Kalarin hasn't always been the united nation it is today. In fact for many thousands of years it was a heavily divided tribal nation. For many years the tribes warred and raided each other, none able to get an advantage over the other. In the north the nomadic tribes of the flat plains from central Kalarin allied with the mountain tribes from the Bruda Mountains to form the Skalara Kingdom, known for its superb cavalry. In response the Forest and Mountain tribes of Southern Kalarin, along the Ventes mountains unified to become the Ashashi Union. The coastal tribes too allied together in fear of the two new rivals forming Casira.
After bitter years of warring between the kingdoms, escalation with new weapons of war and the deaths of millions of people from all corners of the realm. The treaty of Liber was signed. A formal peace treaty on the most holy Liber river settled the war, each Kingdom would retain its autonomy so long as they all obeyed the newly formed Liber Council, three representatives from each kingdom would agree on basic laws to unify the Kalari people. It seemed as though peace had been won, however the sweet taste of peace was not to last. Skalara launched a sudden blitzkrieg offensive against its neighbors. Quickly overcoming the other kingdoms it destroyed the Liber treaty and began its reign of terror. Something to last until 1991 when internal revolts, political and economic instability toppled the new government and the first real elections were held.
Today Kalarin is governed by President Richard (Dick) Richardson, the third president he is the successor to Henry Eden the last president. The son of first president Richardson senior and a member of the Enclave caste which now rules the Enclave Union.The capital is Navarro and the economy is prospering now one of the fastest growing in the region.
Kalarin is an Island nation, situated roughly 300 miles to the west of CREEEEEED it is the second most westerly nation in the ACSN region. With extensive coastline it has enjoys mild winters and mild summers leading to a "British" climate.
Kalarin is divided into several districts each controlled by 2 senators who sit in the upper house, the largest is the Rhodissiyan Peninsula home to the largest minority group (Rhodissan) and has been a source of tension over its history. Central Kalarin is mountainous with the very centre of the island home to the Alofti Highlands a desolate and harsh region, lower down it is home to deep valleys mostly covered by extensive forest leading to a rich wildlife population. On the lowlands closer to the sea Kalarin flattens into rolling countryside much of which is used for farming and wildlife preserves. The government fiercly protects its habitat and wildlife leading to some stunning scenery.
Kalarin has two contesting mountains for the title of highest, Mt Victoria and Striders Edge, both are disputed as highest and have yet to be confirmed as to which is higher although both prove to be excellent for experienced walkers. Kalarin also has a network of rivers extending out of the central mountain range the largest river being the Aire river.
Kalarin is also home to several forests (up to 30% of land is forest), the largest of which is the Kingswood which includes species such as English oak (Introduced in 1632 by English traders) Kalari Birch, Silver Birch, Yew and the Rare Kings Blackwood a tree said to ooze black sap when pierced, Other forests include the Wolfswood which has the highest population of wolves in Kalarin and in folklore is the supposed place where wolves, a highly regarded creature even in modern Kalarin, are to have been birthed into the world. The Kingswood is home to a large Yao Gui population however many travellers may never see a Yao Gui in the Kingswood as most of the paths avoid dense Yao Gui areas and the creatures avoid humans.
History[]
Kalarin has a rich and long history, one which is also very dark, violent and gruesome. Currently it is unkown as and when humans first arrived in Kalarin, as said before for much of its early history it has been very tribal with the lands bitterly divided between inter warring groups. From headhunters in the South West, sun worshipers in the east or the Shamanists in the north. There have been discoveries of Greek artifacts on the Sevast Peninsula which indicates that it was once a Greek colony. These artifacts would support that the area is fertile with copper, Iron and Gold deposits found in the Mountains at the North of the Peninsula.
Unity eventually found it's way into Kalarin, while still not the unified nation today It was begining to resemble something. Kalarin by the late 900's like many places were pseudo-barbarian kingdoms. In Kalarin there were 3 major kindoms, in the North was the Skalaran Kingdom, relatives of the Germanic tribes the Skalaran Kingdom ruled the West and areas of the north while being a northern Kindgom it had gained dominance over the west through careful play under Kaisar.
The most complete painting of Kaiser Lord Of Skalara
Reign Of Kaisar - The Age Of The Three Kingdoms[]
Kaisar Godwin is by many Kalari scholars as one of the major factors in the unification of Kalarin. Kaisar has been to an extend romanticised by scholars as a great but generous and kind king. While he certainly was zealous in his christianity he was no Ghandi, Kaisar was tough on those who opposed his rule. This was never more evident than with the Karsts, house Karst was a powerful vassal under Kaiser and had been for a long time a vassal of house Godwin.
While campaigning against the tribes of western Kalarin house Karst rose in rebellion to Kaisar, in response Kaisar crushed the rebellious lord at the Battle of Boswon Hill. Luka Karst was captured as was his son, both were publicly executed for their treason, their wives were burnt at the stake and their children drowned in a nearby stream. The house was utterly destroyed and their lands shared out between those lords who had remained loyal to Kaiser and house Godwin.
In response to the destruction of the Karsts the song: "The Raynes of Bolton" was written, emulating the tale of the massacre.
Unification-The First Civil War
Relatively little is known of the first civil war, over the years what has been established is that the war was for the most part short culminating in a seires of large battles over a short period of time in keeping with the more Hellenic elements in Kalari culture. The sides are not clear although what has been established is that it was generally between the north and south of now modern day Kalarin, the north being the more European while the south being more Hellenic. It has been put forward that it started at the end of Kaiser Godwin's reign when the divisions in his kingdom became more apparent although no hard evidence has been found. The south was united under the Trade Federation a large group of trading cities which thrived during the era on trade from the rest of the ACSN. The north was more agriculutrally based and thus their armies fought more like those of England and France during the hundred years war.
The first battle played out at Wexington, the area in central Kalarin is common for battles. Its large open fields provide no real advantage to either side and have proved useful in solving military disputes. The north had been moving south in an attempt what is believed to catch the Federation off guard. Instead the two armied met on the road head to head, it's believed by scholars that Kaisers son George IV was in command of this force. What is known is the composition of this army, this has been pieced together from the finding of quatermaster notes. The north was comprised mostly of Archers armed with the traditional longbow some 16-17,000 men, in addition almost 10,000 men at arms both mounted and dismounted around 2-3000 Rhodissan levies with the rest comprised of mounted knights.
In contrast the south was a multitude of units, while exact figures is unkown it is thought that far less of the souths army was mounted with far more fighting in the old phalanx formation. Those who were mounted are believed to have been more for scouting and harrasing than actual combat, Also few men are believed to have been archers or crossbowmen howvever some scholars state that this is due to the fact that this army was supposed to have met up with another force which would have provided such troops. The troops were being led by two generals Lucius De'audicas and Valk the elder.
The events of the battle are somewhat disputed however what is generally accepted is that the North decided to hold it's position, the longbowmen placed several rows of stakes as was common to do so during the period. The logbowmen formed into 2 wedges on Georges flanks. In the center he placed his men at arms and the levies. Lucius wasin command as Valk was ill, Lucius being the agressive commander he was placed his Phalanx's along a straight front with the cavalry on the flanks. Once they were in formation he gave the order to advance. The longbowmen began a hail of arrows forcing the phalanx to slow down and trimming away at the wings driving it closer into the centre. As it came closer the longbowmen switched to flaming arrows in order to disrupt the formation. With this assault the phalanx was stalling under the unrelenting arrow fire. Then in one fell swoop George ordered his infantry to attack, the disorganised phalanx's found themselves out of position against better armed and better experienced men. In blind panic many men were cut down as they fled. Lucius realising his phalanx's were no match for these better equiped troops ordered a retreat and to his credit did save many men. However this was a crushing blow to the south and showed that they were truly now behinf the north.
The war concluded suddenly with the collapse of the southern government, this established Kaiser Godwin as sole ruler of Kalarin.
Second Civil War[]
Currently little is actually known about the second civil war, even as to when it occured. Most scholars now agree that a second civil war took place some time after the first. However little evidence can be found from the period. Some scholars have dubbed this the "quiet war" for the lack.
Mentioned in several accounts it points to growing dissatisfaction among the populace however these fail to specify when, who or where this happened. It is likely this war was relatively short and concluded without too many long lasting effects.
It should be noted that the role of parliment seems to have grown within this period as did Kalarins influence in the world.
