Phoenixia: Difference between revisions

In the 4th century CE, Implenta, a powerful empire, colonized Arafors to control trade routes and strategic outposts. Implentian rule significantly impacted the local culture, which, in turn, shaped the region's identity. Implenta's control was enforced through a combination of alliances with city-states and conquest. While these methods were successful initially, Implenta's hold over Arafors dwindled by the 5th century CE, leading to a fragmented region.

=== Optian Empire ===

In 567 CE, Hopium Terrae, now situated in Joralshire, was founded by a group of merchants and adventurers. The city eventually transitioned from an oligarchic system to a military monarchy and grew in both size and power. After defeating the Morpi hordes, King Guido the Just declared himself King of Kings and established the Optian Empire. The empire's military prowess enabled it to conquer the second shore of the Areos Sea, incorporating the kingdom of Serx into its domain and renaming it Sea Optia.

The Optian Empire reached its peak around 1000 CE under the Ackrædtr dynasty. The empire boasted of a strong government, stable institutions, and a prosperous economy. Its army was highly disciplined, effectively defending its borders. However, by 1100, signs of decline began to appear in the form of corruption and political weakness. These problems further intensified with the civil war that broke out in 1150, leading to the weakening of the empire and making it vulnerable to invasion by enemy peoples and hordes.

As a result of these invasions, territories once controlled by the empire were divided among various tribes and nations. In 1250, Hopium Terrae was sacked, and Emperor Giuliano Carlo was deposed, marking the final downfall of the Optian Empire.

=== Arsalic Conquest ===

The fall of the Optian Empire opened a new era for Arafors and left a power vacuum that led to the rise of new duchies and regional powers. This fragmented political landscape favored the conquest of the Araforsian region in the 1300s by the Commonwealth of Arsal. The Commonwealth ruled over the region for five centuries until its collapse in 1740, leading to the emergence of new kingdoms.

=== Modern Arafors ===

In the 17th century, Almodarian merchants from the Kingdom of Tuvaria, located in modern-day northern Almodaria, began traveling through naval and ground routes across the Arcturian continent. They crossed paths with Araforsian navigators, and over the following centuries, their trade relations strengthened.

By the 18th century, Tuvarians set up trading posts and formed partnerships with local businesses in coastal cities such as Wermont Hill, Optio, and Plevoria. The Almodarian merchants traded a range of goods such as textiles, spices, and precious metals, which they sourced from Tuvaria and other regions of Urth.