Güðün

Güðün, or Gaudumn, was a Varhoŋian city and the site of the Öšdúu-Güðün, the city-state of Güðün, which reigned there from its founding in 20 Wota-Eimarae, 25026 AYM, to the takeover of the city by Varonith-Callauz in 25020 AYM. It was the most populous city in Varonith-Callauz and its successor organization Lýnorakk. During the Varonian Civil War, the city was devastated, both in the Artalian conquest of Lýnorakk and its recapture by Ardunioz, who ultimately rebuilt it following the war.

Etymology

The name Güðün, also spelled as Gü-Ðün in older texts, is most likely a reference to its position and status as the gateway city to the northern Amoŋot Desert.

History

Wýðúric Expedition

Main Article: Wýðúric Expedition

The city of Güðün was founded in 25026 AYM by members of the Wýðúric Expedition. It was the site of the third Wëbëlup-Wýðúr that served as tracking markers for the Expeditionary members, and it was meant to serve a dual role as the supply city for emigrants from the Ïlýrhonid Tribe and the main harvest point for the wood and herbs of the Volain Forest, which it was adjacent to. Upon the choosing of the site, the expedition was able to build it extremely quickly under the leadership of Žlúnúyšat, a leading member of the Expedition. It was in this city that the 500 Expeditionary members resided during the return trek of the 144 messengers back to the Ïlýrhonid Tribe.

Öšdúu-Güðün

Main Article: Öšdúu-Güðün

In the wake of the successful return and report of the Wýðúric Expedition, the rate of emigration out of the Ïlýrhonid Tribe increased massively, most of them following the path taken by the Expedition itself. This would lead them to the city of Güðün, which provided for them various supplies. Most emigrants would continue their trek, founding cities like Vërðïm, Lómóhüd, and Óvarhën at the sites of other Wëbëlup-Wýðúr. However, a substantial portion still chose to reside in Güðün itself, such that, by the time of the Khýnýšic Expedition of Suta-Eimarae, 25026 AYM (merely three months after the Wýðúric Expedition), the population had grown to 4000.

At this time, the chaos of the increased population, and the interactions with other newly-founded cities, required the formation of an ordered government, which was initiated by Žlúnúyšat in around 10-15 Suta-Eimarae, 25026 AYM as the Öšdúu-Güðün, the first in a large series of Öšdúu. The first ruler outside of the Ïlýrhonid Tribe, he focused his efforts primarily on the economic and material situation, notably in building storehouses for wood and rocks, constructing prototypical routes to and from the Forest, and defining the beginnings of a stable economic system based around currencies already existing in the Ïlýrhonid Tribe.

However, his reign was cut short in 25020 AYM by the sudden occupation and usurping of the city by the tribe of Varhoŋïð-Khalúš, who promptly evicted the inhabitants. Žlúnúyšat himself fled to the nearby town of Lómóhüd. This renders the Öšdúu-Güðün to be the shortest such Öšdúu of this time period.