Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor Part 1

Spanning across the hinterlands of the Aeduccar Mountains down to the Semyr, then rising north to the frosty peaks of the Balendorns is the domain of Corgastor, the largest realm of Aemarda in history, and the buffer state between Aebaster’s children and the tumults of Qadal. It is a nation closely tied to its faith in Corgastor and Aebaster, with a Ghetunbast at its political head but a Solhesunbast at its spiritual heart. Indeed, the realm is divided into a dual monarchy between them, ensuring the balance between the temple and castle remains unaltered. It is a highly developed nation, with institutions of law, education, and defense that keep society orderly and secure. This vaunted society is stratified, with the nobles and templemen at the top of the socio-economic scale, merchants and lower nobles in the middle, then finally the common people and lower government officials toward the bottom. However, the lines between these classes are often blurry, more so than in traditionalist nations such as Eurobia, for merit is well valued among the Corgastodmar. The great Corgastor, after all, was once merely the son of a minor chief.   Militarily, the empire employs a complex and effective hierarchy that ensures quick and effective responses in times of crisis without crippling the fragile economic balance. This includes a robust system of tithes and recruitment that spread the cost of war fairly across the country. The Ghetunbalastod Valunis is the overall commander of Corgastor’s armies, just a step below the Ghetunbast in command, followed by multiple layers of subordinate leadership. Diplomatically, the Empire has connections to almost every other realm in Qadal. Economically, the empire had a diverse system of coinage which bolsters a primarily agrarian base of economic activity. The wider empire has Gissir as its currency, while each duchy has its own local currency. Religiously, the Ghetunbalastod is officially Corgastodmar. The government enforces this religious unity to preserve the stability of Imperial society. These combined factors have allowed the faithful of Corgastor to reach ascendency in the world, surviving and thriving for more than 2,000 years.   The foundations of the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor lay, in one sense, in the Everos that Corgastor left behind after the defeat of Étunas and the death of Atûn- comprised of often independent tribal chiefs who battled themselves just as regularly as foreign enemies. The realms of men in Everos had for one shining moment banded together against a threat far greater than themselves and won. It was unlike anything seen in history at that time, for no lord had ever united the peoples of Nemrohed, Mehras, and Sedrohed. The achievement had been attempted with fire and sword, but no such empire could hope to survive in that environment. The great achievement was not to last, however. Corgastor refused the mantle of leadership over all Everos, though his faithful companions and their tribes begged him. A deal had been struck with the wary Nassarus Nathroghal of Nathrovas that the Evosmar tribes must disband after the war if Nathrovas was to assist against Étunas. By that time Lhenod Rhelored of the Grathon tribes had abandoned the cause and allies were desparatly required. Corgastor accepted, yet he told no others. When Corgastor died in 43, the confederation he had assembled quickly broke down. His successor by choice, Aragos, chose not to force the confederate lords together, and allowed them to return to their homes. He instead decided to improve Ghethemas and the surrounding region, building the Gleaming walls and finishing construction on the Trident. That land remained a beacon of civilization, left to watch as the rest of Everos descended back into chaos. In that sense Corgastor's victory over Étunas was only the nascent stage of a greater nation yet to come, but it would take 1,000 years and the chaos of the Weeping Era to arrive.   Darkness settled upon Everos in the years following Corgastor's death. The peoples he championed emerged from the Age of Ascension victorious but lacked all perception of the future. They returned to life as it existed before the death of Atûn. Why wouldn't they? The Eshan of the Etayen was no lord of theirs, and his death would be assumed to carry little importance in Everos. Unfortunately, nothing in all the world is ever so simple. The death of such a powerful being, one of the Alor'eshan, sent tremors through the core of the world, making itself known everywhere. The other Eshan were alerted to the event and made their own plans on how to exploit it. That would take time, but the immediate aftermath in Everos was catastrophic. The power of Vojûn, creating by Atûn for the Etayen, was released into the world in vast quanities without the Eshan able to contain it. This sparked the Weeping Era in Qadal, an era fraught with danger and dominated by utter madness. In terms of the Corgastodmar realm there is precious little to discuss regarding that period. Kingdoms rose and fell in the land which Corgastor freed. They fought among each other for petty gold and tracts of dirt. Those that grew strong were pulled down by the weak and everyone suffered from the surge of Vojûn which devastated the victorious population. Matters were worse in the distant south than the north near Ghethemas. The shared lineage of Corgastor was capable of stemming the worst offenses of violence and barbarity, but nothing of the kind existed in what would later become Grathem. This gave the northerners a distinct advantage. Foremost, the Vojûnic amplified violence was not fought between warbands of vicious individuals, but between established tribes and Ghetûn in the region. This tempered the bloodshed with the same traditional customs of warfare which long dictated the actions of those people. No such traditions survived in the south, where Etayen colonization diluted the local cultures. Second, the memory of Corgastor gave the north something to rally around, even if the call-to-arms came many generations after the fact.   For all the immeasurable suffering, the darkness was abated by the rise of Nossen in the east. In the year 1150, Horst the Blessed, Ghet of Nossen, launched a holy war to capture the city of Velgishemas- spurred on by a vision of Corgastor the Eshan, proclaiming that the time had come to establish a realm of Corgastodmar in Qadal. After centuries, the Eshara of Corgastor had grown and the deal brokered with Nassarus was long past. Everos was ripe for the return of its liberator, the Ehrovelgis, and the realm dreamed of by his ancient followers.   Ghet Horst of Nossen was compelled to action by these visions of victory and mobilized his forces. He rallied some 8,000 soldiers for the occasion yet placed himself at great risk. The tumults of the Weeping Era were still to pass, and wary neighbors always spied for opportunities to invade. On faith, the Ghetmarched forward in early 1150, and as such inagurated the ‘kingdom’ period of the Corgastodmar Realm, the first of them all. The Nossenite campaign commenced with an ultimatum to GhetGosen of the Tower, who proclaimed himself the master of the Trident and keeper of Corgastor’s home. He held the symbolic capital of Corgastor’s ancient domain, built upon and improved by his successors before being lost to less worthy lords. Horst promised Gosen generous terms of lordship and tribute in exchange for the city, something to the extent of 50 pounds of iron and silver a year in retirement. It was a staggering amount, and his people wondered aloud of its purpose. When his son Ghalden Horelon questioned him on the matter, Horst simply responsed that he feared neither losing nor killing Gosen- the payment was to acquire the city without harming it. Yet Gosen, perhaps bolstered by the apparent value of Velgishemas per Horst’s offer, was willing to preServe his title by defending the city. This was followed by a protracted and vicious three-month siege of the Gleaming Walls. If the ancient defenses were in good repair it would have been impossible for Horst to assail them with his numbers. However, the massive Aeducarran stone walls had spent the last centuries moldering away to ruin and abandonment. Vast gaps appeared every mile or so along the defenses, each of which were hurriedly plugged with timbers, loose stones, and whatever other materials the residents gathered. Horst witnessed the great desecration of Velgishemas with horror and threw aside the siege in favor of an immediate assault. He tasked his son Ghalden with attacking with 7,000 of the 8,000 troops, leaving behind the rest to contend with fleeing opponents.   “History may claim the military brilliance of Ghet Horst secured victory during the campaigns of Valgorod. Let one voice among them charge that Ghalden Horelon, the second son, was the greatest of all parts. His zeal and valor dominated the battlefield- few places more fiercely than against Gosen the Keeper. At dawn, the father awoke and asked the son to deliver upon him the city of Corgastor. By breakfast the son stood prepared with 7,000 velgis. Before the sun’s zenith the Nossenites fought beneath a tumult of arrows and stones, hurling away the debris which frantic cowards had placed before them. As Éshabal wandered west the fight was taken to the rubble choked streets as citizens fled and fought for their lives. By evening light, a trail of corpses led to the Trident’s three lumbering feet. Horst sat upon a stool gilded with gold, watching the fires rise from the city as every so often wounded velgis stumbled from the field in clumps and dozens. Ghalden was never among them. By torch and moonlight, the night was fraught with cries of battle as unremitting fighters skirmished through stairs and chambers to claim the ancient Trident. The times were desparate for Horst and fear grasped him that his noble warrior son was lost somewhere in that dire wreck of a place. Yet, come the strike of middle-night the sounds ceased. Nobody fought and all esseythu were silent. Out came Ghalden Horelon with his faithful retainers, wreathed in blood and bone. Beside him was dragged the corpse of Gosen the Keeper, mangled beyond Aemar recognition. The battle was won, the son told the father, and the visions of Corgastor were true. The Ghetof Nossen was overwhelmed with pride and joy from this victory and called to the heavens his many praises. I will build the realm of your dreams, the father cried to the air, born from fire and strong will- Eshan and Olûllosia bound true to reign over all the world!”   Ehelra Thay’s Everos in the Kingdom Period Library of Gledgast – 2190   The victorious Ghetof Nossen immediately began repairing the significant damage done upon Velgishemas while looking beyond his borders to expand the new domain.   This lasted from 1150 to 1317, when Larich I Goldheart crowned himself the first Ghetunbast of Everos. It was a period marked by perilous extend conflict and inner turmoil for the gradually expanding realm.   The years from 1317 to 1598 are known as the ‘early ascension’ period, when the pretentions of Ghetunbast Larich were tested and challenged. It ended when Ghetunbast Malden established the Principality of Erothod in Othos, formally annexing foreign land for the first time in Corgastodmar history.   Following the foreign expansion of the realm around the early 1600s, a period known as the “Over Oceans” was intiated and lasted until 1984. The concept was simple. Corgastodmar power would be exported throughout the civilized world. In Othos, the Corgastodmar established themselves in Erothod, whereas in Neyasi the Corgastodmar pushed against the new-arrived Axodraharik for concessions. Attempts to establish bastions in Gisuvollos were also attempted.   Bitter reversals in Othos and Etal compelled the Corgastodmar realm to look inward to Everos from around 1984 to 2124, in an era known as the “Rooting” period. It ended with the Great Noble’s Revolt and the formation of the dual monarchy between the Solhesunbast of Corgastor and the Ghetunbast of Corgastor’s Realm.   Corgastor’s realm remained introverted during the decades following the 2124 revolt, battling to stabilize itself and reform the government around radical changes. Expansion and offensive campaigns were halted, and the nations around Everos grew powerful at Corgastodmar expense. This status quo, called the “Tower” period, remained until 2304, when the Great Conflict tore apart the peace of Qadal and ruined the land of Nathrovas in the east.   The Great Conflict initiated by Bal’gorod was an unexpected, devastating, yet profoundly opportune windfall for the Corgastodmar realm. With Nathrovas and the Etayen principalities upon it destroyed by the Karundar, the eastern Corgastodmar borderlands were silent. Raiding and some brigandry occurred among the charred islands left behind, but nothing to the scale of earlier wars. This meant the south, west, and frigid north were the only significant frontiers. From around the year 2304 to 2534 was a period called the “Sword and Glories” and saw the borders of Corgastor’s Empire surge outwards to the shores of the Zomore, down south of the Aeduccars, and just beyond the north slopes of the Balendorns. Security and prosperity on an unrivalled scale blessed the growing domain- life was good and spirits were high.   Growth and success placed the Corgastodmar in direct conflict and competition with the two other global empires of the time, Yor’shagon in Nevan and Eurobia in Othos. The “late ascension” period, from 2534 to 2999 was defined by the Corgastodmar struggle to survive in a new geopolitical context. With Eroyther in the fold after 2534, the Corgastodmar were compelled to muscle themselves into control around the Gismyr islands in the west, fighting the Axodraharik, and among the Semyr islands to the south, fighting the Eurobasar and Etayen. It was a diplomatic, military, and economic struggle on a global scale. The faithful soldiers of the Liberator were deployed far afield, occupying garrisons everywhere from the Fringe to Merehel and waging violent war against smaller threats which sought to crack the integrity of their defenses against rival empires. In particular, the Karthuuzar of Nemrohed and Grathon of the south proved to be active and burdensome opponents. The ascendant Corgastodmar treated them with brutality. Successive rulers of the period launched incursions into the frigid north, destroying Karthuuzar villages and enslaving those captured to war to labor on behalf on the state. The southern Grathon were Aebastadmar, and thus the agents of Ghethemas refrained from during their temples and enslaving their people. However, villages along the borders were ruined, forts were conquered, and razed, and formal war was waged between them. After centuries of tenuous coexistence, the closest neighbors of the Corgastodmar rose to become their most vicious challengers.   Internal struggles in Everos made the expansion of Corgastodmar influence abroad laborious and expensive, yet the threshold of no return had been crossed. The Othosar and Axodraharik eyed Everos warily and plotted their machinations against it.   The era from 3000 to 3304 is known as the Corgastodmar Golden Age, when the realm was closest to universal religious and political unity along with stable temporal power. It was ushered in by numerous factors. The collapse of Banbaljir in Nemrohed at the hands of Ácolitus toppled the last significant threat posed from the northern borderlands. Now the east and north were silent, and in the 3100s the western Elivas had been brought to heel by means of alliance. Unlike any epoch prior, Everos lay open to Corgastodmar domination. Only the Grathon in the south remained as a stalwart rival.   Lhenod Asterod Gower rested as a corpse beneath the great spires of Drakar, fallen as an enemy of the vengeful Corgastodmar state which achieved its final victory by crushing Aebastadmar Grathem. The surviving lords rapidly surrendered to Ghetunbast Arelastod the Hammer and lost their lands while keeping their lives. What was once Grathem was broken into three provinces of the Corgastodmar Empire, leaving Everos completely under the dominion of the Golden Hand. Scholars call the period from the destruction of Grathem in 3304 to the Drakayen War of 3451 the “Hollowing” era. While it seemed to be an extension of the Golden Age, further growth meant an overextension of resources. The pump and wealthy realm became empty from the inside, and brittle on the exterior.   Decline arrived like tragedy foresung by ancient bards. The children of Atûn prepared for war behind the protection of Etal, watching the buckling and bloated mass of Corgastor’s Empire struggle to save itself from the parasites of destruction which festered within it. In early 3451, they confidently launched their invasion of southern Everos in what became known as the Drakayen War.   Death and confusion made themselves at home while the dust of Zarthum’s wrath settled upon the beleaguered land. Corgastor’s realm had been dealt a killing blow, and in the years following the Drakayen War the remnants of its body broke and rotted. This period, the last and short gasp of breath from 3451 to 3460, was known as the “Fading” era. It was the shortest in time, but perhaps the single most terrible collapse seen in Qadal.   Following the informal division of the Corgastodmar realm under Ghetunbast Oselen, a strange half-breed government came into power known as the Last Light. It derived its name from the famous lighthouse which illuminated the waters of dead Nathrovas for Corgastodmar sailors. In a similar sense, the Last Light was the beacon for what remained of the embattled and demoralized Evosmar realm. The period of its ascendency and dominion was 3460 to 3485, aptly known as the “Beaconing” era.   With the collapse of Ghethemas’ power following the disasterous War of the Yrd, the remaining vestiges of Corgastodmar power in Qadal were shattered. Scattered followers and zealots yet survived, but the temporal nation was beyond reclamation.   The Corgastodmar Calendar   There are twelve months to the Evosmar calendar as aforementioned. For this fact, the common conception of time revolves around those months, though other cultures devised their own methods. This model is derived from the Aebastadmar five-month calender   Anginn Talum - Month of Rebirth   At the beginning of the calendar is the month of rebirth of renewal, bringing with it life back to Qadal after a harsh winter. At this time of year, the snow is beginning to finally melt, the flowers are beginning to bud, and the trees shake the frost from their boughs. In towns and villages across Qadal people emerge to resume craft and agricultural work after being besieged in their homes by the cold. In the faith of the All Father, for those remote communities that still observe, it is a time of holy celebration. The holiday of Aenmeled, or first lighting occurs on the fifth day of the month, where the faithful light great fires in honor of Aebaster and make offerings in thanks for their survival of the winter. For those who follow the more mainstream Corgastodmar faith, there is the Festival of Dawn. It's more of a cultural obServance than religious, but over the years it has become an ingrained part of the lives of Corgastor's faithful. It's usually celebrated at the community level, where people gather together and feast, plan for the New Year, and be merry that the winter has subsided.   Dryeng Talum - Month of Storms   Following the merriment of the year's rebirth, the month of storms brings natural life back to the world. When rain begins to fall from the clouds rather than snow, it is known to people that spring has truly arrived, and for that reason the month gets its name. Rain pelts down on noble and commoner alike as the clouds themselves open up and release the rain they've born for weeks. It's an unfavorable time for military actions, as the roads and fields are transformed into veritable swamps by the torrential downpours. It's the reason by commanders have traditionally waited a full month between Dryeng and campaigning season. It's also a difficult time for commerce, for the same reasons of difficult transportation. The seas are unpredictable and churn with unfair wind.   Heofon Talum - Month of Growth   After the inundations of the month of storms, when the weather is more hospitable, and the time arrives when flora grows the most. Staple agriculture products such as wheat and other grains, potatoes, and more exotic plants such as tomatoes have their best seasons during this month. The ground is wet and fertile, and this boon carry all through the summer season and into the early weeks of fall. Passing through the woods and fields that lay dormant throughout the winter, one would be amazed at how quickly and how well the land regains its green shades and hues. Not only that, but the towns and hamlets too regain their life like plants that have just shaken off the freeze of winter and have embraced the light.   Ridend Talum - Month of the Lorvelgis   This month is traditionally when lords and kings deem the season right to begin military operations. It's once the spring has come and mostly gone, leaving behind the soggy weather and snowy sludge. The land begins to dry as summer sets in, the weather is predictable, and the days are long. All these factors make it a prime time for a commander to conduct operations. It was also historically the time in which Corgastor launched his first campaigns to liberate Everos from the Etayen Etayen. In more recent times the military importance of the month has diminished as technological developments have made campaigns possible during most times of the year. This being said, even now and again a campaign is launched during this month to give it an extra symbolic value.   Aemechar Talum - Month of the Vale   This month is given its name not because of a peculiar change in terrain across Qadal, for the significant the time bears in the worship of Aebaster. During this month the great Vale of Aebaster, located in the heart of the Aedúcarr Mountains, begins to thaw and once again thrive with life. Those who worship him take weeks out of the month to visit the vale and drawn spiritual light and strength from the Eshara of Aebaster. In terms of weather, the slight chill of the spring subsides entirely as summer arrives with its tendrils of warm sunlight that seeps into all places that were once cold and wet. It is a time of revelry and spiritual affirmation.   Corgast Talum - Month of Corgastor   Situated in the middle of the calendar, this month is one of the most important to the Corgastodmar faith. It is the time of year, during the summer season, when Corgastor finally concluded his campaign to liberate Everos from the imperial ambitions of Étunas. It is a month of festivity and merriment across the continent, as its people give thanks to their deity for his divine protection. The last day of the month is the culmination of a month's worth of worship and celebration: The First Day, or Fraedul in the ancient tongue. From dawn to dusk on this day people are in church worshipping the glory of Corgastor and the legend of his conquests, and in the evening, people exchange gifts. It should be noted that to worshippers of Aebaster, the month is rather insignificant, and among Corgastodmar the month of the vale is just another month.   Gissegest Talum - Month of the Merchant   Once the first harvests have been collected and goods have been crafted for market, it is known that the month of the merchant has begun. This is the time toward the beginning of the fall season when farmers in particular sell whatever crops they have grown for profit in one of the many open-air markets that spring up during the season. This happens in the early fall, and whatever the farmers harvest after this is often saved for the consumption of the family.   Crawe Talum - Month of the Crow   This month lies in the middle of the fall season and is when the population begins to buckle down in earnest for the coming winter. The crow is the harbinger of winter, so it is said in the faith of the All Father. When they are seen in large flocks, circling ominously over the land then it is known that only a few months remain before the snow falls.   Ghetost Talum - Month of the Sovereign   This month at the end of the season is when civilization shuts its doors in the face of winter. Villages and cities alike finish preparations for the season, and in the courts throughout Qadal lords and high masters take this time to take stock of the year’s events, pass edicts, make judgements, and in every way prepare to conclude the year. This administrative activity extends throughout the Ghetunbalastod as well, not just to the highest circles of leadership.   Segest Talum - Month of Snow   With this month comes winter proper, and the beginning of a long struggle through the unfavorable weather. This is the time when things being to go into seasonal lockdown. The first frost signals armies to enter winter quarters, ships to enter harbor, trade to diminish, and for people to keep their hearths ever glowing. This being said, it is also a time of festivals and merriment. The snow provides a peaceful backdrop for village gatherings and lordly feasts just before the land is covered in impenetrable layers of snow. Followers of Aebaster also use it as a time to perform holy rituals to gain his graces and beg his protection from the cold.   Diemhes Talum - Month of Darkness   The name of this month reflects the dark and dreary conditions of the middle winter period. This is the dead of winter: the months are short, the warmth is fleeting, and for those caught outside life can meet a tragic conclusion. Alms houses are typically packed during this time, along with monasteries and any other institutions willing to take on the desperate and destitute to protect them from the snow. In the north there is a surprising amount of action during this month. The Daorhu use the advantage of their hardy constitution to launch quick campaigns on their barbarian neighbors while they stay in their holds during the fairer months. The Karthuuzar, similarly spurred to action by the winter, often launch forays into the Imperial south, where the winter is less harsh. Chief Gurmak and the Norgost invasion was an example of this type of migration in action.   Chemas Talum - Month of Death   This is the tail end of winter, when the weather is at its worse, but not long before it begins to warm up with the coming spring. Very little moves, very little lives. There isn't much to be said of what happens during this month. The world is hunkered down in their homes, huddled around their hearths, praying for the ice to thaw away. Those who did not escape in the previous months have most likely perished unless they have found warmth. People wait with bated breath for the rebirth to come, waiting for when the world is warm and green once more.   Government of Corgastor's Realm   The Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor, founded more than two millennia ago, controls vast swathes of central and southern Everos. The area it presently occupies was once divided into three major kingdoms, though not all existed cocurrently. These de jure kingdoms are obviously long past as of 3451, but the areas are still referred to by their old names and act as unofficial administrative regions. There have been instances in the nation's history when ghets have been granted these titles as a strictly titular honor. Indeed, one such royal title was granted in 1449 to Ghet Godorest Bandros the Elder of Loryne. His story is the common reference for all similar cases of titular bestowment and revocation thereafter. He founded the Order of the Hemon Ghesed in 1443 and spearheaded the campaign that led to the liberation of northern Loryne from the Karthuuzar tribes in 1445. Years later the ghet managed to protect his realm against the machinations of his treasonous nephew at great personal loss, being injured in the fighting. Master Tarand Bandros was the betrayer’s name, and he was named the master of Hargrow and of the newly formed Amaderin Hemon Ghesed. Disagreements between the two men and a lust for power led to the War of the Broken Circle that raged between 1446 and 1449. Loryne was devastated and nearly collapsed in the war’s wake. Ghet Godorest survived the storm and was named titular Ghet of Loryne for his invaluable Service. This was a matter of great prestige for the Bandros dynasty. It offered upward mobility in a period when the nascent Corgastodmar realm was embryotic and prone to disorder. Godorest ruled over Loryne decades thereafter, until 1473, when he died at the respectable age of 68 years. When he died an important decision was rendered. Ghetunbast Volbast Beyleveld chose to withhold the ‘Ghet of Loryne’ title from the newly ascended Ghet Godorest the Younger. This was not a forceful sign of disrespect, but an asSertion of the Ghetunbast’s primacy in feudal politics and the profound individual importance of such unique titles.   Centuries later another royal title was awarded by a Ghetunbast, though for less noble reasons. Nelsor Gower was the dubious recipient, a man named after the famed companion of Corgastor and destined for greatness. He was meticulously bred for rule by his father, Lhenod Asterod Gower of Grathem, in the face of increasing aggression at the hands of the Corgastodmar. For years, Grathem endured a punishing barrage of unequal treaties and diplomatic measures that ceded the realm of Corgastor small parcels of land and wealth in exchange for peace. In the short term, it was not a critical dilemma, but over the course of Aster’s reign it became intolerable. The Lhenod could foresee the inevitable, ultimate clash between the nations and prepared his son for a difficult reign and possible ruin. In 3300, the dawn of the new century, Lhenod Asterod finally stood his ground and declined the wishes of Ghetunbast Arelastod IV, the architect of Grathem's misery. Any further exports of mineral or manufactured wealth were cancelled, along with the policy of Grathon tolerance toward Corgastodmar settlers invading and illegally occupying ancestral land. Arelastod’s response was war. Four wars had been waged between the two nations over the centuries, each one ending in stalemate or with immense casualties for both sides. The most recent of these wars was in the 2500s, an impressive 800 years before the lives of Asterod Gower or Arelastod.   The time in between was known as the Long Peace and allowed Grathem to expand its influence and build up defenses. When Arelastod IV launched the war in the late months of 3300, Grathem was prepared. The detailed account of the war is elsewhere but suffice to say the conflict was a grinding slaughter. By 3306, however, the Corgastodmar emerged victorious and Asterod lay broken under the shadow or Drakar. The ending of the war brought the end of Grathem, and the land was broken into the three modern provinces of Sovarrot. Ghetunbast Arelastod IV granted Nelsor Gower the ancient title of "Lhenod" as an act of good will, wishing to pacify the territory before his legendarily ill-fated invasion of Lodon. The reward was a meek repayment for what had been lost, and for Nelsor seemed more an insult than an actual gift. When he died from shame and poor health in 3317, the title passed into history without protest.   Why offer anecdotal accounts from the esoteric annals of Evosmar history? Simply, the answer is titles. The Corgastodmar Empire is a feudal realm, and therefore the dynamic of power is firmly settled within the practice of bestowing, inheriting, and revoking titles from noble families. High society reflects the fact by utilizing the political status of individuals to gauge personal worth. It is unlike Eurobia, which operates with a centralized bureaucracy of commoners and nobles; Nevan, which after 3066 became a collection of meritocratic republicans with emphasis on individuality and entreprantuership; Vestidia, which practices a primitive form of feudalism wherein on the royal rank and subsequent class exist; Daorhu, which operate in highly independent cliques with only superficial oversight, and others. The Corgastodmar practice the most robust and permanent system of feudal ranks and privileges. Authority is neatly divided and executed within a stratified index. The hierarchy of landed titles as acknowledged is thusly enumerated.   Ghetunbast   Standing at the pinnacle of this hierarchy is the Ghetunbast, the male or female ruler of Corgastor’s temporal realm in Qadal. In ancient Evosmar, the name means ‘father of kings’ and implies supreme authority. The title is passed between claimants by vote, though often along a hereditary line, with the male portion of the family typically favored. This is a cultural reference to Corgastor and his father Ghedelastor’s lineage, but female dominated lines have existed. All temporal powers flow from that font, while spiritual power exists in a separate but equal hierarchy. The Ghetunbast rules until death or personal disgrace and dismissal by Corgastor himself. This manner of usurpation is rare, however.   Ghet   Below the Ghetunbast are the ghetûn, paramount land magnates who control significant military and economic power. Titles are passed from parent to child in a similar manner as the Ghetunbast.   Historically, the title of Ghet was bestowed upon regal figures or those claiming such status. Corgastor himself, and his father Ghedelastor before himself were considered Ghetun within the ancient hierarchies of Everos. After the foundation of the Corgastodmar realm in 1150 and its elevation to empire in 1317, the meaning of the titles began to shift. It was placed in direct contrast to the new style of Ghetunbast, being the ‘emperor’ or master of the entire country. Ghetun, therefore, remained kings in a sense, but were subordinate to the Ghetunbasts in the same manner the Conregest were subjects of the Ghets. The entire chain was altered to accommodate the new imperial styling.   Conregest   Reigning beneath the powerful Ghetun are other, lesser landowners who maintain close watch over the regular activities of the domain. They are known as congrest within the Corgastodmar hierarchy.   Lanches   These individuals are the rank and file landholders in the Corgastodmar domain.   Lorod   The position of individual lorvelgis, known within the social hierarchy as Lorod, in Corgastodmar government is nigh meaningless. As members of the military profession, the perceived expertise of the Lorvelgis is not in statecraft nor diplomacy, but in the promotion of those goals through military means. They therefore fall outside the typical boundaries of the state and exist as military advisers and agents to those within it. Individuals whose sole identity is that of Lorvelgis cannot own land on that account, but those within the landed hierarchy can additionally consider themselves Lorvelgis.   The Amaderin Lorvelgis are exempt from this rule. Those organizations can possess lands and distribute titles among their members. In return, the Amaderin Lorvelgis contribute significant resources to the protection and maintenance of the wider Corgastodmar realm, typically in the form of officers or warriors. For this reason, they are not taxed in money or materials, which is significantly, often protested priviledge in times of peace. However, the traditional checks between political classes does not extend to the Lorod. They Amaderin Lorvelgis serve directly beneath the Ghetunbast, and thus operate as a foil to the Amaderin Ehrohela Gastis who serve the Solhesunbast directly.   Fennes   Misfortunate often favors the many, bestowing upon them an existence of poverty and mediocrity. The unbidden keepers of this inglorious existence are known as fennes and are the small-scale tenets and landsmen of the country.   Ghetod of the Ghetunbalastod   While the modern hierarchy of feudal government appear sound and self-evident, from what origin does the right of govern stem? Why must a conregest from Eroyther follow the same master as the Grathon, or they the same master as Loryne? The official response is a concept known as Dhenast Aemarda, or the shield of Aemarda. This is the assertion that the Ghetunbast of the Corgastodmar realm cocurrently possesses the royal titles of all Aemar nations in Everos by religious right. This includes Loryne, Eroyther, Grathem, Nossen, and Valgorod. According to legend, Ghet Horst of Nossen was offered the crowns of those realms by the spirit of Corgastor- urging him to conclude the dreaded Weeping Era and realize the ancient dream of the Nelsorians. For that reason, the royal Goldheart sigil was a golden heart upon white ringed with five crowns. Adhering to this pretense means that Ghethemas’s master claims feudal lordship over all lands therein and can offer or revoke those domains with just cause. Politically speaking, any Aemar lord attempting to break from that standard places themselves at risk of harsh and swift retribution, especially when the aforementioned royal titles are contested. The first significant mentions of this justification appeared around the reign of Larich I Goldheart, when the Corgastodmar kingdom was growing into a proper imperial power.   The explanations to come are not robust histories as found elsewhere regarding these same territories. Instead, the intention is to relate each Ghetod with the Ghetunbalastod, and how these disparate despotic government were merged into a single entity- through marriage, conquest, or alliance.   Loryne   The Ghetod of Loryne, which encompasses present day Loryne and Erehem, is the northern most realm of Corgastor's empire. The earliest history of this kingdom dates back to the tribal migrations of the Awakening, when the people of southern Nemrohed began to band together in loose alliance to protect themselves from the raging warriors of the Karthuuzar tribes. Karthuul himself was a chief of men in these earliest years and led his followers north to escape the overpopulation and chaos of the south and middle belt of Everos. In time, they became renowned warriors, hardened by the land to become a deeply entrenched tribal society of barter trade and ancestor worship. Over time these loose defensive alliances began to gain formality, as ties of blood and brotherhood solidified the relationships between them. By the 1300s, the Ghets of Loryne, as they came to be known, controlled an empire spanning from the tidewaters of the Lornesse to the shores of the Gismyr Sea. The people of the east, in present day Golenest, refused to join in this union and formed the kingdom of Eroyther. The union of Loryne and Valgorod in 1312 brought most of the north into the Corgastodmar fold, and the rest was gained through marriage in 2543 with the union of Gheta Penesspa and Ghetunbast Giroldus. The land is a bulwark, protecting the realm from Karthuuzar and invasions from abroad.   For the Corgastodmar, the introduction of Loryne into the governmental entity was a boon and curse. Territory meant wealth, manpower, resources, and strategic growth, but Loryne was heavily assailed in those early years. Karthuuzar warbands and tribes settled freely south of the Balendorns, establishing roots and daring the Corgastodmar to attack them. At best, the union of 1312 granted the government in Ghethemas a right to rule but granted none of the immediate benefits which the Ghetunbast’s desparately desired.   Valgorod   The Ghetod of Valgorod, which encompasses ancient Valgorod, Nossen, and Oederan is the middle belt of Everos. Mehras, as the region is known, formed from a patchwork of small nations that fought among themselves with no outstanding bonds of unity. In that temperate land there were no Karthuuzar to defend from, nor Etayen successor kingdoms withstand. The tribes of this land developed into small independent kingdoms during the Ascension Era, hugging the foothills of the Aedúcarr Mountains and battling for control of the plains and forests beyond. The strongest power in the Valgorod region was the Dominion of Ghethemas, being the area around Ghethemas. It was, however, a reclusive realm, strong in military might and faith, but unwilling to negotiate with those around them. To the east lay Nossen, southeast of Valgorod and following the Aedúcarran corridor down to the borderlands of Sovarrot. In that land lords traded north and south, but also east across the Wolonorends to Othos. Here, unlike Valgorod or Oederan, the people had the unique difficulty of dealing with the expansion from Nathrovas. In that way, it was unlike the struggles of those in Loryne, who were universally forced to contend with the Karthuuzar. Nossen was left alone and survived through skilled wheeling and dealing with the Etayen. This shaped the unique culture they developed, being forced by circumstance to learn the arts of diplomacy and appeasement. A certain cultural refinement was the long-term result. Finally, Oederan in the west had to contend with the Elivas of Lodon, once again on its own without the support of Valgorod or Nossen. The river Zomore became a constant battleground between the two factions. This dynamic existed for centuries, lasting well into the 3000s.   The realm was only brought a measure of unity with the conquests of Horst the Blessed, who founded the first Corgastodmar kingdom in Qadal in the 1100s. This event marked the end of the Weeping Era and beginning of Twilight era. For government, the challenge was taking the patchwork and ragged domain of Valgorod, ravaged by divisions and war, and transforming it into an imperial core.   Grathem   The Lhendom of Grathem, which encompasses present day Grathem, Lohoremas, and Hennas is the southern most part of Corgastor's realm. In ancient times, this region was settled by the Grathon people, who lived primarily in the southern reaches of Everos. During the 1400s, these tribes united under the rule of Chieftain Grafyr the Half-blood, named so for his mixed Aemar and Etayen ancestry. His nation of Grathem subdued the tribes around them, until they had expanded across all Sedrohed barring Jequa. They managed to hold this ground for years, until the lords of Jequa marched west and ousted them from the foothills, pushing them west into modern Lohoremas and up into the southern reaches of Oederan. In the worst of times the kingdom survived only by the edge of a sword, clinging onto the mountainsides with determination. It was an unsavory existence, but they survived until the fall of Jequa in 2304. From that point forward the peoples of Sedrohed could share a common identity, creating the Lhendom of Grathem region with which this section pertains. The Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor was in its nascent years while Grathem fought for survival, and only controlled some of Mehras and the Lorynese parts of Nemrohed. The kings and queens of Grathem bravely resisted Imperial rule for centuries, until the last Lhenod of Grathem, Asterod Gower, died at the foot of Drakar while leading a sally force against the Corgastodmar Empire in 3306. With the death of Lhenod Aster, the region was broken up into three provinces.   In the realm of government, the division of hostile territory was crucial.   Eroyther   For long centuries the region of northeastern Everos remained beyond the grasp of the Corgastodmar realm. They were not far apart in character and temperament. Eroyther’s people worshipped Aebaster and companions of Corgastor’s such as Alyth in the same pantheistic manner which was popular during the Weeping era.   The marriage between Ghetunbast Giroldus and Gheta Penesspa in 2534 unified the territories and greatly strengthened the Ghetunbalastod. It was now the undisputed superpower south of the Balendorns and north of the Aeducarrs. However, the wholesale acquisition of such prosperous territory came with its own governmental dilemmas. Most severe was that the people of Eroyther were broadly unenthused with the concept of falling beneath the rule of foreigners.   Nossen   After the conquest of Ghethemas in 1150, Ghet Horst was burdened with the steep task of absorbing ancient Valgorod into his growing nation.   In foreign affairs, the jurisdiction of Corgastodmar government rests on the assumed concepts of ‘Dhenast Aemarda’ and ‘Ehrogast’, respectively meaning ‘shield of Aemarda’ and ‘hall of faith’ in the ancient tongue.   Rule of Ehrohenod and Ghetunbalastod   In terms of government, the Corgastodmar domain possesses a rather unique system. The temporal empire of ghetûn and lanches is governed by the Ghetunbast, whose title is nominally elected but often passed down an established hereditary line. This comprises but one half. The other section of the Corgastodmar domain is governed by the Solhesunbast, who is elected to power by a conclave of Ehronis and rules for life. All matters regarding the Corgastodmar temple fall under his or her jurisdiction, along with the territories designated temple properties. Together, the Ghetunbast and Solhesunbast jointly rule over the empire with equal power. This form of government is titled, despite the realm's imperial status, a Divine Monarchy by Evosmar historians. The fundamental concept is that the favor of Corgastor and the Eshara he bestows upon Aemarda is of equal value to the secular capacities of olûndari. While the exact boundaries of power have remained vague since the implementation of the Ordinances of Imperium in 2122, the practical concern was that some figure beyond the Ghetunbast was required to rule the empire fairly and justly, lest the nobles once more fall prey to corrupt policies. Measures such as co-Ghetunbasts and councils were carefully considered, while radical and anarchical theories such as voting and popular assemblies were brushed aside. Limiting the power of the Ghetunbast was one thing, but to put the reins of power in the hands of lanches and freemen would be chaos. A reign of equal power between the Ghetunbast of Corgastor's Realm in Qadal and the Solhesunbast satisfied both dilemmas. The rule of the Ghetunbast could be tempered by the divine will and connection to Corgastor enjoyed by the Solhesunbast. In that way, the will of Corgastor could be realized accurately by the olûndari agents of his realm, safeguarding it from sliding into depravity and decay. Conversely, the mundane concerns of imperial governance compel the temple to seek practical guidance and Eshanic power from their deity. This balance provides a profound stability of state and faith. The close connection between the people of Corgastor's empire and their Eshanic protector is what sets them apart from the other realms of Qadal.   Historically, the balance between the Ghetunbast of Corgastor's empire and the Solhesunbast has been a source of constant conflict. In the era before the Ordinances of Imperium, the Solhesunbast held supreme olûndari authority in the realm but little beyond. This forced him or her to occupy a subordinate, advisory role to the Ghetunbast, for the Solhesunbast lacked all practical ability to enforce Corgastor’s will. Indeed, the Ghetunbast could completely ignore the Solhesunbast’s guidance and be unharmed so long as the loyalty of the ghetûn and people did not wane. The ensuing conflicts between the figurative body and essence of the empire yielded interesting historical results, especially when the Solhesunbast was able to surmount his or her weak position and influence the Ghetunbast. There are two outstanding cases in history with long term significance. The first was in 1385, when Solhesunbast Thelgast convinced Ghetunbast Corenne Goldheart to become involved with relieving Tyrphos's devastation of Othos. Thousands were dying in that wretched land, he lamented, and it was the ordained duty of Aemarda’s guardian state to destroy the furious font of wanton bloodshed! Furthermore, he argued that the resurrection of Othos could provide significant boons of land and wealth to the generous Corgastodmar liberators. The bloody intervention led to that land's salvation, but also to the destabilization of imperial rule that led to civil war. Those discontent with the horrid losses turned against Ghetunbast Corenne, while High Nerodhest Haradus Beyleveld, the leader of said expedition, rose to dominate the power vacuum. The next instance came in the 1650s, when Solhesunbast Waleran devised a plan with Empress Alesta to convince the reigning ruler, Ghetunbast Malden, to establish the Principality of Erothod in Othos in Corgastor’s name. This ushered in a complex and chaotic era of colonization and cultural change which utterly smashed and rebuilt the relationship between Everos and Othos established by the joint destruction of Tyrphos. Outstanding events beyond those have occurred, but few have carried equal impact to those mentioned.   The system of Divine Monarchy remained consistent throughout the period between 2122 and 3376, barring some minor political disruptions of little consequence.   "Men have argued for years over who reigns supreme in this realm. The lords argue that it's the Ghetunbast, while the Solhes are unshakable in their belief that it is the Solhesunbast. Let me be clear, and may I only say it once: there is only one ruler of this land, and it is Corgastor. The Eshan have always reigned over Esha as any wise thinker might recall. The Ghetunbast and Solhesunbast are merely agents of his will. There is now, and always has been one realm, united in the rules of the deity and the esseythu of men."   -- Historian Gilt Aldronte to the Ghetûn The Tie of Daggers - 3376   Ghetunbast Lothast II of House Garlan was the Ghetunbast of Corgastor's realm during the formative transition between Imperial and Wandering eras. He reigns from the city of Ghethemas, located within old Valgorod along the shores of the river Lornesse. That place has been the heart of Corgastodmarism since the days of Horst and is itself allegedly built upon the village that Corgastor called home. Lothast is the second of his name, having been voted in by the Electoral Council some 20 years ago in 3431 upon the death of his father to advanced age. Ghetunbast Lothast I had been an administrator and diplomat and sought to heal the wounds caused by the military expansion that was common among his predecessors. He arranged agreements with the High Council of Nevan, the Tressonar of Eurobia, and even came to an alliance with the Elivas with whom two bloody wars had been fought. It is this progressive diplomatic policy that Ghetunbast Lothast II inherited, and although he is not quite as peace minded as his father, he has a respect for the benefits that a spell of peace could bring the Corgastodmar realm. This being said, the recently erupted Drakayen War has ruined any chance of peace.   The head of the church is the Solhesunbast of Corgastor, who is elected by a body of high ranking Solhesghet and holy people and does not need the approval of the secular government. In a political sense, the Solhesunbast holds an equal stake in the Divine Monacrhy. He or she holds the power of moral authority within the Corgastodmar Empire and is central to all Imperial decision making. The office and chambers of the Solhesunbast are located in the very pinnacle of the Trident's highest spire and is thus symbolically closest to Corgastor. Solhesunbast Harast V holds the position and has for over 30 years. He has spent much of his tenure increasing the political power of his office. The residence of Solhesunbast Harast V is in the highest pinnacle of the Trident. The role he plays among the electors is unique, for he does not case an ordinary vote for Ghetunbast or rule over secular lands. He oversees the lands of the Ehrohenod, provides holy guidance to the Corgastodmar Empire's government, and breaks elector ties, but is limited beyond those duties. He has chosen as a personal doctrine to keep the position of Emperor strong yet is willing to veto and crush decisions he opposes.   Now, more than any time in the Corgastodmar Empire's recent history, has the Solhesunbast involved himself so much in how the Empire conducts itself. It was by his will that the Purge of Loryne was allowed to occur, where many towns and cities of that duchy were combed through by Imperial agents and purged of supposed heretics. A few hundred-people died and many of the duchy's major cities suffered varying degrees of damage. Only a precious few legitimate heretics were found. It was by his urging that Emperor Lothast allowed the Lorvelgis of the Scarlet Hand to intervene in the situation of Tyrphos's aspect spirits in Othos, saying that it posed a major threat to all of Qadal. It has even been said by some that it was Harast who personally wrote to the Grandmaster Graven of the Lorvelgis of the Hemon Ghesed to urge them forward against the Etayen army besieging Drakar. Despite the terrible odds, Harast assured him that Corgastor would protect him and his men, and that a strong attack was the path to victory. It was a complete defeat and utter disaster.   A Nation of Laws The primary document that outlines the processes and institutions of the Imperial government is the Mehemon ast Ghetûm, or Laws of Ruling, established after the Great Nobles Revolt of 2122. It Serves as the constitution of the Corgastodmar realm, and is the document referred to in all legal cases, ranging from taxation, land distribution, and succession. It is an exhaustingly long work, with well over a dozen volumes compiled of the course of a millennia. Nobles, churchmen, and even the emperor or empress refuse to mire themselves in the manifold chapters and sub sections. The only people studious or completely insane enough to attempt mastery of the Ordinances are the scholars of Gledgast, the noble seekers who horde and study knowledge as their one vocation. Those men and women are the judges who mediate disputes between ghetûn and guilds, commanders and courtiers, and the emperor and his electors. The example of the Ordinances highlights an important point about Corgastor's empire. Unlike the monarchical realms of Vestidia and Eurobia, or the Theocracy of the Axodraharik and Vehod Lohas, the Evosmar realm is deeply rooted in laws that dictate power. Neither the emperor nor the Solhesunbast who share equal power can completely dominate the country. The nobles who rule have rights of their own and can deny the commands of their leaders if there are legal grounds. That is what separates order from chaos in Everos and prevents rebellion, the ability of those being ruled to have stake with the ruler.   The Imperial title is elected by a conclave of nobles and clergy. He is chosen from among the elector lords of the Corgastodmar Empire but must have the approval of the Solhesunbast. When he is elected, he passes all of his previous titles to his successor, and fully assumes the mantle of Emperor. The Emperor personally rules over the Heartlands and is ruler of the rest of the Empire.   To be elected Ghetunbast, one must be an Imperial elector. An elector is one who rules one of the Imperial provinces and is thus entitled to vote. It is currently stated in the Ordinances that only men may be elected Ghetunbast, although women can become electors. When succession potentially falls on dynastic lines, such as the son of the current Ghetunbast being an elector, and thus available to himself be elected, a special condition is invoked. It is where special consideration is given to the dynastic heir of the current Emperor, so that the Imperial title may follow the same family for multiple generations, and thus gain legitimacy. It is the most common form of succession, despite the official status of elective monarchy. Elective options give the elector’s choice when it seems that the Emperor's heir is unable to properly fulfill the role, or if the current Ghetunbast has no heir that can legally inherit, thus avoiding a succession crisis. This special rule of dynastic consideration obviously doesn't apply to ecclesiastical electors who may be elected Emperor. They, having no heirs of their own, could never pass the throne down to their own blood, so it becomes an open election. If there is a tie during the vote for Ghetunbast, then the final decision will fall upon the Solhesunbast. In all other cases the Solhesunbast assists in presiding over the vote yet does not cast one himself.   Whilst the Ghetunbast of Corgastor's empire is the highest secular authority, he is not without restrictions. The Ordinances lay out the foundations of what the emperor is allowed to or restricted from doing. The list is relatively short and concerned mostly with what cannot be done with the understanding that he is able to do just about everything else. For example, the emperor is not permitted to imprison a member of the nobility without just cause. He is, however, free to imprison anyone of the lower class without penalty. Another law within the ordinances states the emperor cannot use force against one of his vassals unless said vassal has acted in a manner that warrants it. In short, the emperor cannot simply march an army into a vassal's territory and compel them to act as the emperor desires. If an emperor is guilty of violating these terms, and it has occurred before, the elector lords have the right to defy him and band together to protect those rights.   The electors enjoy a considerable amount of freedom in their actions. They may rule as they see fit, so long as their rule doesn't create civil strife in the province. Electors must also meet minimum standards in the terms of available manpower, tax income, and religious unity to prevent Imperial intervention. Electors are not allowed to negotiate with foreign powers, wage war on other electors, or act in a way that clearly and deliberately harms the good of the Ghetunbalastod. If conflicts arise in those regards, especially during times of conflict, the Ordinances of Imperium allow for the Emperor to rest control of a province from an elector until a proper time of judgement arrives. This has not happened often in history, but there have been a few instances. The most famous instance was during Warengest's heresy in 1654. Ghet Roldyr of Nossen was relieved of his control over the province due to the heresy's wide spread within its borders. The official judgement was that he was incompetent and unable to handle the situation, but rumors swirled that the ghet might have been a heretic himself. Such talk was never substantiated, and he was given control of the duchy once the crisis was over, but with an Imperial official to watch over him. The Imperial authority supersedes most rights and privileges of the nobility.   Slavery in Corgastor’s Realm The institution of slavery in Everos has evolved considerably over the centuries, responding to global changes yet retaining the central purpose of olûndari enslavement. In the early days of the Awakening, slavery was a common expression of economic and military power between tribes. Those who were rich enough bought slaves to work fields, build structures, and dig mines, while those with military power captured their neighbors and forced them to undertake such tasks. It was an element of the existing power structure- the strong controlled the weak, the victors the defeated. Slavery, however, was often a temporary condition. It was possible to purchase or trade for your freedom in the name of expediency, while many other slaves in Everos simply Served for a duration of time decided between them and the master. Indeed, there are tales of people in ancient Everos who Served multiple stints as slaves for various captors. It is important to draw distinctions between slavery as it existed in Everos and its iterations elsewhere. Places such as Othos and Etal also practiced slavery, as did Nevan, yet their outlook was far different and often less forgiving. When the Etayen arrived in Everos around the -1500s, the two cultures clashed fundamentally on the role of slavery and who was vulnerable for enslavement.   Order Beyond Government There are many activities that can be explored by a burgeoning adventurer in the land of Everos, ranging from delving the many ruins and dungeons that dot the ancient landscape to selling one's sword for gold and good measure of danger. To facilitate this, many guilds have been founded to capitalize on this raw potential and the chances for wealth and glory. Over the years, the guilds have grown in power and influence. Guilds such as the Beyrenite League have been grown to be point where they operate internationally just as often as they do within the borders of the Empire.   Edrast Eyod Exploring caves and ancient ruins can be a very profitable, albeit dangerous profession for those with enough daring to venture to those places. That is why in the year 3226, a Daorhu explorer named Thudaori established an organization to help train and equip explorers to proper delve into the world's dark places without untimely death. A strange concept as this was not undertaken with some skepticism, however. The Ghetûn of Corgastoria and masters of the Daorhu generally upheld the traditional Qadayen opinion that defiling history for profit was unethical. If nothing else, it was distasteful. Thudaori travelled among them all, weaving the promises of wealth into his rhetoric. One might become rich in simply retrieving what has been otherwise been abandoned in war or disaster.   In the years after its founding, the Edrast Eyod became a popular guild, drawing individuals from all across Qadal, and thus grew wealthy through loot and donations. The tales of boom or bust while exploring were many and well known. If one is lucky enough to survive even a single venture of moderate success, then he can expect to be set for years at a time. This allure of wealth is especially attractive for youth who couldn't imagine a better life than getting rich on an adventure and retiring to a luxurious life.   The Edrast Eyod doesn't just limit its contracts to the exploration of caverns and ancient ruins. Trips overland and oversees, as either guides or explorers are a common activity for the Eyod. Members of the guild are favored as guides for expeditions to all corners of Qadal due to their adventurous spirit and their knowledge of a wide variety of ancient locations. Local nobles seeking artifacts, scholars seeking ancient knowledge in long forgotten crypts, and even the Imperial Nerod all appear on the list of groups that the organization has assisted at one point or another. High profit contracts of that nature have given the guild a high reputation within the Ghetunbalastod, allowing it to overtake other guilds similar to itself and achieve preeminence not only in Everos, but in all of Qadal. This being said, the gains made through their explorations has varied. In many cases, trips on the sea yield only the discovery of small to medium sized islands, some inhabited, others not. In limited cases islands of greater value, either because of their material contents or their strategic importance have been found. The island of the Greystone in the Gismyr Sea is one such island. It was discovered by the guild, then occupied by the Ghetunbalastod who established a fort and a small port. It has been a useful way station for ships passing up and down Everos' coast. Overland trips have also been successful with the discovery of new resources and strategic locations across Qadal.   All this aid, the Eyod has not escaped all controversy. It came under severe attack during the collapse of the Corgastodmar realm. Agents of the Eyod were caught many times over plundering the recent ruins of towns abandoned by the same Corgastodmar which facilitated their creation.   Charter of Allegiance In the months following Master Haradus’ victory in Othos against Tyrphos, a certain disquiet marred the celebrations and fanfare. Corgastor had aligned himself with Acolitus to destroy the judge, made an agreement with Acolitus to maintain harmful powers in the world. Acolitus was the known archenemy of Aebaster, creator of Aemarda, who Corgastor was intended as a successor. Unrest grew between two distinct groups- those who supported Haradus’ actions as necessity, led by Haradus himself upon returning to Everos. The other group was led by Ghetunbast Corenne, who authored a document known as the Charter of Allegiance, asserting that Aebaster was the Eshanic ally to Corgastor and his people; Acolitus was the enemy and not to be trusted. Their desire was to bring Haradus to Ghethemas for questioning and judgement upon his actions. War erupted between the two factions, consuming the victorious nation in conflict for some 5 years. The details of those events are written elsewhere.   The composition of the Charter of Allegiance was primarily the minor nobles and small landowners of the Ghetunbast, with only minor appearance from the upper nobility. Why? This sudden war was the perfect stage upon which the greater nobility could usurp or diminish the powers of the Ghetunbast. They supported Haradus with bold and flowery words as it suited them. The aforementioned lesser nobility and small landholders perceived Corenne as a victim trapped in the corrupt den of Ghethemas, assailed by Acolitus followers and other hidden enemies of Corgastor. They formed warbands for the purpose, marching to Ghethemas and gathering further support along the way until the whole country was stirred with this electric activity.   Corenne was deposed upon Haradus’ return-caught between the fearful magnates and Haradus’ host. The Charter of Allegience was not done, however, and skirmished with Haradus’ forces many times on the outskirts of Ghethemas. It contained as an insurgency which took years to crush- most of those 5 years were spent annihilating its members in small fights rather than conducting large scale war.   Beyrenite League Economics isn't an infallibly designed construct within the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor, even after the 2,000 or more years of its existence. The coinage is divided between Imperial Gissir, which are standard throughout the Imperial domains, and provincial coinage that differs greatly in look and value depending on what province you happen to be visiting. The disconnect between the official government currency, which is often used in more high profit exchanges, like those between lords and nations, and the provincial currency that is used by the average citizen of the provinces left an economic power vacuum. Such vacuums often beg to be filled, and from this came the Beyrenite League. It was founded in the year 2823 by a group of local money lenders and merchants in the Lohoremasese city of Beyren. Their group had spent the previous years uniting the various money houses and independent lenders throughout the region into a single organization with the goal of monopolizing exchange rates. This bid proved to be successful, and an extraordinary boon for the province. It was quickly recognized by Lohoremasese nobles that an organized economic bloc made it much easier to manage the various forms of currency. As the years progressed, their operation expanded in size and scope, going from a basic Lohoremas guild who helped lend money to local nobles and businesses to an empire wide entity that has a hand in a great deal of Qadal exchanges, both near to home and far abroad.   "Thousands of coins pass through this continent every single day, and even more passes through in the form of trade. Reigning here is a very lucrative enterprise, I assume you, so much so that we've made a career of helping money switch hands. People hand us their coins, we keep them safe, we invest them, and we return them if they desire them. All it takes is a sharp mind to keep it all flowing, and we've hired many of those. Honestly, with so little effort we can control so much, and it's quite extraordinary."  

Master Kutmer of the Ellesem Guidehall

Audit of the Imperial Treasury - 3451   The foreign affairs of the Beyrenite guild are focused primarily on the expansion of guild and Imperial trade networks across Qadal. This is a break from Everos in the years before 2823, where international trade was conducted by small organizations or individual traders. In that older system, the ability of the Corgastodmar state to tax and regulated imports and exports was limited, leaving it at a disadvantage. It would have taken the emperor and his vassals a legion of bureaucrats to keep keen eyes fixed on the myriad of trade actors on the continent. The emergence of the Beyrenite guild was embraced by the Corgastodmar sovereigns for that very reason, it made regulation and taxation of foreign imports and exports possible. Among the locations in the Beyrenite network, the trade cities of Nevan have been the most outgoing partners- perhaps they felt a kindred spirit with the Beyrenites as fellow businessmen in a world of brutes and tyrants. The Elivas of Lodon to the north have been generally favorable allies of the League throughout its history, save for some outstanding instances. From the realm of Lodon, the Beyrenites gains wines, wools, and timber to exchange in distant markets. Across the Wolonorends, the Beyrenite League was made cursory deals with Eurobia. However, the jealous emperors of Lyseros’s domain often rejected Beyrenite influence on the Othosar economy. In any case, the matter of importance is that the foreign influence of the Corgastodmar realm has grown in proportion with the expansion of the Beyrenite League.   By the year 3451, the League had established halls and banks all across Everos, with their center of operations in the city of Beyren itself. This made them a centralized and potent force of internal economic regulation within the other decentralized Corgastodmar realm. Within the walls of the Marble City, the masters of the League assembled a shadow government for themselves, resplendent with banners, strongholds, and every other auspice of traditional nationhood. It existed entirely within the Corgastodmar realm, however, benfitting from the protections and laws enforced from Ghethemas. Economically speaking, it became a capital of its own. The mismatched system of Imperial and provincial coinage was streamlined by passing through the gates of Beyren- thousands of coins would be sorted, stored, and distributed as required. For the average people of Everos, the League had little affect on their day to day affairs, but they were a deitiesend for the government and international dealers. Coinage such as Grathon Khelorads or Lornish thaler meant nothing to Eurobasar Tressonars or Neyasi merchant kings, but Evosmar businesses dealt in them. To trade abroad, Imperial Gissir crafted of proper gold were necessary, and the Beyrenite League could offer them readily, for a price. Therefore, the economic gateway to Qadal from Everos was emblazoned with the golden chest and ringed coins of the League.   The steady growth in wealth and influence of the guild between 2823 and 3451 allowed a distinct Beyrenite nobility to form, not of blood and dynastic ties, but of material possessions and connections. In that regard, the members of the guild drifted to a way of life best compared to the Neyasi rather than tradition Everos. These “new blood” nobles created symbols and arms for themselves and the guild to grow the legitimacy. Trade houses of the Beyrenite League can be easily identified by the golden chest ringed by coins that is emblazoned upon a red shield. Within their jurisdiction, supply houses are indicated by only the golden chest upon the shield, while banks are known only by the ring of coins upon a similar device. Every person with cosmopolitan ties can recognize those devices, and even the rural peasantry have more likely than not heard of the great guild that dwells in a city of marble.   Edrastócel   There are a great many mysteries to the world, and a great many people who wish to solve them. For that reason, in the year 873, during the Weeping Era, a band of scholars and intellectuals came together to form what they called "Edrastócel", or the Noble Seekers in the ancient Evosmar tongue. Mydwar the Wise was chief among them when they established their first hall in what is present day Oederan. Their organization, less of a guild than a small collective at that time, gathered knowledge from every possible source. From the Daorhu lords they recorded centuries of histories and literary works; from the Etayen of Etal they gained unique knowledge of some of the world's strongest nemeshirs and greatest wonders, and from their fellow men they accrued vast archives. All of it was then compiled in their sanctuary of Midwedler, a small collection of buildings surrounding the main hall like a rural village.   Toward the later years of the Weeping Era the Seekers came under Serious attack. It was not from looters, bandits, corrupt lords, or any other mundane threat, but rather from the Nemgarotirs who stalked the land during this era. The one who targeted them was Zuloret the Vile in the year 1067, when they had well established themselves. The hall at Midwedler had expanded into an entire complex with numerous buildings for living, archiving, gathering, and eating, as well as having a large body of personnel led by the First Seeker. Zuloret was not a Nemgarotir of blood and death, but of manipulation and ruin. He took great pleasure in turning people against each other and deconstructing progress. Midwedlr was an opportune target- it was lightly defended and was laden with decades of research and history.   He came in the form of a young orphan boy who pleaded to the Seekers for food and shelter after escaping his abusive family. He was as well exceedingly clever, and through manipulation he turned the Seekers against each other, and then against the reigning First Seeker, Pydros. To make a long story short, chaos erupted as the rank and file Seekers were led to believe everything from an ironic conspiracy of Pydros using the collective knowledge to summon Nemgarotirs, selling off valuable tomes for his own person gain, dabbling in dark nemeshirs, and even killing off other seekers to study their bodies for science. It was all fabricated, but the riots that ensued were not. Fueled by their rage the rebellious seekers laid waste to much of Midwedler. Pydros managed to escape with a group of his close followers and students, but not without first being olûndarily wounded during the attacks. They managed to take refuge in the nearby foothills with all the tomes, books, and scrolls they could carry, and Pydros expired shortly afterward. The remaining seekers broke up into groups and scattered throughout Everos, taking their protected knowledge with them. The corrupted seekers remained with Zuloret in Midwedler, which itself became a haven for Nemgarotiric corruption and evil, where dark nemeshir, summoning, and Nemgarotir worship were commonplace. The information of the seekers was lost for centuries.   The resurgence of the Edrastócel came in the year 1314, shortly after the formal transformation of the Kingdom of Valgorod into the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor. By this point they had been almost entirely wiped out by time and hostile environments. The few that remained were the few disciples of the original seekers who had taken on apprentices of their own, who then took on apprentices of their own, and continued that system until that time. Their collections of knowledge had dwindled along with their numbers, but in the Corgastodmar Empire they saw a stable place from which to revive their order. They approached Ghetunbast Larich I with their offer to bring enlightenment to the new empire, and their request for protection from danger. He accepted, and the few remaining seekers arrived in the city of Ghethemas to begin their operations. There they founded the new order hall, naming it Gledgast, or the Bright Hall in the tongue of the ancient Evosmar. Over time it became the nucleus of what would be the first formal learning institution within the Corgastodmar Empire: The Great College of Holy Might, built around Gledgast in Ghethemas's Old City. Both then and now praises are sung of that place's beauty.   It was the first of what would become an expansive system of schools located across the Corgastodmar Ghetunbalastod. However, the grand heights were not achieved by Larich, but rather four centuries later by Ghetunbast Herelesa. She spent liberally from the wealth which she gained in her campaigns against Anivollos to construct these collges for the Edrastocel. These institutions therefore radiated outward from Ghethemas with enlightenment brought to all corners of the northern Evosmar world. Each province has its own high college, such as the High College of Hennas located in Ellesem or the High College of Erehem in Fhelenest. Within the provincial countrylands are smaller scale colleges that are more privatized, such as the College of Haradus in Oederan, which is still operated by the seekers, but separate from the High College of Oederan. Come the year 3451, being the historical high-water of Corgastoria, it was common practice for nobles to send their children to one of the colleges of the seekers for higher education. All the colleges were under the control of the First Seeker, a position then occupied by Lorod Keld Ontres. He was a seeker by vocation but was granted the honorary title of Lorvelgis for his services to the Ghetunbalastod. History remembers his vigorous attempts to expand the scope of Corgastodmar schools across Qadal, bringing forth glory and greater wisdom to the realm.   Edrast Qaenarin Essir While the great masses appeal to the heavens for deliverance, there is much benefit to be gained from looking at the ground. Medicinal weeds and herbs, along with flowers from bogs and trees all bear unique qualities that, when mixed together, provide healing for both the body and spirit. The arts of botany, herbology, and medicine are often overlooked by nemeshari of Eshara and Vojûn- considered to be the work of uncivilized tribals without the blessing of the Eshan. This mentality was held most strongly during the days of the Awakening, when the world was young, and the horrors of conflict were yet to show themselves. The Eshan guided and protected, keeping olûndi safe. Life was simple then, but the Ascension and Weeping Eras that followed shattered that superficial perception of existence. When spurred to bloodshed, the world was a dangerous and forboding place. Looking to the heavens was not enough, for the Eshan jealously guarded their power in contest with one another. Olûndi across Qadal felt vulnerable as the intense demands of the period overwhelmed the ability of the Eshan to remedy them. It was then that the fools looking to the ground rather than the heavens seemed wise. While the temples of the Eshan grew, so did the knowledge and experience of unaligned tribes and people. These folk, such as the Merocians, Algesians, and Demhezzar of Othos, Loyer and Tharrod of Everos, and Syllerians and Adash of the Semyr islands mastered the gifts of the world. They brewed elixirs of rejuvenation and renewal, along with potent cures for deadly ailments, especially those wrough by Vojûn. Established nations such as the newly founded Corgastodmar Empire and later Eurobasar Tresivar belatedly recognized the value of mundane worldly remedies and sought to procure that which other people had already created centuries prior.   In the Corgastodmar realm, the professionalization of medical practices and herbal remedies was conducted by a special society supported by the state.   League of Hythe The Hythe Collective was founded in the year -- by the heads of five powerful families from Southern Everos. The leader of the Collective was Magnus Maelstrom, or, as he was called by his enemies, the Bane of Hythe. Magnus was the heartless patriarch of the Malestrom family, their ancestral name Sruthlahn, or ‘Fire-Hurricane’. The Maelstrom family had long ruled in Hythe since Magnus’ grandfather Dechdair Sruthlahn had emigrated south from the mountains and set up shop as a simple fisherman. However, Dechdair eventually had grown to want more out of life, and rather than being a fishmonger, he joined the crew of a powerful merchant ship sailing from southern Everos to the Sylvenmyr Islands. Dechdair had worked his way through the ranks until the head of the guild, one Alphonse Hienrik, offered the guild to Dechdair, admiring the young man’s hard-bitten attitude and drive to get things done in one fell swoop the right way. Dechdair took over, and promptly changed his name to Maelstrom, after the tale of a pirate he had heard growing up as a young man. Two years later, he married the daughter of a local ghet, solidifying the Maelstrom Company’s hold in Hythian politics and trade. However, after Dechdair’s death, his daughter Glainne Maelstrom realized that the company was becoming increasingly isolated, and in fact losing business as other small guilds began to fill in the cracks that the company could not fill in. So, she set out to try and build a coalition of Hythian guilds to work together.   First, she reached out to Old Angus Umhaclach, the crotchety head of the Umhaclach Family. The Umhaclach Family were masons, blacksmiths and carpenters, and had built most of the homes, offices, and larger buildings across the city. Umhaclach was hesitant, yet in the end, after coaxing from his young grandson Omyr, joined with Glainne.   Next, she reached out to Sister Anyra, the head of the Duillagcuidh. The Duillagcuidh were botanists and zoologists, women who other regions in Everos had cast out for their “heretical” discussions of science, but who had fund a home in Hythe, and had become an organization made rich from their books, knowledge, and medicines. Anyra wasted no time in joining with Glainne, wanting the best for her sisters. Begrudingly, Glainne went to the Claighdeoch, knowing that she would need the help of the Church of Corgaster should she wish to become positive in the eyes of Hythe.   The Claighdeoch were mercenaries, “paladins” of Corgaster who served the church only out of golden loyalty. Yet, they were a large force, and any who challenged the power of Corgaster did recieve visits from the Claighdeoch. Naom, the Wise, the then head of the Claighdeoch, warned Glainne that he saw ill tidings in her future if she did not side with Corgaster in her heart. Angrily, Glainne accepted the baptism of Corgaster, and gained the support of the Claighdeoch in the same day.   Next, Glainne approached the Fuarlann Hold, close to the borders of Hythe’s outermost reaches. Here, she delegated with Deigh Hallon Joyce. The Fuarlann Clan were spies, rogues, assassins, tricksters, and while Glainne hated aligning herself with such nefarious individuals, she knew that she would have to play the political game soon enough, and the Fuarlann Clan would stand by her side, where she wanted them. Finally, she found the Siorcpi Trade House in the slums of Hythe, and presented herself to Dubhan Comodante, the head of the Siorcpi family. Dubhan was the largest pirate to publicly base himself in Hythe yet knew that the government would not fight against him if he tried to do anything against Hythe. Dubhan agreed to join the group, but only if Glainne married him. Glainne refused, and Dubhan shunned her, warning her that whatever she made, the Siorcpi would rend asunder.   The Hardanvil Guild, formed out of the wreckage of the Hythe Collective, was formally created by Antyn and Byr’s grandfather, Omyr Hardanvil, with the ideals that the Hardanvil values of integrity, strength, and commitment, would carry through into their new guild. Omyr enforced these values in Antyn and Byr’s father, Hulm, who in turn passed these onto the two of them. Antyn tends to the more easy-going brother, forming connections both socially and economically across Hythe, while Byr is more reserved and contained, watching business partners with a close eye. Hardanvil’s primary income is based on their mining and timber trades in the mountains to the east of Hythe, but also in the plains and forests north of the port city.   The Claighdeoch was seen by its founder as the moral center of what was once the Hythe Collective. Formed by a mixture of priests and acolytes in Hythe that saw a great deal of opportunity in running a guild, and those original members who were struggling to find funding for their religious push to expand the word of Corgaster overseas, the Claighdeoch was born. Part missionairy, part mercenary, part economist, the members of the Claighdeoch uphold several key mantras: All must be converted to see the light of Corgaster; the Claighdeoch has a moral responsibility to crush the other guilds who feed off of greed and immorality; and to one day bring down the Maelstrom Company, who they see as the epitomy of all that is wrong with morality and justice. Emeric the Pious is the current head of the Claighdeoch and has been for the past forty years. Some believe the man should give up his seat due to his advanced age, but somehow, even at eighty, the man still possesses the agility, strength, and cunning of a man half his age. The Claighdeoch makes little money, most of it coming from forced church tithes in their holdings across Everos and the islands bordering the continent.   The Leafborn were crippled greatly upon the sundering of the Hythe Collective, and have yet to full recover from it, for their original matron, Anyra, had signed over so much to the Collective that little of what the Leafborn had originally written and discovered when they were still under the wing of the Maelstroms. After Anrya fled Hythe in disgrace, her disciple Mamora took over and worked to recreate what the sisterhood had once been. Naming them Leafborn, Mamora forged a strict and hard line of complete and total isolation from the other guilds in Hythe, ensuring that they would not lose as much as they had. When Mamora passed away, her daughter Pethnyra took over, and worked to take down some of the barriers that her mother had imposed. The Leafborn are viewed today with some superstition, and some people view them as Vojunic witches, twisting and manipulating nature to work for them. However, the Leafborn still make an impressive income from their medicine and poultices that they are famous for across southern Everos, but also offer apprenticeships for growing scientists and botanists.   The Maelstrom Company, written as Guild for the sack of the town ledger, is the power-monger of all the guilds that came out of the Collective. While it was the decision of the Maelstrom family to disband it, Oshron still sees this as simply a power play, and does not see it as a betrayal as the other guilds do. Oshron rules the Maelstrom Company with an iron fist, letting no opponents or silly fancies stand in the way of the expansion of the Maelstrom family’s power. Oshron is meticulous, managing everything within the company himself: books, tithes, workers’ papers, trusting no one else to be able to do the job as well as he does. However, he has set his eyes on great prospects now, and has come to start to leave the daily operations over to his sister, Nyme, as he goes out to seek donations and business partnerships. Maelstrom makes most of its money by selling Othian and Sylvenmar goods at outrageously high prices, but also makes a decent bid in their textile and pottery exports.   Lysbane was always resentful towards his grandfather Dubhan for refusing to be part of the Hythe Collective, seeing it as a business opportunity in his youth. But, after the Collective folded, and Dubhan disappeared in the Fringe, allowing Lysbane’s drunken father Yannik to take over, the Siorcpi family collapsed, leaving Lysbane and his parents destitute. Yannik was mugged when Lysbane was seven, and his mother attempted to remarry into another guild, the Cairnwalkers, but her husband murdered her on their marriage night as a drunken bet with his friends. Lysbane was orphaned and left with nothing, only his family’s signet ring, and his mother’s rapier. He ended up stowing away on one of his grandfather’s friend’s ship, and when he was discovered, Rayner decided to keep Lysbane on as his boatswain. Eventually however, Rayner’s first mate staged a mutiny, and Lynsbane saved Rayner’s life, becoming first mate. After Rayner’s eventual death, Lysbane took over the ship, making the Anchorfin one of the most notorious pirate ships in Everos, but he always wears the Siorcpi ring to remember his past.   Tyrdollos   The nascent realm of Acolitus in Nemrohed came into immediate conflict with the local Corgastodmar population. Battles were waged between them in fleeting starts throughout the 3470s, with few casualties on either side. Tyrdollos fared well here, for they were sufficiently organized to continue pushing.   Ohet ast Nemrohed In the early and dreaded years of the Wandering era, regions which once knew security and peace were hurled into a chaotic existence of shifting religious and political loyalties. Nowhere was worse than Nemrohed, where Karthuuzar warriors ranged south of the Balendorns, the enigmatic Yrd wrought chaos in Eroyther, and Sekras’kolura preached the name of Acolitus the Creator in public. Neighbors shattered upon these lines, for no faith was sufficiently legitimate to guide them all. Corgastor was dead. Their whole race was without purpose. However, it is such that chaos and uncertainty breeds certain in tenacious opposition. A company or common organization of fighting stock rose in Nemrohed, being primarily comprised of those who remained loyal to the Corgatorian faith, either steadfastly or just without proper alternative. They named themselves the Ohet ast Nemrohed, or the Light of Nemrohed as might be said otherwise. Armed with blades and farmtools, these champions of the old order struck out against the manifold threats in their beloved homeland. Their campaigns began in the year 3482, wherein they battled and slaughtered great numbers of migrating Karthuuzar who were nigh defenseless. This destroyed the peace between former Corgastodmar and Karthuuzar, which was never well, but did successfully halt the migration for a time. Further campaigns were launched against other enemies but listing every blood-letting would be unnecessary. Suffice to say that Nemrohed remained a horrid battleground but Corgastodmar did retain a militant sway.   Beyond these common Aemardic enemies, the Ohet ast Nemrohed was best known for their feuds against the Sekras’Kolura, being the aforementioned agents of Acolitus in the region. This faction was held in particular disdain among Corgastodmar, for it was Acolitus who brought about the death of their beloved Eshanic master. Warriors of the Ohet hunted the gold, white, and black garbed servants of the Creator, and made the most vigorous efforts in slaying his jugdes who were instrumental in government.   Come the late 3540s, the power of Acolitus was near ruined in Nemrohed. His domains were cast down and his followers scattered to other regions, such as Othos where a nascent realm of Acolitus was born.   Laws of the Ghetunbalastod The domain of Corgastor’s people was among the first modern civilizations to adopt and proliferation systematic laws which required legal professionals to manage. Vast repositories of tomes and commentaries on said tomes became common in the large cities and Vehem on the continent, such that each domain of the Ghetunbalastod boasted a robust and independent legal heritage.   These darholen were not simple arguers of law, such as might be done among lesser thinkers or masters. They were supreme coordinators, compromisers, logicians, and travelers who sought to smooth the differences between differing interpretations of Corgastodmar law.   Once the work of the darholen was completed in a region, the actual work of determining punishment was left to the executive figures in the territory- conregest, ghet, solhesghet, others. It was such that judgement was determined by these uppermost figures rather than argued among lesser citizens or juries or other bodies. However, the implicit work of the darholen was that near every conceivable circumstance have a legal response, so that the masters were capable of referring to clear and concise legal canon rather than their own judgement. In this way the hierarchy of powers in Everos was maintained but laws were consistently written and enforced.   The Criminal Element The Hawick family has been quite a name and fortune for themselves through smuggling and other illegal activities from their base in the province of Golenest. They have through guile, force, and no small measure of good luck managed to maintain their illicit domain within the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor. Their operations revolve primarily around manipulation of the Imperial economy for their own gain. Illegal coin minting, fraud, bribery, and activities of that nature are their specialization.   The Provinces of Corgastor's Ghetunbalastod There are nine Corgastodmar provinces, and eight Imperial electors who rule over them. The ninth province is Valgorod, the seat of the Ghetunbast's power and home to Ghethemas, the Trident, and the center of Corgastodmar rule in Everos. For that reason, there is no elector for that province.   The origins of the Empire's provincial system of government date back to the years of chaos during the Weeping Era. The unregulated feudal systems of yore were insufficient in governing a rapidly expanding realm such as Corgastor's Empire. The loose ties of vassalage meant that the Kingdom of Corgastor, as it was known for a few decades during the Weeping Era, suffered from crippling strife as the various levels of feudal control became muddled. This was during a time when constant fighting on the northern borders was keeping the nobility occupied, making the danger ever more present. The worst of it came in 1288, when Engilram, Ghet of Rinarr, renounced his allegiance to Ghet Gerad the Grim and allowed the Norgost to pass through unhindered. This was during the time of war between them, and the Hold of Rinarr was the western gate to the Kingdom of Loryne. It was a disaster for the allied forces of Valgorod and Loryne and would have led to the fall of Loryne if Ghet Ealsige not moved forces into the area. Even still, the subsequent battle of Greymist cost him over 5,000 men.   The origins of this betrayal underline the weakness of unfettered feudalism as it existed during the early years of the Weeping Era. It began with a woman, Johna Whitehelm to be precise. She was the sister of Ghet Engilram, and a woman of renowned beauty and grace. To seal an alliance between the two families, she was to be wed to Ghet Gerad, not yet known as the grim in his younger years. The arrangement was made during the summer of 1287 and was celebrated in Vehem Bandast, overlooking the snow dusted tundra below. It was a joyous occasion that broke the gloom of constant war that defined the late 13th century.   The union proved solid during the following months, but tragedy struck during the early days of 1288: Johna, the Maiden of Bannerhall, was found dead in her chambers. It took the realm by complete surprise, none more so than poor Engilram. He was beyond counsel in his anguish, keeping to himself in his chambers for two long weeks. The only contact with the world he dared take was to send a single letter, a message to Ghet Gerad asking what had happened to his beloved sister. To this day it is still unknown what happened to young Johna, for Ghet Gerad was vague, perhaps suspiciously vague about the exact details. He claimed that she had become suddenly and violently ill with a bout of winter fever from her regular walks along the mountain trails. It seemed odd, for she was a woman of strong constitution, and certainly smart enough to recognize such a danger. Stranger still were the rumors spoken among the Bannerhall's Servants, that drunken yells and muffled cries had preceded the death of the new queen. Ghet Gerad was known for his temper, only inflamed by the stress of war, and also for his fondness of warm mead as a means of relaxation. Perhaps Ghet Gerad was grim for more than just the future of his kingdom, perhaps he carried a secret.   Regardless of the true nature of her death, GhetEngilram was furious with his king. The betrayal of Rinarr was his way of getting revenge for his sister's death. This personal affair put the entire realm at risk of being overwhelmed by the warriors of Karthuul. Worse still, the fall of Loryne could have very well meant the fall of Valgorod as well, which would have put an end to the nascent realm of Corgastor. While this event was not the absolute deciding factor for the change in government, it was a major influence in Emperor Larich's decision to adopt a policy of centralized feudalism. No longer could the lords of the realm be free to decide their own policy of freely manage their soldiers. The Emperor and Imperial bureaucracy would have a hand in everything, keeping the lords in line should they refute the sovereign's rule. That is why the provinces of the Empire are neatly divided as they are and governed the way they are by the lords who control them.   Valgorod - Corgastor's Crown This domain is the personal holding of the Ghetunbast of Corgastor's vast empire. Lothast II of House Garlan is the elected ruler of Corgastor's people and is seated in the ancient city of Ghethemas. During the Awakening and the centuries that immediately followed it, the land was known as Valgorod, in honor of the native Valgoran tribes that originally occupied the land. It remained that way for centuries, until those tribes were displaced by south bound refugees of the Etayen conquests during the Ascension Era. The tribes that were unable to migrate either fell to the newcomers or assimilated with the southern peoples. The united tribes, although in conflict for years after the first contact, began to settle permanently among the river shores and hills of Mehras. This increased population density in the area facilitated the creation of the first cities in Mehras, including Ghethemas and Balhemas.   The region is primarily temperate forest, with some plains land in its southern reaches along the border of Nossen. It is of an old growth, with the trees taller and stronger than what might be found elsewhere in Mehras. This is an acceptable oddity, as the primary sources of revenue come from trade and taxes rather than natural resources. The mighty river Lornesse cuts right through its heart, providing transport and beneficial trade opportunities that vitalize the economy. On the western shore is the greater part of the province, with its fertile fields and tangled forests, while on the eastern shore is the hillier Hyrten region. Dotting the landscape of the Heartlands beyond the wamrth of its cities are numerous forts dating back to the Weeping Era or earlier. Indeed, the largest citadel in the Empire stands guard on the fields of the northern Valgorod region: Ramehelas. The massive fortress was built by Ghetunbast Faldron the Defeated during the Northern War of 1845 - 1857 as a means of protecting the capital from attack. The citadel is now used as the center of Imperial military operations and is the base of Ghetunbalastod Valunis Amengest Gholon and his staff. Further south there are major cities such as Theberras and Colvern, which are in turn ringed with smaller towns and hamlets and cover the region.   After the crowning of Ghetunbast Larich I in 1317, the province was renamed from Volgorod to the Heartlands as part of a program of cultural revitalization. The Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor had only recently been proclaimed, and it was a matter of importance to set it apart from the realms of the past. The new nation that Larich and his descendants were forging differed from all that had been established in the past. No longer would Mehras be a patchwork of disparate kingdoms maintained for paltry wealth and meager power, but the nucleus of a country founded on higher principles of order and faith. The renamed Heartlands became and remains the symbolic and practical heart of the nation, a testament to the longevity of Corgastor's olûndari kingdom. The new name gained legitimacy over time as the province became the heart of the Corgastodmar economy, cultural, and society at large. Valgorod has remained a beacon of Evosmar civilization and the boss upon the shield that is Corgastor's might.   Historically, the area of the Heartlands has been removed from the conflict that embroils the other provinces. The lands of Loryne, Erehem, and Golenest protect the northern border from Karthuuzar invasions, while the Aedúcarr Mountains have deflected all attacks from the south into neighboring Oederan and Nossen. In those ways the heart has been well protected from outside threats, but its interior position makes the land vulnerable to internal troubles. That weakness was made painfully apparent during the 3250s, when economic depression and Karthuuzar incursions drove the lords of the Northern provinces to insurrection. They were spurred to action in 3256 by the words of Lord Noryn Osterath of Eroyther, as Golenest was known in those days. He claimed that Ghetunbast Arelastod II Crasedor, a well meaning but unskilled monarch, was the cause of the empire's deterioration. To a degree they were correct, but to oust an emperor, no matter how troubled, was a grave matter. They banded together in what was called the Steelspear Pact and rallied an army to their cause. Emperor Arelastod II called his vassals to arms in turn, mustering over 20,000 men in short order. The rebels marched south, the loyalist forces north, and the Heartlands fought its first war in centuries.   The exact details of the war are written in legend and manuscripts but suffice to say that the fighting was intense and followed the meandering flow of the Lornesse. It became apparent for both armies that the mighty river was a mutual barrier that needed to be crossed before proper battle could be met. A lull in the fighting followed as the hostile armies camped upon opposing shores of the Lornesse and made preparations for battle. The bridges across the river were ancient creations of stone and timber, and Lord Noryn ordered their destruction to delay the advance of Emperor Arelastod's army. It was also commonly believed that the river was unfordable due to its impressive width and depth. Arelastod was frustrated by the development, but nonetheless remained confident that the rebel army could be defeated. He ordered for the creation of makeshift bridges made of ropes boats and thick planks to be built to cross the river. Lord Noryn witnessed this development from his camp and was concerned for the safety of his position. In response, he employed the Pact's most elite regiment to contend with the issue, the Ghetûn Guard of Larnac under the command of Captain Gerin Pender. The regiment spent days searching for a path, and in no place, could one be found. The small force was able to find a ford by following a local Imperial soldier on the opposite shore and destroy the half-built war machines. Following that battle the regiment acted as the rear guard as GhetNoryn retreated his forces after a brutal defensive battle to contain the Imperial forces on their side of the river. It was a noble fight, but the vast resources of the Corgastodmar Empire made any long-term war effort futile.   Ghet Noryn and the Steelspear Pact were unable to press forward to Ghethemas, and over the course of the next three years the rebels were repulsed farther north. In 3258, Loryne withdrew from the fight and was followed out by Erehem in the early months of 3259. The failure of the war effort to make substantial gains, the economic drain of fighting, and the real threat of Karthuuzar raiding made the position of the splintered lords untenable. The long-term aftermath of the short but brutal war was an increase in Imperial power at the expense of the greater nobility, which has carried forth into present time. The more immediate aftermath was a surprising degree of mercy, for Arelastod was not a warrior king, and for that reason was not tempered for vengence. The lords of Erehem and Loryne were spared from harsh punishment but were forced to bow before the emperor and renew their oaths of fealty to him. Lord Noryn was called to Ghethemas with them, and refusal would mean death. The justice for his actions included the expected, the revoking of his ducal title, but two surprising decisions as well. First, Lord Noryn was deprived of Hryten County, which straddles the Lornesse on the Eroyther side. This was done to increase the emperor's power at rebel expense, but also ensure the army would never again be blocked by the river. The second was an act of humiliation, in which Arelastod made Noryn a personal Servant in his court at Ghethemas. Commanding cups, not troops, would be his fate.   The rebellion of Noryn Osterath and the Northern provinces displayed the existential threats facing the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor, but the dangers did not pass with Noryn's Servitude. Ghetunbast Lothast II, the reigning emperor, has suffered similarly from internal dissent spurred from external pressures. The Drakayen War of 3451 is the next chapter in the long book of sorrows facing Everos, in this case against the ancient enemy of Etal. The Heartlands stand strong, the Trident remains a symbol of Corgastor's might, and with the exception of Drakar's devastation the realm remains intact. The future remains unknown, but without a doubt the Heartlands will be instrumental in its writing.   At the heart of every great empire stands a city worthy of its glory. Tarimikras in days of yore stood as the metropolis that coursed trade and travel through the veins of the old Eurobasar Empire, along with those factions that have risen to prominence over the years; Drakar, upon a plateau in the southern lands of Grathem, was the epicenter of one of the strongest Etayen kingdoms in the days before the Great Conflict that destroyed Nathrovas; Metaorbu Thoram, one of the oldest of the Daorhu holds, has its roots deep within the mountains and towers of impressive heights beyond the natural peaks, its halls are large and ornate, and its workshops at one time produced the finest weapons in the world.   Among these great cities stands the crown jewel of the Empire, the city that embodies all that which is holy and grand in the realm of Corgastor: Ghethemas. It is an ancient city and is more likely than not the oldest city founded by Aemarda in Everos that is still occupied by them. Indeed, legend has it that Corgastor himself laid down the foundations for the city's creation. Over 3,000 years ago, a village existed on that very same land, which many claim to be the birth place of Corgastor himself. The name of the original settlement is lost to the ages in favor of the newer title. The city's name of Ghethemas means "Home of deity" in the tongue of the ancient men, is homage to that fact. For thousands of years, men have always looked to the city for guidance in times of crisis, for it is the seat of the Ghetunbast, Solhesunbast, and Nerod.   Ghethemas is divided into old and new city. The old city is built of polished stone and fine lumber and is the heart of operations within the Empire. It is where much of the aristocracy live and is where a majority of the city's skilled craftsmen ply their trade. The government is as well based in this portion of the city, with the Trident being the focal point of activity. The building immediately surrounding it are mostly manors for foreign dignitaries, nobles, clergy, and other individuals of value and note. The new city that sprawls out beyond the Gleaming Walls is where the city's middle and working-class people dwell. Some buildings in this part of the city are built of stone, but the majority of them are wood. It is also in this district of the city that the major marketplaces are located, making it a hub for trade, travelers, and everyday denizens of Corgastodmar Empire's largest city.   At the very center of the old city stands the Trident, which is the massive structure that houses the Imperial throne room, the chambers of the Solhesunbast, and the headquarters for the Nerod. The origins of the Trident can be attributed to Corgastor, who build three large towers in the center of the city to consolidate his power and show the strength of his kingdom. It is said that a good measure of nemeshir was used in its construction, for even now building such an impressive edifice would be very difficult, but seems impossible over 3,000 years ago. Nemeshir or not, the towers were built within Corgastor's lifetime. He named the eastern, center, and western towers Sul, Fror, and Thel, or Light, Fire, and Steel. The towers themselves were unlike any structure seen before in Everos. They were built of polished white marble, adorned with beautiful glass windows, and soared hundreds of feet into the sky. The towers were a marvel of their time, and visitors came from all across the world to lay their eyes upon the imposing creation.   Perhaps the most enduring account of the tower's scale comes from Arobar the Freelander, the Daorhu scholar from whom we have learned a great deal of the world in the early Weeping Era. The records of his travels vividly describe locations all across the world, some of which in present times only exist in legend. Of the three towers, Arobar stated that "the light of a clear day's sun would dance and shimmer upon the tower's surface, giving a look similar to silk fluttering in the wind; the tower's walls were so mighty and tall that one hundred men could stand upon one another's shoulders, yet still be short of the spire's tip". Other such accounts of the tower exist, as century after century visitors are always awed by their sheer size and scale. Within these towers he put his supporters, commanders, holy men, and other important individuals, for it must be that remembered that while the towers were built of fine white marble, the "town" around it was of shoddy wooden design.   Upon the death of Corgastor around the year 40, he ascended to deityhood and became the deity of Aemarda. Succeeding him was his favored commander, Aragos, to whom he ordered to continue the holy work of strengthening the realm of Aemarda. To do so, Aragos launched an ambitious building campaign to improve Ghethemas in the areas around the towers. The first of the two major building projects he developed was the addition to the three towers that transformed it into the Trident that we know today. It was a massive spire that connected all of the towers and combined into a single, impressive structure that more than doubled the height of the entire structure. Many claimed that it, like the towers below, were built by nemeshir, but such arguments lack solid evidence. All that can be said is that nemeshir or not, the spire was a magnificent tribute to Aemarda's might, and to the brilliance of Aragos. From that day forth he would be known as Aragos the Builder.   Not a man to sit on his laurels, Aragos was not yet done building. A few years after the completion of the spire, and the christening of its title of The Trident, a new building project was undertaken. This would be a magnum opus of Aragos's reign, and the ultimate protection for the heart of Aemarda's Empire: The Gleaming Walls. Built of similar white stone the Trident, the walls surround the entire Old City of Ghethemas over a wide area, certainly larger than the area the city covered at the time of its construction. Aragos was an intelligent man and realized that the city would grow in size rapidly, thus rendering a wall of smaller scale impractical. Ghetod ast Grathem - Hold of the Aebastadmar Masters Gheta Ezra Gower is the latest ruler of the ancient land of Grathem, and the newest blood of the venerable Gower dynasty. Her seat of power is the towering city of Drakar, a city upon three mountain spires that was once the capital of the Etayen Kingdom of Jequa. Jequa, like Sutan to the northeast, was a successor kingdom to Etal that formed during the Ascension Era. It controlled of the eastern reaches of Sedrohed for centuries, until the events of the Great Conflict of 2304 led to its collapse. The Kingdom of Grathem, whose homeland the watershed of the Gosver and foothills of the Gól Sädûn Mountains, take advantage of this weakness. Their realm had expanded around Jequa, spreading over the land south of the Aedúcarr mountains. It was a high time for them, having withstood the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor's advances and strengthened their position. They quickly ousted the weakened remnants of Jequa, whose inhabitants were unwilling to fight further after the devastation of the conflict. ghet Dormot Tofmund, predecessor to the Gower dynasty of kings, led the short campaign that scattered the remaining vestiges of Etayen control in the region. He captured Drakar, threw down its temples to Atûn, and claimed it as his own. It has been the capital of Grathem from that time to the present.   The duchy itself is unique in that there is a close blend between Aemar and Etayen architecture, history, and culture that can be seen long after the fall of Étunas. Ancient Etayen ruins dot the hills and fields of the region, marking the lands that had once been part of the thriving Etayen kingdom of Jequa. In the cities, less ancient Etayen structures remain, as the hovels and homes of Aemarda constantly bury the past. That being said, the men of Grathem did not hold fast to the traditions left behind by their overlords like was done in Zorídas. The Corgasotrian faith that grew during and after the man's life was a dominant force, and the faithful who did not worship Corgastor put their esseythu in the hands of Aebaster or other idols and deities. The Tofmund dynasty of kings repressed Etayen faith and culture, though they did not go so far as to banish or slay those Etayen that did remain in Grathem.   The historical legacy of the region is defined by resistance. The Grathon tribes of men resisted the Etayen during the Ascension Era, which was met with brutal reprisals. They were pushed from the Gól Sädûn mountains and down into the swamplands of southwestern Everos, on the ground of present Lohoremas. Once there, they attempted to establish some form of civilization, but the lack of development and hostile terrain made it a miSerable task. The result of this unfortunate circumstance was a collapse of unity for the Grathon people. Some families among the exiles remained in the swamplands, and those settlers became the core population of Lohoremas. They were a minority, however, and most of those who entered the swamps either died or sought a way to escape. Moving back east to the foothills of the mountains or the lands beneath them was an option, but the Etayen taxed and closely controlled the population under their control. The other choice was to move north from the swamps, past the Aedúcarr Mountains and into Mehras. When they travelled far enough north the hold of Etal weakened, but in exchange they entered a deluge of lawlessness and uncertainty. This was the time before Corgastor, and the lands beyond the grip of Etal were in the hands of kings and warlords who fought amongst themselves and others to secure resources and survival. The exiled Grathon ran headlong into these threats and were instantly engulfed. That being said, "engulfed" is not an entirely negative term. The interactions ranged from slavery and fighting to intermarriage and coexistence. It's impossible to make accurate generalizations, but the experience did change Grathon culture and society.   Ghetod Dhenast ast Loryne - The Northern Frontier Ghet Golram II of House Greyblood is the iron hearted ruler of the Empire's most fiercely embattled province. His seat is the Fortress-City of Loryne, which stands on the very edge of his border with the inhospitable tundra of Nemrohed inhabited by the Karthuuzar. The walls of the city extend far out into the surrounding mountains, creating a impenetrable defense of sheer stone and stout forts. The city's central keep is Vehem Bandast, the Banner house, or "where the banner stands", which has stood vigil over the mountain border for centuries before the walls were erected.   The walls have proven to be more than worth their cost, as the city has withstood hundreds of attacks by the Karthuuzar, both organized and disorganized. Chief Hallgar was frustrated in his attempts to assault the fortress during his invasion of the Empire, which cost him thousands of lives. By the time he decided to turn his efforts to the neighboring province of Erehem, he had already taken too many loses to maintain his conquered ground. Ghet Millard the Slayer was then able to organize a counterattack and push the bothersome invaders out of Imperial territory with the assistance of Gheta Arelle of Erehem in 3379. That war more so than any other event set in stone the brutal policies the Greyblood rulers have imposed on the Karthuuzar beyond their borders. Forays are regularly sent north from the halls of Vehem Bandast to attack any Karthuuzar who settle too close to the border. Ghet Golram has been eager to reclaim much of the northern land lost to Loryne during the Norgost and Wodnost invasions, so sends forward groups of soldiers and settlers to establish small keep-towns. Unfortunately, the sudden eruption of the Drakayen War has temporarily halted his northward advance.   Beyond the strong walls of the Vehem Bandast and the noble warriors that defend it, the duchy is known economically for its mineral resources. The Balendorn Mountains act as the shield for the duchy against the worst of the Karthuuzar's attacks, but it is also the source of this mineral wealth. Within those hills lie rich stores of iron and silver, which pay the lion's share of the land's expenses and equip its soldiers. Gold, however much it has been sought, does not seem to exist in any large amount in Loryne. It has been reported in the Steelspear Mountains in the far northern, which is a primary reason the duchy is concerned about expanding beyond the Balendorn. During times of chaos amongst the Daorhu these ventures have been successful, as purchased gold from the fragmented holds as quick revenue can then be resold to other markets across Qadal for greater profit. Ghet Golram the Elder, father of the current lord of Loryne, made it a common practice to send miners north under the guard of soldiers to extract gold from right under the noses of both the Daorhu and the Karthuuzar. That made him immensely unpopular with those groups, the former who made use of the gold themselves and the latter who needed it to trade with foreign nations. He cared little for their protests, however, and had no qualms with attacking indigenous peoples who moved to halt him.   Ghetod ast Nossen - The Realm of the First Sovereigns Ghet Oselen of House Garlan is the young and proud ruler of Nossen, the land from which the first monarchs of Corgastor hailed. He came to that position after his father, Lothast II, ascended to the Imperial throne in 3445. His ducal seat resides in the city of Bregast, a large city nestled into the low hills of Nossen's eastern reaches. In days of yore, the city was the summer capital of the Ghetûn of Valgorod, hence the name Bregast, meaning Ghet's Dwelling in the ancient tongue. In modern times the region is known as the breadbasket of the Ghetunbast, as its central location keeps conditions more moderate than in Nemrohed, and the low hills and flat plains are more fertile than the mountains of Sedrohed. Trade flows up and down the cobbled highways of the Aedúcarren corridor, between the mountains and the sea. This trade brings prosperity to the region, which in turn fuels the rural economies of the province. The farmers are pleased, the artisans can work, and all is well so long as the sun shines on Nossen.   Historically, the province is known to produce the most professional soldiers in the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor, alongside Loryne to the north. The best examples are regiments of renown such as the Aedúcarrens of Hilgards and the Lorvelgis of the Silla Eshor. It may seem strange for that to be the case, but in the not so distant past Nossen was the frontier of the Ghetunabst. The Lhenod of Grathem, which resisted the assaults of its northern neighbor, made it common practice to raid the lowlands of Nossen during the five wars waged between them. This strengthened the people and forced them to adapt themselves as skilled soldiers. The mountains became their refuge during the worst attacks, defended by the men of Hilgard, and the Lorvelgis of the Silla Eshor first assembled to repel the invaders. Building upon that hard won reputation, Ghet Bernard III built the Nossenite War College in Bregast in the year 2234. The academy has become the premier institution of war in Everos, so much so that the only candidates considered for the powerful position of Ghetunbalastod Valunis are graduated soldiers. It is said that in Nossen there are no citizens, but only soldiers in disguise; and no draft horses, but only steeds.   Whilst the stories of the Silla Eshor and other tales are important chapters in Nossen's history, the role of the province as the empire's founder is its greatest distinction. The story centers on the Goldheart dynasty, namely Horst the Blessed and his scions. In the early 1100s their realm was one of a few that stretched across the landscape from the Lornesse in the north, the Aedúcarr mountains to the west, Black Hills of Nathrovas to the east, and successor kingdoms of Étunas to the south. By tradition they were descendants of the Valgoran tribes of men that withstood the tribulations of the Etayen colonization and remained in the region during the Ascension Era. Over time, however, the larger tribal group collapsed and gave way to a Series of small kingdoms that descended from the most powerful dynasties that survived. Similar deterioration of centralized control was experienced among the other tribes as they developed into full kingdoms and stood independent from one another. This created a region of small warring states, none of which were strong enough to conquer each other or protect themselves for outside forces. This was the Nossen into which the Goldheart dynasty developed, divided and devoid of all future potential.   Ghet Horst Goldheart was well positioned to reverse the dilapidated state of Nossen. His domain of straddled both the Lornesse and the southern border of Valgorod, freeing him of the chaos that existed further inland.   Battlefield of Genhecarr   In the misty years of the Weeping Era, a hideous battle was waged between two competing powers of Aemardic warriors. Their names are forgotten. No names survive. The purpose of their bloodshed is all but lost. The battlefield remained hidden beneath the lush grass for centuries. Yet, it was discovered by common well-diggers in the year 2294 upon the property of Conregest Rehbast of Genhecarr. His name appears nowhere in significance prior to these events, nor overmuch thereafter besides in relation to Genhecarr. News reached him of some profusion of bones and weapons found upon the plains. He rode out to it, and over the following days discovered that the whole plain and its surrounding hills held differing measures of these relics.   The inauguration of this novel historic monument was a noted occasion. Ghetûn and such noble masters across the Ghetunbalastod came forth to witness it. Greatest among them was Ghetunbast Dothen the Sword, who departed with a great train of advisors so that court might be held on the march. With his arrival, Genhecarr became more than a simple testament to history. It was now an active element of the Evosmar narrative, telling the story of powerful Aemardic warriors battling to a glorious end, now to be honored by later generations. Ghetunbast Dothen declared that the Corgastodmar warriors who now died against Bal’gorod would be honored the same way by their children.   Ghetod ast Hennas - The Shield of Mehras The eastern border of Everos has always been a matter of concern for the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor. In the past it had been the home of the successor kingdoms of Etal who, although not united, still remained a threat to the expanding realm. Beyond that is the Wolonorends, which was and is a haven for pirates and the constant raids of Gressar warriors. After Karundar, when Nathrovas and all eastern Everos was destroyed, the dangers gained a measure of uncertainty. No longer were there Etayen kingdoms, but rather a vast collection of rocky islands and choppy waters that are devoid of all gentle life, having been replaced by Nemgarotirs and other deformed monsters. It is in this context that the province of Hennas endures rampant piracy and malign Vojûnic energy. The fact that it has survived is testament to the acumen and determination of its rulers and a memorial to those who have fallen in its Service.   Gheta Finna of the fabulously wealthy and socially renowned House Illiava is ruler of Hennas as of 3451. Her seat of power is the heavily fortified city of Ellesem, the strongest of Everos's shield ports. She came to power in 3444, merely a year before Emperor Lothast II himself was crowned and put upon the throne in Ghethemas. Her mother Gistelle ruled for 20 years prior after the death of Huethal Illiava among the islands of the Fringe in 3424. The occurrence was unfortunate, but barely a surprise. The Illiava dynasty had made themselves and their realm rich with the poison fruits of old Nathrovas. Artifacts from the kingdoms that were lost, Sutanese, Estite, and Jequan alike, were all intensely sought after by collectors. Nobles from Lohoremas to Erehem, Masters of Neyasi Republics, and the Tressonars of Eurobia all found it a matter of great pride to own such rare pieces of history. That alone would have been enough to secure a fair fortune, but there was more to the Fringe than just broken pieces of the past. Viiryne, a stone material created by intense concentrations of Vojûnic energy, is found in abundance among the islands of the Fringe and nowhere else in the natural world. It can be created, but only in small amounts and with immense amounts of energy. The properties of the material are what makes it so valuable. The Vojûnic genesis from whence it comes provides it, paradoxically, with abilities of Vojûnic absorption, turning spells into sputtering lights and dulling enchantments to near nothing. For that everyone from magnates to great emperors will pay handsomely.   Last Light of Corgastor The formation of the Fringe in 2304 left the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor with a new and untamable frontier just off its shore: The Fringe. The entirely of the land that had once been Nathrovas was obliterated, leaving behind a region of uncountable islands and perilous waters. Maritime travel, which had been an important binding factor between Everos and Othos, was ground to a halt for years. Beasts, brigands, and other dangers filled in the area which no honest traveler wished to pass. All progress could not stop, however. Civilization was required to adapt to the changing environment, just as it had done throughout prior history. The Corgastodmar did the same following the Great Conflict, built to adapt. Emperor Dothen the Sword, who had lead the Corgastodmar through the Great Conflict, now ordered the structure by which its damage could be partially undone: The Last Light. It was a massive tower, well over 100 feet high, that terminated in an open hand of Corgastor facing outward into the Fringe. In the palm is a giant fire, the Last Light, which blares into the Fringe to help deter evil and call forth those lost among the treacherous islands. It took four years to build it and over 2,000 lives to defend it from the horrors that poured forth during its construction, but it has remained into modern times.   Once completed, the Last Light represented the furthest beacon of civilization into the lawless Fringe. A town rapidly sprouted around the tower as merchants made it their choice destination along the central Evosmar coast. As the place grew in value, so did the necessity to preserve it against outside threats. In the year 2346, the call was answered. By order of the Dowager Empress, Eleanor, a garrison was established at the Last Light. The formation was simply known as the Keepers of the Last Light. It was meant to be little more than a glorified town guard, but quickly took on a reputation for furiosity in the face of strong opposition. The tower was kept safe from adversaries ranging from monstrosities of Vojûn to foreign nations, but never did it fall. Indeed, under the command of their most renowned leader, Mildred Illiava, the Keepers made regular forays into the Fringe itself to purge monsters, both unnatural and olûndari, from the islands.   Ehrohenod Dhenast ras Oederan - The Lodon March Ehronis Landon is the grim and shrewd sovereign of Oederan, which straddles the border between the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor and Lodon. His capital is the city of Riverhall, which lies on the eastern fork of the river Zomore. For years the lords of this land have fought against the rulers of Lodon for control of the great Zomore and the lands that lay around it. It has been a violent back and forth affair, with constant bloodshed, invasions, and assassinations punctuating the timeline. That was until 3417, when the two nations signed a treaty of alliance to end their years of fighting. Since that time there have been no overt conflicts, but that does not mean there is peace between the two nations. Ehronis Landon knows that well, for he has had to endure years of simmering tensions and clandestine conflict across the river. He has survived, however, much to the distaste of Lodon's ruler, Yithmenal Lod. He has been Oederan's deadly opponent, fighting with cunning cruelty to restore the position of Lodon in Everos that was torn away by Imperial conquest.   Grove of Yassaben   The first signficiant recordings of this site come from the 1600s, when Corgastodmar warriors were marching southward against the Grathon. They brushed close to the waters of the Zomore, without crossing into Elivas territory, and found strange constructions which illumated settlement on both shores. Small crag and cave villages were scattered about, along with the remains of foot bridges. The Corgastodmar also discovered coins, tools, and some Elivas who were indeed living in the region in peace.   Ehrohenod ast Lohoremas - The Gate to the West Ehronis Alnod is the pious and well-respected lord of Lohoremas. He reigns from the City of Beyren, a small city compared to most, but none the less filled with riches and built of marble. The region is well known for the fens and wetlands that surround the Gosver watershed, and for the manors of rich merchants that overlook them. In contrast, the northern borderlands and the eastern reaches down to the Semyr are populated by agrarian hamlets and craft towns. Unlike the wealthier merchant class, the average working population makes its livelihood by manufacturing finished goods from the metals mined from the empire's mines, or by working with the trade goods imported from abroad. These items are in turn exported to foreign markets or sold in local venues, and in both cases, enrich the Beyrenite masters who maintain the constant flow of goods and money to and from the duchy.   The trade lanes that opened between Nevan and Everos during the Weeping Era put Lohoremas in an opportune position. Previously the region had been little more than a hilly patchwork of meagre farms, lorded over by equally sad castles. The culture of old Lohoremas reflected this, for the people were of a plain sort and frugal. They cherished their families and faith above all else and cared little in that time for gold and treasure.   Ehrohenod ast Erehem - The Frozen Coast Ehronis Germund V is the weary and embattled lord of Erehem, a duchy of cold and rocks that is host to Karthuuzar invaders more than Imperial dignitaries. He reigns from the bleak and imposing castle of Fhelenest, constructed from the dark stone of the Balendorn Mountains and guarded by the realm's most bitter denizens.   Ehrohenod ast Golenest - The Gate to the East Ehronis Moldan of House Norvon is the cunning and quick-witted lord of Golenest. He reigns from Castle Osterath in the province's eastern reaches, on the borderlands of Norvorrot and Mehras. The duchy is well known as the gateway between Othos and Everos, as the ports of Golenest are easier to reach than the shield ports of Hennas and Grathem to the south. In particular, the trade that comes in from Varikon and the other cities of Eurobia brings in money through tariffs and sales. The goods that arrive in Glostian ports tend to make their way south for even greater profit, which is often cut off from direct trade with Eurobia because of the looming specter of the Fringe. This has made the province wealthy over the years, comparable to Hennas that lies upon the Semyr or Lohoremas to the southwest that takes in the great profits of Neyasi commerce. The wealth and power the land processes allow it to stand tall amongst its neighbors, repelling Karthuuzar raids and projecting its power. Under the wing of the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor, Golenest has done well, but its history up until that time was troubled and characterized by hardship and constant war.   Prior to its entry into the empire, the land of Golenest was an independent kingdom known as Eroyther. It is unknown for certain which tribes preceded the kingdom, possibly the same breed of men that migrated northward during the Awakening in response to the expanding population in Mehras. What is known is that it is one of the few kingdoms that formed during the Weeping Era that survived beyond that age. Its founder was a woman named Ethela, known for her wisdom and strength. She led her people out of Mehras and to the hinterlands of Nemrohed, to the east of the Balendorn Mountains. Their location alongside the coast gave them access to ample food and the lords of Othos provided some wealth. In that time, however, the roving ships of the Gressar made short work of any ships caught undefended in the Wolonorends. Under those conditions the kingdom grew in size and strength, and under the rule of Queen Ethela it established itself as a major power. The monarchs that followed her managed to maintain the kingdom, even though the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor was growing in power and aggression during those same years, and the attacks of the Karthuuzar kept the realm in a perpetual state of fear. Only the skill at arms of the realm's people and their dedicated allowed it to survive.   The Ghetod endured for the following centuries, passing through the Weeping Era and Twilight Eras and into the Imperial Era beyond. That being said, the kingdom's days were numbered. It wasn't a war that brought an end to Eroyther, but a marriage. In 2532, Gheta Penesspa of House Osterath, whose family had taken control more than three decades prior, found herself a young widow when her beloved husband drowned in an accident on the Wolonorends. The poor man, whose name has even been lost to history, was aboard on of his personal ships with acquaintances and notables as celebration of his recent marriage when the ship was blown against the rocks by a strong gale wind and smashed upon the shore. Not being one of linger on tragedy, especially when her power was in jeopardy, Gheta Penesspa sough a new husband to secure her position. After two years of widowhood, the young Penesspa, now about 24 years ago, had her prayers answered. The Ghetunbast of the Corgastodmar Ghetunbalastod, Giroldus the Hardhand, known as one of the few emperors to come from Erehem, died from his advanced age. His son, Giroldus of Fhelenest, succeeded him by vote the same year. With the throne under his control, Giroldus, only about 19 years old but already possessed of a fierce reputation, needed a wife to continue his lineage. It was a match clearly meant to be, Penesspa and Giroldus. The two of them recognized the opportunity at hand and for political reasons more than any agreed to marry. That year, 2534, the Ghetod ast Eroyther and the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor united by marriage and became one.   In the waning days of the Corgastodmar domain, Golenest suffered terrible unrest. The eastern masters saw the writings of doom which cursed them. They wanted no part of the crumbling Corgastodmar realm, but rather to be independent as before 2534. For them, the memories and free spirit of ancient Eroyther never died.   Helarac Yrd   The character of the Yrd is written elsewhere, but this regards a place. Central Eroyther, near the northernmost tributaries of the river Lornesse, is where the strange children of Dyap first appeared. They were fleshy tendrils, howling roots which terrified the common people. A forest was created from their primal hungers to grow, their blood oozed from their withering people. New spawns arose faster than the old might die, but in the early years none lived long for their power was little. As the forest grew, the masters of Eroyther took notice. They named it Weshia Helarac or Glowing Forest in their dialect.   Come the Second Feud in 3551, the Helarac was a great and infamous haven of the Yrd. Its name became Helarac Yrd in their dubious honor, and those wise travelled no where near it.