Illcara | Tyrrapedia: Encyclopedia of Tyrra

Oral tradition of the Illcarian people maintains that the Kingdom began circa 328. It was told that three cousins, Zanka Lundor, Micos Sylune, and Gregory Talia, had become extraordinarily successful merchants. Talia and his sons were excellent traders and merchants; fair to a fault, but with a keen eye. Micos and his sons were all skilled warriors, and more than capable of guarding the caravans along there routes. Zanka and his offspring performed accounting and managerial duties, ensuring that the proper shipments were made, adjusting prices as need be, and otherwise looking after the well-being of the collective business. In 328, the trading company owned by Lundor, Sylune, and Talia directly purchased 72 Sq. Miles of land from the Evendarrian Crown to serve as their head of operations. Due to their enormous success, the collection of brick dwellings quickly swelled into a city-state. Rapid migration and expansion took place. By the year 335 it consisted of four castles, seventeen town halls, numerous dwellings, and expansive farmlands. In 350, Zanka Lundor declared himself the First King of the Kingdom of Illcara, and gave his cousins status as Lords. Evandarr did not contest the claim, but welcomed the new ally and nurtured their progress.

Reign of the Kingdom of Illcara

The lands of Illcara were fertile and lush, owing to a most appreciable climate with long growing seasons and mild, temperate winters. They maintained lucrative trade routes with nearby Kingdoms and rarely allowed any form of rivalries to last. Remaining records show that there was an attempted coup on the throne in 455, but little information exists as to its nature. The Three Royal Families of Illcara were the Lundors, who generally served as administrators, the Sylune, who generally served as military and guards, and the Talians, who formed the bulk of the actual merchants and traders. As is customary in most modern kingdoms, Noble status could be granted to commoners, and by way of knighthood they were granted the name of the family to whom they swore fealty. Obviously, membership of a specific family did not always guarantee skill in the usually attributed area, and thus it was not unheard of for a Talians to take up a sword, a Sylune to show talents at government, or a Lundor to become an ample trader. However, it seems historically uncommon for one of the members of the families to be inept at any of the three prized skills. The Kingdom flourished as such for well over 170 years, until its fall.

The Fall of the Kingdom of Illcara

The year 521 was a dark year for Illcara. Many doomsayers counted it as the beginning of the end.

A supply caravan returned from the town of Simil. They had found nothing but a black patch of earth and a few ruined buildings where the town had stood just weeks earlier. A unit of the finest Sylune guardsmen was deployed immediately. Their orders were to investigate, punish those responsible, and report back. Eight days after their deployment, the Captain's severed head was found at the bedside of General Baalthasar Sylune. Most disturbingly, no traces of entry or exit were found in the castle. He ordered a Delve History formal magic be performed on the head. It was performed by the Arch mage Thaddeus Lundor, who shortly thereafter blinded himself with his ceremonial dagger, and later took his own life. He did not reveal the nature of his visions prior to his final death.

Baalthasar immediately mobilized all forces available, drafting town guards to provide more support for the army. On the third day of their march, Baalthasar received a desperate message from an Arch mage at Castle Lundor, informing him that, in the absence of the town guard and standing army, an undead force had laid siege to the capital city. The undead were ravenously adding the townspeople to their own ranks.

Overcome with the grief and guilt, Baalthasar fell on his own sword. What followed was a series of utter catastrophes. Each of the Kingdom's major cities was decimated before troops could be deployed to defend them. In less than two weeks time, well over two thirds of the Kingdom of Illcara lay in total ruin.

On a cold January night in 522, the army faced on the undead enemy that had murdered their families and burned their homes. A legion of vampires, ghouls, wraiths and other undead descended upon the weary force late in the night. At their approach, an eighth of the Illcarian armies turned on their brethren for reasons still unknown. Some speculate that they were mesmerized by the vampire's charms.

The battle, or slaughter, lasted nearly two hours, during which a mere 140 troops escaped. The remaining troops fled as quickly as they could to the only remaining inhabited city, Menka, a border town. After regaining their bearings, they fled to Evandarr. The Illcarian army was accepted as refugees, but Evendarrian troops sent two expeditions to investigate, but could find no trace of the attacking army.

The refugees mourned for their kingdom, and tried to start new lives in Evandarr.

Present Day

In the past few years, starting around 600, several of the descendants of the Illcarian people have been lobbied and gathered troops and settlers to retake their ancestral lands. There was strong support from the remaining descendants, who managed to hire a reasonable mercenary force to man the expeditions. Only the future would tell weather this was to be the second coming of the Illcarian Kingdom, or an ill fated fit of nostalgia.

After several expeditions by smaller groups, a large group prepared to set out and re-establish Illcara City and the Kingdom of Illcara. When the three nobles of the ancient ruling houses petitioned King Mykel to grant them leave of his kingdom, and to reclaim their own homelands, they left with more than what they had asked for. King Mykel had imparted a large force of soldiers to help. But this was not all - the descendants of the other refugees came along also, many of them joining the army. When the three Houses lead the forces into Illcara, they were near 12,000 strong. Each House commanded one third of the forces. This time, they did not fall for any of the vampires' trickery.

In the Spring of 604, the Vampire Lord Tycho was defeated, with the help of a group of Drakes led by one called Cinder. For his help in the defeat of Tycho, Cinder was named Duke and given lands afforded there unto. Two of his party members, Luminous and Moss, were Knighted.

For a time, the Kingdom was ruled by the three princes of the Houses, Prince Amarus Sylune, Prince Magnus Lundor and Prince Drugas Talia. Magnus, at the urging of Duke Cinder, declared himself King of Illcara late in the year of 604. He ruled in peace for a short time, but as is common in newly formed or reformed kingdoms, it did not last long.