The Lands of Tandranor
The lands comprised between the Azure River (to the west), the Crystal Sea and its tributaries (to the north and east), and the northern face of the Crystalmist Mountain Range and its eastward protruding Mist Ridge (to its south) have always been settled in one way or another as far as human memory can remember. Lost fabled empires such as Telluria (fall: c.a. -13000 A.R.) and Lankharh (fall: c.a. -10000 A.R.) are known to have erected cities in these lands, although evidence of such cities are themselves lost. Indeed, other cities have been built over their ruins throughout the millennia so as to have erased any traces of Tellurian or Lankharhan presence in these lands.
Likewise, the knowledge of those cities and nations which arose in these lands following the fall of the last known empire, Lankharh, is itself rather fragmented and mostly lost to the millennia that have come and gone - although it is accepted wisdom that numerous tomes detailing the history of such cities and nations are to be found in the deepest vaults of the biggest libraries of Arandor, the oldest enduring nation of the Crystal Sea. Nonetheless, the names of some of such lost cities and nations are still remembered to this day, if only in myths and fables:
The recorded history of the region (at least which still survives to this day) begins with the foundation of Tanduur in -1722 A.R. from the ruins of Khandalar (founded: c.a. -3300 A.R.; fall: c.a. -1900 A.R.), the former capital of the kingdom of Khandarym which had preceeded the kingdom's birth and even outlasted it some three centuries after its fall. Tanduur in turn eventually grew in power and stature, becoming the seat of power of the warrior-kingdom of Tandranor (proclaimed: -1351 A.R.). Often contending against Arandor, Tandranor sought to extend its territories through the settlement of colonies such as Valaduur (founded: -1212 A.R.) to its east, and Enduur (founded: -1133 A.R.) to its south. Another proeminent city of Tandranor was Nisilduur (founded in -1709 A.R. upon the ruins of Haranlar, a former city of the defunct kingdom of Khandarym), often seeking to become the seat of power of the militaristic warrior-kingdom. It was therefore perhaps inevitable that Tandranor fell through internal wars, stryfe and anarchy in -996 A.R..
Of all the cities of Tandranor, only Tanduur and Nisilduur survived. Likewise, the somewhat isolated colonies of Enduur and Valaduur continued to thrive and grow without the support of their former motherland. Having never forgotten the defunct warrior-kingdom for which it was the capital, Tanduur eventually felt strong enough again to undertake the task of reconstituting Tandranor. However, Nisilduur, as well as Enduur and Valaduur, fiercely resisted Tanduur's move to regain sovereignty over them. Hence the War of the Kingdom Reborn (-594 to -572 A.R.), which proved disastrous military and economically for an over-extended Tanduur, failing miserably in its forceful bid to reconstitute Tandranor against the wills of Nisilduur, Valaduur and Enduur. The profound lack of desire to reconstitute any nation under the rule of Tanduur was such for Nisilduur, that the city changed its name to Wateredge not long after the end of the war (i.e. in -570 A.R.), forsaking its Tandranorian roots. Other clashes between Tanduur and Wateredge, or between Tanduur and Enduur (or Valaduur), would occur during the ensuing centuries. Incidentally, it is because of Tanduur's proeminence and its persisting dream of reconstituting the warrior-kingdom that the lands of this area remain known to this day as the Lands of Tandranor (although the people of Wateredge strongly resent this designation!).
Today (1396 A.R.), Tanduur is still a military powerhouse - however, it is kept well in check by an informal coalition formed by Wateredge, Valaduur and Allaranth to its east, while remaining under the ever-watchful eye of Arandor to its north. Nonetheless, Tanduur rules by influence and might more or less the western half of the former boundaries of Tandranor, with the Clearwaters River acting as its eastward border. Despite its overtly expansionist aims, Tanduur trades with Wateredge, Valaduur and other cities of the Crystal Sea (but little with Arandor), while seeking to control all the trade coming from the Middle Azure Coast to its south-west. Places of note within Tanduur's area of influence are the mining city of Valekeep (founded: -479 A.R.), which was conquered/captured from Wateredge's influence in 39 A.R. (during the Third War of the Kingdom Reborn, from 34 A.R. to 40 A.R.), and the heavily fortified trade and mining city of Stonehold (founded: 121 A.R.), which happens to be populated largely by "kingless" dunedarym dwarves (rumored to be descendants of the lost undercity of Duhelarholme). Ever since its foundation, Tanduur has been ruled by despots, often hereditary (if not through assassination, military coups, et al.) and using the title of "Archlord". The current tanduurian ruler is the Archlord Raikhan II of the Tandarym dynasty. It is of note that the worship of chaotic (e.g. Barask, Narune, etc.) and evil (Domorash, Graaz'z, Kharalkuur, Hates, etc.) powers are predominant in Tanduur, although neutral powers (e.g. Lugath, Thask, Woralduur, etc.) are also worshiped to some extent within its area of influence.
Nisilduur/Wateredge of today remains a determined adversary and competitor of Tanduur, and is a genuine economic, military and diplomatic power of the Crystal Sea, entertaining peaceful and cordial (if not friendly) relations with Arandor, Valaduur, Allaranth and Crescendel. However, it keeps a watchful eye not only on Tanduur, but on the scheming and expansionist Chrysopruur as well. Wateredge rules by influence more or less the eastern half of the former boundaries of Tandranor, with the Clearwaters River acting as its westward border. Places of note within Wateredge's area of influence are the port city of Clearwaters (founded: -308 A.R.), the heavily fortified city of Rivenkeep (founded: 42 A.R.) and the imposing ancient fortress of the Crimson Towers, originally constructed in -1344 A.R. by Tandranor to fend-off recurring forays of humanoids from the Marches of the Beastmen and in control of Nisilduur/Wateredge since c.a. -850 A.R. Ever since the fall of Tandranor, Nisildur/Wateredge has been ruled by hereditary monarchy. The current king of Wateredge is Tar'Salian IX, of the Salanite dynasty. Lastly, it is noteworthy that the worship of good (e.g. Agrah, Athor, Lharishar, Ukkor, Dianchuur, etc.), lawful (e.g. Codan, Odan, etc.) and neutral (e.g. Thask, Danuur, Hurme, etc.) powers are predominant in Wateredge and its area of influence. The exception to this rule is the still-prevalent worship of the chaotic power Barask (God of war, conquests and might), most likely as part of the warrior heritage of the wateredgians.
The Lands of Tandranor are yet to constitute a part of the adventuring locale of a Realmz scenario.
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