The Instability of the North(TA 1570-1599)

Copyright Eric Dubourg 2001

Edited by Joe Mandala and Cory Rushton for The Guild Companion

In the thirty years following the assassination of Nlzagar, the northern throne became adangerous seat notorious for dislodging those who dared claim it. More than ten lords followedone after the other; some reigned only a few days, others never even made it into the king lists. TheInvocate never listed all of the Kings who ruled Northern Bellakar, for in some years there weretwo to three rulers at a time. No king, even of Tumakveh blood, was acceptable in the eyes ofRegent Sakalthr: "They are a collection of nasty tyrants, beholden more and more to Umbar'swill." From Kadurphazgn the Glorious (who sought only pleasure) to Karabzr (who named hishorse to the rank of asapthubth) to rzir (who was convinced that he was Zimrbal, resurrectedfrom the dead), Northern Bellakar had its share of incompetent rulers. Others were better kings:Diruzir, who tried to make peace with the South and reestablish his own authority over the North,attempted to win a measure of independence from Umbar. Except during Diruzir's reign (12Tamun 1593 - 26 Kuralid 1595), conflict still existed with the South. The real authority was inUmbar, not Hazaj Tollin, and slowly control of Northern Bellakar fell solely to the Council of theCaptains. The Bellakaran northern king was a puppet with no real power.

When Diruzir came to the throne after assassinating Karabzr, he launched audacious reforms ofthe army and the royal administration. He rebuilt cities and made alliances with powers other thanUmbar. For the first time, real discussion took place with Regent Sakalthr concerning thepossibility of reunification after Diruzir's death. These discussions remained unfinished whenDiruzir was poisoned by his cousin, who immediately succeeded to the throne. However, theaudacious reforms Diruzir instituted survived in principle, and were to be taken up again by thelast Northern Kings of Bellakar, Arzagar II and Narakhn. In the meantime, the reunificationproject led by Regent Sakalthr fell by the wayside, much to his despair.

Diruzir's cousin was replaced ten months later at the end of 1596 by another tyrant. Ollug Utarbwas of Tedjin Qarsag ascent, and did not belong to the Tumakveh line. His reign was a reign ofterror. He quickly effected power through his devoted guards, and colonized Northern Bellakarwith many people from distant Khand. Mysteriously, it was not uncommon for him to disappearfor several days at a time, officially to hunt and meditate in the desert; in reality, he was collectinghis orders from the servants of Queen Adnaphel.

During one of Ollug's retreats a true revolt occurred, caused initially by a prolonged famine inIshat 1597. The usurper's guards did not manage to contain the crowd, despite the anticipatedreturn of the usurper to the capital. Ollug himself had fallen into the hands of a Free Shark agent,sent by Regent Sakalthr to end the tyranny in the North and their unbearable alliance withUmbar. The abbot of the Monastery of the True Faith took advantage of the disorder to advancehis candidate to the throne of northern Bellakar. This was a thin young man of rather timidappearance: Arzagar II, descended from the junior branch of king Arphazn through the third sonof King Belkhr Aruyati. He united the North under his rule, and for the first time reunification

was discussed by the divided kingdoms.

Sakalthr probably intended to unite Arzagar II and Belkli, despite her marriage with Anardil, inorder to achieve the reunification; but this project again fell apart when Arzagar II wasassassinated (26 Dahlat 1599) in Hazaj Tollin. Soon after, his twin brother Narakhn, who mayhave ordered the assassination, succeeded Arzagar II. Narakhn ended the negotiations, anddeclared that the reunification should be achieved through war, not peace. This political reversalwas a serious setback for the aging Regent, who despaired again at another failed attempt atreunification.

Where am I? Archives Voices of Reason Fellow Travelers Vote for us on the RPG 100 Sponsored by Mimic Media & Data Systems