Arkunorûn

Arkunorûn

Arkunorûn was the name of the southern shrubland on Overlords 2 and of the historical kingdom that ruled it from year ~10 to ~110.

Etymology

The name was derived from bcfoss's unfinished conlang, specifically the adjectival form of Arkun (Stone) prefixed to the noun Rûn (Tower).

History

The settlement of Arkunorûn was founded by the vampire bcfoss some time in the first decade after spawn, immediately following his banishment from the vicinity of Karak Wyr. A small stone tower was constructed roughly in the center of the southern shrublands, from which the settlement and wider region would take their names. A sheep pen proved a sufficient blood supply for bcfoss and a wheat field was made to sustain it. Arkunorûn was now self-sustaining, and there was therefore little need to reconnect with the sparse and far-flung hubs of civilization.

Ancient Period (~25 to ~90)

Shallow caves directly below Arkunorûn were converted into a vampiric lair. bcfoss grew in strength as a vampire despite the lack of tree cover in the shrubland.

Arkunorûn and Irlanath during a blood moon.

A village was constructed ~10 chunks south of Arkunorûn in hopes of establishing a stick-based economy, but actually populating it proved extremely difficult. It was around this time the village gained the appellation 'Irlanath' due to it's chronically unfinished state.

Contemporary claims by The_Old_Bookman of his ambitions for a continent spanning Undead Empire were received positively in Arkunorûn, enough so that bcfoss participated in an exploratory attack on The Empire along with Bookman. The raid resulted in an overwhelming victory for the vampiric forces, though the actual tactics and the execution thereof were a source of disaffection for bcfoss.

In the decades after the attack, the Empire rose to prominence as a hub of activity while Arkunorûn's vampiric kin secluded themselves in a shroud of secrecy. In addition, the proliferation of beds among the living nations of the world made it even less feasible for a vampire to exist on the southern plains. Under these circumstances, the abandonment of Arkunorûn proper was only a matter of time.

Stagnation Period (~90 to ~110)

This period begins with the founding of Ilthand in the pine forest south-east of Irlanath. This period ends with the abandonment of Ilthand and the rest of the region by bcfoss, who emigrated to Karak Wyr. Arkunorûn fades out of memory.

Integration into Wyr (143 to 185)

The yellow birch road was forked near Waenorûn; the new route wound down the foothills past Scênokul, eventually entering the western reaches of Old Arkunorûn before stopping at the southern gate of Irlanath.

Irlanath was soon after resettled following an exodus of villagers from Ilthand. The White Bear was hung above the well in order to invoke the protection of the Emperor.

Around 150, Emperor flufyking had lost the Mandate of Mund in the popular imagination. Dissention grew steadily among the Empire's subjects, but Arkunorûn is wholly unaffected.

In 184 the Empire was racked by a catastrophic rebellion. Armies crossed the continent, fought one another and were slaughtered. The cities of the Great Forest were put to the torch one after the other. Dragons roved the horizon. But Arkunorûn was completely ignored by both sides, except in one instance where rebel forces under the command of Poitevine were engaged by the Emperor near Charmon and were possibly routed into the western reaches of Arkunorûn.

In 210 bcfoss abandoned his rule over Mrag, having already served as Imperial Viceroy for longer than the allotted term. Arkunorûn served as his de facto seat of power from then on.

At some point remnants of the Poitvine rebels assaulted Irlanath, overcoming the local force and looting over 150 emeralds from the tax office.

Somewhere between 250-260 construction was begun on a 'New Tower' 2 chunks east of the Old Tower.

In 270 trade between Arkunorûn and Dagoba was established; crude zinc for hamburgers, respectively.

In 297 'Dispossessed Fionn' was slain by a zombie while serving as a bodyguard at Arkunorûn temple. He was the last living soldier to have served under Fionnbryn. Around the same time a functioning elevator, inspired by an ancient device in Karak Wyr, was installed in the New Tower; this marked the height of the Technological Renaissance in Arkunorûn.

By 298 at the latest the server had effectively died.

Geography

The region of Arkunorûn was shrubland. Bushes taller than a man obstructed horizontal vision beyond 10 meters in a given direction. There were very few trees large enough to grant reprieve from the sun.

In the south, Arkunorûn was bordered by the Great Lake. To the west, the shrubland gave way to foothills as one approached the Central Mountains. Forested hills marked the eastern border. To the north the shrubland mellowed out into a field of flowers; Arkunorûn's northern border was a 1-2 chunks north of this point.

The region contains two settlements: Irlanath sat just north of the Great Lake and was the last city on the continent to be actively inhabited and maintained. The old Tower of Arkunorûn was positioned in the middle of the region, with the New Tower constructed 2 chunks eastward.