Cromahl-Hult
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Cromahl-Hult (Chrome-All HULT; "Warrior People") is the name of both an ancient citadel as well as that of the Cromahl-Hult Empire, a dead civilization that once ruled the Nexal plane of Purgatorio. In the current Nexal "breath," it is also the name of a region within that plane (which is itself the original site of the Empire) - a region of thick jungle and crumbling ruins.
The Empire of Cromahl-Hult predates the Era of Haldos by several thousand years and was known as the Empire of the Sun and Moon.
[edit] The Cromahl-Hult Empire
During the Cromahl-Hult Empire's "golden age", the islands that would become modern-day Cromahl-Hult were connected. The Cromahl-Hult Empire stretched across all of Purgatorio, which, in those days, was quite different (the Cromahl-Hult islands are some of the oldest in the plane).
The Empire was the direct result of the works of Augarnian, who united several warring clans within the plane and then set out to destroy the Divine Army and the Infernal Horde - which they did with ease.
[edit] History
[edit] Eh-Hawoe
The Cromahl-Hult Empire arose from the ashes of a pre-Nexal society known as Eh-Hawoe, (Ay-Hah-WOE; "River Join") a "remnant" society from the previous Nexal breath (set by Marquai). The villages of the Eh-Hawoe region were the foundation of the Nexal war at this time, plucked from an as-yet-undefined timeline. The Eh-Hewoae were a war-like people whose society was based around combat and elemental magicks.
Eh-Hawoe society was militant, fuedal, and patriarchal, with a significant degree of institutionalized slavery. With the exception of the imperial bloodline, it was forbidden for "free" Eh-Hewoe to study magic - this was the domain of a specialized slave caste (the imperial line was required to study magics by law so that they would always understand the limitations - and lack thereof - of magical prowess).
Eh-Hawoe technology was apparently limited to that of Earth's late bronze-age, though the elemental magic of the slave caste seems to have served the function of more "sophisticated" technology.
[edit] The Nexal War
Upon the initation of the Nexal War and the removal of the Eh-Hawoe region to the Great Battlefield, the Eh-Hawoe people fragmented along several warring political lines. The Imperial bloodline had mysteriously not been plucked into the battlefield, so without a ruling hand various viceroys and generals sought their own glories. Further, the elementalists slaves found themselves in a unique position of power, and exploited it for their own gain.
Thus, for an uncounted period of years the Eh-Hawoe warred amongst themselves, some slipping into demonhood, others ascending, and still others remained Eh-Hawoe at their hearts. It wasn't until the rise of Augarnian that the Eh-Hawoe were once again united - this time under the banner of Cromahl-Hult.
[edit] Augarnian
Augarnian (Awe-GAR-nyan; "Bright Son") was the last emperor of Cromahl-Hult and ruled the plane of Purgatorio until his death. By all accounts, Augarnian was an exceptionally powerful man, having been taught both the deep Nexal magicks by his tutor, Ellisech, as well as expert arts of martial combat.
Legend states that Augarnian was not born of flesh, but was instead found among the floating islands.
Augarnian is remembered for three things:
- He conquered and united the warring clans within Purgatorio. In doing so, he ensured the victory of the Neutral powers for his breath.
- He defeated and then imprisoned the Great Dragon known as Yvaun Harhai Maha within the volcano of the Caldera Sea
- After the ending of the Cromahl-Hult Nexus War, he was slain on an island near the Isle of Gates, an event which signalled the end of the Cromahl-Hult Empire.
[edit] The Decline of Cromahl-Hult and the Death of Augarnian
After the clans were united, Augarnian found himself bored and without focus. As a result, he turned to drink, and fell into a depression, unable to focus. During this time, the dark lord Tlacolotl whispered failures into his ears, pulling him further into the darkness. Always steadfast, Augarnian had come to doubt his own power while believing in his own divinity.
During this time, the remnants of the Infernal Horde had been building a new series of Juggernauts in secret, beneath the wastes of Stygia. When the time was right, they launched an offensive against the Empire through the Isle of Gates and overwhelmed the forward outposts of Cromahl-Hult.
The Empire's army rallied, and Augarnian took to the field. However, his doubts were too great, and his Nexal power failed at a critical juncture. He was overwhelmed, slaughtered, and consumed - a deathblow to the morale of the Cromahl-Hult army, which was quickly routed thereafter.
Upon the death of Augarnian, the magical seals that had imprisoned Yvaun Harhai Maha were dispelled and the dragon rose screaming from the volcano in a rage. It then hastened to the center of the Empire and slaughtered every living thing it found there, thus bringing an abrupt end to the Empire of the Sun and Moon.
[edit] Modern Cromahl-Hult
Modern Cromahl-Hult is a series of islands overrun with thick, steaming jungle. Hidden within the depths of the forest are the ruins of the Empire's larger buildings, including that of the Great Citadel.
