Keldan

Keldan is an island nation renowned for its talented spellcasters. Composed of several large and staggeringly distinct islands known as Pact-Lands, the people strongly value freedom and the opportunities of the arcane, regardless of source. Cities in Keldan feature incredible displays of their mastery over magic, with the capital of Sanctoris being a nexus for warlocks.

Geography

Keldan's geography is built around a handful of vast islands called Pact-Lands, each of which has its own localized environment, traditions, and ideals. The Pact-Lands use magic to shape anything and everything to their will, and are fairly autonomous about their internal affairs. All are bound to the Eldritch Council, however, which acts as a unifying authority in major cities regardless of Pact-Land.   Across the straights of the Shining Sea to the north are the feudal lands of Eregoth, Keldan's bitter rival for longer than anyone can remember. Further east across the vast ocean is Norstir, a continent of bewildering size compared to Keldan and Eregoth. Even more distant and to the south is Asala, the indomitable land of ice and monsters.

Maps

  • Fey Pact land

Age of Dragons

651 1286

  • 651

    The Age of Dragons Begins

    What everyone knows: World Dragons and their normal dragon kin entered the world stage.   What the average Eregothian knows: A massive golden world dragon named Tarnok Zan-katir came to Eregoth and drove the Yuan-ti civilizations underground, while many other varieties of dragons settled across Eregoth, mainly keeping out of Tarnok’s way.   What the average Keldani knows: A massive green world dragon named Voarex Zarnur came to the waters south of Eregoth and settled there.   What scholars also know: Dragonkind came from the far-off lands of Abin-jur, and with them came the world dragons - one titanic, nigh-invincible, miles-long great wyrm for nearly every kind of draconic lineage. The world dragons spread out throughout the world - sometimes taking whole continents for themselves - while smaller dragons of all colors seeded themselves into the world under the great wyrms’ shadows.

  • 804

    The Eldritch Exodus

    What everyone knows: A group of Eregothi warlocks fled their homes, headed south to escape scrutiny, and built their own country - Keldan - by raising it out of the sea with magic.   What the average Eregothian knows: Untrustworthy and heartless warlocks were banished from Eregoth, fleeing south to continue their depraved and vile courtship of heartless powers.   What the average Keldani knows: Eregoth chased away the people of Keldan by unfairly persecuting them for crimes they hadn’t committed, and if it hadn’t been for a kind Eregothi noble who gave up everything and arranged for all the refugees, there wouldn’t be Keldan today.   What scholars also know: Eregothi persecution of any and all arcane innovation, from self-care to providing for the community (and some perfectly reasonable persecution of lawbreakers and villains), had become entirely untenable for arcanists, their families, and anyone who harbored or lived alongside them. Lord Vraskos Keldan, an Eregothi noble, surrendered his lands and titles and liquidated his assets to coordinate a massive southerly exodus of any Eregothi who wished for greater freedom and all who sympathized with them. He led his people to the Green World Dragon, Voarex Zarnur, and made a deal of mutual defense and supplication to Voarex in exchange for the world dragon’s help in literally creating Keldan out of the sea.

  • 805

    The Creation of Keldan

    What everyone knows: Keldan was raised from the sea by eldritch magic.   What the average Eregothian knows: The Keldani made some sort of dark deal with a massive, evil being to have a country made for them to continue their evil acts. Darkness and depravity likely suffuse every square inch of the country as a direct consequence. Keldan is probably the name of that dark power, worn like a brand of ownership on every gods-forsaken citizen.   What the average Keldani knows: The Green World Dragon, Voarex Zarnur, made a deal with Lord Keldan and the warlocks to create new islands for everyone to live on, and called the new country Keldan in honor of the noble that led everyone to it.   What scholars also know: The only pact lands that weren’t dedicated to a warlock pact were the dual islands of High Keldan and Agra Keep, which is where the displaced former Eregothi nobility moved along with their ample common traders, crafters, farmers and other followers. Of the actual warlock subgroups, the only pact not to receive its own customized pact land were the kind-hearted and just Celestials, who were browbeaten into defending Voarex’s own mountainous lair. Voarex didn’t care what the country was called, but the people agreed it should be called Keldan to honor Lord Keldan and to also snub Eregoth by forcing the country to remember his name.

  • 1280

    The World Dragons Depart

    What everyone knows: Starting this year and spanning over the next decade or so, all of the dragons - starting with the world dragons - either disappeared or died.   What the average Eregothian knows: Tarnok Zan-katir left Eregoth, never to return. In his absence he had blessed the ruling House Cervantes with blood and magic to rule in his stead as his divinely ordained descendants.   What the average Keldani knows: For the first time ever, Voarex left Keldan for shores unknown, his travels obscured by layered abjurations. He would return within the year, the only World Dragon left in Armea.   What scholars also know: Even the most powerful divinations could not reveal where the World Dragons went when they left the continents they had called home. They refused to say, even to their most loyal and important mortal counterparts.

  • 1281

    The Last World Dragon

    What everyone knows: The last world dragon, Voarex Zarnur, roared a challenge heard all around the world. He stated that now that the other World Dragons were gone, none could stop the Keldani Ascendancy, and that all hoards were now his.   What the average Eregothian knows: Some months after Tarnok’s disappearance, Voarex - the despised and depraved World Dragon of Keldan - declared that it would conquer all of the world. Eregoth rallied with all of its allies and made new pacts with even distant Norstir to deal with this world-ending threat once and for all.   What the average Keldani knows: Voarex had always been greedy, but fair enough - and while this declaration of war upon all the world was a terrifying prospect - it was believable if they truly had the only World Dragon left. To Keldan, this was a chance for the liberation and freedoms they enjoy to be shared across all Armea.   What scholars also know: Voarex was quite unhealthy when he returned, although for a world dragon that still meant he was stronger than all of the pact lands put together. Voarex made plans right away and refused to allow any pact land speakers to debate him, taking over control of all of the armies of Keldan and harboring no rebuttal or guidance. Rumors circulate that countering this centralized strategy is how Norstir and Eregoth’s combined armies intended to defeat him.

  • 1282

    The Fall of Voarex

    What everyone knows: The combined armies of Norstir and Eregoth sailed directly into the heart of Keldan and slew the last World Dragon, Voarex Zarnur. Keldan was then consumed by a bitter civil war of succession. While this went on, every other kind of true dragon began to disappear from Armea.   What the average Eregothian knows: Eregoth rallied allies from all around the world to strike at the world dragon who threatened all of Armea with subjugation and death, and once it was slain the Keldani fell upon each other with beastly abandon. Eregoth and Norstir had left the Keldani armadas mostly alone in this frenzied offensive, so the coalition armies were forced to retreat immediately after without holding any ground to ensure Eregoth and Norstir would be safe from counterattack.   What the average Keldani knows: The jealous Eregothi made pacts with ambitious outsiders in an attempt to stop the great Voarex from securing Keldan’s place as the one true world power. Although the armies and custodes of Sanctoris fought valiantly, the coalition of outsiders ground their way to the last World Dragon and cut out its heart. As it died it bled like a flood over the entire island, coating the remaining Sanctoris Custodes’ armor - which is why their armor is crimson red to this day. After this, the warlock pacts immediately set upon Sanctoris from all sides, ripping into the flesh and blood and scales of the World Dragon to fuel their magic and create new artifacts. They would begin to skirmish with each other for the choicest bits, but for the most part everyone focused on the pieces of Voarex that were nearest to their own pact lands.   What scholars also know: The Seeker pact had been training a special sect of Hexblade warlocks for this day, and they did something to Voarex before his blood had cooled, retreating immediately to Rising Rock. The Dragon Gates were constructed at this time, used to transport whole armies to and from Sanctoris to reinforce the forward positions. The Celestials used almost all of what they recovered from Voarex to summon countless angels and split their mountain of dawnstone into flying islands, tethering them together with massive vine clusters and crafting a series of dawnstone suns that could channel Luxos’ light to every corner of the now stacked pact land. It is believed this was done for defensive reasons, to keep the other pact lands from literally tearing their island apart the way they had just done to Voarex.

  • 1286

    The Eldritch Council

    What everyone knows: House Cervantes officially became stewards of Eregoth, and Keldan created the Eldritch Council. The poisonous blood of Voarex finally causes a worldwide famine, which puts a halt to current wars while each nation focuses on healing the seas they need for food and trade.   What the average Eregothian knows: As long-time allies of Tarnok Zan-katir, the Gold World Dragon Tyrant of Eregoth, House Cervantes was finally given full authority over the entire country. Cervantes’ lineage was infused with the blood of the World Dragon, and their authority was unquestioned.   What the average Keldani knows: Voarex’s body had been picked clean, now only the Undying walked Sanctoris in search of bones they could animate. The warlocks of Keldan decided to come to an accord agreement, since Voarex’s blood had caused widespread famine throughout the country and any kind of continued conflict had become unsustainable. They used their pact magic and the inherent lingering power of Voarex’s bones to craft the capital city out of their former World Dragon’s corpse, and placed the seat of power in his skull.   What scholars also know: The Custodians of Voarex encouraged the Warlock factions to do this, and produced the plans for the rituals and crafting required to make the city out of the dragon’s bones. They also had the designs for what would become the Ascendant Seat.

Age of Heroes

1286 1530

  • 1286

    The Eldritch Council

    What everyone knows: House Cervantes officially became stewards of Eregoth, and Keldan created the Eldritch Council. The poisonous blood of Voarex finally causes a worldwide famine, which puts a halt to current wars while each nation focuses on healing the seas they need for food and trade.   What the average Eregothian knows: As long-time allies of Tarnok Zan-katir, the Gold World Dragon Tyrant of Eregoth, House Cervantes was finally given full authority over the entire country. Cervantes’ lineage was infused with the blood of the World Dragon, and their authority was unquestioned.   What the average Keldani knows: Voarex’s body had been picked clean, now only the Undying walked Sanctoris in search of bones they could animate. The warlocks of Keldan decided to come to an accord agreement, since Voarex’s blood had caused widespread famine throughout the country and any kind of continued conflict had become unsustainable. They used their pact magic and the inherent lingering power of Voarex’s bones to craft the capital city out of their former World Dragon’s corpse, and placed the seat of power in his skull.   What scholars also know: The Custodians of Voarex encouraged the Warlock factions to do this, and produced the plans for the rituals and crafting required to make the city out of the dragon’s bones. They also had the designs for what would become the Ascendant Seat.

  • 1290

    Keldan Ascendant

    What everyone knows: Keldan completes the creation of their capital and elects the first Ascendant to rule from the Ascendant Seat.   What the average Eregothian knows: The Warlocks of Keldan finally ceased their squabbling and chose the most wicked amongst them to become their leader, so that now they could resume their campaigns of terror and death.   What the average Keldani knows: The Eldritch Council finished the creation of the capital city, and crafted an Ascendant Seat attuned to the magic inherent in the bones of Voarex - and Keldan itself. The Seeker and Hexblade pacts chose not to involve themselves with the leadership of Keldan, instead retreating to an advisory and enforcement role. They suggested the Celestials take the Seat first, and that rulership of Keldan from the Seat would last until the holder’s pact land rescinded their pledge, the Seat’s occupant died of natural causes, or they abdicated their position. The Order of Ascension then would pass widdershins around Sanctoris - Celestial, Great Old Ones, Archfey, Fiends, and finally the Undying, before repeating once more.   What scholars also know: There was an unspoken agreement among the holders of the Ascendant Seat, that no magic would be used to lengthen the lives of the person within it. This was not made written law, nor enforced with spells, an issue that would come back to haunt the nation later on.

Age of Mortals

1530 1884

  • 1730

    The Eleven Years' Madness

    What everyone knows: The King of Eregoth, Anton Cervantes, seemed to lose his mind for the next eleven years, causing nearly irreparable harm to the defenses and armies of Eregoth.   What the average Eregothian knows: For a reason most people couldn’t determine, King Anton Cervantes’ personality changed overnight. He seemed to have no strategy at all, sending powerful agents off to die without reinforcements on useless campaigns, and repositioning armies without care for supply lines or defensive tactics. The people of Eregoth would come to call this time the “Eleven Years’ Madness.” Eventually at the end of it, a political campaign led by House Oakenshield restored order by granting the Houses more of a say in the King’s strategies.   What the average Keldani knows: During this time, the Undying Ascendant Nilharm Mul rose to power and began aggressively moving Keldani forces towards Eregoth. He seemed to be unapologetically antagonistic towards the northern country, and many Eregothi caught in Keldan’s borders were never seen again. Keldan’s people by and large appreciated the powerful, strong leadership of Nilharm Mul, especially over the rumors of inadequacy and instability coming from Eregoth’s royal line.   What scholars also know: House Oakenshield and its allies were already looking for an excuse to weaken the crown. Nilharm Mul was already over a hundred years old when he took the Ascendancy, and it was believed that the ancient human would die well before whatever plans he had been scheming could come to fruition.

  • 1740

    Undying Ascendancy

    What everyone knows: The Keldani finally accepted full-blown authoritarianism in this year, as their Eldritch Council was unable to stop their leader from becoming an undead Lich who could hold the Ascendant Seat forever. King Anton Cervantes of Eregoth was exposed as an impostor, and King Arvidas III Leon Cervantes was crowned immediately afterward, declaring an open war between Keldan and Eregoth that persisted until present day.   What the average Eregothian knows: King Anton Cervantes had turned out to be an impostor spy from Keldan, explaining why he had seemed to be mad for nearly 11 years. King Anton was a just and noble ruler until early 1730, so the populace was perfectly willing to accept that this entire decade had been caused by vile, eldritch magic from the warlocks of Keldan. He was immediately deposed and King Arvidas III Leon Cervantes rose to take his place. After many decades of Eregoth taking an increasingly relaxed stance - which was likely why King Anton had been replaced at all - Arvidas III clamped down on eldritch magic within the borders of Eregoth with a new ban, and began to mend the public’s trust by responding to Keldan’s act with a formal declaration of war.   What the average Keldani knows: Rumors that Ascendant Nilharm Mul was nearing death reached a crescendo near the end of 1740, and all Keldani began to discuss which Celestial Warlock would take the seat. Unfortunately for all involved, the current occupant used the power of the Ascendant Seat to become immortal, and it was believed he would never abdicate the throne unless “Arvidas III came down from Eregoth to take it himself.”   What scholars also know: In the wake of Mul’s passing, the plan was for the seat to go to a middle-aged Celestial Warlock named Elromior. The Ascendant had other plans, however, and on one otherwise uneventful autumn night he called his apprentices to the throne chamber, along with sacrifices and blood magic. What exactly occurred inside is mostly unknown, but the results were clear - Nilharm Mul had become a Lich, and broken the unwritten rule that no immortal would take the Ascendancy so that the cycle could continue to keep Keldan’s leadership balanced between the pacts. The Eldritch Council did not have much time to debate, however, as Eregoth officially reciprocated against Nilharm’s offenses and declared full war on Keldan, driving moderate politicians and their centrism solidly under his thumb.

  • 1796

    Rise of the Blight

    What everyone knows: Keldan finally determined how to depose their immortal leader after 56 years of Ascendancy, and the Celestial that followed him turned a hot war between Keldan and Eregoth as cold as possible. After two generations of endless fighting, back and forth sabotage and destruction, it wasn’t enough to end hostilities entirely but it kept both countries from collapsing under the strain.   What the average Eregothian knows: Although the evil Lich Nilharm Mul had outlived the good King Arvidas III, rumors erupted that the Keldani had managed to replace him. Around the summer of this year, Keldan reached out with Celestial emissaries to inform the King and country that Ascendant Mul was no longer the leader of their country, and sued for a cease-fire. As most of the country was still suffering from raid after raid at the hands of the Keldani, and also knowing that the Celestials would not hold power forever, full peace didn’t seem likely.   What the average Keldani knows: A new coalition of Undying Warlocks took over in the Undying Pact Lands - the Blight Druids. With their overwhelming political power, they managed to invoke the clause that recalls a designee from the Ascendant Seat, and Nilharm Mul’s reign was done. Leadership passed to the Celestial Pact, and try as they might to sue for peace, neither Keldan nor Eregoth was done with the other. The multi-generational war had cost too much to stop, and hadn’t cost enough yet to lose its worth.   What scholars also know: The Blight Druids were supported by the Seeker Pact, which had stood back from the leadership of Keldan for exactly this reason. Along with the Hexblades, the Seekers and Blight Druids literally tore Nilharm from the Ascendant Seat, shattering his power - and some say, his mind.

Age of Strife

1884 and beyond

  • 1944

    The Fiend Ascended

    What everyone knows: The recent invasion of Norstir has caused many factions within both Eregoth and Keldan to sue for true peace, much to the relief of some and the consternation of others - including Ascendant Oriana of the Fiend Pact, Ruler of Keldan. Rumors abound from every corner of the globe that dragons of all types have begun to awaken and hatch from carefully hidden eggs.   What the average Eregothian knows: The invasion of Norstir has come at a time when support for the 200 year war between countries is an at all-time low. Many parts of Eregoth had already turned from actively supporting the war effort so they could defy the clutches of the 14th Lord, whose return to power had nearly strangled House Cervantes from every single direction. Most people would rather accept the assistance of anyone who offers in this highly trying time, especially so for those who are closest to Valkar’s many armies - or the Eastern Shores closest to Norstir.   What the average Keldani knows: Norstir’s Invasion has come at a time when the people of Keldan are already quite weary of war. Although Oriana, Devil Warlock of the Fiend Pact, won the Ascendant Seat in a ritualized wargame in late 1944, the country is nowhere near as united behind her as they had been under Nilharm Mul when the war started two hundred years prior. The Celestials declared they would no longer support the war effort in direct defiance of the Seat, and then after the Norstiri invasion both the Great Old Ones and Seekers made clear moves to sue Eregoth for peace. The Fey and Undying Pact Lands seem divided - the Undying less so - and in the meantime merely behave as they had been.   What scholars also know: Oriana has sent elite units into the rebellious Pact Lands with War Staves to bring the Blood War to Keldan, as she had to Eregoth. At the same time, numerous groups of Norstiri have begun to bleed the country dry from the inside, inspiring civil wars and driving apart old allies, burning important buildings, and destroying both lore and artifacts.

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Geographic Location
World
Armea
Category
Keldan in Geography
Author
Frederickiv
Publication Date
24 Jan, 2019
Creation Date
9 Jul, 2018
Last Update Date
24 Jan, 2019
Visibility
Public
Views
763
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