First Tharhan Empire¶
The First Tharhan Empire was a powerful state in early Av2, headquartered in the city of Elthun (near modern-day Tharxax City). It collapsed into the Six Tharhan Kingdoms in mid-Av2.
The only explicit, named reference to the empire is in Tharhan: A Land of Conquest (Chapter 1).
It states that the empire was one of the first to arise in early Av2, as the Tharhan Plains were among the first lands made livable again by Drehmal in their post-Felling reformation efforts. Centered in a city known as Elthun along the banks of the River Salah (a location now known as Tharxax City), the First Tharhan Empire rose to prominence simply by re-establishing agriculture in the plains, steadily growing until the beginning of the Deity War.
Due to their proximity to the Empire of Maelihs, the empire was forced to appease the Burnt Lord, and chose to send their felons to Rhaveloth for conversion to Maelmari. Giving Mael soldiers for his armies was typically enough for the empire to avoid destruction.
Criminals convicted of less severe offenses were instead sent to the northern Ebony Veldt, a barren savanna teeming with wild beasts, and left to die. Some would, but the survivors settled in underground caves, eventually developing into the underground fortress and city-state of Caer Adacia.
At its peak, the First Tharhan Empire seems to have at least controlled all of the Tharhan Plains, including the modern-day regions of North Tharxax and South Tharxax, and may have also controlled the Ebony Veldt, although they did not settle the region. Based on the location of successor states, they may have also had footholds in Mt. Ebonfire, Anyr'Nogur, and/or Nimahj Swamp.
Over the coming centuries, possibly before the end of the Deity War, the First Tharhan Empire crumbled due to internal strife, splitting into six independent, warring states.