Narad

**Narad** (Rutan: [ˈna.rad]) was a region located in the Northlands between the Pamrut River and Mount Zehānzu'al. The region became infamous due to the destruction it witnessed during the War of Ash.

## History

### Early History

The Northern Men, ancestors of the Rutans, Ghals, and Vokhvelkh, traveled often across the the grasslands of the Northlands. It is believed that they would often travel through Narad as they herded their animals. However, they never stayed in Narad for long, and moved on to a different region with each season.

### First Permanent Settlements

The first permanent settlements within Narad were built by the Rutans in the 1st century. The different settlements within Narad were eventually organized into a province ruled by a lord, who was loyal to the Kingdom of Rutarat. These lords were most likely members of the House of Danad, a powerful Rutan house which controlled Rutarat.

When the Kingdom of Rutarat was conquered by the Vokhvelkh in the late 1st century, Narad became a province of the Vokhvelkh Tribal Empire. Despite this, members of the House of Danad continued to rule over Narad.

### The Southern Uprising

In the September of 185, the regions of Juftarg, the Western Grasslands, and Lintharg all rebelled against the Vokhvelkh Tribal Empire, in an event known as the Southern Uprising. On November 7, 187, Angthund, commander of the armies of Juftarg, attempted to invade Narad by going through the Cold Hills, which were located just south of Narad. However, before Angthund could invade, armies from Rutnarad and Arunpog attacked the armies of Juftarg, and slew Angthund in battle. The Southern Uprising ended in the January of 192 after its leader was slain by Vokhvelkh soldiers.

### The Second Northern Uprising

On October 25, 204, another uprising began within the Vokhvelkh Tribal Empire, known as the Second Northern Uprising. The rebels of this uprising sought to decrease the power of the House of Danad, which had been slowly gaining greater and greater influence within the empire since the reign of emperor Kharik. In the early winter of 205, an army from Narad, led by the region's lord, Mafayud, traveled northwest to protect Rutnarad from invading rebel forces. In the April of 206, reinforcements from Arunpog came to aid Mafayud's army in the fight against the rebels. On November 21, 206, Mafayud and Vagod, rebel leader of the armies of Tunudpog, came face to face in battle. During their dual, Mafayud disarmed Vagod, and slew him. Yet, not long after slaying Vagod, Mafayud himself was slain by rebel soldiers from Rudhord. Despite his death, the soldiers of the Vokhvelkh Tribal Empire continued to push against the rebel forces, until the rebellious region of Tunudpog was overran and retaken by the empire.

Yud, the eighteen year-old son of Mafayud, became the new lord of Narad after his father's demise. Yet, Yud's reign as lord was short lived, for on March 10, 209, Narad was conquered by rebels from the Northern Grasslands. Yud, however, was not slain by the rebels. Instead, he was deposed as lord of Narad, and replaced by a member of the Vagjuding instead. Nine months later, an army from Arunpog, led by the Rutan commander Fānad, invaded Narad in order to retake the region for the empire. Fānad's invasion was successful, and the region was conquered in the January of 210, with Narad's new lord being slain in battle.

In the October of 210, the region of Rutnarad was conquered by rebels from the Northern Grasslands. After conquering the region, the rebels moved southwards towards Narad, which they conquered without a fight in the March of 211, for Fānad's army had left Narad to conquer more provinces controlled by the rebels. In the May of 212, the remaining regions loyal to the empire had been conquered by the rebels. Dunalt, a rebel leader, and a member of the Vagjuding, was chosen to become the new emperor of the Vokhvelkh Tribal Empire after its previous emperor, Khagod, was captured by rebels. After the war, the House of Danad lost their control over Narad, and lordship of the region was given to Vagtand, the thirteen year-old son of Ovam, Lord of the Northern Grasslands. Until he came of age, however, Famron, a commander of Ovam's armies, acted as regent for Vagtand.

### Eruption of Mount Azar

In the February of 237, Mount Azar, a volcano located to the west of Narad erupted. The eruption was massive and deadly. The towns and villages located near the volcano were completely destroyed, and others hundreds of miles away from the volcano were covered in its ash and soot. The air quality in the areas in which its ash was deposited decreased, and in the areas where the air quality was very poor, many people became ill and died. Although southern Narad was most affected by Mount Azar's eruption, the regions of Tunudpog, Rutnarad, and, to some extent, the Northern Grasslands, were also heavily affected.

## Characteristics

Narad was known for its cold temperatures. The north of Narad was grassland, although the territories which bordered the Pamrut River were populated by deciduous forests. As one went more south, the land gradually rose, and the grassland was replaced with a chilly, treeless taiga. It was within these hills that large deposits of stone and minerals were found.

## Etymology

Narad is a Rutan name meaning "stone". The name most likely refers to the large amount of stone and other minerals found in the region.