History of Zakhara

In ages long past, the maiden of great beauty (later known as the Loregiver) was born among mortals. Both gods and genie lords desired her, but she managed to trick them all with the aid of Fate. Inspired by Fate, the maiden wrote the scrolls of enlightened Law of the Loregiver, which were destined to be discovered much later. The Loregiver herself remained at Fate's side.

• -5000: The city of Rog'osto is built by locathah (the land upon which it stands used to be underwater).
• -1000: Rog'osto rises to the surface and is abandoned by locathah.
• -818: The city of Sokkar is founded in the jungles that flourished where now are the Haunted Lands. Its citizens are giants and humans.
• -534: The Empire of Kadar is founded by the Geomancers on the Nogaro River. The city of Kadarasto (the first of many cities on the same spot) is built as its capital. The Kadari also soon rebuild and colonize Rog'osto.
• -464: The giants of Sokkar die out. The humans continue ruling the city.
• -455: The Empire of Nog is founded by a rival faction of the Geomancers in the upper reaches of Nogaro River. It soon expands east to Al-Iltifat river. The Geomancers build the fortress of Tadabbur as the northernmost point of their expansion.
• -387: City-state of Al-Anwahr is founded in the heart of what is now known as Haunted Lands, by some emigrants from Sokkar.
• -377: The Fire Most Pure, a mystic group worshipping the purity of flame, is founded in Al-Anwahr.
• -345: Azaltin ibn Issad ascends the throne of Al-Anwahr.
• -302: Azaltin ibn Issad is visited by the Loregiver and tricks her into revealing the secret of immortality. He becomes a lich. His brother Amakim, urged by the evil vizier Zeenab, leads a revolt against him and the resulting civil war devastates Al-Anwahr. Amakim leads his followers west, to the shore of the Great Sea, and founds the city of In'aash. The surviving members of the Fire Most Pure go into the heart of the Great Anvil and found a fortress there.
• -299: Some descendants of Al-Anwahr's people found the city of Moradask on the shore of Jacinth Sea.
• -281: Princess Zoraya of Nog conquers much of Kadar's inland territories. She builds the city of Ysawis near the southern border of her expansion, and is given the city to rule.
• -270: Princess Zoraya uses the Talisman of Shajar to resurrect her beloved, Kasim. She is transformed into a giant crocodile by Shajar's curse. The Talisman is hidden in her tomb in Ysawis. Although the priests of Shajar conquer the city, they never find the relic.
• -204: The people of Moradask start worshipping their living idols.
• -197: The Peacock Throne is created for King Nawal abu Yashid of Moradask.
• -185: Hiyal, City of Intrigue, is founded at the rim of Suq Bay. Tajar, City of Trade, is founded on the shore of the Golden Gulf.
• -124: Sikak, City of Coins, is founded on the shore of the Golden Gulf.
• -89: Qudra, City of Power, is founded on the shore of the Great Sea.
• -62: I'tiraf, City of Confessions, is founded on the shore of the Golden Gulf.
• -53: Huzuz, City of Delights, is founded on the shore between Suq Bay and the Golden Gulf. The ruined house of the Loregiver stands near this spot.
• -17: Jumlat, City of Multitudes, is founded on the eastern side of Al-Yabki Mountains, near the Golden Gulf.
• 1: Ahmad al-Assad, a young man of the House of Asad, finds the scrolls containing the Law of the Loregiver. He seeks to unify Zakharans by introducing these common laws, but is banished by his arrogant father, sheikh of the House of Asad. He finds shelter with the House of Hanif, who accept his teachings (and are afterwards known as "Grand Caliph's hunting dogs"). Ahmad starts to get the surrounding villages under his sway. He preaches the Law to the farthest reaches of Zakhara, although most cities do not officially acknowledge his superiority.
• 25: Jamila the Virtuous, Ahmad's wife, founds the village Madinat al-Mumin on the Steaming Isles; it is there to preserve the Law of the Loregiver so that it should not be forgotten.
• 29: Ahmad al-Assad defeats the armies of Moradask. Soon, the Jacinth Sea becomes the Sea of Salt and the city falls into decline.
• 34: Hilm, City of Kindness, is founded on the shore of the Golden Gulf.
• 46: A young man, Jafar al-Samal, takes four genie wives and becomes the first sha'ir. Later, when genie lords try to take away his power, he crafts the Seal of Jafar al-Samal, using it to control the genies.
• 57: The First Caliph dies. His son Nasir al-Nasr uses both diplomacy and military might to conquer the areas of Pantheon and the Pearl Cities. Nasir is joined by the military might of Qudra.
• 61: The Geomancers ruling over Kadar and Nog are toppled by the farisan of the Enlightened gods; the group known as Lions of Yesterday is instrumental in the defeat of the Nine Council. After the fall of the Geomancers, worship of savage gods (Shajar, Ragarra, and Kiga) starts rising.
• 65: Fahhas, City of Searching, is founded at the mouth of Al-Naqus river.
• 86: Grand Caliph Nasir dies. His son Umar continues the unification of Zakhara by conquest, which makes him very unpopular in Zakhara.
• 93: Grand Caliph Umar is killed during siege of Hiyal. His son Ali assumes power and makes peace with Hiyal, getting it to accept the Law of the Loregiver diplomatically.
• 94: Caliph Ali starts building a grand palace in Huzuz.
• 95: Aswal al-Mutiq, Caliph of In'aash, accepts the Law of the Loregiver. He steps down and becomes a missionary, and his son and successor renames the city to Muluk. His descendants still rule the city.
• 96: The Fire Most Pure are taken over by a mysterious figure known as Bonfire. They are reorganized into a malicious, self-serving Brotherhood of the True Flame.
• 101: The Sea's Children, a secret society of sea wizards, is founded.
• 105: The Everlasting, a holy slayer brotherhood of Hajama, are established.
• 106: Afyal, City of the Elephant, is founded on the Isle of the Elephant by a member of the House of Alon, a branch of the Grand Caliph's family.
• 111: Gana, City of Riches, is founded on the western side of Al-Yabki Mountains.
• 121: Grand Caliph Ali dies. During his reign, he has brought the Loregiver's teachings to the farthest reaches of Zakhara. Ali is succeeded by is son Hasan.
• 159: At the time of Caliph Hasan's death, Zakhara has established new trade routes to the surrounding lands.
• 160: Caliph Wasil makes his Proclamation of Equality, granting equal rights to all sentient races of Zakhara. Following that, a group of human sorcerers who wish to subjugate other races and rule Zakhara form a secret society known as the Red Eyes.
• 169: Caliph Wasil is assassinated by an agent of Red Eyes. Great strife begins.
• 170: Abbas, Wasil's nephew, rises to the throne and starts establishing a firm bureaucracy.
• 191: Mahabba, City of Charity, is founded on the shore of the Crowded Sea.
• 193: A war begins between the genie races.
• 194: The city of Takabbar rejects the Law of the Loregiver and the Enlightened Gods. It is placed on Jazirat al-Gawwar and isolated from the gods.
• 197: Caliph Abbas is killed by a rogue efreeti. His son Othman ascends the throne. His reign is plagued by genie battles and natural disasters.
• 228: Caliph Othman dies. His son Umaya takes over. His reign is likewise punctuated by frequent disasters.
• 237: Hudid, City of Humility, is founded on the shore of the Crowded Sea.
• 258: After the death of Caliph Umaya, his son Harun becomes ruler. He diplomatically resolves the conflict between the genies, thus earning their friendship. The genies magically extend his life, and Harun gets the nickname of al-Kabir, the Old.
• 263: The Restless Fires, a holy slayer brotherhood dedicated to Najm, is established.
• 264: The Constellation, a secret society of astrologers, is founded by a mysterious figure known as the Matriarch.
• 274: The Dancing Dwarves mystic group is founded in Al-Akara Mountains by Doth, a dwarven priest of Kor.
• 288: The All-Knowing Eye is created by a hakima called Yasmin Sira.
• 297: Liham, City of Soldiers, is founded on the shore of the Great Sea, on Al-Sari river.
• 315: Hafayah, City of Secrets, is founded on the far northern river Al-Kufr.
• 324: First contact between Faerûn and Zakhara.
• 333: Qadib, City of Wands, is founded by sorcerers on the northern river Al-Haul.
• 342: Last known use of Coin of Jisan the Bountiful, when Al-Wajib, a slave in Qudra, revolts against the corrupt emir of the city. Al-Wajib creates the Dutiful, the first mamluk organization, to serve the Grand Caliph. After his death, the Coin disappears.
• 370: Some priests of Haku from the House of Nasr found the Desert Mosque and the Dome Dancers mystic group.
• 380: Caliph Mansur the Kind ascends the Enlightened Throne. He constructs many buildings in Huzuz, including a lot of housing for the poor.
• 382: Wasat, the Middle City, is founded between Huzuz and Hiyal.
• 387: Umara, City of Knights, is founded at the mouth of Al-Yatir river.
• 401: Grand Caliph Anwar ascends the throne and starts sponsoring the exploration of faraway lands, even those beyond Toril.
• 412: Talab, City of Questing, is founded inland, on Al-Muti river.
• 415: The fortress of Jabal Sarahin is built by Amir Heidar Qan, a sheikh of the jann.
• 424: The Restless Fires brotherhood is corrupted by the god Kossuth and becomes the Flamedeath Fellowship. They ally with the Brotherhood of the True Flame.
• 435: The Servitors of the Zephyr, a secret society of wind wizards, is founded.
• 447: Husein, the new Caliph, starts building the present Palace of the Enlightened Throne.
• 459: Halwa, City of Solitude, is founded inland near Wadi Malih.
• 463: Exanaroth the Unifier, a moralist priest of Hajama, proclaims the creation of the League of the Pantheon, centered in I'tiraf.
• 473: Interest in ancient cultures of the area grows. Society of Shifting Sands is founded.
• 482: Utaqa, City of Free Men and Zakhara's northernmost city, is founded at the mouth of Al-Zulma river.
• 484: Suleiman, Husein's son, becomes the Grand Caliph. Hiyali troops launch an attack against Huzuz, but Suleiman calls forth a great army of genies, who devastated the enemy, showing to all the might of the Enlightened Throne.
• 485: Dihliz, the Gateway City, is founded on a plateau up the Nogaro River, by the will of padishah of Afyal.
• 488: Ajayib, City of Wonders, is founded at the base of Al-Suqut Mountains.
• 490: Al-Kamari family first rises to prominence.
• 495: The Mechanicians' League is founded.
• 506: Hawa, City of Chaos, is officially recognized (before, it was merely a corsair haven).
• 521: The Cult of Sand, a secret society of sand wizards, is founded as an effort to gain protection from the Brotherhood of the True Flame.
• 524: Jayani al-Jasir, an infamous corsair captain, is first heard of.
• 531: Caliph Achmed al-Assad commissions exploration parties to the Haunted Lands.
• 534: The Everlasting are driven out of their former stronghold by the forces of Qudra.
• 535. Hasan, Grandfather of the Everlasting, wins the fortress of Jabal Sarahin from the jann.
• 538: The cult of Istishia, led by ghuls and evil pirates, is on the rise in Hawa.
• 541: Al-Bidir Sallah, the largest university in Zakhara, is founded in Huzuz.
• 545: Talab undergoes an epidemic of wererat lycanthropy, resulting in the infection of the city's ruler and court.
• 547: Khalil, future Grand Caliph, is born.
• 552: Gorar al-Aksar, the Singing Barber, starts operating in Huzuz.
• 554: Kori al-Zafiri, sheikh of the House of Bakr, overthrows the evil sultan of Tajar and establishes himself as the city's ruler.
• 562: Khalil al-Assad marries Dalilah al-Nakar, his first wife.
• 565: Khalil al-Assad al-Zahir ascends the Enlightened Throne after his father's death.
• 570: The Spellslayers secret society is formed.
• 572: Mu'izzi al-Kamar is possessed by the Unspeakable, a yak-man high priest. He becomes the first Yikaria spy in Zakhara.
• 573: Ubar khel Muhif, Khan of the Astoks, slays the caliph of Umara and takes over the city.
• 582: The mamluks of Qudra try to attack Hawa. They spook the great zaratan which is the base of Jayani al-Jasir, causing it to dive to the bottom of the sea.
• 583: The Viziers, a secret society of female sha'irs, is founded.
• 584: The necromancers Sumulael and Kazerabet discover the ruins of Ysawis and settle there. They search for the Talisman of Shajar.
• 585: The Brotherhood of the True Flame finds the ruins of an ancient fortress and builds a new castle, Krak al-Niraan, upon its foundations.
• 589: The sultan of Hafayah is poisoned; bloody infighting begins. After all of the pretenders are killed, prince Saba is revealed as the sultan's heir. Qirmiz min Hudid, an agent of the Brotherhood of the True Flame, places many layers of curses (provided by Bonfire) on the Grand Caliph, making him unable to get a child.
• 590: The Unspeakable uses his dao servants to place cursed amulets in the walls of Grand Caliph's harim, preventing the conception of children therein. Makin al-Mutrattab is possessed by another Yikaria priest.
• 592: Current year (corresponds to 1367 Dale Reckoning). Adventurers (particularly priests of Helam the Watcher) travel to Zakhara from the north in increasing numbers.

Grand Caliphs at Huzuz

1. Ahmad al-Assad, the Lion of Faith 1-57
2. Nasir al-Nasr, the Great Eagle 57-86
3. Umar al-Fatih, the Conqueror 86-93
4. Ali al-Silmi, the Peaceful 93-121
5. Hasan al-Tajir, the Merchant 121-159
6. Wasil al-Aadil, the Fair 159-169
7. Abbas al-Qanuni, the Lawful 170-197
8. Othman al-Muta'allam, the Suffering 197-228
9. Umaya al-Qawi, the Strong 228-258
10. Harun al-Kabir, the Ancient 258-376
11. Ibrahim the Worthless 376-378
12. Yusuf the Simple 378-380
13. Mansur al-Latif, the Kind 380-401
14. Anwar al-Bahhar, the Sailor 401-447
15. Husein al-Banna, the Builder 447-484
16. Suleiman al-Rabb al-Jinn, the Master of Genies 484-524
17. Achmed al-Assad, the Explorer 524-565
18. Khalil al-Assad al-Zahir, the current Grand Caliph 565-???

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