Overview
Kaldaryn is a nation and protectorate in Valrindor, led by Garrik and founded from the movement Khoradyn built after his return from Xalmyrra. It begins as the Kaldaryn Protectorate, with Kaldaryn City as its capital, and enforces peace across western and central Valrindor.
Kaldaryn is Garrik's seat of power, shelters displaced people, and supplies the Kaldaryn Peace Campaigns, the Maraveth War, the Siege of Omberion, the allied forces near Rimvold, and the Battle for Cyndarel.
Territory and Capital
Kaldaryn's capital stands near an essence tower at the foot of a craggy mountain range. Hengzhou lies northwest of the capital, with Maraveth beyond it, giving Kaldaryn reach toward the Shroudvale front and the western regions.
The protectorate controls much of western Valrindor and operates across central Valrindor through alliances, protected city-states, trade relationships, and army movements. Some nearby neutral city-states remain outside direct rule. Others come under the Kaldaryn Protectorate by choice.
Government and Military
Khoradyn gathers the people who become Kaldaryn. He asks Garrik to lead them. Khoradyn continues ranging across Valrindor. Garrik names the new polity the Kaldaryn Protectorate and becomes its settled leader.
Kaldaryn's army is voluntary and built on loyalty and conviction. Its soldiers, mages, engineers, and allies come from across Valrindor, including Thundermarch, Hengvaris, Linsothar, Morozkaya, Drozhvenya, Skarnheim, Bjarnholt, Ashenford, Calthorpe, and Haverloch. By 5368 AX, Drendyll serves the Xalmyrran Council in Kaldaryn.
Garrik uses Kaldaryn to sign trade deals, negotiate non-aggression pacts, procure skyships from Brighthaven, approve Kaldaryn's part in Thalena's train project, and move armies through the Central Valrindor Alliance.
Central Valrindor Alliance
The Central Valrindor Alliance is the regional alliance in central Valrindor under Garrik of Kaldaryn. Shaoying, a nation west of Shroudvale, serves under that alliance as part of Garrik's Kaldaryn-led peacekeeping order.
History
Kaldaryn begins after the shaper devastation around Hengzhou. Khoradyn, Garrik, Kren, Zhang, and their followers rescue survivors, gather people from across western and central Valrindor, and build a new city with earth, water, and other magic. The settlement becomes a home for refugees, migrants, soldiers, mages, traders, and people seeking stability.
After Khoradyn gives Garrik leadership, Kaldaryn expands through the peacekeeping campaigns. Khoradyn leads volunteers west to aid Thundermarch. Garrik remains behind to govern the protectorate. Over the following years, Kaldaryn brokers or enforces peace between Thundermarch, Shaoying, and Linsothar. Garrik negotiates with leaders such as Bogdan, Radomir, Thorik, and Sigurd, and the protectorate brings much of western Valrindor under his control.
Kaldaryn later opposes Shroudvale's shapers and Eremion's Blackcrag forces. Garrik directs Kaldaryn's role in the Maraveth War, the Siege of Omberion, and the Battle for Cyndarel, and Kaldaryn supports allies near Rimvold. Kaldaryn remains his headquarters and logistics base.
After Raphael's return, Azarion and Eliona lead hostile skyships from Raphael's faction against Kaldaryn City, killing civilians and damaging the capital. Kaldaryn repairs quickly, increases watchtowers and mountain defenses, and remains Garrik's base through the Battle for Cyndarel and Azarion's hurricane. During Azarion's hurricane, Kaldaryn's people retreat into the mountains and the capital is lowered underground until the storm passes.