The Rise of Kamaros

This is an article on the History of Feyworld
Years: 140 NC to 210 NC
Age: The Third Age of Man
Continent: Duria
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The History of Neptaris
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The War of the Dark Rider	The Rule of the Neptarchs

One of the local human tribes who fought in the War of the Dark Rider was the Kamaros, who were unified under the violent war-general Meargagh. After the conclusion of the war, most expected the Kamaros to fall back into barbarity, but Meargagh was able to maintain his control over his people and founded the city of Lar Durak to the north of Neptag on the shores of the Maroshan Sea. At first, Kamaros and Neptag remained on good terms, but Meargagh eventually became jealous of Neptag's wealth and civilization. In 152 NC and again in 155 NC, he led his armies against the city and was defeated before he was even able to breach the walls. At the Treaty of Tawn in 157 NC, Meargagh agreed to hand over his eldest son, Irgalach, to Neptag as a hostage. Regent Joandar took Irgalach into his house and began to treat the boy as if he were his own son. Irgalach received the best training money could afford and was raised as a Neptagian noble. When Meargagh died in 167 NC, Joandar released Irgalach to return to his people as their ruler.

Upon his return, Irgalach immediately began consolidating his power and preparing for war. Joandar was taken completely by surprise when Irgalach showed up at his gates in 170 NC with an army trained in the advanced tactics of Neptag. The city fell within a month, and Neptag was annexed into Kamaros. Joandar was taken back to Lar Durak to serve as Irgalach's advisor and tutor and the young King Orris, now 65 years old and still very much a minor, to rule as a dependant monarch. Thinking the Neptagians were pacified, Irgalach began expanding his empire northward.

Orris was not so easily pacified, despite his young age. In a secret meeting with the remnants of the Arisan elves, he gained their alliance and assistance in planning a rebellion. In 180 NC, Orris himself, barely a man at the age of 75, captured Fort Tintagar north of Neptag. Fort Tintagar was the center of weapon production for the budding Kamarian Empire as well as the central training facility for the armies. Through five years of war, Orris held the Fort against continuous attacks by Irgalach. Finally, in the Last Battle of Kamaros, Irgalach was slain by a stray arrow. His son, tutored by Joandar as the dead King had been, immediately agreed to end all hostilities with Neptag should it leave Fort Tintagar intact. King Orris agreed and returned to Neptag a hero, with the released Joandar by his side.

The Arisan elves had again taken many losses in defending Fort Tintagar and gaining the independence of Neptag, and many of them chose to remain in the city instead of returning to the harsh but simple life they had lived in the forests. Friendship between the two peoples increased such that, by the start of Neptag's third century there were more Arisans in Neptag than were living in the forest. A drought in 206 NC brought the last of the Arisan elves to Neptag, requesting permanent settlement. King Orris agreed and commemorated the event by renaming the city Neptaris to signify that it was to be a city of both men and elves. This caused some grumbling in the human nobility, but few seemed willing to challenge the young King's decision.

One young noble, Politos of House Rimman, was not so willing. He directly challenged the King's decision as well as his ability to rule in open Court. King Orris, disregarding the advice of his closest advisors, forgave Politos for his quick temper but asked him not to return to Court until he had decided to apologize. This temperance only served to enrage Politos further and suggested to the other nobles of the city that Orris, despite his success in war, was a weak peacetime ruler. Politos' followers began rioting in the streets, disrupting trade with foreign nations and attacking those who supported Orris. Finally the King was roused to defend himself, but it was already too late. Those who hadn't flocked to Politos' banner turned their backs to their King for allowing the uprising to begin in the first place. In 210 NC, Orris, the last ruler of House Ikthios, resigned as King of Neptaris. He decided to become a monk dedicated to Clementia and began life as a hermit. His last edict before he gave up his crown was that his mentor, Joandar, would select the next ruler.