The Shrine of Hamaskis.
The Bronze Coast
The Shrine of Hamaskis.The Bronze Coast | |
The Bronze Coast is the name given to that portion of the coast of the Bay of Pearls in Eastern Allansia between the Analrith Wastes and the Shabak Peninsular. Ken Beuden has assembled the following information on the history of this little known region. The author, Landor Shanzul has also produced some further insights into the current status of the lands.
Before the splitting of the lands and the creation of what we now call the Sea of Pearls in around the year 1000 OT this area was covered by the One Forest. It is said that spirits from that time still haunt the plains and tell of sites once sacred to the ancients. However, this period's history is shrouded in such uncertainty that to dwell on it would be to invite error.
For many years after Irritaria was torn asunder there was much upheaval along the eastern coast of what is now Allansia as the earth still shook with the anger of the gods. The forests in which the elves dwelt were decimated in this area and no significant number of dwarfs ever returned in search of a home. It was not until around 1370 OT that humans began to establish themselves along these shores. It was settled separately by a number of different migrating peoples coming across the Plain of Bronze. Some made their way across the foothills of the Kusmulia Teeth in the north, others over the Mid Marches, or through what we call the Brak, in the south.
Of particular note were the tribes led by Kroven and Semril, both of who claimed descent from the legendary Halfhand brothers. Their kinship more often divided, rather than united, them and this rivalry was something that would be handed down throughout the generations. Kroven settled in the north on the river Sharok, and to the south the people of Semril settled on the site that was to be called Talesh.
Such was the strength of Sukh's wrath in the eastern sea that the humans named it the Sea of Perils, for attempts to traverse it were always ill fated due to its tempestuous nature. Thus it was that they concentrated on the land around them.
For many years humans joined forces to concentrate on reducing the threat from the orc hordes that often swept down from the hills and mountains, leading many of the orcs to flee to Shabak, swelling the numbers there. Yet despite the orc threat from the west and the mighty storms being thrown in from the sea in the east, humans remained strong in their resolve to stay here, for life was still better than the restless, fearful, nomadic nature of existence on the Plain of Bronze.
During this time inter tribal hostility was dampened and the united tribes named the land they had secured Ovaran, the Fertile Refuge. The borders of this land stretched over the hills to the edges of the Plain of Bronze, although in truth the hills were still wild, filled with all manner of beast and were never controlled by the Joint Clans. Peace allowed the settlements to grow into more important towns, principal among them being Talesh and Arxan. The deserted city of Angar-Ulak, ancient even in the Time of Heroes, was developed in the Brak far to the south by the people of Stran dwarf-friend. Later, in the great days of the mercantile era of the Bronze coast, Angar-Ulak became an important trade point between the peoples of the rest of Allansia and those of the coastal plains.
In around 1440 OT men unlike those who had settled the area raided the northern reaches. They sailed in on ships. Some say they were Northmen, perhaps from the giant's teeth, others say they were from across the mighty ocean. They took the settlements of what would later become Getheledd and Harthire after much fighting, but not without loss. However, their advance was halted at the River Sharok on which Arxan stood. Seemingly surprised by the strength of resistance they consolidated their position and moved inland establishing what would become Bellisaria.
Between 1450 and 1500 OT the population of this land was swelled by refugees from the Wars of Unification on the Shabak peninsular. The influx of Shabaki laid the seeds for future trade with the Shabak peninsular due to cultural links. More refugees from the civilisations that remained on the plains to the west also made their way into Ovaran due to the wars being fought there with Shabak as well as due to the rumours of a better life on the other side of the mountains. However, pressure on resources became greater causing tensions to rise between the clans, particularly Arxan and Talesh.
In 1507 princess Elisana, direct descendant of Semril and head of the disgruntled Taleshian clans proclaimed herself Queen of Talesh and its surrounding lands in direct defiance of Kroven II, Chief of the Joint Clans of Ovaran. This sparked the protracted Wars of Origin, a series of conflicts between the various clans lasting for the best part of a century. By 1540, great walls had been erected around Arxan and Talesh. Even Harthire fortified its defences as Bellisaria was drawn from time to time into the war. Mercenaries from the Plain of Bones were also used on occasion. However, conflicts to establish supremacy of the coast were always short-lived, with the boundaries constantly shifting.
The Great Dike was built by the now Kings of Arxan with the ever disputed town of Marenden standing at its eastern point. This effectively divided the kingdom into North and South Ovaran and ended the Wars. The use of the name Ovaran was short-lived after this, however. It was during this War that the clans really polarised around either Arxan or Talesh to one degree or another. In many ways North and South Ovaran became more like countries than simply regions. North being ruled over by Arxan, south by Talesh. However, within both countries what can best be described as princedoms or dukedoms had been established by other clans who took the chance to establish these semi-autonomous realms during the War. The system then could best be described as feudal. The lords of each semi-autonomous realm, by whatever title they gave themselves, had a large degree of power in their own domain, but owed allegiance to their overlord in either Talesh or Arxan. It was at this time that each of the lands took on the name of their ruling city and the old name of Ovaran was soon forgotten.
Despite the wars, the cities had begun to rise in prominence as mercantile powers. This was due to their ties with Shabak and also to their oils and spices, which were only grown in this region. The rudimentary seafaring skills gained from contact with Shabak had enabled small trading missions along the coast but no further due to the power of the sea. As yet missions inland had been avoided due to the uncertainty of what was beyond the Plains. The last stories the people had heard of the west was that it was a land from which to run where the devastation of the gods had destroyed all trace of civilisation.
In around 1580 refugees from the Lost Isles began to land along the coast of eastern Allansia. Having fled their land due to the wrath of Lorodil they found themselves in the midst of the fury of Sukh, and were gradually driven ashore. The greatest concentrations of their landings were in Shabak and along the coast near Talesh, although they were by no means confined to these locations.
The effect on the culture along the coast was profound. The seafaring skills of the people of the Lost Isles were of such a standard as to outstrip even those of the Shabaki. It was quickly recognised by the powerful merchant classes that these skills could be used, so peaceful acceptance of the peoples of the Isles in both Shabak and along the coast followed. Some leaders from the Lost Isles did rise to prominence, but despite a level of integration, the refugees for the most part established their own districts. Such districts included the Islian quarter of Talesh, and in Shabak within the city of Bakulak, where a community remains to this day (although the descendants of the refugees of the Lost Isles are in the minority in Bakulak with the majority being descended from those who arrived later due to the trade routes).
Without wishing to venture into the histories of Shabak it is worth noting that so influenced were the Shabaki by the ways of these foreigners that we can still see the ripples today in Shabaki religion. For example Kukulak, the Khulian name for the storm god, corrupted to Kulak by the Shabaki, soon replaced the Allansian name of Sukh (although the same god was still being worshipped). For instance the great Temple of the Storm God became known as the Temple of Kulak in Bakulan. Also, modern Shabak is the only place in Allansia where humans worship The White Goddess, called The White Lady by the Shabaki (although the Allansian elves do revere her as Iatro).
In 1603 the murder of Prince Daegor of Arxan by Prince Gethel Aranang of Bellisaria sparked the War of the Sword (1603 to 1606) between Arxan and Bellisaria. It was at this time that the shadowy Circle of the Sword was formed, their aim being to maintain the sword's influence over leaders of the region. This Circle lasted long after the Sword was thrown into the Sea, bringing its influence to bear in the region, even though the Sword itself was lost.
In the next one hundred years conflict was held in check by trading concerns and the wealth of the nations helped maintain contentment. The ships of the coastal powers, like their Shabaki neighbours to the south, began, in this period, to travel far and wide forging profitable trading links taking with them the goods and wares of their fertile plains and bringing back with them other cargoes of an exotic and desirable nature. Such was the reputation of the wealth of these nations that even the Sea of Perils was mistakenly called the Sea of Pearls by visiting merchants, thinking that the Sea itself was producing treasure. In the bazaars and souks of cities such as Arxan, Angar, Talesh and Marenden merchants from across Allansia mixed with those from the Old World and to a lesser extent Khul (Khulian trade routes being more rare given the nature of the journey). Links with the Isles of the Dawn that could have been exploited (given the ethnic bond) were at first not considered. This was because the Isles were believed to have perished in the eruptions from which the refugees had fled. By the time this error had been realised by the coastal nations the Shabaki had set up an exclusive deal with the Emperor of the Isles, which, frustratingly for the coastal nations, the Shabaki did not really utilise for many years to come.
This era of peace and prosperity had allowed civilisation to blossom leading to the construction of mighty temples and palaces. Learning and scholarly pursuits were augmented by the arrival of sorcerers who had begun to arise throughout Allansia in 1700. This was the zenith of culture along the coast.
In 1748 the event known as the Mystery of Angar-Ulak occurred. Seemingly at its modern height of prosperity Angar-Ulak was found deserted overnight, yet the inhabitants of the city were never found. Many rumours circulated but none knew the true cause of the happening. Certainly the most popular explanation given was that of dread magic, yet no sorcerer alive at that time had the power for such a feat.
The damaging effect on trade as a result of The Mystery' was short-lived but it raised tensions in the area. These tensions were augmented by the rise of the Steward Council in Arxan led by the belligerent Lord Torthrak. Relations between the coastal powers quickly worsened which lead to conflict. This deterioration continued for over 200 years. Collectively the wars fought in this period are referred to as the Wars of Descent. They were fought principally between Arxan, Talesh and Bellisaria but sometimes taking in Shabak as well. It was during this time that many of the merchant classes fled the coast for Shabak, diminishing the mercantile base of the Bronze Coast but increasing the commercial profile of Shabak. There were episodes of peace in those years, but they were short in duration and tense throughout.
But it was not just external conflict that was eroding the foundations of the coastal nations. Internal turmoil began to play its part also. The Great Storms of the late 1830s served to destroy crops and therefore cause trade to stagnate further. This, combined with the pressures of conflict, caused dissatisfaction among the population to rise. In 1841 the exiled warlord Leil Bo Ren arrived in Allansia on one of the few Shabaki trading ships making the journey to the Isles of the Dawn at that time, for although the Shabaki had established a number of trading routes, they were not near the zenith of their seafaring culture. However, they were soon to focus more intensely on this aspect with the beginning of the reign of Bela I in 1844 OT.
Travelling to the area around Talesh Leil sensed the dissatisfaction and feelings of injustice held by the peasants. He found a community of descendants from the Lost Isles, who were not as integrated into the Talesh community as in Shabak, and with whom he had some connection. Tapping into their frustrations he roused many of them into rebellion regaling them with mythical stories of their glorious past and promises to recreate the benevolent lost society of the old country. His message was carried throughout the lands of the coast and many of the peasant class flocked to his flag, regardless of whether they had ties to the Lost Isles or not. Leil's lieutenants wore the same battle dress as their leader. Thus was born the Rise of the Warlords that was to play an important part throughout the rest of the Wars of Descent.
In 1998 The War of the Wizards began to sweep Allansia. Having all but destroyed themselves the nations of the coast were in no position to stand up to the onslaught of the Army of Evil. Their cities' fortifications were weak and at that point there was no unity. They had also allowed orc, goblin and troll numbers in the vicinity to increase unchecked and it is believed that the Army referred to was only a breakaway fraction of the army going to Fangthane. Uniting the local chaotics behind them to form the majority of the troops swelled this force into a formidable army.
Bellisaria was swept away in the north soon to be followed by Arxan, which was all but a ruin anyway. The joint remnant of the once great armies of these two nations flew south across the plains to unite with Talesh. But the fortifications there were also weak. Having made a stand to no avail the united force made its way to Angar-Ulak. There the forces of the chief Warlord of the region, Jiran Bo Ren, had been holding at bay the forces of chaos in the Brak. The united force joined with Jiran's but the Enemy now came at them from both East and West in seemingly endless numbers. The beleaguered humans fought on but were overwhelmed. Those that survived the battle told the most amazing tale. They said that when they were on the point of defeat strange mists began to pour from the depths of the city from which came the ghosts of men, dwarfs, elves and giants. These long dead warriors attacked the forces of orcs and chaos spawn destroying them utterly.
The mysterious Ride of the Four Races as it was called in legend won the Battle of the Brak but the fabric of the nations was already destroyed. Once again a fragmented and homeless people journeyed onto the coastal plains but this time civilisation did not follow them.
Immediately following the War the area was riddled with orcs and goblins. The vacuum left by the removal of the dominant powers of Arxan, Talesh and Bellisaria was eventually filled by the rise of the bandit hordes and little has changed since then. The leaders of these hordes proclaimed themselves warlords, although, with the exception of the clothes they wear, they have little in common with Leil and his men. The continual raids of these bandits and the fluid and fleeting nature of the power they wield has prevented any large-scale civilisation.
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