The Kingdom of Throal
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| The Kingdom of Throal | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Earthdawn |
| Epoch | The Fourth World |
| Polity Info | |
| Type | Kingdom |
| Founded | 0 TH/119 TY |
| Capital | The Halls of Throal |
| Region | Barsaive |
| Monarch | Kovar I |
| Affiliations | Barsaive |
The Kingdom of Throal, or more commonly, Throal, was one of the primary regional powers in Barsaive. Culturally and politically, Throal influences politics and culture throughout the region, and its influence has lead to the Throalic language being the common tongue. At one point, the Dwarves of the kingdom held the role of provincial governors under the Theran Empire, and they were key in distributing the Book of Tomorrow following the end of the Scourge. Today, the country is ruled by Kovar I, following the events of the Second Theran War.
History
Much of the history of the dwarves of Barsaive before the founding of Throal is held in songs and legends, which the country's scholars call the Bujmon Cycle and the Warring Tribes Cycle[1]. Much was made in these tales of giant-slaying and petty rivalries among tribal chieftains. What followed became known as the Founding Cycle.
The Founding of Throal
In the Founding cycle, as Elianar Messias was banished from the Elven Court, the Dwarven tribes of the Throal Mountains warred amongst each other. From these conflicts two tribes arose, the Mishwal and the Huari. Legends tell of dwarf-child given to a dragon that some scholars claim to be Icewing, from which the child learned great knowledge that lead to him founding the Kingdom of Throal as Thandos I. The founding of the kingdom by Thandos marks the beginning of the Throalic Calendar, reckoned as 0 TH.
The Second Dynasty
As the centuries wore on, wars erupted with great Dwarven city-states of northern Barsaive; Scytha, Killea, and K'rzon. Throal held neutral in these conflicts, quietly trading arms and worked iron with its sister cities. The crown of the kingdom passed down through the house of Korelsed, until a scandal erupted around the lineage of Thandos IV in 220 TH.
Tribal resentments grew, and civil war seemed imminent power was consolidated by Braza I, who founded a countries second dynasty and dethroned the House of Korelsed. Braza lead significant reforms in the country, leading to a rise of a merchant aristocracy of trading houses, further enriching the kingdom.
Thera & Throal
The Therans arrived in Barsaive in 216 TH, quickly becoming a new massive revenue stream for Throals trading houses. By the time of the death of Braza I in 275 TH, orchalicum was flowing from Barsaive and silver was flowing to Throal. The outbreak of the Orchalicum Wars in 400 TH roiled all of Barsaive, before Theran forces put a decisive end to the conflict by establishing a formal presence in the region with the founding of Sky Point and Parlainth.
Queen Jonatha of Throal signed the Thera-Throal Alliance in 443 TH, making the kingdom the de facto provincial administrator. This time saw continued growth of the mountain kingdom's wealth, but also the unfortunate adoption of Theran slavery as norm they spread through the country. This period nearly came to an end during a succession crisis in 634 TH, when Queen Bevelona died without an heir. Mishwal faction leaders put forth Jothan of House Avalus as rightful king, who ascended the throne after ending the conflict with Avalus troops. His reign as Jothan I lead to the foundation of Throal's third dynasty.
Prelude to the Scourge
Horrors began appearing in Barsaive in 700 TH, and the country began spending its centuries earned wealth to prepare. Construction of a great kaer, the Halls of Throal began in 910 TH, under the guidance of Queen Ulutur. The kaer was constructed at great cost to the country, as it traded orchalicum, raw materials, and slave for the knowledge contained in the Rites of Protection and Passage. In 950 TH, Ulutur passed, and her son became King Varulus I, and he later commissioned the Book of Tomorrow in 960 TH.
Pressures mounted from within and without the country, as intelligent horrors stalked the land and rebellion simmered within Throal's halls. A rebellion lead to the exile of Houses Heovat, Erud, Pay'ar, and Turlough, and Thera sealed itself from the world in 1000 TH. Raggok cultists attempted an assasination of the king in 1032 TH, the coup became known the Raggok Incident and was the first documented corruption of the Mad Passion.
Nevertheless, construction of Throals defenses continued, completing in 1040 TH. Nine years later, Varulus I met with the great dragon Icewing, and took his council. The following year, 1050 TH, Throal sealed itself from the world.
Throal, the Great Kaer
Once sealed, not all was well with the kingdom, but time passed. In the early years, a major Horror named Whisper became known having corrupted members of House Endour. Eleven members of the House were executed as Horror collaborators, and the house sword a blood vengeance on the Avalus dynasty.
At the age of 270, Varulus I died, and his son was crowned King Varulus II in 1160 TH. In the name of securing Throal's future, Varulus I had been forced to make difficult, but neccesary decisions, and his son set to honor that effort. In 2070, Varulus II's efforts to redeem his father produced the Council Compact, and he set to reforming Throalic society along its ideals. The king lived to an unnaturally long age, passing at the age of 258 in 1373 TH.
Flight of the Earthdawn
Varulus III, son of Varulus II, was crowned King, and oversaw the return of Throal to the world in 1420 TH. Beginning in the early 1400's TH, Throals magicians and scholars portended the end of the scourge in their calculations. Beginning in 1409 TH, Throal sent annual scouts to the world, leading to the famous voyages of the Earthdawn in 1416 and 1418 TH, and it returned with incontrovertible evidence that the Scourge had ended.
The Throal that returned to Barsaive was not the imperial pawn that sealed itself away. With the gates of the Halls open, the dwarves of the Throal Mountains returned with the ideas of egalitarianism and reform of the Council Compact. Previous aristocratic claims to land by Throalic houses were nullified, and as always, dwarven politics simmered.
War Comes to Barsaive
Theran naval forces returned to Barsaive in 1449 TH, to find a land changed. Word of the Council Compacts had reached Overgovernor Pavalis, and war was declared on Throal and Barsaive. Unfortunately for the Therans, the efforts of Varulus II proved fruitful, and Barsaive united around the kingdom. The Theran's retraited to Vivane to the south, and the Free Trade Compact was signed. Half a century passed before the Theran's returned in force, landing the behemoth Triumph on Ayodhya Liferock, inciting the Second Theran War.
After the War - Current Date of Timeline
The results of the end of the Second Theran War are debatable. While Theran forces have retreated from Barsaive, the war took a serious toll on the region, particularly on the Kingdom of Throal. King Neden died in the conflict, and Kovar of House Maksei was elevated to the throne. The war had a high cost, both in energy and silver, and conservative elements of the Major Houses jockey for the country to focus on its own needs.
Political Structure
Throal is ruled by a monarch, the King of Throal, with the last known monarch of Throal being Kovar I.[2] With Throalic political society, 28 noble trading houses exist, engaging with established Free Trading Companies, guilds, and several governmental commissions.
Major Houses
- House Chaozun
- House Garsun
- House Ludi
- House Mikul
- House Pa'Vas
- House Ueraven
- House Byril'ah
- House Elcomi
- House Neumani
- House Sarafica
- House Yilwaz
Free Trading Companies
- Dream Spire Company
- Circle Path Company
Guilds of Throal
- Armorers & Weaponsmiths
- Archivests & Sages
- Beast Handlers
- beggars
- Blacksmiths
- Builders
- Guardsmen
- Healers
- Muckers
- Musicians
- Scribes
- Stage Performers
- Tailors
Military & Royal Organizations
People and Culture
Throal represents significant diversity within Barsaive, and is home to Namegivers of all races. Its people were known to venerate the Passions, and honoring trade and education.
Institutions
- The Great Library
Territories & Locales
Georgraphically, the Kingdom is centralized with the Halls of Throal, a massive complex of settlements and infrastructure located within the Throal Mountains. Outside of the Halls, several territories and locations are administered directly by the government of the Kingdom of Throal.
The Halls of Throal
- The Grand Bazaar
- The Inner Kingdoms
- Bethabal
- Hustane
- Oshane
- Raithabal
- Thurdane
- Tirtaga
- Valvria
- Wishon
- Yistane
- The Crystal Greenhouses Beyond the Halls
Beyond the Halls
- Bartertown
- Goodweight
- Braza's Kingdom
