Xalmyrra is a region of four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. Magical storms isolate it from the lands beyond, and its history repeats in cycles.
Geography
The four nations meet at Lake Velisyth. Erenmyr occupies the north, Keldara the northeast, Soltheris the east, and Teryndal the southwest. Erenmyr has forests, flowering plains and extensive wetlands; Keldara rises into frozen tundra, snowy plateaus and mountain cities. Farms and winding waterways spread across the inhabited lowlands. The Aethrendar Sea provides shipping routes through the region, including the port of Velundra.
High mountains separate Xalmyrra from the lands to the east. Xolterra lies across the western sea.
The storms around Xalmyrra obstruct travel. The Land of Darkness threatens the inhabited nations from the south.
Government and society
Each nation has its own government. The regional council coordinates their defense against darkness from Irrathis, chosen for its central position and Teryndal's neutrality. The council operates separately from the national rulers.
The Tournament of Champions began after the War of Scars to unite the nations and test their strongest mages. Competitors use essence cores, rather than draining the surrounding land. Essence also powers tools, machinery and the defensive barriers of cities such as Zeydrith.
History
War of Scars
Kaldramir began the War of Scars more than a century before the cataclysm. The war burned cities across Xalmyrra and ended when Arcanis descended over the armies and forced them to stop fighting.
Cataclysm
After Eira took Xol'Zahir's shard, two Xalmyrran cycles collided. Black spears rained from the sky, volcanoes erupted and rivers flooded cities. Survivors recovered conflicting memories of the two histories. Council mages and adventurers protected civilians and organized rebuilding, but the disaster also deepened the conflict between Xarion and Aurion. Teryndal marched against Soltheris; Eira's loss of control devastated both armies before her magic restored life to the surrounding ground.
Xalmyrra is a region of Valrindor comprising Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. Jorhan confines it within repeating cycles and magical storms.
Geography
The four nations meet at Lake Velisyth. Erenmyr occupies the north, Keldara the northeast, Soltheris the east, and Teryndal the southwest. Erenmyr has forests, flowering plains and extensive wetlands; Keldara rises into frozen tundra, snowy plateaus and mountain cities. Farms and winding waterways spread across the inhabited lowlands. The Aethrendar Sea provides shipping routes through the region, including the port of Velundra.
High mountains separate Xalmyrra from Thundermarch to the east. Xolterra lies across the western sea.
A tunnel through Keldara's eastern mountains connects the region with Thundermarch. The storms around Xalmyrra obstruct travel and erase the memories of those who cross them. The Land of Darkness threatens the inhabited nations from the south.
Government and society
Each nation has its own government. The regional council coordinates their defense against darkness from Irrathis, chosen for its central position and Teryndal's neutrality. The council operates separately from the national rulers.
The Tournament of Champions began after the War of Scars to unite the nations and test their strongest mages. Competitors use essence cores, rather than draining the surrounding land. Essence also powers tools, machinery and the defensive barriers of cities such as Zeydrith.
History
War of Scars
Kaldramir began the War of Scars more than a century before the cataclysm. The war burned cities across Xalmyrra and ended when Arcanis descended over the armies and forced them to stop fighting.
Cataclysm
After Eira took Xol'Zahir's shard, two Xalmyrran cycles collided. Black spears rained from the sky, volcanoes erupted and rivers flooded cities. Survivors recovered conflicting memories of the two histories. Council mages and adventurers protected civilians and organized rebuilding, but the disaster also deepened the conflict between Xarion and Aurion. Teryndal marched against Soltheris; Eira's loss of control devastated both armies before her magic restored life to the surrounding ground.
Xalmyrra is a region of Valrindor comprising Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. Once confined within Jorhan's repeating cycles and magical storms, it was freed by Thalena.
Geography
The four nations meet at Lake Velisyth. Erenmyr occupies the north, Keldara the northeast, Soltheris the east, and Teryndal the southwest. Erenmyr has forests, flowering plains and extensive wetlands; Keldara rises into frozen tundra, snowy plateaus and mountain cities. Farms and winding waterways spread across the inhabited lowlands. The Aethrendar Sea provides shipping routes through the region, including the port of Velundra.
High mountains separate Xalmyrra from Thundermarch to the east. Xolterra lies across the western sea.
A tunnel through Keldara's eastern mountains connects the region with Thundermarch. The Land of Darkness lies to the south.
Government and society
Each nation has its own government. The Xalmyrran Council coordinates their defense against darkness from Irrathis, chosen for its central position and Teryndal's neutrality. The council operates separately from the national rulers.
The Tournament of Champions began after the War of Scars to unite the nations and test their strongest mages. Competitors use essence cores, rather than draining the surrounding land. Essence also powers tools, machinery and the defensive barriers of cities such as Zeydrith.
History
Atraxi settlement and isolation
Aldred offered sanctuary to the atraxi who arrived through the Aethrendar Gate. Most settled in Irrathis, with others in Valcirae and Varentis. Their language spread through trade and became Xalmyrran, and their engineers developed essence towers and cores. Growing corruption and illness among the atraxi led Aldred to order the pure-blooded settlers into exile on Xolterra.
On the island, Jorhan claimed a spiral shard and released a wave of pink and yellow essence that killed many of his companions. He returned to claim Xalmyrra. His battle with Aldred destroyed Irrathis and devastated the region; Xandor, Therion, Orin and Khoradyn led thousands of refugees west to Xolterra. Aldred died, leaving Jorhan with both spiral shards. Jorhan placed one shard in a temple to remake Xalmyrra as he remembered it whenever darkness consumed the region, recreating people from the shard's essence. The shard he kept controlled the enclosing storms.
War of Scars
Kaldramir began the War of Scars after learning about the cycles. Thalena, acting as Arcanis, ended the war by descending on Glin and immobilizing the armies. She repeated her intervention in the final Xalmyrran cycle, first telling Kaldramir about the cycles so that the war would occur, then imposing peace.
Cataclysm
After Eira took Xol'Zahir's shard, two Xalmyrran cycles collided. Black spears rained from the sky, volcanoes erupted and rivers flooded cities. Survivors recovered conflicting memories of the two histories. Council mages and adventurers protected civilians and organized rebuilding, but the disaster also deepened the conflict between Xarion and Aurion. Teryndal marched against Soltheris; Eira's loss of control devastated both armies before her magic restored life to the surrounding ground.
End of the cycles
Thalena prepared the final confrontation with Jorhan alongside Hrzai and Xoh'Tenol. After Xoh'Tenol fought Jorhan, Thalena attacked him with her silver sword. Their battle destroyed Dravemir and tore apart the surrounding landscape, but Thalena wounded Jorhan beyond recovery. The cycles broke, and the storms disappeared. Xalmyrra's mages began rebuilding Dravemir, while Renneth and Maric were sent north to explore.
Xalmyrra is a region of Valrindor comprising Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. Once confined within Jorhan's repeating cycles and magical storms, it was freed by Thalena.
Geography
The four nations meet at Lake Velisyth. Erenmyr occupies the north, Keldara the northeast, Soltheris the east, and Teryndal the southwest. Erenmyr has forests, flowering plains and extensive wetlands; Keldara rises into frozen tundra, snowy plateaus and mountain cities. Farms and winding waterways spread across the inhabited lowlands. The Aethrendar Sea provides shipping routes through the region, including the port of Velundra.
High mountains separate Xalmyrra from Thundermarch to the east. Xolterra lies across the western sea.
A tunnel through Keldara's eastern mountains connects the region with Thundermarch. The Land of Darkness lies to the south.
Government and society
Each nation has its own government. The Xalmyrran Council coordinates their defense against darkness from Irrathis, chosen for its central position and Teryndal's neutrality. The council operates separately from the national rulers.
The Tournament of Champions began after the War of Scars to unite the nations and test their strongest mages. Competitors use essence cores, rather than draining the surrounding land. Essence also powers tools, machinery and the defensive barriers of cities such as Zeydrith.
History
Malverand province
Xalmyrra was a province of the Malverand Empire under Sariel, with Zeydrith as its capital. Mountains made access difficult, and the province became accustomed to relying on itself. Sariel entrusted its cities and wildlands to a council. He relinquished their government to it and accepted Xalmyrra's division into four nations.
Atraxi settlement and isolation
Aldred offered sanctuary to the atraxi who arrived through the Aethrendar Gate. Most settled in Irrathis, with others in Valcirae and Varentis. Their language spread through trade and became Xalmyrran, and their engineers developed essence towers and cores. At Aldred's request, Isandriel used Tal'Massar's power to plant corruption in one atraxi's essence so it would gradually spread among the others. Growing corruption and illness among the atraxi led Aldred to order the pure-blooded settlers into exile on Xolterra.
On the island, Jorhan claimed a spiral shard and released a wave of pink and yellow essence that killed many of his companions. He returned to claim Xalmyrra. His battle with Aldred destroyed Irrathis and devastated the region; Xandor, Therion, Orin and Khoradyn led thousands of refugees west to Xolterra. Aldred died, leaving Jorhan with both spiral shards. Jorhan placed one shard in a temple to remake Xalmyrra as he remembered it whenever darkness consumed the region, recreating people from the shard's essence. The shard he kept controlled the enclosing storms.
War of Scars
Kaldramir began the War of Scars after learning about the cycles. Thalena, acting as Arcanis, ended the war by descending on Glin and immobilizing the armies. She repeated her intervention in the final Xalmyrran cycle, first telling Kaldramir about the cycles so that the war would occur, then imposing peace.
Cataclysm
After Eira took Xol'Zahir's shard, two Xalmyrran cycles collided. Black spears rained from the sky, volcanoes erupted and rivers flooded cities. Survivors recovered conflicting memories of the two histories. Council mages and adventurers protected civilians and organized rebuilding, but the disaster also deepened the conflict between Xarion and Aurion. Teryndal marched against Soltheris; Eira's loss of control devastated both armies before her magic restored life to the surrounding ground.
End of the cycles
Thalena prepared the final confrontation with Jorhan alongside Hrzai and Xoh'Tenol. After Xoh'Tenol fought Jorhan, Thalena attacked him with her silver sword. Their battle destroyed Dravemir and tore apart the surrounding landscape, but Thalena wounded Jorhan beyond recovery. The cycles broke, and the storms disappeared. Xalmyrra's mages began rebuilding Dravemir, while Renneth and Maric were sent north to explore.
Xalmyrra is a region of Valrindor comprising Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. Once confined within Jorhan's repeating cycles and magical storms, it was freed by Thalena.
Geography
The four nations meet at Lake Velisyth. Erenmyr occupies the north, Keldara the northeast, Soltheris the east, and Teryndal the southwest. Erenmyr has forests, flowering plains and extensive wetlands; Keldara rises into frozen tundra, snowy plateaus and mountain cities. Farms and winding waterways spread across the inhabited lowlands. The Aethrendar Sea provides shipping routes through the region, including the port of Velundra.
High mountains separate Xalmyrra from Thundermarch to the east. Xolterra lies across the western sea.
A tunnel through Keldara's eastern mountains connects the region with Thundermarch. The Land of Darkness lies to the south.
Government and society
Each nation has its own government. The Xalmyrran Council coordinates their defense against darkness from Irrathis, chosen for its central position and Teryndal's neutrality. The council operates separately from the national rulers.
The Tournament of Champions began after the War of Scars to unite the nations and test their strongest mages. Competitors use essence cores, rather than draining the surrounding land. Essence also powers tools, machinery and the defensive barriers of cities such as Zeydrith.
History
Malverand province
Xalmyrra was a province of the Malverand Empire under Sariel, with Zeydrith as its capital. Mountains made access difficult, and the province became accustomed to relying on itself. Sariel entrusted its cities and wildlands to a council. He relinquished their government to it and accepted Xalmyrra's division into four nations.
Atraxi settlement and isolation
Aldred offered sanctuary to the atraxi who arrived through the Aethrendar Gate. Most settled in Irrathis, with others in Valcirae and Varentis. Their language spread through trade and became Xalmyrran, and their engineers developed essence towers and cores. At Aldred's request, Isandriel used Tal'Massar's power to plant corruption in one atraxi's essence so it would gradually spread among the others. Growing corruption and illness among the atraxi led Aldred to order the pure-blooded settlers into exile on Xolterra.
On the island, Jorhan claimed a spiral shard and released a wave of pink and yellow essence that killed many of his companions. He returned to claim Xalmyrra. His battle with Aldred destroyed Irrathis and devastated the region; Xandor, Therion, Orin and Khoradyn led thousands of refugees west to Xolterra. Aldred died, leaving Jorhan with both spiral shards. Jorhan placed one shard in a temple to remake Xalmyrra as he remembered it whenever darkness consumed the region, recreating people from the shard's essence. The shard he kept controlled the enclosing storms.
War of Scars
Kaldramir began the War of Scars after learning about the cycles. Thalena, acting as Arcanis, ended the war by descending on Glin and immobilizing the armies. She repeated her intervention in the final Xalmyrran cycle, first telling Kaldramir about the cycles so that the war would occur, then imposing peace.
Cataclysm
After Eira took Xol'Zahir's shard, two Xalmyrran cycles collided. Black spears rained from the sky, volcanoes erupted and rivers flooded cities. Survivors recovered conflicting memories of the two histories. Council mages and adventurers protected civilians and organized rebuilding, but the disaster also deepened the conflict between Xarion and Aurion. Teryndal marched against Soltheris; Eira's loss of control devastated both armies before her magic restored life to the surrounding ground.
End of the cycles
Thalena prepared the final confrontation with Jorhan alongside Hrzai and Xoh'Tenol. After Xoh'Tenol fought Jorhan, Thalena attacked him with her silver sword. Their battle destroyed Dravemir and tore apart the surrounding landscape, but Thalena wounded Jorhan beyond recovery. The cycles broke, and the storms disappeared. Xalmyrra's mages began rebuilding Dravemir, while Renneth and Maric were sent north to explore.
Foreign relations and transport
Thalassai established diplomatic channels with Xalmyrra and brought advanced technology into the region. Naryon joined the regional council while remaining Thalassai's archon of water. The four national governments supported Brynor's appointment as council head, succeeding Aldar. Thalena's railway project connected the two regions.
Xalmyrra is a region of Valrindor comprising Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. Once confined within Jorhan's repeating cycles and magical storms, it was freed by Thalena.
Geography
The four nations meet at Lake Velisyth. Erenmyr occupies the north, Keldara the northeast, Soltheris the east, and Teryndal the southwest. Erenmyr has forests, flowering plains and extensive wetlands; Keldara rises into frozen tundra, snowy plateaus and mountain cities. Farms and winding waterways spread across the inhabited lowlands. The Aethrendar Sea provides shipping routes through the region, including the port of Velundra.
High mountains separate Xalmyrra from Thundermarch to the east. Xolterra lies across the western sea.
A tunnel through Keldara's eastern mountains connects the region with Thundermarch. The Land of Darkness lies to the south.
Government and society
Each nation has its own government. The Xalmyrran Council coordinates their defense against darkness from Irrathis, chosen for its central position and Teryndal's neutrality. The council operates separately from the national rulers.
The Tournament of Champions began after the War of Scars to unite the nations and test their strongest mages. Competitors use essence cores, rather than draining the surrounding land. Essence also powers tools, machinery and the defensive barriers of cities such as Zeydrith.
History
Malverand province
Xalmyrra was a province of the Malverand Empire under Sariel, with Zeydrith as its capital. Mountains made access difficult, and the province became accustomed to relying on itself. Sariel entrusted its cities and wildlands to a council. He relinquished their government to it and accepted Xalmyrra's division into four nations.
Atraxi settlement and isolation
Aldred offered sanctuary to the atraxi who arrived through the Aethrendar Gate. Most settled in Irrathis, with others in Valcirae and Varentis. Their language spread through trade and became Xalmyrran, and their engineers developed essence towers and cores. At Aldred's request, Isandriel used Tal'Massar's power to plant corruption in one atraxi's essence so it would gradually spread among the others. Growing corruption and illness among the atraxi led Aldred to order the pure-blooded settlers into exile on Xolterra.
On the island, Jorhan claimed a spiral shard and released a wave of pink and yellow essence that killed many of his companions. He returned to claim Xalmyrra. His battle with Aldred destroyed Irrathis and devastated the region; Xandor, Therion, Orin and Khoradyn led thousands of refugees west to Xolterra. Aldred died, leaving Jorhan with both spiral shards. Jorhan placed one shard in a temple to remake Xalmyrra as he remembered it whenever darkness consumed the region, recreating people from the shard's essence. The shard he kept controlled the enclosing storms.
War of Scars
Kaldramir began the War of Scars after learning about the cycles. Thalena, acting as Arcanis, ended the war by descending on Glin and immobilizing the armies. She repeated her intervention in the final Xalmyrran cycle, first telling Kaldramir about the cycles so that the war would occur, then imposing peace.
Cataclysm
After Eira took Xol'Zahir's shard, two Xalmyrran cycles collided. Black spears rained from the sky, volcanoes erupted and rivers flooded cities. Survivors recovered conflicting memories of the two histories. Council mages and adventurers protected civilians and organized rebuilding, but the disaster also deepened the conflict between Xarion and Aurion. Teryndal marched against Soltheris; Eira's loss of control devastated both armies before her magic restored life to the surrounding ground.
End of the cycles
Thalena prepared the final confrontation with Jorhan alongside Hrzai and Xoh'Tenol. After Xoh'Tenol fought Jorhan, Thalena attacked him with her silver sword. Their battle destroyed Dravemir and tore apart the surrounding landscape, but Thalena wounded Jorhan beyond recovery. The cycles broke, and the storms disappeared. Xalmyrra's mages began rebuilding Dravemir, while Renneth and Maric were sent north to explore.
Foreign relations and transport
Thalassai established diplomatic channels with Xalmyrra and brought advanced technology into the region. Naryon joined the regional council while remaining Thalassai's archon of water. The four national governments supported Brynor's appointment as council head, succeeding Aldar. Thalena's railway project connected the two regions.
Trains run between Chronasis and Irrathis twice a day. Thalvian also prepared plans for smaller lines across Xalmyrra, with support from all four nations.
Nerissa's invasion
Nerissa brought an invasion fleet from Thiravos and Shanari to Erenmyr's northern coast in support of Raphael. Xalmyrra's defenders received reinforcements from Thalassai and Haverloch. The fighting stripped essence from the land, while Nerissa's tsunami flooded the hills and fissures opened along the coast. Orin defeated Nero, and Seralyth drove Gabriel back to the God Realm. Lucilla severed Nerissa's connections to that realm and unmade her. Fighting continued against the skyships and Kalyx. Brynor, Tazarin and Seralyth overwhelmed Kalyx, whose unstable essence threatened to explode. Brynor carried him deep underground and sealed the opening above them to contain the blast.
Seralyth traveled through Xalmyrra to clear its remaining darkness patches.
Thalena's later account
In Thalena's Shores of Eternity, severe overuse of essence released another wave of darkness in Xalmyrra, which consumed Varentis and Zeydrith.