Old Empire, The Dead Land
Iron Coast, Kalðòram ca. 653 DR
Government
- Type – Magocracy
- Ruler – Kelzam the Old
- Capital – Town of Aldgèdamn
- Cities – Aldgèdamn (1,340)
- Calendar – Dekàli Reckoning (DR)
- Festivals – Birthday of Kelzam (Flaad 12)
People
- Population – Kalðànyr (650 DR) 24,410
- Races – (Yrūn 83%, Gnor 11%, Feyr 5%, other 1%)
- Ethnicities – Kalðan (i.e., Aylir)
- Languages – Kylìric
- Religions – Evìssor, Kelor
Trade
- Currency – Ilfin (0.1d), Fin (1d), Evis (200d)
- Imports – Livestock, produce, grains, wine
- Exports – Paper, silver
Regions, Geographic
- Rul Grūmn
Regions, Political
Cities, Towns, and Villages
The towns and villages of Kalðòram are crowded clusters of small clay-brick houses with timber and thatch roofs. Due to a lack of horses and wagons, most roads and communities in Kalðòram accommodate nothing larger than foot-traffic.
- Town of Aldgèdamn. At the head of a twisting river canyon lies Aldgèdamn. A slender waterfall falls from atop a wall of stone into a rocky pool ringed with trees and shrubs, an oasis in an otherwise desolate land. The walls of the high canyon are riddled with dozens of carved windows, doors, and walkways. Within these high cliffs are labyrinthine corridors, chambers, and staircases hewn from the natural stone in centuries forgotten. Some have speculated that the Dwürden carved this mountainside town in the time before Yrūn arrival to the Iron Coast, while others credit the earliest Yrūni migrants to the region. The only way to reach Aldgèdamn is via a small foot path that climbs up the canyon to the very foot of the Tor’n Evalshat.
- Town of Baráldamn
- Town of Caralð
- Town of Malðor
- Town of Soróngar
- Town of Vodòra
- Town of Warumn
Landmarks
- Kry Hrümdur. An ancient Dwürdèni fortress on the western border.
- Kry Mirgorm. An ancient Dwürdèni fortress on the northern border. Many have speculated that this structure is a gateway into the fabled Kingdom of Glor Dün. Though countless expeditions to Kry Mìrgorm have been unable to uncover any such entrance, new areas and levels of the fortress are discovered from time to time.
- Kry Orgingorm. An ancient Dwürdèni fortress on the northern border.
- Kry Urmüngorm. An ancient Dwürdèni fortress on the western border.
- Pazal Shyrdagam. A mammoth fortress stands near the mouth of the Dargàn Madràgað. The fortress seawall shimmers with the iridescent shells of Ildic crustaceans which have accreted to the great facade over the centuries. Above the dazzling barnacled walls rise great towers from which guards once watched the Island of Ild for any stirring of wings or magic. Though soldiers no longer walk the ancient halls of Pazàl Shyrdàgam, the fortress is not unguarded. Ships daring to enter the Dargàn Madràgað have reported seeing ghosts along the walls of the fortress.
- The Pillar of Grin Gān. A large column of stone stands along the border of Kalðòram and the Theocracy of Danok. Today the column looks like natural stone which has been set on one end like an over-sized milestone. Research however shows that the weathered stone was once decorated with carved details that are no longer discernible. A book by 2nd century DR historian Karvras of Dolor entitled “A Study of Ancient Sculpture Throughout the Iron Coast” includes an etching of the Pillar of Grin Gān that depicts a tapered column covered in weathered relief. In an old style reminiscent of the Sūgòrom of Taldàna, the ancients had carved the likeness of warrior with a great headdress, holding two spears; the remains of either animals or enemies lay heaped at his feet. Much of the details from Karvras’ book were gathered from local stories, as the carvings were indistinct even in his time (i.e., over 400 years ago). Today, the natives believe that the ancient hero is remains ready to defend the land against invaders.
People
Sholgzar waited in the high chamber, his beard piled upon his lap. The old doors opened and a boy inched into the room, prodded with the fist-like gnarl of a wood staff. The visitor glanced behind him as large hands drew the doors closed. Gulping, the young man willed himself a few steps closer to the throne before stopping. “I br-bring you news, great Sh-Sholgzar” he stammered. The old man’s face split with a gentle smile that fractured his face into a thousand wrinkles. “News from the North,” the boy continued. “Your student, the Wizard Eulygryn has died.” The smile faded, but the boy did not notice. He had closed his eyes shortly after starting, hoping to finish the message and be gone from this place. “Selūroð, your grand-student, has spoken with the Circles and they have agreed to a day’s pardon so that you may attend her funeral. He wishes to extend…” The old man stamped his foot and the boy opened his eyes. The old man’s voice was little more than a whisper. “Tell Selūroð that I have spoken with Eulygryn and know of his crimes. Tell him that he and his are marked, stained by his deeds until the last. This was my promise to his master.”
Most Kalðànyr are impoverished peasants, scrapping together what living they can from the poor soil and rocky terrain of Kalðòram. Disease is rampant throughout the kingdom, with many exotic forms of illness appearing from time to time. The blame for this miasma is alternatively blamed on the Wizard Crown or the shrines to Evìssor and Kelor. The followers do not worship the Dark Gods so much as plead that they be released. It is widely believed that the Kalðànyr are paying for some forgotten transgression that angered the gods in the distant past.
Once cleaned-up, native Kalðànyr are indistinguishable from other Iron Coast people. They are believed to be descendants of early Yrūni migrations from the North. Most are pale skinned with brown to light-colored hair and hazel or blue eyes. A history written during the Late Dekàli Empire, proposed that the people were the “true descendants” of Tūkùmun, a bronze age people that inhabited northern Vulmùra in the Third Age. Even at the time of its publishing, the history’s scholarship was questionable. The idea however remains a popular one among the Kalðànyr, who prefer to think of themselves as the descendants of ancient exiled kings, rather than the poorest people along the North Coast.
Notables
- Kelzam the Old. Wizard King of Kalðòram, believed crowned ca. 545 DR
- Sholgzar of Kalðòram. A long-lived Wizard, believed active in the 5th and 6th centuries DR
History
Although Kalðòram is widely considered to have been part of the Old Empire, history shows that it remained largely independent during that time. It is unclear whether efforts to control the land were unsuccessful, or whether such efforts were even made. Historians have long suspected that the Wizards of Kalðòram must have agreed to some form of non-aggression status, as no efforts to invade or otherwise control the area exist in known records. If this was the case, it would have been an anomaly within the Dekàli Empire, which sought to control all lands and territories between its city-states. One answer to this centuries’ old puzzle, was recently uncovered within the Halls of Pæð, a hemisphere removed from this tiny kingdom.
Records uncovered by priests of Pæð indicate that at the time of Northern Expansion, the Kalðànyr sent an ambassador to the heart of the Empire to speak on behalf of Karzān the Wizard King. The nature of this mission might never be known though it is mentioned that a doctrine was soon produced. The contents and purpose of this document are unknown, and may lie in one of numberless vaults beneath Kryr Trèmendūm to this day.
Time Line
(Kal) Pre-Oðic Period, -6303 LR
- 4/203 ER, 5529 LR; Death of Grin Gān at the Well of Storms
- 4/972 ER, 6303 LR; Wizard King Karzān the Blind sends ambassador to Lanàdus
- 4/973 ER, 6304 LR; Doctrine of Kalðòram signed at Kryr Trèmendūm, Lanàdus
(Kal) Oðic Period, 6304- LR
- 545 DR, 4/2349 ER; Kelzam the Old crowned King of Kalðòram
Dynasties
Nomenclature: Kalthoram Dekàlic: Kalðòram (place), Kalðàni (pertaining to), Kalðànyn (resident), Kalðànyr (people), Kalðànic (language)