[Hourglass of Zihaja] Chapter 2: The World of Siraaj

[Zeta Kai]

Qalira

Former Capital: de facto Qaziz
Region: Northern Wastes
Language: Gnoolun (AKA Qalizai; AKA Gnoll)
Duration: 2,772 AK – 3 AF (1,193 years)
Notable Rulers: King Alalaq, Queen Imar, Queen Larza, King Ashar, King Tirqa, Queen Shapur, Hapu the Last King

Along the Saqiyah River, in the eastern reaches of the Northern Wastes, there once was the proud kingdom of Qalira (kah-LEER-ah). This realm was closely allied with its larger neighbor to the east, Uqalizar, both politically & culturally. Smaller than its more powerful contemporaries, it still managed to hold its own for over a thousand years, proving that tenacity & vigor could make up for its relatively-inferior arms.

Qalira was always as barren & inhospitable as the rest of the Northern Wastes, but was also the most populous area, due to the bounty of the Saqiyah River. Using irrigation techniques that were learned from its southern neighbors in Adabasha, the kingdom was able to provide well for its people, growing abundant crops of barley, chick peas, & lentils. This helped them supplement the dwindling amount of fish that they were able to catch from the river.

Their meager success in this harsh region did not go unnoticed by their fellow kingdoms, & subsequently, they were forced to fight several defensive wars. Qalira lost a war against the kingdom of Uqalizar, which forced it to pay the victor a tithe of its harvest for years afterward. And they were barely able to fend off the Empire of Admaja, which attempted to invade the kingdom several times. These conflicts left the nation in a fragile state, both economically & militarily.

This instability ultimately led to the downfall of the kingdom of Qalira during the Ten Dark Years. It collapsed following the death of Hapu the Last King (so named after the realm’s fall, incidentally), who left no heirs. The resulting scramble for the throne led to the kingdom fracturing into more & smaller fiefdoms, eventually ending with a loose collection of city-states, much like the rest of the continent.