More about the atlas...

I was asked  a question that's pertinent to the current subject of the blog (the Atlas Elyden as well as the Encyclopaedia Elyden, of which it is a part). Here's the querstion:

"...I am curious as to whose perspective this atlas is from. Is it the High-Empire, or reaffirmed. On the point of the reaffirmed one, are the Reaffirmation wars a war between reaffirmed empire and someone else? 

"Sorry to continue with the bombardment, but is Nova Malicharan effectively Malichar abandoning the (apparently) sinking ship that is Korachan?

"What year is this map set in?"

So, to give an answer to one question requires some knowedge pertaining to the others so I'll just reply in the form of a short essay. Thanks for the question btw :)

The atlas is an imperial (Korachani) one, though that's oversimplifying things. As I mentioned in my first Atlas Elyden post, The Encyclopaedia and Atlas were originally imperial creations which were updated on a yearly basis depending on new discoveries innovations etc, first appearing in c. 3500 RM. Though originally of Korachani authorship, the worlds' advance into something more akin to the late 18th century of the real world, the publishers spread across the civilised world and got offices in various nations (even though Elyden would never become as colonialist or imperialistic as real world England or Spain for instance).

Anyway, in the year 3705 RM the Korachani empire, which until then had dominated lands around the Inner Sea fragmented into two - the Northern High-Empire of Korachan centered around Korachan herself and ruled by the Archpotentate Malichar (Korachan, Azazem, Laaskha, Pelasgos, Varr, Lyridia and Venthir, amongst others); and the Southern Reformed Empire, centered around Sarastro and ruled by the Lich-king Sathep (Sarastro, Zion, Ba'ath, Lidea, Mharokk, Vaalk, Karakhas, amongst others)

This time would become known as the Dark Ages and was the dawn of a long wane which heralded a stagation of technological innovation, brought death to cross-border trade and commerce, and in which religous fanaticism grow exponentially (with a outlawed cults resurfacing, particularly those devoted to dead Demiurges).

This period lasted until the year 4008 RM, where Korachan fully disintegrated. This left its vassal and suzerain states independent (if not so already) and the heartland of the northern empire - the Korachani peninsula fragmented into many warring states ruled by remnants of the old regime. This became known as the Reaffirmation Wars, with each faction vying for the 'empty' throne left by Malichar. This is the present day in the world though there isn't a year as such. I have written details as far in the future as c. 65 RMe (based on the new calendar which started the year Korachan faltered, in 4008, which is the equivalent of 1 RMe), though I'd imagine the true present day is something around 4008 RM - 4 RMe - the period of the Reaffirmation Wars.

This atlas is a reprint of the original Atlas Elyden, published alongside contemporary printings of the Encyclopaedia Elyden. This particular edition appears a few years (around 5 RMe, equivalent to 4013 RM of the old calendar) following the Sundering of Korachan and is a major reprint, trying to take into account fluctuating borders around the Inner Sea. So is possibly less biased than before though was complied using fewer resources than previous editions, so is inaccurate, largely due to the state of flux inheent to the period - something that will be addressed in a foreword. So make of that what you will!

What happens to Malichar and his Empire is a tale for another time, though :)