Tora Alah, translated, means 'Land of Strength'

Location: The deserts north of Andalora

Description: Not so much a kingdom as it is one gigantic barbarian tribe. There are no cities, there are only camps, each one overseen by a warrior appointed by the Savage-King. These camps are simple tents and huts, built with what wood the denizens can salvage from the edge of the desert, and layered with the hide of the lizard-like animals these barbarians hunt. There are absolutely no natural resources, and in fact basic resources that many kingdoms take for granted (like water) are notably scarce. They do not settle down in one area, instead, occasionally menacing Andalora, they roam the White Sands wherever there is the most food.

Government: Tora Alah, being a land of barbarians, does not have an official government. They are the largest tribe of barbarians on Ercus (perhaps in the world), but they are still ruled by force. However, a sort of dynasty has sprung up. Zul Tora, descendant of Ura Tora (who founded the land) currently holds the title of 'Savage-King', and his warriors are recognized as the authority in the land. That does not mean that others, many others, do not openly plot against him. If Zul Tora is the king, however, the Shamans of the Sand act as his council, led by Tosh'ar Lok, Shaman of Ash.

Current leader: Savage King Zul Tora and Shaman Tosh'ar Lok.

History: Six hundred years ago (160 AR), in the desert sands of Ercus, an amazing warrior and fierce chieftain called Ura Tora led his barbarian tribe to dominance over all others. In rapid succession, he dealt death to the chieftains of the other tribes, who as a matter of honor, then turned control of their tribes over to him. It was not long before Ura Tora, though prowess in battle and sheer force of will, had a tribe of 200,000 savage barbarians at his back.

He bought a decade of terror and red war to Ercus, looting civilized lands at will, leaving nothing but the burnt remains of villages behind. Eventually, a huge wave of refugees were fleeing before his hordes, refugees Ura Tora was determined to have slaughtered. The refugees escaped in huge droves across the straits to where the city of La'h H'ul now lies, some of them swimming (and drowning), others taking the time to build ships. In pursuing them, Ura Tora's hordes ran afoul of the Red Empire, and fully half of them were slain.

Beating a hasty retreat, Ura Tora turned his decimated armies back onto the land of Ercus, fleeing approaching Dragina armies that outnumbered them 2 to 1. In a last-ditch attempt at survival, they sought to take the city of Andalora as a strategic position with which to hold off the Red Empire. They driven back and slaughtered again, Ura Tora himself being slain by an assassin who had poisoned his drink, and retreated to the lands North of Andalora, where the remaining barbarians once again splintered into their former tribes, though the tribe of Tora remained the largest and claimed the most land. Ura Tora's son, Kor Tora, declared the land to be 'Tora Alah' and settled it. To this day, the barbarians of Tora Alah entertain themselves with tales of the battle and glory Ura Tora bought them.

It was shortly after the Seeker wars (264 AR) that the shamans came into Tora Alah. They were led by a mage of incredible power, one of the fire element. They were fleeing something, though they took the secret of who they were and what they were fleeing to the grave. Recognizing the advantage of having magic wielders among his tribe, the Savage-King of the time, Ruk Tora, opened his arms to the strangers...if they could survive. Many did not, but those who did, in time, integrated with the barbarians, though they were forever set apart as shamans for their magical ability. It has been many generations since those first refugees came to Tora Alah, and their descendents, now known as Shamans of the Sand, are now revered and respected.

Population: Approximately 400,000 barbarians. Each citizen is taught how to gather their own resources necessary for survival, how to hunt, build their own shelter, everything. There is nothing taken for granted, except the protection Zul Tora's warriors offer, to keep total anarchy from breaking out.

Empire: Tora Alah belongs to no Empire and isn't exactly wanted, seeing as how it's mostly a stretch of sand.

Army: Each of the 400,000 citizens is a warrior of differing specialities and skill, however poorly armed they may be. About five thousand of these belong to the Shamans, and are capable of wielding magic in battle. Though Zul Tora's guard of about 4,000 is widely recognized as the strongest and those who do the most fighting.