepted the position as Aslarian governor of the province of West Elluria.

At the end of the year, Aslarian King Dizzy Longtongue, unsuccessful at stopping the war, was ritually executed and a new King was chosen by lottery: an Assi 'savage' from the Nie Valley. The new King concluded an alliance with the Assi, who began harassing Arangoth's borders, and presumably began aiding Aslar in its war effort. The alliance came to little and did not last past the year's term of the Assiman. The Assi king reneged on the deal with the Korthai, and they harassed Aslarian shipping in retribution.

===470 (1000 ER)===
The Southland War continues. By 470 (1000 ER) the tide had turned seriously against the exhausted Ellurians. The Capital of Ruflin City fell to the Aslarians in Sun's Dawn, and General Andros was slain in battle. King Cyran was captured after the battle and sentenced to death, and conducted himself with dignity and bravery at his execution. Many Ellurians fled to El-Ekki, where the remnants of the Ellurian High Council created a Government in exile. Aslar seized large swaths of Ellurian territory, expelled a great number of Ellurians from their land, and plundered captured cities to compensate their army. This created a refugee crisis, and many Ellurians who were able to book passage on a ship were given refuge in Arangoth and on Myst, creating two new towns in AngelSinHorna and Vekkilmaril respectively. Those unable to flee were forcibly relocated by the Aslarian army to an area of northeastern Aslar infamous for its poor, rocky soil. The Assi King of Aslar was sacrificed to the Muns at the end of the year and replaced with another astonishing candidate, a Zul Kiran orc.

The [[Alesian Imperium]], a nation previously unknown in Veth, arrived in Elluria from far across the Southern Sea in Hearthfire. The Ellurian Government in Exile had sent out emissaries secretly to several countries in search of military aid, and contacted the Alesians through intermediaries in Bahija. These fierce and disciplined warriors were said to have burned their boats on arrival in the Southland, sending a message that they were here to stay. The Ellurians and Alesians were also aided by the privateering Black Sheep airship and its owner, Resque Maessen. Though it was not widely known, the far-ranging Maessen was the one who put the Ellurians in contact with their saviours.

===471 (1001 ER)===

The Alesians, under the leadership of General Larold Vertonthen and Prince Etaudus Paralor, inflicted a series of defeats on the Aslarians, pushing them back to the Aslarian fortress of Dashlirak. The Aslarians sued for peace, and negotiated a treaty that restored the boundaries of the two countries to their original positions before the war. The treaty recreated the kingdom of Tollor from the former Tollorian province as a buffer state between Aslar and Alesian Elluria. Treshire Vilgren, son of the deposed Winthorpe II, became King Treshire V of Tollor by agreement of the Alesians and Aslarians. The provinces of East Elluria, West Elluria, the former annexed Tyranori territory, and the the Northland became the new Alesian protectorate of Elluria. The peace settlement also acknowledged Emil's independence, effectively undoing the unification of the late 460s. By this time, the Northland was firmly under the control of the Alesians as well, and is considered part of Elluria. The Alesians made overtures of friendship toward the J'Lontzek giants, a marked change from the treatment they suffered under the Vilgren dynasty of Tollor. The treaty also called for the return of all displaced Ellurians from Aslar, and for all Aslarian troops still on Ellurian soil to return to Aslar.

Aslarian troops mutinied when they heard of the terms of the peace treaty, and they captured and executed the Vizier who signed it. Dhakus Maribagh was recalled from retirement to lead troops to quell the mutiny. Upon meeting up with the mutineers, Maribagh's troops also mutinied and threatened to execute their commander if he did not join them. The mutineers seized the fortress of Dashlirak, and the Alesians laid siege to the mighty fortress that even Kel Ellure failed to conquer. Dhakus Maribagh led a breakout and escaped with most of his forces, and the Alesians demanded harsher peace terms. In the end, no treaty was officially ratified by either side due to the instability caused by the mutiny and the execution of one of the ruling Viziers, and an uneasy truce remained the status quo. Prince Etaudus Paralor, the new ruler of the Alesian protectorate state, ordered the execution of Sir Ekkelrin for treason, and put the Tollorian noble to death in gruesome fashion to serve as a lesson. Sir Ekkelrin's left limbs were chained to one cart and his right limbs to another, which were then pulled in opposite directions until he expired.

[[Category: History]]

Teldanar

2013-06-21T04:04:57Z

Stygian: /* History */

{{Infobox Country
| name = Teldanar
| image =
| alt =
| caption =

| motto = ''We live by our names.''
| capital = [[Argo]]
| language1 = [[Teldanar#Language|Teldanari Dialect]]
| language2 =
| language3 =
| race1 = Primarily [[#Society and Peoples|Teldanari]] and [[Tyranor|Tyranori]], with [[Bahr|Bahrians]] and [[Elluria|Ellurians]] intermingled.
| race2 =
| race3 =
| religion = [[#Religion|Alou]] Worship
| government = Monarchy
| ruler = Queen Lieshazionne; Prince Elforngoraran is the heir to the throne.
| population =
| currency =
}}

'''Teldanar''' is the name of a country of the [[Southland Peninsula]]. Its people are very concerned with keeping all parts of their bodies covered, including their faces, which they cover with a cloth that has holes for the eyes and mouth. Teldanar went to war in alliance with [[Elluria]] against its old enemy [[Tyranor]] in 997 (467 [[Arangothian Reckoning]]), finally defeating Tyranor and annexing part of its territory (including the city of [[Yorklawn]]).

=History=

The [[Teldanari]] and [[Tyranori]] were once one people, but in the distant past, the Teldanari took to the desert, and a nocturnal existence, while the swarthy Tyranori did not. The two peoples have little in common today; they ended up fighting for centuries, though details aren't known.

Roughly 1,475 years ago the Teldanari seem to have controlled a larger area than what makes up the country today, establishing cities to trade with less "civilized" peoples (such as [[Jorafel]], situated in the territory of a people they gave the name [[Tollor]]). They also controlled [[Bahr]], with its [[Goblins|goblinoid]] population. The [[Tollorians]] drove the Teldanari out of Jorafel about 1,400 years ago, perhaps marking a turning point in the albino nation's history.

At some point a couple centuries ago, there was a Teldanari revolution in which the country was faced by foreign armies (likely Tyranori or Tollorian) while simultaneously suffering from a great famine. The royal family, however, appears to have survived and triumphed.

More recently, about 300 years ago, the [[Arangoth|Arangothians]] reportedly conquered [[Bahr]]. Bahr later won its independence, and has been at peace with Teldanar for a century. The story as it is told that long ago an Orcish king and a Teldanari king made a pact that the [[Orcs]] would take the lush valley of Bahr, and the Teldanari would take the [[Great Desert]] The basis of this pact was a vision sent by God ([[Alou]]) to both parties.

In the year 467, General Redsword of [[Tyranor]] staged a military coup and led a [[History of Elluria#The Tyranori War|war of conquest]]. He conquered Teldanar and threw Queen Lieshazionne into prison, and then swept into [[Emil]]. His grab for peninsular domination was short-lived, however, and was crushed by an alliance of Ellurian and Teldanari forces. Their lands were divided between the Kingdoms of Teldanar and [[Elluria]].

In Hearthfire of 470, there was a rebellion in the city of [[Sydwin]], brought on by the harsh treatment of the conquered Tyranori people by the Teldanari. The Teldanari imposed high taxes upon the Tyranori and mandated that all subjects of Teldanar wear the laakh. The Tyranori population seized power under Lord Galturadornak, and threatened to ally themselves with Bahr. In the end, the Teldanari were forced to make concessions on the tax rate and wearing of the laakh before the rebellion spread throughout the former Tyranori lands.

The Teldanari in the west are an ethnic minority in [[Aslar]], with basically identical physical and cultural characteristics; some of these were resettled in [[Elluria]] (the [[Ellurian West Teldanari|Etenari]]) as part of the short-lived Aslarian relocation policy before the [[Alesian Imperium|Alesians]] intervened in the [[History of Elluria#The Southland War|Southland War]].

=Geographical Features=
[[File:Southlands.jpg|thumb|Teldanar is located on the [[Southland Peninsula]] ]]

Teldanar is a desert peninsula southeast of [[Drache]], bordered by a mountain range in Southern [[Aslar]] to the north, [[Elluria]] to the west, and [[Bahr]] to the south.

=Government and Politics=

[[Argo]] is the principal political and religious center, but doesn't appear on any known map. Its other cities are [[Rafthia]], deep inland, and [[Sydwin]], on the coast, and it received the erstwhile Tyranori capital city of [[Yorklawn]] as part of the spoils of the [[History of Elluria#The Tyranori War|Tyranori War]].

==Notable Government Officials==

The current Teldanari ruler is Queen Lieshazionne. Prince Elforngoraran is the heir to the throne; the king's name is unknown.

=Military=

Teldanari males often join a sort of warrior caste, but little is known about them.

=Religion=

The Teldanari people worship a principle god known as [[Alou]], also known as the "nameless god" or the "one true god." Various temples of worship are built all over the country, and citizens of both genders conceal their faces from age 12 as a sign of devotion.

=Society and Peoples=

Teldanar is a desert region inhabited by a race of pink or red-eyed albinos known as the [[Teldanari]]. From the age of 12, both sexes conceal their faces behind a laakh, a cloth with holes for the eyes and mouth. This is both protection from the sun and a sign of religious devotion to their principal deity, Alou. They have various temples, including [[Gar Martel's Temple]], a marble altar on a hill overlooking the Bahrian border. Besides the laakh, they wear breezy white clothing from head to toe. Teldenari warriors eat [[Nokos]] mushrooms, which allow them to communicate telepathically, quite an advantage during battle. They also have some sort of hieroglyphic writing system.

The number of syllables in a Teldanari name is a sign of status, and it is governed by strict rules. Those who are "nameless" are essentially enslaved and put to work in the mushroom mines. Some male Teldanari names are Akelarteldanarthon = "Akel who is now Teldanari"; Bronothator; Nartulbandepinturfalon; Forngorarantor; Trallabran; Trogaalufellan; Jaturnillonen; Hugojomenofen. A female name is Orshani.

=Language=

The principle language of Teldanar is the Teldanari dialect; however, little is known about its syntax or its system of hieroglyphics.

[[Category: Countries]]

Mystonian Geography

2013-06-21T03:51:49Z

Stygian:

[[File:isles-of-myst.jpg|frame|Map of the Isles of Myst]]

=Cities=

==Mysthaven==

The pride of the [[Isles of Myst|Isles]], Mysthaven is the kingdom's capitol and largest city. Its skyline is dappled with hundreds of one- and two-story buildings made of cobblestone and brick, some dating to the days of Thalanthus Nypin. The center of the city is dominated by a huge bronze statue of a long dead king, whose identity has been a mystery since the days of Nypin's first landing. This statue has been badly weathered by wind and salt air, such that the face has worn off, and any inscriptions that may have once existed were long ago lost to time. This distinctive landmark provided a convenient meeting place, and Mysthaven's first marketplace sprung up around the statue's feet. Today, the statue stands at the center of a bustling open-air market square, enclosed by buildings containing shops that do business year round. A wide variety of goods are offered for sale every day in the market, though some merchants are more respectable than others.

Near the marketplace is the famous Yorr Place, where the city's rich and fashionable congregate. This street contains the city's Mercantile Exchange, as well as the Royal Theater, where plays and concerts of all sorts are performed. The street is also lined with offices, shops, and luxurious residences, and the prestige of owning an address on Yorr Place drives the price of property on this street to outrageous levels. Another city landmark is the Mysthaven University, which is a gigantic, circular-shaped, open air lecture hall with a canvas tent roof. The city also contains a number of buildings devoted to the government of the kingdom, including the headquarters of the Royal Guard, the Admiralty, and the imposing Courts of Law. Castle Molentia, the royal residence, is located a few miles outside the city.

Most of the city's poor dwell in the crowded neighborhoods near the docks, and the infamous Wyrm and Griffon streets are a haven for criminals. Despite this reputation, many of the people in this part of the city earn a respectable livelihood, since it is home to the kingdom's largest port, and the Mystonian Navy's main shipyard. This is also the place where the large supplies of hemp from Alcornal are turned into rope, and where oil from Kishant is sold. Mysthaven supplements this with their own bit of whaling, though really too little to rival the more northern port. Naval stores are naturally a significant part of Mysthaven's industry. Shipments of lumber from Tul and other parts of the Isles are made into everything from keels to masts, and boxes and barrels for shipping as well. Pine tar is made into pitch for sealing ships, and sailcloth is manufactured and sent in bulk to Kishant and Alcornal.

==Kishant==

This commercial city rivals Mysthaven in terms of population and diversity, and its leading citizens hope to eclipse the capitol some day. It is smack-dab in the middle of several important trade routes, so the city always boasts a wealth of merchants. The city makes a hefty profit from whaling and all the goods that come with it, from meat, to oil used for lamps, to beautiful and unique whalebone carvings.

It's no easy task to keep rowdy sailors in line when a crew comes in with a huge carcass, for it is also a windfall for dozens of others who derive a living from these behemoths of the deep. The hefty sums that whaling crews may earn trickles back into the local economy in many ways, particularly through wharfside taverns. Too much drink and too much coin is always a recipe for trouble. It is not surprising, then, Kishant is also famous for its strict laws and severe Royal Guards.

Kishant also boasts the Isles' archival map library, with some maps dating back to Thalanthus Nypin's colonization of the island. (It's well known, however, that these are merely copies since the originals reside within the Palace library.) The explorer Derek Rhys, who took a small party of intrepid adventurers to the island off Alcornal, came back with some startling discoveries of his own about the little explored smaller islands of Myst. (See his journal, a copy of which resides within the museum.)

One of the Isles' naval ports resides within Kishant, creating many jobs and a pool of reserves in times of war. Kishant's naval captains have a reputation for being especially strict, and their crews well disciplined, knowing the price for trouble. Therefore, they (hopefully) set a rather better example for the whaling frigate crews.

==Alcornal==

The city of Alcornal is a moderate-sized merchant town located on the eastern coast of the Isles, a main port for trade with the countries of the Southlands Peninsula. It recieves textiles from Brookshire, wine from Vekkelmaril and grain from Larmian, and its growing volume of trade may some day rival Mysthaven and Kishant.

Along the coast to the south of Alcornal are massive sand dunes that stretch for miles, providing the raw material for the city's glassmaking industry. Bubbling mud pits can also be found south of the city, fed by underground hot springs--some say the same springs for which Brookshire is famous. Digging clay from the mud pits can be a hazardous occupation, but one well worth the coin Alcornal's potters are willing to pay for it. The city is famous for the quality of its pottery, and exports it to the mainland in great quantities. Alcornal grows vast fields of hemp which it sends to Mysthaven, where it's turned into rope. Those in Alcornal make a bit of rope themselves, but only enough for the needs of the mercantile and naval port located there.

While not nearly as plagued with problems of crime as Kishant and Rak, it has its fair share. Though the guards there tend to be a bit laid back, they generally see to it that all is well. The wooden palisade and gates that protect its citizens from the natural and not so natural predators go a long way towards aiding them in their job.

=Towns and Villages=

==Vekkelmaril==

Vekkelmaril is the newest addition to the Island, founded several years ago by [[Elluria|Ellurians]] who were fleeing their war-torn homeland, but in the time since its founding it has grown and thrived. The former tent city has made way for buildings of wood and stone and vineyards have become the pride of Vekkelmaril, as has their wine, which derives a certain unique flavor from the soil and from the knowledgeable Ellurians.

The Ellurian refugees were pleasantly surprised to discover how well celery grows in this area, as well as other root crops such as beets, potatoes and carrots. Vekkelmaril now makes a tidy profit from selling its wines and surplus produce to Alcornal. It remains small, and still very peaceful, its people wanting nothing more than to be left alone.

==Brookshire==

Along Brookshire's Northeastern border, rolling kettles and moraines spread south and west, leading to flatter plains on their slope to the sea. Wild red oaks, sugar maples, hickory orchards, and evergreen pine groves vie with grassy meadows to cover the lands. Warm artesian springs ribbon the forests and plains with converging brooks that eventually flow into Lok Luina, so named for its distinctive coppery sands. A prized treasure of the Duchy lands, the beautiful MystLily hangs from certain red oaks near the stream banks. This magnificent flower blooms only upon the light of the Spring and Summer full moons and is highly valuable for its herbal medicinal properties and fragrance.

Brookshire is also well known for its textile industry, and both sheep pastures and cotton fields are common sights in the ducal lands. Of course, where one finds wool and cotton, one will also find weavers. Considering some of the more exotic flora that grows about the hot springs, the local weavers are turning out cloth in unique and startling shades and workmanship. Another unique item that Brookshire produces is glass. Because of the distinctive sands in the area, locals make some of the most ethereal and unique glass items on the isles. They are only now finding a thriving market at home and abroad in Elluria, Alesia and Arangoth.

==Tul==

On the fringe of the Red Forest, Tul is a lumber town, known for producing the finest timber in the kingdom. Lumber from Tul is in high demand throughout the Isles for its superior quality, used in construction as far away as Mysthaven. Tul also has a prosperous woodworking industry, specializing in wooden carvings and fine furniture. The master craftsmen of Tul turn out pieces that can fetch exorbitant prices on the mainland. Finally, the cultivation of fruit orchards is also common on in the lands surrounding Tul, and the region is widely known for its jams, jellies, preserves, and homemade fruit wine.

Despite the demand for its produce, Tul is still a relatively isolated community. Most of its contact with the rest of the Isles comes upriver from Kishant, since the quality of the roads is often questionable. Increasing demand for lumber recently brought the people of Tul into conflict with the elves of the Red Forest, though bloodshed was averted and tensions eased when Queen Janessa Molentia opened Crown-owned land in the vicinity to logging.

==Larmian==

A tiny fishing village, Larmian is known as the "Jewel of the West Coast" by Mystonian sailors, mostly because it is the first thing they generally see when returning from the sea. Larmian farms boast the best beef stock in the country as well as an accomplished tannery, and surprisingly large vegetable fields for such a small village. A small port employs a many of the village's people, but it's usually only used as a stopover for trade vessels. The Mystonian Navy has a port here, but it's seldom used for anything other than reprovisioning and repair, with a small shipbuilding facility that works mostly on smaller frigates.

==Rak==

Rak is a small trading town where the bulk of the commerce between humans and dwarves takes place. The lands south of the town are devoted to growing the grain from which the famous dwarven beers and spirits are produced, while the rocky foothills of the Key Peaks are home to several vineyards where Mystonian wine is produced. Along with ores and gemstones, salt is yet another valuable commodity taken from the Key Peaks, and traded freely and most profitably with the other towns and villages of the Isles.

Rak holds a coveted trade agreement with the Dwarves, not only for ores, but also for knowledge. A select few of the town's youths are chosen to apprentice with dwarven metalsmiths and gemcutters each year, an honor that parents vie for fiercely. Although they cannot hope to surpass the dwarves' skill that comes from centuries of honing their craft, the smiths and jewelers in Rak are capable of creating exquisite pieces that adorn some of the richest nobles in the land. Because of the heavy trade traffic through this town, there is a hefty crime problem for a town its size.

=Other Places of Interest=

==The Key Peaks==

Steep, rugged mountains known as the Key Peaks rise to great heights on the the northern end of the main island. Many have perished trying to scale the myriad of treacherous slopes. Vegetation varies greatly, with sparse tundra giving way to various coniferous forests often with aspen intermixed. Great pines can be found at lower elevations, junipers below that, and grasslands in the lowest areas. The landscape is a complex mosaic of open meadows and forest stands of varying age and species composition.

A nation of hardy dwarves make their home here, toiling beneath the rugged mountain landscape in their underground citadels. Evidence of their presence might be found on the surface as well, as they tend to their flocks in the meadows and fish in the cold mountain lakes.

==The Red Forest==

This ancient forest is home to the Isles' elven people, the Asidria. Deep within the heart of the forest, redwood and oak giants tower majestically over the city of Asidriel as the morning sun filters through the glistening mists. The Adaron's palace is a marvel to behold: a living, growing building created from a grove of trees fused together with druidic magic. In many parts of the forest, the profound silence is broken only by the step of a deer as it breaks a twig, but few travelers escape the watchful eye of the Kil'reas, the elven ranger corps. In spring, dogwoods and azaleas shine white and pink against the dark red trunks of the redwoods. Summer brings long, warm days for hiking, and winter's chill and damp are offset by the quiet and emptiness of the pristine, sylvan forest.

==The Ruins==

Known only as the Ruins, most travelers give this fell and mysterious place a wide berth. This is not just because the area is perpetually shrouded in mist, nor even the that rumors of ghastly disappearances abound. Most find something repelling about the area, something dark and foreboding that chips at even the most solid of minds and wills. The mist covers an area of at least a full square mile, not dissipating even under the sun's hottest rays. The silence that lays over the thick mist seems as impenetrable as the mist itself, defying wind and motion like a thick blanket. Few upon the Isles know the truth of the origins of this place, that it was once a grand elven city, destroyed in a magical cataclysm.

Those who penetrate the perimeter of this powerfully unnatural phenomenon soon encounter bits of white marble--some broken chunks, some almost whole blocks, and occasionally, a piece of column, frieze, or shattered statuary. Some of the broken chunks of stone are embedded in the earth--not an usual in itself, given the age of this place--but at such an unnatural angle as to suggest that it had been hurled a considerable distance through the air.

Near the edge of the Ruins, explorers might find a few buildings that are still reasonably intact, having not yet entirely succumbed to decay. The remains of some buildings look as if they might have been compromised by the impact of flying debris. The center of the Ruins, however, is a scene of utter devastation, looking for all the world as if some titan had flattened the heart of the city with the ease of a child brushing away an anthill.

The buildings near the edge of the ruins have long ago been looted, and the cataclysm that destroyed the city and caused the mists has eradicated the heart of the city. Still, the sudden destruction of the city and the accompanying catastrophic loss of life had left little time for residents of the city to escape with their wealth. Who knows what treasures are still buried here beneath the ruins, or squirreled away in secret passages in the ruined buildings? That is one thing that keeps adventurers flocking to the Ruins to explore them, and occasionally, some don't return. Perhaps an ancient building finally gave way, or perhaps they fell victim to ancient elven booby traps, or perhaps the truth is something far worse.

Reports of phantom sounds within the mists are common, as are tales of travelers being followed by shadowy shapes that flit away into the mist when spotted. Some claim that the Ruins are infested with the undead, and others believe that the site is cursed, and that those who venture too deep into the Ruins become hopelessly lost and unable to find their way out again.

Maps Archive

2013-06-19T22:03:27Z

Stygian: Undo revision 5526 by Nymphetamine (talk)

There's been a lot of maps made for use in the channel, many of which have been retired from active use due to revisions and updates made over time. They are collected here.

=World=
<gallery>
File:Oldworld-1.jpg|The world map, ca. 1997-1998|alt=old map 1997 or 1998
File:World-jan2000.jpg|The world as of Jan 2000|alt=old map from Jan 2000
File:Oldestworld.jpg|The oldest world map, drawn prior to 2000|alt=oldest world map

</gallery>

=Veth=
<gallery>
File:Original-veth.jpg|Original expanded map of [[Veth]] from 2006|alt=Map of Veth
File:Veth-political.jpg|Version of the 2006 Map with political boundaries highlighted.|alt=Political Map
File:Northeast-map-2000.jpg|Northeast of [[Arangoth]], circa 2000|alt=Northeast of Arangoth
File:Northwest-map.jpg|Northwest of [[Arangoth]], circa 2000|alt=Northwest of Arangoth
File:Secca.gif|[[Secca]]|alt=Secca map
File:Leturia-ga.gif|[[Leturia]] & [[Griffon's Aerie]]|alt=Leturia & Griffon's Aerie map

</gallery>

==Arangoth==
<gallery>
File:Siramap.gif|Lysira's map of [[Arangoth]], created some time pre-1999. Used as the official map of the kingdom on the BDI site for years.|alt=Lysira's Map
File:Arangoth-provincial-road.gif|[[Arangoth]] with provincial borders and major roads|alt=Arangoth map
File:Drache.jpg|One of the oldest maps of the city of [[Drache]]|alt=Drache map
</gallery>

==The Southlands==
<gallery>
File:Elluria-tollor-pre-reunification.gif|An old map of [[Elluria]] and [[Tollor]] during the Civil War that resulted in the unification of Elluria|alt=Old Southlands map
File:Elluria-pre-tyranori-war.gif|[[Elluria]] before the Tyranori War|alt=Elluria before the Tyranori War
File:Tollorcity.gif|[[Tollor]] City in [[Elluria]] during the Tollorian Civil War (this map does not reflect the current state of the region)|alt=Tollor City map
File:Mutoria-lithalle.gif|Mutoria & Lithalle, provinces of [[Aslar]]|alt=Mutoria & Lithalle map
File:El-ekki.gif|[[El-Ekki]], an island city of [[Elluria]]|alt=El-Ekki map
File:Dulsi.jpg|Dulsi, an [[Elluria|Ellurian]] city|alt=Dulsi map
File:Newsouthlands.jpg|The Southlands post-[[Alesian Imperium|Alesian]]-[[Aslar|Aslarian]] treaty|alt=Southlands map

</gallery>

==Miscellaneous==

<gallery>
File:Isles-of-myst.jpg|The [[Isles of Myst]], a kingdom off the coast of [[Arangoth]]|alt=Isles of Myst map
File:Pcove-incomplete.jpg|An incomplete map of Pirate's Cove, off the coast of [[Arangoth]]|alt=Incomplete map of Pirate's Cove
File:Pentland.png|[[Pentland]]|alt=Pentland
File:Alesian-imperium.jpg|Cathol's map of the Alesian Imperium|alt=Alesian Imperium map
File:PanguiArchipelego.jpg|Map of the [[Panguro]] Archipelago|alt=Panguro Map

</gallery>

[[Category: Maps]]

Kahlahra

2013-06-19T12:28:19Z

Stygian: /* Traditional Dress */

{{Infobox Country
| name = Kahlahra
| image = Kahlahra.jpg
| alt =
| caption =

| motto =
| capital = Kafras
| language1 = Family of related tribal dialects
| language2 =
| language3 =
| race1 = Humans,
| race2 = Half-Elves
| race3 =
| religion = Polytheistic
| government = Tribal
| ruler = No central rulership
| population =
| currency =
}}

'''Kahlahra''' is the land of the Khalars; the reason for the difference in spelling is uncertain. It lies to the north of [[Song Deep]], which forms its border with the Kingdom of [[Arangoth]]. The Khalars are a nation of semi-nomadic horse people, divided up into many rival tribal groups.

=History=
[[File:khalarwarmap.jpg|thumb|[[Leptatarna]] and Kahlahra during [[The Era of the Khalar War]]]]
Between the years 384 to 389, there was a major war between [[Arangoth]] and the [[Sherkhen War|Sherkhen]] (led by Helehkri), leading to an Arangothian victory. The Sherkhen surrendered their most precious relic, the [[The Era of the Khalar War#The Siren Stone|Siren Stone]], as part of the spoils of war, and its current whereabouts are unknown; it may have been transferred to the Vault of the [[Royal Church]]. In any event, the Sherkhen have continued to regard [[Arangoth]] with misgivings ever since the end of that war.

=Geographical Features=

Kahlahra is bordered to the north by mountain ranges that divide it from [[Najjir]]. [[Rashnad]] is to the east, [[Rondis]], the [[Assi]], and [[Arangoth]] to the south, and [[Caern Rhia]] and [[Zul Kiras]] are to the west. Much of the country is plains and steppeland that give way to hills near the mountains. The country grows increasingly arid as one moves north toward Najjir and east toward Rashnad. Lake Nar in the north is fed by streams from the northern mountains. The Tkhonu River empties from the western end of the lake, and winds its way through the central region of Kahlahra, and it empties into Song Deep in the south. Access to water is the chief driver in conflict among the tribes, and the strongest tribes control the most fertile areas. A few permanent settlements are scattered throughout the country, clustered along the Tkhonu, Hakhet, and Sekhel ribers.

==Notable Settlements==
[[File:Kahlahra-1.jpg|thumb|Kahlahra]]
'''Kafras''' - Kafras is as much the capital city as any place is, owing to its importance as a center of trade and religious worship. It is often a site of inter-tribal councils, since the city is considered neutral ground and open to all Khalars. Kafras lies near to the border with Najjir and is a major hub of trade, much like the Grand Horse Market in the south. Much of the city is built with timber felled from the hills to the north. The entire city is surrounded by lofty wooden walls, and the homes, market, and temples within are all similarly made of wood. The temples and the altars within are richly embellished with decorative carvings and images of animals and scenes from mythology, and decorated with gold leaf. Once every three years, Kafras is closed to outsiders for a week for a religious festival to the goddess Siamakh.

'''The Grand Horse Market''' - Much of the Khalar trade with the south occurs at the Grand Horse Market, which is a permanently established encampment in Southern Kahlahra at the intersection of roads coming from the lands of the Sherkhen, Khtarpan, and Hoshk tribes in the midst of the prairie north of Song Deep. Despite the name, the giant market serves to trade more than simply horses; sheep, spices, wool and cloth, weavings from the Tkhonu tribe, leather work, gold and silver ornaments, and all other manner of goods are traded here. In the horse market, a complicated system of precedence (defined by who has won and lost in recent wars) decides who has the best places to sell. Almost always, some tribes find themselves pushed out, unable to do trade until they are more successful in war. Inevitably these unlucky tribes find themselves in a position where they must fight, not to settle a dispute, but to improve their reputation.

'''Dilakhasi''' - Located in the central region of Kahlahra, Dilakhasi was founded to protect several natural springs that feed a tributary branch of the Tkhonu. Dilakhasi is an important rest and resupply point for caravans travelling along the road from Taranor to Najjir that skirts the edge of Rashnad through the arid eastern reaches of Kahlahra.

'''Shiskwa''' - Shiskwa is within the lands of the Hoshk tribe, located in the Tkhonu river delta near the northern shore of Song Deep. Shiskwa is the center of [[Menxism|Menxvan]] worship among the Hoshk, and contains a fortified [[Templars of Menxvan|Templar]] stronghold.

'''Nerikhet and Piflish''' - villages on opposite sides of the Tkhonu in the south. Piflish is a Sherken settlement, Nerikhet a Khtarpan possession, and the two have been at the center of the conflict between the two great tribes for centuries. Both villages have been burned to the ground and rebuilt many, many times.

'''Akhtai''' - A Sherkhen stronghold located at the intersection of the roads connecting [[Leptatarna]], [[Outer Arangoth]], and Piflish.

=Government and Politics=

The Khalar have few wholly permanent cities (and these probably existed before they migrated into the region to begin with) and are largely nomadic, though they seem to follow no strict annual pattern of migration. Their law is unwritten, but centers upon the etiquette of the blood feud. There are some parts of the Kingdom of [[Arangoth]] which have small Khalar settlements.

Life for the Khalars is centered around a tribal system. Each tribe is lead by a chieftain, almost exclusively a man, though women have filled the role in some of the smaller tribes. The chieftain is advised by a tribal council whose exact composition varies among the different tribes, but almost always contains the tribe's elders, priests, and military leaders. The Chieftainship is not necessarily hereditary, and a chieftain may find challengers to his rule arising if the tribe's council has lost confidence in him.

There are 9 leading tribes, each of which number more than a thousand total members. The large tribes do not usually travel as a single unit, rather breaking up into smaller groups, typically led by the chieftain's sons, or those advisors closest to him. These tribes are the oldest, and by far the largest. Allied with the nine chief tribes are an array of smaller vassal tribes, whose loyalties shift as the fortunes of the great tribes wax and wane.

=Military=

==On the Khalar Tribes==

The following is an excerpt from a letter written by General Oryan Larkspin to Chancellor Arlok Darian during [[the Era of the Khalar War]]. It provides an enemy commander's perspective on the Khalar tribes and their methods of war.

<blockquote>"The Khalar tribes are one, so to speak, in their mode of life and in their organization, which is primitive and includes many peoples. Of these peoples, only the Sherkhen and the Khtarpan concern themselves with military organization, and this makes them stronger than the other Khalar peoples when it comes to pitched battles. The nation of the Sherkhen is very numerous and independent. They are not versatile or skilled in most human endeavors, nor have they trained themselves for anything else except to conduct themselves bravely against their enemies. The Khtarpan, for their part, are scoundrels, devious, and very experienced in military matters.</blockquote>

<blockquote>These nations have a monarchial form of government, and their rulers subject them to cruel punishments for their mistakes. Governed not by love but by fear, they steadfastly bear labors and hardships. They endure heat and cold, and the want of many necessities, since they are nomadic peoples. They are very superstitious, treacherous, foul, faithless, possessed by an insatiable desire for riches. They scorn their oath, do not observe agreements, and are not satisfied by gifts. Even before they accept the gift, they are making plans for treachery and betrayal of their agreements. They are clever at estimating suitable opportunities to do this and taking prompt advantage of them. They prefer to prevail over their enemies not so much by force as by deceit, surprise attacks, and cutting off supplies.</blockquote>

<blockquote>They are armed with mail, swords, bows, and lances. In combat most of them attack doubly armed; lances slung over their shoulders and holding bows in their hands, they make use of both as need requires. Not only do they wear armor themselves, but in addition the horses of their illustrious men are covered in front with iron or felt. They give special attention to the training of archery on horseback.</blockquote>

<blockquote>A vast herd of male and female horses follows them, both to provide nourishment and to give the impression of a huge army. They do not encamp within entrenchments, as do the Arangothians and the Rondissians, but until the day of the battle, spread about according to tribes and clans, they continuously graze their horses both summer and winter. They then take the horses they think necessary, hobbling them next to their tents, and guard them until it is time to form their battle line, which they begin to do under cover of night. They station their sentries at some distance, keeping them in contact with one another, so that it is not easy to catch them by a surprise attack.</blockquote>

<blockquote>In combat they do not, as do the Arangothians and Rondissians, form their battle line in three parts, but in several units of irregular size, all joined closely together to give the appearance of one long battle line. Separate from their main formation, they have an additional force which they can send out to ambush a careless adversary or hold in reserve to aid in a hard-pressed section. They keep their spare horses close behind their main line, and their baggage train to the right or left of the line about a mile or two away under a moderately sized guard. Frequently they tie the extra horses together to the rear of their battle line as a form of protection. They make the depth of their files indefinite depending on the circumstances, being inclined to make them deeper, and they make their front even and dense.</blockquote>

<blockquote>They prefer battles fought at long range, ambushes, encircling their adversaries, simulated retreats and sudden returns, and wedge-shaped formations, that is, in scattered groups. When they make their enemies take to flight, they put everything else aside, and are not content, as the Arangothians, the Rondissians, and other peoples, with pursuing them a reasonable distance and plundering their goods, but they do not let up at all until they have achieved the complete destruction of their enemies, and they employ every means to this end. If some of the enemy they are pursuing take refuge in a fortress, they make continual and thorough efforts to discover any shortage of necessities for horses or men. They then wear their enemies down by such shortages and get them to accept terms favorable to themselves. Their first demands are fairly light, and when the enemy has agreed to these they impose stricter terms.</blockquote>

<blockquote>They are hurt by a shortage of fodder which can result from the huge number of horses they bring with them. Also in the event of battle, when opposed by an infantry force in close formation, they stay on their horses and do not dismount, for they do not last long fighting on foot. They have been brought up on horseback, and owing to their lack of exercise they simply cannot walk about on their own feet. Level, unobstructed ground should be chosen, and a cavalry force should advance against them in a dense, unbroken mass to engage them in hand-to-hand fighting. Night attacks are also effective, with part of our force maintaining its formation whole the other lies in ambush. They are seriously hurt by defections and desertions. They are very fickle, avaricious and, composed of so many tribes as they are, they have no sense of kinship or unity with one another. If a few begin to desert and are well received, many more will follow."</blockquote>

=Religion=

The Khalars believe that the world came into being with the union of Thagimas and his consort Athi. From their union sprang the stars, the moons, and Vorkhanu and Khalaret, who then gave birth to the other gods. While there are few permanent temples to the Khalar gods outside of Kafras, travelling bands of Khalars have special tents which they erect only for religious observations. The great tribes and their vassals often come together to worship and offer sacrifice during important religious festivals.

The Hoshk tribe converted to the worship of Menxvan following the war with Arangoth, which has been an ongoing source of friction.

==Deities==

'''Thagimas''' - Thagimas is the Khalar god of the sky and of mountains, where earth and sky meet. He is also the god of storms and weather. He gave Sirakh the sun and Tkhonos the waters to nurture life upon the earth and please Athi. Some have likened Thagimas with the [[Rashnad|Rashnaditz]] rain god Terpun, and like Terpun, Thagimas is sometimes portrayed as a dragon. His purposes are not necessarily friendly toward (or even cognizant of) the mortal races, and Khalar soothsayers watch the weather and the night sky for portants to determine if a given course of action is in harmony or at odds with the god's will.

'''Athi''' - The goddess of the earth, of life and death, and consort of Thagimas. Artistic representations of Athi depict her as a nude pregnant woman. Khalars believe that Athi does not favor one creation over another, and regards all life as equal. Thus, even though the first humans suffered much in the primeval world because they lacked fire and tools, Athi would no more offer them aid than she would protect a tree from being snapped by a wind storm. The Khalars venerate Athi at the beginning and end of life--at births and funerals.

'''Khalaret''' - Mother goddess of the Khalars, goddess of fire, the hearth, healing and the family. Khalar mythology states that Khalaret was moved to pity by the suffering of early humanity and brought them fire to warm them, and taught them how to heal illness and salve wounds. She also prevailed upon her children to grant boons to the mortals: Sirakh gave them the bow, Siamakh taught them to hunt, and Thkonos gave them the horse. Her brother and consort Vorkhanu was outraged when her worship eclipsed his, and he began to beat her in his anger for her perceived treachery. Her children came to her rescue and drove out their father, but he still demands his due from the Khalars. Worship of the other Khalar gods includes a prayer to Khalaret at the beginning, and a portion of any animal sacrifice is consigned to the flames for her. Khalars believe that in death, they go to Khalaret's hearth to rest from the toils of life for a time before being reborn and starting the cycle of life again.

'''Sirakh''' - Depicted as a winged young man clothed entirely in gold, Sirakh is the Khalar sun god, and the patron of music, art, and creativity. He is also said to be the inventor of archery and gave the first bow to the Khalars at his mother Khalaret's request. Tkhonu weavers, Slikhtanu leatherworkers, and Dilakh goldsmiths all sing songs to the golden god as they work to invite his blessing on their efforts.

'''Siamakh''' - Goddess of prophecy, the hunt, revelry, wine, and passion. Siamakh contains aspects of both Siamah and her brother Nedresh from the [[Najjir#The Old Gods|Old Gods]] of Amas'kyaa. She is the patroness of Khalar warrior women. Worship of the goddess involves inducing trances through use of intoxicants or magical artifacts. Khalar soothsayers use Najjira hashish and opium to induce a state wherein the goddess might grant visions. Some rituals involve inducing a state of ecstatic frenzy through a combination of wine, singing, and dancing. Legends abound--both among the Khalars and among foreigners--of the deeds a devotee of the goddess in this state can achieve, such as chasing down a deer on foot and killing it bare-handed. Kafras is closed off to foreigners for a week once every three years for a major festival in her honor, and its unknown nature makes it a subject of much lurid speculation about what might occur within the city walls during that time. The [[The Era of the Khalar War#The Siren Stone|Siren Stone]] was an artifact of Siamakh, and important in her worship. Its loss was a major blow to the Khalars. Some Najjira scholars have posited that the Siren Stone might have been an artifact of Amas'kyaa, rather than of divine origin.

'''Tkhonos''' - Tkhonos is called the Green God, and is the god of rivers. The Tkhonu, which winds its way through central Kahlahra from north to south, is sacred to him. In the permanent settlements of the Khalar tribes, he is also worshipped as an agricultural deity. Tkhonos created the horse and the sheep and gave them to the Khalars at the behest of his mother. At harvest time, horse races are held in the god's honor, with the victorious horse offered up as a sacrifice to sustain the tribes for another year.

'''Vorkhanu''' - The Khalar god of war and bloodshed and Khalaret's spurned consort. Vorkhanu is said to be the first deity to take an interest in mankind, and used them for sport to amuse himself. It is said that he is the one who keeps the Khalar tribes at odds with one another and fans enmity among them to spite his former lover. He is not worshipped in conjunction with any of the other gods, but entirely separately. Worship sites to Vorkhanu consist of an open field marked off with a wall of fieldstone or stacked bundles of brushwood. In the center is a raised altar made of earth or stone that is sheer on three sides, with a ramp or stairs cut into the fourth. At the top is a steel sword anchored in place by magic. At the conclusion of a conflict among the tribes, it is the duty of the victorious chieftain to bring a captive from the defeated tribe to one of Vorkhanu's shrines for sacrifice. Wine is poured over the victim's head, and then his or her throat is cut at the foot of the altar. The blood is collected in a bowl by the chieftain, who carries it up to the top to splash it on the sword to slake Vorkhanu's thirst for blood and placate his anger.

==Animal Sacrifice==

Animal sacrifice is a common part of Khalar religious worship. Sacrificial victims are typically various kinds of livestock, though the most prestigious offering is considered to be the horse. The victim stands with its fore-feet tied, and the sacrificing priest stands behind the victim. Assistants pull the cord binding the legs and pull the beast down. As the victim falls, the priest calls upon the god to whom he is sacrificing, and then at once throws a noose round its neck, and putting a small stick into it he turns it round and so strangles the animal. Afterwards, the sacrifice is skinned, and then either boiled or roasted over coals. A first offering is cut from the victim's flesh and vital organs and is cast into the fire for the gods, and then the rest is shared among those in attendance.

=Society and Peoples=

There are a number of independent tribes among the Khalars, all of whom have long-standing feuds of one sort or another with all the others, leading to almost perpetual bloodshed. The tribe which has had the closest relations with [[Arangoth]] has been the Sherkhen, the tribe which inhabits the northern shores of [[Song Deep]].

The Khalars are best known as horsemen -- or horsepeople, since the important jobs of tending and training horses are carried out by highly skilled Khalar Horse Maiden. A visitor should not be surprised to be given a prize colt as a parting gift, and indeed, Khalar horses fetch the highest prices throughout [[Veth]], when they can be obtained at all.

==Appearance==

The Khalars are, for the most part a dark people. Dusky, olive toned skin, brown or black hair and dark eyes are the common coloring, though green eyes and auburn hair are not entirely uncommon. Blue eyes are, for whatever reason, considered unlucky. The Khalars tend to be a tall people, and excess weight is considered a sign of wealth and good fortune, particularly in women. Men and women both tend to wear their hair long, braiding and dreadlocks both being common. Unmarried women over the age of 13 cover their hair, and some tribes require women to cover their face as well.

Owing to the traditional Elven penalty of exile for crimes, outcasts from [[Elvendeep]] have been finding a new home among the Khalar tribes for centuries. Individuals with signs of elven heritage are common among the Khalar tribes, particularly among the Narkhet tribe.

Piercing and tattooing are common, particularly among the Sherkhen, who tattoo protective magics on the faces of male children at a very young age. The Vekhen are particularly fond of piercing, often sliding rings through the cheek of warriors to add to their fierce appearance.

==Traditional Dress==

Khalar clothing is made from wool, hemp cloth, silk fabrics, felt, leather or hides depending on wealth, availability, and season. Men and warrior women wear long-sleeved tunics, often embroidered, adorned with felt applique work, or decorative golden plaques. Different tribes favor longer or shorter tunics and wider or narrower sleeves. The tunics are always belted with richly ornamented belts that contain hooks for tools and weapons. Men and warrior women wear padded or quilted trousers, often reinforced with leather, and tucked into their boots. Different tribes have preferences toward looser or tighter fitting trousers and higher or lower boots. In colder weather, they wear long, open riding coats, often trimmed with fur.

Khalar women wear long, loose robes, ornamented with embroidery, felt appliques, or golden plaques. Women also wear shawls, often with brilliant colors or elaborate patterns. Like Khalar men, the Khalar women wear broad, ornamented belts or girdles. Some tribes also add a colorful sash under the belt. Khalar women may wear boots like the men, or soft slippers adorned with embroidery or golden plaques. When riding, Khalar women wear trousers underneath a split skirt.

Since they own little that is not portable, many Khalars like to display their wealth on their person. The leaders among the Khalars have a taste for elaborate personal jewelry, ornamented weapons, and decorated horse-trappings. Animal motifs are common, such as dragons breathing fire, winged griffons attacking horses, battling stags, and eagles, combined with everyday scenes like milking ewes. Bow cases and quivers are also richly decorated with with animal scenes or depictions of daily life on the steppes. The Khalars are skilled at working soft metals like gold and silver, and their decorative pieces are also popular trade goods.

==The Horse Maidens==

One of the most unusual social positions among the Khalars is that of the Horse Maiden. Girls are picked for the role at a very young age, usually around 4 or 5, and trained until they reach the age of 15. There is no failure for Horse Maidens in training, either they are judged ready to care for the horses of the tribe, or they are cast out.

The training is intensive and harsh, girls as young as 7 are strapped to a horse and forced to gallop all night without stopping. The prospective horse trainers eat, sleep and live with the herd, learning everything about them until horses are more familiar than humans. At the completion of their training, the Horse Maidens are the finest horse trainers and breeders in the world, or so the Khalars will tell you.

Over the centuries, the Khalars have developed simple ritual magics and herbal medicine focused around protecting their most valuable asset. Horse Maidens are selected from those girls who show a particular aptitude for these practices. They are not wizards in any traditional sense, the magic is simple and requires detailed use of ritual and herbal compounds, but it is effective for their needs. The abilities mostly focus on healing and protection or disguise of the herd.

About one in every fifty Horse Maidens develops the talent of Horse Speech. This special form of limited animal-telepathy is considered highly prized among the Khalars, as the ability to communicate directly with the horses allows the maiden to train even the most difficult stallions.

Though exact attitudes towards the Horse Maidens vary from tribe to tribe, they are almost universally revered, but set apart from the life of the tribe. The Narkhet place Horse Maidens in a position of religious authority; the Khessir revere them as religious figures, not unlike saints or martyrs; the warlike Sherkhen consider the Horse Maidens invaluable, but treat them as something close to social pariahs, considering them untouchable. Some tribes do not allow them to marry, while others consider it bad luck to marry a Horse Maiden. For whatever reason, most Horse Maidens are maidens in truth as well as in name. On the other hand, they are allowed a great deal of freedom of movement, even in those tribes where women are more limited in their rights; and all of their needs are provided for by the tribe. It is a strange and difficult life, and it is not unheard of for Horse Maidens to disappear into a city or foreign land.

==The Great Tribes==

===Hoshk===

One of the oldest tribes, the Hoshk occupy lands in the southeast of Kahlahra, near the [[Arangoth|Arangothian]] frontier. The Hoshk bore the brunt of some of the most vicious fighting during the war with Arangoth, and after the Khalar defeat, the Chieftain and Hoshk tribal council decided that the god of the Arangothians must be stronger and converted to [[Menxism]]. The Hoshk have been staunch allies of Arangoth since the war, and much of their trade goods are sold to Arangothian merchants. Shiskwa, located in the Tkhonu river delta near the shores of Song Deep, now hosts a [[Templars of Menxvan|Menxvanic Templar]] stronghold. The conversion and subsequent distancing of the Hoshk from the other tribes has created enormous tension. Though the Hoshk are not actively at war with any other tribes at this time, they have few friends among the great tribes, and are regarded with suspicion.

===Sherkhen===

Arguably the largest of the tribes, the Sherkhen are famous for their martial prowess, and have often triumphed in inter-tribal disputes. The lands of the Sherkhen are traditionally west of the River Tkhonu. They were the last tribe able to unite the Khalars as a people in the year 384 for a for a war with Arangoth, which turned out to be a disastrous defeat. This resulted in a major loss of prestige for the Sherkhen among the other tribes, and the Sherkhen have spent the last century fighting to regain their place of prominence in the tribal pecking order. As a result of these conflicts to keep their vassals in line and fend off the other great tribes, the Sherkhen have a large supply of slaves which they occasionally trade for metal goods and other materials in short supply in Kahlahra. The Sherkhen and their vassal tribes commonly hire themselves out as mercenary cavalry forces.

===Khtarpan===

The Khtarpan are the Sherkhen's chief rivals as the dominant tribe of the Khalar nation. As such, the Khtarpan have been at or near a state of war with the Sherkhen for centuries. When the two large tribes are not in direct conflict, those smaller vassal tribes that surround them are almost always engaged in skirmishes of some kind or another. The Khtarpan's traditional lands are east of the Tkhonu and west of the Hakhet rivers. Like the Sherkhen, the Khtarpan and their allied vassals are commonly found in other countries as mercenary cavalry. The Khtarpan excel at hit and fade attacks, using feigned retreats to draw enemy cavalry out of position, and then wheel back around again unexpectedly to attack their pursuers. This has contributed to their reputation as devious and dishonorable fighters among some nations.

===Dilakh===

One of the more “cosmopolitan” tribes, the Dilakh are traders more than horse breeders or warriors. Their stronghold of Dilakhasi is located along the western trade route from [[Taranor]] to [[Najjir]], and is an important stop for caravans to rest and resupply after traversing the arid eastern reaches of Kahlahra where steppeland gives way to the desert of [[Rashnad]]. They are clearly the most moneyed and financially successful of the major tribes. They are also renowned for their gold and silver working, and their jewelery and ornaments are in great demand throughout Kahlahra and beyond. Most of their vassals serve primarily to protect the wealth of the Dilakh. Nonetheless, financially desperate tribes often look towards the them as easy pickings. They are rarely as successful as they hope, as the Dilakh are wise enough to pay their more warlike vassals handsomely to do the dirty work of butchering their enemies for them.

===Vekhen===

Occupying land in Kahlahra's western reaches, the Vekhen are traditional trading partners with the orcish clans of [[Zul Kiras]]. The Vekhen trade horses to the [[Clans of Zul Kiras#Stormrider|Stormrider]] clan in return for steel arms and tools. The old mutual raiding between the two peoples has given way to a ritualized form to display both sides' equestrian prowess, which attracts large crowds of spectators. The Vekhen also deal in slave labor, trading with other tribes for their excess slaves and then selling them to other tribes or trade caravans. This makes the Vekhen predictably unpopular among several other tribes, and is often used by rival tribes when trying to convince the Vekhen's vassals to switch sides.

===Khessir===

A Khalari proverb advises, “Turn to the Sherkhen for victory, the Dilakh for a loan, the Vekhen for servants and the Khessir for horses.” The horse people among horse people, the Khessir raise the finest, strongest, fastest horses in Kahlahra, and discriminating traders will seek the reclusive tribe out. Their lands are in the far north, on the western side of Lake Nar. They are also one of the most conservative and secretive tribe, preferring their own company. They rarely leave their lands except to sell their herd, and are known to be deeply religious. Since the conversion of the Hoshk, the Khessir have refused to have any contact with them, asserting that they are no longer Khalars at all.

===Tkhonu===

While most of the tribes put at least some of their energy into sheep herding as well as horses, none is so focused as the Tkhonu. The Tkhonu are found in the center of Kahlahra, near the river they take their name from. Their lands are between those of the Khtarpan and the Dilakh, and frequently ally with one or the other to hold onto such coveted land. Tkhonu women weave cloth of brilliant colors and striking patterns that are very much in demand by the other tribes for making clothing. They are also famed for their beautiful blankets and rugs from Khalari wool, which are highly valued, particularly in the harsh winter. They are the chief breeders of the famous Khalar herding dogs, and sell or trade the pups to other tribes as well as outsiders.

===Slikhtanu===

Craftsmen and artisans, the Slikhtanu make extremely fine saddles, bridles and tack, as well as the fine Khalar sabers that are the weapon of choice for officers of the [[Royal Guard]] of Arangoth. They are far more gregarious than most of the tribes, trading with any and rarely at war. As a result, their martial skills are considered somewhat mediocre, and they are often the butt of the wickedly sharp Khalari sense of humor. They are also the least nomadic of the tribes, with large families settling in cities for extended periods of time. The Vekhen and Slikhtanu are traditional allies, and the Slikhtanu are also common trading partners with the Zul Kirans.

===Narkhet===

While the “Khalari Elves” exist in several tribes, the Narkhet tribe is almost exclusively made up of people with varying degrees of elven heritage. Their religious practices integrate the traditional Khalar religion with the [[Religion of Elvendeep|Celestial Court]] of Elvendeep. The Horse Maidens occupy a more prominent social role, particularly those with the gift of Horse Speech, which is more common among the Narkhet. The Chieftain is somewhat beholden to the council of maidens, who serve as prophets and oracles for the tribe. These oracular abilities are virtually unknown among the other tribes, and many speculate that the role of the maidens is more politics and theatre than genuine magic.

=Magic=

Magic users are somewhat uncommon among the Khalar tribes, due to the suspicion with which they are regarded by the tribal chieftains. While even the meanest chieftain of a small vassal tribe usually has at least one sorcerer in his retinue, they are all eunuchs so that they are not eligible to challenge the Chieftain for control of the tribe. Khalar males who display signs of magical aptitude must choose either exile or castration. Girls are put through the Horse Maiden's trials.

=Language=

The Khalar tribes speak a related family of languages. Tribes that live near one another often have largely intelligible dialects, but diverge more widely with geographical separation. Wordplay involving dialectal differences is a common type of Khalar humor.

[[Category: Countries]]

Maps Archive

2013-06-17T16:55:01Z

Stygian: /* Miscellaneous */

File:PanguiArchipelego.jpg

2013-06-17T16:54:13Z

Stygian: The Archipelago of Panguro

The Archipelago of Panguro

2013-05-07T00:03:17Z

Stygian:

{{Infobox Religion
| name = Pangui Religion
| image =
| alt =
| caption =

| type =
| deity1 = The Celestial Dragons,
| deity2 = The Beast Gods (among the Odan)
| deity3 =
| deity4 =
| deity5 =
| deity6 =
| regional_origins = [[Panguro]]
| practiced_in = Panguro
| symbol =
}}

=The Celestial Dragons=
The Three Nations and the Saku Irniqui share a worship of deities they call the Celestial Dragons. These are oriental serpentine dragons who inhabit the Heavens and are associated with the stars in the night sky. Valuing order and honour, this heavenly race watches the descendants of the Ni-So-Gui, their chosen people, and relates their wishes through the stars and constellations. Some Nipangui believe that each star is itself a far off dragon. Others believe the stars are sunlight glinting off their seldom moving forms. The sun and moons are universal constants, like the earth, and have always existed.

The immortal dragons, which are not animals but gods, may not come to earth in body as long as it is a chaotic place, but they may send their messages and bestow powers upon humans, elves, and halflings. The patronage of these dragons is expected to be returned by ordering the world, bringing it to such a heavenly state that the dragons might come down and the world might be a paradise with all good peoples happy and everlasting. It is believed that there are many worlds, each with a sun and two moons like ours, which have undergone or are undergoing this passage.

=Belief System=

==Reincarnation==
The Nipangui and their cultural fellows also believe in reincarnation. No man’s journey on ‘the wheel’ will truly be complete until the world is entirely wild and chaotic, or ordered and civilized. The deeds one does in life determines in what form he will return in his next. In this way, goodly men who order the land are reborn again and again to do the same, while evil men who foment chaos are dispensed with as they become lower life forms and eventually become the tools of demons, who are identified with wild animal spirits. Demons hate order and heavenliness and would like nothing more than to return the earth to its primordial state.

A goodly life is rewarded with longer life in the next, and longevity and good health are honoured highly and prayed for by all. The longer one lives, the more heavenly one’s spirit is considered. Longevity is considered such a heavenly thing to the dragon-worshippers because the dragons are immortal, and anything similarly long-lived is closer to them. Thus elvish long-life is revered as a sign of their superiority, and even elderly humans are much revered. In Saku Irniq, the eldest are asked to lead as long as they are in good health. Because of this medicines and luck charms are immensely important to the Nisogui descendants and a thriving industry in both the real and false varieties have developed.

==Order in Nature==
Untamed nature is where the Nipangui idea of ‘demons’ and evil is centered. A demon will almost always take the form of an animal to mortal eyes. Nature is only safe when it is domesticated, tilled, and ordered – when it is made more ‘heavenly.’ Nipangui will make sure to keep their gardens well kept and neat. Aristocrats often have gardens that are extraordinarily elaborate and beautiful to display their dedication to heavenliness.

==Astrology==
Astrology is a very important pursuit in religious life, as it is the one way of determining the dragons’ will. Most Nipangui have some sense of evil and good portents in the sky, but it is the Priestly orders that excel in astrological divination. This augury may determine everything from personality traits and lifelines of people based on their birthdays and astral phenomena, to the most important: Imperial Divination – in which the date is found upon which the Emperor (of whichever country) has been born upon. Extensive birth registers for elves are then consulted, and that elf whose birthday has been divined is elevated to the Imperial throne.

==Monks==
Religious devotees of the Three Nations are known as Monks. These shaven-headed religious disciples, which may be men or women (more accurately Nuns), are bound permanently to their local chapel or temple. Once enrolled in a Temple, the orange-robed monk may never leave without rare permission from high-ranking Abbots.

Men and women may inhabit the same temple on occasion, but are separated into different living quarters and without special dispensation (mostly for elves or lone sons) sexual encounters are forbidden.

Larger temples, usually located high up in the mountains (closer to the night sky) are run by Abbotts and occasionally Abbesses – the most revered being elves. Elves often attend temples for their education, in which they are usually instructed by an Elvish mentor of the same sex. Some choose to remain and live the simple life of a monk, and such a disciple is a great mark of honour for the temple.

It is an even greater mark of honour for a temple to have a ‘Sidereal Prophet’ or ‘Speaker of the Dragon Tongue.’ This is an elf who receives oracular visions from the Celestial Dragons and spends his or her life in confinement, the visions they receive being recorded by their fellow monks. These recordings are studied to gain greater enlightenment, and on certain occasions the Speakers will divine answers to specific questions when asked.

Over Panguro’s history, the Priests of the Celestial Dragons have stayed confined in their roles as teachers, and refrained for the most part from political maneuvering. This is mainly attributed to their restrictive rules pertaining to monks and nuns being bound to their monastery – unlike the roaming Gardeners. In addition, the clergy has split from their fellows in each division of the former Nisogui empire, resulting in three different orthodoxies for each of the three central nations. Most have only superficial differences, but are securely tied to national rather than continental interests.

There are various ‘orders’ of monks, each following certain strains of philosophy. Some believe in enlightenment and salvation through focusing on physical perfection and teach the most elaborate and skillful martial arts to their followers. Others focus on the mind, advocating contemplation and mental discipline. This is not to say ‘Body’ monks do not meditate and contemplate, or the reverse, only that they differ in the amount of focus they give certain aspects. Orders will often choose various middle paths as well.

=Other Information=

==The Saku Irinq==

The Saku Irniqui religion places even more emphasis upon astrology and the constellations, not surprising since these are often the only way to navigate in the monocoloured northern wastes. They also have a similar concept of honor and tradition, but much more relaxed and merry than the other cultures.

Captains of the trading parties are a special class of halfling possessing powers and station similar to paladins of the west. These Captains are titled ‘Walkers of the Path’ (just as Shamans, their tutors are called ‘Finders of the Path’). Although most Saku Irniqui can read the stars for direction purposes, ‘Walkers’ are the undisputed masters of astrological navigation. Without the indispensable paladins, sledge-ship parties can easily get lost in the trackless, endless white of the northern icefields. Their abilities in battle and the power to detect lies further make them the perfect Trading Captains. On those occasions when the halflings must war on other peoples or track down menaces, ‘Walkers’ are often the leaders. Besides the respect for their abilities and opinions, however, these captains hold no innate authority or temporal power.

The Irniqui paladins are marked out by three features. First, their facemasks are expertly carved to resemble closely their actual face – unlike the nearly featureless masks of other crewmembers. Secondly, recognizing their role as principle warriors, their parkas are equipped with certain Nipangui-like armour shingles and instead of a simple parka hood they wear a fur-lined helmet. Thirdly, they are more likely to have a weapon meant strictly for battle (unlike knives and harpoons) than an average halfling, including wakizashi, shortened yari, and western steel spears bought from their trading partners.

==Odan Religion==

Tribes are divided along the lines of which animal totem they worship. The Odan religion is polytheistic, but an Odan ‘nation,’ which might consist of several tribes or villages spread out over a certain territory, owes its allegiance to one animal god, which is represented by all earthly animals of that species. The Raven tribe, for instance, considers all ravens earthly aspects of its totemic protector god.

Worship and prayer is also not restricted according to tribe. While their protector deity is worshipped the most devoutly and most often, an Odan tribesman faced with a situation requiring the skills or province of a specific animal is free to pray to that animal. Woodsmen from the Snake tribe, for instance, might sing a song to Beaver while felling a particularly strong tree. A Frog tribe warrior might beseech Tiger for strength in battle. Monkey is considered shrewd and clever, Frog wise, etc.

The most bizarre aspect of Odan society is that their worship of these totems also allows them to take on physical traits of that particular animal through a religious ritual that, among other things, involves blotting out the light of the stars, sun, and moons. This is performed using spells of inky black fog, but lacking such, clouds or even tarps will suffice. Once the ritual is performed, each tribal warrior undergoes a lycanthropic transformation into a bestial form. It is not known how long this form lasts, but it is maintained even if the tribesmen are exposed to celestial light once more. It is only the ritual, not the form, which must be done out of the ‘sight of the dragons.’ Also unknown is how often the rites and subsequent transformations are performed. Seldom does one see an Odan war group that has not taken on their terrifying animal forms, but it is known that the rites are not just for war, but also for festivals and days of religious significance. It has also been noted that the more complete the darkness, the more bestial and more powerful the tribesmen become. For example, a tribe transformed under a tarp would stand little chance against a tribe transformed on an overcast night.

{{religion}}

Garusk

2013-05-06T23:39:00Z

Stygian: Protected "Garusk" (‎[edit=sysop] (indefinite) ‎[move=sysop] (indefinite))

{{Infobox City

| common_name = Garusk
| image =
| alt =
| formal_name =
| realm = [[Alesian Imperium|Alesian Elluria]]
| province = [[Elluria]]
| population =
| race1 = [[Humans]],
| race2 = [[Dwarves]],
| race3 = [[Elves]], and [[Giants]]
| year_founded = 645 BT (115 BG in Ellurian Reckoning)
| currency =
| government = Empire
| head_of_state = The Garatos of Elluria, Etaudus Paralor
| privy_council =
| religion = [[Ellurian Religion|Ellurian]] and [[Alesian Religion|Alesian]] Pantheons

}}

=Origins & History=

The Aslarians founded the city of Garusk in 645 BT (115 BG) to serve as a trading center to the far away lands of Arangoth and Vallaria. After Kel Ellure's rebellion drove the Aslarians out, it became part of the newly founded Kingdom of [[Tollor]]. Garusk has been a point of contention between Tollor and Emil for centuries, and the two kingdoms have clashed multiple times over control of the city and its port over the last six hundred years. The [[Emil|Emilians]] first tried to assert a claim over the city in 143 BT (387 ER), but Kel Ellure's forceful response forced King Arnoch of Emil to back down without further conflict. Arnoch found Kel's son Jeon much less formidable and avenged his earlier embarassment during the Three Years' War from 126 BT (404 ER) to 123 BT (407 ER), and seized Garusk as a result of the war. Garusk remained an Emilian possession until the year 91 (621 ER), when the House of Vilgren triumphed in the Tollorian war of succession over the House of Sor, which had been allied with the Emilian crown. The Emilians made two further unsuccessful attempts to wrest the city from Tollor, in the year 116 (646 ER) and again in 270 (800 ER). The Tollorian victory in the latter conflict ushered in the Silver Age of Tollor, a period of unquestioned naval dominance by the Tollorians, and prosperity for Garusk. The Silver Age was a period of growth for Garusk, and many ambitious public works projects occurred during this time period, including expansion of the city's defenses. These new fortifications were put to the test during the Brackish War from 314 to 319 (844-849 ER), and the mysterious aggressors were never able to seize Garusk as they were Norlin and Kelsville. Following the Tollorian Civil War of 466-467 (996-997 ER), continued tensions between ethnic Tollorians and Ellurians made Garusk the center of a separatist movement that threatened the secession of the province of West Elluria. Sir Eldryn Ruflin's skillful mediation of the crisis was a large factor in his election as King of the Tollorians and Ellurians. During the Southlands Wars, the Alesian forces landed their boats near Garusk in the year 470 (1000 ER), and made the city their base of operations for their war with the Aslarians. Following the war, Garusk became the new capital of the newly-created Alesian proctectorate of Elluria.

==Notable Historical Figures==

=Government=

The Alesian Imperium governs Elluria as an Imperial province. Prince Etaudus Paralor is the current Garatos, or governor of Elluria. Following the Alesian custom, he has appointed three Prefects to manage the day to day administration of the city.

=Layout & Architecture=

Garusk is located at the southern end of [[Elluria]], at the foothills of the mountains that divide Elluria from neighboring Emil. The famous Cliffs of Garusk jut out into the sea, creating a sheltered spot on their western side, where the city has grown up around the excellent deep water harbor. A fortress at the top of the cliffs overlooks the bustling harbor and shipyards below, and keeps watch for invaders. The city is an eclectic mix of styles, with traditional Tollorian architecture standing side by side with new Alesian-style buildings erected during the post-war reconstruction. An ancient statue of Kel Ellure stands guard in the square in front of a brand new temple to Jornos.

==Law Enforcement==

Alesian soldiers from the legions stationed in Elluria maintain the peace in Garusk.

=Notable Products=

Garusk is famous for a potent alcoholic spirit called Rockscotch, as well as a variety of pepper called the Cliff Pepper that gives a distinctive spice to Ellurian cuisine.

[[Category: Cities]]

2013-01-29T17:48:38Z

Stygian:

{{Infobox Character
| name = Lucian
| picfile = lucBDI.jpg
| alttext =
| caption =

| full_name = Luxian Sangliod
| age = 26
| place_of_birth = Orphaned
| date_of_birth = 4/8
| race = Half-Griffon
| hair_color = Black
| eye_color = Bluegreen
| height = 5'10
| weight = 171
| nickname = Luc, Lux (Luce)
| aliases = Luxian
| religion = Agnostic
| occupation = Courtesan at the Cat's Pajamas
| marital_status = Single
| player = Nicci
| username = Tumbleweed
}}

=Character Background=
It is taboo for any griffon of the aerie to leave his kits, however, such wasn't true for the father of young Luxian who was born to a peasant woman of halfelven lineage. Luxian, pronounced (Loo-shee-en) had very little of a childhood. What little he learned in his adolescence was that his mother loved his father, very, very much, and that she once dwelled in the aerie with other non-winged humans. When the griffon that seduced failed to return after several weeks for her to relay the celebratory news, Miriam left with a broken heart and eventually returned to her family abroad in Drache. Only a handful of years after his birth, young Miriam died of a tragic wasting sickness and left her dear child orphaned in the care of her own sister who had no interest in raising a child. Of course, his aunt often threatened to shut him out onto the streets if he became troublesome to her fast-living lifestyle, so Lucian learned at an early age to be quiet, keep out of sight, and to trouble no one. While he wasn't abused, he saw little love or concern from his remaining relative, turned to other interests and later, comforts of the flesh to make his own life more fulfilling. After living most of his life in Drache, there is very little that offends or troubles Lucian, he lives his life one day at a time, is slow to anger with a calm, soft spoken demeanor, and typically stays out of physical confrontations if he can.

As a half-Griffon, Lucian was born in the form of a human infant with small, delicate, fragile wings that nearly fractured during his birth. Fortunately, they were pressed very close to his body, underdeveloped, and enlarged to fit his frame as he grew older. He has never taken the form of a full Griffon and has, as a rule, rejected everything about them, rebellious and angry that his father apparently saw him and his mother as worthy of his love. The sadder truth of the matter is that his father is that death is the only thing that prevented his father from returning to the woman he had loved, and Lucian may never discover it.

=Physical Description=
[[File:Angel-Luc.jpg|frameless|Luxian]]
Lithe of frame with lean muscle and little bulk, Lucian stands a little under typical male height. A head of dark, wavy hair that nearly reaches his collar gives contrast to Lucian's fair skin, which remains pale regardless of how much time he spends in the summer sun. He is pretty, and he's been told how pretty he is for nearly his entire life thanks to his flawless features, seagreen eyes, and the beautiful cream and ivory colored wings that he sports at his back. The longest pinions are black with intermittent hints of golden brown.

=Talents, Skills, Quirks=
*Appearances are deceptive, because Lucian may appear to be small and harmless, but he is an expert fencer and equally talented with small blades or thrown weaponry such as daggers. Lots of time on the streets prior to getting his 'break through' at the Silver Swan has given him the chance to acquire a certain set of skills best used for liberating rich society women of their valuables. Fortunately, after becoming a male courtesan, such acts were no longer necessary. He has recently made the transition from one 'noble house' to another and remains a high-priced escort capable of charging much, much more than the standard fee for his services. They're worth it. His talent as an actor and vocal range allow him to participate in the large scale productions.
*Has a good hand for forgery.
*Light on his feet and also has an uncanny knack for lockpicking.

=Other Information=
Extraordinary violin player, moderate at the cello, decent on a piano.
Grows orchids, fond of literature, loves birds and cats but has never had a pet of his own.

[[Category: Player Characters]]