The Instability of the North

(TA 1570-1599)
Copyright Eric Dubourg 2001
Edited by Joe Mandala and Cory Rushton for The Guild Companion
In the thirty years following the assassination of Nlzagar, the northern throne became a
dangerous seat notorious for dislodging those who dared claim it. More than ten lords followed
one after the other; some reigned only a few days, others never even made it into the king lists. The
Invocate never listed all of the Kings who ruled Northern Bellakar, for in some years there were
two to three rulers at a time. No king, even of Tumakveh blood, was acceptable in the eyes of
Regent Sakalthr: "They are a collection of nasty tyrants, beholden more and more to Umbar's
will." From Kadurphazgn the Glorious (who sought only pleasure) to Karabzr (who named his
horse to the rank of asapthubth) to rzir (who was convinced that he was Zimrbal, resurrected
from the dead), Northern Bellakar had its share of incompetent rulers. Others were better kings:
Diruzir, who tried to make peace with the South and reestablish his own authority over the North,
attempted to win a measure of independence from Umbar. Except during Diruzir's reign (12
Tamun 1593 - 26 Kuralid 1595), conflict still existed with the South. The real authority was in
Umbar, not Hazaj Tollin, and slowly control of Northern Bellakar fell solely to the Council of the
Captains. The Bellakaran northern king was a puppet with no real power.
When Diruzir came to the throne after assassinating Karabzr, he launched audacious reforms of
the army and the royal administration. He rebuilt cities and made alliances with powers other than
Umbar. For the first time, real discussion took place with Regent Sakalthr concerning the
possibility of reunification after Diruzir's death. These discussions remained unfinished when
Diruzir was poisoned by his cousin, who immediately succeeded to the throne. However, the
audacious reforms Diruzir instituted survived in principle, and were to be taken up again by the
last Northern Kings of Bellakar, Arzagar II and Narakhn. In the meantime, the reunification
project led by Regent Sakalthr fell by the wayside, much to his despair.
Diruzir's cousin was replaced ten months later at the end of 1596 by another tyrant. Ollug Utarb
was of Tedjin Qarsag ascent, and did not belong to the Tumakveh line. His reign was a reign of
terror. He quickly effected power through his devoted guards, and colonized Northern Bellakar
with many people from distant Khand. Mysteriously, it was not uncommon for him to disappear
for several days at a time, officially to hunt and meditate in the desert; in reality, he was collecting
his orders from the servants of Queen Adnaphel.
During one of Ollug's retreats a true revolt occurred, caused initially by a prolonged famine in
Ishat 1597. The usurper's guards did not manage to contain the crowd, despite the anticipated
return of the usurper to the capital. Ollug himself had fallen into the hands of a Free Shark agent,
sent by Regent Sakalthr to end the tyranny in the North and their unbearable alliance with
Umbar. The abbot of the Monastery of the True Faith took advantage of the disorder to advance
his candidate to the throne of northern Bellakar. This was a thin young man of rather timid
appearance: Arzagar II, descended from the junior branch of king Arphazn through the third son
of King Belkhr Aruyati. He united the North under his rule, and for the first time reunification

was discussed by the divided kingdoms.

Sakalthr probably intended to unite Arzagar II and Belkli, despite her marriage with Anardil, in
order to achieve the reunification; but this project again fell apart when Arzagar II was
assassinated (26 Dahlat 1599) in Hazaj Tollin. Soon after, his twin brother Narakhn, who may
have ordered the assassination, succeeded Arzagar II. Narakhn ended the negotiations, and
declared that the reunification should be achieved through war, not peace. This political reversal
was a serious setback for the aging Regent, who despaired again at another failed attempt at
reunification.
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