The Caladon Mountain Alliance
Copyright 1998, F. Stanley

The Caladon Mountain Alliance provids a concerted buffer between what is the civilized Argent empire to the south and the wild wastelands of the Cathar empire to the north.

Geography & Climate

The kingdoms, with the exception of Cerk, are a series of extended valleys along the backbone of the Caladon Mountains. These were caused by a rift fault where two tectonic plates crashed together, forming the mountians. They then moved apart, giving birth to the valleys. All of this has stabilized to form the valleys that we have today.

The climate is warm temperate, however, due to the altitude in the mountains, there is always snow in the winter at some point. This can cause communication problems during the winter, of course.

Spring comes quickly with a spring melt, a dramatic rise in temp, and occasional flooding. This stabilizes in the Summer with warm dry weather, with sudden thunder storms. Autumn comes quickly and colder, wetter conditions return.

History

The Founding of the Kingdoms

The kingdoms of the grew as a direct result of the finding and exploitation of metal ores in the valleys and mountains. This attracted dwarves and gnomes for obvious reasons, and they were the first to colonize the area. They were followed closely by halflings.

The land in the valleys is very fertile. Humans and more halflings came to farm the land. This provided food for miners and kingdoms developed as racially integrated societies. The racial split of each kingdom differed depending upon the availability of ores, land, and trade.

Pre-Alliance

By this time the kingdoms had become rivals and minor wars broke out over the minerals and ores and who they belonged to. It was only when the empires started to look at the kingdoms that the outside threat pulled them together. They stopped fighting and started to develop pacts. These started out between individual kingdoms and old feuds were not forgotten. The kingdoms formed 3 main groups, and even today the friendship within these groups is greater.

Southern Alliance		Garm, Dhu, Thu
Caladon Axis		Caladon and Cerk
Dalcat Alliance		Dalsu, Cathu, Elzon

Each of these groups formed naturally as each had pass access to the empires both north and south.

It was only when the Catharzon threat from the north became imminent that the Argent empire took a hand in brokering the alliance that we have today. It was in Argent's best interests to keep the kingdoms out of Cathar hands, and only a strong alliance could do this.

Even then, the Argent empire sent three legions to help defend the passes to the north within each small group, basing them in Thu, Caladon, and Cathu.

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The Founding of the Alliance

The Caladon Mountains are the main source of metal ores on the continent. The trade from the kingdoms went north as well as south to the opposing powers of Argent and Catharzon.

These two powers tried to control resources to keep them from the other. About 500 years ago, not long in demi-human terms, it became clear that the rule of Catharzon had changed, and they now looked to a complete domination of the Caladon Mountains. Its attempt to extend its borders lead first to the conquests of Malik, which were laid waste, and then the borz, the humanoid wild lands.

The alliance was formed over 400 years ago in a united effort to counter a threat from Catharzon that was sure to strike. The Argent empire sent three legions to help bolster defenses at Caladon, Cathu, and Dhu. The stone giants of the Caladon Mountains were also enlisted in the defense.

But nothing has happened for 400 years... all seems peaceful.

Politics....

Caladon was chosen as the head of teh alliance as it was central and is the biggest. A council chamber was set up and all kingdoms have an equal vote, with Caladon holding the chair and deciding vote for any tie-breakers.

The Representatives:

Caladon Cathu Cerk Dalsu Dhu Elzon Garm Thu

... Duke Akrim (dwarf) Baroness Aelwyn, cousin of king Alfred (dwarf) Baron Eldred (human) Thorgrim Dhu, cousin of king Thain (dwarf) Count Ceredes (half-elf) Count Balin (human) Duke Langrim (dwarf)

The Castles Fair is a great midsummer festival on behalf of all kingdoms with tournaments, markets, and chances to find rumor and employment. People come from all over to trade and enjoy themselves. This is held at cross roads outside the city of Caladon.

Kingdoms of the Alliance

The Kingdom of Caladon The Kingdom of Cathu The Kingdom of Cerk The Kingdom of Dalsu The Kingdom of Dhu The Kingdom of Elzon The Kingdom of Garm The Kingdom of Thu

Guilds of the Caladon Mountains
The Rock Brotherhood