The Theocracy of Tekhos
Aleathia escaped most of the disasters that struck the north during the mid-sixth century. As a result, the Balshan Jihad, which fed upon despair and unrest, had little success in the south. The Empire, however, was doomed. The end came in 565 with the fall of Coranan and the execution of the Emperor Medak.
The collapse of central authority caused chaos everywhere. In the city of Aleath, a republic was founded and attempts were made to create a unified opposition to the Balshans. Unfortunately, the Republic was unable to gather significant support. When Horahnam emerged as leader of the Theocracy of Tekhos in 568, Aleath's fate was sealed. Seeking to eliminate any possible treat from the city, Horahnam marched south in 569. The fortresses in his path either surrendered or were overwhelmed and Aleath was soon besieged.
The city held out for three bitter years with no hope of relief. Starvation and disease reduced the defenders to desperation. When it was obvious Aleath was doomed, hundreds slew themselves and their kin rather than be captured. In the spring of 572, the Tekhosians breached the walls and, in grisly orgy of butchery, rape, and pillage, massacred most of the remaining population. This atrocity was described by Horahnam of Tekhos as the "savage and righteous vengeance of Morgath."
A few Aleathians escaped due to Rolin and Taryn of Melesen, brothers who had immigrated from Melderyn in 552. They operated a mercantyling business and owned a number of ships. When Aleath was besieged, they advocated a plan to escape the city by sea. One month before Aleath fell, 400 adults chosen by lot and most children under 12 boarded and sailed eastward.
Foul weather scattered the fleet and more than half the vessels were lost. Many legends recount the fate of lost ships and tales are told of sunken treasure scattered along the south coast of harn. Maps occasionally turn up purporting to show the location of a wreck. The most fanciful legend is that the Halflings. Seamen tell of a race of half-sized folk who reside on an island in the Gulf of Ederwyn. It is likely that the origin of the tale was a shipwreck of some children during the Odyssey. The surviving ships gathered at Keboth Island where they were aided by the Sindarin. There they met Genin, a mage of Melderyn, and under his guidance they sailed east to establish the city of Thay in 573.
The rule of the Theocracy was harsh and brutal. Thousands were impaled or forced into outlawry. Perverse Morgathian spectacles and executions become commonplace and the tribunals, and inquisitors that enforced the new order were greatly feared. Those of the old Imperial nobility that survived either embraced the Theocracy of fled into exile.
When the empire fell, Eladas of Kand, a deputy governor of Aleathia province, declared that without an emperor to dismiss him, he would serve until a proper authority appeared. When the armies of the Theocracy crossed Eryn, Eladas declared their loyalty to Horahnam. He was allowed to maintain Edino Keep but was never trusted.
For six years, Eladas sheltered enemies of the Theocracy and began to establish a small army of refugees in the Mimea Hills. In 575, he was summoned before the Dyrisa tribunal to answer charges of heresy and treason. Knowing the inevitable result of such a summons, Eladas sent his family and retainers to safety in the Mimea Hills and calmly accepted his fate. He was tortured and impaled and his mutilated body was thrown into the Eryn; Clan Kand was declared outlaw.
The leadership of Clan Kand fell to the eldest son, Andasin. He trained a small army of desperate refugees and harassed the forces of the Theocracy. The Tekhosians made several attempts to eliminate him but failed due to rugged terrain and the friendship between Clan Kand and the Gozyda tribesmen in the area.
When the Theocracy collapsed in 588, Andasin struck, seizing Ibonost from its Tekhosian governor in the first month of 589. He founded the House of Kand and proclaimed the Kingdom of Kanday with himself as king. For the next decade, aided by the chaotic conditions of the Interregnum, Andasin extended his power.
The collapse of central authority caused chaos everywhere. In the city of Aleath, a republic was founded and attempts were made to create a unified opposition to the Balshans. Unfortunately, the Republic was unable to gather significant support. When Horahnam emerged as leader of the Theocracy of Tekhos in 568, Aleath's fate was sealed. Seeking to eliminate any possible treat from the city, Horahnam marched south in 569. The fortresses in his path either surrendered or were overwhelmed and Aleath was soon besieged.
The city held out for three bitter years with no hope of relief. Starvation and disease reduced the defenders to desperation. When it was obvious Aleath was doomed, hundreds slew themselves and their kin rather than be captured. In the spring of 572, the Tekhosians breached the walls and, in grisly orgy of butchery, rape, and pillage, massacred most of the remaining population. This atrocity was described by Horahnam of Tekhos as the "savage and righteous vengeance of Morgath."
A few Aleathians escaped due to Rolin and Taryn of Melesen, brothers who had immigrated from Melderyn in 552. They operated a mercantyling business and owned a number of ships. When Aleath was besieged, they advocated a plan to escape the city by sea. One month before Aleath fell, 400 adults chosen by lot and most children under 12 boarded and sailed eastward.
Foul weather scattered the fleet and more than half the vessels were lost. Many legends recount the fate of lost ships and tales are told of sunken treasure scattered along the south coast of harn. Maps occasionally turn up purporting to show the location of a wreck. The most fanciful legend is that the Halflings. Seamen tell of a race of half-sized folk who reside on an island in the Gulf of Ederwyn. It is likely that the origin of the tale was a shipwreck of some children during the Odyssey. The surviving ships gathered at Keboth Island where they were aided by the Sindarin. There they met Genin, a mage of Melderyn, and under his guidance they sailed east to establish the city of Thay in 573.
The rule of the Theocracy was harsh and brutal. Thousands were impaled or forced into outlawry. Perverse Morgathian spectacles and executions become commonplace and the tribunals, and inquisitors that enforced the new order were greatly feared. Those of the old Imperial nobility that survived either embraced the Theocracy of fled into exile.
When the empire fell, Eladas of Kand, a deputy governor of Aleathia province, declared that without an emperor to dismiss him, he would serve until a proper authority appeared. When the armies of the Theocracy crossed Eryn, Eladas declared their loyalty to Horahnam. He was allowed to maintain Edino Keep but was never trusted.
For six years, Eladas sheltered enemies of the Theocracy and began to establish a small army of refugees in the Mimea Hills. In 575, he was summoned before the Dyrisa tribunal to answer charges of heresy and treason. Knowing the inevitable result of such a summons, Eladas sent his family and retainers to safety in the Mimea Hills and calmly accepted his fate. He was tortured and impaled and his mutilated body was thrown into the Eryn; Clan Kand was declared outlaw.
The leadership of Clan Kand fell to the eldest son, Andasin. He trained a small army of desperate refugees and harassed the forces of the Theocracy. The Tekhosians made several attempts to eliminate him but failed due to rugged terrain and the friendship between Clan Kand and the Gozyda tribesmen in the area.
When the Theocracy collapsed in 588, Andasin struck, seizing Ibonost from its Tekhosian governor in the first month of 589. He founded the House of Kand and proclaimed the Kingdom of Kanday with himself as king. For the next decade, aided by the chaotic conditions of the Interregnum, Andasin extended his power.
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