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The World of Teréth End - Gazetteer - Terèthor - Dekàlas |
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Links Home "...[name] stood in the [name2] Hall, a hundred peers watching from the galleys above. She called her Provider's name, and all could feel the power she commanded. [name3] summoned his wards, but all that watched knew his efforts were in vain. The next name she offered was his, and the misery of [name3] was legend." translated from Dekàlan fragment found in ruins of Ilduùn  |
Lanàdus
Arriving in the City of Lanàdus, one gets a taste of the Old Empire's splendor. Whether it's the massive stone piers that jut into the city's harbor, or the towering seawalls with their thousands of windows, like ant holes scattered across the vast stone face. Perhaps its the long brilliant banners that are unfurled across the city walls each morning, celebrating the ruling family and the day's celebrations. It is said that there are five celebrations for each calendar day in Lanàdus, and each has its own flag. A land that has lasted for almost two millennia has much to celebrate. The city is built upon circling tiers arranged against the foot of great Tremendum Tor. Each successive tier peers down from above the tier before it, creating a high canvas of rooftops, chimneys, and windowed towers staring down from great heights onto the sail-filled harbor below. Above all the rooftops and a sheer mountain wall, stand the jagged ruins of Kryr Tremendum. One can imagine the snapping pennants and tall towers that once rose above the high walls, where now only a shell of empty windows and crumbled roofs stand against the sky. Kryr Tremendum is the ancient seat of power for the Dekàlan Empire. Through some mysterious fate, the castle was destroyed in a terrible explosion in the Year of the High King 1246. Although no enemy forces landed on the shores of Lanàdus, the Old Empire founded over 13 centuries before by Anthus Terrud fell with the stones of the great citadel. Over the centuries since, the base of the castle has been repaired and continues to be home to the island's Lord and his family. Slowly the Eldàrikans have sought to rebuild Kryr Tremendum but have found again and again, that there are secrets of the old construction that escape their engineers (mage and mundane) today. Some have suggested that a campaign be launched to find the faraway City of Oth, and return with the craftsmen of Roth and an army of Dwürden engineers. These ideas have been repeated many times by many people over the years, but the material costs are too great. The old quarries have not been found. Finding the old quarries is important, for the mountains that cross the isle of Lanàdus cannot be mined with known techniques and available magics. A stele on the southern shore reads: "The man who gave birth to the Empire was himself born here."No-one is sure where the warlord Anthus Terrud is buried. Some state that he is buried on the Terèthor mainland, having died from injuries sustained in battle. Other stories state that he returned to Lanas with mortal wounds, dying upon reaching the shore. Regardless, the fact that merchants in Zaloo, half-a-world away know the name, is credit to this ancient warlord. Sometime before the rise of Terrud, the sea-faring Lanatians had been trading with ports from Nulura to Azal. This early ability to trade and travel such large distances was unparalleled in the ancient world. Whereas most sea-farers traveled along coasts, the Lanatian ships traveled using detailed starcharts and a mastery of seamanship. When trading was poor, the Lanatians would occasionally attack remote towns; retreating to sea before support could arrive. By the Second Century AR, the Lanatians were seen as raiders and unwelcome in many ports. Toward the latter half of the Second Century their ships were forbidden in most ports, forcing the island into isolation. The long distances and expense needed to reach the mainlands could not be recuperated with small raids. Circa 115 AR a new leader was crowned. The leader, Anthus Terrud made the traditional journey to the Oracle of Lanas, for guidance during his reign. It was customary for the oracle to give a new leader insight into their reign. The blind oracle told Lord Terrud the half-prophecy: "The might of your children will be feared in all lands..."With these words, Anthus left the hag's cave. The legends say that the feeble hag had not finished her prophesy and ended with: "...But if you plant this seed, your children will never know an end to war."Lord Terrud filled his ships with men, shields, and spears and headed west for Terèthor and the golden City of the Anugth. Landing along the eastern coast of the Sea of Path, Lord Terrud established a stronghold (see Kry Anthus) on the mainland from which he could support a prolonged seige of Anugth. Anugth would fall before Anthus' army the following year. Ships laden with gold returned to Lanas as Lord Terrud directed his attentions to the surrounding region. Anthus died shortly following the capture of Anugth, never to see the Empire he dreamed would be his. Anthus Terrud's life and achievements were sung in halls and taverns for a hundred years before being recorded with ink and paper. In 65 AR, Anthus' grandson marched an army of five thousand men from Elnadra to the Fertile Coast. The people of Candal were not warlike but were numerous. The war-born Lanatian army pushed its way north despite heavy losses. Candal fell in the fall, ushering a massive migration of Lanatians to the continent over the next few decades. The Third Lanatian war proved to be the most difficult, due to the range and harsh environment of Azal. The numbers lost at sea and in the desert are difficult to estimate. Azàlari was one of the busiest trading ports of the ancient world, so there is no wonder as to why the Lord of Lanas was willing to sacrifice so much for the campaign. The war lasted five years, a prolonged war that drained the coffers of Lanas, Anugth, and Candal. After the final victory over Azàlari the Lord of Lanas returned to Tor Tremendum and was crowned High King of Dekàlas. His first act, at the direction of his priests was to create the Council of Lanàdus, a body intially created to choose the next High King or Queen, but who made a power grab upon the High King's death. Finding backing from the temples of Panath, Azàlari, and Candal, the High King's wife Aula initiated the Council of War in 10 HK, resulting in the reform of the Council of Lanàdus, and the placement of the High Queen as ruler of all Dekàlan lands and head of the temples. High Queen Aula I was crowned in 14 HK with full support of a reformed Council of Lanàdus. The new Council was given defined duties and prohibited from mustering an army; a right granted to individual temples provided that such military orders' first allegiance was to the crown. The history of Lanàdus for the most part, is the history of Decalas.
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Places Dekàlan Lands Azàlari
(of Zalan) Terèthori Lands Arduwu Geography Teréth End is a Dekàlan name meaning "Whole of the Land". This terrestrial world consists of five continents, Emer (The
Lost Isle) nine seas, Acentran
(Inner Sea) and three moons. Mamra (Green Lady) |
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Ref. PHB (Player's Handbook), © Wizards of the Coast |
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Capital:
City of Lanàdus