The major events and figures that have shaped the history of Western Kordania. (Includes the regions of Rilga, the Massarlor Dales and Askenhart)
A cult dedicated to a so-called ‘pure light’ begins to grow around the base of Mt. Aelis in the southern Skurl Mountains. They start as a small, tight knit group and their numbers grow only slightly over the centuries. They begin the construction of a temple to their idol on a rocky clifftop at the base of their sacred mountain, but are widely disregarded by the rest of the southern peoples.
The founding hero of Somiochr and the Rilgan people as a whole, Mairgwen is a legendary figure whose magical prowess is believed to be unsurpassed by any who have come before or since.
Over the passing of centuries, the people of Rilga progress from a semi-nomadic, to an entirely settled culture. Towns and villages flourish under the rulership of a new noble class, dominated by mages and the hoarding of arcane knowledge. Eventually, a new city is founded, the cultural heart of the magocracy. Somiochr, named for the ancestral people of Mairgwen, and built on the supposed sight where she saved them through magic. Somiochr grows to become one of the greatest metropolises Kordania has ever seen.
Strangers from across the sea arrive on the shores of Kordania. A colonizing expedition of Ithorylion elves, accompanied by a labor force of enslaved peoples from across Gaio, land in the Dales and begin the founding of three settlements from which to expand their dominion in Kordania.
With the influx of liberated slaves from the Ithorylion colonies, the scattered human, orc and halfling settlements of the western Dales go through a rapid upswing in growth and prosperity. While historic rivalries and antagonisms have hampered efforts at unification, the politically astute Edmin Hadradsson is able to forge the rival factions into a single nation; the budding kingdom of Langharad.
In preparation for a retaliatory invasion at the loss of their colonies, the Ithroylion empire founds another colony on the northern shores of Guedovan. The city of Askenhart takes root, one of Ithorylion’s farthest-flung colonies.
In Rilga, an individual rises through the political hierarchy of the magocracy. Possessed of an innate genius for the study and practice of magic, Mordred Rannasland is also driven by a dark ambition and utter lack of conscience. Over time, he comes to dominate the nation of Rilga through intimidation, murder, and coercion, becoming its defacto leader and ushering in a dark age for the continent.
Mordred and his ilk always preferred to operate from the shadows, rather than through force. With his hold over Rilga absolute, he begins to expand his insidious influence further afield. In the royal courts of Langharad, he embeds his followers as advisors or emissaries, but in fact they work to subvert and corrupt the local nobles. Eventually, the throne of Langharad itself falls to Mordred’s influence, becoming little more than a puppet monarchy.
The last in the line of Hadradsson, King Gregori IV is utterly reviled by the populace of Langharad, both highborn and low. He is greedy, miserly and volatile, and his own incompetent wickedness begins to shake the control that Mordred has exerted over the Dales.
As Mordred’s reign over the west stretches on, the truth of his crimes and reach of his malign influence is uncovered by the shadowy organisation, the Pariahs. Lacking the power or political authority to challenge him openly, Pariah agents meet with the Gwendolyn Elgryffith, Knight Commander of the Order of the Ardent Flame. Together, they move to confront Mordred and overthrow him.
The delegation of Pariah’s and Ardent Knights, led by Knight Commander Gwendolyn are slaughtered as they camp in the Witherfields on their way to Somiochr. Commanding a cadre of bound fiends, undead creatures and a coterie of his acolytes, Mordred personally slays Gwendolyn and much of the senior Pariahs and Ardent Knights present. Those scant few who manage to escape flee to gather reinforcements, their suspicions of Mordred proven correct.
The new leader of the Ardent Knights, Aldwin Dawnwell, leads the effort in gathering support to end Mordred’s domination of the west. With many of his fellows either dead or scattered across the continent, he makes for Fennmoin to appeal to the minotaurs and centaurs. Despite a history of animosity and petty conflict with Langharad, the Fennmoinians recognise the threat that Mordred poses and an army is gathered to free the Dales.
Aldwin Dawnwell and his alliance wage a war to free the Dales of Mordred and Gregori’s control, a war that ultimately lasts for eleven years. Thanks to aid from a number of unexpected allies, the war is eventually successful in deposing Gregori and the ousting of Mordred’s key lieutenants in the kingdom. With a new, independent and greatly respected incumbent on the throne of Langharad, the alliance turns northwards to Rilga to rid the world of Mordred once and for all.
With Langharad free of Mordred’s control, Lord Aethelfled is nominated by the Wittan to be queen. The first of the Gryffess dynasty, Queen Aethelfled I vows to steer Langharad on the path of recovery and prosperity after two centuries of decline and misery. Elsewhere, Aldwin Dawnwell is appointed to spearhead an invasion of Rilga to put pay to Mordred Rannasland once and for all.
Mordred vows to enact a personal, terrible revenge on those who have defied him and slain his followers. Upon hearing of the forces arraying against him to the south, he puts into action a terrible reprisal. Before his atrocity can be completed however, he is finally brought down once and for all, not from without but within.
As Western Kordania begins the long road to recovery after Mordred’s downfall, an historic meeting takes place in the ruins of one of the old Ithorylion colonies. A council with delegations from Langharad, Fennmoin, Askenhart, Rilga and the Ardent Knights (as well as spied upon by the Pariahs and Ruminator Society), come together to discuss what their future will be.