Maltharian Kingdom
From Codex Vocrotha
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Reconstruction
With the fall of Throntor, the apparent death of both Paldor Daln and Eredil Lantradi and the annihilation of the bulk of the Warlord's army in 2491 DR, Eredil's son Zardim Lantradi took up his father's mantle and re-established order with the help of the remnants of Throntor's armies and the goodwill of a scattered people exhausted from decades of fear and conflict. Knowing that Throntor herself would be forever beyond his reach, Zardim caused Malthar, once a military stronghold, to be built up into a city from which he might rule. The work done, Malthar became a beautiful city in its own right, but it would be a pale shadow of the majesty that Throntor had once commanded.
Unlike his father, and at least in part responding to the weariness of a people subject to over a thousand years of absolute rule, Zardim gladly loosened the reins of authority. Malthar became the seat not of an Empire, but of a Kingdom, and Zardim reigned as a near equal with his three Grand Dukes: one each in the North, South and central regions of the continent. Since this had been all but the truth near the end of the Throntorian Empire, the formalization of this arrangement at last healed the wounds between the Lantradi line and those that had once been his governors.
Peace and Prosperity
Under Zardim, the Kingdom grew slowly but steadily for nearly half a millennium; although its accomplishments were less grandiose than those made during his father's rule, Zardim's Kingdom prospered: its people thrived, its arts blossomed, and its few conflicts were short and mainly bloodless. Zardim's diplomacy quietly inspired his people, and engendered a tolerance, if not outright acceptance, of old enemies in them. With the Dalorics scattered and leaderless, and without the zealous fury of his father to inspire him against the Lords of Night, Zardim's rule passed without much fanfare, a quiet sort of Golden Age marked only by the passage of years, not wars.
Zardim died, peacefully and of natural causes, in 2920 DR, and handed the crown of his Kingdom into the capable hands of his even-tempered and clever son, Erenon Lantradi. Building on his father's foundations, Erenon brought an interest in magical enquiry to the table, and began, with his brother and close advisor Zhindram Lantradi, to explore how magical energies might help in the everyday lives of his people. Within a very few years, Malthar became known as a center of learning as well as diplomacy, and the concept of bettering the lives of all through magical study became a compelling theme of unification amongst all the races under his rule.
Nightfall
Sadly, the potential of Erenon's rule would never be fulfilled. In 2928, Erenon was cut down by an assassin's arrow; his son, Erithmil Lantradi, leader of Malthar's Silver Guard and feeling guilt at his responsibility in his father's death, spared no expense in ruthlessly hunting down the assassin. Public outrage at the deed was so great that he had the full support of his people, and in less than a month's time he had identified and captured the woman responsible: Xara Durnion, who he learned, much to his horror, was also the current Champion of Toras: Erenon had been slain by none other than the Reaper.
Holy War
After imprisoning and questioning Xara, Erithmil claimed that the assassination was the harbinger of a new age of terror: the Lords of Night had once again risen up against them, and this death was just the first of many to come. With the reluctant blessings of his uncle, Zhindram, and the support of all of the Grand Dukes and people throughout the Kingdom, Erithmil took the throne of Malthar and immediately declared war against all of the servants of Night. Fiery, wrathful and more resembling Eredil than Erenon or Zardim, Erithmil rooted out and exterminated his enemies wherever he found them. Secret armies were discovered and slain, poisonous voices of the night brought into the day and into shackles, and the ancient gathering places and temples of the religions of Night were brought to ruin by the remorseless, relentless hammers of the new King in Malthar. While most cheered his quick and certain response to those who threatened the Kingdom, many wondered, if not so loudly, whether his response had gone too far.
