Complete History of the Land of Ki

Introduction

            As the esteemed First Keeper of Time and member of the Council of Eridu, it is my honor to transcribe the entire history of our Land. Through endless scouring of the historical records, the sacred texts of our divine clergy, and the oral traditions upheld by our noble council, I have compiled a detailed and thorough history spanning from the creation of our universe to our present times. As the First Keeper of Time and with the approval of the High Counciler, this transcription will be upheld as the official history of the Land of Ki.

Through the analogues of historical records kept by the High Priests of the Old Gods of Anki and in accordance with the shared belief by the Council of Eridu, the first period of history began with the creation of the Gods. It is summarized that the Gods are beings made from pure Light (the material that magic flows from). As the known universe began as an abyss itself, the origin of Light is unknown, but it is theorized by priests, scribes and wizards that it originated from a plane of existence separate from our own. It is of the opinion of the council that this light first formed into the Gods Enaki and Pludes. The two brother Gods then through there divine power created the younger gods such as Dardossa, Enul, Utul, Nalpha, Utu and Na and beings known as Feti or servants for their divine domains.

For untold years the Gods and the Feti dwelt amongst the stars in their Divine Kingdom. This period of godly peace ended however with the creation of Ki and the corruption of Pludes. Recovered tablets, written during the ancient days of Tepe, speak cautiously about the tale of Pludes who is said to have sought domination over Enaki’s creation (Ki) and the Light itself. A great battle was said to occur amongst in the skies. Enaki whose followers represented the Light and Pludes whose followers who represented the Chaos battled for eons over control of Ki. Through great strength it is said that Enaki delt his final blow to Pludes at the intersections of the Huphrates and Ligis Rivers and cast him and his servants of Chaos into the abyss, a dimension of pure darkness (much like how ours was originally). With the victory of the Enaki over the Chaos marks the end of the Period of Creation.

Overview

The next period of history is known as the Period of the Elder Times, and it is during this period that sapient life is said to have formed. As the records state, with the casting of Pludes and his servants into the abyss and the healing of Ki, the younger gods wished to please Enaki with creations of their own. Three Gods in particular set out to create life which could repay Enaki through worship. Enul, God of water and rain created the Quali, a semi aquatic species which rose from the seas, Utel, God of war and courage created the Giants, said to be 20 feet tall and rose from the dirt. Finally, Dardossa the Goddess of life, created our early ancestors, the Wild Elves that sprung from the Huphrates River.

            What was not known at the time though was that the land was still infected by the chaos of Pludes. The Elder species, brutish and dull, easily fell under the influence of this chaos and from their corruption, violence and destruction spread across the land. It is said that for a millennium the three species refused worship of Enaki and instead created false idols and performed acts of unspeakable evils and dark rites. It is said that life was short, violent and brutish, as various warbands traveled across the land with the sole purpose of drawing blood. Uncivilized and barbaric, they fought amongst themselves in violent tribal conflicts over land, women and food. After 1,000 years, Enaki disgusted by the dark vile nature of these species, was set to destroy the world and begin anew. Fearing Enaki would rid the lands of her beloved creation, through immense power and struggle, Dardossa sacrificed herself. It is said that her divine blood rained across Ki for a year and from her blood 101 immortal Elves known as the Gelda emerged from the Huphrates River. Their emergence marks the end of the Elder Times and the Age of the Before Times.

Key Archaeological Findings

            Records or findings from this period are extremely rare as written language, metallurgy or permanent settlements did not exist. Due to the early ancient documents of old and the finding of archaic tools, it is theorized that the sapient peoples of this time lived as nomadic hunter gathers who made use of stone, wood and bone tools. Important findings that date back to this time include skeletons of the Giants, stone spears and bone flutes. It is theorized that while this time was particularly barbaric and brutish, there are some council members that believe that the early records are hyperbolic in their detailing of this period. However, one of the most important findings from attributed to this period is the ancient burial site known as the first chaos temple. This burial site, which was found soon after the founding of Eridu holds over 1000 elvish skeletons dating back to the Elder Times and whose bodies show signs of ritual sacrifice. Additionally small stone figures were found throughout the site. Many believe that these figures represent false idols or even the demonic servants of chaos. There are many aspects of this period that are still a mystery to the modern council including the absence of evidence of the Quali as no skeletons have been found nor is there much mention of them within the ancient historical record besides a few sentences found on ancient clay tablets dating back to the times of Tepe.

Overview

            Emerging from the head waters of the Huphrates River came the 101 Immortal Elves, the children of Dardossa and our most cherished ancestors. The first 100 were all men, while the last one, a female by the name of Gol-Beki was deemed the reincarnation of Dardossa and ruled as the Goddess Queen of the Gelda (High Elves). The Gelda, imbued with magical power from their divine creator, quickly instructed the First Temple of Anki close to their original birthplace. From this the Gelda were granted divine favor from Enaki themselves and were instructed to cleanse the land of Ki. Empowered with magic and advanced technology such as metallurgy, writing and agriculture, Gol-Beki constructed a great city around the temple and named it Gol-Beki-Tepe. Many of the Wild Elves flocked to the city and joined the ranks of their superior kin. The Elves who willfully submitted to the Goddess Queen became known as the Fedha Elves and became the bulwark of the Empire. While it is said that most Elves freely joined the ranks of the Empire, there were some who were stubborn in their ways and actively fought against their beneficial taming. These Elves were known as the Breha Elves.

The Great Cleansing

            With the formation of the first Elven State ruled by the Gelda, the Goddess Queen Gol-Beki issued the great cleansing, an order given to her by Enaki themselves to smite the fall races that pollute the land of Ki. From their capital in modern day Golbek, the armies of the Gelda marched across the lands, subjecting all opposing Elves and the Quali and Giants were put to the sword. For hundreds of years this crusade waged on pushing many foul beasts and races to the edges of the known world. The final battle occurred in the 5500s BE when Gol-Beki herself lead an army against the last bastion of the Giants, which is speculated to be in the southern Kizgaros Mountains. It is said that Gol-Beki conjured a magical spell so powerful during the battle that it left the lands barren for a millennium. By the end of this crusade Gol-Beki and her Gelda had conquered all the lands in between the Western Sea and the Kizgaros Mountains. The Elder species of the Quali and the Giants were said to have gone extinct either by the crusade or shortly after as their populations dwindled in the shadows. There are false rumors however that persist amongst the peoples of Ki who believe that some persist to this day in far off lands. It is believed that the vast majority of Breha Elves were also absorbed by the Empire, but it is theorized by some that some tribes may have migrated east to lands such as Hiprappa and father unknown lands. The fate of these Elves remains unknown. It was also during this period that Gol-Beki instructed the intermixing of the Gelda Elves with suitable Fedha Elves to produce a magically strong notability.

Overview

            The Period of Tepe, when the Empire of Gol-Beki-Tepe was at its height, was said to be a time of great abundance, culture and magical marvels. The Elves of Gol-Beki-Tepe reigned supreme over the land, erecting great ziggurats to honor the Gods of Anki and founding great centers of wisdom where the secrets of the universe were uncovered. Great cities sprung up across the lands as endless food and luxuries rid the world of hunger and disease. The capital city of Gol-Beki-Tepe itself was said to house marvels only rivaled by the gods themselves and held a population in the hundreds of thousands. It is even said that our ancestors, through magic and advanced knowledge, were able to produce great works of metallurgy, being able to work with any metal and shape them into pieces that would last lifetimes. Over time the immortal Gelda, whose work had been completed, was welcomed to the divine kingdom of Enaki and rose to the heavens to accompany their masters.  The sons and daughters who descended from these immortals, known as the Erim, lived long lives, and innately gifted with powerful magic, ruled as the noble caste of this empire, with only the Goddess Queen herself Gol-Beki above them. Many of the Fedha Elves who did not intermix became craftsmen, soldiers and scribes, utterly loyal to their rulers, while the Breha, whose heretic ancestors stood against the holy crusade were relegated as farmers, laborers and slaves. However, this golden age of Elven kind began to deteriorate by the late 3000s BE

The Succession

            By the 3000s BE with all the Gelda risen to the divine skies and only Gol-Beki remained, questions of who would succeed and continue the legacy of the Empire arose. Queen Gol-Beki wished to be succeeded by only the wisest and strongest of all the Erim and thus gathered the greatest of their ranks to participate in a grand trail. It is unknown as to what the trails entailed but they were said to be of great strength, magic and sacrifice in the halls of the First Temple of Anki. Only one was to emerge victorious as the others were to be sacrificed to the Gods of Anki for sacred blessings. While his former name is lost to the analogues of time, a champion emerged, whose white cloak was dyed red by the blood of his brethren, wielding the sacred dagger of the skies, which did not dull even with the countless sacrifices. Atop the temple Queen Gol-Beki greeted her successor and crowned him Guli-Beki, God King of all Gol-Beki-Tepe and then arose to the divine skies to take her place as the Goddess of Elves and life, the reincarnation of Dardossa herself. According to the found Tablet of Heikul, this took place in the 3100s BE. This marked the end of the Period of Tepe.

Overview

            With the accession of the God-King Guli-Beki, the Land of Ki would drastically change. While in the beginning, Guli-Beki was said to be a wise and just ruler, continuing the traditions of his predecessor and faithfully honoring the Gods of Anki. However, Guli-Beki was not a member of sacred immortal Gelda and therefore not immortal. As he grew old, his mind began to be filled with fear, jealousy and strife. He yearned for immortality, to be worshipped as a God on Ki, much like Gol-Beki herself, but as his body withered in old age, the same questions began to be asked again on who would succeed. Guli-Beki scorned the idea of death and turned to pray and magic to gain him eternal life. When the Gods of Anki did not heed his calls, Guli-Beki turned to darker arts. He became obsessed with dark magic and began performing sinister rituals to invoke the servants of Chaos. He locked himself in his chambers hellbent on gaining eternal life no matter the means. As his empire began to stagnate due to the absence of their king, discontent began to grow, calling for his downfall. In unholy act, an abomination and afront to the Gods of Anki, Guli-Beki sacrificed his wife, his concubines and all his children in a blood ritual to call upon the powers of chaos and Pludes, the Defiler himself. Pludes answered his calls and gifted him untold power and immortality as his sinister champion of chaos. While his goal of immortality was achieved and his tyrannical rule over the Tepe was solidified, Guli-Beki’s mind became increasingly corrupted as he was further driven under the yolk of Pludes. Guli-Beki instructed mass sacrifice of scores of elves, no matter the caste in an attempt to quell the hunger of the dark god of the abyss. The dark sorcerer king, corrupted and mad with blood lust forced his people to build great shrines to Pludes and brought a harsh chaos to the lands.

The War Against Chaos

            As many suffered under the tyrannical rule of the dark sorcerer, Elves, who had not forgotten the ways of the past and remained faithful to the Gods of Anki rose up in rebellion. Led by a powerful magic user by the name Gelmal-Beki, ignited a war by destroying a dark temple of Pludes and marched began its march towards the capital. For hundreds of years this war waged on between the Elves who backed Gelmal-Beki and the Elves who were sworn to Guli-Beki. The war caused endless deaths amongst our ancestors and scorched the Land of Ki. The rivers ran red from the blood of the fallen, the grasslands and forests turned to barren deserts and the decaying carcasses of dead animals dotted the horizon. As more Elves joined the rebellion Guli-Beki turned to more desperate measures, sacrificing entire cities and defiling himself to please Pludes. As the rebel army drew near the capital in the 2400s BE, Guli-Beki, in on last desperate attempt to destroy the rebellion, conjured a powerful spell that sacrificed all living things within the capital. This monstrous act caused the sun to dim upon the land and a wicked frost covered the land in darkness. Almost the entirety of life in Ki died, including Gelmal, the rebel army and Guli-Beki himself. The land became cold and barren as the Period of Chaos and the Age of Enlightenment came to an end.

Overview

            The Period of Darkness saw our ancestors return to a state of nature and barbery as the Land of Ki was left dark and barren. It is said that some Elves who survived migrated to far off lands while our ancestors, the ones who remained reverted back to nomadic tribal societies. The fought amongst themselves for the few scrapes that remained in Ki. Knowledge of metallurgy, writing, agriculture and advanced magic was lost. These Elven tribes were ruled by innate magic users, the descendants of the Erim who survived and ruled as chieftains. While it was said that they believed in the Gods of Anki, their worship was contorted and mutated, still tainted with the remnants of chaos. For almost 1,000 years life continued on like this, a barren, barbaric stone age.

The Four City States

            As the land started to slowly heal, and the summers became longer and the nights became shorter, agriculture was practiced once more along the southern river valleys of the Huphrates and Ligis Rivers. Slowly this area of southern twin river valleys became the center of the Elven population as tribes migrated to this region to settle and farm. From this, towns remerged and technologies such as simple writing and the smelting of copper became widespread. From these agricultural towns, four great city states emerged along the Huphrates and Ligis Rivers. These four cities were Hulaf, Sanarra, Huskuma, and Ubaid. These city states were ruled by conclaves of Sorcerer Priests who consolidated their power over their city and surrounding towns. While the caste system of old was gone, a new social caste was created between the magical rulers and their subjects. The Sorcerer Priests forbid magic from the lower castes and kept knowledge closely guarded away from the hands of its peoples. The Sorcerers like their chieftain ancestors worshipped the Gods of Anki but lived lives of sin and gluttony, committing impious acts in their name, an afront to the Gods themselves.

The Revolt Against Magic.

As the city states grew and fought amongst themselves, a growing discontent emerged from the oppressed subjects. Born in the year 1354 BE, An Elf by the name of Laguzi-Asku-Legaz was born to a family of poor farmers said to be descendants of ancient Breha Elves. Laguzi-Asku-Legaz, a talented warrior rose through the ranks of the Ubaid army before becoming a direct bodyguard of the Council of Sorcerers. Disgusted by the way his masters used magic to rule over other Elven kind, Laguzi and fellow collaborators orchestrated the Yellow Temple Butchering.  In the Year 1271 BE, while the Sorcerers of Ubaid worshipped in the chambers of the might Yellow Temple within the depths of the Ubaid Ziggurat, Laguzi sealed the exits and destroyed the temple, trapping the Sorcerers inside, never again to be seen. As the Elves of Ubaid rushed to the Ziggurat, Laguzi standing at the base of the stairs, thrusted his copper spear into the air and declared war against the corrupt magic users.

Laguzi-Asku-Legaz was crowned the king of Ubaid and for the next 134 years he and his successor Lemez-Adil-Legaz waged a war against the Sorcerer controlled city states. While the Sorcerers used their vast array of magic to try and maintain power, one by one the cities fell as the Legaz dynasty garnered the support of the common Elves. However they too marred with hubris as they disdained the use of magic and brought down temples within each village they conquered. Finally in the year 1137 BE Lemez-Adil-Legaz conquered the city of Hulaf and executed the magic users of the city. This ended the Period of Darkness as Lemez-Adil-Legaz succeeded in uniting all the Elven city states      into the Kingdom of Ubaid and ushered in the Period of the False Awakening.

Overview

            With the formation of the United Kingdom of Ubaid, the Elves of Musmer (the region of the Huphrates and Ligis River valleys) were united for the first time since the great Tepe over 1200 years before. The Legaz Dynasty sought to completely rebuild Elven culture in spite of our creators. The Kingdom fearful of the use of magic outlawed it throughout the land under the penalty of death. Shrines, idols, temples and even sacred texts that mentioned the Gods of Anki were defaced or destroyed. Any mention of the gods or of the Gelda and the former Empire was punishable by death. The Legaz Dynasty sought to bring the Elves under one unified secular code that promoted law and order. During the early part of this period the Kingdom of Ubaid flourished as ideals such as science and mathematics gave way to new advancements and a prosperous society. The strict legalistic institutions of the Kingdom maintained order and civility throughout the region and even the few Elven tribes who did live within the realm of Ubaid paid tribute to the King of Kings. However, over time as the Elves were united the Legaz dynasty increasingly concentrated power to the point that their rule was that of despotic stagnation and corruption. Stricter rules were placed upon the populace and dissidents were ruthlessly pursued and punished. While there were no sacrifices per say thousands of Elves were executed over trivial laws that contradicted the will of the gods.

The Destruction of the First Temple of Anki

            Close to 1,000 years since the uniting of the Kingdom of Ubaid, the Old Gods of Anki as they were now known by to the Legaz Dynasty were ideals of the past almost forgotten by the common elves of the region. King Agsas-Unqar-Legaz, sat on this gold and copper throne, ordained with fine jewels and dyed linen, content with his unrivaled in power. However, his hubris and pride would be his downfall, as in the year of 117 BE a retinue of soldiers scoring the northern frontier informed the king that they had spotted a tribe of Elves worshipping at an ancient temple. Enraged at the notion that the tyrannical laws of Ubaid were being mocked by pious savages, King Agsas-Unqar-Legaz personally led 1,000 soldiers to the Temple in a show of might. As King Agsas ordered the execution of the tribe and the destruction of the temple what was not known to him that this was the First Temple of Anki, built by Gol-Beki herself over 5,000 years ago. At that moment the earth began to shake and heavy rain began to fall. The head waters of the Huphrates River poured over its banks, for the Gods enraged by the insolence of King Agsas and his dynasty punished the Land of Ki with a great flood. This marks the end of the Period of False Awakening, named for the hubris of the heretical Legaz dynasty.

Overview

            For over 100 years the Land of Ki was swallowed whole by heavy rains, tidal waves and rushing water. The city of Ubaid, much like all other cities across the land, was destroyed as they fell under the rising sea. The few Elven tribes and citizens who survived settled along the high peaks of the Kizgaros Mountains and on large boats that housed scores of people.

The Prophet Gil-Ga-Mesh

As violence and barbarism once again was to take hold of Elven kind, a revered leader emerged from an unlikely background. His name was Gil-Ga-Mesh. Gil-Ga-Mesh was born in 147 BE to parents who descended from the high Erim and secretly still worshipped the Old Gods of Anki. His mother Isa-Jehez-Benal was part of the secret order of Anki, whose job it was to protect valuable ancient and divine relics since the days of Chaos. In his youth he was trained rigorously to honor the Old Gods and harness his magical abilities. When the Great Flood occurred his father Nolek-Abel-Mesh built a great ark and saved his family. After his passing in 104 BE, Gil-Ga-Mesh became the head of his family and equipped with the Sacred Tablet of Anki began a long quest to preach the divine word of the Gods to the surviving Elves. Gil-Ga-Mesh sailed his mighty ark throughout the flooded Land of Ki, visiting mountain villages, sand barrier islands and towns and floating towns, preaching the Old Gods of Anki to those that would listen. He preached that all Elves now had the blood of the Gelda flowing through them and could all be considered Erim. Due to this his followers became known as the Erimerians and became our direct ancestors.

The Ritual of Drying

After 100 years of pious preaching to the surviving Elven kind, Gil-Ga-Mesh had amassed a following that numbered in the thousands and Elves from across the sea of Ki would travel to his ark to hear him preach. Once he had nearly unified all Elves under his divine word, Gil-Ga-Mesh ordered the migration of the Elves to the ruins of Ubaid city. It was at this location that untold heretical acts and laws were committed by prideful Elves who caused the scone of the Old Gods of Anki. Thousands of Elves sailed to the site to meet with Gil-Ga-Mesh, awaiting his directions. There Gil-Ga-Mesh through great magical ability and with the help of his followers performed a sacred ritual to appease the Old Gods of Anki. It is said that Enaki himself heeded their call and plunged the mighty waters back into the ground. The Land of Ki was dried as the rains stopped, the waters drained back into the seas, and the rivers calmed. This marked the end of the Period of the Great Flood and the end of the Age of Stone and Copper.

Overview

            As the land dried, Gil-Ga-Mesh instructed his followers to build a new city on top of the ruined city of heretics. The city was named Eridu, the old Tepen word for “guidance” as Gil-Ga-Mesh wished to guide the Erimerian back into the fold of the days of Tepe. Time was then on kept by either Before Eridu (BE) or After Eridu (AE). Eridu became the first city constructed in the Land of Ki after the Great Flood. There Gil-Ga-Mesh and his followers constructed the great Ziggurat of Gilga and continued his teachings of the divine and the arcane. Gil-Ga-Mesh ruled the city as its holy Prophet and First High Council. In the year 203 AE Gil-Ga-Mesh, now an extraordinary 350 years old wrote “the Guidance of Eridu” a sacred text and doctrine that championed the past exploits of Gol-Beki-Tepe and promoted the recolonization of the Huphrates and Ligis River Valleys (known as Musmer) for the Erimerian Elves. The proclamation also created the Council of Eridu, a holy council made up of the wisest and mightiest Elven Sorcerers and Wizards to guide the great city of Eridu and ensure the success of Elven kind. The Guidance of Eridu is seen as one of the most important texts to our way of life and continues to be the guiding doctrine for our current civilization.

            By the early 200s AE guided by Gil-Ga-Mesh’s sacred words, the Erimerian Elves of Eridu began to expand their realm, settling across the banks of the Huphrates and Ligis Rivers. The Erimerian Elves would construct the great cities of Urk, Legush, Kisha, Niqorr, Gorrah, Orr and countless others. While these cities were nominally independent, they all paid tribute to the Council of Eridu, who ruled over the center of Elven culture and civilization. For close to two thousand years the Erimerian city states of Musmer prospered in an era of peace and growth.  

The Phari Elves and Journey to Kemit

            While most Elves were said to be followers of Gil-Ga-Mesh not all truly believed in his messaging and even some outright rejected it. After the drying of the land and the construction of Eridu, an Elf only known as Kem, began to preach of unknown lands of plenty where Elven-kind could start again. While Gil-Ga-Mesh forbade the leaving of Eridu until his guidance, Kem and his followers rejected him and in 109 AE began their great migration west. It is said in the texts of the Phari that Kem and his followers traveled for a decade lost in the forgotten lands west of the Huphrates, but in either pure luck or the divine intervention of Dardossa herself, they stumbled across the mighty Aur River. It was there that the followers of Kem settled, farming the fertile plains of Kemit (named after Kem).

By the time contact was again made with our western brethren in 535 AE, the Elves of Kemit had formed into three rival kingdoms who warred against each other like in the days of darkness. The Elves of Kemit also spiraled down into ways of heresy as nominally following the Old Gods of Anki, they incorporated false idols like the Sun God Ah and worshipped Kem as a god himself. While the Erimerian Elves of Musmer prospered and achieved great heights of civilization not seen since the days of Tepe, the Elves of Kemit committed acts of violence against their kin. This continued until an Elf by the name of Phari-Amen-Ra, united the remaining southern and northern kingdom in 1312 AE and became the first Pharaoh of the Phari Elves and the founder of the 1st Phari Kingdom of Kemit. When he died in 1472 AE a great ziggurat unlike any the world had seen was made his eternal resting place with the “Great Pyramid of Ra” still standing today. The Ra Dynasty ruled over Kemit for close to 1000 years and ushered in an area of great power and influence for the Phari Elves even as they continued their heretical ways.

The Dwarves

            Shorty after the guidance of Eridu was given by Gil-Ga-Mesh, a group of colonists decided to travel to travel east to the foothills of the southern Kizgaros Mountains to reclaim old mountainous villages from the time of the flood. Years later in the year 298 AE a small group of the colonists returned to Eridu instructing an immediate meeting with the Council. The colonists told stories of battle with small mountain folk who were neither beast nor Elf. They said how the unknown peoples raided their village and put it to the torch, driving them out of the mountains. One colonist then placed the severed head of the creature on the floor of the meeting place. Worried, the Council immediately called to raise an army of Elves and march into the Kizgaros Mountains.

In the year 300 AE Counciler Akan-Ikal-Amak, general of the Elven army, came face to face with a dwarf Chieftain by the name of Karlkada. Bewildered by this new race the Dwarven chieftain covered in armor of bronze and boar tusks, parlayed with Akan. On terms of mutual trust, the Chieftain Karlkada journeyed to Eridu where the great meeting of species occurred, which finalized a peace treaty between the Elves and Dwarves.

Unknown to the Elves at the time but the clan of Karlkada was just one of many as throughout this age we would make contact with numerous Dwarven Clans from the southern part of the Kizgaros mountains, to the northern Daugari mountains. Many clans speak of ancient times where great kingdoms battled amongst themselves and a species called “Urakki” in the land of no sun (underground) and endured a great reckoning that pushed them to the surface. However, many on the Council believe this to only be legends and mythology and in actuality the Dwarves are a new race created by the gods some time around the great flood. Regardless of their age, the Dwarves were an advanced species who, while uncultured in the finer ways of civilization, gave us the knowledge of bronze metal working, by mixing Copper with small amounts of Tin. This technology revolutionized the Land of Ki.

As previously mentioned, the Dwarves of Ki were numerous and diverse, but during this period many maintained their clan-based ways of life. This is of course except for the ancestors of the Elmradi Dwarves, commonly known during this period as the Gizrada. Being the Dwarves mostly closely associated with the City States of Musmer, they quickly adopted civilization and in 1132 AE founded the Kingdom of Gizra. In 1885 AE Gizra fell to a coalition of rival Dwarven clans who conquered the Kingdom and sacked its capital. In 1902 AE later the Dwarven Clans and the Gizra merged into the Elmradi and founded the city of Sussak. From there the city state would turn into a mighty kingdom.

The Rise of Legush and the Brother Wars

            Legush, the city state on the western bank of Ligis River was well known for its advancements in magic and the arcane. Many great wizards, priests and sorcerers came from Legush and the city garnered the reputation as producer of powerful mages and exceptional merchants. Being one of the first colonies founded after the Guidance of Eridu and its advantageous positioning along the Ligis River, Legush had grown exponentially. By the second millennium of this period Legush had come to rival in size and power the first city of Eridu.

By the 1800s AE Legush was ruled by a council of three priest kings who while nominally paying tribute to Eridu, were seen as one of the most powerful individuals in the Erimerian Elven sphere. In 1852 AE a priest of great noble background by the name of Sarthor-Bel-Insul joined as the newest Priest-King of Legush. Unknown to the other Priest-Kings and the entirety of Elven kind, Sarthor was a secret member of the cult of Pludes. A dark cult which worshipped the Dark God Pludes the Defiler and the Chaos of the Abyss. Sarthor while to the public was a highly talented wizard trained in the ways of religion and divination, in reality he was a practitioner of necromancy and dark blood magic. In the year 1908 AE Sarthor, against the wishes of the Council of Eridu, orchestrated a coup against his fellow Presit Kings, executing them and consolidating power as the sole ruler of Legush. Soon after the coup Sarthor plunged the city of Legush into darkness. Sarthor was said to take the newborn children of Legush and perform dark rituals upon them. The ones that endured became his apprentices in the dark arts of necromancy while the ones that did not were sacrificed to Pludes and his servants.

As the secrets of his dark practices slipped out of the city many Elves petitioned the Council of Eridu to pursue justice. When the Council of Eridu found out of his sinister doings they called upon the city states of Musmer to lay siege against Legush. In 1921 AE a force of 10,000 Erimerian Elves from the various city states attacked the city of Legush. In what would be known as the Battle of Nightly Horror, Cultists of the Cult of Pludes had infiltrated the ranks of United Army and in dead of night as soldiers slept, they massacred many. Before the forces of the united City Staes knew what was happening a horde of Legush soldiers and necromances raided the camp, forcing the army to retreat.

With the disastrous deafeat in battle, Sarthor initiated a 90 year long war known to us as the Brothers War as Elf fought Elf. Throughout this war Sarthor embolden by an unnaturally long life due to his dark magic, led a campaign of conquest, capturing numerous cities and towns along the River Valleys. Desperate to defend against the dark Priest King the Council of Eridu scorned the ancient archives to find a match to his sinister magic. A Counciler and General of Eridu by the name of Shugi-Sha-Su, learned of an ancient practice that was said to be a cure against the wickedness of Chaos. In the year 1988 AE the Council of Eridu preformed a mass sacrifice of themselves to the Old Gods of Anki which in turn gave the powers of the former Councilors to that of Shugi-Sha-Su. The tide of the war shifted as the mighty Shugi-Sha-Su harnessing the power of magic not seen since Gil-Ga-Mesh led the armies of the free Eriemrian Elves to victory against the forces of Sarthor. In the year 2011 AE Shugi-Sha-Su and his Elven army in alliance with the dwarven army of Sussak sacked the city of Legush with Shugi himself smiting the dark wizard Sarthor. Sarthor was defeated and the Cult of Pludes was destroyed.

The Twilight

            The finals years of this period between the end of Brothers War till the start of the new Period is known to us as the years of twilight as these years were a time of ignorant to bliss as our ancestors reveled in their conquest over chaos, the years that would follow would drastically change the Land of Ki forever.

Overview

            The Period of the Great Migrations is one of great changes to the Land of Ki. In the year 2110 AE, a community of Phari Elves traveled down the Aur River to find fertile lands to settle. However, what they stumbled upon would forever change the course history. This group Phari Elves encountered a tribe of Humans fishing along the banks of the Aur. The first of its kind, this encounter between the Humans and Phari Elves was brief as they immediately turned back. Within the next year bands of Sudar Humans migrated into southern Kemit where they were encountered again by Phari Elves. The Pharaoh at the time Ku-Set-Ra met with the new species and invited them to his palace to learn more about them. The first bands of humans in Kemit were said to be migrating north and other groups of humans were to follow. In the next two hundred years thousands of humans migrated north from the outler lands and settled along the banks of the Aur or amongst the oases inland. The Pharaoh offered land to these humans in exchange for their submission to his rule. By 2300 AE the human retinues of Kemit had become an important aspect of the Kingdom.

The Chemite Migration and Dispersal

            As the Ancestors to the Sudar Humans migrated into the lands of Kemit and its outer frontiers, the region of Musmer and our ancestors were not affected by humans until the year 2311 AE when a nomadic group of humans known as the Chemites emerged from the southern wastes. These first humans were barbaric and accustomed to dwelling in scorching deserts of the south. Many Elves at the time, including members of the Council, were shocked at the arrival of these humans from the south as it was believed that no life could survive in those conditions. The reason for their migration was and still is a mystery, however thousands of Chemitic humans flowed northward into the region of Musmer and the Land of Ki for the next 700 years. By the year 3000 AE the Chemitic humans were the most populous race in the Land of Ki and outnumbered us 4 to 1. Likewise, by this point they had already broken off into three distinct ethnic groups known today as the Akkardians, the Halraates and the Narmeans.

            Most of the Chemitic humans first settled along the Huphrates and Ligis River in proximity to us Erimerian Elves. Many on the Council were initially wary of this new species who seemed so dull yet numerus. When they were first found by us, they did not have metallurgy, written records or even domesticated livestock. As some advocated for violence or even enslavement, the Council at the time concluded assimilation. These Humans, much like the Dwarves at first contact were uncivilized and young, not accustomed to higher culture but as the chosen of Dardossa it was our burden to show them the way. These Chemitic Humans once settled assimilated many of our culture traditions and practices. They even saw the divine truth and started to worship the Old Gods of Anki. While initially taking up the practice of agriculture and settling in small farming villages under the shadow of the Elven cities, they too began to form their own cities and even migrated to ours. These cities pledged fealty to their respective entrenched Elven states who in return for tribute showed them the beauty of civilization. The first city of theirs to grow in might was known as Akkar (in their language Asyar) and from that we called the humans who lived on our land the Akkardians.

            The Akkardians were the most numerous and advanced of the Chemitic Humans two other groups also formed from the initial migrants. The Halraate as they would be known as, were a tribe of zealots, ignorant in their false ways. They shunned our initial gifts of civilization as their false prophet known to us as Ihbrem led his people to the so called “promised land”. Of course, this promised land was known to us as the Celvant, an area of hills, plateaus, rifts and salt-filled streams, on the coast of the western sea and under the control of the Phari. Here, the Halraate, a rowdy and uncultured group began their long history of infighting, guerrilla warfare, and petty city states at this time. All in the name of their false gods. The last group of Chemitic Humans became known to us as the Narmeans. While the ancestors of the Akkardians and Halraate fully migrated into the Land of Ki, the ancestors of the Narmeans never truly left the Southern wastes. The various nomadic clans who were the last to migrate in around the 2700s decided to continue to dwell in these forsaken lands and chose to raid our caravans and make upon each other rather then accept our gift. The Narmeans are the most barbaric of the three, never truly changing their ways since first contact.

The Fracturing of Kemit

            By the late 2300s the 1st Phari Kingdom of Kemit under the rule of the Ra Dynasty had seen an unparalleled influx of Human migrants. These Humans which differed then the ones migrating in Musmer, already had primitive knowledge of agriculture. These band of Sudar humans were also very diverse. While the Pharaohs initially welcomed the new species into their kingdom, that would also cause its downfall. The band of humans that peacefully assimilated into the Kingdom of Kemit under the rule of the Phari Elves became known as Koptites. As the Koptites outnumbered the Phari elves and the pressures of other more hostile humans began to approach the territory of Kemit such as the Halraate, Darfi (later became known as the Keshabalites and Jeban) and Proto-Turybians. In 2391 AE a Phari general by the name of Ahma-Hepsu-Tawy recaptured the southern city of Pheba and crowned himself the new Pharaoh and protector of Kemit. This initiated the warlord times within Kemit as various Phari Elven generals/presits would declare themselves as rulers and wage war amongst themselves with their Human Koptite armies. In the year 2478 AE the child Pharaoh known as Hasu-Kem-Ra was disposed in a coup of Phari clergyman in the capital city of Febnemphis thus ending the over 1000-year rule of the Ra Dyansty and the 1st Phari Kingdom of Kemit. For most of this period Kemit was divided into multiple warlord states that pledged fealty to either Febnemphis or Pheba.

The Conquest of Gorrah and 1st Akkardian Empire

            In the early 3000s AE the Human city of Asyar (formerly Akkar) had become the most populous city in Musmer and potentially in the entire Land of Ki. Its overlord city Gorrah had grown rich exactly heavy tribute in the form of food, valuables and slaves. While the rulers of Gorrah had grown gluttonous, the wise councilors of Eridu wrote to them with caution, urging them to lower the taxes or better, depopulate and disperse the city as it had grown too large. The rulers of Gorrah however did not listen.

The writing was already on the tablet as the future king of the Humans Sargon the Akkardian was born around the 3020s AE (most scholars place it as 3024). Born as a second son to a family of low nobility in the city of Asyar, Sargon was said to be given to the rulers of Gorrah as a blood tribute at a young age. It was there in Gorrah that Sargon though a slave was education in ways of high Erimerian culture. It is said the Sargon was a fast learner and promising fighter, so much so that he was sold for a great price to one of the ruling families of Gorrah. By the late 3040s AE Sargon was a trusted advisor and bodyguard to the ruling families. However, the fatal mistake was made in the year 3055 AE when they appointed Sargon the role of High Vizir to the King of Asyar as the rulers of Gorrah thought of Sargon as a trusty human ally. Prone to the violent and deceptive ways of Man, Sargon in the year 3063 AE overthrew the King of Asyar and its high Elven Priest. A dispute over tax policy led the now enraged rulers of Gorrah to march upon Sargon and his forces, even when the Wise Council of Eridu cautioned them to wait until they amassed a united Erimerian army. The Great Humiliation as it is now called occurred in the early hours of a summer’s day in 3066 AE as the human forces of Sargon crushed the army of Gorrah. Sargon then embolden by his victory and motivated by his lust for power sieged the city of Gorrah, capturing it in 3067 AE before any reinforcements could arrive.

The capture of Gorrah marked the first time in the history of Ki that an Elven polity in Musmer was subjugated by Humans. Sargon continued his campaign winning the decisive battle of Sumer Bridge in the year 3070 AE through deceit against a united force. This rampage would continue for almost two hundred years as the Akkardians, ungrateful rose up against there patrons and joined the armies of Asyar. While Sargon died in battle in the year 3079 AE, his empire continued first through his line then later the line of a noble family of Aysar. The 1st Akkardian Empire campaigned across most of Musmer, capturing many Elven cities in the process. By the year 3200 AE only the great city states of Kisha, Urk, Legush and Eridu remained in the hands of our kind.

The Neo-Erimerian Empire and 2nd Akkardian Empire

            The Akkardian Campaigns had devastated the region of Musmer and sent shock waves throughout the Land of Ki, the first city of Eridu under the guidance of its council urged the free Erimerian city states to look inward and strengthen themselves to prevent further conquest. However, the King of Urk, Akas-Amar-Sin a battle-hardened veteran who had in countless battles against the Akkardians, sought to unite the remaining free Erimerian Elves into one kingdom. In 3207 AE a great meeting of the remaining rulers of the free city states took place in the first city of Eridu. A long and lengthy discussion occurred as the various rulers, priests and councilmembers argued about the future for Elven kind. In the end against the wishes of the Council of Eridu, King Akas convinced the cities of Legush and Kisha to join his realm and take up arms against the appoarching Akkardians. Eridu however wise in their actions did not join this unwinnable crusade and instead insolated themselves from the outside world.

            In the following decades the Neo-Erimerian Empire under the leadership of King Akas-Amar-Sin waged total war against the 1st Akkardian Empire. The fighting was brutal with many Elves dying in the numerous battles waged. In 3232 AE King Akas and his followers sacked the city of Asyar and burned it to the ground. King Akas in his short-sighted ways declared total victory against the Akkardians and proclaimed him Emperor of Elves and Men. Filled with the sins of hubris and pride, King Akas declared unnecessary campaigns into the Celvant and enforced a large tax on his human subjects. At times King Akas even threated to desecrate the sacred city of Eridu if they continued to remain independent from this rule.

            The story of the Neo-Erimerian Empire and King Akas is one of little legacy however as his aggressive ways lead to his quick downfall. By the 3260s AE cracks within his Empire had already started to form. The campaigns in the Celvant bore expensive and burdensome, He drew the anger of the Dwarves of Elmrada as he claimed their land for his own, and the high taxes on the Humans led to constant riots. This came to a head when in 3272 AE a wizard from Legush by the name of Enlil-Aku-Ushur attempted a coup against Akas, a brief civil war between the to cities gave the perfect opportunity for the Akkardian Humans to rise up. A noble named Hammurabi from the city of Babla revolted against King Akas and declared a full-blown revolt. In quick haste many of the human dominated cities revolted and joined with Hammurabi against the Elves. The war lasted five years, with the Dwarves of Elmrada joining the side of the Humans during its midst. Much of the land that was conquered by Akas was quickly retaken by Hammurabi’s forces. In the battle of Kisha in 3277 AE King Akas was slain and the Elven city state was captured and burned it to the ground. With the Neo-Erimerian Empire left without an army to protect Urk and Legush the nobles of the cities in desperation called on the Council of Eridu to save them. Eridu answered there calls and marched to Legush. At end of the year 3277 AE, an army of 12,000 Humans and Dwarves faced off against 1,200 brave Elven warriors. In the battle for Elven kind The Councilors of Eridu performed power magic not seen since the period of Eridu and crushed the army at the gates of Legush. While this saved the remaining Erimerian city states of Urk, Legush and Eridu, the 2nd Akkardian Empire centered in the city of Babla was cemented.

            For over 400 years the 2nd Akkardian Empire ruled over most of Musmer, being the dominate power of the Land of Ki. As years went by the relations between the Humans and us became one of tolerance as the Kings of Babla differed greatly to their more barbaric Asyarian predecessors. Babla became a center of learning, with the Akkardians calling it their Eridu (bordering on sacrilege). However, they invited many scholars, wizards and sorcerers of our kind to journey to Babla and become teachers and advisors to its human nobility. The second Empire of Akkardia prospered thanks to this policy of embracing Elven knowledge, that is until they faced the barbaric might of the Injra-Nayas.

The Injra-Nayas and Heilosian Migrations

            In the 3600s AE a new massive wave of migration flooded into the Land of Ki. This time the humans didn’t come from the south but instead from the unknown northern realms beyond the northern mountains. These humas differed greatly from the Sudar and Chemitic humans that came over 1000 years prior. These Humans were large and broad, they rode on quick beasts never seen before (horseback riding or even horses themselves were not in the Land of Ki during this time as many nobles instead went into battle in mule, ox or camel drawn chariots) and wielded strong bows that shot arrows of bronze and black stone. They swept across the Land of Ki like birds across the sky, pillaging and conquering the flatlands. These Humans were known as the Injra-Nayas and were nomadic steppe pastoralists from grasslands far to the north. Probably from a barbaric and violent land where war was a daily occurrence. Their superior mobility, fighting techniques and sheer brutality allowed them to march unopposed in many areas, however they fought amongst themselves just as regularly as they fought against the people of Ki.

            While the Inrja-Nayas clans never reached as south as our lands they conquered and settled in areas such as the former homeland of our early ancestors Golbek, the dry Iras Plateau that separated the Kizgaros mountains to yet unexplored lands and, the Gindus River valley far the east. While the Ones that settled in these distant lands would maintain a lifestyle much like ancestors and later became known as the Cytashians and the Aryaas respectively, the ones that settled in Golbek would greatly impact the Land of Ki.

            The Clans of Injra-Nayas that settled in Golbek during the 3600s AE would quickly confederate under the largest of the clans known as the Mittites. While the land of Golbek had been sparsely populated since the days of old, the horse lords quickly assimilated the small human populations that resided within the region and founded the city of Mattusa near the head waters of the Huphrates River. This confederation quickly turned into an organized kingdom as the Mittites fused their superior military might with the agricultural and societal practices of the people of Ki. In 3785 AE Mammali son of Aya, of the Zahari line, was crowned the Grand Kroyo (Man of arms/ or King) of the Mitties after winning a civil war against his own blood brother. Mammali began the campaigns of Celvant and Musmer. A brutal 20 year long war waged as Mammali battled against a Phari Elven warlord for control of the Celvant and led devestaing raids against the 2nd Akkardian Empire. In 3805 AE after succeeding in taking control of the Celvant and desamating the armies of Musmer, Mammali led is army into the capital city of Babla unopposed, they sacked the city and burned much of it to the ground. The sacking of Babla marked the end of the 2nd Akkardian Empire and fractured the Akkardian humans into rival city states. The Mittites left the lands of Musmer believing it to be too much trouble to hold the rebellious city states but with control of the Celvant the Mittite Empire was created and had made its mark as one of the most powerful Kingdoms in Ki.

            The Injra-Nayas were not the only Humans to migrate to Ki during this time period as well as a northern group of humans initially known as the Heilosians migrated to the peninsula of Dorciea. Much like other human groups the Heilosians were said to be warlike and violent but unlike the Injra-Nayas were a farming people who also were well versed in the art of bronze metallurgy. The Dorcieans as they were now called quickly incorporated the cultural practices from Kemit and organized themselves into rival city states that valued philosophy, the arts and warfare. In the 3700s the warriors of Dorciea wearing heavy full plated bronze armor known as Panoply invaded the Island of Kret and conquered its dwarven kingdom.

Elmrada, Kret, and the Dwarves

            The history of the Dwarven species during the time Period of the Great Migrations is one of continue up and downs as mighty dwarven clans give way to great kingdoms which then fall to the rising tide of violent humanity. During this period more types of Dwarves would be contacted as well as their mountain strongholds became more accessible to the outside world but the mightiest of the two were the Dwarves of Elmrada and the Dwarves of Kret.

            The Elmradi Dwarves who dwelt in the southern part of Kizgaros Mountains, as previously mentioned were the descendants of the first Dwarves to contact us. By the beginning of the great migrations in the 2100s AE the identity of Elmradi was already formed as the various clans of the southern Kizgaros mountains mixed with the civilized Gizrada. The Elmradi which hailed from the city state of Sussak grew in power during these early periods, as they incorporated more clans and increased their control over the mountain villages.

By the 2500s AE a reorganization of the Elmrada state occurred as the clergy fought against the council of chieftains. In the theocratic forces won and the Matriarchy of Elmrada was born. Led by a three-person council made up of the most powerful clerical women known as the high sisters. As the Elmrada followed the worship of the three mothers and their clergy were exclusively women, Elmrada increasingly became theocratic as all walks of life were controlled by the High sisters. It was during this time that the relations between us and the heretical High sisters soured and Elmrada still a mighty state, isolated itself from the dealings of Elves and Men. While information is hard to come by during this time it is said that after hundreds of years of isolation and tyranny a major civil war occurred in the mountains of Kizgaros and the self-titled of King Elmrada known as Kuriga Adad captured the city of Sussak and transformed Elmrada into a Kingdom. King Kuriga reopend trade and communication with the polities of Musmer in the late 2900s AE and continued the expansion of his Kingdom, assimilating many dwarven clans.

By the 3200s AE the Kingdom of Elmrada was seen as one of the great powers of the Land of Ki and the most advanced Dwarven society. With their assistance in the war against the Neo-Erimerian Empire and their good relations with the Akkardian humans, the Kingdom of Elmrada became a place of great wealth and artistic marvels as they supplied the Human empire with high quality copper and tin. Seasoned in mountain warfare, the legions of Elmrada continued to sweep through the Kizgaros Mountains incorporating and assimilating related dwarven clans. However, at the end of this period two major events occurred involving the Kingdom of Elmrada. In 3616 AE Kadashak Adad was crowned King of Elmrada and ruled cruelly for 20 years. With heavy taxes and violent laws, the Elmradi Dwarves became disgruntled with their new ruler. At the same time large Dwarf clans from the Northern part of the Kizgaros Mountains began to migrate south due to the Injra-Nayas invasions. While distantly related to their southern cousins these clans known ethnically as the Kordi Dwarves differed greatly to the Elmrada and put mounting pressure upon the kingdom. In 3636 AE the Elmradi Revolution occurred as Dwarves of Elmrada rebelled against their King in Sussak. The rebels allied with the migrating Kordi Clans, offering them land in exchange for warriors and within a year King Kadashak Adad was overthrown. Unique to the Elmrada Dwarves instead of installing a new King or fracturing into rival clans the Elmradi created the Republic of Elmrada and created the Assembly of Sussak which would govern the state along with an elected Patriarch and Matriarch.

For a short period of time the Elmradi Dwarves stayed true to their word and gave land to the Kordi Dwarves. However, like all younger species the Elmradi Dwarves could not go against their greedy nature and in 3691 AE recaptured the lands and drove the Kordi Clans back north. This event is known by the Dwarves as the bloody renege and has caused a 500-year blood feud between the vengeful Kordi Dwarf Clans and the Elmradi Republic.

The Island of Kret during this period was home to a mighty Dwarven Kingdom that ruled the Island and the surrounding sea for almost 700 years. The Kretities as they were known were originally dwarven clans from either the Daugari Mountains or the northern part of the Kizargos Mountains (or both). They were said to have migrated to the Island during the middle centuries of the 2000s AE and formed a distinct cultural grouping built on maritime trade and skilled craftmanship. The Island was united in the early part of the 3000s AE and became a powerful kingdom for much of the historical period. They controlled the water trade routes of the western sea and even had colonies on the coast of Celvant. However, the kingdom began to falter as the Heilosian Humans migrated and took over naval supremacy from the Kretite Dwarves. Their mainland colonies failed and in the 3700s the Heilosians invaded and conquered the kingdom, incorporating the Kretite Dwarves into their society.

Other Dwarves that became known during this time period were the Gorgani Dwarves of the Daugari Mountains and marshlands in the north and the Pashgan Dwarves of the mighty Karshrappa Mountain range in the northeast. Little is known of the Pashgan Dwarves as they follow strict laws of isolationism and are located to the furthest east of the known lands. However, it is said that they are fierce warriors and follow a complex code of honor. The Gorgani on the other hand were notable miners, traders and farmers who during the early part of this period organized themselves in respective city states and clans. During the migrations of the Injra-Nayas and the formation of the Mittite Empire, many of the Gorgani pledged fealty to the Mittites supplying them with copper. Some have even moved to Golbek.

The Lost Elves of Hiprappa

            One of the many mysteries that was pondered by the wise members of the Council of Eridu since the days of its founding was the question of the lost Elves. Like previously mentioned there was numerous instances throughout the history of our kind that Elves migrated out of Ki, never to be heard from again. Many wondered if the Elves of old survived their migrations and formed unknown cities or kingdoms themselves. In one of the greatest discoveries in the history of Ki the answer to this question was found in the late 3753 AE. Counciler Ubar-Etek-Shalim was scoring the wears of a Cytashian Human trader in his mission to learn more about the Injra-Nayas Humans. What he discovered however would be much greater as he noticed a soapstone figure depicting what appeared to be an exotic looking Elf. Counciler Ubar asked the trader where we found this and to fascination the trader told him a tale of secretive Elves who live in the thick jungles on the banks of the Gindus River.

            He immediately brought the figure to the attention of the Council who agreed to send a mission of explorers east in search of the lost civilization. It was the year 3761 AE when the holy explorers of Eridu contacted the Sikrappan Elves of Hiprappa. It was said to be a place like no other as the exotic and wary Elves brought them to a city filled with gold and architecture that created running water and massive bath houses. Unfortunately, this would be the first and last time an Erimerian Elf would step foot in the mystical lands of Hiprappa as the Skirappan Elves who had succumbed to false idol worship and strictly isolationist forbade our entry ever again immediately after. The notes of the adventures give us a detailed look into the society of these Elves as they said they followed a nature religion that promoted life magic and throughout their time there did not see a single weapon or tool of violence. It can be summarized that these lost Elves are the descendants of the Breha and Fedha elves who migrated out Ki multiple times throughout history.

The Suzmites

            The Suzmites are a unique species with mysterious origins. The Suzmites came to the northern shores of Kemit in the year 3800 AE as refugees from an unknown land to the west. Falsely called Plain Dwarves by the Elves and Humans of Kemit in actuality the Council of Eridu places them as entirely separate species of their own. While even shorter than the Dwarves, their physique is similar proportionally to that of the Humans, besides their elongated feet. This species who still are being studied by the Council became citizens of Kemit and during this time organized into insular farming communities along its northern shore.

The Dijaal

            Another mysterious species that became known during the later years of this historical period, the Dijaal seem to reside in the harshest areas of the Southern Wastes. Discovered by the Council due to a Narmean Human selling its hide in 3825 AE, the Dijaal resemble humans though are shades of orange and red and have horns like that of a ram. Very few Dijaal tribes venture north enough to be studied by the Council.

The Emergence of the New Phari Kingdom and Akkardian States

            By the early 3800s AE, Kemit was filled with instability as the Mittite Empire crushed the Phari forces in the Celvant and the rival Warlords waged war amongst themselves. Nefiti-Afar-Majay was born in 3791 AE as the eldest daughter of the Pharaoh of Febnemphis. Her father Pharaoh Fai-Soter-Majay was third Pharaoh of Febnemphis from the dynastic line of Majay but was little more than a figure head who held little influence over the warlords who were sworn to him. Additionally, the South of Kemit was still ruled by the Pharaoh of Pheba who had aligned himself with the Human Keshabalites.

Unlike her father Nefiti would not still idol as the land of Kemit continued to be ruled by the whims of warlords. Upon her coronation in 3820 AE the young Queen executed the governor of Febnemphis and consolidated her power within the city by drafting the Koptite men into her army while hiring Turybian mercenaries as her private guards. She declared a great unification of Kemit, ordering all generals and governors to pay tribute to her and merge their armies into one. Many simply refused this order which led to the war for Northern Kemit as for almost a decade from 3822 AE to 3830 AE Nefiti and her loyal army reconquered the provinces and cities of the warlords. With the conquest of Signai in 3830 Queen Nefiti had finally regained her dominance over the Pharaoship of Northern Kemit.

Queen Nefiti was not satisfied however as she declared war against southern Kemit. The brutal 3-year war saw thousands die of starvation as the Pharaoh of southern Kemit implemented a scorched earth policy. Instead of allowing farms and resources to fall into the hands of Nefiti, the soldiers of southern Kemit would burn them before fleeing. This of course did not promote loyalty throughout his realm as thousands of Koptite humans and Phari Elven nobility switched sides to support Nefiti. Even his former allies, the Keshabalites stopped sending aid. Nefiti and forces emerged victorious in the year 3842 AE after the siege of Pheba and the execution of the false Pharaoh. Queen Nefiti-Afar-Majay was crowned Pharaoh to the New Phari Kingdom of Kemit and the first ruler to control all of Kemit since 2391 AE.  

Across the Land of Ki in our region of Musmer, after the sacking of Babla In 3805 AE the Akkardian human cities were in chaos. A short period of warfare occurred known as the Akkardian instability, as rival city states jockeyed for power and claimed themselves as the successors of the 2nd Akkardian Empire. By 3850 AE however, three cities had emerged as the premier powers of the Akkardians, Aysar, Babla, and Kalda. These three cities over the course of 50 years conquered their neighbors and evolved to become the Empire of Aysaria, the Kingdom of Bablani, and the Kingdom of Kaldini. While the Akkardians were not unified like in previous generations, the three kingdoms enforced a sense of order and stability in Musmer.

Overview

            The Period of Stabel Caution started in 3856 AE after the commencement of the meeting of Ki, orchestrated by Pharaoh Nefiti-Afar-Majay. The Pharaoh invited kings, rulers and diplomats from all the major states to the Land of Ki, with the intention to trade throughout the land. For two months the meeting took place within the city of Rahada, where the leaders of the young races and the Phari Elves discussed the matters of the land and promoted their own desires. The Council of Eridu while cautious of this meeting sent a single representative to advise wisdom and moderation. To the surprise of many a resolution known as the agreement of stability was drafted and agreed upon by most of the kingdoms and states (the Mittite Empire being the exception). Outlined was a complex set of agreed upon rules of engagement and economic policies aimed to promote the valuable copper and tin trade across the land. The Council noted that while a noble cause, the tendencies of the younger species would make it implementation difficult. For the next 300 years the land of Ki stayed relatively stable (especially when one compares it to the last 2000 years). Wars still were fought, sins were still carried out and power still corrupted, but the Land of Ki remained the safest it ever was since the days of Gil-Ga-Mesh. Borders rarely changed and culture flourished. Vast trade routes and caravan roads connected the peoples and due to the rising tide of prosperity, Kings seemed to prefer trade over conquest. The Republic of Elmrada grew especially rich due to their vast reserves of copper and even the violent natured Mittites understood that they would do better to ship their tin than to ship their horse-riding warriors. However, the wisdom and experience of the Councilors of Eridu knew this to a fleeting moment of bliss as the true nature of this world will one day return. The Councilors continuously promoted caution during this time of stability.

The War over Celvant

            The largest war during this period was the war waged in the Celvant region. A region known for its unstable history, even during a period of peace, Celvant was inflicted with strife. The war which started in the year 3907 AE was initially caused by the Mittite Empire’s attempt to oust the leader of Jerricho. While Celvant was under the control of the Mittites the local priest king of Jerricho had increasingly become defiant to his overlords. The Mittites were initially successful as King Shital was forced to flee. However, the exiled priest king became a resident at the court of Pharaoh Nefiti-Afar-Majay and pled his case for aid. In 3915 AE Pharaoh Nefiti amassed a massive army of 20,000 and marched into the Celvant. The horse lords of the Mitties under Grand Kroyo Hagaro, son of Huho, of the Zahari line met them in battle under the foothills of mount Ortus. This battle led to a decisive victory for the forces of Kemit and led to the recapture of Jerricho.

            Nefiti was unsatisfied however and continued her march north along the coast capturing the cities of Sudam and Gibbat in the following years. The siege of Tyre however in 3919 AE led to the first major defeat of Nefiti’s reign and led to divided Celvant with the Mittites in control of the north and Kemit through her vassal King Shital controlling the south. This period of relative low scale conflict continued for 12 years until in 3931 AE King Shital died and this thrown was passed to his son King Zefrad. King Zefrad revolted against his Phari Elf overlords and caused another 25 years of war fought between Kemit, the Mittites and the rebel Halraate city states. With the battle of Kedash in 3952 AE and the second siege of Tyre in 3955 AE, Pharaoh Nefiti-Afar-Majay finally retook all of the Celvant and outright annexed it as a province of the New Phari Kingdom of Kemit.

Construction of the Great Road of Ki

            One of the major marvels of this Time Period was the Construction of the Great Road of Ki, also known as the Bronze Road. The Idea of Patriarch Katal Meluk of Elmrada who sought to ease the trade of copper and tin to the Akkardian kingdoms ordered the construction of a tread trade road. The construction of the road began in the year 3920 AE intended to connect the city of Sussak with the city of Babla. However, when Pharaoh Nefiti found out about this project, she initiated construction of her own great road in 3925 AE but was stalled due to the war in Celvant 6 years later. The Dwarfs of Sussak after completing the road to Babla 3930 AE decided to continue its construction and added to it reaching the city of Paymurla owned by the Kingdom of Kaldini in 3942 AE.

            When the War for Celvant ended in Kemit victory in 3956 AE, Queen Nefiti traveled to the city of Paymurla to meet with its governor to petition them for help to continue the construction of the road to Febnemphis. With the help of thousands of workers, the final additions to the Great Road of Ki were completed in 3971 AE traversing Ki from Febnemphis in the west all the way to Sussak in the east.

Elven Advisors

            During the time of the stable caution the newly created Akkardian Kingdoms sought to outcompete one another for the chance of forming a third Akkardian Empire. The Kingdom of Babla was the first to ask for the assistance of us Elves in the running of their states and religious matters as a reintroduction of the old system from the days of the 2nd Empire. Soon though by the early 4000s AE Erimerian Elves either unqualified to join our council or in search for influence had held many important roles of these human kingdoms ranging from governors, high priests or advisors. While initially opposed by our Council, we soon saw the potential advantages it gave us. By the end of this period entrenched system had taken root in which Erimerian Elves from the cities of Legush, Urk and even our own Eridu would travel the cities of Asyar, Babla and Kalda to become revered and influential peoples. While some have taken this as an afront or even traitorous act, most of these Elves still hold their true loyalties at heart, promoting the wishes of our Council. The Kingdom of Bablani in particular has become a kingdom ruled by Humans but run by Elves.

Migration of the Suzmites

            While the Suzmites lived on the northern shores of Kemit for 200 years, a plauge occurred in northern Celvant which greatly depopulated the area. Known for their insular ways and prefereance for autonomy the Suzmites were granted land by Pharaoh Nefiti-Afar-Majay in the Bsharri Forest of northern Celvant in 3,999 AE. While many eventually succeeded in this migration and settled within the forest, some Suzmites never made it and instead settled throughout the rural villages and cities of Falinite Humans (a tribe belonging to the Halraate) in southern and central Celvant.

Collapse of Hiprappa

Around 200 years ago Sikrappan Elves began appearing on the borders of the Land of Ki seemingly making a migration over the Kizgaros Mountains. When intercepted by Erimerian Elves, their secrecy did not reveal much but stated that their civilization of Hiprappa had collapsed due to dark forces. They said that while some decided to remain within the ruins, few knowing of the story of contact made the journey west to Musmer. The reason for its collapse is still unknown as the Council has forbid anyone from venturing to Hiprappa for fear of what may reside, the few Sikrappan Elves that migrated to Musmer have taken up residence within the cities of Eridu and Urk, leaving behind a legacy of powerful life magic.

Overview

 50 years ago, an earthquake of great magnitude occurred. Some may say it was the divine will of Enaki while others believe it to be the sinister workings of Pludes deep from within the Abyss. No matter, the suffering from this earthquake was felt from across the Land of KI. It shook the very foundations of cities from Febnemphis to Sussak. Temples that were thousands of years old were destroyed and villages entrenched on their native lands were utterly erased. Soon after, changes of the weather were noticed by the Council. The days grew colder, the nights longer and crops could not grow. As the farmers struggled to survive, and the kingdoms struggled to maintain order, a new threat was realized along the shores of the western sea. In 4254 AE, a band of barbaric, violently natured pirates, exotic to these lands were spotted on the shores of the Celvant. Clad in blue markings that covered their pale skin and led by vicious berserkers who could transform into beasts, these heathens brought destruction and chaos to western Ki. In the days of present the Great Road of Ki has decayed, peoples have begun to flee the cities, kingdoms struggle to survive, death is commonplace, and sin has conquered the land. The time of change is upon us and our Council, who for over 4000 years have cared for this land with divinely guided wisdom must once again weather this storm and protect ourselves so that hope may one day reign again.

Sea Peoples

            The Sea Peoples, named so due to their emergence from the Westen Sea itself infected our lands some 50 years ago. Hailing from a brutal, frozen and uncivilized land to the far north known to us as Thraike, the Humans and Dwarves that once dwelt there resemble the land itself. It has been theorized that while initially separate clans after their unknown reason for migration, the various Human and Dwarven Clans have created multiple confederations amongst themselves in an attempt to better carry out the wishes of chaos. Waves of migrations came for 10 years as numerous clans raided and then settled across the islands of the Western Sea and the Celvant. These bands of savages bring only great sorrow and instability wherever they go.

            While the societies of these northern barbarians are little understood by our Council it has been noted that these warbands are usually headed by chieftains and a type of priest known them as “druids”. It is believed that these druids practice dark magic and are known shapeshifters of dark beasts. While the species that make up these Sea Peoples are Dwarves and Humans there seems to be little distinction between the two culturally and are intermixed on all levels of tribal affairs. Particularly a dark curse amongst these people is that of lycanthropy or known to them as “Mark of the Fang”. Previously unheard off in our sacred land, this curse creates an abomination of all those who are afflicted. Both Human and Dwarf known to carry this disease can transform into Lycans or “Wolfmen”. Disgusting creatures that resemble the unholy mix of man and wolf. It is even rumored that these Sea Peoples run conclaves forcibly affecting their own peoples and training them to become ruthless beasts.

            Ruthless and violent in nature, these Sea Peoples have won many battles against the more civilized peoples of Ki. The capture of the city of Rahada in 4171 AE was in particular a sad day for our lands as it has now become a center for these vile pirates. Due to their invasions and aggressive ways, Pharaoh Taf-Nekhta-Majay lost control of the Celvant and was forced to pull back her forces to her core region.

Cult of Pludes

            Due to the evils of our modern period, it has been noted by the Council that a potential resurgence of the Cult of Pludes may haunt our lands. While it was never truly eradicated, the Cult of Pludes has not had any true power for over 2000 years, as they were forced to hide in the shadows like the rats they are. Recently cult like activities and idols have been found amongst some of the common people who in desperation have turned to chaos. This is an evil that cannot be left to its own devices and must be ruthlessly cut down like the crusade of Gol-Beki before us.

The Position of Kingdoms, Cities and Peoples at Present

            As of the present many Kingdoms struggle to maintain order and stability in face of this chaotic time. In our home region of Musmer, we have been thankfully spared from the massive raids of the Sea Peoples, but we have not escaped the natural catastrophes and spillover of the wide turmoil. Our city of Eridu and our brother cities of Urk and Legush have maintained relative stability in contrast to the rest of Ki, however waves of desperate refugees have sought to enter our lands, bringing sin with them. As I write, the refugees desecrate our holy lands outside of our great walls. This “Shadow Market” named by the seethe residents themselves harbors sinful behaviors beyond measure. The Akkardian Kingdoms of Asyaria, Bablani, and Kaldini suffer as their lands are inflicted with thieves and vagabonds due to widespread famine. The Priest-Kings of Kaldini have lost control of most of their lands outside the city of Kalda while in Asyaria the tyrannical King Enshunu burdens his already suffering people with high taxes to promote his campaigns of conquest. The Elven bureaucrats of these kingdoms try in angst to maintain order while our Council seeks to distance ourselves from the dealings of men to protect our own.

            The Mittite Empire has suffered greatly during this time as raids from the Sea Peoples have decimated its outer lying villages to the west while Asyarians have taken advantage of their turnoil to conduct raids and campaigns in their eastern holdings. Too burdened with problems of civil strife, the once mighty empire could not even field a large enough army to prevent these raids. Even the Gorgani Dwarven villages in the north have said to stop paying their tribute to the Kroyo. Meanwhile the situation in the Celvant is even worse. Raids from the Sea Peoples are a daily occurrence and the once mighty cities of Gibbat and Telav have been virtually abandoned. The rival tribes of the Halraate have resorted back to semi nomadic lifestyles, subsisting off warring against their fellow man. All sense of civilization and order has been lost in the Celvant.

            The Republic Elmrada has weathered the turmoil well compared to the human kingdoms as they protect their mountain strongholds and the riches of Sussak against the plauges of the outside world. However, the Kordi Dwarven Clans and the Nomadic Cytashian Humans have overrun villages and forts that lay on the outskirts of the Republic.  

            In the land of Kemit and its outskirts the New Phari Kingdom struggles to maintain order as Sea Peoples raid its northern coasts, while bands of Turybian from the west and Jeban from the south overrun their lands. A new warlord period with their lands seems inevitable. Not much is known about the situation of the Kingdom of Keshabal and the Keshabalites as few Councilors have ever ventured to the insular kingdom.