Rak Danning

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Rak Danning is a major city in the Aurian Empire.

It dominates its trading area. Not only is it a central military base for the Yellow Protectoran, and the site of its academy, but it houses the largest market on Karandia.

## History

2000BE: A settlement is confirmed to exist at Rak Danning it is dwarven city of Karaknost

990BE: During the Wars of Betrayal human tribes turn on and drive out the dwarves. The exact nature of these wars and conflicts has been lost in time. The human settlement was built on, in and covers the ruins of the old dwarven city Karaknost.

100BE: Settlement conquered by the Dann tribe. Renamed Rak Danning

90BE: Rak Danning made the primary settlement of the Dann tribe and Gorge takes it as his seat of power.

7-4BE: First Commerce Wars alert Rak Danning to Auria's true presence and power. Rak Danning becomes a major trading partner.

0BE: Aurian Empire announced by Jomark.

0-22PE: The Unification Wars bring Aurian borders closer to Rak Danning and its holdings. Rak Danning takes in refugees from the nation of High Grange after it is toppled by Auria. Auria is put off from continuing by the benefit of the city state's allegiance and a formidable military the Karak Shock Troops and the Golden Irregulars. The main reason however is the Emperor Jomark was sick of war and the War of Thorns was taking an incredible toll on Auria itself. There are some that believe that Rak Danning helped supply Torash as well as trading with Auria in order to secure its own place in these years.

43-44PE:The Second Commerce Wars begin in earnest with Auria taking chunks of what are now called the Protectorates. The fall of the dwarvern nation of Golmhaven leaves thousands of refugees traveling north and west. There is an effort in Rak Danning to simply join Auria but it is uncovered my the current First Dann and brought to an end. The dwarvern faction of the city are particularly anti-Aurian.

46-48PE: Marshal of the Empire, Lorn Hunter leads the Aurian Empire on the Rak Danning Campaign. It takes two years but he is eventually successful thanks for fantastic logistics and the military might of Auria's legions.

50PE: The Forked Offensive into Alkan and Saracan is launched from Rak Danning. The offensive fails but established the northern border outlining where Rak Danning and the Empire's influence ends.

59PE: Race riots break out in Rak Danning leading to a culling of the old races present in the city. Elves, orcs, ogres and dwarves are killed in their hundreds, there are similar numbers of humans killed on the other side. This leads to the city becoming more factionalised and many leaving residence to make for their racial homelands.The ranats go underground.

194PE: Silverscale is built in Wyvern Valley as a bastion of the Knights of the Empire and a defensible location in the still conflicted north. Rak Danning supplies the majority of men and materials for its construction and an ongoing trade route is established between the two.

260PE: Rak Danning under a new charismatic leader attempts to reassert its independence and become an independent state. They first try politically, but when this is thrown out by Tor Honarik their representative to the Ro'Tier resigns and the Governor of Rak Danning announces the old nobility position of Dann has been restored and from the Danns recognised they elect their charismatic leader as First Dann or Commander in Chief.

260-261PE: The Split Walls Secession War: Unfortunately for them Aurian moves with its legions directly against then and Wrennost who inspired by their move, kill their own imperial governor and declare independence also. (It was hoped that ten or twenty of the sates would all do this making it impossible for Auria to react but that did not occur). Critically there were many within Rak Danning who remained loyal to the Empire seeing it as their true nation and most beneficial for them. These inside loyalists or Golden Irregulars put the city into a state of civil war which made it easy pickings for the Imperial legions when they arrived.

262PE: Aftermath the Emperor Jonah III gains the title the Merciful. He pardons many of thopse who took the title Dann ratifying many of them as low level nobility and inducting many of their sons into the Golden Irregulars. He makes the Irregulars a special Border Guard Unit within the legions and assigns them to Rak Danning. He also rewards all the loyalists extensively placing them into positions of power and authority. There are very few executions and only seventeen people are exiled. However the battles rage all year in the area as the rest of the rebellions are put down and under pressure the Emperor is forced to declare the insurgents as an ooposing nation within the Empire. After this Wrennost and the other rebels are smashed and Jonah himself never recovers from it.

445-449PE: The Third Commerce Wars or the Tatrak Conquest. Rak Danning sends legions to help in the war. tatrak is taken by storm.

493-512PE:Reign of Aluap the Organiser. The Trading Areas are organised and Rak Danning is made one of the central hubs and given its own Trademaster chosen from among its own nobility. The Trade Area Legions are reorganised and the Commander in Chief of the Border Guards is stationed at Rak Danning as well. Rak Danning is also considered one of the so called 'major cities' that was justified in having a senator specifically representing their city. Public approval for Tor Honarik and the Emperor soar to all time highs.

505-507PE: The Wargak Invasion. When the Wargak horde invade through Saracan it is the Border Guard launched from Rak Danning who saw the majority of the fighting. The Trade Area Legions system proves its worth and under the direction of the first ever Commander in Chief Nik Firehand the invasion is turned back. This was the first time the Sapphire Wizards Guild worked so seamlessly with the military and it was proven a huge success. In recognition the Blue Crystal Palace was begun and Rak Danning donated 5% of the initial cost as a gesture of thanks.

515: Protectorans Founded under Peter I. Yellow Protectoran]]'s base of power is chosen predictably as Rak Danning with Nik Firehand as its Marix.

525PE: Kolaran officially joins the Empire and this creates a huge new trade stream for Rak Danning. Kolaran becomes its port outlet to the sea and beyond. The Rak Danning Market starts to become internationally famous and the city experiences a huge population boom.

650PE: During the Protectoran Mutiny Rak Danning is turned upside down as Yellow Protectoran soldiers seize assets and leaders in an attempt to take over the country. For several months Rak Danning is lost in a haze of infighting, intrigue kidnapping, extortion and death. However thanks to the interaction of a few select individuals and rumoured Knight Stalker involvement the rebel leadership is killed and loyalist or 'Golden' Yellow Protectoran troops retake control of the city.

674-675PE: The successful campaign against the Danoran Mountain clans is planned and executed from Kolaran. Yellow Legions march from Rak Danning at the same time successfully subjecting the mountain clans. This allows Dardon Point to be founded (it was previously an independent fishing village). This gives Rak Danning an even closer port that it can use. Rak Danning and Saracan's geographical position as closer to Dardon Point than Kolaran are the entire reason for the small villages growth to major city.

687PE: Failed Saracan invasion formalises the Aurian northern border which outlines the upper limit of the Kolaran Trading Area, it also formally acknowledges the existence of Free Country.

700PE: The Yellow Protectoran is split now being set to guard the southern border centred in Tor Zeric and the northern border centred in **Rak Danning**. This is not a popular move in the city many arguing the Black Protectoran should cover it or that a new Legion Group should be founded.

1050-1102PE: The reign of Peter IV the Seafarer results in more trade products than ever being made available to Rak Danning's markets.

1193-1221PE: The reign of Gerard the Waymaker huge roads are planned across the empire. Fortunately for Rak Danning several were aimed specifically at widening its trade routes. One west going to Free Country and then Dardon Point and another south straight to Middleholm. The network increases again the level of economic prosperity in the business classs of the city. Also most of the workers on those two roads were recuited in the area forming huge work groups and roaming villages.

1234-1271PE: The reign of the Warmaker and the Northport War. This involes once again huge military forcves moving through and supplied by Rak Danning. However the war is unsuccessful and so Rak Danning's postiion in the Empire changes little.

1486-1491PE: Emperor Kavad embarks upon the War of Vengeance with Torash. almost all military units that can be are sent to the front. This is a very unpopular war with rak Danning who lost a lot of men but were never anywhere near the fighting or had much of a problem with the Torans. Imperial sympathy takes a big hit in the city.

1512-1514PE: 1st Dragon Army Invasion affects Kolaran very little. They send levies to the assistance of the Eastern Protectorans that are engaged in the fighting. There is some draft dodging due generational anger about the War of Vengeance.

1643-1677PE: New roads are built enhancing Rak Danning's trade links. Its economy booms in these years and the city is significantly enlarged.

1898PE: Second Dragon Army Invasion

## Geography

Rak Danning is located int the central northern reaches of the Aurian Empire. It is a huge walled city. It starts on a hilltop where the original city stood but now it is spread across the plain as it long outgrew its traditional walls. Fortunately it is blessed with a lot of surrounding flat land. It is build and has grown right to the edge of the Forest of Dann. Rak Danning has long been surrounded by outlying market towns which feed into it. Many of the closest are now part of the ever growing city.

## Economy

The greatest market in the world. It is on all day, every day. Some stores and stalls only open during the day to show off glittering jewelry and sell fresh food. Others, such as thief joints and Scarlets only open at night. It is rife with thieves and low life, but here anything is yours for the right price. Rak Danning's official economy is incredibly high with huge amounts of customs and tax flow revenue. However Rak Danning also generates an incredible amount of unofficial revenue though its complex and extensive black market operations.

## Demographics

It is the most racially mixed city of the Empire. Over a million people use some part of the Rak Danning Market each day and they come from every walk of life and every race and creed imaginable. The city is huge and sprawling and when the market is full it numbers over half a million souls.

 Dwarves
 Halflings
 Half-breeds
 Greenskins

### Religion

More diverse than most of the Empire due to its international makeup. Still the Temple of Celer is by mar the largest and most frequented. All six Avatars have temples representing their different aspects present in the city. Religion here more than any other city in the Empire is a business all of its own. Rak Danning is one of the most competitively proselyted cities in the world as a result.

## Politics and Government

Rak Danning has two Senators that represent it in the Senate due to its immense size. The Rak Danning Govenor is the leader of the city but the Trademaster for the Rak Danning Trading Area is also a major player in city politics. The Commander in Cheif Stroat Troast also plays a role in the leadership of Rak Danning but it is difficult to determine exactly what and how influenctial the military man's role is.

## Military

Rak Danning is one of the two central nodes for the Yellow Protectoran and is the largest. The northern border is constantly considered under threat and Saracan is considered the most profitable future expansion site for the Empire. Rak Danning forms the crux of the border's defense and potential offensive strike capability.

On a regular basis, over ten of the Yellow's legions will be based in and surrounding Rak Danning. It is the location of the Border Guard's training grounds and of the Commander if Chief's personal command centre.

## Culture

The largest market city in the world is its claim. Rak Danning never sleeps and is lit day and night by lanterns both mundane and magical.

## People of Note

* Stroat Troast

.