|
=== Plague and Cryrian Imperialism ===
AIn 1767, Aikthudr'zhur by a wave of the Älemsi Plague which tore through the Kingdom and even killed several members of the Royal Family, including the King. This resulted in a period of isolationism and political dysfunction in the country, and a still-recovering Aikthudr'zhur comescame under pressureeconomic fromand risingmilitary Cryrianpressure power inby the region[[Cryria]]. The First Treaty of Highdrilian forceswas signed in 1773 and forced the Kingdom to open up its economy and cede coastal concessions in its ports to Cryrian control. Cryrian interference in Aikthudr'zhurthe Kingdom only intensifies as Leidenstad begins to increasingly monopolize itsthe country's mining and logging industries over the following decades. Aikthudr'zhur also becamebecomes an important naval base for Cryrian naval projection into the Norsian Sea. ▼Älemsi Plague sweeps through the country, killing rich and poor alike in 1767. Aikthudr'zhur enters a period of isolation. The plague ripped through the country, killing several members of the royal family and left the King bedridden for the rest of his life. His heir, luckily, was spared.
As the newThe Albertine government in Cryria seekslater sought to consolidate its sphere of influence in NorthernNorth Novaris, and considered Aikthudr'zhur isto be a part of its ''Nordenfästningen''. In 1887 the Kingdom was pressured into ending restrictions on foreign agricultural imports. Almost immediately, cheap Cryrian agricultural goods floodflooded into the KingdomAikthudr'zhur and force itsforced many of its small farmers off their traditional lands and into the Cryrian-run mines to sustain themselves. InLater 1887that year, Cryrian-owned docks increased their fees on local fishing vessels, causing an explosion ofin anti-Cryrian riots in Highdrilianthe capital. In the resulting Sack of Highdrilian, Cryrian forces reactreacted violently and the Royal Family iswas forced to flee tointo the interior mountains whenafter the RCRN threatensthreatened to bombard the city. Cryrian troops briefly occupyoccupied the capital and sacksacked the Royal Palace , while unrest spreadsexploded around the Kingdom. The looting of the Royal Palace has beenbecame a long -lasting scar on Aikkian history, andas severalnumerous important artifacts waswere robbedstolen outand ofshipped theback royalto shrine.Leidenstad Theby mostCryrian importanttroops. ofAmong these were the three swords of the royal Aikkian houseMonarchy - The Sword of Generations, the Sword of the Ancestors Past and the Sword of the Crashing Moon. TheThese blades havehad been in the royalRoyal familyFamily since the foundingformation of the Kingdom , and eachwere swordused was wielded byin the first monarchenshrinement of thenew kingdom. They has been used in every enshrinementmonarchs as a means of symbolically channeling ancestralthe spirits intoof aprevious new monarchrulers. The swords were now delivered to Leidenstadthe House of Leidensen as a means of ensuring Cryrian control over the monarchy and the throneGloaming Throne's future inheritance. ▼1773 AD
▲A still-recovering Aikthudr'zhur comes under pressure from rising Cryrian power in the region. The First Treaty of Highdrilian forces the Kingdom to open up its economy and cede concessions in its ports to Cryrian control. Cryrian interference in Aikthudr'zhur only intensifies as Leidenstad begins to increasingly monopolize its mining and logging industries over the following decades. Aikthudr'zhur also became an important base for Cryrian naval projection into the Norsian Sea.
1887
▲As the new Albertine government in Cryria seeks to consolidate its sphere of influence in Northern Novaris, Aikthudr'zhur is pressured into ending restrictions on foreign agricultural imports. Almost immediately, cheap Cryrian agricultural goods flood into the Kingdom and force its many small farmers off their traditional lands and into the mines to sustain themselves. In 1887, Cryrian-owned docks increased their fees on local fishing vessels, causing an explosion of anti-Cryrian riots in Highdrilian. Cryrian forces react violently and the Royal Family is forced to flee to the interior mountains when the RCRN threatens to bombard the city. Cryrian troops briefly occupy the capital and sack the Royal Palace while unrest spreads around the Kingdom. The looting of the Royal Palace has been a long lasting scar on Aikkian history, and several artifacts was robbed out of the royal shrine. The most important of these were the three swords of the royal Aikkian house - The Sword of Generations, the Sword of the Ancestors Past and the Sword of the Crashing Moon. The blades have been in the royal family since the founding of the Kingdom, and each sword was wielded by the first monarch of the kingdom. They has been used in every enshrinement as a means of symbolically channeling ancestral spirits into a new monarch. The swords were now delivered to Leidenstad as a means of ensuring Cryrian control over the monarchy and the throne's future inheritance.
The loss of the swords serve to unite many different factions within the country and turn local bureaucrats against Cryrian influence, thus prolonging the conflict.
| 