Tamlêrran

Category	Empires
World	Bal-Kriav
Region	Magrâbik
Government	Zenduram
Capital	Nizgimân
Population	2,800,000+
Races	Nithian 85% Gradorian 10% other 5%
Alignment	lawful
Deities	Arcana, Ptah
Enemies	Abhômaipeth, Artaxertus, Cinderfall
Established	29 Bloom 528 HE
Maps	Inzilthôr Kathôn

In the Cinyossion Conflict (506 HE - 527 HE), the kingdom of Volgad engaged in battle against the armies of the Gadstill Dynasty. With Aphelzâk, Volgad's capital, under siege, wizards began teleporting the people to a safe area a thousand miles north. In the Izrathôr valley, these refugees now found themselves in the lands of the Zenduram, the central government of Tamlêrran. At the time, the Zenduram was a guild of high-level arcanists living in the northern wilds, where they could openly practice their magic. Rather than risk losing their status, many of Volgad's royalty opted to stay behind, hoping for victory and fighting to the end rather than submit to the jurisdiction of these powerful wizards. While Volgad neared defeat, the people of distant Yatthânûr decided on a change in government. Reluctantly, the Zenduram, once a guild dedicated to studying and advancing the arcane craft, became the new masters, heading the magocracy government of the newly formed Tamlêrran Empire.

Situated in the Magrâbik Region, Tamlêrran is a nation of states governed by wizard-rulers. It has a lengthy history of internal discord between these wizard-rulers. These conflicts are contained by codes of conduct, prohibiting external assistance to the belligerents. Some of these wars culminate in the downfall of a state, leading to either the establishment of a new state by another wizard-ruler or the absorption of the fallen state by the victor. Occasionally, a powerful mage emerges, carving out his own domain at the expense of a wizard-ruler. If maintained for a sufficient duration, this mage becomes the wizard-ruler of a new state. The empire's laws stipulate that states may not annex more than two others, and the nation must always comprise no fewer than 10 states. Historically, the number of states has consistently ranged from 12 to 20.

The most dire outcome of this feuding led to the formation of two rogue empires, Cinderfall and Artaxertus. One was guided by the former wizard-governor Igacin, and the other was under his half-sister Anube. Their feud became known as the Thrones War (751 - present). Tamlêrran has suffered from the spillover of this war, whether from volcanic emissions or the spread of great glaciers. They battled creatures alien to the land, frost and fire giants speaking different dialects, and chaos archons in such numbers that it would seem an invasion from another world. Tamlêrran found some relief when the great arch-mages of the empire pooled their might and skills, creating a barrier, the Elemantum Boundary Ward (758 - 769). This barrier contains most of the elemental energies spreading into the lands from faraway worlds.

The Zenduram and a substantial portion of the populace harbor deep distrust towards psionicists. This sentiment originated early in the Second Epoch when a powerful psionicist of alien origin (the future emperor of the Orchish Empire) attempted to seize control of the nation from its magocratic government. In the ensuing battles, magic proved largely ineffective against the malevolent lord Blac'drugulois and the psionic mercenaries of Zisi-Nul. Tamlêrran, on the verge of falling under the emperor's authority, invoked a formidable gate spell, summoning an army of modrons, which then possessed the strength to vanquish the psionic scourge. Today, Tamlêrran employs Brain Inspectors to root out any practitioners of the psionic arts.

The most formidable fighting force in Tamlêrran are the soldiers of the Kamlêth-Girân. This elite corps serves the central administration and comprises an army of cloned combatants.

Tamlêrran boasts the highest concentration of spellcasters in the realm, leading some foreigners to believe that the city has a wizard lurking behind every door. The Nithians' extensive history of magic use has spawned numerous legends of wizardry and magic-wielding forces accomplishing remarkable feats to safeguard the people. During the Siege of Imrik, the Šukhan Legion defended the city to the last man, enabling the populace to escape northward. Similarly, in the Siege of Aphelzâk, wizards teleported tens of thousands of individuals to the lands of Magrâbik. Consequently, the prevalence of legends and numerous arcane institutions has cultivated an aspiration among Nithian youth to become spellcasters. The ubiquity of magic in their cities and homes further reinforces their reverence and devotion to the arcane arts.

The Gradorians, descendants of the once-mighty Mir'piamauza Empire, inhabit the region of Tamlêrran.