Badkalden

**Denbleson-Nak** (480:24 - 554:33), also known as **Den-Bleson-Nak**, **Den-Nak** and the **Badkalden**, was a political and semi-religious leader, and the most important figure in ancient Afbarkeean culture, who united the entire civilisation under the San-Kamakan. She is the eponym of the Age of Badkalden. She was born in Graak in the Kingdom of San.

## Biography

### Early life

Born near Graak in 480:24 to a simple farmer, Lamaan-Nak, Denbleson was the subject of a Glaan prophesy that said she would unite all of civilisation under her rule. Starting in 484:37, she received tuition from a Aabanhaag Skalan by the name of Darnd-Memoo.

In 495:41, Denbleson's mother informed her of this prophesy and she journeyed to Mount Faalad with her cousin, Thusp-Nak, and her servant, Juseethii-Peruu, to confirm this claim. Upon returned to Graak in 495:54, Denbleson enlisted with the Imbrahaan.

In 496:23, Denbleson was introduced to Lenaswa-Veksar-Jedur, by Fensa-Heedraa-Balont and was subsequently given the title of Skalan due to her impressive strategic ideas. In early 497, she was dispatched to the frontline of the San-Huumaro War and had led the Imbrahaan to victory within three years. Upon conquering Huumaro in 499:98, she founded the San-Kamakan, with Veksar-Jedur assuming the title of Liithan.

In 500:67, Denbleson and Veksar-Jedur met at the site of the future city of Zalduflats and discussed expanding the territory of the San-Kamakan. It was here that Denbleson was given the title of Len-Imbrahaan.

### As Len-Imbrahaan

In late 500, Denbleson returned to Graak and reunited with her mother. She also inquired about her former tutor, Darnd-Memoo, but discovered that Darnd had died in 498. Denbleson then visited her cousin, Thusp-Nak, who accompanied her to Gorn in early 501.

In early 502, Denbleson participated in an espionage mission in which she travelled to Kadee to spy on the Galin. Her team was intercepted by the Eexalonta on arrival and taken to Drees, where they were held captive on the island of Manteepan. After escaping from this prison, Denbleson and her team journeyed to Jekuus and infiltrated the Galin's Palace. Denbleson had arrived at the border between Huumaro and Draabul by the outbreak of the Tax War in 502:36, and subsequently commanded the Imbrahaan during the conflict.

Between 502:52 and 502:56, Denbleson travelled between the cities of Gorn, Borl, Eleekrad, Munuu and Komh and gave speeches to inspire the denizens to enlist in the Imbrahaan. These cities would later become known as the Rasyakalden (or Badkalden cities), along with Zalduflats. Konos-Jaral was present at the speech that she gave in Eleekrad and this inspired him to enlist.

#### Enlightenment

Following the conclusion of the Tax War, Denbleson travelled once again to Mount Faalad to consult the Glaan who had foretold of her destiny to rule over all of civilisation. In 504:33, Denbleson arrived at the Glaan capital and was invited to enter the Cave of God by Len-Glaan-Armera-Daahat. According to Afbarkeean lore, she was the only non-Glaan to have ever stepped foot inside this cave, and she immediately experienced a divine connection to the Aba which stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Shortly after her experience, the Len-Glaan placed a curse on the name *Denbleson*, so that anyone who said the name and was not in her presence would have bad fortune for a year afterwards. She then named her *Badkalden* and declared that all men should address her by that title as a mark of respect.

This anniversary of this event was one of the most significant festivals celebrated in Afbarkeean culture, and was known as Legend's Day.

#### Kamakan Wars

Following her spiritual experience in the Cave of God, Denbleson returned to Gorn and declared her intentions before the Kamakan government to declare war on the nations of Afbarkeean. This announcement was initially met with outrage and she was dismissed from the imperial court on the orders of the Liithan. However, she was later summoned before the Liithan to explain her decision and it was eventually agreed that her plan would be put into action. This marked the beginning of the Kamakan Wars.

Following her successful conquest of Muubrin, Denbleson was invited to attend a private session with the Liithan in 506:28. It was in this session that Veksar-Jedur conferred the title of Liithan unto the Badkalden. Veksar retained the title of Lenaswa of San, and the title of Len-Imbrahaan (which had hitherto belonged to Denbleson) was conferred unto Feelo-Leera.

### As Liithan

#### Kamakan Wars

Denbleson's first act as Liithan was to declare war on Korsanaan. This would turn out to be one of her most challenging campaigns due to the near-impenetrable fortifications that protected each of the Korsanaan city-states, as well as their propensity for self-sufficiency. In addition, the infamous Glaan traitor, Brertree-Sakum, had warned the people of Korsanaan of the prophesy concerning the Badkalden many years ago, and the country had been preparing to defend against a Saniit invasion for the last five years.

After her initial invasion had reached a standstill, Denbleson once again journeyed to Mount Faalad (arriving in 506:51) to seek the advice of the Glaan. During this visit, Amera-Daahat presented her with the Holy Sword that had been created by Ramdalii-Rig in the years following her foretelling of the Badkalden's destiny. She then told her that anything can be accomplished through faith in the Aba.

Denbleson returned to Korsanaan and, one by one, she struck the walls of each city with the Holy Sword, which collapsed into rubble. By 506:46, Korsanaan had been completely conquered by the San-Kamakan. Denbleson remained in Malfa until 506:76 to supervise the rebuilding of the country and its integration into the Kamakan. She then entrusted the management of Korsanaan to Thusp-Nak, who was given the title of Lebeta-Malfa.

Turning her attention to the Huumarooneean countries of Adr-Kaa'an and Mispitkan, Denbleson decided to take a more diplomatic approach and sent delegates to both countries. In early 507, she sent Eris-Vana to establish relations with the prominent Baloo Family who owned a great deal of land in northwest Adr-Kaa'an and commanded a private militia, and sent Wilik-Azaa to the Mispit government in Falal. In 507:44, she sent Dormun-Jedur to Intis to assist Eris in her negotiations with the Baloo Family.

##### Parable of the Tree

In the days leading up to the War of Draabul, the Imbrahaan felled many trees on the eastern border of Huumaro in order to acquire wood for construction. In 510:55, one of the Raagon trees being cut down fell prematurely and crushed several Imbrahaan. Denbleson rushed over and gave praise to the Aba. A nearby Skalan expressed outrage at this reaction, saying that it was inappropriate for the Liithan to praise God after it had just taken the lives of some of her loyal subjects. The Badkalden replied that, to truly worship the Aba requires us to praise it even at times of great misfortune. The Skalan was humbled and felt deeply embarrassed. Everyone in the vicinity dropped to their knees and expressed gratitude to the Aba.

This story became a popular fable that was used to illustrate the importance of worshipping the Aba even when times are tough.

##### Battle of Rarubel

In 510:99, Daadexolta-Marasus-Marsee sent a messenger named Tifin-Baanstaak to the Imbrahaan base to propose a battle that would take place in 511:02 on the future site of the city of Rarubel. If the Kamakan forces won the battle, then Marasus would swear allegiance to the Badkalden and lead the Eexalonta to the Kadeean capital of Jekuuz, where she would demand that the Galin surrender to the Kamakan. Against the advice of her generals (most of whom believed this was a trap), Denbleson agreed to the deal.

Following the Kamakan victory in the Battle of Rarubel 511:02, Marasus met with the Badkalden and her advisors and bowed down before her in reverence. She asked for forgiveness and the Badkalden replied that, not only was she forgiven for her past sins, but that she had secured her legacy as a hero of the Kamakan and would be entitled to a grand estate in Teltelee. A document of surrender was then drawn up and signed by the Liithan, the Len-Imbrahaan and the Daadexolta. After this, the newly united leaders of the Eexalonta and Kamakan forces devised their strategy for how to proceed. As Kadee was now effectively defenceless, it was decided that the allied armies would simply march to Jekuuz and demand that the Galin surrender. This journey took place between 511:03 and 511:12, and was known as the Holy March.

##### Conversion of Martzup-Marsee

In 511:12, the combined forces of the Kamakan and Eexalonta arrived in Jekuuz and surrounded the Galin's Palace. They called out to Galin-Martzup and, when she appeared on the balcony of the palace, Marasus demanded that she surrender to the San-Kamakan. Martzup was outraged at the betrayal of her once-loyal commander and ordered Marasus to enter the palace. Once inside, the Galin attempted to assert her superior authority to Marasus, and even resorted to threatening her life, but the Daadexolta refused to concede and insisted that the authority of the Badkalden and the Aba was superior to even that of the Galin. Eventually, Martzup agreed to give the Badkalden an audience, and the Liithan was called inside.

After a long and heated discussion, during which the Galin stubbornly refused to acknowledge the authority of the Badkalden, the latter called upon the Aba to enlighten the Galin. Martzup instantly realised the error of her ways and begged for forgiveness at the feet of the Badkalden. She relinquished her sovereignty to the Liithan and Kadee became the final conquest of the San-Kamakan.

#### Age of Union

Denbleson attended the Assembly of Victory 511:40 in Gorn, at which she was presented with the Uulantee by Mav-Jenf-Pesis-Keetoo. Also, Kadeean sculptors had created a grand statue of the Badkalden, which was officially unveiled at the Assembly.

In 522:00, Denbleson gave birth to his first daughter and named her Konos, after Konos-Jaral.

### Death

Towards the end of the year 553, Denbleson became increasingly weak and was confined to her bed in 554:09. In 554:25, she requested the presence of Glaanen-Linamax and dictated the text of the Miinonyukon, which Linamax recorded onto two scrolls. By 554:30, she had lost the ability to talk. Finally, in 554:33, exactly 50 years after her enlightenment, Denbleson passed away. Her daughter, Konos-Nak, was declared Liithan of the San-Kamakan the following day.