Kaliphlin

Kaliphlin, the southern desert guild of Historica.

Kaliphlin is the southernmost of the Guilds of Historica, and is known for its harsh desert climate and its success in the trade industry. They are the chief producers and suppliers of Black Oil, a rare commodity, which brings in the bulk of the guild’s wealth. Kaliphlin is often heralded as a free place for outsiders to come and create new successful lives.

Guild of Kaliphiln on Eurobricks

Geography

The Siccus Badlands is predominately a desert wasteland in the southern realm of Historica. Feed by lakes and rivers of the Avalonia, the Akrbi river runs through its lands and is the primary source of fresh water to the parched south. For the affluent, the preferred water source is the glacial waters shipped from the Mitgardia's snow caps.

To the east are the trailing end of the Rakath Mountain Range. The mountain fortress of Qarkyr stands in the mountains acting as a sentinel over the inhabitants of the Darklands. The mountains are small compared to the lofty heights of the Rakath mountains. Under the shadow of the Rakath mountain lies the smaller Mystic mountain where various bands of Mountain Mummies will sojourn near the local

villages during the oppressive scorching months.

In the far west lies the meager forests and farmlands of the South. These pitiful farms do not provide much food, but the vastness of the farmland provides enough space to grow food for the sparsely populated Siccus Badlands. The port city of Barqa stands as the major trading hub in the western part of the Siccus. Here supplies from the north are shipped in and in return the Black Oil is shipped out. The supplies travel along the Oil Road - always heavily guarded to protect from bandits.

Oasis's litter the Siccus desert with the largest one being Petraea, the ancient Capital fortress which is the home of the Kaliphlin. Though lacking in most other resources, it is one of the few producers of Black Oil in the entire Historica- generating wealth beyond belief for its inhabitants. Those within its inner city live in virtual paradise relative to those behind the outer clay-brick fortifications.

The bulk of Petraea's citizens are made up of ex-criminals, freed slaves, fortune seekers and people looking to restart their lives in anonymity. While most outside the south presume that the Petraea is a lawless savage city- it is in fact the most lawful cities in all of Historica. The prosperous Black Oil provides plentiful jobs and money for all those who give an honest days work. Those that choose dishonesty, the vast standing Army of the Kaliphlin Guild hands out harsh punishments to ensure there are no repeat offenders.

To the East, in the harshest area is home to the the Mountain Mummy tribes who are known to sporting bandage coverings from head to foot, they utilize their garb to ensure that none of their precious moisture is lost to the blistering, arid surroundings. No one is quite sure which race the mummies belong to, as none have ever been seen without their bandages, however, it is rumored that the mummies came to being when warlocks from the eastern darklands corrupted the burial chambers of the nobility during Quakyr's days as an early settlement. While the mummies pay no allegiance but to their chieftains, whom they revere as deities, they have sometimes been known to band together against invading forces from the Eastern Darklands.

For more information, see: Kaliplin General geography

Leader

The current leader of the Kaliphlin Guild is Dextrus Flagg. Originally a slave - this dwarf revolutionized the production of Black Oil making him the most powerful Merchant, and thus the earning and buying the respect necessary to become the leader of all of the Siccus Badlands.

Important Citizens

See: Kaliphlin Important Citizens

Locations of Interest

Major Cities

The major cities of the Kaliphlin are Petraea the capital, Barqa, and Qarkyr. Other notable cities include Eastgate, Stone Town, Messahmuk, Mpya Stedor, and Berigora.

Fed by the lakes and rivers of Avalonia, the Arkbri River runs through its lands and is the primary source of fresh water to the parched south. For the affluent, the preferred water source is the glacial waters shipped from the Mitgardia's snow caps. The eastern desert is cut by the Qar-Akhen river, descending from the Rakath Mountains near Qarkyr to the coastal Akhenaten Swamps. Farther east is the trailing end of the Rakath Mountain Range, ending in the land of Peregrinus on Cape Dahaka. The northeastern coast is rocky and mountainous, foggy, and filled with temperate pine forests.

In the far west lies the deep dark Wither Woods and the farmlands of the South. These pitiful farms do not provide much food, but the vastness of the farmland provides enough space to grow food for the sparsely populated Siccus Badlands. The port city of Barqa stands as the major trading hub in the western part of the Siccus. Here supplies from the north are shipped in and in return the Black Oil is shipped out. The supplies travel along the Oil Road - always heavily guarded to protect from bandits.

Capital

Petraea is the ancient Capital fortress which is the home of the Kaliphlin. Though lacking in most other resources, it is one of the few producers of Black Oil in the entire Historica- generating wealth beyond belief for its inhabitants. Those within its inner city live in virtual paradise relative to those behind the outer clay-brick fortifications. The bulk of Petraea's citizens are made up of ex-criminals, freed slaves, fortune seekers and people looking to restart their lives in anonymity. While most outside the south presume that the Petraea is a lawless savage city- it is in fact the most lawful cities in all of Historica. The prosperous Black Oil provides plentiful jobs and money for all those who give an honest days work. Those that choose dishonesty, the vast standing Army of the Kaliphlin Guild hands out harsh punishments to ensure there are no repeat offenders.

But the law and order of Petraea does not extend far outside the Capital and the major cities. The remaining Oases are savage places where those that are bent on lawlessness thrive. They survive on raiding merchants traveling between between the three major cities in a constant and escalating battle with Kaliphlin army.

Races

Humans - While found in all guilds, the human population of Kaliphlin is smaller than all the other guilds with the exception of Nocturnus. Humans of Kaliphlin vary greatly in their status with some being wealthy nobles while others work as dangerous bandits

Dwarves – A prominent race, Dwarves are a powerful force in Kaliphlin like their northern guild brothers. Most work in the valuable industry of Black oil.

Mountain Mummies – Accursed reanimated corpses who plague the desert mountains of Rakath/Mystic Mountains of Kaliphlin. They can only be found in the mountains and guild of Kaliphlin.

Others – A large population of Kaliphlin is composed of various smaller races, many of which are unique to the guild. Many of these minor races are unknown to outsiders and their true numbers and even race names are hard to pin down.

Economy and Trade

List of Kaliphlin resources:

Black Oil
Glass
Sandstone
Gold
Silver
Gems
Wine
Reptile Skins
Camel Milk
Ostrich Eggs/Meat
Spices

History

There are many myths and legends about the History of Kaliphlin.

One of the most well-known is the Myth of Kaligem. It is about the period where Kaliphlin rules the continent of Historica and where the Green wastelands turned into the nowadays desert. It is situated around 1000 years ago.

Kaliphlin History

3000 years ago:

Some traders from another continent arrives at the Great Southern Grasslands (nowadays Kaliphlin). They are nomads so they come and go. Only a few of them stays here to start a new nomad life.

2500 years ago:

A few nomads decides to construct a city somewhere in the Great Southern Grasslands. They call it Kaligem and call themselves Kaliphlins.

2000 years ago:

The city of Kaligem is getting more and more fame across the globe as wealth rained for the residents of the city and the Kaliphlins decided to make a second wall, defended by golden towers.

Drow starts with conquering rest of Historica

1800 years ago:

Failed siege of Kaligem by the Drows. The Kaliphlins constructs the major temple for Bonash, their deity to thank him for their victory.

The Drow are banned to their cities under the Rakath Mountains again. Drow Raids in every part of Historica starts.

1500 years ago:

Santani Bela'Sti Fi'Ru of the House of Santani is the new Lord of Kaliphlin. He starts spreading the wealth of Kaligem throughout the continent and starts conquering Historica.

1400 years ago:

Kaliphlin conquered almost all of nowadays Historica. Cedrica is founded to make a more central capital.

1350 years ago:

Kaliphlin starts the siege of the last holdout not yet conquered, the Darkland Bastion Everlast in the East, leader of the army is Santani b'Rack Ji'Fall. His son Santani Ar'Mani Ji'Teel decided to transport the wealth of Kaligem to Cedrica.

1345 years ago:

Everlast falled as the enemy disappeared. Kaliphlin controls now all of Historica.

the God Bonash and the God Ashroth starts the siege of Kaligem as revenge for all the wealth deported to Cedrica. The residents started offering all their wealth at once and even people to please Bonash again.

Bonash and Ashroths starts fighting eachother. Ashroth has been killed and Bonash heavily injured and one of their magic waves casted a hugh standstorm allover Kaligem, making Kaligem disappear from the map. The Great Southern Grasslands are transformed into a hot desert.

1300 years ago:

Due the fall of Kaligem, Kaliphlin was not able anymore to control Historica, new factions arrised and they started fighting eachother. Thousand years of war started.

100 years ago:

Origins of Historica. The bard’s song tells a tale of a world long forgotten, Race against race, clan against clan, shields clashed with swords; long ago when Men of the Lion fought Men of the Falcon, and human armies succumbed to Orcs and undead. Each group clashed with its neighbor for power, unleashing upon the world a great scourge, and the arcane land was thrown into chaos. When it all seemed but lost, a council of wise men and sages was summoned. From all the lands they came to convene in the old world’s great city; the fortress of Cedrica.

To settle the grievance and end a millennium of bloodshed, the sages declined all the treaties of old and joined all the clans into one mighty Kingdom; Historica. They founded the Four Great Regions- each one a realm in itself; - Mitgardia in the North, Nocturnus in the East, Kaliphlin in the South and Avalonia in the West, so that trade routes would spring up and clans would meet in the markets and not in the theatre of war. The wise men chose a family of great honor, to uphold the truce and to keep the four guilds from dispute, and descendants of that mighty kin to this day rule the Central lands of Historica. So goes the legend. For ten decades the races of old have migrated and spread through the world, following the trade routes, establishing cultures and prospering towns.

Today

it is a world of wonder and natural beauty; a realm where a man and a woman may find peace. But peace is short lived…

Treacherous assassins have tried to murder the King! The capital is in shock and there will be repercussions; the Four Regions assemble their forces as the balance of power shifts, and blame is passed around. For the first time in a century, the guilds of Historica build up old defenses and prepare for the inevitable confrontation; everything hangs in the balance, and Historica is on the verge of chaos once more…

Other

Kaliphlin Building Guidelines
Links to Islamic and Middle Eastern architecture, for MOC inspiration