Throughout history Caldeum has been known for its prosperity and wealth, even in the deserts of the borderlands it flourished as the trade capital of the known world. Their belief of free trade and economic prosperity was at the heart of it’s success.

The trade consortium governing the city, which was comprised largely by traders, enforced their independence for the promotion of free trade. They remained neutral throughout the many conflicts between nations and the politics that came with them. At it’s golden age the wealth and fortune of the city were unfathomable.

During the fall of kurast, brought on by the lord of hatred 20 years ago, the royalty of Kurast fled to the north seeking refuge in Caldeum. Bringing the politics and corruption of Kurast with them which lead the once great city straight into a civil war. The turmoil and anarchy would have destroyed the city if the emperor himself hadn’t intervened. His council brought the factions back together and ended the conflicts. Although it still remained under the surface in the people living in Caldeum and it would ultimately lead to the collapse of Caldeum and it’s current state, which is only a shadow of the once past glory.

Caldeum is located between the barren lands of the Dry Steppes and lush lands of Kurast and Viz’jun. The dangers of the borderlands were close and to protect the city the built Lut Bahadur, the city of the gate. Strengthened with the resolute forces of the Caldeum Military it kept the dangers of the desert at bay. It has done so for years until the child emperor Hakan II ordered to withdraw the forces of the Caldeum Military

We have learned much from the tales of  Abd al-Hazir, of it’s history and the fate that has struck Caldeum. His close relation to the city is clearly visible in his journals, as is the pain in his heart as writes down the events that lead up to the withering of his beloved city.

“Caldeum was once the proudest city in all of Kehjistan, the trade capital of the entire world. Caldeum was never seen as the heart of the empire, even though it rivaled Viz-jun, and later Kurast, in size, and those who called Caldeum their home liked it that way.

Even when the Mage Clan Wars erupted, the battles were never tolerated to affect trade in Caldeum, for while politics and magic may be important, trifling with trade is a serious matter. Let Kurast see itself as the center of the world, they would say. We’ll keep our free exchange of goods, currency, and ideas, thank you very much.

But the pride I once held in this great city has become tarnished and dull. In looking back on it all, now, I would have to say that this rot infecting our city started when a good number of Kurast’s nobles fled their homes and took up residence in Caldeum. I have heard all the horrific and unbelievable rumors as to why they fled their great city, but the reasons did not concern us. It was their attitude that held our concern. As relief at being safe from whatever drove them here faded, their mood changed to entitlement and then, ultimately, to arrogance. They had no trouble demanding their “rightful” place on the trade consortium council governing our city, and they were prepared to use their wealth to hire the mercenaries needed to see their ambitions through.

I was initially dubious when the emperor of Kehjistan emerged to confront this quickly deteriorating situation. But the charm, leadership, and intelligence that he brought to bear as he quickly resolved the conflict between our council and the Kurast nobles were nothing less than masterful. When the people fully supported him in his role as our emperor, I saw this achievement as nothing short of a miracle. Though we had always been part of the empire of Kehjistan, and therefore under his rule, we had always behaved as if we were a free entity, beholden to no one but ourselves. It truly seemed at the time that catastrophe had been averted, but now it has become all too apparent that it was merely hidden beneath a thin veneer of civility.

This veneer began to shred when Emperor Hakan became ill. His influence started to wane, and the mood in Caldeum changed with his health. As he got worse, so did our once fair city.

When he died and his ineffectual child heir took the throne, Caldeum began to circle the abyss. Our list of ills seems never-ending: the state of our downtrodden and the slums they are forced to live in, our incompetent leadership, the reemergence of the intolerant Zakarum, and their quarrels with our mage class…I could go on for pages.

It is all too much for one to bear, really.” – Abd al-Hazir