Kingdom of Merthiorn

Flag of Merthiorn by Naelin

Once a powerful empire spanning several territories, the fall of the Kingdom of Merthiorn to the High Rust is considered the biggest event in the timeline of this catastrophe and marked the start of a new era when its queen died, going from the Year 3014 of the Era of Alzufhar to the Year 1 of the Era of Rust.

The proud nation of the two gnaws

Thaur Island

The Kingdom of Merthiorn occupied the west side of what is now known as Thaur Island (Then known as Merthiorn Island).

Queen Tesel by Naelin

It was a wealthy, long-standing small empire of furry societarians which controlled both its main land and the Red Crest Islands, to the northernmost side of the archipelago.
Merthiorn was traditionally ruled by women, the last being Queen Tesel of Merthiorn, daughter of Onnamar and Orrery Of Merthiorn.

Red Crest's separation

Virgilim by Naelin

Tesel had a son, Prince Virgilim, who she set as viceroy of Red Crest on his 14th birthday, in 2976 E.Alz.
Just nine years later, in 2985 E.Alz, Tesel declared Red Crest's "independency" by gifting the control of the island to his son, creating the Principality of Red Crest.
In practice, this worked more as a gesture, as the country was widely considered a puppet state, and few big decisions were taken without consultation.
This move, however, caused the principality to survive, albeit shakily, after the fall of its mother country.

The Rise of Goldwaste

"Because I can"

— Queen Tesel of Merthiorn

The wealth and success of Merthiorn during its last century was such that the then-queen Onnamar got into the massive project of creating a new city for the country in the most inhospitable area: High into the mountains, around the dangerous tetsus and far from the source of the countries' resources.
At the time before the rust, living in high places (especially remote or mountainous areas) was considered a symbol of status, and Onnamar wanted everyone in the archipelago to know just how much could her kingdom achieve by it.

Criticism of this project came fast, but only managed to be the inspiration for the defiant capital's new name: The City of Goldwaste, which, adding weight to the project, was set to become the capital of the kingdom.
Goldwaste was declared finished by Queen Tesel in 2961 E.Alz. Over the years, most of the rich and noble from Merthiorn moved there.
The city grew popular and successful, well-defended both by the terrain and its external walls.
The capital stood its ground for 53 years, but it became a death trap for all its inhabitants in 3014 E.Alz, with the arrival of the fatidical High Rust.

The Fall

Corrosion by Naelín

The High Rust, a cataclysmic event where the air turned orange several meters above floor level and engulfed steep places corroding anything it touched, claimed the lives of almost all the inhabitants of towers, high castles or settlements in high altitude.
Goldwaste was completely destroyed in a matter of months, complete with most of its people. Queen Tesel of Merthiorn was the first casualty of a country's governor, making her death the event that marked the end of the Era of Alzufhars and the start of the Era of Rust.

All of the royal family save for Prince Virgilim expired during this time, and the same happened to most of the Kingdom's wealthy, noble folk, and the military.
The surviving organizations and people were left headless, the island almost defenceless, and the people desperate.
Goldwaste was evacuated and abandoned around the same time as the death of the queen, and Merthiorn was considered to have dissolved between two and four months afterwards.

The Succesor

A month into the first year of the Era of Rust, a Merthiornite merchant arrived back into his home town of Birdland carrying with him a tame tetsu cub he named Dinner.
The incredible feat that this entailed, and the potential use of the tetsu as defense, deterrent and even protection against other tetsus quickly rose the man, called Naelin, from mere merchant into the first King of the new country they named Thaur after the much feared call for aid of tetsus.

Shield of Thaur by Naelin

Dissolution Date

Month of Burning, year 1

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

City of Goldwaste

Successor Organization

• Kingdom of Thaur

Demonym

Merthiornite

Leader

Tesel of Merthiorn

Power Structure

Autonomous area

Location

Thaur Island

Related Ranks & Titles

• Monarch

Controlled Territories

• City of Goldwaste
• The Spire

Notable Members

• Honye of Merthiorn
• Nicola
• Onnamar of Merthiorn
• Tesel of Merthiorn
• Thinamy of Merthiorn
• Velegrim of Merthiorn

Related Plots

• The High Rust

Related Historical Events

• 1 E.Ru
  Fall of Merthiorn
• 0 E.Alz
  Goldwaste is abandoned
• 0 E.Alz
  The High Rust kills its first governor
• 52 E.Alz
  Virgilim of Merthiorn is born
• 54 E.Alz
  Death of Queen Onnamar
• 78 E.Alz
  Birth of Queen Tesel
• 96 E.Alz
  Queen Honye is assasinated
• 110 E.Alz
  Birth of Onnamar of Merthiorn
• 418 E.Alz
  The Knowledgeholders are founded
• 490 E.Alz
  The city of Spire receives its current name
• 512 E.Alz
  Birth of Spire of Merthiorn

The lonely contained city

Flag of Bregos by Naelin

Not far from Goldwaste, an independent city-state called Bregos thrived contained inside the borders of the kingdom.
Much like Goldwaste, Bregos was located in the mountain range, though this peculiar settlement was built almost hanging from the side of the mountains, unapproachable by any but a small percentage of people highly skilled in climbing.
Bregos fell with Merthiorn to the Rust, and later on it was found that secret cave routes connected the city with the base of the mountains.

The Haan Archipelago

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Danae by Naelin

The cartographer Danae from the City of Birdland in Thaur was commissioned to draw a map of the Haan Archipelago for the second edition of The Book of the Habits and Beasts, published in the 3rd of Birthing, 3 E.Ru.
Danae took advantage of the enclyclopaedia's team of researchers to gather precise information and went himself into research expeditions to survey remote areas. His work resulted in what is considered the most accurate and widespread map of the Archipelago to this day, which details even most of the coasts of the Savage Isles.