History of Ardulidyl and Lochar

The history of Lochar can be roughly divided into three main sections: the ancient empire of Ardulidyl, the petty kingdoms of Lochar, and the modern day Free Cities of Lochar. Years are given in both the standard measure and in juri yrhyrn-ir (JY), the calendar year established by Ardulidyl and continued in Lochar. For the purposes of conversion, 1 JY is the year -2,200 EM, or about 800 years after the Warden's ascension.

The Ardulidyl Empire
The history of Lochar begins around -800 JY, when the first of various drow settlers arrive in the vast cave networks of eastern Kyria. The settlers establish the cities which would go on to become Am Alaknyr, Am Lochra, and Am Tarryr. Shortly after (between around -600 and -200 JY), several waves of human settlement establish the cities of Kennaste and Rillaun.

Founding of Ardulidyl and the Reign of Queen Kasthyrha
In 1 JY (-2,200 EM), the thirteen kings and queens of the Alaknyrn Coast convene at the Council of Thirteen Sovereigns, agreeing to accept the rulership of High Queen Arduil in return for protection in the turbulent times that reigned in the early days of the world.

In 350 JY (-1850 EM), the queen now known as Kasthyrha (her Ardulic name lost to history) is crowned High Queen of Ardulidyl at a tender 150 years of age.

The Century of Frost
In 400 JY (-1600 EM), the warlock Vydhrar arose in Frostgrave. In his campaign to free Minathren from her prison, he drew upon the powers of the Dark Weave, summoning an army of undead to march upon Kyria and, by that same dark magic, bringing about a century of winter, from 400 JY to 500 JY.

In the year 500 JY, in order to stay the advance of Vydhrar's black legions, Kasthyrha, and her advisors Aun and Angradil, ascend together to godhood, becoming the Kasthyarhi. With the power of a goddess against him, Vydhrar is defeated, cast from the highest tower of Am Alaknyr into the depths of the Vichnameran, the underground inland sea on whose shores the city stands, where he remains sealed in unbreakable mithral chains, plotting his revenge. With Vydhrar fallen, the century of winter is broken.

Noble Queens and Zhetanax
The aftermath of the Century of Frost leaves many of the nations of Kyria diminished, allowing Ardulidyl to expand even as the lich Zhetanax became established in the west. The High Queens take up the title of Empress. Ardulidyl helped to foster promising nations between themselves and Zhetanax’s realm, most notably Delenthor, whence Irisia Delenthor came and slew Zhetanax once and for all.

From 960 JY to 1050 JY (-1240 to -1150 EM), Ardulidyl lives in relative peace with Delenthor. Ardulidyl does not expand its territories but maintains a friendly alliance with Delenthor and aids them in their expansionist wars.

The Succession Crisis
In 1050 JY, the half-drow Empress Alakfrynna Haleylim passes away with no clear female heir. A succession crisis and series of civil wars ensues, lasting for around 100 years, eventually resulting in 1150 JY with the crowning of Emperor Dagdan, a Lochran human. Emperor Dagdan establishes a patriarchal, human dynasty in place of the matriarchal drow dynasty which had extended down from High Queen Arduil to Empress Haleylim.

The Reign of Argetlám the Great
In 1200 JY, Argetlám the Great (Arhjhetlyrn Kasthar, in Alaknyri) ascended to the throne of Ardulidyl. He was the grandson of Emperor Dagdan and the most warlike ruler of Ardulidyl of old. His expansionist and imperialist campaigns laid the ground for the future colonies of Lochar, as well as pushing Delenthor back around half the territory it had captured in the east of Kyria, establishing Ardulidyl, briefly, as the dominant nation of Kyria.

The Years of a Thousand Kings
Following Argetlám's death in 1290 JY, the emperor dictated that his empire should not be given to any one heir, but should instead be divided evenly amongst his seven sons. This lead to what is known as the ‘Years of a Thousand Kings’ (Juri-ir Sate-Yrhari), a period in which the once great empire of Ardulidyl fractured into dozens of warring kingdoms, such as the Kingdom of Lochar and the Queendom of Alaknyr, as the descendants of the various sons of Argetlám sort to reclaim supremacy.

Aikari-ir len Sate-Nillyrn (The Day of a Thousand Tears)
This era officially ended on 30th Isila, 2010 JY, in what is known amongst the Locharni as Aikari-ir len Sate-Nillyrn, the Day of a Thousand Tears. During the Years of a Thousand Kings, the growing empire of Delenthor began reclaiming the lands taken by Argetlám and then progressing to take lands held by Ardulidyl for ages past. These advances culimated in Aikari-ir len Sate-Nillyrn, the Day of a Thousand Tears, when the armies of Delenthor marched into the ancient city of Am Tarryr and massacred 15,000 civilians, bringing the immediate surrender of the drow queendoms and, shortly afterwards, the surrender of all the Locharni kingdoms.

The Years of Occupation
From 2010 JY to 2406 JY, Lochar was under Delenthorian control. This led to a period of rapid modernisation in the nation, alongside a wave of immigration of Delenthorian citizens. The Church of Irisia, the Watcher, first appeared in Lochar during this period.

The Treaty of Rillaun and the Establishment of the Republic
The exact circumstances leading to the Treaty of Rillaun are disputed between Lochar and Delenthor. At the minimum, the period of 2401 to 2405 JY saw increasingly heavy taxes laid against the people of Lochar to fund the Delenthorian war effort against the Vesturís to the north and this, combined with a series of pamphlets published in the summer of 2405 JY by leading Locharni academics on the case for independence and democracy, lead to rapidly growing civilian unrest which escalated into a kind of guerrilla warfare. Unwilling to fight a war on two fronts, Delenthor allowed Lochar to secede on the requirement that a Delenthorian representative be recognised in whatever government they should choose to establish. Thus, on 4th Azieron 2406 JY, Lochar officially seceded from Delenthor.

The period from 2406 JY to 2410 JY saw a series of constitutional conferences in which the principles of the 350 Citizens and the Council of Twelve were laid down. The Free Cities of Lochar became a sovereign and semi-independent republican federation officially on 12th Pheroth, 2410 JY (300 EM).

Locharni Politics: Viermikra v. Merhaelkel
In the summer of 2515 JY, a growing tension could be felt in the 350 Citizens between two major factions which were increasingly polarised. This came to a head in the famous Viermikra vs. Merhaelkel debate, a debate between two members of the Council of Twelve in a meeting of the Amphitheatre. Jyskorr Viermikra ar’Tekrahel laid out what became the manifesto of the Nimyrhal (‘republican’) faction, which argued for a focus on international trade to foster financial independence from Delenthor. Against her, Rhyllshalim Merhaelkel ar’Cinerni established the Tarhyrhal (‘monarchist’) faction, which argued for closer alliance with Delenthor, even a return to Delenthorian rule. Viermikra won the day, leading to the economic policies which helped Lochar develop its international standing, although the tensions between Nimyrhal and Tarhyrhal continue to brew, and have remained a constant source of intrigue in the 350 Citizens.

The Crown War
When Delenthor sailed across the sea to wage war against Scarfellan, Lochar sent a nominal fighting force to aid the conquest as demanded by Regent, but otherwise remained strictly neutral in the war, trading weapons to both sides.

When it became clear that Lochar had been selling weapons to Scarfellan during the Crown War, the diplomatic relationship between Lochar and Delenthor became somewhat more frigid, with one of the Empress’s senior advisors even calling it treachery and demanding an immediate reinvasion of Lochar. However, after a few military displays on the border from both sides and a secession of minor trade agreements to allow certain Delenthorian families a greater share in major Locharni trades, the tensions were somewhat subdued, although most Delenthorians still hold a grudge against Locharni to this day, declaring they have “more loyalty to their wallet than the crown”.