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This Memory Fading page is a stub. More information will be provided eventually. |
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This is where I work out the stories, plot devices, and random thoughts in Memory Fading. Still not set in stone.
The White Wars
War has been brewing for a little now. The White Queen of the urshael has been building up her resources for a major confrontation for several centuries now, and has found an ally in the giants of Balorand. Memory Fading would essentially be a moving of the timeline up by 26-31 years to encompass the war and its after effects. There would be some major shifts in the geopolitical landscape, new boundaries would be made, and new kingdoms would arise.
The War Itself
The war begins six years from now, in 1738 BI, with a major invasion in the north by the urshael and in the northeast by the giants. Also, many giants and drumen come across the Strait of Tamlihn and battle with the Laons. Because of recent urshael activities, the Gaardans are relatively prepared in the north, but the trakloks of Duarmenstor, Old Tlek, and Laon are completely caught by surprise. The troops are rallied, and the battles are joined, but it doesn't look good for the "goodly folk" at first.
For the first three months, the urshael are held back pretty efficiently, and Duarmenstor and Old Tlek seem to be holding their own, but Laon is in desperate need of aid. The massive hordes of giants, drumen, and gretches coming into Laon are just staggering - it is apparently where their largest armies were positioned. The UKA sends troops east to aid Laon, but it seems to be a losing battle. Laon cities are abandoned and civilians are evacuated. The exiles head west, where the sirish allow them to rest in the protected city of Azvadh, but otherwise don't offer much aid. Those who travel further reach mostly warm greetings in Faeros, but it isn't long before the western Laon cities and the cities of the UKA are overflowing with refugees.
In the fourth month of the war, the White Queen sends out powerful, magic-aided assassins, who are able to make it into Illysigrimm and murder King Durnharl's wife and two of his three children, as well as the royal sage. The King was on the battlefield and unable to help. Similarly, several assassins make it into the main armies camp and are able to wreak havok in the lieutenants' and war leaders' tents. Riddesgaard's general, Haroth Vohnwyd is slain with several of his powerful sages. After this, the Gaardan spirit is seemingly broken, and the most powerful and defensive Gaardan city, Kovhetnal, falls. The urshael take the city and also manage to take Inweasua, the ancient sydhi city. The Gaardans must flee to Naglishunn and Illysigrimm, the only two remaining truly fortified cities in Riddesgaard. Similarly, in Laon, the Laons and Arudorans are holding off the Hordes at the fort city of Zuloun over the Tonzhu River, but the siege is not going very well. The capital city of Kai Zhak is sacked. The Laon army is split and divided into three, each with a Laon warlord at the head. Warlord Jhu Kutz takes his army to the Horn and destroys the remaining drumen and giant ships. Warlord Fhon Wei is forced up against the Valhe Peaks and fights a deadly, desperate battle of survival. Warlord Jin Sun is with Sun-Father Zhu Hon, at Zuloun.
In the northeast, the trakloks are able to keep their fronts clean, and the city-states of Karsus, Galwin, and Jarenston in Old Tlek are similarly able to fend off the Hordes attempting to cross the Greyhelms, but are unable to send aid to Riddesgaard or Laon.
In the fifth month, a sydhi army issues forth from Nalimoseo and rides east. They arrive at Illysigrimm and for the first time in over five hundred years, offer their aid to the Gaardans, who gladly accept. They accompany the Gaardan army towards Kovhetnal, where they attempt to purge the city of the urshael. In the south, the pyramid-city Azvadh is unsealed, and an army of sirish surge east.
To the north, the sydhi, led by Aliki the Birdfather, and the Gaardans, accompanied by King Durnharl, lay siege to Kovhetnal. The sydhi used their powerful magics to bring down the walls of the Iron City, and for the first time in several thousand years, sydhi fought urshael, and the bloodiest battle in recorded history began. For an entire month, battles raged around the city walls, on the fields, and even in the streets of the city. The urshael took five Gaardan lives for every one of themselves that fell, and the sydhi were not numerous enough to stem the bloodflow. Eventually, through the workings of powerful, ancient magics, the sydhi and the Gaardans were able to fell the last of the urshael defenders. Many urshael fled to Inweasua and the ancient Cold Mountain Home of the sydhi became the next target of the war.
To the south, the sirish brought with them new, powerful war technology. Their black powder rifles massacred drumen and gretches, and their powerful, powder and steam-powered cannons launched deadly explosives in the midst of giants. Slowly, the Laons, Arudorans, and sirish were able to push the Hordes back. With their backs against the Starfall Sea, the Hordes became even deadlier, but eventually, it became a matter of numbers and technology. The Hordes were slaughtered to the last giant during the fifth month of the war.
In Riddesgaard, the Gaardans and sydhi pushed further north and east to Inweasua, where they attempted to cleanse the urshael out of their sacred and ancient city. For two months they laid siege to the city, but the urshael were simply too many and too powerful to be routed. In a desperate move, the sydhi sent a powerful magical spell into the center of the city, hoping to kill enough of the urshael for them to retreat. In a stroke of pure luck, their magic wounded the White Queen and her lieutenants, forcing them and many of the urshael to retreat and nurse their wounds in the Frostfells. The urshael finally declared amnesty. The conditions were such that the urshael would never attempt to push further south in an act of war, but they would remain in Inweasua.
The Immediate Aftermath
The most notable differences are that sydhi are now in the lands again (at least, in Riddesgaard). In fact, many stayed in Kovhetnal to aid the Gaardans in the rebuilding of the city. Some even settled in Inweasua and are working out their differences with the urshael.
Duarmenstor managed to escape the war mostly unscathed, other than deaths. The cities and temples still stand.
Old Tlek is in the midst of a reformation. The city-states Karsus and Galwin take advantage in the immediate aftermath and manage to form an alliance, and forcefully annex Jarenston and Hapford into their new coalition. The Karsus Province is formed, and the rest of the city-states further west in Old Tlek now eye this larger force very suspiciously.
The UKA didn't face any battles in its boundaries, but are now at much more peaceful relations with the Laons than before. They also have sparked up trade with the sirish, who have become much more open to trade and relations in recent years.
The largest changes came in Laon. Immediately after the war, Warlord Jhu Kutz condemned Zhu Hon and Warlord Jin Sun for allowing this to happen due to Zhu Hon's father's involvement with the failed war against Balorand almost thirty years ago. Jhu Kutz declares his independence from Laon. To the west, Fhon Wei seems to agree, and also declares his intent to secede. Zhu Hon and Jin Sun immediately declare treason and haul their armies west to encounter Fhon Wei. The sirish and Arudorans immediately pull out, not interested in aiding a civil war. Fhon Wei meets Zhu Hon and Jin Sun at the western branch of the Tonzhu River and fight a bloody battle. To the east, Jhu Kutz attacks Zhu Hon's army as well. The three armies battle bloodily for four more months before Zhu Hon is outnumbered, outmatched, and forced to sign a treaty of secession. Jhu Kutz takes his army east to the Horn and forms his new state, Marubon, "State of Golden Treetops." Fhon Wei takes his small quadrant and forms Tal Katar, "Valley of the Sunset Shadows." Zhu Hon and his pet warlord, Jin Sun, take back the southern lands of Laon, keeping the same name.
For the first several years, there are a lot of problems, and lots of bickering between the new Laonish states. Marubon claims control of Vuren, "Star Island," and sets up outlooks and outposts to watch for future incursions from Balorand. This causes problems with Warlord Fhon Wei in Tal Katar, who claims Vuren is closer to his state, and he deserves its ownership. Zhu Hon continues for several years to attempt to push north and west and reclaim his lands, but in the year 1746, finally accepts the loss. In 1746, the three Warlords and Zhu Hon meet and declare a final truce and peace, and the three states become known as the Confederacy of Great Laon.
Recent Years
All the kingdoms, old and new, have observed relative peace and prosperity for the last twelve years. The city-states of Old Tlek fought a few minor skirmishes, but it seems as though the Karsus Province is done expanding, and is leaving the rest of the city-states alone. Trade has opened through Nalimoseo for all the lands, and for the first time in hundreds of years, Laons and Tleks are trading with sydhi and Shaern. The urshael and sydhi city of Inweasua seems to be holding its own, but it is very quiet. Few visitors come to or from the ancient city. In the Crescent, myari and sul have formed several above-ground cities, close to Sherasua, and are trading finely made weapons and armor. Some of the sul have finally decided to leave the city that had been their home for centuries, and are traveling and settling in various places around the world. Sul and sydhi still have an odd relationship, but that's to be expected. The sirish have resealed the city of Azvadh, but are still keeping relations open with the surrounding nations. Trakloks in Duarmenstor still fend off the occasional giant or drumen raid, but things have been very quiet from Balorand for the twenty-six years since their main force was slaughtered on the northern shores of Laon.
Things are a-Changin'
In the year 1758 BI, more fadings began appearing again around Old Tlek. Some have spread further. There are several smaller fadings formed around the northern edge of Faeros and the southern edge of Riddesgaard. The unearthly cold that had seeped from the Frostfells for many years, and continued through the war, have stopped, but the fires and smoke of the forges below Tharos Bawur have been spotted again. Small tremors and earthquakes have been felt in the Karsus Province, where none have been detected before.
West of Old Tlek, on the Kings Islands, a massive volcano erupted in 1759 BI, covering the skies for several weeks in ash and soot. During this time, the earth moon, Sherk, turned from dull brown to blood red. Many consider this a foul omen. Ships have been spotted to the east and south of Laon in the Purvan Ocean, and these ships greatly resemble the ships of the invaders from 1687 BI, but whenever Laon or Arudoran ships sail out to investigate, the ships flee, disappearing rapidly across the waves.
In 1760 BI, thousands of Shaern traveled east out of the Shaernlands. Many met with sydhi in Nalimoseo and were welcomed there. The others came to the Crescent and Riddesgaard, settling along the way, and some ended in Old Tlek, Karsus, and Faeros. They all spoke of the same thing. Dark, ominous clouds and strange blue lights have appeared over Erim-has, and the Shaernlands don't feel safe anymore.
In 1761 BI, the skies darkened for six days as hundreds of massive dragons flew over Alsa Eru from the east. They continued west; only a few caused any mischief, but they were quickly caught up in the Flight and continued westward. In the summer of 1761, Gaardans began noticing that the sky north of the Frosthorns didn't get dark anymore - it retained a pinkish hue even throughout the darkest nights. Then, near the winter months, a comet fell from the heavens and struck the center of Balorand. The explosion caused tremors, quakes, and more dirt and soot covering the sky than the volcano several years before. The darkened skies lasted for close to two months, causing the lands to get much colder than usual. When the skies finally cleared, all was quiet beyond the Greyhelms, and Faeros, Riddesgaard, and Marubon of Laon began sending explorers into the deadly lands to find out what happened exactly.
Current Happenings
Governor of Karsus has recently made known his intentions to start looking east, and building an outpost ont he easter end of the Valdepahs (Valley Pass) in the Greyhelms. Currently construction has started, w/ a large wall being built around a town of tents, and one large stone bunker. In anticipation, several mercenaries and adventurers have begun exploring Balorand, hoping to be the first to find something profitable. One group of particularly ruthless mercenaries, known as the Felt League - named after their leader, Randolph Felt - has already cleared out a dozen or more dens of drumen and gretches, and has even mercilessly slain an entire giant clan. More and more mercenaries join the League every day, so by mid-year 1761, there are over six hundred members. They have commissioned to build their own keep slightly north of Karsus', outside of Karsus rule. Speculation on how the League is profiting ranges from their accepting commissions for "monster" deaths, to smuggling in illegal substances from Balorand, to Randolph Felt being the illegitimate son of King Durnharl of Riddesgaard (and being paid to keep quiet). No one outside of the League knkows for certain, and no one in the League is spilling the beans.
Since the War, Khandians have been aggressively exploring the Chulgeth in search of answers to their Hith heritage, as well as attempting to profit from the many rumored abandoned gold and silver mines throughout the archipelago.
The current political air in Arudor is tense, as Faeros, eldest child of Jaereom, is sickly, and has yet produced no heir. Several noble houses, cousins to Jaerom, have vied for position to the throne, especially when it became known that Ellisa (Faeros' wife) was with child. now her life is under protection from assassination (there has been one attempt, so far the source is unknown). In Garriston, several herding clans have disappeared in the Maeros Mountains while herding goats. The first expedition into the mountains to investigate disappeared as well. The second, much larger and stronger expedition, met some "faeries" of some sort, and fought and escaped - when they came back with an even larger force, could not find the faeries." Wyndel has seen some after-effects from the War, especially at seas, as raids and attacks on the shores from sahuagin have increased. Several port cities have seen major attacks, and even some up-river cities have. A magic academy was recently built in Wyndel that is attracting students from all over Arudor, and some parts of Khandia.
Myari have built two above-ground cities (Hendlefum and Narglebol) along the Kholdelyre, and have begun extensive trading in Old Tlek, Karsus, and the Kolem Lands. They are making some of the most highly sought-after metalworks in ages, in both weapons and armor, as well as household goods. Several thousand Sul can be found in each of the cities as well, and are spreading out thinly through the middle kingdoms. One sul craftsman, named Saveau ub Taru (located in Narglebol), is building finely crafted musical instruments - drums, lutes, fiddles, flutes - of a quality never before seen, and minstrels from across the land are harping the wonders of Saveau-made instruments. "Is that a Saveau?" ha become one of the most commonly-heard questions in musicians' circles.
New Kingdom, Khandia
Introducing a new kingdom - yes, this will require a bit of retconning, that is based on medieval Indian cultures. Called Khandia, it is the Land of the Blue Lotus, a rare flower that blooms in or close by deserts (at least, it does in Memory Fading!), making it perfect to be close to the Agozal Desert. The history will be based on a mixture of Laons and Hiths, a mostly unknown race of people from the south (either the Chulgeth, or south of the Chulgeth), who have taken on many of the cultural aspects of the sirish - scientifically minded, focusing on technology and progression. More info soon...
Cultural Histories
Gaardans
Originally from the Berjendra continent, far SW of Alsa Eru. Berjendra is an extremely rocky continent, dominated by a central plateau that is fully half the size of the entire continent, surrounded by steppes, and a long line of rocky coasts. For hundreds of years, the entirety of the continent was ruled by hereditary monarchs called the Jendran God-Kings. On Berjendra, three very distinct cultures had evolved from the castes set up by both geological (the plateau, the steppes, the coast) and ethnic circumstances. Those living on the plateau were of a higher caste than all others on the continent. They called themselves Jendrans and lorded over all the other people in Berjendra (They resemble the Crimean Tatars). They built fantastic castles and towers to look down on the other people of the land. Down in the steppes, mostly in the NW section of the continent, were Bergs, who were largely horse nomads (They resemble Northern Mongoloids). Though they paid homage to the Jendrans, they very rarely had reason to ask for aid. Surrounding most of the continent were hundreds of small villages in the rocks and sands. The people who lived here were called the Hassalts (resembling Nordic/Scandinavians). They were excellent fishermen and sailors, but through subtle manipulations of the Jendrans (who schemed this way to keep the Hassalts from rising up and overthrowing them), were constantly at war with each others. Dozens of separate Hassalt clans surrounded the continent. Eventually, a leader, named Geroth of the Bear Clan, was able to unite several clans into a small, fledgling nation. They were easily able to keep the other clans from causing too much damage. This incited the wrath of the current God-King, who paid Bergish raiders to wage war on the Bear Clan. There were years of bloody fighting and bickering, until finally, Geroth had had enough, and decided to take his people away from the land. He led seventy ships northeast and eventually found Alsa Eru. Ten years later, the Jendrans and Bergs warred over the rights of the continent. Many Bergs sailed north after Geroth. The Jendrans followed and waged war on Geroth and his fellow allies, the trakloks and many Bergs. The Bergs and Geroth's people (Hassalts) set up a series forts along the Coldlyre, and called them "The River's Guard," and eventually were able to beat back the Jendrans for good. Eventually, "The River's Guard" became "Riddesgaard," and the Bergs and Hassalts of Riddesgaard became Gaardans.
Laons
A continent to the east of Alsa Eru, called by the natives "Taigas-has," but by most of the rest of the world, just "Taigas," is another example of a (mostly) continent-spanning empire. Laon-has is the name of that empire, and has a diverse group of cultures. There are four major ethnic groups on the continent, and about a dozen minor groups. The main group are the Tabrians (similar to Chinese people in features), who have long, fully-detailed family lines back for thousands of years. Up until about two thousand years ago, the Tabrian Dynasty had ruled Taigas since the beginning of human written history. In the event that trakloks call "The Sundering," another stone (part of the same meteor that struck Kaerkondur) fell into the sea only a hundred miles off the west coast of Taigas. The capital of the Tabrian Dynasy, Tabrus-has, was wiped off the map, along with scores of other cities and tens of thousands of people. The lowlands in the center of the continent were devastated the worst, and the Tabrians went from the majority to the minority in the course of a day. The Sianeeles people (appearance like Japanese) attempted to claim the continent/empire as their own, but the Kahts and Pahmers (Tibetans and Khmers, respectfully) resisted. Over the course of about a hundred years, several civil wars were fought, until the Sianeeles were able to gain control. They cracked down hard on the resistance of the Kahts and Pahmers, putting many of them into slavery. The Tabrians were sympathetic to the Kahts and Pahmers. After a few hundred years of the Sianeele Dynasty, the emperor decided to expand to new lands. Five hundred ships (comprising mostly of Saineeles and Tabrians) sailed west. The sympathetic Tabrians also brought with them several thousand Kahts and Pahmers. The two hundred ships containing the Tabrians, Kahts, and Pahmers, landed on eastern Alsa Eru and eventually formed Laon-has, named after the general Laon. They immediately claimed sovereignty from Taigus-has. The other three hundred ships circled the continent and landed on the far western edge. They, too, claimed sovereignty from Taigus-has, naming their new land Erim-has, but few stories have returned from that land of these people. In Laon-has, where the climate was very similar to the lands where the Pahmers had lived, the culture most attributed with the Pahmers became dominant, while the Tabrian phenotype remained dominant due to the much larger numbers of Tabrians.
