Lamondes

**Lamondes** (Avateauxan: **Lamons**), alternatively called **Arkhalesk** (Toscovish) or **Arkhylia** (Nytalyrian), is the capital city of the Republic of Avateaux. It previously belonged to the Golden Empire of Toscov but was conquered by Blue Skull during the Five Kings' Invasion.

## History

### Founding and Fall

Lamondes, initially called Arkhylia, was created by the Freehold of Inafel in 361 BW, being little more than a couple of farms at first. However, silver was struck soon after near Arkhylia, with Inafel's ruling Naerisi setting up the first mines, flooding the area with Human slaves.

What followed was an exponential growth of the settlement, as it became one of the most important economic sites in Inafel, with Arkhylia growing into the size of a small city. However, it was a time of great unrest in the world, and as the First Human Rebellion shocked the Freeholds, a dire shift in the Human mindset occurred.

Inafel was forced to send most of the military to the North to fight off the Second Human Rebellion. Meanwhile, a messenger was intercepted and killed by a slave. With him, he carried a report on the manpower shortages across Inafel. The slave who had killed the Naerisi messenger, a man named Idagol, spread the news across Arkhylia, and before long, a slave revolt overthrew the city's military government.

Arkhylia, soon after renamed Arkhalesk, became the seat of a new Human state that rapidly conquered the crippled Inafel and the nearby Hyllidan Freehold of Ixa. When the dust had settled, Idagol had become the ruler of the Kingdom of the Eastland, with Arkhalesk serving as its capital. However, the Kingdom of the Eastland, while a united front, in theory, was extremely disunited. After Idagol's death, it fell apart, fracturing into smaller Human Kingdoms.

Arkhalesk became the seat of the Human Kingdom of Arkhalesk, a state ruled by Idagol's right-hand man, Ginev. However, the new Kingdom was a shell of the Idagol's Kingdom and could not reconquer the Eastland. In fact, by 17 AW, both the Human Kingdom and the city of Arkhalesk had been conquered by the Human Kingdom of Toscov, which soon after proclaimed the Golden Empire of Toscov. Arkhalesk later became the seat of the Principality of Arkhalesk within the Empire.

### Within the Golden Empire

Arkhalesk initially fell under the control of House Volkiva, a loyal if somewhat antiquated clan that served the Emperors' every beck and call. However, the last Volkiva Prince, Okus II, would be ousted from the city by Rebel Prince Zhincis during the War of the Fifteen Princes. The war ended in a compromise, with Zhincis being allowed to keep the Principality of Arkhalesk he had conquered, leaving Okus II suddenly overthrown.

Prince Zhincis would ultimately abandon his House iz Toscov and form the House iz Arkhalesk. Under the new related yet distant House, Arkhalesk began to break away from the central authority in Toscov. Over the coming centuries, Arkhalesk became a hotbed for those who opposed either the Emperor or the imperial government, as the various Princes of Houze iz Arkhalesk granted generous protections to exiles. This attracted many scholars in fear of persecution to the area, which saw Arkhalesk undergo a significant scientific and philosophical boom.

### Under Avateaux

Arkhalesk came under attack by the Blue Skull during the Five Kings' Invasion of Toscov. The city ultimately fell in 873 AW and became the regional headquarters for the Blue Skull, who lacked a homeland at the time. Conquests of the entire Principality and the neighboring Principality of Trestovo soon followed, with all lands east of the Kinzovan Mountains falling into the hands of the tribe by 874 AW. In 875 AW, with the war ending, Arkhalesk became the capital of the newly formed Kingdom of Avateaux. Arkhalesk was renamed in 877 AW alongside dozens of other settlements. Henceforth, the city became known as Lamondes.

Lamondes flourished under the Kingdom of Avateaux, as it brought new trade and interest to the area. It became a political center, too, due to its newfound status as a national capital. Combined, this saw Lamondes experience an economic boom and rapid population growth. This boom began to pass heading into the latter half of the 10th century AW.

Lamondes fell without a fight during the Fühlgartian Invasion of Avateaux during the Great War, as the city had been abandoned by King Victor III, who fled to Redwall. With no king to fight for, the Monarchist remnants in the capital simply handed it over to Avateuxan defectors and Fühlgartian troops. These soldiers were disarmed and later allowed to return home. Shortly after, Lamondes became the capital of the newfound Republic of Avateaux, a staunch Republican-aligned state.

However, in recent years, Lamondes has increasingly come under attack by guerilla groups and partisans. Together, these make up the Blue Rose under Eveline Lecuyer, a former Spy of the Kingdom of Avateaux. Most notably, Lamondes was heavily damaged in a string of bombing and street fights in 1228 AW. However, despite extensive damages, the rebels could not capture the city and retreated into the countryside. The Blue Rose Rebellion continues to this day as part of the larger Epilogue Wars. However, as the Blue Rose cracks and splinters under the joint pressure of the Republic of Avateaux and the recently arrived Fühlgartian Fifteenth Army, few reckon they could attack Lamondes a second time.

## Ownership

* Freehold of Inafel (361-131 BW)
* Human Freemen (131-127 BW)
* Kingdom of the Eastland (127-101 BW)
* Human Kingdom of Arkhalesk (101-17 BW)
* Human Kingdom of Toscov (17 BW)
* Golden Empire of Toscov (17 BW-873 AW)
* Blue Skull (873-875 AW)
* Kingdom of Avateaux (875-1214 AW)
* Republic of Avateaux (1214 AW-)