Freezing of Naderā

The Freezing of Naderā was the legendary destruction of the First Men settlement known as Naderā (which later became Heart) in the Heart River Valley in eastern Yaleakasardia. The settlement's destruction was the direct catalyst for the Draconic Divorce and later the Dragon War, which saw the overthrow of the Dragonreign that had ruled the continent for so many years.

The settlement was encased in ice by the dragonlord Inver for harboring a heretic known as Perir, who later became a leader of the Anti-Keepers in the Dragon War. Unbeknownst to Inver, however, Perir had fled the settlement two days prior to the attack, having anticipated such an action.

When Perir had fled Naderā, he had taken most of the villagers with him, only leaving elderly and sickly villagers behind, who all perished in the attack. Immediately following the destruction of the settlement, Perir's party incidentally encountered the great dragon Yaren at Yorsin's Pass, where Yaren was slain by Perir.

Prelude

Prior to having fled to Naderā, Perir had been a dragon priest, having been brought into the Dragon Order by his father Saresh, who was also a priest. Three years after Perir had become a dragon priest, Saresh had begun to preach ideas against the normal doctrine of the Dragon Order, and when his preachings turned to denial of the dragon creation myth, he was disrobed on the order of Inver. Later, Inver changed his mind and Saresh was executed.

Public outcry ensued over Saresh's death and the way he died, by Inver's icy breath, but none were more outraged than Saresh's son Perir, who picked up his father's preachings and continued them before he too was disrobed. Perir later fled to Naderā before he could be executed.

Freezing

While in Naderā, a friend whose loyalties lied stronger with the Dragon Order sent word by courier to the Dragon Temple in Yandasard that Perir had arrived in the village. Immediately, Inver resolved to go to the village and destroy it to kill Perir for fleeing. Perir had already anticipated an action upon arriving in the village and did not intend to stay long, having only come to the village to evacuate it. Within a day, the villagers evacuated with Perir and traveled north.

Upon arriving at Naderā, Inver found the village to seem practically empty, but figured this was due to the villagers hiding within their homes out of fear. Regardless, he blew the village apart with his breath and encased it in thick layers of ice. Only a couple dozen of those left behind for being sick and elderly perished as a result.

In the same day as the freezing, Yaren, who was dragonlord of Naderā, incidentally encountered the party of vilagers led by Perir at Yorsin's Pass, where he was slain in the ensuing battle.

Aftermath

When the news of Naderā's destruction reached the dragon capital, Yandasard, the public reaction was disgust. The dragonlords in the doctrine of the Dragon Order were meant to be benevolent rulers, yet the cruelty of Inver was apparent. Areksa, his queen and one of the dual creators within the Order's doctrine, was also disgusted with the destruction of Naderā, and left Yandasard later the same month. In what is now known as the Draconic Divorce, Areksa rallied a number of other dragons to her side as well as members of the Dragon Order to rebel against Inver. Ultimately, the Areksan Loyalists were unsuccessful and were defeated at the conclusion of the War in the Plains in the Battle at Camp Alteau.

For the First Men and Elves of the continent, the destruction of Naderā was the final justification needed for a rebellion. While much of the fervor and recruiting for the Dragon War was inspired by Perir's slaying of Yaren in the Battle at Yorsin's Pass, the rebellion had already practically begun before word had reached the continent of Yaren's death.