5001-HârnWorld/3rd Edition/46

Such tyranny could not be tolerated forever. Horahnam was assassinated in 588 during a visit to the temple of Morgath in Coranan. The identity and number of the assassins was never established; the tyrant’s headless corpse bore 50 stab wounds, which suggests that more than one assassin was involved. Spontaneous rebellions soon erupted throughout the Theocracy. The life of any priest of Morgath, any friend or relative of Clan Tekhos, was forfeit. Only Golotha resisted the revolt. Within two months, the rule of Tekhos had died as violently as it had been born.

The Interregnum
With the collapse of the Theocracy, Tharda fell into three decades of chaos and dozens of petty states vied with one another to establish or resist a new empire. Large bands of brigands operated unchecked; the distinctions between bandits, mercenaries, raiding tribesmen, and legitimate armies became academic. Trade collapsed and the nefarious roaming bands consumed the wealth of the countryside. Coranan tried vainly to revive the Corani Empire. A second Aleath Republic was born in 612, the Kingdom of Kanday in 620, the Coranan Republic in 621, and the Shiran Republic in 625. Golotha and Rethem were lonely relics of the hated Theocracy.

THE FOUNDING OF KANDAY
The house of Kand, minor nobility of the Corani Empire, first achieved prominence when it was outlawed by the Theocracy of Tekhos in 575 for sheltering enemies of the state. Fleeing the impalers, the clan went into exile and sought refuge in the Mimea Hills. Led by the young Andasin, the clan and its followers harassed the forces of the government despite several attempts to exterminate them.

With the collapse of the Theocracy in 588, Andasin seized Ibonost from its Tekhosian governor in 589 and established the Kingdom of Kanday. Andasin proved himself a genius at siege warfare. He took Edino Keep from its vicious warlord in 598 after a night assault in small boats across the Eryn River. His crowning achievement came in his old age when, in 620, he took Dyrisa Castle from its Morgathian overlord. A devout follower of Larani, Andasin established the Order of the Checkered Shield in 622 and gave them responsibility for guarding his northern frontier. Around 624, Andasin began a sad decline into senility to die in 627 at the venerable age of 69. All of his sons having died in battle, Andasin was succeeded by his grandson, Andasin II.

Andasin II was a man more inclined to negotiation than war. He made alliances with the petty states on his borders, including the Aleath Republic. The republic had restored order to the city and its environs during the Interregnum but was unable to extend its power much beyond this. The senate of the young republic, noting the ascendancy of Kanday on its northern frontier and impressed with the competence and policies of Andasin II, voted to join with the kingdom in 633. Aleath was granted a liberal charter recognizing its rights as a freetown within the kingdom. By the time Andasin II died in 654, Kanday was strong, vigorous, and prosperous. Its gentle influence had spread throughout much of southwestern Tharda.

ARLUN THE BARBARIAN
Towards the end of the Interregnum, the Kuboran tribes of Peran were united for the first time under Arlun, a tribal leader of great personal charisma and no small skill at arms. By 625, Arlun had become the acknowledged chieftain of nearly 90 Kubora tribes. Convinced of a great destiny, Arlun planned his conquest of the south. For four years he bided his time, training his men in the arts of war that were to win him a kingdom.

Arlun’s hordes swept down into Rethem in 629, ruled at that time by the “Golothan” or “Second” Theocracy. Shostim was quickly taken but there was little time for rejoicing. The castle was immediately counter-attacked from north and south. Arlun’s brilliant defense held Shostim against repeated bloody and wasteful assaults, forcing the besiegers to retire. Wasting no time, Arlun left half of his army to hold Shostim and advanced northwest to capture Tormau after a brief siege in 630. By 632, Arlun held all of Rethem north of Shostim, then took pause to consolidate his gains.

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