The Storm Coast¶
The Storm Coast is the northern coast of Numenia, the continent its inhabitants call Astia or South Astia. "Located on the northern coast of the continent, it stretches from the shores of Pictish Jungles to the cliffs of Kajattan" (S498, S387). Its one great power is the Cerci kingdom of Thrace, veiled since 1764 MA by the Abiding Mists; its islands are the home of the Aesean clans; and its history is a long contest of human kingdoms, dwarf-holds and gnome cities with the orcs of the Ghanari Highlands.
The regions of the coast as the archive lists them (S387, S498): the Pictish Jungles, Thrayce, Aesea, two whose names were never filled in, and Kajattan. The later of the two regional lists gives "the current powers of the Storm Coast are: Thrayce and ??" (S387).
| Region | What it is |
|---|---|
| Pictia | The north-western jungles, once the home of the Pictish city-states, all but one destroyed by the Nexa-Vinian undead |
| Thrace | The largest Cerci kingdom, in the middle of the coast under constant mist, now joined with Asea |
| Kajattan | The rocky north-eastern peninsula, homeland of the Korun, lately claimed by the Thyssal Empire |
Gap
Every source for the Storm Coast describes the Age of Magic, except the one Fifth Age note on Thrace (S324). Nothing describes the coast's other kingdoms in the Fifth Age, and two of its regions are placeholders in the archive itself.
History of North-Central Astia¶
The compendium carries a "Regional History of North-Central South Astia" (S372, S429) that is the coast's history. The ages it names are described on the Age of Magic page.
In the Early Devastation, 0 to 200 MA, "all races fought for survival. Many fled south to regions suffering less devastation … Only a handful of stationary settlements were able to sustain themselves" (S372). In the Dark Age, 200 to 809 MA, "orcs, Ogres, Goblins and other dark creatures thrived in the conflict, and controlled a majority of the region. In this time, many small kingdoms were founded by the other races to create islands of stability." The humans of the coast "became extremely distrustful" of mithius magic, "especially as it was so often used by their foes", and "many human nations forbid its use and deal out harsh punishments to suspected practitioners" (S372).
Gorthak and the Dragonspine Wars¶
The Dark Age ended in the wars of the orcish warlord Gorthak, told year by year (S372, S429) and in full on the Dragonspine Wars page. From 788 to 796 MA Gorthak "successfully unites approximately a dozen Orcish clans through warfare, putting him in command of the largest army in the region". He overran the small human kingdoms of the north-east, whose refugees fled to Normandar and Galati; besieged and destroyed the dwarf-hold of Ghan'Daren (799–801 MA); overwhelmed Normandar and Galati (802–803 MA); took Valdawal, "one of the largest human cities in the region", after a two-year siege (804–805 MA), many of its people escaping north or "to the dwarves of Esragol"; and laid siege to Esragol itself (807–808 MA). In 809 MA he abandoned that siege to attack Zurat, where "the dwarves of Esragol, after destroying the small army in their lands pins Gorthak's army against the gnomes of Zurat and the majority of Gorthak's forces are decimated. However, both gnomish and dwarven kings are slain." Gorthak regrouped near Gheria, routed the gnomes and briefly occupied Zurat, until "a reorganized force of gnomes, dwarves, elves and humans crush Gorthak and his army. Gorthak is slain by Prince Liamev of Gheria just outside the city of Zurat" (S372). Gorthak and Liamev are among the minor figures of the Earlier Ages.
The Age of Lords and the Demoncaller Wars¶
From 810 to 1260 MA "human kingdoms and populations explode … Mountain Giants expand their control to include the Ghanari Highlands and the Orcish and Goblin clans there. Humans migrate and settle Aeslar and Kydann. Pictish Kingdoms spread across the Pictish Jungles" (S372). Then, from 1261 to 1315 MA, the "Orcish Demoncaller Drez'okmal unites Orcs, Goblins and Ogres of Ghanari and overthrows the Mountain Giants … with the aid of swarms of demons that he summoned and controlled. His demon armies conquer all of the mainland, including Zurat. Only the dwarf-hold of Esragol is able to hold against the onslaught. The elves retreat into the deep hidden places of their forests." Preparing a fleet against Aeslar, "Drezok summons a massive sea-demon beyond his ability to control and is consumed." The orcs were driven back to the highlands, "and any orcs with magical abilities are rooted out and killed. For hundreds of years, the mere rumor of a magic-wielding orc will lead to an expedition of warriors to destroy them" (S372).
Kings, mists and the Empire¶
In the Age of Kings, 1315 to 1763 MA, "the long-lasting mainland kingdoms of Thrace and Sulati are formed" (S372). "In 1764 MA, Mists enveloped the entire region up to the Dragonspine mountains … The region was previously naturally misty, but this represented the first year when there was not a single day of direct sunlight … The mists are normally light, and visibility is often between one mile and up to about ten miles, but the sun never directly shines. These mists persist still today. Scholars argue about its causes which ranges from dark magic to titans" (S372). The Thyssal Empire invaded in 1911 MA and annexed "Thrace, Aeslar, Kydann and Zurat", garrisoning central Thrace with three legions until the coup of 2192 MA, after which "not long after Thrace removed its own Thyssal emissaries, the other kingdoms in the region expelled theirs" (S372). The Nexa-Vinian War of 2270–2271 MA fell hardest on the Picts (S372).
Kingdoms, holds and cities¶
Aesea and Aesar¶
Aesea is one of the regions of the coast (S387, S498). Aesar is "a set of islands off the Storm Coast, Aesar is a confederacy of Aesean clans. They frequently harass and raid Empire lands and trade ships. In addition, they occasionally settle in Empire territory. They have a treaty with Thrayce, and do some trade with them, though until recently this has not always been the case" (S372). The Aeseans "once inhabited large parts of central Astia before the Shattering … Now, they only control a few islands off the northern coast of South Astia" (S387).
Aeslar and Kydann¶
Human lands settled in the Age of Lords (S372). Aeslar escaped Drez'okmal's fleet, was annexed by Thyssal in 1911 MA, and the Empire's one attempt to reclaim it after 2192 MA ended in "catastrophic defeat" (S372).
Gheria¶
Seat of Prince Liamev, who slew Gorthak; Gorthak regrouped "near Gheria" before his last battle (S372).
Galati and Normandar¶
Human kingdoms of the north-east that took in refugees from Gorthak's first conquests and fell to him in 802–803 MA (S372).
Valdawal¶
"One of the largest human cities in the region", besieged 804–805 MA and taken "regardless of help from other nearby humans, dwarves and gnomes" (S372).
Zurat¶
A gnome city, the anvil on which Gorthak's army broke in 809 MA and the place of his death; conquered by Drez'okmal's demons; annexed by Thyssal in 1911 MA (S372).
Esragol¶
A dwarf-hold that withstood Gorthak's siege and alone "is able to hold against the onslaught" of the Demoncaller (S372).
Ghan'Daren¶
A dwarf-hold besieged by Gorthak from 799 to 801 MA, "eventually penetrating its defenses and killing its inhabitants" (S372).
The Ghanari Highlands¶
The highland home of the orc and goblin clans, ruled for a time by Mountain Giants until the Demoncaller overthrew them; the orcs were "eventually pushed back to the highlands" after his fall (S372). The giants have their own page.
Huurgath¶
The island from which the Huur came, "although they spread to the mainland before the time of the Shattering" and went on to found the Thyssal Empire (S387). The Huur are described with the other human peoples.
Gap
Nothing says whether Huurgath lies off the Storm Coast or elsewhere, or where Galati, Normandar, Valdawal, Zurat, Esragol and Ghan'Daren stand relative to Thrace. They are placed here because the compendium's regional history of the north-central coast names them.
The Dragonspine¶
The Dragonspine mountains bound the misted region: in 1764 MA the mists "enveloped the entire region up to the Dragonspine mountains" (S372). The range gives its name to Gorthak's wars, and in the First Rift War "the remaining peoples of the continent banded together to defend the western kingdoms along the Dragonspine and Cloudhall mountain ranges" (S372). A blue draconian who learned "the secret of immortality using lightning", the Thunder God Tahmouress Behrouz, "lives high in the Dragonspine mountains", worshipped by the local humanoids (S372).