Sarkoris (sah-KOHR-ihs)
The historical Kellid realm of Sarkoris was a savage land of fiercely painted warriors and witches located in north-central Avistan. Established in 3672 AR after tribes defeated the frost giants of the Northmounds, it lasted until the opening of the Worldwound in 4606 AR, after which it was quickly overrun by armies of demons who destroyed or corrupted all in their path. Today, the lands of Old Sarkoris are known as the Sarkoris Scar.
History
Aroden and Deskari
Sarkorian mystics had long identified that the barrier between planes was thin in Sarkoris. Historically, the central region of barrows known as the Northmounds was haunted by strange monsters, and infested by cultists of Deskari, demon lord of the Locust Host. In 4433 AR, Aroden drove the cult into the Lake of Mists and Veils and, for a while, made the region safe from further demonic incursions.
The western city of Dyinglight was the spiritual heart of Sarkorian religion, with an impressive ring of idols revering Pulura, Mistress of the Stars.
The country's central plateau was the site of numerous mines, and the nearby city of Iz was a centre of stone and metalworking.
Miners from the plateau would also trade in the city of Undarin, rubbing shoulders with the herders of western Sarkoris bringing their flocks to market.
The shaman-ruled south eastern city of Storasta remained an independent city for centuries. However, following an incident in 4000 AR, the high witch-wardens of the three other major cities, Iz, Dyinglight, and Undarin, and the Warlord Uloric Dziergas annexed the city and brought it into the nation of Sarkoris.
The death of Aroden in 4606 AR also saw the appearance of the Worldwound, a gaping gateway to the Abyss, in the heart of Sarkoris. The nearby city of Iz was the first to fall to demonic forces, and the other clan-holds soon followed. The very land became warped and twisted, and demons continued to spew forth from the Worldwound.
The city of Storasta was the last to fall, its sacred circles defended ferociously by tribal witches and shamans, aided by druids from Mendev and Numeria. Their bloody last stand is commemorated in the tragic Song of Sarkoris.
The church of Iomedae, appalled by the demonic invasion, declared the Mendevian Crusades in 4622 AR in order to drive back the demons. The first several crusades were somewhat successful at containing the threat but still the majority of Sarkoris remained firmly under demonic control.
Only the remote southern town of Gundrun remained free during this time, mainly because the demons had more or less forgotten about it in their larger conflict with Mendev. Refugees of lost Sarkoris huddled there, all that remained of a once-proud culture.
Society before the Worldwound
Before its fall into the Worldwound, Sarkoris worshiped a host of different gods, some of which are still known today while most have disappeared into obscurity. Though a good number of lesser deities, hero gods, and venerated heroes have been long forgotten, some names survive. These include Alglenweis, daughter of Kostchtchie, the Stag Mother of the Forest of Stones and the dawn-feathered children of Sturovenen the Dragoneagle.The western city of Dyinglight was the spiritual heart of Sarkorian religion, with an impressive ring of idols revering Pulura, Mistress of the Stars.
The country's central plateau was the site of numerous mines, and the nearby city of Iz was a centre of stone and metalworking.
Miners from the plateau would also trade in the city of Undarin, rubbing shoulders with the herders of western Sarkoris bringing their flocks to market.
The shaman-ruled south eastern city of Storasta remained an independent city for centuries. However, following an incident in 4000 AR, the high witch-wardens of the three other major cities, Iz, Dyinglight, and Undarin, and the Warlord Uloric Dziergas annexed the city and brought it into the nation of Sarkoris.
Demonic Invasion
A few years before the prophesied return of Aroden, stirrings of new demonic cults began. Sarkoris' strange mystics made grim predictions of the nation's fall, speaking of ascendant chaos and a thinness between the planes in their haunting orations. However, the people were mostly confident that Aroden's return would directly lead to a final end of these cults. Unfortunately, the mystics were proven correct when Aroden's death occurred.The death of Aroden in 4606 AR also saw the appearance of the Worldwound, a gaping gateway to the Abyss, in the heart of Sarkoris. The nearby city of Iz was the first to fall to demonic forces, and the other clan-holds soon followed. The very land became warped and twisted, and demons continued to spew forth from the Worldwound.
The city of Storasta was the last to fall, its sacred circles defended ferociously by tribal witches and shamans, aided by druids from Mendev and Numeria. Their bloody last stand is commemorated in the tragic Song of Sarkoris.
The church of Iomedae, appalled by the demonic invasion, declared the Mendevian Crusades in 4622 AR in order to drive back the demons. The first several crusades were somewhat successful at containing the threat but still the majority of Sarkoris remained firmly under demonic control.
Only the remote southern town of Gundrun remained free during this time, mainly because the demons had more or less forgotten about it in their larger conflict with Mendev. Refugees of lost Sarkoris huddled there, all that remained of a once-proud culture.
The Sarkoris Scar
in 4718 AR, the Fifth Mendevian Crusade succeeded at vanquishing Deskari and closed the Worldwound. Since then, the land has been known as the Sarkoris Scar, and the tribes that once called it home are beginning to resettle it. Several cities, including Storasta and Iz, have been reclaimed, but demons still rove the hills and plains and Sarkoris is far from returned to its old glory.Disbandment
Ovenrun by demons emerging from the Worldwound in 4606 AR.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
3672 AR - 4606 AR
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Successor Organization
Demonym
Sarkorian
Location
Official Languages
Druidism; Green Faith; Pulura; and many more
Comments