| Category | Empires | ||||||
| World | Bal-Kriav | ||||||
| Region | Tribe Steppes | ||||||
| Government | Nînilzar | ||||||
| Capital | Gaudrith | ||||||
| Population | |||||||
| Races |
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| Alignment | non-good | ||||||
| Deities | Hades, Neld-Rac | ||||||
| Enemies | none | ||||||
| Established | 30 Saunas 1318 | ||||||
| Map | Sava'loth |
Early in the First Epoch, the Calijoth and other Theegan tribes of Singarban endured a state of constant defense. They were harassed by the Jara, a people who had once been Theegans themselves, but now sought only destruction and slaughter. In Year 77, the Horde of Mingrur commenced their onslaught against Singarban's populace. Many fled eastward into the depths of what was then known as Synnbarri.
In the Year 99, Noncel Calijoth, the founder of Hazrith, passed away without an heir. His illegitimate son, a half-Theegan named Sessilja, having slain his father in honorable combat, attempted to claim the mantle of succession. However, leaders loyal to Calijoth were reluctant to pledge fealty to the youthful pretender. Sessilja and his supporters journeyed northward, where they established the settlement of Gaudrith.
In the 13th century, Neld-Rac's proselytizers began infiltrating Synnbarri's settlements. Instead of merely preaching Neld-Rac's teachings, they demonstrated his power in the form of shadow magic. The area's illusionists were the first to be sought out and instructed on opening rifts to the Shade Farm. These rifts became conduits for shadow energy, providing a steady supply for practitioners of shadow magic and those dwelling in the shadows. Over the years, more rifts were opened, some becoming permanent. This influx of shadow energy transformed Synnbarri into a realm of shadows, where the power of darkness grew more potent and easier to wield. In 1302, and over the following fifteen years, the Shadow Curse descended upon the area due to the overwhelming presence of shadow energy. As a result, Synnbarri became known as the Shadow Rift, a gloomy, sprawling canyon where creatures of the shadow, such as Shades, shadow mastiffs, and even shadow dragons, now thrive.
In the year 1318, the Nînilzar magocracy was established. This form of government abolished the clan-based system of rule, replacing it with governance by a conclave of shadow wizards. This tumultuous insurrection concluded within a few short months. The Nînilzar then unified the Gaudrith, Hazrith, and the rift's smaller strongholds under the banner of the Ink-Shad Empire.
Over the centuries, Ink-Shad has evolved into a veritable melting pot. Nearly every variety of creature can be encountered dwelling within or passing through its borders. It is the domain of outlaws and those seeking to vanish from the "Bright Lands Above". The most populous contingent of the empire are its Shades, the majority of whom bear the burden of the Shadow Curse.
In 1531, a rogue modron named Tetretz arrived at this empire from the Great Expanse. This construct brought with him the technology for creating maugs and other clockwork devices. With the aid of arcanists, this technology was combined with the prevalent shadow energy in the Shadow Rift. Today, these automations (hammers and pulverizer constructs) are employed on a massive scale for the empire's defense and in mining the rift's abundant mineral deposits. The maug army, a mercenary force numbering nearly a thousand, is loaned out when not fighting for Ink-Shad.
In the Chaos War, Ink-Shad forged an alliance with the Umahanbad. They launched an assault on the Orchish Empire, devastating the Orchish city of Surkiln. During this battle, Emperor Blac'drugulois was killed. This conflict catapulted Ink-Shad into the spotlight, as they had not previously been regarded as a formidable military force.