The Milanteans are an Isparian heritage group that live to the southeast of the Aluvians.[1] At least part of their country contained "gloomy moors".[2] For now, their region has been free of portals to Dereth.
History on Ispar
When Milantos was a young empire, they eradicated a people known as the Kael Arran.[3] The Milantean empire chose to go on their genocidal campaign because, according to Nuhmudira, they had a point to prove. They sent an army of 100,000 soldiers, called Milantean Red. The campaign lasted 10 years, and saw 100 battles. In the final battle, the Milantean Red surrounded the Kael Arran and massacred them. The Milantean Red saw losses of 50,000, and the site of that battle became known as the Red Sands in honor the Milantean Red that spilled their blood there.[3] These times were described as the, "earliest days of Milantean glory," a few hundred years prior to the founding of Gharu'n.[3] This places the eradication of the Kael Arran circa 700 RC to as early as, perhaps, 400 RC.[4] The only source of information about this time is the Writ of Refuge Text written by Nuhmudira. In it, Nuhmudira claimed that she was in possession of a text from Tirethas that tells the stories of the Kael Arran.[3]
Long ago, the sorcerer-king Karuz of Milantos believed that the secret to eternal life lay in the blood of the Souia-Vey. At his order, Milantean sorcerers began kidnapping Souia-Vey from their villages. The Souia-Vey were largely helpless against these attacks, until a hero named Brador arrived. Armed with a sword made of ice that seemed to fend off sorcery, he alone was able to repel the Milantean incursions. Karuz was frustrated by Brador's defense of the Souia-Vey, and brought forth his own weapon to do battle with Brador. The two fought, laying waste to the land around them. By some accounts, the fight lasted days, while other say it was over in an instant. When the dust had settled, neither Karuz nor Brador were found, and the two where never seen again.[5][6] It is not known when this occurred, only that it was long ago.[5] The whole event may seem more legendary than historical, but the fact that Brador's weapon, Brador's Frozen Eye, and Karuz' weapon, Defiler of Milantos have appeared on Dereth lends credence to the story being true.
The first exact timeframe that Milanteans are referenced is at the end of the reign of Viamontian King Theolaud, who ruled Aluvia until 756 RC. One rumor regarding Theolaud's death was that he died in a duel with King Elous VIII of Viamont, over Theolaud's affair with Elous' young daughter. Midistaff the Learned, author of the history book The Reign of Alfrega, noted however that the princess was not of marriageable age, even by Milantean standards. Upon Theolaud's death, his daughter Alfrega took the throne of Aluvia. At some point during her reign, she took a husband, a royal son of Milantos named Kirne.[2]
Gharu'n was founded in 924 RC[4] Some time shortly after that, when Yasif ibn Salayyar was meeting with the rulers of the other nations, Arpad was the king of Milantos. Aprad refused all of Yasif's requests to meet.[7] Eventually Arpad died - by our best estimates, around 939 RC. Arpad died without an heir, and had no brothers still alive. And so his chief advisor Laszko became king. Yasif sent the new king a request, and Laszko accepted it. However, Laszko had no desire to discuss sovereignty with Yasif. Instead, he kept him as a prisoner to use in dark rituals. In secret, the Malik Amul ibn Rakhil of Gharu'n began training the shadowy assassins known as the Shagar Zharala. However, one week before their mission to rescue Yasif, he was returned to Gharu'n, having been freed by his jailer. With their rescue mission no longer needed, Tthe Zharalim were instead sent to Milantos to kill Laszko. They succeeded, but none of the 11 Zharalim returned to Gharu'n[7] Our best estimates place this around 944 RC.
Later, during a time known in Gharu'ndim history as the Century of Storms (approximately 1003 RC to 1103 RC), Viamont began new military campaigns.[8][9] Viamontian corsairs raided Roulean ports around the Ironsea. By this time Viamont had a naval fleet large enough to transport their armies across the Ironsea, and with this ability, the legions of the Bull banner marched on Milantos and Gharu'n. The Milanteans repelled the invading Viamontians with a scorched-earth campaign, while the Gharu'ndim were unable to due to the instability caused by the Century of Storms.[9]
In Sho, Kou-an became empress around 1,115 to 1,130 RC.[10][4][11] During her reign, it is said that she sent emisarries to the other nations of Ispar, including Milantos.[11]
In the more recent time of 1274 RC, the Sho had begun trade with Milantos.[10] In Gharu'n, during the reign of the Malika Qadira bint Balj, it seemed possible that war with Milantos could break out.[8]
History on Dereth
The only Isparian on Dereth known to be Milantan is Nuhmudira.[3][12]
Culture
They were seen as grim and superstitious.[1]
Religions and Beliefs
The Milanteans regard the shimmering aurora of the winter sky with fear, thinking of the aurora as the watchfires of Borimel's million snow demons, marching south to wrest control of the summer lands. [1]
Customs and Traditions
Milantos served justice swift and harsh to those who practiced "witchcraft" outside custom and law and people accused of this were stoned to death.[12]
Milantean women were seen of marriageable age relatively young.[2]
Since the earliest days of the kingdom of Milantos, the rulers of that dark land have hunted the Bristleback Boar as a ritual of manhood. It is forbidden for anyone to hunt the huge and vicious creatures without royal permission, and the meat, which is so tough it is nearly impossible to eat, is served only in royal halls.[13]
Real World Basis
Texts
Internet Articles
Factions
Items
Black Thistle
Brador's Frozen Eye
Dart Flicker
Defiler of Milantos
Dripping Death
Ridgeback Dagger
Staff of Tendrils
Art & Images
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A map of Ispar (fan-made)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1999/12 Sudden Season - Winter Festivals from Ispar
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 1999/11 Release - The Reign of Alfrega
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 2001/11 The Gathering Storm - Writ of Refuge Text
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 2003/03 The History of Auberean: Volume V: New Arrivals (-540 to 13) Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "HistoryOfAubereanVol5" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 5.0 5.1 2005/07 Throne of Destiny - Brador's Frozen Eye
- ↑ 2005/07 Throne of Destiny - Defiler of Milantos
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 1999/11 Release - To Be A Shadow
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 1999/11 Release - Zogblaster Archive - Gharu'ndim Introduction
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 2004/11 Pre-Throne of Destiny - The Origins and Current Disposition of Viamont
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 1999/11 Release - Zogblaster Archive - Sho Introduction
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 2001/11 Dark Majesty - The Glorious Reign of Empress Kou-an
- ↑ 2005/07 Throne of Destiny - Ridgeback Dagger
Further Reading
- Continuity articles:
- The Kingdom of Milantos - Introduction (Web Archive of Warcry's Crossroads of Dereth)
- Continuity articles: