History
Over a millennia ago, the region that is today known as the county of Ostagaard was part of the lush and verdant heartland of the fabled Republic of Aduron, also known as Old Aduron in later times.
During this time period, Aduron’s borders extended well beyond modern day Ostgaard, encompassing much of what is presently considered to be the heartland of the Duchy of Coranth. Aduron’s capital city was located high and secure in the peaks of the Silver Mountains just to the west of modern day Valnora. The region featured several paved highways to allow travelers and commerce to flow throughout the region. These ancient highways still exist today as unpaved gravel throughways and occasionally, pieces of Old Aduron paving will work their way to the surface.
Exactly when and how Aduron collapsed is still a matter of debate amongst historians. They can only agree that the collapse came about roughly a thousand years before the founding of Coranth by Atreus Wolfborn. The event leading to the destruction of the once prosperous and peaceful Republic of Aduron is simply known as The Great Plague.
In the centuries following The Great Plague, descendants of the people of Aduron slowly began to return to their old homeland in the hope of resurrecting their once beloved homeland. In time new communities were established amidst the ruins of the once-great Republic of Aduron and the inhabitants began to forget much of their heritage though they retained a fierce streak of independence as well as their unique language, now known as the Eldar Speech. The origin of the Eldar Speech isn’t widely known except amongst a select few. What is known is that the Eldar Speech isn’t related to any of the other regional languages. Because of their unique and ancient heritage, the people of Ostagaard and its surrounding areas have the tendency to regard themselves as superior over the people in neighbouring lands who mostly consist of settlers and have no ties with the region's’ original inhabitants.
What is remarkable, is that the native inhabitants of Ostagaard and its surrounding areas bear a striking physical resemblance to the Brudvir, even though the Eldar Speech shares no roots with any of the modern Brudvir dialects. While most adhere to the Feadin religion, there are otherwise very few cultural similarities to the Brudvir. In addition, the native inhabitants of Ostagaard and its surrounding areas are accomplished blacksmiths and also possess a highly refined architectural tradition.
In time the town of Valnora was established as the new regional capital and Seornai was established on a dome shaped hill that had once served as a military outpost and has since grown into a fully fledged town.
Seornai is home to the Shamans of Seornai, who came to help cure The Great Plague, the very thing which destroyed the Republic of Aduron so long ago. After helping heal the lands, the inhabitants of what is today known as Seornai were allowed to settle within the region and have built friendly relations with the people of Valnora.
As the nascent Demalion Empire laid waste to one Hazar stronghold after another, Radrik the Red ordered elements of the Hazar to regroup within the lands of Old Aduron. These Hazar forces killed Count Julius Jardine and occupied Ostagaard as well the surrounding lands. In response, a young and ambitious Demalion officer named Atreus Wolfborn marched his forces into the lands of Old Aduron. After a short but bloody campaign the forces under the command of Atreus Wolfborn managed to drive the Hazar from Old Aduron. Atreus Wolfborn subsequently proclaimed himself Count of Ostagaard and spent the next few years consolidating Demalion rule over the region defeating the various noble families vying for power as Count Julius Jardine died without an heir. After defeating all of his rivals Atreus Wolfborn met with representatives of all the communities communities throughout the lands of Old Aduron, resulting in the Concordat of Valnora.
Under the terms of the Concordat of Valnora all the communities of Old Anduron agreed to unite under the rule of House Wolfborn and establish the Duchy of Coranth with Atreus Wolfborn being recognized as Coranth’s first Duke. With the establishment of the Duchy of Coranth most of the lands of Old Aduron were officially incorporated into the Demalion Empire. The establishment of the Duchy of Coranth also marked the beginning of the Atreides dynasty, a surname adopted by Atreus' heirs.
During the modern era the Duchy of Coranth has extended its influence into most of Aduron’s former lands with Ostagaard and its capital Valnora becoming the seat of power for Coranth’s Dukes shortly after its establishment by Atreus Wolfborn.
Timeline
1000: The Republic of Anduron is devastated by the event known as The Great Plague.
850 - 770: The effects of The Great Plague subside enough for the lands to become somewhat habitable again. The descendants of the people of Anduron slowly begin to return to the homeland of their forefathers.
769: The hamlet of Valnora is established.
546: Valnora becomes a township and several neighbouring hamlets are established.
523: Several families from Valnora establish the hamlet of Welten.
481: The hamlet of Seornai is established.
400 - 250: As Seornai and Welten become townships in their own right Valnora becomes the region’s main trade hub.
200 - 127: The regional population recovers sufficiently to spread beyond the three existing townships and new villages and hamlets are established in rapid succession.
127: The township of Valnora and several surrounding settlements are reorganized into the County of Ostagaard.
91: Hazar forces occupy Ostagaard and the surrounding lands. Count Julius Jardine is killed by the Hazar leaving no direct heir.
90 - 89: Demalion forces commanded by Atreus Wolfborn march into Ostagaard and quickly drive out the Hazar. Atreus Wolfborn proclaims himself Count of Ostagaard.
88 - 80: This period is also known as the interregnum as Atreus Wolfborn and several prominent local families vie for control over the region. During this period Atreus Wolfborn defeats and exiles his rivals and consolidates his rule over Ostgaard.
79: The Concordat of Valnora. Representatives of all the communities throughout the lands of Old Aduron meet in Valnora and agree to unite under the rule of House Wolfborn and thus Atreus Wolfborn establishes the Duchy of Coranth. This event also marks the beginning of the Atreides dynasty.
78: Following the establishment of the Duchy of Coranth most of Old Aduron is formally incorporated into the nascent Demalion Empire.
0: CoE launches.
