History

Origin in Orkfjarr

The Cathrin Tribes of the Isle of Cathir, now part of Orkfjarr, were the ancestral forefathers of the modern Empire of Cathringia and Cathringian descendants abroad. Living in longhouses built in fjords and valleys, the early Cathrins survived mainly on fish for centuries. The Cathringian ancients did not use the Auresian alphabet, but rather Orkfjarric runes, which have been unearthed and discovered all across the Midal Coast of Cathringia, as well as Scyltheld, the initial migration point of the Cathrins following the exodus from Orkfjarr.

Not much is known of pre-Oskarian Cathir, before the 9th century BF. Legends have it that Oskar the Forefather brought prosperity to a dismal land oppressed by neighbouring isles, but prosperity clearly ended with the death of Oskar. Deciphered from ancient Orkjarric runes, it is known that in 800BF on the isle of Cathir, now the isle of Lesser Orkfjarr, there were five Cathrin tribes, all descendants of Oskar the Forefather, who once dominated the entirety of the island.

Sons of Oskar III, Berengar II, Willahelm, Bruno, and Adalhard II all vied for control of the island, but none were victorious over the others as the political nature between cousins evolved daily. They were not the only descendants of the Forefather, who was rumoured to have taken many mistresses and to have fathered even more bastards.

It is believed that much of early Cathrin culture was focused around raiding the settler kingdoms of Poseia, as well as the native realms that predated them. Raiding became especially frequent with the War of the Cousins, which saw a century of chiefs waging war on each other. As Cathir became ravaged from warfare, its warriors sought other means for sustenance. The Cathrins seized goods, women, and artefacts, and quite frankly anything that could be uprooted. Sir Hugh of Monarary writes of Cathrin raiders in 487BF, noting “black sails of death that carry the primitive barbarians to slaughter our countrymen, rape our women, and leave the land bare.”

The brutality of the Cathrins was so widespread that the chokehold of their raids did not last long. The settler kingdoms took measures against the raiders, and soon the returns of the Cathrin raids were greatly diminished. With warfare and famine worsening on the home isle and raids no longer producing anything of value, the tribal chiefs of Cathir turned their attention to the northwest of Poseia, present day Scyltheld.

Settlement in Scyltheld

In 393BF, the Berengarian Cathrins were the first to vacate Cathir in favour of settling abroad. They left the isle entirely and founded settlements in coastal Scyltheld, though this did not come peacefully. The Berengarians were invaders in a new land, forcefully removing native elven populations. It wasn’t long before their cousins in Cathir learned of their successes. The Berengarians were later followed by the Brunites to the south, in 389BF, and the Willahelmites to the north in 372BF. For the first time in centuries, Cathirs no longer fought each other, but rather united their power as cousins to vanquish the native populace of ancient Scyltheld, or rather push them inland to the impenetrable forest.

Meanwhile, the Adalhardan tribe of Cathir was finally defeated in 324BF, and were forced off the isle by the rival Oskarians who would go onto rule over Orkfjarr with Arthod ‘the Great’ being the last of the Oskarians High Kings of Orkfjarr. The Adalhardan fled, not to Scyltheld, but to the Midal Sea, a virgin land only touched by forest elves. The Adalhardans quickly established the port city of Vandericht on the south coast opposite the Auresians and expanded outwards.

Rise of Arthod the Terrible

Cathir prosperity in ancient Scyltheld did not last long. Arthod ‘The Terrible’, the final High King of Orkfjarr was granted a settlement of land in the region under Berengarians, at first he was at the behest of the kings who had settled the land prior to him. But as his following grew, so did his ambition. In a rebellion against his overlord he overthrew the Berengrian petty king.

The Scylthelds quickly became numerous enough to outnumber their Cathirian brothers. Breaking free and proclaiming their own domains, the Berengarians, Brunites and Willahelmites were once again refugees. They fled the region en-masse, traveling across Reynesse to the Adalhardan settlement of Vandericht, where former kings swore fealty to Adalhard VII “The Great”, marking the formation of the Cathringian Empire in 290BF.

Foundation of Cathringia

Historian Claudius Commodus, an Auresian traveler, was present when the King of the Berengarians, King of the Brunites, and King of the Wilhelmites all knelt to Adalhard the Great, documenting it in his writings: “Three Kings of distant Cathrin lands have arrived at the Palace in Vandericht today. I would not have known them to be kings if they were not addressed by their followers as such, for their appearances are beaten, hardly regal at all.”

Inside the palace at Vandericht, Adalhard VII forced the refugee kings to each sign a treaty- the Compact of Kings, which outlined the formation of the Cathringian Empire under his line, the three kings serving under him. The Brunites, Willahelmites, and Berengarians all settled in various places along the south Midal Coast, with the Berengarians settling what would become Augergard.

The fertility of the region and newfound peace led to a population boom under the second half of Adalhard VII’s reign, and the settlement of the new land led to increasing clashes with elven and orcish natives. By the time of the death of Adalhard the Great, they were pushed to present day Schadwite, once a lush, green forest, nothing like what it is today.

Ogkan Wars

Under Adalhard VII’s leadership, the Cathringian Empire flourished, expanding its territories and becoming a major player in regional politics. Its navy controlled the seas, its army was feared by its enemies, and its culture was admired by many. Cathringian traders established trade routes and diplomatic ties with other nations, and the empire became a beacon of culture and civilisation in the region. Indeed, the once troublesome Ogkan were defeated and enslaved in the Four Cathringian-Ogkan War which allowed the Cathringians complete dominace over Ehurszind.

Reynessen Wars

Their human neighbours however, were not so easily quashed. Wars with Reynesse were so frequent that the became too numerous to count, and a many a Cathringian know of a family member killed in conflict between the two rival nations. Although, like Reynesse, Cathringia itself also bowed to the power of Auresia and joined the Empire of Poseia in 97 BF with a splendid Auresian Army marching into the then capital of Cathringia Vandericht with Arecius I at it’s head.

Domininion of Auresia

Cathringia under the Empire of Poseia underwent a period of Auresification, with a new capital being constructed under then name of Augergard, over the top of a Brunite settlement of Weiterschal. Now present Kasricgard (formerly Augergard). And a Auresian colony being founded in the south (now Syagrium). However, like it’s rival Reynesse, Cathringia broke free following the death of Arecius in a brutal 23 year war which left many nobles dead. But, Cathringia free.

Present History

The Ogkan of Ehurszind to the south saw this as a chance to reclaim what they saw as their rightful land and invaded shortly after and in 211 AF the Fifth Cathringian-Ogkan War ends with Cathringia forced to the south border of Schadwite. Only the sale of the Emperor’s Square to the Republic of Portigoa allowed them to hire enough mercenaries to stem the Ogkan Hoards, a tactic that would come to save the Kings of Berenger not long after. In the era following the destructive Ogkan wars. What remained of the Cathringian nobility left only the young emperor, Wilhelm IV, aged 14, his first cousin the King of Berengaria, John Frederick II and, the dying King of New Willawald George IX.