Qalia Lore

Quick and Easy

by Martuk

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Qalia is one of the many
continents of Telon. Though much of it is still shrouded in mystery we
do know a few things. It is a vast desert of many cities and places,
and it is home to one of Sigil’s big three heroes of Vanguard: Idara,
the diplomat. Many places and people make up the continent, but much
has yet to be revealed.

People

Tanir is the son of a merchant
in the lore href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/idara001.php">Idara. His family
has prospered in the city of Khal. He and his father set out from Khal
to the city of Ahgram for the funeral of his uncle and mentor Zulran.
Tanir, however, is reunited with Idara, a young girl from his
childhood. She has been unjustly treated within the city of Ahgram.
Tanir is amazed by Idara’s beauty, falls in love with her, and wants to
help her out of her situation.



Zulran was the father of Idara
and a linen merchant in the city of Ahgram. Dissatisfied with the linen
business he wanted more. Zulran began to have spices smuggled into the
city to undercut the prices of the Zephyr trading company.
Unfortunately for Zulran, he was discovered. His storehouses were
raided and the spices confiscated. He was taxed and penalized for his
hand in the selling of smuggled spices. The fees were so great he could
not pay them, and his business was ruined. When he appealed to the
council in Ahgram he was denied representation since he had not paid
the citizenship tax. Zulran and his daughter Idara lived out the rest
of his days in poverty.



href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album04&id=qaliamap&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="Idara and Qalia map"
src="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album04/qaliamap.thumb.gif"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 150px; height: 92px;" align="left"
hspace="4" vspace="2">Idara is the daughter of Zulran. She
resides in her father's meager dwelling in Ahgram. She wants
desperately to battle the corrupt government that persecutes the people
of Ahgram.



Kahlil is a collector of debts.
He arrives at Zulran’s home to collect his debts before the funeral.
His stay is cut short by Tanir’s father. Kahlil is concerned only with
the collection Zulran’s debts. He shows very little compassion for the
dead.



Harqad is a trader and sailor
from Khal in the story href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/graydove001.php">Gray Dove.
A gentle soul and skilled negotiator, he is one of few in Khal that has
his own boat. His small ship, called a dhow, allowed him to access
areas of the river larger ships could not. Harqad’s grandfather
nicknamed him “Dove” for his calm manner. He in turned named his ship
“The Grey Dove.”



Jalel is the harbormaster in
the story href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/graydove001.php">Gray Dove. He is
also a friend of Harqad. Jalel dislikes Qaraf for losing his boat and
money in a joint business venture.



Qaraf is an aspiring
businessman who seems to attract disaster. After losing his trading
license he married the widow Fatis and began to fund another expedition
in her name.



Mazhar Mateen is an old scholar
living in the royal library of Ahgram. Mazhar tells Erol the tales of
Ahgram in the great Library.



Erol is a small boy unschooled
in history. In the lore href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/mateen001.php">Mateen’s Histories.
Mazhar Mateen teaches Erol of the history of Ahgram.



Shidreth Ahgramun was ruler of
the Qaliathari Empire. He was killed by Jathred Shazarethen a Vizier.



Jathred Shazarethen planned to
assume control of the Qaliathari Empire after the death of 
Shidreth
Ahgramun with the support of the lower class and the help of the
powerful sorcerer Khelium Ak'Zel in the lore href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/mateen001.php">Mateen’s Histories.



Khelium Ak'Zel was a sorcerer
that supported Jathred Shazarethen. He planned to help Jathred in a
coup, but after Shidreth Ahgramun was killed he turned on the Vizier.



The Sons of Ahgramun wanted
revenge for their father’s death. They were backed by the nobles as the
rightful heirs.



The Third Faction to arise
during the Qaliathari Empire disturbance followed style="font-weight: bold;">Khelium Ak’Zel. Khelium believed
only the most intelligent should lead the empire. Mages and sorcerers
of great power backed Khelium.



Fassethi Ahgramun the eldest
son of Shidreth Ahgramun would
regain control of the empire after years of war that cost thousands of
lives. Once he regained control, Vizier
Shazarethen
and the sorcerer Khelium Ak'Zel were executed, as were their followers.
Fassethi’s first act was to rename the Qaliathari Empire the Ahgramun
Empire. He ordered the construction of a new capital city he called
Ahgram.



Nelon Issan is a human alchemist. His lab was broken into in the
lore Tonic.



Joley Poral and style="font-weight: bold;">Rold Dakavstan are two Gnomish
trackers that come to assist Nelon find his formula that has been
stolen.



The proud Qalia was the first
of two great empires of ancient Qalia before the great rift. A more
advanced civilization than the Mordebi, the Qaliathari built advanced
cities, and had href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album04&id=Mordebi_diversity&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="Mordebi"
src="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album04/Mordebi_diversity.thumb.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 150px; height: 113px;" align="right"
hspace="4" vspace="2"> fairer colored skin than their Mordebi
counterparts. The Qaliathari Empire was eventually ravaged by war.



The noble Mordebi is the
second of the two great empires of ancient Qalia. They consisted of
many western tribes that eventually banded together to build cities.

Places

Khal is one of the large
bustling cities of Qalia. According to Tanir in the lore target="_blank" href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/idara001.php">Idara
it is very different from the city of Ahgram.



Ahgram, according to target="_blank" href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/idara001.php">lore, style="font-weight: bold;"> is a city roughly three days
journey south of Khal. It is full of corrupt politicians, and the
people of the city are forced to pay unfair fines, and in some cases
prosecuted without representation, as in the case of Zulran. It is in
this city that Idara looks to change things for the better.



The Port Door is the south gate
of Ahgram. It is the entrance to the harbor district and the docks.
Minor merchant’s families, stable owners, and dock workers make this
area their home.



The Gate of the Sun or The Imperial
Gate is the gate on the northern side of Ahgram. Only those of
noble blood or those with special credentials are permitted to enter
this gate.



The Mercantile Gate is the main
route of travel and trade into Ahgram. This is the gate Tanir and his
father entered in href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/idara001.php">Idara.



Mekalia is the home of the
Gnomish race on Qalia. They are said to keep to themselves and are
stubborn folk. The Gnomes of Mekalia have been known to distrust and
even cheat those they deem outsiders.



Lomshir is a city South East
of Ahgram according to lore in the story href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com/tonic001.php">Tonic.

style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Events

The Breaking was a period of
destruction that befell Qalia. Great earthquakes ravaged the land as
well as large waves shifting the face of the continent as coastal lands
plunged beneath the sea waters. The Qalian and Mordebi empires were
ravaged by the breaking. Lands were destroyed making farming impossible
in some areas. War was fought between clans for food as the major
cities lay in chaos and destruction.



Tumultuous Gahren Plains is an area
that the Mordebi settled after the breaking to form more
permanent settlements. A massive earthquake would destroy their
settlement and drag the city into the ground. The Mordebi took this as
a sign that they had angered or offended the gods, and so they returned
to a nomadic style of life.



Bahman Fendir became chieftan of a
Mordebi tribe after he witnessed the death of his father and
three uncles at the hands of Qaliathari raiders. He also lost one of
his hands in the skirmish. When the young chieftain healed he rebuilt
his village, and when it was strong again he set out to destroy the
raiders and avenge his father. After killing several bands of raiders
the chieftain attacked a raider settlement that at the time was
defenseless. He killed all except a small boy. When he looked upon the
child he realized he had become that which he wanted to destroy, and
from that point he decided to unify the people of Qalia instead of
destroy them. He rebuilt a settlement on the ruins of the old
Qaliatharian city and named it Ahgram in honor of the ancient city.

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There are many cities and people throughout the lore of Telon. Qalia is
without a doubt sounding to be a fascinating land of rich lore and
strong character. With cities such as Kahl, Lomshir, and Ahgram there
is much to look forward to in this desert land of Vanguard: Saga of
Heroes.



Disclaimer: All information
found here is taken from lore on the href="http://www.vanguardsoh.com">official Vanguard site. Since
Vanguard is still in development, this information is subject to
change.

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