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Description

I was looking through the old map threads on AlternateHistory.com and found a post by the user Highlander with a generic fantasy map, with him asking “Somebody willing to come up with a history of this place?” While over a decade late, I have answered the call, writing up some lore for the world of K’thar.

This world has reached roughly the same level of technological development as OTL 1800s, varying between regions, and consists of a variety of classical fantasy races, such as elves, dwarves, and orcs.
----

Overview

The year is D’1546, or 1546 years after the Dragonfall. Over a 1500 years ago the dragons, mighty reptilian creatures, fell from the Heaven of the Hosts, cast down by the gods for their arrogance and pride. Or so the story goes.

Wherever they fell, the land was devastated by primal elemental energy, from raging craters of fire to explosive eruptions of frost and ice. Many died, but from their corpses arose a new race of beings that would spread across K’thar, the dragonborn. The few dragons that lived would rage across the landscape, ending empires and reshaping nations.

The Dragonfall would bring an end to the old world of K’thar, with the Old Races battling for centuries to slay the dragons and fighting with the dragonborn. While it would take hundreds of years, eventually the last of the dragons would be slain, and a new world would be created, one where the power of technology would see rapid expansion and scientific breakthroughs.

Magic in K’thar, while prevalent, is less-groundbreaking than in other fantasy worlds. Only those born with magical capabilities, magicians or mages, are able to harness spells, which, while impressive, are nonetheless not very groundbreaking. The greatest can summon fireballs or affect the weather in a small area for a short period of time or summon and control wild animals around them. In addition, mages are very rare, with less than 1% of any population being born with the capability of spellcraft. Thus, magic is a useful asset, but not an entirely game changing one. Elves have the highest chance to be born a mage, dwarves have the lowest, and humans are in-between the two. Most other races are in-between these two as well.

Starfall is the best replacement for mages. A very rare metallic alloy said to fall from the heavens, it is a magical metal that can be infused with a spell, instantly causing an arcane effect. Starfall is very rare but a very powerful resource for mage-poor nations.

K’thar is divided into two different continents, Vostuk in the north and Gehara in the south, with all manner of nations and races. Various races and nations are divided between these lands. The advent of steam and gunpowder technology has revolutionized the world, with the full results of industrialization yet to be seen as new ideologies and nations rise.

Nations

At the very northernmost tip of the continent of Vostuk is the small Principality of Vinnix, home to a small population of the Vinzyxi dragonborn, the progeny of the frost dragon Vennazyx. Swarming out from the corpse of their mother and would strike out for the following centuries, battling against the elves to the south, orcish tribes, and each other in clan warfare. Following the semi-mythical Battle of the Twin Blades, the ruling dragonborn of his day, Zunocreks would devastate a joint elf-orc alliance, and would go on to capture and claim an elven and orcish bride from his rivals. He would go on to a process of unifying the dragonborn, and upon his deathbed Zunocreks would name himself Prince of the Vinzyxi.

The dragonborn would never be as strong under Zunocreks, but his vision of a unified dragonborn state would live on, with creation of numerous squabbling princedoms. Eventually, the elves of Valgon would slowly encroach onto the lands of the Vinzyxi, renamed the Vinnixi, and in 1423 the last remaining free territories of the dragonborn were conquered and the Principality of Vinnix would be established.

Vinnix, for all its fascinating history, remains irrelevant to the political going-on of the world. While a fiefdom of Valgon, Vinnix has a large degree of freedom. The harsh cold climate has kept most dragonborn a largely agricultural and village society. While retaining much of their own culture, elven influence has seeped in significantly within Vinnix, and many more adventurous dragonborn have found new military positions in Valgon. New technologies have been slow in reaching and expanding into Vinnix, but with the worries of Volund to the south, Valgon has began more recruitment methods in Vinnix in preparation for any conflicts.

The Queendom of Valgon is the most northern of the elven nations. Elven myth records that the Valgonians, (referred to as “snow elves” by humans) sailed and settled in the north thousands of years ago and created the first civilization on Vostuk, the Antherian Empire. The Dragonfall ended this empire, breaking the elves for centuries, until they managed to reunify under the famous Three Queens. Since then, the resurgent Valgonians have conquered the troublesome dragonborn to the north and secured their position while the orcs to the south arose.

Valgon is ruled by the capable political navigator Queen Mithrena Valensia. Valgon has been able to maintain it security with the well-known and elite Valgonian Guard and the southern Mithranitil Mountains which have guarded its southern border. However, the rise of Volund has been a worry for the elves of Valgon for decades, despite the peace that has lasted between the two.

With the end of Volund Civil War over and Gorthuuk Korgrog in power, new fears have arisen. Gorthuuk’s regime has already claimed the city of Volentir (on the claims of “liberating & protecting” its orcish population), which has remained a deep sore among the elves. Military preparations are already underway for any future invasion, but Valgon cannot stand alone, and is currently looking for allies, be it Basilissa or Anti-Basilissa alliance.

The True and Eternal Nation of Volund has only recently been born out of a devastating seven-year civil war, which has ushered into power Gorthuuk Korgrog, a ruthless orc who has established a brutal one-party dictatorship. Gorthuuk has instigated numerous modernization programs and rapid industrialization in an effort to catch up to and counter the growing power of the southern nations.

Volund was the traditional home of orcs, with various warring states established but eventually coming together under Vorduth the Conqueror. The Dragonfall wiped out previous elven empire and human states, allowing for the unified orcs to rapidly expand and conquer their own land. Volund gradually transitioned from a parliamentary monarchy to a democratic union, before Gorthuuk seized control of the nation.

He has branded himself, and Volund, as the true leader of the orcish people, embracing an ideology of supreme discipline and strength. As the head of his own controlling party, he has ruthlessly crushed any dissent, and forcibly industrialized the vast stretches of Volund’s territory.

Gorthuuk has great ambitions, looking first towards the elves of Valgon to the north, and inspired greatly by Morthil Wysatris, the ruling dictator of Basilissa. Contact between the two has occurred, but Gorthuuk’s desires run counter to that of Morthil. Whether they will work together to carve up K’thar or battle each other for supremacy remains to be seen.

Description

I was looking through the old map threads on AlternateHistory.com and found a post by the user Highlander with a generic fantasy map, with him asking “Somebody willing to come up with a history of this place?” While over a decade late, I have answered the call, writing up some lore for the world of K’thar.

This world has reached roughly the same level of technological development as OTL 1800s, varying between regions, and consists of a variety of classical fantasy races, such as elves, dwarves, and orcs.
----

Overview

The year is D’1546, or 1546 years after the Dragonfall. Over a 1500 years ago the dragons, mighty reptilian creatures, fell from the Heaven of the Hosts, cast down by the gods for their arrogance and pride. Or so the story goes.

Wherever they fell, the land was devastated by primal elemental energy, from raging craters of fire to explosive eruptions of frost and ice. Many died, but from their corpses arose a new race of beings that would spread across K’thar, the dragonborn. The few dragons that lived would rage across the landscape, ending empires and reshaping nations.

The Dragonfall would bring an end to the old world of K’thar, with the Old Races battling for centuries to slay the dragons and fighting with the dragonborn. While it would take hundreds of years, eventually the last of the dragons would be slain, and a new world would be created, one where the power of technology would see rapid expansion and scientific breakthroughs.

Magic in K’thar, while prevalent, is less-groundbreaking than in other fantasy worlds. Only those born with magical capabilities, magicians or mages, are able to harness spells, which, while impressive, are nonetheless not very groundbreaking. The greatest can summon fireballs or affect the weather in a small area for a short period of time or summon and control wild animals around them. In addition, mages are very rare, with less than 1% of any population being born with the capability of spellcraft. Thus, magic is a useful asset, but not an entirely game changing one. Elves have the highest chance to be born a mage, dwarves have the lowest, and humans are in-between the two. Most other races are in-between these two as well.

Starfall is the best replacement for mages. A very rare metallic alloy said to fall from the heavens, it is a magical metal that can be infused with a spell, instantly causing an arcane effect. Starfall is very rare but a very powerful resource for mage-poor nations.

K’thar is divided into two different continents, Vostuk in the north and Gehara in the south, with all manner of nations and races. Various races and nations are divided between these lands. The advent of steam and gunpowder technology has revolutionized the world, with the full results of industrialization yet to be seen as new ideologies and nations rise.

Nations

At the very northernmost tip of the continent of Vostuk is the small Principality of Vinnix, home to a small population of the Vinzyxi dragonborn, the progeny of the frost dragon Vennazyx. Swarming out from the corpse of their mother and would strike out for the following centuries, battling against the elves to the south, orcish tribes, and each other in clan warfare. Following the semi-mythical Battle of the Twin Blades, the ruling dragonborn of his day, Zunocreks would devastate a joint elf-orc alliance, and would go on to capture and claim an elven and orcish bride from his rivals. He would go on to a process of unifying the dragonborn, and upon his deathbed Zunocreks would name himself Prince of the Vinzyxi.

The dragonborn would never be as strong under Zunocreks, but his vision of a unified dragonborn state would live on, with creation of numerous squabbling princedoms. Eventually, the elves of Valgon would slowly encroach onto the lands of the Vinzyxi, renamed the Vinnixi, and in 1423 the last remaining free territories of the dragonborn were conquered and the Principality of Vinnix would be established.

Vinnix, for all its fascinating history, remains irrelevant to the political going-on of the world. While a fiefdom of Valgon, Vinnix has a large degree of freedom. The harsh cold climate has kept most dragonborn a largely agricultural and village society. While retaining much of their own culture, elven influence has seeped in significantly within Vinnix, and many more adventurous dragonborn have found new military positions in Valgon. New technologies have been slow in reaching and expanding into Vinnix, but with the worries of Volund to the south, Valgon has began more recruitment methods in Vinnix in preparation for any conflicts.

The Queendom of Valgon is the most northern of the elven nations. Elven myth records that the Valgonians, (referred to as “snow elves” by humans) sailed and settled in the north thousands of years ago and created the first civilization on Vostuk, the Antherian Empire. The Dragonfall ended this empire, breaking the elves for centuries, until they managed to reunify under the famous Three Queens. Since then, the resurgent Valgonians have conquered the troublesome dragonborn to the north and secured their position while the orcs to the south arose.

Valgon is ruled by the capable political navigator Queen Mithrena Valensia. Valgon has been able to maintain it security with the well-known and elite Valgonian Guard and the southern Mithranitil Mountains which have guarded its southern border. However, the rise of Volund has been a worry for the elves of Valgon for decades, despite the peace that has lasted between the two.

With the end of Volund Civil War over and Gorthuuk Korgrog in power, new fears have arisen. Gorthuuk’s regime has already claimed the city of Volentir (on the claims of “liberating & protecting” its orcish population), which has remained a deep sore among the elves. Military preparations are already underway for any future invasion, but Valgon cannot stand alone, and is currently looking for allies, be it Basilissa or Anti-Basilissa alliance.

The True and Eternal Nation of Volund has only recently been born out of a devastating seven-year civil war, which has ushered into power Gorthuuk Korgrog, a ruthless orc who has established a brutal one-party dictatorship. Gorthuuk has instigated numerous modernization programs and rapid industrialization in an effort to catch up to and counter the growing power of the southern nations.

Volund was the traditional home of orcs, with various warring states established but eventually coming together under Vorduth the Conqueror. The Dragonfall wiped out previous elven empire and human states, allowing for the unified orcs to rapidly expand and conquer their own land. Volund gradually transitioned from a parliamentary monarchy to a democratic union, before Gorthuuk seized control of the nation.

He has branded himself, and Volund, as the true leader of the orcish people, embracing an ideology of supreme discipline and strength. As the head of his own controlling party, he has ruthlessly crushed any dissent, and forcibly industrialized the vast stretches of Volund’s territory.

Gorthuuk has great ambitions, looking first towards the elves of Valgon to the north, and inspired greatly by Morthil Wysatris, the ruling dictator of Basilissa. Contact between the two has occurred, but Gorthuuk’s desires run counter to that of Morthil. Whether they will work together to carve up K’thar or battle each other for supremacy remains to be seen.