The Greater Southgate Area
Constituting the north-western end of the Azure Coast, along with the Wolvesden Woodlands area, the fertile grasslands west of the Great River were first settled by humans almost two thousand years ago (around -503 A.R.). The first human city in these grasslands was Vinamar, founded in -484 A.R. However, this fledging city (more like a mid-size town, actually) was ransacked and burnt to the ground by orcs in -422 A.R, lasting a little more than 60 years.
The city of Andramar rose from the ashes of Vimanar in -379 and eventually became a powerful city-state in its own right, which not only ruled all the grassland area west of the Great River, but also sometimes contended against the elven kingdom of Oaklarand. But power corrupts and it was through corruption and shady leadership that this city fell victim to the combined might of two large and fierce goblin tribes, in -174 A.R.
So it came to be that the city-state known today as Southgate arose in turn from the ashes of Andramar in -117 A.R. Not without a very turbulent and often harrowing history, the city nonetheless survived wars, monarchs and despots for more than a millenium to become one of the largest (if not *the* largest) and most powerful cities of Anarym.
Today (1396 A.R.), Southgate is a political, military, economic and cultural/academic powerhouse of the Azure Coast. The fact that the city acts as the main transition point for all sea trade between the Azure Coast and the whole of the Sails Coast (including the kingdom of Istemper, a chief trading rival) further north certainly has played a big role in establishing its proeminence as a trading power of south-west Anarym. Southgate now rules by influence all of the grasslands west of the Great River, which now include the trade and mining city of Westlyn (founded: 1175 A.R.) and the collection of farming communities and holdings known as the Eastern Farmholds (established: 1328 A.R.). Only Farstone, a trading post of the dwarven undercity of Ardanholme, and the Spear Towers (constructed: 968 A.R.), a series of fortified fortresses shared in alliance with Oaklarand, are not under the control of the city.
After a long succession of dynastic monarchies and ruthless despots, the Southgate of today is ruled by the Four Lords: a Tradelord, who oversees trade and economics; a Warlord, who leads all things military and the policing of the city; a Magelord, who takes care of all things magical, academic and cultural; and lastly, but not least, a Highlord who rules above the three others. The identities of the Four Lords have ever been seldom public knowledge and is known to change after death or secret deposition (usually by the High Lord). In this respect, some argue that the position of High Lord is in fact a covert form of hereditary monarchy.
Lastly, it is noteworthy that the worship of good (e.g. Agrah, Lharishar, Dianchuur, Tyr, Ukkor, etc.), lawful (e.g. Codan, Odan, etc.) and neutral (e.g. Erond, Danuur, Hurme, Woralduur, etc.) powers has ever been predominant throughout the whole of the Greater Southgate area. The exception to this rule occured between 66 A.R. and 422 A.R. - This "dark period" began with the rule of the dark majestrix Anlara Tyrane (reigned: 51 to 70 A.R.), first of the Magiarchs (from 51 to 432 A.R.) of Southgate, and her forcible expulsion of all goodly/lawful worships during the Year of Sorrows (52 A.R.) in order to allow only evil worships (e.g. Sorcere, Kharalkuur, Graaz'z, etc. - although the worship of chaotic and/or neutral powers was nonetheless tolerated as long as such worship remained minor). Things worsened during the 300 year-reign of terror of the ruthless Magiarch Marloch Sorceron (a lich; reigned: 70 to 370 A.R.), when the church of Orcas (God of terror, horror, atrocities, and undeath) rose to unprecedented heights in prevalence and power. However, it would be only after the deposition of the next-to-last Magiarch, Crenax Faralax (reigned: 370 to 422 A.R.), that the worship of evil/chaotic powers would be driven out (or at best, underground) and the worship of good/lawful powers would be finally restored.
The Greater Southgate area constitutes a part of the adventuring locale in the scenarios Dead of Night and Realm of Death.
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