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marched southward, systematically destroying Algarian herds as they
went. In 4867 began the siege of the Algarian Stronghold - a siege that
continued for eight years. With the possible exceptions of Prolgu in
Ulgoland and Rak Cthol in Cthol Murgos, the Algarian Stronghold is
probably the most unassailable land fortress in the world.
The Angaraks were continually harassed by hit and run attacks of
nomadic Algar cavalry units. Even when some Angaraks (mostly
Murgos) mounted themselves on Algar horses, they were no match
for the Algars.
In 4874, Kal-Torak apparently decided to abandon his effort to
reduce the Stronghold and, leaving a token force to maintain the
siege, he turned westward across Ulgoland to begin his Arendian
campaign.
The units of Algar cavalry continued to harass his flanks, but
withdrew once his main force had entered the mountains.
It is uncertain why Kal-Torak chose to expend the time and effort
in the prolonged siege at the Stronghold rather than strike
immediately along the route of the Great North Road into Sendaria and
thence southward into Arendia and Tolnedra. It may be that he felt
that his rear would never be secure so long as an intact Algar nation
remained behind him, or possibly two thousand years of
humiliating defeats at the hands of the Algars had made the destruction of
the horse-people one of the paramount goals of the Angarak race.
Whatever his motives, the giant Kal-Torak was soundly defeated
at the Battle of Vo Mimbre when Algar cavalry units, accompanied
by the survivors of the annihilation of Drasnia, crossed the southern
tip of Ulgoland by way of passes known only to the Ulgos and
attacked the Angarak left flank in the concerted effort of the third
day of the battle. It is generally conceded that the Algar cavalry
charge directed against the Murgos was instrumental in the victory.
Following the victory at Vo Mimbre, the Algars harassed the
retreating Angaraks and succeeded in raising the siege of The
Stronghold. They also pursued the remnants of the Nadrak and
Thullish Angaraks to the north and forced them finally to evacuate
all their garrisons in Drasnia.
When peace was restored in 4880, the Algars found that their
herds had been decimated and scattered, and the rounding up of
their livestock and the taking of an accurate count of their losses
took the better part of ten years. During this period they refused to
sell any of their cattle, causing what amounted to a meat-famine in
the west, and the virtual bankruptcy of the merchants who had
depended on the Fair at Muros for their livelihood.
As the herds were gradually rebuilt, trade was again resumed,
but has still not been fully restored to its former volume.
The current King of the Algars is Cho-Hag Vii, a man of forty who
appears to be an able ruler, though the council of the clans is
reserving its judgement until he has reigned longer than the three years he
has sat upon the horse-hide throne.
Appendix on the Vale of Aldur
NOTE:Information concerning the Vale of Aldur is limited and largely
speculative. The reader should always be aware of this fact, and the
information contained herein should never be used as the sole basis for
policy decisions related to this area.
GEOGRAPHY