Rusgomath - The Rotting Kingdom
Founded around the year 400 BA (Before Arden), Rusgomath was a smaller kingdom that emerged from the remnants of Ethessia. Located in the central-western region of Northern Vastalia, it was a prime location to attempt to reforge a country and unite the peoples of the land. Relative stability came in its initial year, thanks in part to a group of visionary adventurers and leaders that founded the country. The first official ruler, Lord Cedric Grymhart, was a skilled diplomat and strategist, instrumental in forming alliances with neighbouring regions and fostering trade relations.
Ethessia's Curse and Eldritch Residue
Rusgomath flourished for centuries, and between the years 300 BA and 1 AF (Arden's Foundation), the kingdom was on its way to becoming the dominant power in the region. However, unbeknownst to the citizens of the thriving country, the fallout of the calamity that bought about the Vastalian Dark Ages still lingered. Strange, otherworldly energies had seeped into the world, the arcane residue tainting the soil, air and water. An unseen menace would soon be unleashed upon the land.Ethereal Rot
Around the year 50 AF, a mysterious and virulent plague began to spread across the kingdom. At first, it was crops that withered and local fauna showed signs of strange mutation. The origins were traced back to strange magical energies that seemed to seep in to the Material Plane. It wasn't long before deadly, luminescent fungi began to appear, mutating from those that has already been infected. This fungi soon began to release its spores, bringing infection in to the land and its inhabitants at an alarming rate. Entire ecosystems were soon changed, taking the form of grotesque, fungal landscapes. The populace experienced debilitating illnesses, marked by hallucinations, madness, and physical deformities. Extended limbs, glowing eyes, and ethereal tendrils were common signs of infection, along with a shimmering, translucent veil over their bodies.Containment and Desperation
The rulers of Rusgomath, initially unaware of the Eldritch connection, attempted various containment measures. Quarantines, magical wards, and even mass exodus were employed, but the fungal plague defie conventional solutions. Prince Alaric Grymhart, one of the descendants of Lord Cedric, was a visionary prince with a passion for exploring the mysteries of the plague infesting the land. With his idealism, he sought ways to harness the power of the eldritch energies for the benefit of Rusgomath. Despite his promising research, his experiments inadvertently accelerated the spread of Ethereal Rot, unwittingly contributing to the kingdom's downfall.The Rotting Kingdom
By the year 100 AF, Rusgomath was no more. The landscape warped and changed to a sea of glowing mushrooms and fungi, nothing could stop the inevitable collapse of the kingdom. Cities were abandoned and the dreams of a new Ethessia crushed. Only ruins remain this day, encased in the vile eldritch clasp of the fungal plague. Inhabitants still exist, shambling across the land, their minds overtaken with the otherworldly flora. The fall of Rusgomath left a lasting impact on the surrounding regions. The threat of the Eldritch Rot spreading across the borders was ever-present. Neighbouring kingdoms began preparing their own defences, each taking extreme measures to protect their own legacy. The ruins of Rusgomath, now shrouded in an eerie luminescence from the fungal remnants, stands as a constant threat and reminder of the unknown powers that bought a once-mighty kingdom crumbling down.400 BA - 100 AF
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Rusgomathian
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