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"Harnendor is the light."
The first year of the Harnendorian Calendar (HC) marks the formation of the "Southmaren Empire, and the transition from mankind's dark, lawless past to a better future. Histories and records have been kept in the royal Harnendorian libraries ever since.
It is often said that human civilization was born in the formation of Harnendor. Previously, tribal warlords carved empires with their blades, ruling by strength alone, but these lasted only as long as the warlord lived. The Avathars of the East had built a vast Necroalchemical Empire thousands of years earlier, but it only lasted as long as its founder.
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Year 1 marks the rise of Harnendor, also known as the Southmaren Empire, which spanned two seas and brought civilization to many dark corners of the world. Harnendor was unlike all of the human empires before in that it remained intact after the death of its warlord founder.
Long ago, free tribes of humans calling themselves Southmarens wandered the warm Southeastern coasts, hunting, fishing, and taming the wilderness. The early Southmarens worshiped primitive avian and sea gods, which some religious scholars attribute to early visitations by Suul, Mrmym, and Tyaa.
A brief year of conflict between tribes was put to rest by the warlord "Aegon the Falconmaster". After unifying the tribes, Aegon fortified his ancestral home on a coastal cliff, building the the Hawk's Fortress of Harnendor. He then crowned himself Emperor of the Southmaren Empire of Harnendor. The black falcon standard of Harnendor spread North and South along the coast, and as far East as the Cloudspine Mountains, building unfortified hamlets and fishing villages in the peaceful countryside. A pious man, Aegon had numerous statues and shrines to Southmaren sea bird gods built along the coastline, which exist to this day.
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Eventually the Harnendorian Empire encountered Northmen and began to trade southern grain for northern timber and furs. A coastal tradepost was established on a vital mountain crossroads near old green stone ruins from a forgotten age. The tradepost became a town and then a major city with great speed, eventually becoming so wealthy, influential, and strategic that the Emperor moved his court there and established the Imperial city of Aquila.
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When the Draconian Empire of the Baal spread, the Harnendorian Emperor shrewdly bargained for peace, building a glorious Baal dragon temple at the head of their own holy buildings in Aquila. The Emperor also traded Harnendorian grain for Dwur stone and steel, providing a reliable source of supplies for the turbulent Draconian expansion.
The Draconian Empire commanded the construction of a massive canal to seal the treaty pact between the Harnendor and Draconian Empires. Created by Dwur under command of the Baal, the Grand Canal of Mrmym was created--a massive aqueduct that joins the "Sea of Fallen Stars" and the Dragon Sea. The waterway begins as a mighty river flowing from the heart of the ruins of the Harnendorian Empire and ends a a canal at Aquila on the Dragon Sea. This massive undertaking would take over a decade and countless workers to widen and fortify the natural waterway, and span the width of a continent.
Aquila greatly benefited from Dwur masonry and became a fortified city capable of withstanding any army, particularly the northern barbarian hordes of the day. Aquilan smiths learned the riddle of Dwur steel-craft, becoming masterful bladesmith and innovators who created blades such as the rapier. Aquilan blades and fencing instructors became highly sought after by other nations, particularly after the fall of the Draconian Empire and influx of Northern barbarian tribes.
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The road runs along the coast of the Dragon Sea from Aquila to Rhi'Uruloki, along edge of the Red Waste. The road was created long ago when the newly forged trade pact between Harnendor and Urulokidor outstretched the capacity of the Southmaren fleets. Over time, Southmaren desert tribes known as the Haradjinn resettled the ruins of Baal cities and the region of Haradjiaa was born.
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The "Stone of Udon" has stood in the Silver Pass of the Wintercrown Mountains since the flight of the Baal from the "Battle Plain of Sepulchre". The stone is carved with Dwur runes issuing a challenge: "Death flows forth from these mountains without cunning or number. Whosoever can protect this place will rule the Dwur."
When the Dwur marched home from their wars with the Baal against the Wyrms, they found allies with a tribe of Alorns who were called the Alglonds, who were hard-pressed to defend their homes against the undead hordes streaming forth from Sepulchre. In a savage war that lasted ten years, the Dwur reclaimed the mountain peak, pass, and upper halls of their Dwurdelf of Zirakzigil. After retaking their sacred halls, the Dwur gave thanks to the Alorns and swore an eternal alliance upon the "Stone of Udon". The Karrocks were given their freedom, no longer bound to serve the Dwur, but able to pursue whatever lives they chose, or to stay and build a new nation.
To forestall future invasions, a vast wall was built to entirely block the "Silver Pass". A fortress was built around the mountain peak to defend the Shieldwall, which grew into the "White City" of Aegis, the Shield of the North. The lower halls, called the Underdeeps, contained passages to Sepulchre and the greatest concentration of undead. The Dwur sealed these dark, lower levels with stone and silver, forcing the undead to attack the Shieldwall where they could be weakened by the light of the searing sun. The stalwart warriors of Alglondor maintain a constant vigil upon these walls, seeing themselves as protectors of mankind from the undead horrors of Sepulchre.
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