Atharellia
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| Flag of Atharellia | |
| Motto: Et eärello utulien... | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | Kerran |
|---|---|
| Capital | Thara |
| Official Language(s) | Tharell |
| Leader | King Taral |
| Population | 443 |
| Currency | san |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Overview
Atharellia is a kingdom spanning an entire continent in size, and it has been inhabited by human civilization for more than 20,000 years. In all that time, it has, remarkably, not developed so much as a lightbulb.
The total lack of scientific advance may in part be due to the strong role that magic plays and has played throughout the nation's history. Carenath, the greatest of the magical schools of Atharellia, holds an unbelievable sway (politically) along with its power, simply because it is able to deny the services of its mages to anyone who opposes them.
Another reason for the permanent medieval level of technology could be the fact that once every thousand years give or take, an over-eager and foolish sorcerer (or sorceress, more commonly, for reasons unknown) will conjure up a demon, lose control over it and wreak havoc on the entire continent. This usually casts civilization back a few centuries while they rebuild their world, and when it does not divert them from seeking technological or scientific progress, it discourages them from doing so. Overall, the country people are quite conservative, and highly suspicious of any technological advances or novelties - especially for the first few centuries after the last demon desaster.
History
Below is a brief summary of Atharellia's entire history. It revolves around little more than demon invasions and geological cataclysms, and the brief times between them when the people of Atharellia are recuperating and rebuilding their civilization.
- -25000 - -18000
The first traces of an early hunter-gatherer civilization are found. Nobody knows what was before.
- -18000 - -15000
Wizards date the first human use of magic to this era. They can determine it by measuring structured arcane residue left in certain rocks and geostratic layers. Beyond this era, magic residue is randomly scattered and clearly discernible as naturally (or divinely) induced.
- -15000 - -14400
Signs of immense destruction show that something approaching a natural desaster in strength ravaged the continent. The strong magical residue, especially that of Fire magic, leads wizards to deduce that this is the first of the great Demon desasters detectible. The cataclysm appears to last for 600 years.
- -14400 - -12000
A lack of ordered residue, and a gradual fading of natural residue, indicates that magic is being actively purged from the continent. Slowly, but surely, the Drain affects all but the most ancient of places - the three primal forests of Atharellia: The Nogrin Forest, the Deridan Forest and the Grove of the Firstborn.
- -12000 - -10000
A steady increase in the presence of structured residue indicates that magic is again being used. Unfortunately, this culminates in the second desaster in -10000, lasting well over four centuries. Traces of Shadow magic are strong. The continent of Atharellia shows supreme signs of tectonic change, indicating that the desaster had an immense geological effect. Civilization is nearly annihilated.
- -8500 - -8200;
Unbelievably, only 1500 years pass between the second cataclysm and the third, though the this one is not as powerful as the other two, and it is over in less than three hundred years.
- -6500 - 6200
The fourth cataclysm follows the third. The wizards determine that the demon summoned was the same as the second one. Fortunately, the degree of destruction as well as the strength of the residue indicate that this time, the demon did not cause as much damage as before.
- -5500 - 5200;
The fifth cataclysm. This time, the demon is identified as the first.
- -5100 - -4900
The sixth cataclysm follows practically on the heels of the fifth, with only four centuries between them. The exact background of the desaster is, once again, unknown. However, it is apparent that the cataclysm was much milder than the other five, lasting two centuries, and civilization is barely affected. It is as if the Atharellian people and the continent are slowly getting accustomed to the regular onslaught.
- -4900 - -2200
It is as if the sixth summoning has marked the end. Ordered residue and human magic is increasing strongly, and complex structures indicate an advance in magical technologies that is unequaled. It is a golden age for magic. Unfortunately, it lasts only 2700 years. In this time, the feudal nations of North and South Atharellia are slowly unified by two rulers: These are Queen and High Priestess Thana of the Red Temple in the North, and King Kuno, Archmagus of the Dunrocal Academy and the City of Light in the South. This is the first time that historians are able to find written records to back up their theories.
- -2200, roundabouts.
Historical records indicate that the great enmity between Clergy and Wizards causes a war between North and South Atharellia. The war lasts several centuries, and the supernatural involvement in it swiftly escalates as both rulers call upon their supreme powers.
- -2000
King Kuno and a selected body of magi accomplish a feat "unseene by the lykes of Manne", according to a scroll. This is especially ironic because the demon they call up is, in fact, none other than Sphaloron, Lord of Fire, who has put Atharellia to the torch twice before. As if the Golden Age in the meantime had cost Atharellia its slowly built-up immunity, the destruction is catastrophic. The City of Light is destroyed, the Tower of Carenath as well, and much of Atharellia sinks beneath the waves.
- -1900
According to folklore, specifically the Lay of Pya and Laridan, two heroes manage, through great sacrifice, to banish the demon. Peace is restored. High Priest Thar and heir apparent Relle are granted a miracle by their God, and restore the land of Atharellia by raising it above the sea. Its previous shape is not restored, but most of it is once again inhabitable.
- -1900 - -1500
As the Kingdom of Atharellia (name believed to derive from "Thar" and "Relle") flourishes and its civilization grows, it is apparent that magic has been placed under taboo. Nonetheless, it apppears that mages, even while persecuted continue to work in secret. They are based on the Isle of Torin, regulating magic users, although nobody knows that at this point.
- -1000
A rogue mage escapes the watchful eyes of Torin, and summons up the demon Kharanax. It is the same one as in the second cataclysm.
The destruction to the land is not horrific, but the harm done on the Kingdom and the people is significant. Only an all-out war by the mages against the new infestation of Chaos mages, which has fortified itself in the Citadels of the Isles of Blood, is successful in restoring order.
This, the eighth cataclysm, has made the Kingdom realize that they are getting nowhere by banning magery. The Academy of Carenath, plundered and put to the torch, is restored to its former glory. The mages, now able to operate in the open again, are far more efficient at regulating the less trustworthy among their ranks.
- 0
Current. The human mage Maara has been expelled from the academy, and has vowed to get her revenge. The Obsidian Pike in the southeast of Atharellia still harboring the imprisoned archdemon Mordaures, is enticingly close...
