Altered Lore

Caer Oorun

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Caer Oorun

Caer Oorun is a province located west of Arkaster, historically serving as the granary and pantry of Asgartha. The province was devastated and lost following an attack by the Kraken, forcing its population to evacuate. During the Rediscovery Endeavor in 392 AC, the province became the focus of reclamation efforts following the Kraken’s defeat.

Geography

Location and Access

Caer Oorun is situated west of Arkaster, accessible by sailing through increasingly cold waters. The journey to Caer Oorun requires:

  • Sailing through increasingly icy waters
  • Navigating through small icebergs and dangerous ice floes
  • Days of travel in dropping temperatures
  • Progressively colder coastal conditions with snow and ice coverage

Regional Divisions

The province contains multiple distinct regions explored during the Rediscovery Endeavor:

Elikadura Fjords: Western area approximately 174 miles from Arkaster, contains Cebir fortress.

Strand Region: North-eastern area approximately 186 miles from Arkaster, located north of marshlands, contains the ruins of Calida.

Irundu: North-western area approximately 150 miles from Arkaster, contains pre-Confluence city ruins and the Mesektet crash site, forest reminiscent of Katkera.

Tilted Steppes: North-western area approximately 217 miles from Arkaster, contains the ruins of Marsa, features gravity-defying floating islands.

Jayu Region: North-western area approximately 100 miles from Arkaster, contains Tumult Singularity with strange phenomena.

Historical Significance

Original Status

Nearly three centuries ago, Caer Oorun was part of the same Oasis as the rest of the Peninsula. Initially, it was an agrarian area upon which the human colony of Asgartha relied to meet its needs, serving as the granary and pantry of the nation.

The Kaibara-Kraken Battle

The Kraken challenged Kaibara for control of the region. The two colossi battled for days, ravaging the Province and raining ruin and destruction upon the human enclaves that had developed there. Entire villages were wiped off the map and fields were laid to waste. The populations had no choice but to evacuate to escape the devastation.

At the end of this titanic confrontation, Kaibara, defeated, had to retreat, leaving Caer Oorun in the hands of the victorious Kraken.

Sealing of the Province

In great haste, The Rampart was built to prevent the Kraken from threatening the rest of the peninsula. The Solstice Gate, the only land opening within this gargantuan wall, was sealed forever.

Agricultural Heritage

Before the Kraken attack, Caer Oorun was Asgartha’s granary and pantry. Life in the province moved to the rhythm of seasons and the passage of time. The agricultural landscape included:

  • Extensive wheat fields harvested with sickles and scythes
  • Mills for grain processing
  • Flails for threshing grain
  • Winnowers performing their work with song
  • Barns storing bundles of hay
  • Children playing in straw during idle summer afternoons

The Kraken Attack

The Kraken appeared during a summer afternoon attack that devastated the province. Historical records describe:

  • Thunder rumbling within storm clouds
  • Purple lightning casting gloomy hues over fields
  • Heavy, strangely salty rain falling
  • Trees collapsing with muted cracks
  • A house suddenly exploding
  • Broken logs and thatch thrown above treetops
  • The Kraken’s tentacles slithering through trees, making them fall like dominoes
  • The Kraken’s mantle rising above tree canopy like a sinister tower
  • Arms weaving through fields, surrounded by waves that should not have been there

The attack forced the evacuation and displacement of Caer Oorun’s entire population to the Anthea peninsula. This event coincided with the Nifir epidemic and contributed to conditions leading to the Fratricidal War.

327-329 AC - The Cebir Construction and Abandonment

In 327 AC, Cebir fortress was erected in Caer Oorun as a first outpost and forward base to re-explore the world. The construction involved collaboration between Bravos military forces and Ordis architects with significant Ordis fund investment.

Living conditions proved so harsh that the Bravos had to abandon Cebir only two years later in 329 AC. This surrender was a painful setback and deep dishonor for both factions.

352 AC - The Dagger of Esvander Expedition

In 352 AC, a Bravos Company called the Dagger of Esvander set out to reconquer Cebir. The nineteen-year-old Basira al-Arshad secured a place on one of the faction’s longships.

Upon arrival, the expedition discovered Cebir had been turned into an experimentation laboratory. The expedition was attacked by infernal creatures, with Basira al-Arshad as the sole survivor.

During this journey, Afanas Korovinovich’s family embarked from Arkaster toward Caer Oorun when Korovin volunteered to emigrate to Cebir. As night fell during the journey, a violent blow struck the frigate. A tentacle from Kraken surged and struck Korovin down, killing him. The ship split in two and Afanas saw a mage floating with Kraken standing behind without attacking—the figure wore an alabaster mask and a cloak covered with golden chrysanthemums.

392-393 AC - Rediscovery Endeavor Reclamation

Initial Reclamation (392 AC)

In 392 AC, forces of the Expeditionary Corps successfully reclaimed Cebir. The multi-faction operation involved:

After more than a week of reclaiming Cebir with no attacks, and with Kraken fallen, the Province of Caer Oorun seemed poised to rejoin Asgartha.

Cebir Tensions (392 AC, October)

Admiral Temera Singh’s directive was to reclaim Cebir to plan exploration of the western coastal region beyond the Turbulent Shores. However, following intervention by Wanjiru, the Yzmir Faction locked down the site, citing a quarantine to seize control of operations.

Waru Toowoom planned to send spies to Cebir to uncover what Yzmir was hiding, noting that evading the vigilance of the Initiates would be challenging.

Regional Exploration (392-393 AC)

During late 392 AC and early 393 AC, the Expeditionary Corps conducted systematic exploration of Caer Oorun’s various regions:

November 392 AC: Approximately forty explorers established at Calida in the Strand Region, led by scholars from the Historians’ Guild and Axiom prospectors. Their goal was to unearth potential ruins and set up an advanced base for exploring the coastal regions of the Cierna.

November-December 392 AC: Excavations began at the pre-Confluence city ruins in Irundu, though Ordis dignitaries focused primarily on recovering the crashed Mesektet rather than archaeological research.

January 393 AC: All Exalts were summoned to Marsa in the Tilted Steppes to plan exploration of next territories. The Ouroboros high command set their next destination as a luminescent mountain to the west.

January 393 AC: Disturbing reports reached Waru Toowoom regarding exploratory forces stationed in the Jayu Desert, where troops reported strange phenomena possibly linked to a Tumult Singularity.

Reincorporation Process

Waru Toowoom took on the reincorporation of Caer Oorun to the rest of the Peninsula, a process acknowledged to take significant time. When Anuncia ruun-Aysun gave a pessimistic timeline of two to three years to prove the Rediscovery Endeavor’s worth, Abenet countered by noting that Caer Oorun’s reconquest was a significant first victory.

The reclamation of Caer Oorun became possible for the first time in over two centuries following the Kraken’s defeat.

Strategic Importance

Caer Oorun serves multiple strategic functions:

  • Forward Base: Cebir fortress provides a staging point for further western exploration
  • Agricultural Restoration: Potential to restore the province’s role as Asgartha’s granary
  • Territorial Expansion: First major reconquest of territory lost to The Tumult
  • Multi-Faction Cooperation: Testing ground for coordinated faction operations
  • Archaeological Research: Multiple pre-Confluence sites providing historical insights

Relationships

  • Arkaster: Capital city serving as measurement reference point, embarkation point for journeys to Caer Oorun
  • Cebir: Fortress within Elikadura Fjords Region, focal point of reclamation efforts
  • Kraken: Leviathan responsible for devastation and loss of province
  • Waru Toowoom: Exalt responsible for reincorporation process, conducted correspondence from various locations (392-393 AC)
  • Basira al-Arshad: Sole survivor of 352 AC expedition, returned with reclamation forces (392 AC)
  • Afanas Korovinovich: Lost father during journey to Caer Oorun (352 AC), returned with reclamation forces (392 AC)
  • Temera Singh: Admiral who directed reclamation of The Cebir for western exploration planning
  • Wanjiru: Intervened at The Cebir leading to Yzmir quarantine
  • Rediscovery Endeavor: Major expedition that enabled provincial reclamation
  • Historians’ Guild: Scholars participating in archaeological expeditions throughout province
  • The Tumult: Force responsible for ongoing challenges in stabilizing region

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