Hardorn is a kingdom in the world of Velgarth. It is neighbored on the west by Valdemar, the north by Iftel, the east by the Eastern Empire, and the south by Karse. Its traditional capital is Crown City.
Traditionally, Hardorn was an ally of Valdemar. This changed, however, when King Alessandar was murdered by his power-hungry son, Ancar, who provoked a war with Valdemar by blaming Queen Selenay.[1] Beaten back at his first attempt, Ancar amassed an army and began another war with Valdemar a few years later. He was defeated by Valdemar when Rethwellan joined their forces.[2] Years passed as Ancar continued to harry the borders of Valdemar. He was burning up Hardorn's resources and people, while storms caused by magic work heedlessly caused terrible storms. An attempt at attacking Iftel had been immediately thwarted, and fighting Karse was not turning a profit.
Ancar was being manipulated by Hulda, but nobody knew she was an agent of the Eastern Empire, tasked to weaken Hardorn and make it ready for Eastern conquest. The appearance of Mornelithe Falconsbane at Ancar's court pushed Valdemar into sending an assassination team aimed at him, Ancar and Hulda. They killed all three, but Elspeth also killed the Eastern Empire envoy who was aiding Hulda. The Empire immediately invaded Hardorn.
After encountering extensive resistance, the Emperor sent his presumptive heir, Grand Duke Tremane, to take command of the conquest forces. Subduing Hardorn would show his worthiness to rule.[3] Mired down by bad weather and hit-and-run attacks from the Hardornens who remembered Alessandar and being free, and further disorganized by the arrival of the Mage Storms, Tremane fortified his position and made himself popular with the locals as a wise leader. His honesty was sealed by a curse of truth set by Solaris using Divine Magic.[4] Tremane allied himself with the kingdoms of the west and severed his ties with the Empire. He agreed to be bonded to the land of Hardorn with Earthsense and was acclaimed King of Hardorn. His headquarters in Shonar became the new capital.[5]