The Bogro mountain ranges were often a sight of splendor for the uninitiated auxiliaries who had seen it from the city of Manda. The sun setting down between the twin peaks was an alluring sight to those who were fortunate enough to behold its beauty. But trekking through the mountain passes, was a different set of emotions after all.
The roads were narrow and inconsistently paved as the lack of human settlements around this part of town was not a pleasant experience for anyone who treks on these roads. Kadungon was able to inquire further about the history of the Bogro Mountain ranges and it's current status, sharing the tale with his party as they trekked through the difficult pass.
"Long ago, the Bogro Mountain Ranges was said to have been the origin of the Kharash people, as their mythical hero, Axaado, was born in a mountain settlement known as Mosireen. From the mountain ranges, he descended and dominated the Western Coasts of the Axeyriaan lands, forming the basis of the Kharash Empire that would come to dominate the seas and the interior for centuries to come.
Given this origin, the Bogro Mountains held a symbolic status for the Kharash people's, as they claim to be the children of Axaado, the son of Lady Hoodo of Mosireen of the Bogro Mountains. While their miltary capital laid on the coasts, their administrative capital was based in Mosireen, as the former settlement now turned into a fortified city that was remarked for it's massive walls and grandeur. The paved roads and military outposts were established by the Kharash people's who ensured safe passage to the capital of Mosireen.
However, as their realm declined and the rise of the Xeyrian empire have been particularly turbulent period for the Bogro Mountain ranges. The mountain ranges have been a site of numerous destructive battles between the Xeyrian and Kharash forces, with the latter ultimately being defeated as the capital of Mosireen was sacked and it's ruined materials were sent back to the capital.
The site was not spared too during the destructive Xeyrian Civil war that saw the ruined city being sacked for another 3 more times, plundered to the stone, followed by a failed Kharash rebellion that decimated any remaining resistance. To add salt to the wound, the site had been a crossing of migrating kobolds and gnolls who brought more destruction in the mountain ranges, destroying and plundering the remaining settlements, towns, and military outposts of the former Kharash empire. The site of Mosireen too, wasn't spared, although, if the words of the Zanziyin Elder were true, the gnolls and the kobolds were disappointed to find nothing more then just stone rubbles and a few foundations that once showed that a settlement once thrived here, but nothing of value remained.
The Kharash people were driven out of their homeland, and right now, they settle in various parts of the Axeyriaa, reduced to no more than subjects, when a score of decades ago, they were once the masters of virtually most of the Axeyriaan lands, holding their core territories in the Western Axeyriaan lands and holding great influences across Eastern Axeyriaa and the seas beyond.
The devastating outcome of the civil war and the subsequent abandonment and forced displacements of the Kharash people's from their homeland had left their past infrastructures in decay, subject to looting from oncoming people's who will use them for their own purposes. The grand roads that led to Mosireen now lead to nowhere, as Mosireen, if it even exists anymore, has been no more, but a distant memory, and a symbolic capital that echoes not only in the hearts of the Kharash people's, but to the people's who had once laid eyes and heard of its splendor, even their enemies, the Xeyrians, integrated the legacy of Mosireen in their literature and historical records, citing it's greatness before it's unfortunate demise.
The ruined city is no more than a fragment of its former self, it's grand walls and architechture now remain no more than just stone rubbles that integrated with the mountains, very little, if any, remnants of the old city remain."
The tale of the Kharash empire was a fascinating saga that did not leave the party bored to their tears as they trekked through the rough mountain range. This was partly due to Kadungon's storytelling which had captivated the interest of the group, as his articulation and confident speech made it a pleasant moment to listen to his tale.
Diacrao was unsure if he had ever complimented Kadungon before, but he certainly loved how Kadungon conveyed the tales of others in his own unique twist. It helped him understand the world better without being overwhelmed with its mysteries. Certainly, Kadungon was a good teacher, and a patient one as well.
Moving on from Kadungon's tale, the legacy of the Kharash Empire, while ruined and ransacked from the countless devastating conflicts that had once warped the historic homeland, the Bogro Mountain ranges, still remained visible, from ruined stone foundations to destroyed paved roads, it once highlighted the ingenious engineering of the Kharash engineers as they ensured proper access and a safe home for themselves in this region.
But alas, as their empire ended, so did their world, left in ruins, to rot and be defiled by interlopers and raiders who had reduced their hard work to nothing more than just foundations, the swordsman could only lament at their loss, and this was a perspective of a traveler, he wondered, how would a Kharash feel to see their homeland, desecrated and ruined.
The mountain pass was steep and the ruined pathways led to many turnings, but alas, they finally made their way to what may be the entrance to the mines, also known as the Bogro mines. The entrance to the mines was not guarded, and there seemed to be ruined stone structures and a few armor racks, hinting that this was once an outpost of the Kharash Empire, while also functioning as quarters for the workers.
"Well, looks like we are here guys, It's time to venture in the world inside these mines." Aitana clenched her staff as she watched the entrance of the dark mines.
"Geez, I wonder if the grass is greener inside there!" the excited Kadungon said as he couldn't wait to enter inside the abyss, though that statement made Conrad stare at him with a weirded out gaze. "I'm supposed to be the stupid guy, not you Kadu!" He yelled at the warrior, the latter just grinned and apologized.
Without any delay, they descended into the mines, awaiting what might lurk inside it.