The Rise of the Ahar

During the year 464 TE, the famous Herael Frazini decided to move his research facility from his home in the Republic of Thermest to the Principality of Corania. Lured by the promise of infinite research funds, the respected Thornbinder didn’t hesitate to establish his new laboratory in the Eren province, in the heart of the country, far from the politics of the capital and with all the freedom to pursue his passion: creating new plant life.

Herael had risen to fame in the neighboring Republic of Thermest thanks to having saved the life of the then president Yura Harpshore, a national hero who had led the country from being a monarchic power to their current state as a republic, thus becoming the first true republic in Iskandria. President Harpshore had been poisoned by some kind of very insidious magical poison, the last act of revenge from the monarchic faction before they were all executed en masse. Thanks to a then young Herael and his dominion over plants and their alchemical properties, an antidote was created just in time to save the ruler. This granted Herael the status of national hero, and established him as a known and beloved scholar for decades to come.

The Principality of Corania’s current enmity with the Republic of Thermest is a well known fact; the Principality’s ruler, Kheros Berrik, was the cousin of the now-defunct King of Thermest, after all. Since a direct military confrontation was out of the question (especially with the constant supply of Helvonian firearms that the Republic seems to so easily acquire), it soon devolved into petty gestures, the last of which was stealing Thermest’s national hero. Herael had become dissatisfied with his country’s focus on national development, especially with the naval industry that had decimated Thermest’s forests, so it didn’t take much convincing for him to leave his home in Elkshire and establish himself in his luxurious new laboratories.

Noone is sure of what happened. One thing is definitely known, though: they came from Frazini Manor, the large, secret compound that Herael had built in the land assigned to him by Prince Kheros. The first reports came to the capital almost as swift as the creatures themselves: a wave of tall, branch-like humanoid beings that seemed to pour out of the compound in the millions, an unending tide of green that took over the country in a matter of weeks, despite its considerably large size. The Principality and its inhabitants were thoroughly unprepared, and all defensive measures were quickly destroyed. Although fire was, expectedly, highly effective, the royal Flamecaster unit was quickly torn to shreds using the simple tactic of throwing as many bodies against them as possible. The creatures, apparently called the Ahar, were clearly some sort of rootkin, but one never seen before anywhere in the world. They were resilient, incredibly aggressive, and possessed some sort of collective mind that allowed for incredibly complex coordinated attacks.

Despite all attempts at regaining control of their country, Coranians were fighting an uphill battle. The Ahar seemed endless, and only a year after their initial appearance, the Principality as it had stood for centuries was over. The survivors had moved to the highest regions, since for some reason the Ahar seemed to dislike the rocky terrain and colder weather. This effectively split the country in two, with only the east and west portions of the island nation controlled by its former inhabitants, and the large central portion of it now the domain of the Ahar horde.

Nobody knows what happened to Herael Frazini, although some divinations seem to indicate that he is still, somehow, alive, somewhere in central Corania. Any hopes of reaching him and attempting to find a solution to the Ahar problem are quickly forgotten, though, since the many expeditions sent with that same purpose all end up disappearing. Prince Kheros is not giving up, though, and has issued a call for help to anyone willing to attempt liberating his country from the plague that is the Ahar.