Magador

Kingdom of Magador
Capital	Helgor
Demonym	Magadorian
Government	Monarchy
Ruler	A Helghast masquerading as Luthos Vorgada (MS 5102–present)
Population	82,000 (MS 5050) 120,000 (MS 5000)
Currency	Gold Crown
Resources	Iron ore, copper, bronin, gold, silver, furs
Relations	Part of the Vaderish/Aluvian nations Lyris (enemy, MS 5102)

The Kingdom of Magador is a country in the Stornlands. It is bordered by the Darklands to the north, Ogia to the west, Lyris to the east, and Delden to the south. The northern border is protected by multiple mountain ranges, which brought much wealth to Magador, but also great conflict over its riches. Its northern border has defined Magador's recent history: As a bordering nation to the Darklands, it was a point of conflict between the forces of good and evil, and Magador eventually became a puppet nation of the Darklords. Additionally, its close proximity to the Maakengorge, where Darklord Vashna was trapped, frequently drew the Cult of Vashna to the area, seeking to revive their master.

History

Magador was first settled by the Vaderish and Aluvian races. The ore-rich mountains to the north of Magador were owned by several families, who banded together for mutual protection against bandits and other threats. Its southern neighbour, Delden, was established after conquering lands from Magador and Eldenora during the Age of the Black Moon.

Around 30 years after Magador's formation, Vanagrom, a bandit and pretender to one of the eldest members of Magador's nobility, seized control over the country with a large force of bandits and raiders, becoming its first king and dictator. This form of government benefited the mining families to some extent — the mines were too far to the north of Vanagrom's power-base, and Vanagrom's forces spent most of their energy fighting other bandits, although at the cost of heavy tribute.

In MS 3657, the Royal Family of Magador was murdered, and pretender Prince Dolgorn became King of Magador.

At an unknown date, King Vanagrom VI ascended to the throne, but was little more than a puppet of the Darklords. After the fall of the Darklords, Kadharian, formerly the Slavemaster of Aarnak and now redeemed, led an uprising against Vanagrom, killing him and establishing a republic, with Kadharian as its first President, and Kadharian pivoted Magador towards the Freelands. Despite the death of the Darklords, its forces still roamed, looking to revive their master, and greatest Darklord: Vashna. In MS 5077, during the events of The Legacy of Vashna, such a plot was discovered in Magador: Archdruid Cadak planned to use the Deathstaff to summon Vashna. This plot was thwarted by Lone Wolf.

In MS 5083, prior to the events of Rune War, Magador faced a new threat in the form of Lord Vandyan of Eldenora, located to the south of Delden. Vandyan had seized the rule of Eldenora and conquered his crushed all his royal opposition. He swelled his ranks with Magadorian and Ogian mercenaries, but more importantly, had discovered the Runes of Agarash, and had been using them to summon the Vorka, an ancient breed of Agarashi long thought to be extinct. With these forces, Vandyan easily-conquered Delden, and with Magador deprived of its best forces, it too fell to Vandyan, as did Salony soon after. Vandyan then turned his focus on Lyris, but Grand Master was able to destroy the Runes, breaking the siege of Varetta and ending Vandyan's ambitions.

In MS 5095, President Kadharian was assassinated, and Marshal Luthos Vorgada usurped its rule. In secret, Vorgada had become a follower of Vashna, and had gained the favour of Vashna's spirit. Under Vorgada, Magador pivoted itself back towards the forces of evil, allying itself with the Drakkarim and Acolytes of Vashna. In MS 5102, prior to the events of Dead in the Deep, Magador invaded Lyris, without a declaration of war, seizing the town of Karkaste and Fort Ruzja. That same year, Grand Master infiltrated Zekgazad and rescued Steel Hand, discovering the plot to revive Darklord Vashna by sacrificing Steel Hand, a descendant of King Ulnar I, using the Dagger of Vashna, into the Maakengorge. Vorgada, who was part of the inner circle of this plot, attempted to perform this sacrifice, but the Dagger was checked by a suit of Nyxator Mail donated by Grand Master; Steel Hand took advantage of his shock to throw Vorgada and Dagger into the Maakengorge, killing Vorgada but unwittingly reviving Vashna anyway, as a part of Vashna's spirit lived inside of the Dagger.

Despite Vorgada's death, an imposter returned to Helgor, claiming to have avoided a plot by the Kai to assassinate him, and claiming that the New Order Kai were attempting to carve out their own empire. Most countries, however, considered him to be an imposter, and the Kai believed he was a Helghast. The Helghast infiltrated the courts of the Stornlands, causing untold havoc; the imposter Vorgada, however, claimed the Helghast were a lie. Assassins, wielding powers similar to the Kai, killed many nobles in the Stornlands, causing Salony and Delden to abandon the Freelands Alliance.

Geography

Magador is part of the Stornlands. It is bordered by the Darklands to the north, Ogia to the west, Lyris to the east, and Delden to the south. Its capital is Helgor.

The north of Magador is full of ore-rich mountains, which has historically provided much of Magador's wealth. The River Storn flows to the east of Magador, where it terminates near the Maakengorge, in three lakes: Lake Kazonara, Lake Irgianora and Lake Vorndarol.

Politics

Magador initially began as a republic, but quickly became a dictatorial monarchy. In MS 5077, the monarchy was overthrown by Kadharian, who became its first President. Its system of government is unknown after Marshal Luthos Vorgada seized control. After his death, the country was ruled by a Helghast masquerading as Vorgada.

Magador's location, right on the border of the Darklands, meant that it inevitably became aligned to it, with King Vanagrom VI becoming little more than a puppet king of the Darklords. After the fall of the Darklords, President Kadharian pivoted Magador back towards the Freelands; however, this was short-lived, as Kadharian was assassinated by Marshal Luthos Vorgada, in secret a follower of Darklord Vashna and had gained the favour of Vashna's spirit, and allied Magador with the Drakkarim and Acolytes of Vashna.

List of known rulers of Magador

• King Vanagrom (30 years after formation)
• King Dolgorn (during MS 3657, usurped)
• King Vanagrom V (during MS 5000)
• King Vanagrom VI (during MS 5077)
• President Kadharian (MS 5077 – MS 5095, overthrew monarchy)
• Marshal Luthos Vorgada (MS 5095 – MS 5102, usurped)
• Unknown, but under the control of a Helghast masquerading as Luthos Vorgada (MS 5102 – present)

In the gamebooks

Magador is not visited in the gamebooks. However, it is one of the aggressors in Dead in the Deep, when Luthos Vorgada, secretly an agent of Vashna, invades Lyris.