The prosperous nation of Erduul, known for its bustling cities and technological achievements through years of rich, industrial autocracy. In Strife, Erduul has become a nation of war and conquest under the new leadership of Vandel Sharp.
Age of Oblivion
The time in which nobody can recollect, as though all of the world had been afflicted with amnesia. It was a age of utter disorder and panic as the people looked onto the future with uncertainty.
Age of Annex
The Sharp family is one of the most prominent names known to Yndel. During the Age of Annex, they took advantage of the chaos during the Age of Oblivion to name a piece of the continent as their own. They formed a settlement in the north and quickly gathered support with their cunning, leadership, and business-like demeanor. Before long, Erduul had been founded- the very first territory to be marked on the Yndel map. It was at this time, when the people began to scramble for their own slice of Yndel, that it was known as the "Age of Annex".
Using clever tactics, the Sharp family elicited the interest of many brilliant minds to come to Erduul, to study the technologies of the ancient civilizations and apply them to the settlement's needs. They succeeded, and with a single stride, ushered Erduul into the prosperous age of industry that it is known for to this day. The first settlement that had been formed became known as Sharp Industries, and as the years passed a city- a whole nation was formed around it.
Age of Prosperity
The point at which all the nations had been founded and their civilizations continued to develop and thrive for years. When Beryn Sharp came into power, Erduul made plans to expand their influence throughout all of Yndel, and they began to make campaigns to the south, however they were quickly stifled by the genesians as well as the newly formed nation of Galibern, who addressed their concerns of the pollution that Erduul produced.
Age of Decay
When it became evident that the wastelands were growing in the southernmost regions of Yndel, the genesians were quick to place the fault on Erduul, however Beryn Sharp denounced all claims, sending scientists to Recwyim (before it had been converted to Ligeia) to study the anomaly. They came back with evidence that the land showed no signs of contamination and with some quick ingenuity, Erduul began to release special equipment to withstand the pollution for those who were still unconvinced, while Beryn explained that it was the human nature to adapt and evolve. On top of that, Erduul also supplied many of the other nations with their products, and quickly diverted attention away from the issue, though the genesians remained firm in their beliefs and claimed the east before Erduul could spread it's "toxicity" throughout Yndel. When Erduulian loggers came to take the great forest of the east, the genesians ambushed and drove them out, afterwards founding Devinidae. This also marked the first known point of aggression between the humans and genesians.
Rise of the Blood Merchants
Over time of watching the Sharp family's success, there would rise individuals who tried to leech off of our steal their wealth and fame. One such group came to challenge the Sharp's rule, calling themselves the Blood Merchants. They were a criminal syndicate, running underground illegal activities and harboring a lucrative black market that offered stolen technology or sensitive information that belonged to Sharp Industries and sold to the highest bidder. When Sharp Industries improved its security protocols, the Blood Merchants became more direct in their attempts at controlling Erduul, beginning with the assassination of Beryn Sharp.
Ostir Sharp took Beryn's place and gave the Blood Merchants a quick response to their crimes by prematurely launching the Combat Vehicle project that Erduul's scientists had been secretly developing. Fuming machines roared down the streets, mounted with guns and manned by trained security personnel. Ostir succeeded in driving the Blood Merchants back, however the feud between them and the rest of the Sharp family would continue well on into the future.
Many years later, Malis Sharp came into power and Erduul had solidified its place on Yndel as one of the most prominent and influential nations. After time of combating the Blood Merchants, Malis set her sights on establishing a formidable means of protection against people who came to kill the Sharps or steal their secrets. Gathering the support of the people, she created training camps in the province of Stratos to create soldiers in order to fend of Erduul's enemies. Within a short time, Sharp Industry had its own private army.
Age of Strife
The Psyklone Wars
When the tyrant known as Psyklone rose to claim the seat of power in Recwyim, the land was thrown into a state of chaos. His clone armies swept through Lokran, Galibern, Nevl'e, and Devinidae, leaving West and Erduul mostly unaffected. At this time, Huntir Sharp was the head of Sharp Industries, and he solidified Erduul's defenses when word spread of Psyklone's quest for domination. He even sent troops from his private militia into Galibern to assist them in their vulnerability after the death of King Nell. The only true battle Erduul took part in was at Nix, where the hero Nirv Halthan and his men defended the province while being vastly outnumbered. During this time, one of Erduul's greatest scientists, Kost, defected to work for Psyklone and after the war had ended, information suggesting that an Erduul benefactor from the wealthy Lee family had been supplying Psyklone with weapons and equipment from Sharp Industries, bringing all of Erduul into question and leaving Huntir to pick up the pieces and repair the Sharp family image.
The Death of Huntir Sharp
After losing his wife to illness, Huntir Sharp had become less of a public figure in Erduul, and though he maintained control over the nation, his presence had diminished considerably. At this point, the only successor to the Sharp family was Huntir's son Vandel, however, Vandel was not well versed in politics and business. Instead, he was a creative child who had learned to appreciate art in its many forms and unfortunately, this caused friction between father and son. Huntir pressured Vandel to uphold the Sharp family name and shunned his aesthetic pursuits, causing their relationship to fall apart. They came to despise each other over the years which would later cause conflict in who would lead Erduul in the coming future.
Sharp Industries was also the family estate, and home to variety of close and distant relatives to the Sharps, including representatives from the Morose, Wellborn, Welsh, and the Deladi families. As tension between Huntir and Vandel increased, Huntir began to look to alternative successors to his seat of power, however in the next years of deliberating, his life came to an abrupt end, when he cast himself out of his office window. With no official or public declaration of appointing a new successor, Vandel Sharp inherited Sharp Industries much to the displeasure of the other families.
Erduul to War
In just the first year Vandel took over Sharp Industries, he expanded Erduul's military camps and turned the province of nation into a breeding ground for soldiers. He issued a drafted that called all able men and women to war and easily tripled the nation's army. Altyim Wellborn, one of the representatives that Huntir had considered to replace him, angry by the outcome that kept him from ruling over Erduul formed a coup d'etat to overthrow Vandel. He formed a small military force in Sruthan, however Vandel was aware of Altyim's plans and sent the largest force of his army to stifle it. Altyim stood no chance and quickly surrendered though Vandel publicly executed that same day. Using the bulk of his forces and killing such a prominent figured of Erduul caused a stir in the nation that would work in Vandel's favor. He showed the resolve of a leader, and addressed the public of his plans and endeavors-- the threats outside the boarder and the war that was brewing all over Yndel. He inspired the people, but also subjected them to a deep fear of what treason would earn them. Most of those who did not agree with Vandel, or those that looked to avoid the draft and the coming war fled to Likan.
With Altyim dead, the other Sharp relatives fled or submitted. Some of them remained to aid Vandel in shaping Erduul new image, and he appointed some of them high positions. Antonella Morose became Vandel's adviser, Markob Welsh took over Erduul's funding and financial responsibilities and Valla Deladi became general of Vandel's main force while her son, and Vandel's most trusted friend, Haas became his right hand. Quickly, they established themselves as a formidable force as the flames of war fanned over Yndel.
The First Move
Despite being new to the concept of war and conquest, Erduul-- under Vandel's rule-- was the first to take initiative and took ships through the ocean to the southwest, invading Athos and claiming the derelict island Unheard Virona. Athos' meager armies marched to respond, however Vandel had a second force strike off shore of Zorado, taking the Athos forces by surprising an neutralizing them. To put the wyverians in a greater state of vulnerability, Vandel seized Zorado and began raze its villages, and destroying its prison, unleashing a flock of criminals, including Fyuud who would later join Vandel's ranks as one of its most fierce soldiers. Vandel offered Athos peace only if they were left to operate in Unheard Virona without disruption to which the chief of Unenta and Athos' leader, Anthiim agreed.
Age of Terminus
The point at which unknown forces become involved in the war. (More on this later)
Age of Nihility
Prophesied to be the "final chapter" of the apocalypse at which all of existence is completely erased.
.
Provinces of Erduul
Here is a hi-res version of the map, listing out the provinces. Erduul is the northernmost, green territory.
Map
And below are some brief descriptions on each province.
Stratos
North of the Sharp Empire stronghold; Stratos was a key piece in turning Erduul into a war-region. Even when Huntir Sharp oversaw Sharp Industries, he based additional military camps in Stratos to fend off the Blood Merchants and their mercenaries. When Vandel took over the company he expanded the training programs and began to draft citizens into the war under the deliberation that Erduul would be a prime target in part to its manufacturing of CVs and weaponry. The entire region of Stratos became devoted to turning men and women into soldiers, while the general civilian population diminished considerably.
Osin
As a massive industrial region, Erduul is exposed to pollution. Osin is where all the waste is aggregated. Once the land of a prosperous town, it has become nearly uninhabitable over the years, drawing controversy toward Sharp Industries from groups who wished to preserve the dying continent.
Mashena
Mashena is the capital of Erduul, and the land where Sharp Industries first began. The Sharp family built upon it for decades and became well known for their innovations. The city stretches far and wide, comprised mostly of factory buildings which pump smog into the air, presenting itself a wondrous and yet controversial reputation. In the center of Mashena sits the Sharp Industries’ main building, a behemoth skyscraper, one of the tallest in Yndel. Soldiers on the city streets are suited in formidable gear and wear gasmasks. Civilians also wear special masks as air conditions worsen in the smoggier districts, but the population of Mashena appears to be accustomed to it.
Perdituz
Perdituz comprises the most of Erduul’s civilian population; people who found a way out of-- or were not fit enough for war. The general population here still supports the Sharp Empire.
Likan
A small territory in Erduul, with peaceful, town communities and few farms. Those who fled Vandel Sharp’s draft, and others who opposed the war altogether found their home there. A meager branch of Genesians also live here, studying the land in order to cure it of Erduul’s pollutants.
Sruthan
Once a prominent civilian territory, though when a rebellion began to rise, Vandel Sharp had the population cut down considerably by sending his largest battalion out to make an example of them when Altyim Wellborn tried to stir up a rebellion. The Massacre of Sruthan took its toll on the province, turning it into a desolate battlefield. Those who were not killed fled to Likan or Perdituz, and any uprising thereafter was stifled.
Kaskeho
Kaskeho was the operating point of Sharp Industries’ vehicle production. What made the region famous was that more than sixty percent of the land was paved in gravel, earning it the name the Black Desert. It is said that many people have died attempting to traverse Kaskeho, and to pass through without a vehicle is suicide. Many Xynthetics that were not drawn to Nevermore’s will due to malfunction or physical inability were kept under Sharp’s control and used for labor in the assembly lines.
Savashalanna
A clear and generous space of land which Vandel Sharp refers to as his “theater of war”. Despite its rather fresh lands, Vandel had the west side of the territory cleared out of its civilian population and relocated to the east of the Tayea river or Perdituz, administering heavy defenses and allocating the bulk of Mashena’s army to Savashalanna.
Nix
Nix is a territory of poor soil and rocky hills. It offered little more than passage into Likan and bore no major town or city. During the Psyklone Wars, a soldier by the name of Nirv Halthan was earning fame across the continent. As Psyklone’s army fled from Kaerleon to seek refuge in the Devyne Forest, they encountered Nirv’s small battalion and engaged. Vastly outnumbered, Nirv fled to Nix and staged a clever ambush, successfully holding Nix and culling the Psyklone numbers. To congratulate Nirv, Huntir Sharp granted him the land of Nix and had a formidable fortress built for him, naming it Fort Halthan. Just a year later, Nirv and his family left Nix, unable to produce a living from the inhospitable land. Sharp took the territory back and converted the fortress into a specialized prison, however it retained the name Fort Halthan.
