From: John P Hughes (john.hughes@anu.edu.au)
Date: Wed 15 Jun 1994 - 01:24:42 EEST
PART 2 OF 3...
PART TWO:
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND
THE TRIBES OF ALDA-CHUR, CIRCA 1620 S.T.
(Sources: KOS, GOG, Rough Guide to Boldhome, RQ-Con Booklet).
Note: Helena Truespear is a personality from my own campaign and the
Ironspike series of convention modules. All other persons mentioned
are real and official until they get gregged :-).
Alda-chur was once part of Tarsh, and joined Sartar quite recently
(1583), after Lunar influences and Lunar-aligned kings split the
northern kingdom. The tribes of Far Point are tough and single-minded.
Former Tarsh Exiles, they have regularly faced Tarshite and Lunar
armies, Sartarite raiders, the Chaos out of SnakePipe Hollow, Uz from
Dagori Inkarth, Tusk Riders from the Stinking Forest and the occasional giant.
More recently, political intrigues centring on Alda-chur itself have also
claimed many lives.
The dominant tribe of the Alda-chur Confederation is the Vantaros, led by the Yelmalio Prince Havar Ironfist. His followers are pro-Lunar, with a core of traditional (and conservative) Yelmalio sun worshippers. Gargarth the Hunter is the tribal God. Helena Truespear, Scimitar of Yanafal Tarnils, is the popular young leader of the more progressive pro-Lunar faction, and is a favourite of Fazzur Wideread. Note: Ironfist is becoming increasingly conservative in his Solar ways, and aspires to the cult of Yelm. He has alienated most of the Lunar authorities. The Vantaros' traditional allies are the Yelmalio-dominated Princeros.
The Tovtaros tribe are more traditional Orlanthi, though depleted in both strength and numbers since the unsuccessful Righteous Wind Revolt of 1611. Like most Orlanthi in the North, they have become 'Earth' worshippers (Ernalda or Barntar), and so the Flame Festival has become a hotbed of sedition and intrigue.
The traditionally Sartarite Dinacoli tribe joined with Ironfist during Starbrow's Rebellion in 1613, and have since joined the Alda-chur Confederation. They are minor players, and do not share the Tarshite language. While popularly dismissed as ignorant outsiders, the Dinacoli provide important support to pro-Orlanthi elements among the northern tribes.
Other tribes of the Confederation are the Tres and the Amad, based around Alone. They include a strong Orlanthi element, but intrude little into Alda-chur politics.
HISTORY OF THE ALDA-CHURI
(Page references refer to King of Sartar. G = Genertela book from
GCHW. R = RQII Timeline).
Some slight contradictions occurred -
not all sources are equal! I have preferred more recent over older
material, and in KOS, the Composite History over Argrath's Saga. I've
also had to correct Chaosium's own mistranslations of Lunar calendar
dates!
1330 Arim the Pauper enters Dragon Pass after Holay defeated
by the Conquering Daughter. Courts Sorana Tor, founds Tarsh tribe.
(117). First human reoccupation of Far Point.
1395 Yarandros conquers dissenting Orlanthi, founds Kingdom of Tarsh. (118).
1448-55 Tarsh civil war. Tarkalor of the Princeros, Prince of Alda-chur, unsuccessfully declares himself king of Tarsh. (121).
1455 Illaro Blacktooth becomes king of Tarsh: negotiates with the Alda-churi - together they plunder the Quivini. (122).
1490 Hon Eel the Artess seduces and marries King Pyjeemsab of Tarsh. Pyjeemsab disappears during honeymoon, Hon Eel declares herself regent. Alda-churi and Kerofini rebel, slaughter Lunar inhabitants, seize property to hire mercenaries. Battle of Dancing Sisters. Lunar victory. Kingdom fractured. Anti-Lunar tribes become Tarsh Exiles. (124).
1496-1535 Reign of Phoronestes of Tarsh. Exile power weakens considerably.
1510+ Sartar's roads help Alda-chur become an important trading city.
1520 Apotheosis of Sartar.
1538 King Philigos of Tarsh leads army to battle against Exiles.
Earthquake Temple destroys his army,
and city of Furthest, and uncompleted temple of the Reaching Moon.
Palashee Long Axe, leader of the Exiles, claims throne of Tarsh and
rules from Furthest (125). He is assisted by King Jarolor of Sartar
(139).
1539-40 Dragonewt's Dream. Palashee befriends dragonewts. Philigos waits.
1551 Reaching Moon Temple consecrated. Glowline extended. (G41).
1555 Sons of Philigos return with Lunar army. Battle of Karnge Farm. Lunars defeated. However Phargentes slays Palashee and regains throne for his line. (126).
1555-79 Phargentees continually battles Exiles and Sartar (127).
1565 Jarolor killed defending the Alda-churi against Tarsh/Lunar army at Battle of Dwarf Ford (139).
1582 King Moriades of Tarsh (with Lunar aid) confronts exiles at Battle of Grizzly Peak. Exiles defeated. Death there of Tarkalor, King of Sartar. Fall of Bagnot. Seige of Alda-chur. (127, 140).
1583 King Terasin lifts seige of Alda-chur and convinces them to join Kingdom of Sartar. His son weds a Tovtaros chieftain. Terasin becomes WarLord of the Alda- churi, and designs new wall and towers for his city. Completes Road from Dangerford to Alda-chur. Builds city of Alone for Tarsh survivors of Grizzly Peak. (42-44, 140).
1585+ Alda-chur thrives as the trade crosspoint between Boldhome, Tarsh, and Prax.
1588 Birth of Jar-eel the Razoress (G34).
1602 Lunar invasion. Household of Death leads Alda-churi army against Tarsh. Attacked by Uz and Tusk riders. Destroyed at the Glowline by Lunar magics. (141).
1606 Orlanth priests agitate for violent expulsion of Lunar missionaries.
1611 Many tribal moots break up in dispute. Righteous Wind Rebellion. Storm Season - Alda-chur torn apart by rioting. Harvar Ironfist destroys Orlanthi at their holy site - becomes Prince of the Alda-churi. Purges Orlanthi elements. Refugees swarm southwards. (144).
1613 Starbrow's Rebellion. Fazzur Wideread takes command of Lunar forces as General of Provincial Army (145). Northern Sartar places itself under Kingdom of Tarsh (128).
1621 Fazzur removed from Sartar, takes command of Tarsh army (128).
1625 Clayday, Harmony, Earth. Dragon destroys Temple of Reaching Moon. Argrath invades from Prax, Broyan from the south. Boldhome rebellion. Lunar garrisons slain.Pharandros sends army to seize Alda-chur. Sympathisers open gates, and many join his army.
1626 Starbrow attempts Short Lightbringer's Quest.
Battle of the Queens (Old Top),
where the Creek meets the Upland Marsh. Starbrow killed. Conversion
of Helena Truespear. Lunar bivouacs in Alda-chur enrage citizens and
kill chief guildsman Tarkalor Vandarlsson. In Dark season, Argrath
leads makeshift bands into Alda-churi lands, enlisting clans on the way.
Tarsh bivouacs desert. Lunar regulars destroyed by Argrath (Sword
Hill). Alda-churi raise Argrath on their sacred shield - king asks him to
rekindle flame of Sartar. (155-6).
1627 Day 88 - Argrath rekindles flame. Alda-churi tribes among those to
acknowledge him Prince of
Sartar and Warlord of the Sartari.
1630 Fazzurites request Argrath's
help. Temple of Reaching Moon in Furthest destroyed.
CONTINUED...
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