House of Shosel: Forging a Kingdom
The Mearkis Chronicles, which document the found of CHybisa, say that Shobald of Shosel, a Mederyni knight, arrived in the Ulmerien Valley in 160 TR. The tome, written by an advisor to SHobald, recounts how he unified the tribes and petty kingdoms of the region and established the kingdom of Chybisa. Many of the Melderyni immigrants who accompanied Shobald became significant figures in his new realm.
Shobald spent his reign expanding and securing Chybisa. He built a tower on an island in the Ulmerien and established his seat of government nearby on its north bank. He had a bridge built across the river to link his seat to a Harin hill fort on the south bank that had been populated since ancient times. Other strongholds were established, some on the foundations of ancient Khuzan structures. At its greatest extent, Chybisa claimed the land between the Osel and Ulmerien rivers and extended a few leagues south of the Ulmerien to encompass lands between present-day Lerenil and Geda.
The Migration Wars
In the middle of the 2nd century TR, eastern Harn, enjoyed decades of unusually mild weather. Excellent crop yields and plentiful game led to population growth in civilized realms and barbarian tribes. As the good weather waned, the gargun that had established themselves in the highlands forced the tribes to range further afield for sustenance, bringing them into conflict with the kingdoms that were cultivating more land to feed their people.
THe Pagaelin began ravaging Chybisa's northern settlements in 180, with traumatic effect on the young kingdom. As civilization retreated southward, King Shobald led his forces north in 183 to halt the Pagaelin advance. Shobalde never returned, his fate unknown. Shobald's successor, Verlid I, probed to be an able general who kept the barbarians at bay throughout his reign. His son Verlid II, strengthened defenses throughout Chybisa and built Burzyn Keep atop the ancient hill fort near Shobald's tower, providing a refuge and rallying point for the kingdom. If not for his efforts, subsequent Bujoc and Hordiri rampages would have destroyed Chybisa.
Verid II ended the Migration Wars for Chybisa when he narrowly defeated the Hodiri at the gates of Burzyn in 227. Although Chybisa had lost more than three quarters of its territory, succeeding monarchs showed little inclination to reclaim the lost lands. Manors were built north and south of the Ulmerien, but in general the remaining Shosel kings were content with their timny realm along the river.
The last two kings of the SHosel dynasty took an active interest in external affairs. As a young knight, the future Verlid V traveled widely on many adventures. Most significantly, he fought on the side of Aidrik II against Fierth the Usurper in the Kaldoric Civil War. After Verlid V became King of Chybisa in 375, Aidrik sent his son, andarik to the safety of Verlid's court. With the death of Aidrik II in 377, Verlid V provided sanctuary to Andarik, his two sisters, and some loyal retainers.
Verlid VI continued his father's policies and favored Andarik for the Kaldorc throne. This position earned him a great deal of resentment from Fierth's son and successor, Uthred. After Uthred's assassination in 406, Andarik became King of Kaldor as Aidrik III, and relations between Kaldor and Chybisa were very close for a time. This closeness resulted in a number of marriages between the tow kingdoms, relations that, although strained by time and distance, remain.
Shobald 160-183
Verlid I 183-210
Verlid II 210-251
Colasten I 251-284
Verlid III 284-316
Verlid IV 316-350
Nyrenalis 350-354
Colasten II 354-375
Verlid V 375-392
Verlid VI 392-409
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