Atlas Elyden #57 - the Rhinocolouran Khanate

Here's map #57 of the Atlas Elyden, depicting the Rhinocolouran Khanate.

You can find an updated key to the map here.

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A History of Rhinocoloura

Officially identifying itself as the Rhinocolouran Khanate since 3618 RM, Rhinocoloura has had a tumultuous history going back to the early days of the Fifth age of Mortal Life, where it was originally known as Erinat, then Erinakh Laur, then the Neandaran empire, and finally Rhinocoloura.

Located in the north east of Sammaea, south of Aethios, west of the Growing Mountains of Mulciber, and east of the Umbra Sokhar, its growth and coalescing from nomadic family groups into permanent settlements following the recovery of the fabled Idol of Baphomet.

Thought lost following a battle during the Shadow War in the Fourth Age, the Idol was recovered by Erinati nomads in the roughlands of Shoar in around -500 RM. The nomads came to worship the idol as a deity, and would eventually settle down, constructing a temple to act as a repository for it close to the confluence of the rivers Dakhan and Saradar. A settlement appeared around the temple, leading indirectly to their transitioning from a pastoral lifestyle to a more sedentary one, where they began farming the alluvial soils at the confluence of the two rivers, which became known as Erinat, after their ancestors.

The people of Erinat would spread over the coming centuries, founding new settlements along the two rivers, and in around 50 RM the settlement of Sarad Ryx was founded, becoming the ruling city of Erinat by around 200 RM.

River flu struck Erinat in 220 RM, devastating many of the cities around the river Dakhan, leading to the near-collapse of the state within a few years. Only a handful of settlements were left unaffected, most of them closer to the river Saradar. Amongst them was Sarad Ryx, which attracted survivors from dozens of cities, growing rapidly as a result and becoming a major city to a recovering Erinat that began to expand south and east over the coming decades, leading to the founding of a new capital, in the city of Tigar.

This expansion coincided with a Korachani push into the region beginning in c. 380 RM. This brought with it clashes as Korachani missionaries and explorers came into contact with Erinati settlers and outriders. Most of these encounters would end in bloodshed, and what would later be called the region of Imoror became a dangerous land, filled with conflict as opportunistic imperial surveyors laid claim to regions they thought to be rich in ores and other resources, erecting fortified settlements all over the region. Some, including Varahon and Marchosia, would go on to be incredibly profitable for the empire, despite the unrest in the region.

Though the conflict between Erinat and Korachan escalated, by 430 RM Korachan, receiving hefty reinforcements from the N, was able to secure its position in Imoror as gold mining operations continued. In the north, the crater of Cthaith was also mined, exposing valuable meteoric iron.

As mining operations increased and the empire saw the value that was being produced there, more troops were sent south to help secure the area. Erinat suffered greatly in his time, its eastern-most settlements attacked.

In around 520 RM Sarad Ryx was abandoned, following increased Korachani activity in the region, but it was later resettled in c. 690 RM as the peak of Korachani aggression waned, as imperial troops concentrated on defending what resources they already owned rather than attempting to appropriate more.

As the Korachani presence in the north east became a simple matter of life, a new power was rising over 400-miles to the south.

The ancient Fourth Age citadel of Hazor had been repopulated early in the Fifth Age and its people were descended from warriors and continued their ancestors’ traditions. They spread from their well-defended home before the Erinati nomads even settled the lands around the river Dakhan, moving north and west. When they encountered Korachani explorers in the Ugostauthi plateau they fought the foreigners, fighting them back, preventing them from setting the area, forcing them farther south (where they would eventually found the colony of Noavatur) or back north.

The Hazori people grew wealthy from exploiting the same resources that the Korachani empire was seeking. By around 610 RM merchants from Hazor made their way to the north, bringing with them precious ores to Tigar and the people of Erinat, and a tentative trade-network was formed. The nearby Korachani presence called for the trade-route to be well-defended and conflict along the road was not uncommon.

Another ally, of sorts, was found to the W, in the form of the Liegelands of Lakertha. Founded by descendants of the Sokharan dynastic family who fled east in the decades following the crumbling of the Sokharan empire to the west, in what is now the border between the east of the Umbra Sokhar and the west of Rhinocoloura. They left the politicking that dominated the power vacuum left by the collapse of Sokhara, and slowly expanded, building its military and securing what resources it could by around 500 to 550 RM. By this time it had made contact with Erinat, whose people were moving west due to the Korachani presence to the east. The people of Lakertha knew the Korachani empire well, for their ancestors had been at war with Korachan for many years. Indeed, it was that war that indirectly led to the collapse of Sokhar, and the founding of Lakertha. They became allies of the Erinati, and alongside the trade network established by Hazor, the three peoples flourished, pushing back against the Korachani colonies whenever they could.

In around 750 RM, at the height of Korachani activity in the region, the Idol of Baphomet was stolen by a rogue shaper, and taken to the city-state of Peona (now Malicharichan) in the north of Pelasgos. This was devastating to the people of Erinat, who had worshipped the idol as their deity. The religion would wane after this time, disappearing completely by around 1000 RM.

Tigar was besieged by Korachani forces in 817 RM which were expanding west and south, in search of new territories. The attack was savage and after three months of fighting the people of Tigar were forced to surrender it. The populace was allowed to flee west, and most of them settled in Sarad Ryx, which by then had become the largest city in the region and assumed te responsibilities of capital, after which its name would change to Sardonyx.

Mining operations in the Korachani colonies of Marchosia were abandoned in 859 RM, though other settlements continued to operate, albeit on a far smaller scale, operating at a far greater cost than they once had, forcing the empire to increase its territories in the hopes of finding more resources to exploit. Marchosia would go on to develop its own culture following its abandonment by the empire, eventually adopting native customs whilst never truly abandoning its Korachani roots. A tradition that remained and which would eventually become adopted by much of Rhinocoloura is the custom of interring the skulls of the dead in great towers, with the details of the deceased carved into the cranium.

Between around 850 and 1000 RM the entirety of what is now the north of Rhinocoloura would experience a cultural renaissance, as people from the destroyed civilisation of Kzanadem were forced north into Erinat, bringing with them their language, religion, philosophy, and art, which would rapidly dominate the region’s culture. Their religion, a polytheism, found a foothold in the absence of the Idol of Baphomet, as did their language.

Korachani expansion would continue over the next century or-so, pushing against Erinat, becoming more aggressive as its resources continued to wane, but it was the last desperate attempts of a failing colony. In 1195 RM the region was left in the hands of the Interreges, who maintained leadership of the region as mining operations were slowly dismantled (including the meteoric iron mines of Cthaith), though their regime was never strong and their line never bred successfully, leaving them with few numbers in charge of the imperial immigrants and natives. The Interreges would remain in Erint until 1403 RM, by which point support from Korachan was all but terminated. By that time they had been assimilated by local culture and traditions, having forsaken their Korachani roots. What were once the colonies of Korachan, the state of Erinat, and Kzanademi migrants, had all mingled, becoming one people, one nation - Erinakh Laur.

By around 1780 RM Erinakh Laur had come to be divided into three prefectures - the north, south and east, ruled from Sardonyx, Hazor, and Erivur, respectively. Each region would eventually come to differ from the others, with different industries and cultural traits taking precedence over others. Erivur became a centre of the arts and a major producer of ochre, whilst Sardonyx became the religious centre of the nation, with Hazor specialising in industry and military.

This led to a disparity in roles, and Hazor would become richer than the other prefectures, making its rulers believe they were more important than the others, leading them to demand more power than the other prefectures commanded. This was refused, and Hazor would go on to distance itself from the other prefectures, expanding south. Though the prefectures of Erinakh Laur remained on paper, in truth, they had ended with the growing ego of Hazor and its rulers, the Maathora.

By around 2400 RM Hazor had effectively excised itself from Erinakh Laur, content to officially remain as one of the three prefectures, though in practice it had severed political ties with the other two prefectures. Sardonyx and Erivur petitioned the Maathora to think of the common good, but by then it was too late. In 2483 RM Hazor declared its independence, and the other two prefectures were forced to accept, knowing that it was more than a match for them should things escalate into a war.

Following this, Hazor expanded to the west, clashing with Lakerthan border forces, as well as south into Ethistonith. This escalated into outright war in 2521 RM, though open hostilities did not last long.

In 2965 RM Hazor came under the leadership of a charismatic otherworlder (or first generation halfblood) known as Neander. Little is known of how he came to rule, but it was accomplished quietly and quickly, and in the same year in which he ousted the Maathora, he moved his armies north to challenge the remaining two prefectures of Erinakh Laur for dominance. There were a few battles in this time, but not outright war. Regardless, the two prefectures fractured, the dream of a united Erinakh Laur ended.

Following this Hazor would pressure Sardonyx and Erivor to capitulate, and spies and political intrigue would go on to become a major part of life in the region, where life became cheap and politicians were warriors and spies as much as they were diplomats, and Neander secreted his halfblood children and grandchildren across the region, doing his bidding.

Hazori forces came to prey on trade between Sardonyx, Erivur and Lakertha in 3042 RM, and within a few decades the region was embroiled in all out war between Hazor and the three other nations. In 3194 RM Hazor besieged the city of Erivur, leaving it half-destroyed, its populace decimated. Hazori forces moved further north towards Sardonyx.

Ultimately the loss of Erivur led to a cessation of hostilities in 3211 RM, with the capitulation of Sardonyx, bringing Hazor in full control of what had once been Erinakh Laur, though Lakertha emerged from the war relatively unscathed. Hazor was made capital of a new nation called Neandara, and the region consolidated, its cities rebuilding over the next decades, with old imperial mines and colonies re-established, exploiting the region for all available natural resources.

Neandara quickly became rich from mining these ores and gems, and spread across its new territories. With its vast wealth it grew its armies, securing its borders, fearful that its resources would become targets of outside nations. The great twin towers of Deneryx and Lekheryx were built in this time, guarding its northern borders from incursion. But neither tower wa ever usd in defence, and Neandara was never to be attacked. Korachan was still weakened by the loss of Almagest in 3014 RM and was not as confident in its abilities to maintain vast colonies as it had once been.

With Erinakh Laur reunited under a single banner, Neander turned his sights west, to the Kingdom of Lakertha, which had become a sizeable region, occupying a stretch of the river Shibboleth over 1,000-miles in length, and all resources that went with it.

Neander marched against Lakertha in 3298 RM, besieging the city of Lakartha for close to a year, before its eventual surrender and absorption within the empire of Neandara, effectively becoming a fourth prefecture.

Neandara prospered in this time, remaining wealthy, and protecting its borders against threats that were not there. It became insular, the agornon caste alone allowed to trade outside of its own borders, acting as spies and gatherers of information on the outside world for Neander, who grew increasingly paranoid over time. He would only appear in public inside a large litter covered in thick glass though which no-one could interact with him. This distanced him from his people and the cult of personality that had grown around his rule suffered, with his mortal followers growing weary.

At the behest of his children he made a public appearance during the spring festival of Hazor in 3462 RM, mingling with mortal followers, who grew ecstatic at their ruler’s actions. But, ultimately, his paranoia proved to be founded in truth, for he was assassinated by a disgruntled mortal. In punishment, the mortal was forced to watch the savage execution of his entire family before being flayed, his skin displayed over the ramparts of the citadel of Hazor, which entered a year of mourning.

Neander’s assasination threw his house and the ruling Tyranon caste in disarray, leading to the eventual fracturing of Neandara. At the time of his death thirteen of his nineteen children were still alive, and they quarrelled over how the empire would be divided. The cult of personality he had meticulously fostered was destroyed by his death, and none of his progeny could carry his lofty mantle. There was dissent amongst the mortals of Neandara and the Tyranon caste struggled to maintain control. Harsh laws were enacted to quell unrest and capital punishments increased, which in hindsight, only served to antagonise the mortal populace even more.

An uprising in the city of Hazor in the winter of 3469 RM saw the mortal populace attack the ruling citadel. Thousands died, but they gained access into the fortress and killed a handful of the Tyranon caste and many more of the Agornons, further destabilising the capital. Early the next year the capital fell and the house of Neander was ended, with hundreds of members executed and the remnants fleeing into the mountains south of Hazor, where they are thought to have settled in Ethistonith and Pnessa.

The mortals instated the leaders of their uprising as the rulers of Hazor, and one of their first actions was to abandon the name of Neandara. Instead they named their home Rhinocoloura, a corruption of the old name, Einokh Laur, that had grown in popularity amongst the resistance.

The region was divided into four prefectures again, though the borders were different to the previous iterations, and were designed to make each prefecture as equal in size and resources as the others. By 3473 RM the new leadership had established itself - each prefecture would exercise autonomous rule over its territories, and its rulers would gather seasonally in the newly-constructed settlement of Sabar Kaladi, which existed in neutral territory between the four prefectures, to discuss matters of importance across Rhinocoloura and for hearings where disputes between prefectures could be settled.

But it was not to last. The four prefectures were constantly squabbling amongst each other, sending representatives to Sabar Kaladi to decry their peers and oppose any steps of progress they might make. Thus all proposed laws and changes to the constitution of the region were locked in a perpetual state of opposition, leading to stagnation.The ruling cities of the prefectures had become hubs of politicking and thinly veiled canvassing, with gang wars between groups affiliated with opposing political parties becoming common by c. 3530 RM. contact between prefectures lessensed, leading to the whole being less than the sum of the parts.

In 3601 RM a red-skinned mortal appeared in the settlement of Melakab on horseback claiming to be the descendent of an otherworlder, sent to unite the four prefectures in peace. He was refused entry into the city and was told to leave Rhinocoloura or face death. He left, and was not seen again for another 3-years, after which he reappeared at the same settlement with an entourage of supporters and troops. He requested entry and was refused again, and warned the ruler of Melakab that in 7-days they would be dead and he would be ruling in their stead.

For the next six days his troops attacked the settlement and on the seventh days they breached the defences and made their way into the governor’s house of Melakab, where they killed the ruler, beginning a campaign of 14 years that would end with the take-over of all of Rhinocoloura by 3618 RM, when Sardonyx, the last defending city, fell, and the halfblood Illaregh was declared Khan. Defeated rulers of the prefectures were offered positions of leadership upon swearing fealty. Those who did not would be executed. Only one swore fealty, beginning a new age for Rhinocoloura, which was officially recognised as a Khanate for the first time in 3618 RM.

Illaregh’s rule was harsh but fair. Those who worked hard and paid their tithes were granted the status of citizen and were exempt from military service, which was, for a time, the punishment for various crimes, but as the Khanate grew so too did the need for a military, and professional soldiers became an important part of life. The prisoner corps gained notoriety for their harsh training and disciplined ranks, and once their sentence was over most of the prisoner corps chose to continue serving the Khanate in its armies. Over time the armies of Rhinocoloura became infamous across the north east of Sammaea, and few were those willing to oppose them in battle.

By c. 3640 RM, Illaregh had overseen the expansion of Rhinocoloura’s borders to the west and east, moved the capital to Sardonyx, and re-established ancient abandoned Korachani industries in a desperate attempt to scavenge any resources they could in a bid to stimulate the economy. At the same time, Illaregh began to look farther afield for more resources to exploit, and settled on Etistonith, an old nation, secure, and known for its mountains and rocky terrain beneath which he was sure precious stones and ores might be found.

He oversaw improved relations with the southern neighbour, establishing many embassies in major cities, and relaxing the borders and affecting taxation reforms to facilitate trade between the two. For six decades, Rhinocolouran diplomats worked in the shadows to slowly improve Ethistoni sentiment towards rhinocoloura. Powerful magnates and merchant princes married into the royal family of Ethistonith as merchant lords established trade houses that surpassed those of the Ethistoni, until in 3703 RM enough members of the Ethistoni royal family and its largest businesses and institutions supported the bloodless capitulation of Ethistonith to Rhinocoloura, after which Ethistonith was no more.

In 3739 RM, 36-years after Rhinocoloura was able to orchestrate the surrender of Ethistonith, Hazor was also absorbed by the Khanate after years of political orchestration finally paid off.

In 3808 RM the city of Hazor was attacked by seven pale otherworlders, who hunted the remaining members of the halfblood house of Neander across Rhinocoloura like animals. They appeared without warning and acted without provocation, stoically murdering all descendants of Neander they could find. It is unknown if any escaped, and if they did, they surely fled far from Hazor or Rhinocoloura. After weeks of conflict in the region, the mortals and halfbloods unable to wound, let alone slay any of the attacking otherworlders, the seven attackers disappeared without word, and nothing is known of their purpose in Rhinocoloura, or the reasoning behind their attacks.