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At the heart of the Syharhalna live the alchemists who have dedicated their existence to studying the Principle of Darkness. They live according to the precepts of Maldegen Dirz, a genius originally from Akkylannie who was outcast by his skin. Encircled by their enemies and devoid of any kind of conscience, these scientists use the secrets of technomancy,
a mystical discipline combining magic and alchemy, to spawn monstrous creatures.

The Rag’narok is raging and Arh-Tolth, god of pain and knowledge, is commanding them to conquer Aarklash. The creatures of Dirz serve the Empire of the Syharhalna to help their masters impose their vision of Creation. Th eir emblem is the Scorpion, crouched in the desert, pointing its deadly venomous sting at its enemy. A sting called alchemy.

The four main laboratories of the Syharhalna are pursuing a secret goal: conquering the process of evolution to create the
perfect being that will lead to the return of Maldegen Dirz.

Each laboratory is in possession of a fragment of the gigantic research project. Each one has its specialty and its favorite
creatures. Each one is managed by an Omnimancer who, since the death of Maldegen Dirz, has absolute power over his laboratory.

The creatures of Dirz are currently sowing terror across the eastern parts of Aarklash and their advance seems unstoppable.
They are supported by technomancy and by their faith in Arh-Tolth. Th ey are led into combat by Incarnates, champions of the gods: some are genius technomancers, some are exceptional warriors and some of them are even glory seeking clones. Burning with fi re and drenched in blood, Aarklash will soon witness the dawning of a new era: the alchemical age.

== Chronology ==

*''676'' : Dirz’s exile to the Syharhalna. Foundation of the Empire of the Syharhalna.
*''679'' : Battle of Dawn, the Akkylannians are repelled.
*''852'' : Creation of the orcs.
*''855'' : Orc revolt. Destruction of the fi rst Shamir.
*''1 000'' : Ritual of Dawn, Arh-Tolth is summoned to Aarklash.
*''1 004'' : The dance of the Scorpion.

== The Laboratories ==

Thousands of individuals are born every day in the cities of the Syharhalna. The overwhelming majority is composed of clones created by technomancers; the others are true-born, children born through the biological reproduction process destined to form a caste of Scorpion leaders. Immediately after they are born the fully grown clones are sent to large crèches, where they receive the elementary lessons that will make them worthwhile members of the most sophisticated civilization of Aarklash. They are taught to read and write. They are given an understanding of science and a sense of duty. They learn to respect their masters and more importantly to revere the true-born.

The true-born themselves go through a similar training, though not as intense. While the loss of a clone is barely a book-keeping problem, the loss of one of their rare masters is a tragedy that can only be excused by the iron law of evolution.
Randomness sometimes has its place in the upbringing of the clones. Some of them develop higher intelligence compared to others among their kind. These rare exceptions are trained in leadership. A minority of them, the most brilliant, are selected to assist the technomancers working for the laboratories.

The true-born, off spring of the intellectual elite of the empire, are destined by birthright to a mystical career. Those who
don’t have what it takes are trained in leadership or in administration: no matter their weakness, they are destined to lead
an army of clones. The vast desert of the Syharhalna is certainly not poor and barren. The experimental farms of the new Shamir and the cutting-edge agricultural industries of Tenseth effortlessly produce food to feed the entire empire. The mines of
Kraken Mountains extract ores of a great variety of metals. The technomancers turn them into complex alloys that allow the clones to wield the most ingenious weapons available on Aarklash, such as the dreaded sword-axe. All these resources fuel the laboratories and their armies of creatures. Born from the brilliant minds of the technomancers, these creatures are designed to join the Scorpion’s unstoppable army. They are the latest achievements of the Syhars’ ever increasing degree of mastery over life itself. Soon they will be able to create the perfect being, the stem that will take over that of humanity and lead the servants of Arh-Tolth into an era of perfection.

The true-born and the clones are only the imperfect tools leading to this future. Some are more precious than others, but they can all be gladly sacrificed to further the great project which Dirz himself laid out in his Treatise of Alchemy. Syhar society, organized according to the teachings of the master, is designed to provide its alchemists with the means of achieving the great goal. Steering the laboratories, the most gifted technomancers and mystics, almost all true-born, manage huge research teams for the most part composed of clones. From their work countless creatures and new generations of clones are brought to life. These creatures are the power of the empire and the clones the guarantee of its prosperity.