Xialan

Xialan is a harbor town on the east coast of Ulftartunga, a Wolfswoods region of the Onthukkhan Continent, in central Eldham. It's founding is shrouded in mystery, happening well before Rathnirian discovery of Eldham, though it is widely agreed the founders were of the Nółvswali tribe of the Wolfswoods. Today, the town is majority Nółvswali with a significant Ulftar minority. As the home of Lord Astithrai Nyarlathotep, Xialan is now one of the main seats of power of the Grand Sovereignties of Nółvswale, and a major seaport in the region.

The Unification War
The first notable historical event in Xialan's history was the Unification War, which started in the Winter of 29 TE with a Nółvswali tribe raid on Nulbásar, a small village of the Argellian tribe. The resulting war between the Nółvswali and the three smaller tribes (as the Northen Coaltion) lead to the unification of the four Wolfswoodi tribes under the Nółvswalis.

Battle of Xialan
In the spring of 31 TE, the Northern Coalition launched an assault on Xialan, marking the third major battle of the Unification War. As a major port, Xialani ships controlled the waters around the Wolfswoods and conducted lucrative, vital trade, bringing in goods for the war effort. More importantly, the maritime expertise of Xialan's people was unique among the Wolfswoodi, and thus the town's citizens themselves were essential to the war effort.

The Northern Coalition approached Xialan from the north, attempting to utilize the cover of the thick Ulftartungan woods surrounding the town. This proved to be a major tactical blunder, as the infamous Ulftartungan fog split the advancing troops and made navigation nigh-on impossible. More importantly, the native Xialani scouts were easily able to warn the town of the impending attack, as well as the exact movements of the Coalition's army. Instead of the quick surprise attack the Coalition had hoped for, they met a full Nółvswali army, with the town being reinforced by sea. As shutting down Xialan's port was impossible, a prolonged siege was never attempted, with the Coaltion forces assualting the city directly.

Though reinforced, the Nółvswali defenders were still greatly outnumbered by Coalition forces, and suffered massive casualties. However, the Coalition was successfully driven from the city, and within a few days fresh troops arrived from the south by boat, cementing the town's safety. Within the following week, the last Coalition troops were driven from Ulftartunga by roving bands of vengeful Xialani raiders on foot and boat.

Aftermath
The defeat of the Northern Coalition at Xialan secured the port's safety, and therefore, Nółvswali naval domination. In the "Silent era" that followed the battle, Xialani ships would prove instrumental in procuring vital war materials through maritime trade, and in providing fast, easy troop transport. Furthermore, the forces of the Northern coalition were decimated in the battle, a loss from which they would never recover. In the following battles, the speed with which the Nółvswali could mover their troops proved a decisive advantage, helping to end the war. Though Xialani sailors would be highly active until the end of the war, the town would only send land troops to two other major battles, helping to break Coalition sieges at both Croywell and Bastria.

Retreat into Isolationism
After the Unification War, Xialan would slowly recede from the stage of Nółvswali politics, effectively disappearing off the map by 53 TE. Though trade continued, most goods would arrive directly from Xialani ships to other towns, and sailors were noted to be highly disinterested in anything beyond business. The few outsiders who, for some reason or another, found themselves in Xialan, would later report that the town had become surrounded perpetually by a thick fog, and had become quiet, with nocturnal activity all but absent. The infamous religious fervor of Ulftartungan Nółvswali, furthermore, had swelled to a near-psychotic zenith, and worship of the avian god-spirit of the woods, Pengy, was near-constant in the lives of the citizenry, culminating in the construction of a great church, funded by the still-prevalent Xialani trade. However, through the reigns of NCR and Maylin Leey, Xialan remained distant and silent.

Arrival of Astithrai Nyarlathotep
In an unknown year during the reign of Maylin Leey, the sky above Xialan was split with a streak of searing light, with what appeared to be a meteorite falling to Eldham just down the coast from the harbor. Despite the late hour, a patrol, followed by a large mass of fascinated citizens, was dispatched to investigate. Instead of a space rock, however, they found a strange creature, with long clawed arms, a mass of tentacles instead of legs, and several sets of glowing purple eyes. Rising from the impact, the thing introduced itself to the Xialani as Astithrai Nyarlathotep, a prophet from the stars. He was brought back to the town, and quickly amassed a large following of devout worshippers, eventually taking over the town. At Astithrai's direction, Xialan built a monumental black tower just past the harbor in the Sea of Battered Shields, known as the Black Beacon. Ships were sent out across Eldham, searching for secret objects and clandestine knowledge, and mining teams delved deep into the earth, collecting vast quantities of purple crystals. Xialan would remain isolated until the acquisition of Nółvswali lands by the Pale.

The Pale
Xialan began emergence from it's isolation shortly after the acquisition of Nółvswali lands by the Pale. Surveyors for the new government arrived at Xialan, and within short order the town was brought into the fold of the newly grown kingdom. Leaders were sent from Xialan to Karth, the capital of the Pale, where Astithrai Nyarlathotep swore fealty to king Wulfgar Ironback. Xialan was integrated into the Ulftartunga hold, whose capital was Kar-al-Gor.

Growth
Xialan would see significant growth in the coming years, as large numbers of Ulftar (island dwarves) moved from Snowflake Isle to the town in search of new opportunities. A few Paleans, and after the selling of Greywatch, Ellrians, would also move to Xialan, aiming to exploit the thriving port. To support the larger population, Xialan began to expand, and large swathes of forest were cut down to fuel the rising industry.

Xialan Radio
Around this time, advances in communication technology led to the founding of Xialan Radio, a public broadcasting company, and subsidiary of Pale Public Radio. By far the most active branch, Xialan Radio gave reports on news, jobs, the weather, and other such stories; however, it had infamous bouts of bad connection, in which strange noises could be heard in the static. Xialan Radio was mainly presented by Astithrai himself, along with his business partner Bragol.

The Second Sand War
During the Second Sand War, a conflict primarily between the Pale and Merkonis on their northern border. Xialan would supply large amounts of building material for the construction of defenses, primarily at the city of Perria. There, Xialani militia forces headed by Astithrai Nyarlathotep would participate in several skirmishes along the River of Tears, successfully driving back attacking Merkonians so that proper defenses could be built. Xialani troops were also sent to many battles in the war, under the command of Ragnar Lodbrok. Xialani ships would play an important role in forcing Merkonian trade into the background, and conducting diplomacy across Eldham that isolated the Merkonians and brought in many supporters for the Pale. The war would also cement Xialans status as an important center of propaganda, producing art and music in support of Palean state interests.

Intermediary Years
After the migration of the Pale to a distant land and the subsequent dissolution of it's Eldham holdings, Xialan would become part of the Vulperium-controlled successor state, Dawn. Dawn, however, would fall into stagnation as the Vulperium was forced to turn their attention to war with the Eldham Alliance. In response to this, Anemone Leey of Winver/Croywell and Astithrai Nyarlathotep seceded from Dawn, forming The Grand Sovereignties of Nółvswale (Wolfswoods) with the hold of Ulftartunga and large parts of the Croywell hold.

The Grand Sovereignties of Nółvswale
Under the Grand Sovereignties of Nółvswale, Xialan would serve as one of the seats of power of the country, being the home of Astithrai, who became on of the Grand Sovereigns (along with Anemone). The early years were mostly uneventful, as the Vulperium allowed the secession peacefully and Nółvswale began to slowly pursue diplomatic relations. Seeking protection from rising large powers looking to grab land in the area (primarily the Empire of Velerin), Nółvswale would be vassalized under Regonia, a Rathnirian Empire.

Syndicalist Rebellion
Following a communist uprising in Regonia, forming workers unions in the industrializing Nółvswale began rioting, culminating in the assassination of Grand Sovereign Anemone Leey by Levake'Þe Bâzak, a librarian and revolutionary agent, and her subsequent takeover of Croywell. This marked the beginning of the Nółvswali Syndicalist Rebellion. Xialan, having a strong history of industry, had formed powerful worker's unions, and the city was quickly overcome by the Syndicalists, and Astithrai was forced to flee. However, following the recapture of Kar-al-Gor by Royalist forces, and the rising opposition to Syndicalist control in Xialan (mostly on part of the religious zealotry and the sizable Ulftar minority), Xialan, and thus the rest of Nółvswale, was forced to negotiate with the Royalists, and soon a compromisal government was formed with Astithrai Nyarlathotep and Azeliya Liannen (an Anglunian noble with ties to Nółvswali royalty who staked a claim to the throne during the rebellion) as grand sovereigns, and Levake'Þe Bâzak as Prime Minister of a newly-formed parliament.