Biltim
Biltim is a small and largely unremarkable town on the Sharan Peninsula, roughly two days to the northwest of Salaq. Though it was never particularly bustling with commerce, Biltim was nearly abandoned following the events of the Stormcaller Crisis and has only recently begun to recover from the economic impact of the storms and wave of disease that swept through as a result of the crisis.
History
In 329.30 NL, the Stormcaller Crisis exploded onto the stage of the Pāll-tanír. Despite the havoc wrought further inland by the Arventir that followed in the wake of the crisis, Biltim, among other settlements in the Sharan peninsula were spared from the brunt of the damage caused by the storms themselves. The problems came later, when a wave of refugees from the north swept through the region, fleeing from the unrest and the storms alike.
While the western half of the Sharan Peninsula was able to manage the refugees somewhat reasonably, the northern part of the eastern half had no such luck. As the region had already suffered from a poor summer harvest, the arrival of thousands of mouths to feed invariably caused widespread destabilization in the region. A number of smaller settlements to the north were destroyed or outright abandoned as the refugees continued south.
Biltim was one of the first major settlements in the area to be hit by the wave of refugees. By the time that the refugees reached Biltim, their numbers had grown, bolstered by people fleeing from the unrest in the northern part of the Sharan Peninsula caused by the initial wave of refugees. With foodstocks already low and Dominion aid unlikely to arrive for months yet, Biltim ultimately became one of the most heavily-affected settlements in the region.
The influx of refugees put an unsustainable strain on its underdeveloped social systems and despite the best efforts of the local Dominion presence, there was not enough food to support everyone without severe rationing that only led to further unrest. What followed was an epidemic of problems starting with a rise in crime and a portion of the refugees turning to banditry. Rioting broke out on the streets a number of times due to living conditions and the mayor and Harus of Biltim were unfortunately killed when rioting refugees torched the town hall. Without effective leadership, the degeneration of the situation in Biltim accelerated.
Even when the situation in the north improved, aid from the Dominion routed through the Autonomous Siq'Ari Polity and the Madresha Caliphate was waylaid by bandits. At the time, none of the local governments could spare the military force to ensure the aid caravans reached the beset communities of the eastern half of the Sharan Peninsula due to the situation developing in the Ayyanesha Caliphate and the presence of the Necromancer in Ibadith.
By the time that Dominion aid did manage to reach Biltim, the damage had already been done. The town's infrastructure had been severely damaged by the riots, and bandits had forced many of the villagers from the surrounding villages to flee. Refugees and residents alike had left the city in droves, leaving behind only those who refused to depart, and those who couldn't. It wasn't until after the Necromancer was defeated and the situation in Tan'Ayya was resolved that the refugee crisis in the eastern half of the Sharan Peninsula began to abate.
Without the strain caused by the refugees, numerous groups in the south, which had been relatively unharmed by the crisis, stepped up to restore order in the north. Foremost among these groups was the Black Fang, having seen an opportunity to grow its interests and influence in the region. With the help of the syndicate, the bandits that remained were dispatched and people were allowed to return to their homes and farms. Once regular commerce was reestabilished, and the region began to recover, Biltim was rebuilt with the help of the Black Fang and Dominion aid.
Founding Date
103.30 NL
Type
Town
Population
2000
Inhabitant Demonym
Biltinna
Location under
Comments