Calmora’s name derives from it’s first queen, a woman who ruled the fledgling nation nearly nine hundred years ago. Her reign began in fire and blood, though not in the way most rulers do. Calmora was a peaceful woman who venerated The Radiant.
She lived in the walled city that would one day become Calmora, in the shadow of the mountain containing The Radiant. Her people were mostly poor farmers or tradesmen who’d found their way to the city and been accepted by the Aasimar who dwelled within the mountain.
A handful of years after Calmora found the city the people rebelled against the Aasimar, and attempted to sieze control of The Radiant. All three choirs of the Seraphim burst forth from their temple and visited their wrath upon the hapless rebels. Four out of every five humans were killed, with only those who’d remained loyal to the Aasimar surviving the purge.
Calmora was the senior most dedicated to survive the purge, and the people looked to her for guidance in the wake of the tragedy that had devestated their people. She rose to the occasion, teaching the people to venerate The Radiant and to spread their love to others.
She commanded her people to send missionaries to each citystate and town within a fortnight’s ride, and within a few years nearly all of them petitioned Calmora to join. They became a small but prosperous kingdom focused on helping those less fortunate than themselves. Compassion became the Calmoran watch word for nearly five centuries.
The Fall of the Elentian Empire didn’t directly impact Calmora, as they weren’t on any official trade routes and were barely aware the empire existed in the first place. They’d heard of Hasra, but only vague rumors brought by fur traders who often journied south to sell their wares.
Calmora was content with it’s isolation until these same traders returned with alarming news. Hasra had exiled tens of thousands of free men with nothing more than the clothes on their back. These unfortunates had been left to their own devices, and without help most would starve before the end of winter.
The current king, an elderly man named Heinrich, sent riders south with food and blankets. He bid them to spread word that Calmora would take in every last refugee, and would see them fed and clothed for the harsh winter months.
Nearly every surviving refugee headed north to Calmora, many of whom were shocked and greatful for King Heinrich’s generosity. Most were quickly assimilitated into the towns and cities they arrived at, providing rapid growth for Calmora.
Unfortunately, the fabled Calmoran generosity cost them dearly. The newly minted Hasran Imperium was greatly embarassed over Calmora rescuing their refugees. They knew that such a move made them look both weak and callous, and that either view weakened their position in the west.
Hasra sent a diplomatic envoy to Calmora with a proposal for an alliance. The terms were simple. Calmora would refuse to allow any additional refugees to enter their borders, and would issue a statement asking all Hasran citizens to return. In exchange they would receive a mutual defense pact with one of the most powerful militaries in the west.
Calmora refused. They sent the delegation back with a simple message. We do not barter with slavers, nor do we abandon those in need. It proved to be a fatal mistake.
Hasra gathered every battlemage at it’s disposal, and backed them with four legions of the finest troops in the west. This army stole through Calmora under the cover of darkness, carefully avoiding settlements as they steadily approached the capital city of Calmora.
The Hasran’s reached Calmora without being detected. Their forces took the city completely by surprise, quickly and easily overcoming it’s defenders and destroying all opposition. They captured Heinrich and the majority of his family. The king was put to death, while his oldest son was given a choice.
Join or die.
It wasn’t a difficult choice. The new king capitulated to Hasra, though with one condition. The people must be allowed to worship The Radiant without interfence. The current imperator was magnanimous in victory. He agreed to Calmora’s terms, and even took the matter a step further.
He sent followers of Aelianna to pay homage to The Radiant. Much to his shock Aelianna herself agreed to go. She abased herself before The Radiant, which greatly pleased the Seraphim. This smoothed Calmora’s entry to the imperium, and allowed them to preserve their way of life uninterupted.
King Calmora became Praetor Calmora, and many of the Calmoran nobles were integrated into Hasra. Over the last three centuries their bloodlines have intermingled, and it’s become difficult to know where the line between Calmora and Hasra ends.
Even after all this time there is a definite undercurrent or resentment among lower and middle class Calmorans towards the Hasrans. They believe that they should have the right to live free, and that every silver sent to Hasra as tribute is stolen from the mouths of their children. Yes, that’s right. They believe their children should eat silver.
