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[[File:ISS-38 Kliuchevskoi Volcano on Kamchatka.jpg|thumb|Mt. Koriba in the present day, photographed from low orbit]]
[[File:ISS-38 Kliuchevskoi Volcano on Kamchatka.jpg|thumb|Mt. Koriba in the present day, photographed from low orbit]]
====Koriba Catastrophe====
====Koriba Catastrophe====
In 748 BCE, Mount Koriba in the eastern Lyr valley experienced its most powerful eruption in recorded history, rating a 6 on the volcanic explosivity index. The explosion is recorded being heard across the entire peninsula and beyond, surrounding towns are thought to have been levelled instantly by the shockwave and buried by pyroclastic flows. This caused devastating local effects, causing widespread crop failures due to the ash clouds and acid rain. Whilst all civilisations west of the Zycannes were impacted by the eruption, the trade dependant Teba empire was among those who suffered the most. Trade sharply declined in the following years, causing the empire to became significantly weaker and become internally instability. Many neighbouring civilisations soon jumped on the opportunity to take advantage of the empire and began raiding Teban settlements, sparking a century of wars which ravaged both sides and caused far more damage than the relatively short term effects of the volcano. A further effect of this was that the Kormistazics, who had many trade links with the Teba, entered a period of infighting and civil wars as various members of trading nobility attempted to seize control of Sekan-Aruqa. As trade with the North failed to ever truly recover, the instability in the region would remain, resulting in the confederacies decentralised political structure collapsing and beginning a trend of power being consolidated by an increasingly small number of oligarchs. The wars often spilled out into surrounding unincorporated settlements, often leading to subjugation and incorporation under the banner of the outlying cities.
In 748 BCE, Mount Koriba in the eastern Lyr valley experienced its most powerful eruption in recorded history, rating a 6 on the volcanic explosivity index. The explosion is recorded being heard across the entire peninsula and beyond, surrounding towns are thought to have been levelled instantly by the shockwave and buried by pyroclastic flows. This caused devastating local effects, causing widespread crop failures due to the ash clouds and acid rain. Whilst all civilisations west of the Zycannes were impacted by the eruption, the trade dependant Teba empire was among those who suffered the most. Cross mountain trade sharply declined in the following years, causing the empire to became significantly weaker and internally unstable. Many neighbouring civilisations soon jumped on the opportunity to take advantage of the empire and began raiding Teban settlements, sparking a century of wars which ravaged both sides and caused far more damage than the relatively short term effects of the volcano. A further effect of this was that the Kormistazics, who had indirect trade links with the Teba, entered a period of infighting and civil wars as various members of trading nobility attempted to seize control of Sekan-Aruqa. As commodity trade with the North failed to recover, the instability in the region would remain, resulting in the confederacies decentralised political structure collapsing and beginning a trend of power being consolidated by an increasingly small number of oligarchs. The wars often spilled out into surrounding unincorporated settlements, often leading to subjugation and incorporation under the banner of the outlying cities.


Other civilisations such as the Kassyr and Mirazii, who were also connected through Teban trade networks, suffered greatly in the years after the disaster, however with weak neighbours and natural defences on their side, their civilisations managed to remain stable and prosperous past the initial hardships. It was at this time in the vast Mona river valley that served as the primary trade corridor between these between these two stable empires, that a group of cavan prophets known as the four oracles founded the Kozam faith. They started by bestowing their teachings onto travellers and passing merchants, many of which chronicled the writings and began founding temples in many major cities. The oracles are known to have travelled to many of these early temples. One place known to have been visited was the Kormistazic capital of Sekan-Aruqa, where the religion became very popular with the citizenry and several noble families, initially coexisting with the other religions present in the region.
Other civilisations such as the Kassyr and Mirazii, who were also connected through Teban trade networks, suffered greatly in the years after the disaster, however with weak neighbours and natural defences on their side, their civilisations managed to remain stable and prosperous past the initial hard years. It was at this time in the vast Mona river valley that served as the primary trade corridor between these between these two stable empires, that a group of cavan theologians who sought enlightenment during the hardships, known as the four oracles, founded the Kozam faith. They started as wandering mendicants, offering their teachings to travellers and merchants they met on the road. Gaining followers who would later chronicle their writings, they would found temples, schools and monasteries in many towns and cities. The oracles are known to have travelled to many of these early temples. The last leg of their travels was along the coast, ending in the Kormistazic capital of Sekan-Aruqa, where the religion became very popular with the citizenry and several noble families, initially coexisting with the other religions present in the region.


====Rise of the First Kormistazic Empire====
====Rise of the First Kormistazic Empire====
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Early in their history, the seafaring Kveshi civilisation of South East Aurora began exploring much of the Azure sea and establishing numerous outposts to facilitate trade. One of their furthest western excursions led them to contact the Kormistazics in 723 BCE, where it is written they were received very well and a cultural exchange took place between the two cultures. In order to facilitate further trade with the region, the Kveshi colonised a small, sparsely inhabited region of coastal foothills shadowed by the Okrani mountains. The Kveshi established an outpost town on the territory which would later became known as Oceansend and began trading regularly with the cultures on the southern coast of the Axdelian peninsular, with their primary interest being silver bullion from Kormistazm and the Lyr Valley. Among the most historically important effects of Kveshi trade was the introduction of advanced iron smelting technology to the region. This combined with the reverse engineering of their advanced naval vessels allowed the Kormistazic confederations economic and military power to balloon rapidly before other civilisations in the region could fully take advantage of the new technology themselves.
Early in their history, the seafaring Kveshi civilisation of South East Aurora began exploring much of the Azure sea and establishing numerous outposts to facilitate trade. One of their furthest western excursions led them to contact the Kormistazics in 723 BCE, where it is written they were received very well and a cultural exchange took place between the two cultures. In order to facilitate further trade with the region, the Kveshi colonised a small, sparsely inhabited region of coastal foothills shadowed by the Okrani mountains. The Kveshi established an outpost town on the territory which would later became known as Oceansend and began trading regularly with the cultures on the southern coast of the Axdelian peninsular, with their primary interest being silver bullion from Kormistazm and the Lyr Valley. Among the most historically important effects of Kveshi trade was the introduction of advanced iron smelting technology to the region. This combined with the reverse engineering of their advanced naval vessels allowed the Kormistazic confederations economic and military power to balloon rapidly before other civilisations in the region could fully take advantage of the new technology themselves.


Despite relative prosperity within Sekan-Aruqa, the economic booms did not work to reduce violence and infighting between the Kormistazic ruling classes. Soon enough the entire of Kormistazm was under direct or indirect control of the Jakatei and Renequil families. In the 5th century BCE a plague swept through the south of the peninsular, triggering a civil war which resulted in the rapid collapse of the confederacy into two alliances of independent city states, with many of the inland ones loyal to the Jakatai and the coastal region under the Renequil. The matriarch of the Jakatei, Vireña was a radical reformer who was very popular due to her embracing of Kozam as the state faith. With the Renequil remaining staunchly pagan, this created a significant amount of tension between the lower and upper classes in Sekan. Whilst Vireña would die before the Jakatai retook Sekan-Aruqa, her eldest son Mariqo continued her efforts, constricting trade with the south in order to exacerbate their economic hardship, as well as greatly expanding their influence further inland.
Despite relative prosperity within Sekan-Aruqa, the economic booms did not work to reduce violence and infighting between the Kormistazic ruling classes. Soon enough the entire of Kormistazm was under direct or indirect control of the Jakatei and Renequil families. In the 5th century BCE a plague swept through the south of the peninsular, triggering a civil war which resulted in the rapid collapse of the confederacy into two alliances of independent city states, with many of the inland ones loyal to the Jakatai and the coastal region under the Renequil. The matriarch of the Jakatei, Vireña was a radical reformer who was very popular due to her embracing of Kozam as the state faith. With the Renequil remaining staunchly pagan, this created a significant amount of tension between the lower and upper classes in the capital. Whilst Vireña would die before the Jakatai retook Sekan-Aruqa, her eldest son Mariqo continued her efforts, constricting trade with the south in order to exacerbate their economic hardship, as well as greatly expanding their influence further inland.


In 539 BCE, the Renequil army revolted, imprisoning members of the family and inviting Mariqo to claim Sekan-Aruqa. Facing little resistance, Mariqo took the capital and immediately set about uniting the lands of the confederacy under the Jakatei dynasty. He expanded the scope of the reforms introduced by his mother to every Kormistazic town and city to ensure their cohesion and loyalty. He also made the decision to pardon many of the remaining members of the Renequil, even granting them some governorship over their historic lands. A devout follower of Kozam, he further incorporated the religion into the government and promoted its worship as a unifying tenet of Kormistazic culture and laid the foundations for the development of its Orthodox sect. He passed away a year later, his son Kalam Jakatei succeeding him. Like his father Kalam was enamoured by Kozam philosophy and took several years early in his reign to travel east to the Mona Valley and the Zycannes in order to seek divine inspiration. Upon his return in 533 BCE, he declared the reform of the still nominally Confederate government into an imperial executive supported by a council of noblility from every region of Kormistazm, and that he intended unite the dozens of dividied states west of the Zycannes as equal territories under a single prosperous empire. Although his main stated motivation for conquest was oestensibly for the purpose of spreading the teachings of the Oracles, this would open the division between nonviolent, monastical schools of Kozam and the growing Orthodox, the latter of which allowed for some violence so long as it was in pursuit of proselytising and saving more sentient beings from the cycle of reincarnation. Kalam then changed his name to Enullus Jakatei Kalamitas, beginning the Kalamitas Dynasty and the first incarnation of the Kormistazic empire.
In 539 BCE, the Renequil army revolted, imprisoning members of the family and inviting Mariqo to claim Sekan-Aruqa. Facing little resistance, Mariqo took the capital and immediately set about uniting the lands of the confederacy under the Jakatei dynasty. He expanded the scope of the reforms introduced by his mother to every Kormistazic town and city to ensure their cohesion and loyalty. He also made the decision to pardon many of the remaining members of the Renequil, even granting them some governorship over their historic lands. A devout follower of Kozam, he further incorporated the religion into the government and promoted its worship as a unifying tenet of Kormistazic culture and laid the foundations for the development of its Orthodox sect. He passed away a year later, his son Kalam Jakatei succeeding him. Like his father Kalam was enamoured by Kozam philosophy and took several years early in his reign to travel east to the Mona Valley and the Zycannes in order to seek divine inspiration. Upon his return in 533 BCE, he declared the reform of the still nominally Confederate government into an imperial executive supported by a council of noblility from every region of Kormistazm, and that he intended unite the dozens of dividied states west of the Zycannes as equal territories under a single prosperous empire. Although his main stated motivation for conquest was oestensibly for the purpose of spreading the teachings of the Oracles, this would open the division between nonviolent, monastical schools of Kozam and the growing Orthodox, the latter of which allowed for some violence so long as it was in pursuit of proselytising and saving more sentient beings from the cycle of reincarnation. Kalam then changed his name to Enullus Jakatei Kalamitas, beginning the Kalamitas Dynasty and the first incarnation of the Kormistazic empire.
==== Era of Rapid Kormistazic Expansion (532 - 310 BCE)====
==== Era of Rapid Kormistazic Expansion (532 - 310 BCE)====
[[File:Axdelian peninsula 400BCE.png|thumb|A map of the Axdelian peninsula in 400BCE showing various civilisations and their spheres of influence]]Upon Enullus' ascension to the position of Kormistazic emperor, he began a campaign of Northward expansion, incorporating the regions small Lordships and chiefdoms as provinces under his rule. Naval advances brought forth in earlier centuries now allowed faster and easier navigation of the Axdelian peninsular riverways. However the conflict endemic to the region had driven many people to banditry, and thus much of it could not be used safely for trade due to the risk of piracy. Thus as the Kormistazic empire used rivers to assert themselves across the southern plains, the loyalty of conquered people was often earned with the vanquishing of river pirates and the opening of free trade. With his children unwilling to take the throne, Ennullus named his cousin Ax̂ilo Kariqo Kalamitas as his successor in 485 BCE. Worried about the Kveshi, who had reacted to the new empire by heavily fortifying the city of Oceansend, Kariqo expanded Kormistazic control over the southern coast of the Axdelian peninsula. With the state religion of Kozam spread widely across the south of the peninsula and the imperial army violently crushing opposition where it arose, there was often little resistance to this initial phase of Kormistazic expansion. As the empires border expanded, so did it's military power and thus its ability to expand further, leading to increasingly aggressive manoeuvres. The Empires first major military victory would come after the Kassyr Chiefdom declared war on the empire in 458 BCE after incursions of Kormistazic soldiers into Kassyri territory. The [[South Teban War|First Kassyri Integral War]] lasted for over five years but resulted in a crushing defeat for The Kassyr, who were forced to cede all of their holdings outside of the Mona river valley to Kormistazm. Ax̂ilo was badly injured during the war and survived only six months before succumbing to an infection, being succeeded by his daughter Ñeya Yala Kalamitas, the first Kormistazic Empress.
[[File:Axdelian peninsula 400BCE.png|thumb|A map of the Axdelian peninsula in 400BCE showing various civilisations and their spheres of influence]]Upon Enullus' ascension to the position of Kormistazic emperor, he began a campaign of Northward expansion, incorporating the regions small Lordships and chiefdoms as provinces under his rule. Naval advances brought forth in earlier centuries now allowed faster and easier navigation of the Axdelian peninsular riverways. However the conflict endemic to the region had driven many people to banditry, and thus much of it could not be used safely for trade due to the risk of piracy. Thus as the Kormistazic empire used rivers to assert themselves across the southern plains, the loyalty of conquered people was often earned with the vanquishing of river pirates and the opening of free trade. Unwilling to bequeath the throne to his children, Ennullus named his cousin Ax̂ilo Kariqo Kalamitas as his successor in 485 BCE. Worried about the Kveshi, who had reacted to the new empire by heavily fortifying the city of Oceansend, Kariqo expanded Kormistazic control over the southern coast of the Axdelian peninsula. With the state religion of Kozam spread widely across the south of the peninsula and the imperial army violently crushing opposition where it arose, there was often little resistance to this initial phase of Kormistazic expansion. As the empires border expanded, so did it's military power and thus its ability to expand further, leading to increasingly aggressive manoeuvres. The Empires first major military victory would come after the Kassyr Chiefdom declared war on the empire in 458 BCE after incursions of Kormistazic soldiers into Kassyri territory. The [[South Teban War|First Kassyri Integral War]] lasted for over five years but resulted in a crushing defeat for The Kassyr, who were forced to cede all of their holdings west of the Mona river valley to Kormistazm. Ax̂ilo was badly injured during the war and survived only six months before succumbing to an infection, being succeeded by his daughter Ñeya Yala Kalamitas, the first Kormistazic Empress.


By this point, civilisations north of Kormistazm were predominantly weak and stagnant, still recovering from the century long conflict that ravaged them after the environmental fallout of the Koriba eruption. The only exception to this was the Neo-Soltic Lordship, which had expanded into a vast empire and now almost completely dominated the states north of the Teba mountains enjoying a position of considerable military and economic influence. The Teba empire, after seemingly unending border conflict draining its resources and manpower, had been struggling with a falling population and weak government for decades, and so in 447 BCE the Teban Emperor Cerules II famously visited the recently incorporated Kassyri city of Zhaeqan to meet with the Kormistazic Empress Ñeya. Following several weeks in the city, Cerules publicly converted to Kozam and announced that the Teban empire was to enter a pact of friendship and defence with the Kormistazic empire. With the defence of the empire now bolstered by Kormistazic assistance, the reaction from the Teban populace was one of elation, however detractors claimed Ñeya had seduced Cerules in order to influence him. Cerules public conversion plus the close bond between the two empires also led to an explosion in Kozam worship, slowly supplanting existing pagan faiths.
By this point, civilisations north of Kormistazm were predominantly weak and stagnant, still recovering from the century long conflict that ravaged them after the environmental fallout of the Koriba eruption. The only exception to this was the Neo-Soltic Lordship, which had expanded into a vast empire and now almost completely dominated the states north of the Teba mountains enjoying a position of considerable military and economic influence. The Teba empire, after seemingly unending border conflict draining its resources and manpower, had been struggling with a falling population and weak government for decades, and so in 447 BCE the Teban Emperor Cerules II famously visited the recently incorporated Kassyri city of Zhaeqan to meet with the Kormistazic Empress Ñeya. Following several weeks in the city, Cerules publicly converted to Kozam and announced that the Teban empire was to enter a pact of friendship and defence with the Kormistazic empire. With the defence of the empire now bolstered by Kormistazic assistance, the reaction from the Teban populace was one of elation, however detractors claimed Ñeya had seduced Cerules in order to influence him. Cerules public conversion plus the close bond between the two empires also led to an explosion in Kozam adherence and the establishment of many new scholastic monasteries.


After the rapid pace of unprecedented expansion in the first half of the century, the Kormistazic imperial bureaucracy had been stretched beyond its limits. Thus the sovereigns succeeding Ñeya focused their attention domestically, reforming the empires government structure to better manage its new lands and formalise relationships with its neighbours. The largely disorganised territory that had been incorporated at this point also required attention to ensure its full integration and quell dissent. Among other things the empires provinces were reorganised and large scale public works were authorised to support the capital city, which had grown significantly to the point Sekan had fully engulfed Aruqa, leading to its name shortening due to the redundancy.
After the rapid pace of unprecedented expansion in the first half of the century, the Kormistazic imperial bureaucracy had been stretched beyond its limits. Thus the sovereigns succeeding Ñeya focused their attention domestically, reforming the empires government structure to better manage its new lands and formalise relationships with its neighbours. The largely disorganised territory that had been incorporated at this point also required attention to ensure its full integration and quell dissent. Among other things the empires provinces were reorganised and large scale public works were authorised to support the capital city, which had grown significantly to the point Sekan had fully engulfed Aruqa, leading to its name shortening due to the redundancy.


With the Teba empire serving as a buffer between the Soltic and Kormistazic empires, the turn of the century saw campaigns of lateral expansion launched to secure riverways and establish coastal provinces. Whilst friendships were secured with the Imbiraturian empire to the east, there was a bloody war with a coalition of Lyr valley Lordships which resulted in a humiliating Kormistazic loss. A second more successful conquest was attempted a decade later, but it was a pyrrhic victory which resulted in massive losses of life. Fearing a revolt would lead to further costly wars of attrition, projects to interlink the Lyr valley with the kormistazic hearland with roads were undertaken primarily to facilitate the rapid movement of soldiers but also improving trade routes. A permanent military garrison of volunteer soldiers was also established to secure the region. These projects were so successful that they were extended to the rest of the empire in the following centuries and were a key factor in its long term success. Increased security along the southern coast and economic prosperity led to the expansion of the Kormistazic navy, which also reduced reduced raiding attacks from Kveshi pirates which had become a nuisance for the growing empire. Without serious resistance, The Kormistazic empire continued to expand its influence over the Lyr valley, using its navigable waterways as arteries through which materials and labour could be rapidly supplied for establishing roads, fortifications and settlements in the interior. Much of this expansion was funded and directed by Kozam affiliated nobles, who saw spiritual and economic benefits to spreading the religion.
With the Teba empire serving as a buffer between the Soltic and Kormistazic empires, the turn of the century saw campaigns of lateral expansion launched to secure riverways and establish coastal provinces. Eastward expansion was relatively fast, pushing all they way up to where the Zycannes met the sea. However in the West here was a bloody war with a coalition of Lyr valley Lordships which resulted in a humiliating Kormistazic loss. A second more successful conquest was attempted a decade later, but it was a pyrrhic victory which resulted in massive losses of life. Fearing a revolt would lead to further costly wars of attrition, projects to interlink the Lyr valley with the Kormistazic heartland with roads were undertaken primarily to facilitate the rapid movement of soldiers but also improved the efficiency of trade routes. A permanent military garrison of volunteer soldiers was also established to secure the region. These projects were so successful that they were extended to the rest of the empire in the following centuries and were a key factor in its long term success. Increased security along the southern coast and economic prosperity led to the expansion of the Kormistazic navy, which also reduced reduced raiding attacks from Kveshi pirates which had become a nuisance for the growing empire. Without serious resistance, The Kormistazic empire continued to expand its influence over the Lyr valley, using its navigable waterways as arteries through which materials and labour could be rapidly supplied for establishing roads, fortifications and settlements in the interior. Much of this expansion was funded and directed by Kozam affiliated nobles, who saw spiritual and economic benefits to spreading the religion.


====Solto-Kormistazic Wars (309 - 70 BCE)====
====Solto-Kormistazic Wars (309 - 70 BCE)====
Rapid Kormistazic expansion into the Lyr valley was viciously denounced several times by the Neo-Soltic Lord Tulis VII in the 320's BCE. A large army was called to be raised with the intention of conquering and dismantling the dangerous state. Emperor Uuranqa was unimpressed by the Soltic Lord, believing the state to be a declining power destined to fall to Kormistazm sooner or later. Thus as a show of force, Uuranqa convened with the Teban emperor Cerules V and produced a declaration of protectorateship over the empire. Furthermore, threats of trade embargo against the Soltics were made that were expected to force Tulis into submission without a costly war that would pull resources away from the politically and economically unstable Lyr valley. A miscommunication led to Tulis being informed that an embargo had already been enacted, which he considered to be a Kormistazic declaration of war and began rallying his forces for a campaign to sack Sekan. He also ordered the Soltic Navy to sail around the Peninsula to cripple Kormistazic shipping, raid the southern coast and rally dissidents to the Kormistazic empire in the Lyr valley. After tearing through the border with the Teba empire first target of his army was The Teban capital of Montza and Cerules V. A battle in the fields just north of the city saw the Teban army that had assembled there handily defeated, whilst Kormistazic reinforcements arrived late and were forced to retreat in order to avoid being slaughtered. Cerules was quickly executed and replaced with one of Tulis' generals to watch over the city whilst the bulk of the army continued its charge southwards. In one fell swoop the Teban central government was destroyed, and Montza was pillaged by the occupational forces. Tulis' army would never reach Sekan, however, but for over 6 continuous years would maraud across the Kormistazic empire, gathering supplies by pillaging and foraging, and humiliating its military at every engagement. Attempted counterattacks into Soltic territory were also unsuccessful. Eventually the army was halted after it crossed the Okrani mountains into the Lyr valley. Tulis intended to rally the Lyr natives to their cause in order to sow dissent against Imperial rule and replenish manpower that his army had lost to attrition. This failed due to local opposition and mistrust, and after being surrounded on all sides by Kormistazic forces his army was decimated and he was forced to retreat back to Soltan. With Tulis defeated, the Teba Empire was quickly recaptured and remained a protectorate of Kormistazm, albeit worse for wear.
Rapid Kormistazic expansion into the Lyr valley was viciously denounced several times by the Neo-Soltic Lord Tulis VII in the 320's BCE. A large army was called to be raised with the intention of conquering and dismantling the dangerous state. Emperor Uuranqa was unimpressed by the Soltic Lord, believing the state to be a declining power destined to fall to Kormistazm sooner or later. Thus as a show of force, Uuranqa convened with the Teban emperor Cerules V and produced a declaration of protectorateship over the empire. Furthermore, threats of trade embargo against the Soltics were made that were expected to force Tulis into submission without a costly war that would pull resources away from the politically and economically unstable Lyr valley. A miscommunication led to Tulis being informed that an embargo had already been enacted, which he considered to be a Kormistazic declaration of war and began rallying his forces for a campaign to sack Sekan. He also ordered the Soltic Navy to sail around the Peninsula to cripple Kormistazic shipping, raid the southern coast and rally dissidents to the Kormistazic empire in the Lyr valley. After tearing through the border with the Teba empire first target of his army was The Teban capital of Montza and Cerules V. A battle in the fields just north of the city saw the Teban army that had assembled there handily defeated, whilst Kormistazic reinforcements arrived late and were forced to retreat in order to avoid being slaughtered. Cerules was quickly executed and replaced with one of Tulis' generals to watch over the city whilst the bulk of the army continued its charge southwards. In one fell swoop the Teban central government was destroyed, and Montza was pillaged by the occupational forces. Tulis' army would never reach Sekan, however, but for over 6 continuous years would maraud across the Kormistazic empire, gathering supplies by pillaging and foraging, and humiliating its military at every engagement. Attempted counterattacks into Soltic territory were also unsuccessful. Eventually the army was halted after it crossed the Okrani mountains into the Lyr valley. Tulis intended to rally the Lyr natives to their cause in order to sow dissent against Imperial rule and replenish manpower that his army had lost to attrition. This failed due to local opposition and mistrust, and after being surrounded on all sides by Kormistazic forces his army was decimated and he was forced to retreat back to Soltan. With Tulis defeated, the Teba Empire was quickly recaptured and remained a protectorate of Kormistazm, albeit worse for wear.


Over time war between Kormistazm and the Soltic Lordship would flare up over the status of the Teba Empire and Northern Lyr Valley. Eventually the Lordship would slowly succumb to mounting losses against the more populous, industrious and fervent Kormistazic empire, and suffered debilitating territorial losses. Despite previous conflict, the Soltics attempted to form an alliance with the western kingdoms of the Maltervenian empire in order to counter Kormistazm. Distrusting the Soltics, this eventually resulted in an opportunistic conquest of the Molvian corridor by the Maltervenians which was only partly repelled. Despite this hardship, the open sea access afforded the Soltic empire strong trade links with Impelanza and Northeast Aurora which the less powerful Kormistazic navy had great difficulty intercepting, keeping their core territory strong for several centuries. After a watchful peace of approximately five decades, the newly coronated Empress X̂alinn led the fourth and final Solto-Kormistazic war in 75 BCE, rallying an enormous, well equipped army for the purpose. A fast, brutal campaign was launched with forces carving paths down the valleys towards the coast, converging on the major population centers such as the capital of Xoltaan and the trade hub of Aruliqea. X̂alinn personally lead the siege of Xoltaan, the city breaking after sustained bombardment from catapult forced a begrudging surrender from the Soltic emperor Iruta V. Aruliqea, however, withstood siege for years with supplies brought in reliably from the ocean along the Ueclid river. With strong footholds along the north coast, however, the Kormistazic navy gained a much stronger presence and was able to cut off the city from its supply lines, forcing its surrender in 70 BCE and marking the official end of the Soltic Empire. As part of the surrender and as a show of charity, some Soltic territory was divided into largely autonomous Kormistazic vassals.
Over time war between Kormistazm and the Soltic Lordship would flare up over the status of the Teba Empire and Northern Lyr Valley. Eventually the Lordship would slowly succumb to mounting losses against the more populous, industrious and fervent Kormistazic empire, and suffered debilitating territorial losses. Despite previous conflict, the Soltics attempted to form an alliance with the western kingdoms of the Maltervenian empire in order to counter Kormistazm. Distrusting the Soltics, this eventually resulted in an opportunistic conquest of the Molvian corridor by the Maltervenians. Despite this hardship, the open sea access afforded the Soltic empire strong trade links with Impelanza and Northeast Aurora which the less powerful Kormistazic navy had great difficulty intercepting, keeping their core territory strong for several centuries. After a watchful peace of approximately five decades, the newly coronated Empress X̂alinn led the fourth and final Solto-Kormistazic war in 75 BCE, rallying an enormous, well equipped army for the purpose. A fast, brutal campaign was launched with forces carving paths down the valleys towards the coast, converging on the major population centers such as the capital of Soltan itself and the trade hub of Aruliqea at the mouth of the Ueclid. X̂alinn personally lead the siege of Xoltaan, the city breaking after sustained bombardment from catapult forced a begrudging surrender from the Soltic emperor Iruta V. Aruliqea, however, withstood siege for years with supplies brought in reliably from the ocean along the Ueclid river. With strong footholds along the north coast, however, the Kormistazic navy gained a much stronger presence and was able to cut off the city from its supply lines, forcing its surrender in 70 BCE and marking the official end of the Soltic Empire. As part of the surrender and as a show of charity, some Soltic territory was divided into largely autonomous Kormistazic vassals.


With its only real competitor now within its dominion, the Kormistazic empire assumed de-facto control over the Axdelian peninsula. The most prominent region not under imperial control were the [[Emberwood Coast#History|Aronian]] city states on the north-west coast beyond the Auric mountains. Although there was some political pressure that called for the conquering and assimilation of Aronia and to totally dominate South West Aurora, after two centuries of conflict the already vast empire required more domestic attention and could do without diverting resources towards another war. Aronias reputation as a refuge for minority species from across the continent also drew the admiration of empress X̂alinn, who called it 'a little haven we shall respect.' X̂alinn's successors inherited a much stronger empire, however, and they did not share her positive opinions, allowing provincial generals to freely raid Aronian cities.
With its only real competitor now within its dominion, the Kormistazic empire assumed de-facto control over the Axdelian peninsula. The most prominent region not under imperial control were the [[Emberwood Coast#History|Aronian]] city states on the north-west coast beyond the Auric mountains. Although there was some political pressure that called for the conquering and assimilation of Aronia and to totally dominate South West Aurora, after two centuries of conflict the already vast empire required urgent domestic attention. Aronias reputation as a refuge for minority species from across the continent also drew the admiration of empress X̂alinn, who considered the haven worthy of respect. X̂alinn pursued a set of major internal reforms, elevating many closely tied client states into provinces and taking the opportunity to split any ones which had become bloated and unwieldy.


==== Golden Age of Kormistazm and Final Conquests (1st - 4th century CE)====
==== Golden Age of Kormistazm and Final Conquests (1st - 4th century CE)====