Güðün

Güðün, or Gaudumn, was a Varhoŋian city and the site of the Öšdúu-Güðün, the city-state of Güðün, which reigned there from its founding in 20 Wota-Eimarae, 25026 AYM, to the takeover of the city by Varonith-Callauz in 25020 AYM. It was the most populous city in Varonith-Callauz and its successor organization Lýnorakk. During the Varonian Civil War, the city was devastated, both in the Artalian conquest of Lýnorakk and its recapture by Ardunioz, who ultimately rebuilt it following the war.

Etymology

The name Güðün, also spelled as Gü-Ðün in older texts, is most likely a reference to its position and status as the gateway city to the northern Amoŋot Desert.

History

Wýðúric Expedition

Main Article: Wýðúric Expedition

The city of Güðün was founded in 25026 AYM by members of the Wýðúric Expedition. It was the site of the third Wëbëlup-Wýðúr that served as tracking markers for the Expeditionary members, and it was meant to serve a dual role as the supply city for emigrants from the Ïlýrhonid Tribe and the main harvest point for the wood and herbs of the Volain Forest, which it was adjacent to. Upon the choosing of the site, the expedition was able to build it extremely quickly under the leadership of Žlúnúyšat, a leading member of the Expedition. It was in this city that the 500 Expeditionary members resided during the return trek of the 144 messengers back to the Ïlýrhonid Tribe.

Öšdúu-Güðün

Main Article: Öšdúu-Güðün

In the wake of the successful return and report of the Wýðúric Expedition, the rate of emigration out of the Ïlýrhonid Tribe increased massively, most of them following the path taken by the Expedition itself. This would lead them to the city of Güðün, which provided for them various supplies. Most emigrants would continue their trek, founding cities like Vërðïm, Lómóhüd, and Óvarhën at the sites of other Wëbëlup-Wýðúr. However, a substantial portion still chose to reside in Güðün itself, such that, by the time of the Khýnýšic Expedition of Suta-Eimarae, 25026 AYM (merely three months after the Wýðúric Expedition), the population had grown to 4000. The city of this time was structured mainly as a point of rendezvous for travelers, intended to supply those many emigrants with food, supplies, and information to guide them in their trek into other Hýyó-Wýðúr. This was most evidently shown via the central plaza, which was a 24-meter-wide massive space running from the northwest to the southeast that divided the city into two separate halves. This plaza was lined with the many items and objects that travelers could buy.

At this time, the chaos of the increased population, and the interactions with other newly-founded cities, required the formation of an ordered government, which was initiated by Žlúnúyšat in around 10-15 Suta-Eimarae, 25026 AYM as the Öšdúu-Güðün, the first in a large series of Öšdúu. Žlúnúyšat was actually very active in the Expedition and in the city's founding, constructing paths by which one could reliably gather wood and other materials from the Forest. He was certainly one of, if not the only such chief architect of the city's plan. The first ruler outside of the Ïlýrhonid Tribe, he focused his efforts primarily on the economic and material situation, notably in building storehouses for wood and rocks, constructing prototypical routes to and from the Forest, and defining the beginnings of a stable economic system based around currencies already existing in the Ïlýrhonid Tribe.

However, his reign was cut short in 25020 AYM by the sudden occupation and usurping of the city by the tribe of Varhoŋïð-Khalúš, who promptly evicted the inhabitants. Unable to find support in the other isolated Öšdúu governments, Žlúnúyšat himself fled to the newly-founded city of Varand, where he would spend the rest of his days. This renders the Öšdúu-Güðün to be the shortest such Öšdúu of this time period.

Khalúšian Rule

The Khalúšians and their successive tribes would rule over Güðün until 24533 AYM. For much of its history, the city served as the northernmost extent of their territory, which stretched southwards to the similarly-usurped Hayïdic city of Óm-hayïd. While these southern portions were marked by a tumultuous feud against the vengeful Maðúšýï Tribe, the northern reaches, including Güðün, saw an initial period of comparable inaction. Small-scale skirmishes did occur between the Khalúšians and Kairnians, but never to the extent that would cause significant damage to Güðün or the other northern cities.

Being by far the most developed city, Güðün served as the tribe's capital and center of governance, and the Ðhýúŋðókk, the leader of the tribe, would make it his headquarters throughout the Khalúšian reign. This was most signified by the Ýlëntuk Family's Žötó-Ïdhatón, the family records, being situated in the very center of the city.

Hŋýïŋïkki

Hŋýïŋïkki was the first Ðhýúŋðókk, ruling from 25020 to 24988 AYM. He reigned during of the darkest eras in Khalúšian history, that being the First Ýlëntukian War and its immediate aftermath. In this conflict, the tribes of Maðúšýï and Lrhúuŋðarr were raised up to fight the Khalúšians, constricting and weakening them by depriving the tribe of valuable resources in the Volain Forest and Nuzowli Mountain Range. Initially starting in the southern towns, this struggle would soon also include the northern cities as well starting in 25015 AYM. More specifically, Hŋýïŋïkki would begin a desperate series of movements called the Northern Campaigns that sought to find a way northeastwards around the Volain Forest to find a passage into the Ïlýrhonid Tribe. Beginning from Güðün, they would come into contact with the Lhrúuŋðarr at the Battle at Ŋëvra-Vïn, and from then on, both sides would enter into a costly series of movements northwards, as each side attempted to flank and defeat the other. Finally, in 25003 AYM, the strained and stretched Khalúšians would be defeated in the Battle of Ïbhaažrrt-Ýhöýhašúk, and their many cities founded in these campaigns would be overrun one after the other. Upon reaching the outskirts of Güðün, the Lhrúuŋðarr would finally be repulsed in a bloody battle, and the city itself would suffer a partial collapse during the fighting. The northeastern half of the city would see a complete rebuilding from 25003 to 25001 AYM, with the structures being repurposed for the Khalúšian rulership. In particular, the building closest to the Žötó-Ïdhatón became enlarged and enblazed with decoration as the Ðhýúŋðókk's main throne room.

Hŋýïŋïkki would spend the rest of his days in this throne room, his powers very much limited due to the sheer straining of resources that the War had caused. By the time of his death in 24988 AYM, the tribe was at its lowest in all its history.

Gršaŋvšaŋžl

Gršáŋvšaŋžl was the second Ðhýúŋðókk, reigning from 24988 to 24970 AYM.