Skaleria

Skaleria is a multiethnic kingdom. It’s population is comprised of Humans (60%) and Cyborgs (27%). In the past two years, populations of Scorponi have been returning to the area (8%). The remaining 5% of the population is made up of Reptilians, Magicats, and Orcs.

Skaleria is officially a monarchy. Most people in the kingdom ignore the rulings of the crown. Instead, the city functions as a kraterocracy, where those strong enough to enforce the rules, do.

Skaleria has natural defenses in it’s geography, being positioned between a large desert and the Whispering Woods. While it no longer has a formal military, it does have strong fortifications in the Fright Zone, as well as a heavily armed population.

With limited rainfall, almost all food items require importation. The Fright Zone’s forge and Antar’s factories put the city in a strong position for production, and it is rebuilding it’s international trade.

The infrastructure in Skaleria is in dire need of an overhaul, with only 6% of it’s roads paved. The city of Antar houses the only port, which is gearing up to service international trading again after it fell into disuse in the 1980s.   The city does have an extensive network of sewers and water mains. The sewer systems deposit all run off at the bottom of the canyon that makes up the city of Antar. With waste from factories, warehouses, and the Fright Zone, these tunnels are often toxic and the waste is hazardous to inhale. Previously maintained by the Horde, the maintenance and upkeep of these networks is quickly becoming a problem for the kingdom.

Once comprised of several cities in the southern Crimson Waste, today Skaleria made of of the city of Antar, and the Fright Zone.

Skaleria has large, still functioning factories ready for production. It is one of few kingdoms with widespread electricity with over 80% of the city powered.

Age of Ancients

While no records of the time remain, most historians agree that Scorponi people lived in the area as nomads since the Age of Ancients. In 1963, an excavation found the presence of ancient scorponi dating back to 4.2 million years ago. This makes the area the oldest site for the emergence of anatomically modern scorponi.   The Ehren Mesa in the northeast of Skaleria is the site of a 30,000 year old rock shelter, which contains stone tools and an ancient fireplace. Bones on site indicate that the scorponi and repitlian folks cohabitated in the area, sharing the dwelling, and had a diet made up primarily of giant mole rats. They also kept cats as pets.  

Spells Age

Tools and bones indicated that scorponi traveled along the Nepi Dae River, traveling from north to south, then back, likely following food sources. While they traveled in groups of 10-15 families, making small tribes. These nomads left imprints in rocks that served as codes to other travelers. Some imprints indicated nearby danger, others revealed nearby sources of food, and some even left instructions for spells. Most of the spells in this area were connected with the element of lighting, but evidence of earth mages and air mages were found here as well.  

Dark Age

The nomadics tribes of the Nepi Dae River collected in the Desert’s Claws around the Black Garnet runestone for protection. Previous historical excavations of the area have uncovered signs of a large city in what is the modern day Fright Zone, where Scorponi built low structure buildings and residences. Most of these historical remains were demolished when the Horde began construction in the area.   A 2023 excavation led by Stella uncovered a city that dates back to the Dark Age.  

Age of Strife

While few inscriptions about the settlement survive, the kingdom of D’Arktym was established in the center of Ctonus Canyon, just along the Nepi Dae River, sometime before 980 BK. On the east side of the river, the kingdom built a large structure, known as the Tower of Eans, that became a centerpoint of the area from 980 BK until 1992, when it was demolished by the Horde.   The kingdom developed irrigation schemes, and used iron tools and plows. The primary crop of the area was millet.   D’Arktym expanded north, with villages alongside the river. Historians believe that leaders of the kingdom fought for power, and it went into civil war. D’Arktym was overrun by lessor known successors until it eventually went on to become the Kingdom of Skaleria.  

The Founding

The Tower of Eans became a wayfinding point for the Crimson Waste and for Ctonus Canyon by 850 BK. The area began to become popular for trade, and rose as a trading hub between 100-150 KE. Sisters Zya Yopis and Hable Qala became prominent figures in the area as they began to control the trades. They named the city Axean, and founded it as the capital of Skaleria in 167 BK.   Zya Yopis ruled for only 13 years before her death. She was succeeded by her sister, Hable Qala. During Hable Qala’s rule, the kingdom of Skaleria expanded west to the Whispering Woods, south to the end of Ctonus Canyon, and east to the ocean.  

Middle Ages

In 330 BK, King Mazaois moved the capital of Skaleria north, to the city of Anopiar, the home of the Black Garnet, and ending the century old tradition of the Ka'ilash. The monarchy became an inherited position from parent to child.   Anopiar became a bustling metropolis, cultural and economic hub. Along the Nepi Dae river, the cities of Ultiazo, Addlis, Tarama, and Steha became stronger, making the Ctonus Canyon a densely populated area by 600BK.   In 712BK, Zaranna Ekan, a powerful water mage, tried to take over southern Skaleria. She started at Seeas, the city that sat the furthest south, just at the mouth of the Nepi Dae river. She held the city for almost a decade, and built an obelisk in her own honor.  

Pax Eternia

The visitors from the stars reached Skaleria in 978KE.     Queen Digu was ruling Skaleria, and welcomed the envoys known now as the First Ones. Queen Digu’s history is debated among historians. Some say she was the daughter of the previous King, King Loas. Others day she was a powerful lightning elementalist who took the monarchy for herself. Finally, some sources say she was the first scorponi to meet the First Ones, and that she gave the First Ones access to the black garnet in return for their support of her rule.   With the help of the First Ones, Queen Digu took full control of the black garnet, and forbid other mages from getting close to it. Going even further, she sent an army across Skaleria, destroying schools of magic and destroying records associated with lightning magic, in order to fully keep the power for herself.   Prince Di Na’aid was next in line for the throne after Queen Digu. As her violence spread through Skaleria, many rallied behind Prince Di Na’aid to take the throne early. In 998 BK, the Prince fled toward Salinas to beg for aid, but was unanswered. Queen Digu captured the prince less than a year later. He was held for several months before he was killed.   Queen Digu’s reign led to many lightning elementalists leaving the kingdom of Skaleria, and settling in Salineas or the Crimson Waste. The First Ones built over the city of Anopiar, modernizing it and advancing the city’s technology. The people allowed into the city of Anopiar were those most loyal to Queen Digu, making the city more isolated than it had ever been before.   The Star Fall in 1005 KE led to the end of Queen Digu’s reign. The people in Skaleria blamed her for the violence in the kingdom, as well as for the trouble with the First Ones, and the loss of the stars. Queen Digu was removed from power in 1007 BK, and succeeded by Prince Di’Na’aid’s niece, Queen Zawe.  

Moons Age

Queen Zawe struggled to maintain power in the early years of the Moons Age. The city of Anopiar had been rebuilt by the First Ones, and the people inhabiting the city now struggled to settle into the ruins of a city more advanced than the rest of the kingdom.   In 1050 BK, Queen Zawe traveled the length of Ctonus Canyon. This became a decade of rebirth for the kingdom. The queen supported advancements in architecture, schools, the arts, and infrastructure to connect the canyon and promote peace across the region. On September 9th, the leaders of the canyon cities met in Anopiar to unify the canyon into one metropolis, unifying the struggling independent cities to thrive under one rule. The city of Anopiar sits north of the canyon and just above it. It was renamed Anpar “the Upper City”, while the unified canyon cities were named Antar “the Lower City”.   The sister cities of Anpar and Antar became the center of Skaleria. Other cities began to appear to the west, relying heavily on the sister cities for trade. By the 1550s, Skaleria was a large, thriving, and sprawling kingdom.   In 1572, under the rule of Queen Sarsiel, the black garnet was reopened to the public. Queen Sarsiel reinstated the Ka'ilash as a successful attempt to bring lightning mages back into the city. Lightning mages returned in three large waves from 1572, 1573, and 1575. This became known as the Light Migration.   Following the Light Migration, there was a boost in the arts of Skaleria. Taking inspiration from Salineas, there were updates to the old buildings of the city around the base of the canyon. Paintings and pottery began to mimic Salinian styles.   In 1706, King Asu inherited the throne from his mother at age 21. Asu enjoyed a life of luxury being raised a prince after centuries of successful rules. King Asu continued to enjoy an extravagant lifestyle, and created a large royal court. King Asu hosted the first All Princess Ball in 1709, starting a tradition that would continue each decade, to honor the birth of his daughter, Princess Ayoka.   Princess Ayoka took the throne in 1769, becoming Queen. She began the process of consolidation, centralization, and restructuring following the weak rule of her father. She created the Skalerian army called the Novogenta.   In 1913, Queen Hailie came into power at only age 17. Fearing another young ruler like King Asu in the 1700s, her early reign was met with political unrest. King E’Asu was appointed in the west, and gathered the support of the rural communities. Queen Hailie personally led the Novogenta into battle, using her own power as a lightning mage to defend her right to rule.   Winning the Western War by 1915, Queen Hailie became determined to become a figure that would go down in history as having done right by Skaleria. In 1915, Queen Hailie created the first Constitution of Skaleria. She began a program to increase literacy, nationalization, and land reform. The funded the rebuilding of rural villages in the west that were damaged by the Western War years early.   In 1960, King E’Asu returned with an army, and began a coup d’etat. The city of Anpar went into a lockdown for protection, and popular opinion turned against Queen Hailie as resources in the city became scarce. In 1964, Queen Hailie was able to have King E’Asu assassinated, her the city of Anpar opened again.   Two decades year later, Queen Hailie stepped down from the throne as her health began to decline. Her son, King Erit, known today as King Sting, took the throne in 1984.   King Erit continued his mother’s work in strengthening Skaleria. In 1989, he met with Hordak, a leader of a large group being called the ‘Horde’ that had begun to gain popularity and power. King Erit believed Hordak’s technology and inventions would advance Skaleria as a world power. Hordak worked alongside King Erit for several years, all the while accruing his own power, support, and following.   In 1991, Hordak launched a coup d’etat to usurp the throne. He turned his technology and support on the city of Anpar. The coup began with the assassination of King Erit. His daughter, Queen Cerata, and her wife Queen Tsehay, were forced into submission by Hordak, and held prisoner for nearly a decade before their deaths. Their daughter, Princess Scorpia (originally named Princess Kelile), was permitted to grow up in the Horde.  

Rétoiles

The Horde’s rule was a dark turning point for Skaleria. Renamed “The Fright Zone”, the Horde destroyed the city of Anpar and took the Black Garnet. A fortified military city was built in place over much of Anpar’s city, with the remains of the outercity being demolished, and known as the scrapyard today. The area remains littered with metal scrap and materials from the original coup, and then as a place where large metallic waste was deposited in coming years.   The Horde quickly turned the city into a manufacturing and industrial center. Run off from the factories and industry were deposited into Antar. The toxic waste and fumes of this runoff began to pollute the city from the bottom up. Much of the old city at the base of the canyon became abandoned and the buildings began to erode under the pollution. Over the next decade, Antar became full of air and water pollution. The Nepi Dae river, once the primary source of life for the people of Skaleria, is no longer visible at the base of the canyon, and is now called the sump: a river of pure waste and pollution. The city did become technologically advanced, with electricity powering the city, and running water and plumbing in most buildings, as well as an advanced sewage system.   To the west, the rural communities lost the support of the sister cities, and quickly became abandoned. The Horde demolished the remains of these cities, running them down into the sand, to create the open desert that would provide no cover for any military trying to advance on the Fright Zone from the west.   In May of 2021, the Fright Zone was attacked and left in weak shape by an invasion from Horde Prime. The Horde crumbled, and the fortified base was left damaged and abandoned. Horde Prime heavily attacked the city of Antar as well, damaging the bridges that connect the canyon.   When Prime was defeated in November of 2021, Antar was left with a power vacuum. The city remains as the last standing city of the Kingdom of Skaleria, and is in a state of political unrest as gangs vie for power.   On May 10th, 2022, Azvatis took over the Fright Zone. The area became inaccessible and the city was considered lost until Azvatis’s defeat on December 17th of the same year.

Much of Skaleria’s historic points are lost to history after the Horde’s running of the city. The Tower of Eans was the center of Ctonus Canyon and a tourist attraction as well as historical site. When the Waste began to pump into the canyon from the Horde, the tower was lost as the city was forced to build up, away from the base of the canyon.   The Mouth of Nepi Dae was once a port as well as a natural wonder, with the river opening into the Salineas channel. The end of the river was blocked off by the Horde to prevent entry into the city from the ocean, and today the large wall blocks off the waste and toxins that fill the sump.   The Desert's Claws are a natural rock structure forming a circle around the black garnet runestone before it was moved in 1572.

The kingdom of Skaleria resides in the southern Crimson Waste. It borders the Whispering Woods, the northern Crimson Waste, and the East Sea. The northern border of the kingdom is made up of mesas and buttes, separating it from the other half of the Wastes.   The Desert’s Claws is a large landmark and rock formation in the middle of the Crimson Waste, just north of Ctonus Canyon. The rock formation is almost around shell around the area, and the black garnet used to reside at the center of this circle.   Historically, Skaleria was centered around a large river that stemmed from Hadrurus Mesa. The Hadrurus Mesa was in the center of northern Skaleria, and was the start of the Nepi Dae river.   The Nepi Dae river ran from the Hadrurus Mesa down to the southern edge of Skaleria, letting out into the very start of the Channel of Salineas. The river formed the Ctonus Canyon, which is home to the city of Antar today.

There is an average of seven hours of sunshine per day in Skaleria. The dry season is the sunniest time of year, and even in the rainy seasons of July and August, there is still mostly sun, as the area gets very little rainfall. In winter months, the temperature can drop as low as 20°C (68°F), and in summer months it can get as high as 34°C (93°F).

Western Skaleria was once known for exporting coffee. The large irrigated farms grew coffee as well as vegetables, but relied heavily on the sister cites of Anpar and Antar for support to maintain the rural farms. The farms are no longer a part of Skaleria, and have become desert.