Chelmaea
Chelmaea or Chelmennia, sometimes New Chelmennia, is a border region that lies between the Mashiq and the greater Shanindar Mountain Range.
Full of rugged hills, switchback creeks, and high pastures, it is a poor country and claimed in name only by its rulers. During The Mithril Era, it was known as Chelmennia and home to the Chelmennians. It was largely depopulated in the last years of Palladian Era as it formed a natural boundary between the Palladian Empire and Shanindar Empire.
Today, it is nominally claimed the Kingdom of Jeharoa and the Qartagonian Emirate of Nisroch. In reality, it has largely been controlled by a series warring gnoll cackles for the past century, with each clan vying for the tribute and alliegence of the Pilgrim States, Qartagonian Emirates, or Shanindar Empire.
Geography
Chelmaea consists of plateaus and high hills, dissected by streams and river valleys carved out by the water, the valleys having steeply sloping sides. Though much of the region's streams have dried or had their flow reduced, the effects of their erosion remains. Over the millennia, they and the wind has formed the multi-coloured cliffs, rock towers, pillars, tent rocks and chimney rock formations present in the region.
It's limited shoreline is exceptionally rocky, with few accessible beachheads. Most of the regions limited rainfall seeps into the ground before flowing out to sea. As a result, the region has never had a strong coastal presence.
Ecosystem
Chelmaea is quite arid, receiving an annual precipitation of only 380 mm (15 in) and there is little vegetation except in riverine corridors. During the Mithril Era, the region was considerably wetter, with enough rainfall to sustain extensive grassland and forest biomes. Today, much of the region's vegetation is scrub with some hardy tree species forming shaded copses.
History
During The Mithril Era, Chelmaea was known as Chelmennia and was home to a mortal kingdom that shared the same name. The Chelmennians were primarily an aasimar people and had close ties to the early Ashkelonian Dynasty of Jeharoa. Records show that at some point, the Chelmennians became known for having an influx in orcish folk. These early Chelmennians were known to be strong riders and have a semi-nomadic horse culture.
During the reign of Sethenes II, the Chelmennian king rallied to the defense of his cousin, Queen Ashbahal of Jeharoa when the holy city was under attack. At the Battle of the Bitter Hills of Menethoa, the Pharaoh of Temekan defeated the Chelmennians, killing scores and forcing the rest to flee in terror.
Over the rest of the Mithril Era, the Chelmennians would wane in influence as the Great House of Temekan continued to grow. In the late Mithril Period, the region would be annexed by the dwarves of the Shanindar Empire. The dwarves would build several settlements in the area including the cities of Gormë and Nisroch. They also began the practice of hewing structures out of the many bluffs and rock chimneys.
Just before the Reckoning of Temekan, the Temekanian under Ozha-Ban raided the region for sacrificial victims, leaving much of the land empty. Those that survived hid in the great warrens built that had been built by the Shanindar. The survivors of this period would be known as the New Chelmennians, as they would have little connection to the Shanindar but were more dwarven and orcish than aasimar.
During Palladian Era, Chelmennia was conquered by the Palladian Empire and became the province of Chelmaea. It was used as a buffer state between the Holy Land of the Mashiq and the Palladians' rivals, the Shanindar. Wars between the Palladians and the Shanindar resulted in a number of the region's few cities sacked or destroyed, as well as several important fortresses constructed by either side. Still, the Palladians showed little interest in the region due to its lack of signficant resources and viewed the region's largely dwarven population with intense distrust.
Finally, the Gladiator Wars saw the most significant conflict within the region. Chelmaea's largest city, Gormë, was sacked twice, the second time by the Palladians themselves. They sealed many of the warren city's entrances and then made bonfires at other exits. Those inside soon suffocated, leading to the near total annihilation of the city's inhabitants. By the Sundering Arcana, its believed that upwards of 80 percent of Chelmaeans had perished.
Over the past three centuries of Sundered Era, few mortals have returned to Chelmaea. The Shanindar Empire instead prioritized rebuilding itself and warding off their new neighbors, the Qartagonian Emirates. The Qartagonian did take control of Chelmaea during their conquests, and created an emirate based at Nisroch to oversee it. However, decades before the First Pilgrim War, the Emirate was all but disbanded after its army experienced a crushing defeat in the Shanindar.
In the interim, a substantial population of gnoll has established themselves in the region. They had always existed in the area, preying on shepherd flocks and retreating into the widespread badlands, but without the presence of an active state, they have been allowed to thrive. Those few mortals that still live in the warren outposts pay tribute to various cackles in exchange for protection, and have been reportedly unbothered by their presence.
Now, one clan—the Cleftcrescent Cackle—has allied with the Qartagonian Sultana Safaar Qosaariya eld-Sadek in her quest to recapture the Mashiq. Their leader, an elderly she-gnoll named Szilvacca Moonseye, has pledged her cackle's raiders in exchange for being named the new Emira of Nisroch, ushering in a renewed interest in the region.
Alternative Name(s)
Chelmennia; Chelmennaea;
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