Dates follow New Timeline (N.T.) reckoning, the calendar shared across the worlds that descend from the Monolith crossing.
The history of Arnor is the history of a people forged in hardship. From a handful of stranded explorers sheltering in an unnamed bay, the realm rose through invasion, civil war, and the trials of faith to become the warrior-nation it is today. These are the chronicles of that ascent — of the colony that became a kingdom, and of the High Kings who led it through fire.
History of the Kingdom of Arnor
The Colonial Era - c. 2000-2016 N.T.
Our history begins when two exploration ships, lost in a storm on their way home, took shelter in an unexplored bay. The vessels were beyond swift repair, and the explorers were forced to make camp. They survived that first harsh winter only through the bounty of the land and the protection of the bay that had spared their ships. The explorers had named their foothold Survival. By summer the ships were mended and set sail back to Star City, however, most of the explorers returned under the Empire's protection to raise a proper settlement and found a colony.
The colonial years that followed were simple ones. The Star City Empire stood at its height, and under its authority the colony explored and settled new lands, in time holding all of Eriador and parts of Calenardhon. It was here that the colony discovered ruins and remains in Calenardhon — the relics of two peoples who had separated from us long ago, when we first arrived through the Monolith. One band had travelled on into Valeria. It seems these peoples destroyed one another, and their remnants died out.
The Pre-War Years - to 2016 N.T.
These years brought the colony's greatest influx of new settlers. Instability, scheming, plots, and corruption ruled the Empire, and those weary of it fled to the colony — among them a young man nicknamed Argonaut.
Being well educated and talented individual, he rose swiftly through colonial politics on a pro-colonial platform that called for greater autonomy, honour, and honesty. His party, the Dúnedain, came to dominate, opposed only by the Loyalists — a faction of old roots, backed by the renowned families of the first settlers, content with the colony as it was and faithful to the Empire. Foremost among them were a young senior officer of the colonial militia, Berúthiel, and her gifted administrator brother, Cirion.
Barely watched by its distant overlords, the colony prospered, and talk of independence spread. The Dúnedain's dominance ended with the rise of the Ar-Adûnâim under Durion, a former imperial general who preached full independence even at the cost of war; many Dúnedain crossed over to him. Though the Dúnedain kept a majority, the shift placed Argonaut at the head of the militia as captain. With debate sharpening over whether to strike for independence or petition the Emperor, both the Dúnedain and the Ar-Adûnâim agreed to prepare for the worst, professionalising the militia and expanding both the military complexes and the factories.
The Barbarian Invasion & the Great War - 2017 N.T.
Change came sooner than any expected, when the Empire plunged into civil war between SHIELD and Hydra. At first the colony did not understand what was happening. As the war raged in Star City, all imperial forces were withdrawn from the colony — and whether roused by the distant shaking of the earth or by some other force, the Barbarians awoke.
Their raids cast the colony into chaos. Lone farms, villages, towns, and even the twin cities of Armenelos and Rómenna were razed. Star City answered none of our calls, and at length all communication was severed. Many who survived in places the militia could hold blamed both imperial sides for abandoning them — the Ar-Adûnâim above all swore revenge — yet still the colonists resolved to fight.
The militia was divided into three sector groups, each under a party leader: the northern Arnor under Argonaut, the south-western Gondor under Durion, and the south-eastern Harondor under Berúthiel. Resistance was sporadic at first, for the Barbarians surpassed us in number and strength, until Argonaut introduced new tactics built around armoured exoskeletons, power melee weapons, and Bolters. Victories followed, and the colonists at last took the offensive; though the Barbarians grew more organised, their transformation from prey to seasoned foe came too late to halt our advance.
Then the Great War found its way to us. Hydra deceived Durion and many of the Ar-Adûnâim with honeyed words, falsely accusing SHIELD of planning an attack from Alfa Site — a fortress that had become a haven for the wounded and a supply depot for the eastern reaches of Star City, yet which lay suspiciously far from any front. With his own Gondorian sector largely cleared and his flank secured by Arnor and Harondor, Durion mustered his strength and marched upon Alfa Site.
During that march came the disaster of Nûrneled Forest. Berúthiel's forces, regrouping after a successful strike deep in Barbarian territory, were ambushed; Barbarian reinforcements flanked them and pinned them against a river and steep slopes. With the crossing shelled, Berúthiel ordered a fighting advance north along the banks — shield to shield, sword against gun, marching over their own fallen and heaps of dead Barbarians. When Arnorian forces arrived they could save only what little remained. Berúthiel, her leg lost and near to fainting, entrusted Argonaut with the command of Harondor — an act that all but folded Harondor into Arnor, and that turned most of the Loyalists, Berúthiel and Cirion among them, into Dúnedain who had lost their faith in the Empire.
Durion's assault caught SHIELD by surprise. The Gondorians took the outer perimeter and forced the courtyard, but the roused defenders held, and Durion, foreseeing a bloodbath, ordered the retreat. The attack was not wholly in vain — the Gondorians destroyed and captured equipment and did significant damage to the base. SHIELD claims to have suffered no casualties; our own records tell otherwise. The strength of Alfa Site, so far from the war and so near our border, only hardened Durion's conviction that SHIELD was the enemy, and he demanded that Argonaut join him in war against it. When Argonaut refused, the enraged Durion allied himself with Hydra and declared the rest of the colony traitors.
Durion marched to Longway Watch and raised his banner there. Argonaut, bound to protect his factories and infrastructure, marched the bulk of the Arnorian host to Zâram-Gathol to the north, while the Harondorians gathered at Eatsgard. With the Barbarian front held only by exhausted remnants, time was short and neither leader would submit. Argonaut attacked. Durion, an aggressive commander ill-suited to defence, struggled — yet Argonaut, who held to the best offence is a great defence, was scarcely in his element either. Outnumbered, he began to lose ground, until the Harondorians struck Durion's rear and drew off his reserves. With his elite troops and a held-back armoured division, Argonaut drove forward and, though the wider battle was still being lost, slew Durion and his closest followers before the gate of Longway Watch. The broadcast of Durion's death and a promise of pardon brought the surrender of his host.
Now master of Arnor, Harondor, and Gondor, Argonaut sent his forces back to the Barbarian front. The line was bolstered, but it was only the quiet before the storm: just as the Barbarians had once exploited Berúthiel's offensives, so now they exploited Argonaut's defensive caution, massing a vast horde too great to dislodge. Argonaut ordered the complete evacuation of the colony. The northern half sheltered in Survival, the best-fortified settlement, while every soldier and armed volunteer laboured on its defences; those of the south who could not reach Survival in time were sent to Alfa Site — false hope, perhaps, asking shelter of the very people his own had attacked, yet better than waiting for slaughter.
For days the Barbarians threw themselves against the makeshift defences and at last forced the colonists into Survival itself. Children, women, and a few men were hidden in the cave systems below; the rest fought on. When the walls fell the defenders withdrew to the keep, prepared to die to the last — and then, out of nowhere, the forces of SHIELD came storming from the west and south, with them many of our own from Alfa Site. The defenders, seized by relief, charged from the keep to join them, and together they drove the Barbarians off. Never again did so great a horde gather. This last-minute deliverance, and the shelter given to those at Alfa Site, did much to mend the bond between us — though it could not wholly undo the betrayal of being abandoned in the first place.
Formation of the Kingdom - 2018 N.T.
Survival was renamed Sanctuary, and once the colony was secured, the militia and its citizens proclaimed Argonaut their king. Hesitant at first, he accepted, and with his coronation the old political parties ceased to exist. Cirion was named Steward and his sister Berúthiel — now bearing several prostheses, one of them great — the Captain-General. Those who had proved their worth in leadership during the invasion were raised to noble rank. Arnor, Gondor, and Harondor were proclaimed kingdoms, the latter two only in title, with Arnor as the High Kingdom, and Sanctuary as its first capital. With the old structures all but gone and the Barbarian threat ever-present, High King Argonaut was granted absolute power.
SHIELD was informed of our independence and gave it unofficial acceptance; unwilling and unable to occupy a colony while Star City lay in ruin, it withdrew its forces. After the Great War, Arnor was formally recognised as an independent state by the new nation SHIELD had founded — Denebol. Relations between the two were nearly non-existent at first, each consumed by its own troubles.
The Arnorians named their world Yavanna, after the giver of growing things — for it had borne no name before, there having been no other world from which to set it apart. Only later, as Denebol knew it by its chart-name of Denebol 4 and a shared name came to be sought, did Yavanna give way by common consent to Panthal.
The Barbarian War - 2018-2020 N.T.
When the Barbarians resumed their attacks, Arnor was ready. Proposals to seek Denebolian aid were swept aside — Denebol would either be dragged into another ruinous war or refuse outright. Arnor needed an ally strong enough to destroy the Barbarians or stable enough to fight beside us, and at first found none.
Thanks to the Rangers, the Legions, and well-sited defensive works, the heartland held, though sustaining that perimeter demanded more than a quarter of the population, and every inch was bought with heroic deaths. Years of bloody skirmish took a severe toll, yet Arnorians never yielded; every man and woman not disabled or bound for university served two years under arms, and even the latter completed basic training. The High King ruled and commanded in the field at once, a feat that would have ended in disaster without Cirion, who built the administration and served as the King's right hand.
Every Arnorian death was repaid a hundredfold, but a war of attrition was one Arnor could not win. As we approached the breaking point, Denebol issued a mobilisation. The Arnorians did not know it was raised against some race among the stars, but it was proof that Denebol had become a stable, unified nation — and so Arnor at last asked for full intervention. After a few days of combined offensive, the Barbarians knew their doom, and most fled the planet in organic, Wraith-like vessels. So ended the Barbarian War, a conflict of nearly three years that made Arnorians into the finest warriors far and wide.
From what was uncovered, we can only suppose the Barbarians had slumbered here for centuries, and that others of their kind yet sleep across the galaxy, waiting. What was found in their dwellings and hives revealed much about them, and helped Arnorians refine and improve their own bloodlines.
The Post-Barbarian Era & the Beginning of the Denebolian Cold War - 2020 N.T.
Unable to enter another full-scale war, yet bound to honour the Denebolian Accord, Arnor formed the Grand City Company — volunteers who joined Denebolian teams and squads alongside units drawn from every branch — and commissioned plans for Arnorian spaceships. For the rest of the military, the High King issued what is now remembered as the Disbandment of the Legions: more than half of all personnel were released with honours, a five-year allowance or an interest-free state loan, and a grant of free land, while those who remained — the true elite — received higher pay and land of their own.
With the realm no longer under siege, the crown raised a new capital at Fornost, a city better suited to govern a kingdom at peace than the war-fortress of Sanctuary, and began to ease away from the near-martial rule that had governed Arnor from the start. When that easing proved insufficient, the High King, with the Royal Council, launched sweeping social, economic, and political reforms, among them the creation of the Senate, alongside a great revision of art, architecture, education, and the moral system.
The Denebolian G.U.A.R.D. initiative provoked sharp debate. Many wished to continue and expand cooperation, but few would surrender Arnor's highest authority over itself. After much diplomacy and persuasion, Arnor agreed to join under several conditions.
A year after the victory, Mithril was found deep beneath the Barbarian dwellings, and with it a window into the Sub-dimension the Barbarians had used. All enhanced people who touched the Mithril were affected, and the effect spread from person to person until it reached every enhanced Arnorian. For those already enhanced it changed little; but those who sought enhancement anew were overwhelmed by the sudden opening of the Sub-dimension. Where the long-enhanced had gradually, unknowingly shielded themselves, the newly improved stood exposed to a fully open Sub-dimension. Some lost their minds; others became crooked and corrupted, and one was possessed by a being from beyond. Arnor halted the enhancement of newcomers, and the Witchers and Witches were created to study the Sub-dimension and to guard us from the conscious beings that came through the rifts. With the Barbarians gone there was no longer need to hold so tightly together, and the joining of G.U.A.R.D. was, for many, the last straw: the old parties recovered, new ones formed, and political rifts began to open once more.
The Arnorian Crisis - 2021 N.T.
Unable to match SHIELD's technological progress, Arnor turned its focus to the Sub-dimension. Further study allowed us to weave it into our technology, above all a new energy generator that set our output level with Denebol's own. Yet the generator spent much of its power stabilising the field around its rift and the protective barrier meant to keep the spirits from flooding our world, and it required constant maintenance and the supervision of Witchers and Witches. For all that, it was a vast breakthrough in sustainability. Around this great generator a new city began to rise, and at its heart was raised the Black Citadel of Taras Lúna.
But the great, continuously open rift had an effect overlooked in the design of the protective field, which guarded only one way. The strength of Arnorian thought and emotion was immensely magnified within the Sub-dimension, and this — together with the Arnorian veneration of the demigod-like Sisters — gave birth to Yárcarniel: a goddess, or a cosmic being of enormous power. Arnor repaired the field, but the harm was done; we were now bound to our goddess. Even had we forsworn all Sub-dimensional use, we and this universe stood revealed to the circles of gods beyond. Arnor stood at a crossroads — to end ourselves and sever the connection, to confess all to Denebol and pray for a swift solution amid a change of government, or to strengthen our goddess while disturbing the Sub-dimension as little as possible.
With our new-found faith, Arnorians began jumping to other worlds to spread it. Through Yárcarniel, the crossing into the Sub-dimension to traverse the void between planets was made relatively safe, though it remained a terrible burden upon the Witchers and Witches. Targeting worlds from the ancient and medieval ages onward, the faith spread; Arnor raised outposts and made protectorates and colonies of many. Those who refused were persuaded or left alone, but those of the advanced worlds who offended Yárcarniel or Arnorian custom were met with steel. The cost in manpower and resources was great, and to offset it Arnor levied tariffs on its new subjects and raised the Cohortes Vigilum to supplement its ranks.
This rampage was swiftly discovered, and the members of the Denebolian Accord demanded answers. Arnor was accused of murder and enslavement and forced to halt and explain itself. A complete embargo brought shortages of imported goods, halted all heavy industry, and laid the economy low — and only then did Arnorians grasp how deeply their economy was entangled with Denebol's. Martial law fell upon all Arnorian citizens on Denebolian soil. None had expected so swift and harsh a response. At a meeting of all three Accord leaders, a fragile deal was struck: a Denebolian committee would investigate the truth of the alleged genocides and enslavements; Arnor would leave the "primitive" worlds where its presence had hardly manifested, while the worlds that chose to remain protectorates might do so with the committee's leave. All primitive worlds were to be left alone, all newly discovered advanced worlds reported to Denebol, and the faith spread only in peace and only to the willing.
Aftermath of the Arnorian Crisis - 2022 N.T.
Diplomacy, science, and especially the economy were grievously wounded, but the deepest wound was in trust — between Denebol and Arnor, and in Arnorians toward themselves. Many wondered how they could have betrayed the Accord. Whatever the cause, the breaking of their own rudimentary cultural laws shamed them and hardened their resolve never to break them again.
It was in this year that the new city, begun the year before, was completed and raised as the realm's capital: Annuminas, crowned by the Black Citadel of Taras Lúna, beneath which the great Sub-dimensional generator turned. The seat of the High Kingdom passed to it from Fornost.
In this self-reckoning the High King ordered the abandonment of even more worlds than required, until only a handful of nations remained within the Arnorian sphere and fewer still as fully integrated protectorates. Not all agreed. The limited spread of faith only barely held Yárcarniel's place among the gods, and because further spread was slow, the armies of Arnor sent expeditions into the outer Sub-dimensional layers of hells, abysses, and voids, believing such raids might hinder enemy attacks and open the way for Yárcarniel to take the offensive. This confidence was the High King's gravest error: the expeditions met fierce resistance from demons and from the very environment, and the whole venture turned disastrous.
These losses cost the High King much of his support, yet the Ar-Adûnâim gained little from it. Instead the High Canoness, commander of the Sisters of Blood, rose to the highest circles; together with her Sisters she came to hold the greatest influence and popularity in Arnor, and the High King, forced to acknowledge this, made a political alliance with the Sisters to ensure the honouring of the Accord. They established the Crimson Chapter and the Scarlet Chapter — semi-state militant orders that founded outposts on many worlds, many artificially added or re-added to the Arnorian sphere. Most Arnorians never properly settled and leapt at the chance to rejoin the service, so that the whole Disbandment became, in effect, a matter of the High King losing men to the Sisters.
The Ar-Adûnâim, feeling shut out of this alliance, formed small warbands. Acting largely as mercenaries, they spread influence in their own way, some embracing raids and violence; they are unofficial and without true oversight. Their support was forbidden and they were exiled, yet, backed by the Ar-Adûnâim, they are neither pursued nor attacked, and their support is sometimes given in defiance of the ban.
The shadow of the crisis lingered. The High King grew grim and increasingly absent, and was rumoured to be abdicating, until, after private counsel with Cirion and Berúthiel, he reappeared with a last attempt to steady the realm. A subtle tour promoting traditional symbols and values, cooperation on small projects with the political parties, and several concessions seemed ineffective at first but bore fruit in time, de-radicalising the population and restoring some of the trust he needed. The concessions — legitimising several warbands, granting the High Canoness a seat on the Royal Council, permitting the Scarlet Chapter, and loosening restrictions in the guild system — were inevitable in any case, and sightings and skirmishes with the Barbarians on several worlds further restored his standing.
Arnor at first refused the minor sanctions — fines, in Arnorian slang — issued by Denebol. What began as ordinary diplomacy grew into a memorable and intense encounter, in which Arnor faced an ultimatum: pay, or leave the Accord. Tempers flared, and someone — unofficially, surely, and in the heat of the moment — even threatened nuclear strikes and the extermination of the Arnorian people should Arnor persist. The threat left Arnorians speechless; the fines were just, seen rightly, yet a warrior's heart urged defiance. All was saved by the unexpected arrival of the Eldar delegation. Hearing both sides and remaining neutral to the last, the Eldar reminded the Arnorians why they stood in the Accord and what friendship they stood to lose — and in the end Arnorians were even glad to pay and be done with the affair.
In the days after, as the delegation recounted the encounter, both the Senate and the King's Council came to understand the flaw in their stance: Arnor had been living out of the past. All the help and tolerance Denebol had shown had always been met with a need and fear born of the fight for independence — a belief that Arnor must forever prove its right to exist, sustained by a warrior culture, by the widespread scars of war, and by a foe-seeking temper. Though not all agreed, most softened their speeches and their governance toward Denebolian friendship. Old habits would take time to fade, but a new path had been chosen.
The Ciris - 2023 N.T.
The Ciris was a catastrophe. Through some unknown demigod, a league of gods, demons, and eldritch voids staged an assault upon Yárcarniel's followers, breaching the fabric between the Sub-dimension and real space within the Arnorian generator.
As the last light of a peaceful day touched the Black Citadel of Taras Lúna, alarms woke the fortress and the capital of Annuminas below. The Sub-dimensional generator hidden beneath the Citadel burst open, and hordes of demons, beasts, and horrors poured forth. The Sisters of Battle, their aspirants and failed acolytes, the witches and witchers — all rushed to stem the breach, holding even against great abominations too vast for the spaces they fought in, until an enormous figure rose from the rift, rising and rising until it collapsed the complex and the Citadel itself. Where the black tower had stood there was now a monstrous, bloated giant, hung with crude and evil jewellery and wielding a rusted golden mace. The sky darkened, and a vast maelstrom spread across it, lit only by blue fire in dark cloud and purple lightning.
The forces in Annuminas rushed to defend the city, but its mightiest assets and warriors lay buried in the Citadel's rubble. The god of greed and corruption had sent his most powerful servant, and with a few other gods had pierced Yárcarniel's hold. As the giant roared, many of the slain Sisters and their servants refused to leave their bodies; with all their will they clung to the world, and were answered. Yárcarniel herself helped them remain — at first like child-puppeteers, able only to twitch, then guided like children by a gentle mother. They drove through the rubble unbothered by pain, killed and killed again, torn apart, eaten, and burned, until they reached the safe room where a last fail-safe could be triggered. With it, every backup emitter of the protective field came alive, and a single word went out across the galaxy to all Arnorians: Ciris. Then the undead Arnorians collapsed.
The emitters, some kilometres distant, were enough to halt the rift's growth but not to close it; only now did the maelstrom cease to expand, by then covering all of Arnor and reaching even the heart of Denebol Prime. As the horde charged into the city, more and more Arnorians threw themselves into its path — whole cohorts, witchers and witches, lone witches with squads of soldiers, Varangians, and Telcontaiâr. The High King himself marched in with his Praetorians. The lower city became a bloodbath of bodies and rubble. Soon GUARD and Denebolian home forces arrived as well, yet every lightning strike summoned new monstrosities and shadow-wraiths descended from the maelstrom, and the giant stood firm beneath all our fire, each swing devastating. The creatures of the Sub-dimension shrugged off common weapons; even rune-enhanced arms barely sufficed. Orbital support was called, but the maelstrom scattered the fire far and wide — some of it falling upon an Amaurëan city, where it did much harm.
Then Arnor played its last card. The Witchers and Witches of the Forge made a jump for the Colossus: a walking fortress with great lances upon its shoulders, bolter-cannons tipped with bayonets for hands, and turrets along its battlements — a terribly unfinished work, its systems exposed and its plating incomplete. Many of those who summoned it were left with seizures or brain damage, but the Colossus appeared above the giant, firing as it fell and sinking its bayonets deep. The two locked in a dread duel of titans. In its broken state the Colossus was little more than a delay, and it was soon crushed — but its crew detonated it in a final act of defiance, and the blast threw the giant back to impale itself upon the stump of the Citadel. That ground, the most rune-engraved place in all Arnor, dealt the giant a mortal wound. Meanwhile the Denebolian Strike teams reached the Citadel and, with the witches' aid, greatly reduced the maelstrom, opening the way for Accord air support and orbital bombardment.
The High King led the charge forward — and was impaled upon a minotaur's trident and raised high. The Arnorians faltered; but a Praetorian shattered the minotaur's knee, and as the High King fell he beheaded the beast and roared a battle cry through his pain. With renewed fervour the ground forces drove the horrors back to the rift, and the witchers and witches closed it. A universe-ending threat was averted, but at terrible cost. Work on a new generator began at once, for the realm could not spare so many to hold the rift shut. The ordeal left Arnor on the brink of collapse and Yárcarniel weakened — not only by the loss of life, but by the loss of several Sub-dimensional layers.
Aftermath of the Ciris - 2024 N.T.
The Ciris exposed grave weaknesses in Arnor's defences and raised hard questions about threats to come. With Annuminas in ruins and the toll on life immense, the armed forces were depleted; token garrisons across the worlds lay vulnerable to pirates and other foes, and the weakened Legions could not meet every emerging danger, forcing strategic withdrawals from positions deemed untenable. The reliance on Denebolian Strike teams made plain the need for far closer cooperation with the Denebolian armed forces in any national emergency. Arnor reassessed its priorities, redeploying resources and adopting new defensive measures — yet the scars of the Ciris remained a sobering reminder to stay vigilant and adaptable.
The realm also faced severe economic hardship, worsened by the loss of life and the disruption of supply lines whose stewardship — overseen by witches and witchers — had been compromised, bringing shortages everywhere. The tithes from the protectorates, long a vital source of revenue, were nearly cut off, and with the workforce depleted, Arnor struggled to meet its people's needs. Compelled to seek aid abroad, the realm appealed to Denebol, its long-standing ally, both to ease immediate shortages and to help rebuild the generator — and to begin the long work of raising Annuminas, its wounded capital, from the rubble.
Arnor also looked to bolster its workforce, extending an invitation to the people of Morwe Gad — a world known for its great winter storm — to immigrate and contribute, particularly in agriculture. Many young Morwens embraced the prospect of a better future, though the proposal stirred controversy among Arnorians wary of foreigners holding land in Arnor proper. A compromise was reached: the Morwen would settle under the oversight of Arnorian bailiffs and landowners, ensuring their integration and their place in the workforce. The influx prompted a social shift, as many Arnorians seized the chance to become lesser nobility by acting as overseers and landlords for the new settlers. Met at first with skepticism, the arrangement ultimately fostered a spirit of collaboration and mutual benefit, as the Morwen were drawn ever deeper into Arnorian culture.
Colonial Era (2000-2015 N.T.)
The history of the colony begins when two exploration ships are lost in storm at way home and take shelter in unexplored bay. The ships are beyond quick repair and explorers are forced to set a camp. They are capable to survive first harsh winter thanks to perfect terrain with many resources and protection of bay, which saved the ships. The ships are repaired by summer and set off back to Star City. Explorers named foundations of the settlement Survival and most of them returned under protection of the Empire to build proper settlement and set a colony.
Following colonial years were simple years. Star City Empire was at it´s peak and colony explored and settled new lands under Empire´s authority, eventually controlling whole Eriador and parts of Calenardhon. It is also in this time, when colony discovered remains and ruins of some people in Calenardhon. These humans were one of the two groups of people, that separated from us, since we arrived through monolit so many years ago. The second people traveled past them into Valeria. It seems that these people destroyed one another and their remnants eventually died out.
Pre-war Year (2016 N.T.)
It is in these years, when colony saw its biggest influx of new colonists. Political instability, schemes, plots and corruption ruled in Empire and people, tired of it, were forced to the colony. One of them was young man Argonaut. Those in the Empire who even noticed their colony at the time, called fleeing colonists cowards or weaklings.
Argonaut, being well educated and talented individual, quickly rose in politics with his pro-colonial rhetoric, that called for more autonomy, honor and honesty. His party, called "Dúnedain", completely dominated colonial politics for a while, with only opposition in party of "Loyalists".
Loyalists had strong roots and were supported by renowned families of the first settlers, who were satisfied with colony as it is and, as their name may suggest, were loyal to the Empire. Most prominent of these was young senior officer of colonial militia Berúthiel and her administratively talented brother Cirion.
Colony, nearly unwatched by its overlords, began to prosper and talks of independence spread through it. Dúnedain complete dominance in colonial politics ended with rise of Ar-Adûnâim led by Durion, former imperial general. Many of Dúnedain switched sides to Ar-Adûnâim, which promoted full independence, even at the cost of armed conflict
Although Dúnedain no longer had complete dominance, they still held a majority, and with that influence, Argonaut was placed at the head of the militia as captain.
Discussions in colony were coming to boiling point whether to fight for independence with preventive strike or send proposal of it to the Emperor. Both Dúnedain and Ar-Adûnâim eventually agreed that it would be better to prepare for the worst. They passed decree of militia professionalising and both military complexes and factories were expanded in preparation of possible future conflict.
Changes however came, sooner than expected, when Empire plunged itself in civil war between Shield and Hydra.
Barbarian Invasion & Great Hydra War (2017 N.T.)
In the beginnings, no one in the colony knew what was going on. Great civil war in Star City´ Empire started raging on and all of Star City´s forces were withdrawn from the colony to support their parties´s fronts. Explosions and shots were heard kilometers away. Ground was shaking under men and war machines and whether it was by these noises or some electromagnetic explosion, Barbarians were awoken.
Their raids and pillages led colony into chaos. Lone farms and households, villages, towns and even twin cities of Armenelos and Rómenna were razed to ground. No one from the Star City responded to the news about Barbarians or requests for help and all communications with colony were eventually shut down. Many of those who survived in places successfully defended by militia blamed both sides in Star City for not helping in initial fights and especially Ar-Adûnâim promised a revenge to them. When help didn´t came even after few weeks, grim thoughts settled in minds of besieged colonists. However, they were still determined to fight.
Colonial militia was divided into three sector army groups, each under leadership of political party's leader. Northern sector army group Arnor under Argonaut, South-western group Gondor under Durion and South-eastern group Harondor under Berúthiel. However, colonial resistance was still somewhat sporadic and Barbarians surpassed militia both in numbers and strength.
Hope rised when Argonaut bringed up unorthodox tactic with new armored exoskeletons, power melee weapons and Bolters. Victories were achieved and colonists could finally carry out some offensive against the barbarians. Even though Barbarians started to be more organised, transition from defenseless prey to battlehardened enemy was too quick for them and Colonists eventually retaken most of their land.
Unfortunately, Great war found its way to the Colony, when Hydra deceived Durion and many Ar-Adûnâim with honey words and by falsely accusing Shield of planning attack on colony. This supposed attack should have come from Alfa Site, what was at the time safe haven for wounded, supply depo and reinforce point for eastern parts of Star city. However, this military base was very far from any fronts or other meaningful infrastructure and as that, it aroused suspicion. With Gondorian Sector mostly clear of Barbarians and secured in the east by Arnor and Harondor, Durion mustered force and marched on Alfa Site.
During Durion´s march, disaster in Nûrneled forrest happened. Berúthiel´s regrouping forces were ambushed after successful counterattack on Barbarian force deep in their territory. Her attempt to use another counterattack was foiled as Barbarian reinforcements flanked Harondorian forces. They pushed them against the river and steep slopes of the hill until surrounding them. Arnorian forces responded on the calls for aid, but time was not in their favor. Berúthiel was forced to cross the river to save as many as possible, unfortunately this was all part of Barbarian´s plan. They pincered both banks of the river once half of Harondorian force crossed. With river being shelled by Barbarian "artillery", attempts to unify the forces were futile. With more and more concentrated fire on Harondorian positions, Berúthiel ordered to push to the north along river banks. Harondorians were breaking through Barbarians, shoulder to shoulder, shield to shield, sword to gun. Slowly marching over their fallen comrades and piles of dead Barbarians. When Arnorians arrived, they could only save what little remained from Harondorians, with most of them dead or severly wounded. Berúthiel, with her leg missing and on the verge of fainting from pain and fatigue, entrusted Argonaut to lead Harondor. This basically incorporated Harondor into Arnor and caused most of the Loyalists, including Berúthiel and her brother, to lose faith in the Empire and transformed them into Dúnedain.
Durion´s sudden attack on Alfa Site catched Shield in surprise. Gondorians easily taken outer perimeter and managed to get into courtyard, however number and resistance of now alerted defenders stopped their advance. Durion, seeing coming bloodbath, ordered retreat. Nevertheless failed attack wasn't a complete loss for Gondorians as they managed to destroy and even capture some of the equipment in the courtyard and damage on the outerior of the base was also somewhat significant. Shield claims to suffer no casualties, yet Arnorian records tell different. Unfortunately for the rest of the colony, such strength of Alfa Site so far from Great war events and so close to Colonial border only hardened resolve in Durion and Ar-Adûnâim. Durion was now fully convinced that Shield is the enemy and demanded full support from Argonaut for war with Shield. When Argonaut refused, outraged Durion made alliance with Hydra and declared rest of the colony traitors.
Durion marched to Longway Watch where he made a camp and rallying point for his forces and all who supported him. Argonaut, forced to protect his infrastructure and factories, marched with most of his Arnorian forces to Zâram-Gathol, north to the Longway, while Harondorians mustered in Eatsgard. Time for negotiations was short as remains of Arnorian and Harondorian forces, left to fight Barbarians, were hardly sufficient. Neither of them was willing to submit to the other and with time pressing, Argonaut attacked. Durion, aggressive bold leader, suffered in defensive position, but his counterpart Argonaut, who held himself to "best offence is great defence", was not in his own skin either. Outnumbered Argonaut started losing ground and loss looked inevitable. However, with Harondorians arriving and attacking in the rear, effectively distracting Durion´s reserves, Argonaut was able to make a push againts Durion with his elite troops and armored division, which was in reserve until now. Even though battle at large was still being lost for Argonaut, he managed to kill Durion and his most trusted supporters before the gate of Longway Watch. Broadcast of Durion´s death and promise of pardon made his force surrender.
Argonaut in control of Arnor, Harondor and now even Gondor quickly dispatched his forces back to Barbarian frontline. The bolstering of the frontline was very successful even though some of reclaimed territory was lost. But, this was only quiet before storm. Same as Barbarians exploited Berúthiel´s counterattack strategy, different exploit now waited for Argonaut´s defensive one. Barbarians used Argonaut´s defensive passivity to amass a massive great horde. It was too late for any attempts to dislodge this horde. Argonaut ordered complete evacuation of the colony. The northern half took shelter in Survival, the best fortified settlement of the Colony, while all colonial forces and armed volunteers worked on defenses. Those from the southern half, who wouldn't make it to the Survival in time, were sent to Alfa Site. Argonaut knew it was just false hope to ask for help those which were attacked by his people, but it was still better than to wait for slaughter.
For days Barbarians thrown themselves on Colonial makeshift defences in surroundings of Survival and eventually forced Colonists to settlement itself. In hopes of survival, children, some women and few men were selected to hide in cave systems of Survival while others defended. After fall of the walls, defenders retreated to main keep and continued in distraction, prepared to fight to the last. Out of nowhere forces of Shield came storming into Barbarians from west and south. They arived just in time to save dwindled and tired colony´s militia inside the keep. Defenders of Survival, seeing Shield forces and some of their own from Alfa Site, were taken by relief. They charged from the keep into Barbarians with unseen ferocity, joining forces with Shield and driving Barbarians off. It was sight to behold and never again did Barbarians amassed so many of them.
This last minute save, sheltering those in Alfa Site and following help with securing colony helped to increase the relationship between the two, but it did not undone betrayal made earlier when Shield abandoned them.
Colonial independence & formation of the Kingdom (2018 N.T.)
Survival was in following days renamed to Sanctuary and once the colony was secured, colony´s militia with support of colonial citizens declared Argonaut their king.
Hesitant at first, Argonaut eventually accepted this. With the coronation, political parties ceased to exist. Cirion was named steward and his sister Berúthiel, who now had several minor and one big prosthetic, the Captain-General. Those who proved themselves in their ability to lead, administer and hold people together during the invasion were appointed to noble status. Arnor, Gondor and Harondor were proclaimed kingdoms, with Gondor and Harondor being only titular and Arnor being the High Kingdom. The old government structure was nearly non existent and with ever present threat of Barbarians, High King Argonaut was given absolute power.
Shield was informed about declaration of independence and have given unofficial acceptance to this action. They didn't want to or couldn't forcefully occupy and hold colony with Star City in ruin. Either way, its forces were withdrawn from the colony. After the Great civil war with Hydra State, Arnor was officialy recognized as independent state by government of new state established by Shield - Denebol.
The relative peace that followed after destruction of Barbarian massive horde left Arnor with few weeks to fortifie positions, secure and rebuild important settlements. The relations between Arnor and Denebol were kind of nonexistent at first and everyone cared mostly for their own problems.
Barbarian War (2019 N.T.)
When Barbarians resumed their attacks, Arnor was ready. Proposals to ask for help were swept off the table as Denebol would either only suffer in another war or straight forward rejected the proposal. Arnor needed strong faithful ally that would respect Arnorian autonomy and had either enough strength to destroy Barbarians completely or was stable enough to fight another war.
Thanks to Rangers, Legions and well positioned defensive structures heartland of Arnor was relatively safe, but more than one quarter of Arnorian population was needed to sustain this defensive perimeter and even then many heroic deaths followed as outnumbered Arnorians fought for every inch of their land. Several years of bloody battles and skirmishes started takeing severe toll on Arnorian people, but Arnorians never gived up. Every man and woman had to absolve two years military service (usually not in front lines), unless they were disabled or went to college/university, but even then they had to absolve basic training.
While High King managed to rule and command in the field at the same time, it would eventually ended up with disaster without Cirion. He was the one who set up proper administration and was High King´s right hand.
Every dead Arnorian was repaid by hundreds of Barbarian lives, but this war of attrition was something that Arnor wasn't able to win. As Arnor approached to breaking point, Denebol issued mobilisation. It was unknown to Arnorians that mobilisation was against some race in space, but it was a sign that Denebol was stable unified nation. Arnor finaly asked for full intervention in Barbarian war. After few days of combined offensive of Arnor and Denebol, Barbarians realized their demise and most of them fled planet in organic spaceships (something Wraitish looking).
So ended Barbarian war, almost three years long bloody conflict that made Arnorians into the best warriors far and wide.
From what was discovered, we could only assume, that Barbarians were hibernating here for centuries and others of their kind still are all across galaxy. Discoveries made in Barbarian dwellings and hives didn't just uncovered more about them, but also helped Arnorians to tweak and improve their own genetics.
All these events have forged Arnorians into people, who they are today.
Post-barbarian Era & start of Denebolian war (2020 N.T.)
Arnor was unable to enter into another fullscale war a so, to honor Denebolian Accord alliance, formed Grand City Company and commissioned plans for Arnorian spaceships. This company encompasses volunteers, who entered Denebolian teams and squads, and several Arnorian units from all military branches. As for other aspects of Arnorian military, High King issued what is now called "Disbandment of the Legions". More than half of military personnel was released with honors and a 5-year allowance or interest-free state loan and grant of free land. Arnorian military was now left with true elite and those, who stayed, had their pay increased and were granted land to.
After "the Disbandment", government started taking small steps from sort martial law ruling style, that was here basically from the start of Arnorian nation, to more relieved approach. However, it soon proved insufficient. High King, with help of Royal Council, then launched number of decrees and new laws. He implemented huge social, economic and political reforms. As part of these reforms was, for instance, creation of the Senate. Large reformation and revision of art, architecture, education and moral system followed soon after, all of which self-started during the Barbarian war.
The Denebolian G.U.A.R.D. initiative has sparked sharp debate in Arnor. Many whished to continue and expand existing cooperation, but there were very few of those who even considered to give up highest autority over Arnor. However, after some back and forward diplomacy and lots of persuasion, Arnor eventually agreed to join under few conditions.
A year after the victory in Barbarian war, the Mithril was found deep under their dwellings. It opened a "window" into a sub-dimension used by barbarians. All enhanced people who came in contact with Mithril were affected by it. This spread like wildfire from person to person and eventually hit all enhanced Arnorians. It was not a big deal for already enhanced Arnorians as nothing changed for most of them and those who can create spark out of thin air or slightly push a leaf have no useful use for that, however those who try to be enhanced now become overcome by sudden appearance of sub-dimension. Unlike the already enhanced Arnorians, who gradually adapted and subconsciously protected themselves from the effects of Mithril, the newly improved ones are exposed to a fully open sub-dimension. Those who didn't lost their minds completely became crooked, corrupted and in one case, possessed by being from sub-dimension. Therefore Arnorians completely stopped enhancing newcomers. Witchers and witches were created to study and protect us from conscious beings that came through rifts.
Without Barbarians, there was no need to hold so tightly together and joining into the G.U.A.R.D. was imaginary last straw for many. Unity in Arnor was divided. The old parties have recovered, new established and political rifts are beginning to emerge.
Arnorian crisis (2021 N.T.)
With no possible way to catch up and match Shield´s technological progress, Arnorians shifted most of their focus on Sub-dimension.
All began with further study of Sub-dimension that allowed Arnorians to implement it into their technology. Mainly in new energy generator. Such generator have set Arnorians even with Denebolian energy production capabilities. However, it not only consumed lot of its power on stabilising the field around rift and protection field, which should prevent spirits to flood our dimension, but also require constant maintenance and supervision by witchers and witches. Nevertheless, it was huge breakthrough in Arnorian energy sustainability.
The large and continuously opened rift in the generator had unexpected effect which was overlooked in design of protection field. The field was protected only onewayed and strenght of thoughts and emotions of Arnorians was immensely multiplied in the Sub-dimension. This and Arnorian view on "demigod like" Sisters caused the birth of Yárcarniel. A goddess, or a cosmic being of enormous power if you want.
Arnorians fixed the protection field, but damage was already done and their careless way forward finally turned against them. They were now connected to their goddess. Even if they would limit all Sub-dimensional use, they and this universe were already revealed in the circless of Gods in Sub-dimension. Arnorians were at the crossroad. 1. They could mass suicide themselves to close the connection between them and Sub-dimension and make it a lot harder for the other gods and abominations to reach into our universe, 2. explain everything to Denebol and hope for quick solution (which seemed impossible in the middle of government change) or 3. strengthen their goddess, while messing up with Sub-dimensional generator and Sub-dimension itself only minimally.
With their new found religion, Arnorians started "jumping" on other worlds and spreading their faith. Thanks to their goddess Yárcarniel, jumping into the Sub-dimension to traverse between planets is relatively safe, but still enormously burdensome for witchers and witches. Targeting mostly well developed worlds from ancient and medieval era forward, the faith spread. Arnorians formed outposts on most of the worlds and made them their protectorates or colonies. Those who refused were slowly persuaded or left alone, but those of the advanced worlds who offended Yárcarniel or Arnorian culture were met with steel. Establishment of the protectorates and colonies was a huge drain on Arnorian manpower and resources. To offset this, Arnorians issued adequate tariffs on their new subjects and created Cohortes Vigilum to suplement Arnorian ranks with "cannon fodder".
This sudden rampage was very quickly discovered by Denebol and allies of Denebolian accord members demanded answers. Arnor was accused for murder and enslavement and forced to stop and explain its actions. The complete embargo of Arnor caused shortage of imported goods, especially luxuries and halted all heavy industry. A disaster for Arnorian economy. Only now Arnorians realized how much was their economy dependant and tangled together with Denebolian one. The martial law for all Arnorian citizens on Denebolian territory came to be. All these preemptive measures surprised Arnorians. They knew Denebol will react to their "aggression", yet no one expected such quick and harsh response.
A meeting with all three leaders of Denebolian accord was held where a fragile deal was eventually made. An investigation by Denebolian committee will take place to find out truth about falsehoods of genocides and enslavements. Arnor reluctantly agreed to leave all "primitive" worlds where its presence has not manifested itself much, but refused to leave those which choose to remain its protectorates. The worlds that choose to remain had to be allowed to by the committee. All "primitive" worlds are to be left alone and newly discovered advanced worlds have to be reported to Denebol. Arnor is allowed to spread its faith in peaceful manner and only to those who will listen.
Aftermath of Arnorian crisis (2022 N.T.)
Diplomacy, science and especially economy took huge hit and Arnor had a hard time extinguishing the flames, yet biggest wound remained in trust. Trust not only between Denebol and Arnor, but in Arnorians to themselves. Many wonder how could they betray the accord. Was it a desperation, the other face of the Yárcarniel that pushed them over the edge or their distaste of leaving primitive worlds to their suffering? No matter, what it was, breaking rudimental rules of their culture shamed them and made them harden their resolve to never break them again.
With the self-realization, High King ordered to leave even more worlds, where Arnor spread, than what was required. Only a handful of nations on some planets remained in Arnorian sphere of influence and even less were fully integrated protectorates. Yet not all agreed with it.
The limited spread of faith helped to solidify Yárcarniel´s position among the gods just barely. Because further spread of faith is slow and unreliable, armies of Arnor sent expeditions into outer Sub-dimensional material layers of hells, abysses and voids. It was believed that such hit and run expeditions could hinder enemy attempts on mounting an attack and even make distractions and openings for Yárcarniel to take offensive. This confidence was High King´s last mistake. Arnorian expeditions met not only fierce resistance from demons, but from environment itself and whole idea of invading universes subjugated by gods of Sub-dimension turned disastrous.
Recent events have cost High King most of his support, but Ar-Ardûnâim surprisingly did not gained from it much. The High Canoness, commander of Sisters of Blood, has elevated to the highest political circles. Together with her Sisters, they bear biggest influence and popularity in Arnor. High King forced to acknowledge this has made "political alliance" with the Sisters in order to ensure honoring of Denebolian Accord.
They proceeded to establish the Crimson Chapter and Scarlet Chapter. These semi-state militant orders, under the leadership of the Sisters, founded outposts on many worlds. Many of these worlds were artificially added or re-added to the Arnorian sphere of influence. Most Arnorians never properly settled and jumped at the chance to rejoin the armed service. This basically rendered the whole 'Disbandment' a situation where the High King only lost men in favor of the Sisters.
The Ar-Adûnâim, feeling omitted from the "alliance", formed groups of small warbands. Acting mostly as mercenaries, these Arnorians spread influence by their way. Some of them embraced raids and more violent means to achieve their goal. However, they are unofficial and without any real oversight. Their support has become forbidden and they were exiled. Yet thanks to backing of Ar-Ardûnâim, they are not pursued nor attacked by Arnor and their support is sometimes done despite the ban.
Many days have passed since the crisis and, though the worst was overcome, the shadow of it still remained. High King has become grim and increasingly absent. He was rumored to be abdicating, but after a few private conversations with Cirion and Berúthiel he reappeared in public with a last attempt to stabilise the country and its people.
The subtle tour across Arnor with promotion of traditional symbols and values seemed ineffective at first. The cooperation on small projects with political parties and several concessions was unimpressive to, but it soon yielded fruit. High King´s actions helped to deradicalize population and returned him some of the much needed trust. Notable concessions such as legitimizing several warbands, giving the High Canoness seat in royal council and allowing establishment of the Scarlet Chapter or loosening several restrictions in guild system were inevitable either way. Sightings and small skirmishes with the Barbarians on several planets were a reason for High king´s regained popularity too.
Arnor refused to pay the minor sanctions, or fines as they are called in Arnorian slang, issued by Denebol at first. This eventually lead from common diplomatic meetings to a very memorable diplomatic encounter. This encounter grew more intense, resulting in Arnor facing an ultimatum to either pay or leave the Accord. Arnorians, being still hesitant to pay these fines, fired the moment to extreme. Someone even shouted a threat with nuclear strikes and extermination of Arnorian people, if shall Arnor continue in its course of actions. This claim, though most probably unofficial and caused by the heat of a moment, left Arnorians speachless. On one hand, the fines were justified when looked from the right angle. On the other, warrior's heart urged them to defiance. All was saved with unexpected coming of the Eldar delegation. Listening to both sides, the Eldar calmed the situation. Though staying neutral to the end, Eldar reminded Arnorians why are they in the Accord and what friendship would they lose. In the end Arnorians were even glad to pay and settle this unpleasant affair.
Several days later, after diplomatic delegation reported the encounter many times over, both Senate and King´s Council have come to understand the problem in their stance. Arnor lived out of the past. All the help, support and tolerance with which Denebol treated Arnor was always covered by a need and fear for independence. It was believed in the past that Arnor had to fight for it and prove its right of existence. Arnorians actually never stopped drifting away from anything connected to Star City´s Empire. Their warrior culture, supported by widespread ptsd amongst most of the Arnorian population, and foe seeking personality only helped to strengthen this belief. Although not all have come to same conclusion and there are those who refuse it completely, most have adjusted their speeches and governance stances to be more friendlier towards Denebolian support. Of course, such a change will take time before old habits disappear and population stops being suspicious of Denebolian intentions, but a new path was chosen.
The Ciris (early 2023 N.T.)
The Ciris has been a catastrophe. Through some unknown demigod a league of gods, demons, and eldritch voids managed to stage an assault on Yárcarniel's followers. They breached the fabric of space between the subdimension and real space in the Arnorian generator.
As the peaceful day was about to end, the last tips of sunshine touched the Black Citadel: Taras Lúna. The Citadel, which suddenly woke with an alarm, and hustle ensued in the city of Annuminas below. The Subdimensional generator, hidden underneath the Citadel, burst open as hordes of demons, beasts, and other horrors poured forth. The Sisters of Battle, their aspirants, failed acolytes, witches, and witchers, all rushed to stop the breach. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they held their ground, even against great abominations that were unable to fit in those large spaces. They held until an enormous figure sprang up from the rift, a figure that rose and rose, collapsing the underground complex and the Citadel itself in the process. As the dust settled, instead of a black tower, there was a disgusting fat giant, encumbered by crude and evil jewelry, wielding a massive rusted golden mace. The sky darkened, and a massive maelstrom began expanding across it. Blue explosions in dark smoky clouds and purple lightning were the only source of light from the sky.
Arnorian forces stationed in Annuminas rushed to form a defense of the city, but its most powerful assets, as well as warriors, were in the rubble of the Citadel. The god of greed and corruption had set his most powerful servant, and together with a few other gods, managed to penetrate Yárcarniel´s hold. As the giant roared for an attack, many of the dead Sisters and their servants refused to leave their bodies. They held the urge to leave the world with all will and were answered. Yárcarniel herself helped them stay in their bodies. They were like child puppeteers, unable to do much apart from twitches. However, they were soon not only helped to stay there but to control themselves. They felt the presence of Yárcarniel, who like a gentle mother guided their movements. They rushed through rubble unbothered by pain and damage to their bodies, killing and being killed again, torn apart, eaten, and burned. Nothing stopped them in reaching a safe room, where a last fail-safe of the generator could be activated. Upon doing so, all backup protection field emitters activated, and a single word was sent across the galaxy to all Arnorians: Ciris. Then all undead Arnorians collapsed. The emitters, some of which were kilometers away, were enough to stop the rift from expanding, but not enough to close it. Only now the maelstrom stopped expanding, covering the whole Arnor and even reaching the center of Denebol Prime.
As the horde charged into the city, more and more Arnorians jumped into their path. Whole cohorts, in the company of many witchers and witches, a single witch with a squad of soldiers, Varangians, Telcontaiâr—all answered the call. The High King himself with Praetorians marched into the fray. The lower city became a bloodbath, with bodies upon bodies, rubble, and carcasses. Upon all of it, new beasts charged Arnorian wall of armor and fire. Soon enough, GUARD and Dnebolian home forces arrived too. Every lightning strike summoned another monstrosity, and shadow wraiths descended from the maelstrom. The giant, despite all the firepower, still stood, and each swing was devastating for Accord forces. All the creatures from the Sub-dimension were resistant to common weapons and defenses.
Arnorians equipped with rune-enhanced weapons and armor were still not doing enough. Orbital support was called immediately, but the maelstrom scattered the fire far and wide. These shots landed everywhere, including Amaurëan city, where they caused much damage. Arnorians then resorted to a last trick in their sleeve. Witchers and witches of the Forge made a jump for Colossus. Many of them were left with seizures or brain damage, but the Colossus appeared above the giant. A walking fortress with large lances on its shoulders, bolter cannons with bayonets instead of hands, and many small turrets upon its battlements. It was terribly incomplete work, with many important systems fully exposed and many missing armor plates. It fired as it fell and sank the bayonets deep inside the giant. The two then locked in a dread duel of titans. It would be controversial to say that in a fully operational state the Colossus would have a chance against the giant, but like this, it was a mere slowdown.
The Colossus was soon crushed. As a last attempt of defiance, the crew of the Colossus detonated it. The explosion caused the giant to fall back and impale itself on the stump of the Citadel. The fortress of the Sisters of Battle was the most rune-engraved place in the whole of Arnor and as such caused a fatal blow to the giant. Meanwhile, the Denebolian Strike teams managed to enter the Citadel and, with the help of witches, massively reduced the maelstrom. This allowed Accord forces to deploy air support and orbital bombardment. The High King then led the charge forward. Without the giant and constant stream of enemies, Accord forces stood a chance. As he pushed, the High King found himself impaled on a trident wielded by a minotaur and raised high into the air. Arnorians then faltered; however, one of the Praetorians managed to break the minotaur´s knee, and as the High King fell down, he decapitated the minotaur and roared a painful battle cry.
Ground forces with renewed vigor and fervor then pushed the horrors back to the rift before witchers and witches closed it. A universe-ending threat was averted, but not without so many losses. Works on a new generator began immediately, for the Arnorian realm was unable to spare so many witchers and witches on holding the rift closed. This whole ordeal left the Arnorian realm upon the brink of collapse, and Yárcarniel weakened. Not only by the loss of life but by the loss of a few subdimensional layers too.
Aftermath of the Ciris (late 2023 N.T.)
In the aftermath of the Ciris catastrophe, Arnor faced significant challenges to its military capabilities and the protection of its realm. The assault orchestrated by hostile forces highlighted vulnerabilities in Arnor's defenses and raised concerns about future threats.
One of the primary concerns was the strain on Arnor's military resources. With the city in ruins and a high toll on life, the Arnorian armed forces were depleted, leaving token garrisons scattered across planets vulnerable to attacks by pirates and other hostile entities. The weakened state of Arnor's legions made it difficult to withstand emerging threats, forcing strategic withdrawals from certain areas deemed untenable to defend effectively. Additionally, the reliance on Denebolian Strike teams showcased the need for closer cooperation with Denebolian armed forces in the events of national emergency.
In light of these challenges, Arnor was forced to reassess its military priorities and strategies. Efforts were made to bolster defensive capabilities through the redeployment of resources and the implementation of new defensive measures. However, the scars left by the Ciris catastrophe served as a sobering reminder of the ever-present threats lurking beyond Arnor's borders, prompting the realm to remain vigilant and adaptive in the face of adversity.
Arnor also found itself grappling with severe economic challenges exacerbated by the loss of life and disruptions to crucial supply lines. The stewardship of these supply lines, overseen by witches and witchers, was compromised, resulting in widespread shortages across the realm. Tithes from protectorates, traditionally a vital source of revenue and resources, were now nearly cut off.
With the toll on life depleting the workforce and hindering production, Arnor faced difficulties in meeting the demands of its population. Confronted with these pressing economic constraints, Arnor was compelled to seek assistance from external sources. The realm submitted pleas to Denebol, its long-standing ally, for aid in both addressing immediate shortages and facilitating the rebuilding of the generator, a crucial infrastructure damaged during the Ciris assault.
Additionally Arnor explored avenues for bolstering its workforce and revitalizing its social fabric. One such initiative involved extending an invitation to the people of Morwe Gad, a planet known for its great winter storm, to immigrate to Arnor and contribute to various sectors, particularly agriculture.
The prospect of immigrating to Arnor resonated with many young Morwens, who viewed it as an opportunity for a better future. However, the proposal sparked controversy among Arnorians who harbored reservations about foreigners acquiring land and settling in Arnor proper.
In navigating this delicate issue, a compromise was reached. The immigrants from Morwe Gad would be permitted to settle in Arnorian lands under the oversight of Arnorian bailiffs and landowners. This arrangement not only ensured the integration of Morwen immigrants into Arnorian society but also facilitated their participation in the workforce.
Moreover, the influx of Morwen immigrants prompted a significant social shift within Arnor, with many Arnorians seizing the opportunity to become lesser nobility by acting as overseers and landlords for the newly settled immigrants. While the initiative faced initial skepticism and resistance, it ultimately contributed to fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual benefit between Arnorians and Morwen alike as the Morwen were more and more indoctrinated into Arnorian culture.
Decay of the Realm (early 2024 N.T.)
The aftermath of Ciris marked the beginning of Arnor's long descent. Though victory was claimed, the foundations of the Realm trembled beneath the weight of its own boundless ambition. The witchers and witches—once binding together the realm of worlds—proved too few to sustain true cohesion, even after the restoration of the great generators.
What followed was not collapse, but dispersal. The distant worlds and provinces, long dependent on Arnorian order, found themselves forced into autonomy. Some remained under caretaker administrations that slowly dissolved into local governance. Others became de facto independent, though still proclaiming fealty to the absent Crown. The High Kingdom's banners continued to hang in their halls, but the will behind them had faded to mere ceremony.
The War of Narnos hastened this decline. At first, the campaign seemed destined to rekindle Arnorian purpose. The Barbarians were driven back, and the early months of conquest were spoken of as a second dawn. Yet triumph gave way to attrition. The planet's frozen wastes devoured men and machines alike. The mithril veins—so precious in Arnor's pursuit of power—became the war's true prize, and thus its curse.
As the conflict dragged on, strategy turned from liberation to containment. Mithril extraction replaced conquest; fortification replaced eradication. The precious metal found new applications across the Realm, shaping alloys and instruments of unprecedented potency. In turn, this reliance deepened the genetic transformation and subdimensional evolution that now defined the Arnorian kind. But while the individual grew stronger, the Realm itself grew frail.
By the early years of the new cycle, the High Kingdom was strained to breaking. Supply lines faltered, manufactories in Redierad failed to meet their quotas, and the once-seamless unity of command fractured into regional councils. Then, in the year 2025, the unthinkable occurred: the High King vanished. Whether kidnapped or lost to the Subdimension remains uncertain. In his absence, the High Canoness assumed the Regency.
Her rule was orderly but severe. Discipline returned, yet leniency was lost. Under her command, Arnorian interference in Redierad's clan disputes erupted into open conflict. Several great clans, long rivals, were armed and favored by opposing factions. The ensuing civil wars ravaged the planet—its forges silenced, its mines buried beneath ash and ruin. Arnorian loyalists emerged victorious, but at a cost greater than defeat. Redierad's production was shattered, its population scattered, and countless clans erased from history.
The toll was intolerable. The once-indomitable Arnorian warmachine—drained of blood, metal, and spirit—finally fractured. On Narnos, the war turned from stalemate to retreat. The remaining administrations withdrew across the stars, abandoning the outer minor protectorates one by one. Even the great world of Valei was left behind.
In the void left by retreat, isolated commands of the Crimson Order and local administrations chose to remain, their contact with Arnor severed. Some forged local alliances, defending the worlds they had sworn to protect. Others simply endured, still proclaiming allegiance to a Realm that could no longer hear them. Though the central Crimson Order still regards its lost members as its own, the stranded garrisons became known as one of many kinds of Varangians.
The Morwen initiative slowed the unraveling, but could not halt it.
Thus the High Kingdom stands: a power of immense individuals, yet a realm of crumbling institutions. Its ships still fly, its banners still bear the sigil of the Star, but beneath the grandeur lies fragility. What remains of Arnor is not a realm, but the echo of a dream too ambitious to be possible—a civilization sustained only by faith, and by the will of those too proud to admit that the golden age was just a distant mirage.
1)
The history of the colony began when two exploration ships were lost in a storm on their way home and took shelter in an unexplored bay. The ships were beyond quick repair and the explorers were forced to set up a camp. They survived the first harsh winter thanks to the abundance of resources in the area and the protection of the bay which saved their ships from the storm.
The explorers named the foundations of the settlement Survival. By summer the ships were repaired and set off back to Star City. Most of the explorers, however, returned under protection of the Empire to build a proper settlement and establish a colony.
The following colonial years were simple years. The Star City Empire was at its peak and the colony explored and settled new lands under authority of the Empire, eventually controlling the whole of Eriador and parts of Calenardhon.
It was also during this time that the colony discovered ruins and remains in Calenardhon. These belonged to one of the two groups of people that had separated from us after our arrival through the Monolith so many years ago. The second group had continued farther west into Valeria. It seems that these peoples eventually destroyed one another and their remnants later died out.
2)
It was in these years that the colony saw its biggest influx of new colonists. Political instability, schemes, plots and corruption ruled the Empire, and many people, tired of it, fled to the colony. One of them was a young man known as Argonaut.
Argonaut, being a well-educated and talented individual, quickly rose through colonial politics with his pro-colonial rhetoric, which called for greater autonomy, honour and honesty. His party, called the Dúnedain, completely dominated colonial politics for a time, with opposition coming only from the Loyalists.
The Loyalists had strong roots in the colony and were supported by renowned families descended from the first settlers. They were satisfied with the colony as it was and, as their name suggested, remained loyal to the Empire. The most prominent among them were a young senior officer of the colonial militia, Berúthiel, and her administratively talented brother, Cirion.
The colony, nearly unwatched by its distant overlords, began to prosper and talks of independence spread throughout it. The complete dominance of the Dúnedain ended with the rise of the Ar-Adûnâim, led by Durion, a former imperial general. Many members of the Dúnedain switched sides to the Ar-Adûnâim, which promoted full independence, even at the cost of armed conflict.
Although the Dúnedain no longer held complete dominance, they still retained a majority and, with that influence, Argonaut was placed at the head of the militia as captain.
Discussions within the colony gradually reached a boiling point over whether independence should be achieved through a preventive strike against the Empire or by sending a proposal to the Emperor. Both the Dúnedain and the Ar-Adûnâim eventually agreed that it would be better to prepare for the worst. They passed a decree professionalising the militia, while military complexes, bunkers and factories were expanded in preparation for a possible future conflict.
3)