Fact Boxes for Eshir and Od Meginnas

Here are the fact boxes for the newly-mapped region known as Eshir, to the south of the Sea of Orrida. It also includes a small inset map of the island nation of Od Meginnas.

This will be the focus of the next high-res and textless atlas map that will be published next week, exclusively for Acolyte patrons and higher followed by the normal version the week after that.

The Encyclopaedia Elyden is already updated with all the relevant entries related to the regions and their history, so you can check them out there!

Thanks all for your support :)

As always, feel free to point out typos in the comments :)

Also, sorry for the history on this one. I went a bit overboard, so its quite long... there's also quite a bit of overlap with the Templar States, to its east

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A Timeline of Eshir

c. 700 - 710 RM - in Settar, the Asseeri sect of people are persecuted for their antiquated polytheistic beliefs, with many being exiled W across the Gulf of Eshiron.

712 RM - Asseer is founded by Settaran exiles from the Kazzaran peninsula across the Gulf of Eshiron. Its engineers construct many strong coastal fortresses that become strongholds from where they are able to overpower the bucolic natives in the east of the Atenaran peninsula.

C. 712 - 800 RM  - over the ensuing decades, the Asseerian people are able to exert their power further, spreading across the Atenaran peninsula, constructing many fortified harbours that become strongholds to their fleets of fishermen, merchants and navy. They continue worshipping their polytheistic gods, which together become known as the Asseeri Pantheon, and they spread their beliefs across conquered lands, where they gain root.

c. 850 RM - Asseer becomes famed across the Sea of Orrida for its clay, which is collected from the grey-blue mud of tidal flats in the shallow Sea of Sabriya. Soon, its amphorae have become the standard for trading goods across the sea, and are the standard for centuries to come.

c. 1150 - 2417 RM: a change in culture in Settar sees a series of short-lived monarchic dynasties appear.

1209 RM - a strange stone is discovered by clay collectors in the mudflats of Sabriya. It is a godstone, though its people do not know this, and the discovery will shape the history of the region until the present day. Once its properties are made apparent, it is taken to the stronghold of Sabriya, where it becomes a prized possession of the Tarimor kindred. It becomes known as the Sabriyan Stone.

1209 - c. 1620 RM - the Tarimor kindred grows powerful through possession of the godstone, forcing surrounding kindreds into an uneasy alliance simply to survive the predations of Sabriya.

The disparate kindreds of Asseer become embroiled in a stagnant period of war that lasts for centuries, with the godstone changing hands multiple times, leading to an ebb and flow of power and influence amongst the varying kindreds of the region. The stone is moved from fortress to fortress with each victory, changing the economy and political landscape of Asseer each time. Each time it changes hands, a new wielder is declared, becoming incredibly powerful through its innate powers as well as the cultural influence possession brings with it. These wielders are regarded as chosen ones of the Asseeri Pantheon, essentially becoming avatars of the pantheon as a whole on the Material Plane. They are worshipped as living gods by their supporters, and their powers are coveted by their enemies.

c. 1320 - c. 1330 RM - some people come to decry this endless cycle of war, with the godstone being considered an evil device that sows discord and death. Originally a minority, this belief slowly gains a foothold amongst various city-states of Asseer, leading to a cultural schism, though these people are powerless to oppose the wielders of the godstone as well as their numerous allied opponents, and they rapidly become ostracised, becoming a lower class. Though their descendants try to undo the damage done, they continue to be downtrodden, becoming known as the Godless, after their forsaking of the godstone. This is despite their continued worship of the Asseeri Pantheon, which they believe has sent the godstone to them as a test.

c. 1375 RM - Over time the Godless become integrated within the workings of the temples of the Pantheon and embrace the name, seeing it as a humbling reminder that despite their prayers and sacrifice, mortals can never be alike the gods. Therefore, the wielder of the godstone is the largest blasphemer of all. It is only due to their closeness to to the clergy and the vital role they have come to play within the religion that the wielders of the godstone are unable to do anything to them, leading to a state of unease between the clergy, the godless, the wielder of the godstone and the enemies of the latter.

1455 RM - the Farisûn kindred gains control of the godstone, moving it to the legendary fortress of Lirin, where it remains for many years, with the enemies of the Farisûn kindred failing to retake it. The kindred is able to hold on to the godstone for generations, becoming a powerful dynasty, with successive wielders being born into power, becoming legendary figures in the region.

c. 1600 - c. 1620 RM - Drerllatar Farisûn rises to power as undisputed overlord of Lirin and surrounding lands. He uses the godstone to great effect - where others used it as a symbol, ignoring or failing to understand its inherent power, he is instead uncannily able to understand how it works. With it, he begins to subjugate other kindreds. Within 2-decades he has formed the first united Asseerian nation.

c. 1620 - 2096 RM - Drerllatar Farisûn’s rule is ruthless and he is quick to police his new nation, hoping to prevent dissent as his forces consolidate their position. In 1677 RM he instates the Canon Law, which takes the form of avenging punishment that echo the crime. He fortifies the coastline and southern borders against external attack and establishes a healthy inland trade-route that survives largely unchanged to this day. The Asseeri Pantheon thrives under his rule, yet even he is unable to excise the Godless from the temples. His possession of the Sabriyan Stone quickly becomes the longest amongst all his forebears, and his continued usage of it grants him an unnaturally long life.

Eventually, the power of the godstone has an adverse effect on him. Already a brutal ruler and a vindictive politician, his thoughts darken further as the weight of the stone’s legacy weighs on him. He slowly becomes desensitised to emotions and feeling, and he begins to seek out more extreme forms of pleasure. Stories of grotesque deeds within his court abound as his reign progresses. He becomes more insular as time goes on, delegating work to equally ruthless lieutenants as he disappears from public life. The cult of personality surrounding him only increases during this time and over the centuries he becomes more influential than the Asseeri Pantheon.

c. 1865 RM - the Godslayers took offence at the Pantheon of Asseer and sent various crusades into its territories, though they were largely ineffectual, breaking against the nations’ fortresses and strong defence.

1923 RM - Drerllatar Farisûn reforms the Asseeri Pantheon, elevating himself to the chief deity whilst delegating the dozens of deities in the pantheon to demigods under his rule. This allows him to finally rid Asseer of the Godless caste, who are rounded up and executed ruthlessly within a few days of the reforms taking effect. Few, if any, escape these actions and the religion suffers in the wake of their culling.

2096 RM - Drerllatar Farisûn is last seen in public. By this time most people have elevated him to a mythical character, a bloodthirsty tyrant of epicurean tastes. He is said to spend his days in a crazed reverie within the Temple of the Sabriyan Stone, even the depraved excesses that once fuelled him forgotten, incapable of sating his numb existence.

c. 2140 RM: a monastery is established on the isle of Gemaris, dedicated to the Asseeri Pantheon.

2175 - 2177 RM - Drerllatar Farisûn is found dead in his blood-soaked shrine. His head is later found outside the gate leading to the palace. Of the Sabriyan Stone there was no trace. Efforts are made by the court to cover up the tragedy, but word travels fast, and Asseer quickly becomes the centre of an uprising as the vassal states of Asseer learn of Drerllatar’s death. Some defect and others ally with each other, marching against Lirin. War consumes the capital for two years, ending in with the destruction of the palace, and the fragmentation of Asseer. With the Sabriyan Stone gone and the populace of the region despairing, no one faction is able to gather enough support to unite the region and it languishes, the old trade-routes established by Drerllatar falling into disrepair.

c. 2177 - 2232 RM - as the region attempts to stabilise, many people find solace in searching for the Sabriyan Stone. The Order of the Stone is founded on the island of Gemaris in 2189 RM dedicated to its rediscovery for the betterment of Asseer, and its members live off donations from the laity. Hundreds take up the call and search far and wide for the Stone. In various places people are killed as tempers flare and false accusations are made. The order becomes distrusted and its members are shunned, becoming outcasts. Many of them turn to rural lives in the badlands of the east or the mountains of the west, spending their days following up on clues and hearsay whilst helping to maintain order in the hinterlands. It is a largely thankless task, but it attracts many people who have become disillusioned with the lawlessness that has consumed the Asseer.

The Order’s reputation grows over the years and the Seekers of the Stone, as its members become known, are welcomed in most settlements, particularly those in unstable areas.

c. 2200 RM - order collapses and Canon Law can no longer be enforced, leading to people taking the law into their own hands. Blood feuds become common amid a crumbling infrastructure, with families taking revenge on the families of those who slighted them. This brutal form of justice brings a modicum of stability to Asseer, at the price of personal freedoms - people are beholden to the Families (the kindreds of old in all but name), who have taken over the various city-states as corrupt leaders. This holds back progress as the entire region wallows in petty squabbles that take hold of generations, leaving no-one safe.

c. 2220 - 2382 RM - a thriving settlement appears around the monastery-home of the Order of the Stone, becoming known as Agair. It becomes a stable base for the Order and its members, steadily growing in size and influence. By the end of this period, the Order has established a chapter in most major cities in the region, with members, now simply known as Seekers, helping to bring order and maintaining safe relations between cities.

The Seekers establish a stronghold in Jirra in c. 2310 RM, from where they gain a foothold in the north of Asseer, allowing them to oppose the Families. Travel becomes dangerous once again and most of the city-states become isolated. Seekers oppose the rising power of the Families and their blood feuds, and attempt to re-establish courts where regulated Canon Law can once more be practised. They clash with dozens of Families over the years, bringing internal war to the region.

The next decades are characterised by hinterland battles and skirmishes, with furtive fighting also taking place in the larger city-states, most of which are now aligned with either the Families of the Seekers. The Seekers experience a major victory in Anafa in 2379 RM, which spells the beginning of the end for the Families. Though they are not eradicated, their major power centres are lost and they are forced to scatter to more rural areas, losing their influence. Over the next years the Order of the Stone re-establishes order around Asseer. The courts are given more power, and Seekers provide protection along the old trade-routes, bringing stability to the region once more.

2282 - c. 2300 RM - Agair is established as a new capital with a large port allowing the Order of the Stone to rapidly move up and down the coast, and the city of Anafa becomes a regional base, letting them exert their influence in the south. A republic council is established in Agair, where representatives from the major cities convene to establish laws and judgements. The Families remain a thorn in the side of the Seekers, who persecute them and negate their  illicit dealings across Asseer. The Asseeri Pantheon continues to be worshipped, with the reforms of Drerllatar Farisûn remaining unchallenged. His death was interpreted as martyrdom and an act of sacrifice to allow the various demigods of the pantheon to attain similar levels of power. Partisanship becomes common with most cities adopting one of the demigods as a patron. The term saint is used interchangeably with demigod, which slowly loses prominence.

The Seekers are able to renew their search for the Sabriyan Stone as the republic unifies Asseer, though their efforts do not reach their previous heights for a some time. The Order of the Stone becomes its main law enforcement, and over the coming decades the Order of the Stone is slowly divorced from its monastic foundations, with the policing force and the Seekers becoming two unrelated entities.

c. 2400 RM - The Seekers lose most form of organisation and become little more than individual prospectors and itinerants. Most people have forgotten the role their ancestors played in reunifying the region.

c. 2417 - 3372 RM - the Alchiaran Dynasty in Settar brings unity to the region, and goes on to rule until its ousting by the Godslayers in 3372 RM.

c. 2430 - c. 2490 RM - the republic of Agair first appoints a Chancellor to oversee the council. Over time this position becomes more influential, and the wielder of the title becomes the most powerful individual in Asseer. The Chancellor made the position hereditary in 2477 RM, and the first hereditary Chancellor was appointed in 2489 RM. This marks a new age for Asseer, which by now is known as Eshir due to changing dialects

2489 RM - The first hereditary Chancellor is appointed in Asseer, which is now known as Eshir. This marks a new age, and over the years the Chancellor takes on more and more power, while the influence of the republic lessens, existing only to maintain the pretence that the people have a say in the politics of their home.

2981 RM - following years of unease and lobbying, the republic takes back power in Eshir. The chancellor remains as a hereditary figurehead of the government, effectively acting as the sovereign in a constitutional monarchy. Over the years power shifts between the republic and the Chancellor as individuals exert their influence, with some prolonged periods with the chancellors assuming almost complete power, and others when the ruling family becomes weak or with a new dynasty rising following marriages and political wrangling to secure its position.

3174 - 3176 RM - Suffraganeus Nalaip becomes known as a mighty orator, and he inspires a new generation of people to religious fervour. He rises in the ranks of the church and reforms much of the doctrine of the church of the Asseeri Pantheon canonising many previous Suffraganeouses and elevating them to the rank of demigod. This brings the number of demigods within the Pantheon into the hundreds, bringing partisanship within and religious rivalries between Eshiran cities to an all-time high, with each city proclaiming its saint to be the best. People’s devotion to the saints is shown through lavish festivals where idols of the saints, normally confined to their main temples, are marched through the streets in solemn processions. Nalaip promotes this, encouraging it as healthy competition

3177 - c. 3200 RM - a new generation of seekers grows up listening to the uplifting words of Nalaip, rekindling the search for the Sabriyan Stone. They spend years hunting for it and, following a vote from the republic in 2191 RM, it is made legal for Seekers to search people's properties if they have reason to suspect the stone might be there. This leads to years of abuse with people being robbed and persecuted with no result. By this point, most people don't even know about the Sabriyan Stone or what it even looks like or does.

3201 - 3202 RM - an escalation of events leads to a widespread civil conflict that sees people turning against the Seekers and the church the Asseeri Pantheon. Eventually, the republic is forced to intervene, and the Seekers are disbanded in 3202 RM, with the organised church of the Asseeri Pantheon being dissolved. This allows people to return to the more classical form of worship of the Pantheon and its saints, with people venerating them in the privacy of their own homes, with little interference from an overarching structure. Festivals in the honour of patron saints continue to be celebrated in the cities, becoming highlights of the religious calendar.

3203 RM - the Sabriyan Stone is discovered, quite by chance. The Atramentist Aliqur finds it after inheriting a private fortress in the southeast of Eshir, and uses it to subjugate a series of isolated communities as he becomes drunk with power. The armies of the Order of the Stone march against him, and they are able to topple him at great cost, acquiring the stone finally later the same year. Many die in this conflict, causing the Seekers to punish themselves for what they perceive as a failure on their part to locate the Stone earlier. Many leave Eshir on a penance quest that takes them across Western Sammaea. There, many of them become mercenaries, living on donations and alms, finding quests to undertake and people to help. They retain the name Seekers, though there is little in the form of overarching or centralised leadership. Others remain in Eshir, becoming servants of the temples, atoning for their mistakes. Following this, the Order of Seekers is effectively defunct, with no new members taking on the mantle.

3203 - 3311 RM - the republic votes to secure the stone, keeping it away from harm and prying eyes, and unanimously votes to strengthen three fortresses (Akrol, Avirar and Lauk), secretly placing it within one of them. The engineering effort is monumental and takes over a century to be completed, leaving Eshir with some of the largest and most impregnable fortresses of the day. Despite the effort, some believe that the stone is placed in a secret fourth location, with the public story of the forts merely being used as an excuse to fund the defensive military project without risking backlash. If this is indeed the case, it works, and people come to embrace the forts, which become a part of the cultural identity, characterising the next centuries in Eshir, with massed engineering works shaping its coastline into an impregnable fortress.

c. 3340 RM - a siphon filter explosion in the city of Sabrim leads to Atramental corruption spreading, causing people to flee. Many leave Eshir and head far south, settling in the mountain of Rahii in the east of the Vespertine League.

3481 - 3514 RM - A foreign force composed largely of mercenaries (some of them descendants of exiled Seekers from centuries ago) land in two different spots in Eshir, and simultaneously march against forts Akrol and Avirar. Once positioned on the coast, they are now some distance from the coast, but they are reached on foot, and the attacking forces - who are carrying no flags or livery identifying themselves - attack them. The Order of the Stone cuts their ships off, sinking many of them, and march against their camps, razing them, effectively stranding the besieging forces between the forts and the reserve Eshiran forces. The attacking forces are broken, with many taken as prisoners. Following interrogation it is revealed that they were Godslayers from Kazzar, drawn by rumours of the godstone. The survivors were returned to Kazzar with a warning not to carry out any other unprovoked attacks, and the fortresses were strengthened with canals and moats dug out, linking them to the sea once more.

Over the following years further attacks would follow, either targeting the three fortresses that had been constructed following the retrieval of the Godstone, or temples of the Asseeri Pantheon. Godslayer propaganda made its way to various Eshiran cities, sowing distrust and fear but ultimately the Eshiran forces, well trained in defensive warfare, were victorious, though at no small cost. Various coastal regions had been plundered and razed and the fortresses had suffered great damage, which were repaired whenever there was a lull in the fighting.

Many within the council wanted to use the Sabriyan Stone in the defence, but others deemed it too risky - should the wielder fall or the fortress be taken, the chances of the Stone being taken by the foe were too great. Following a vote, it was decided to not involve the Stone.

3514 RM - a fleet of heavily-armed dreadnoughts approached the fortress of Avirar, bombarding it relentlessly from a distance. It was almost flattened over weeks of attacks, only stopping following a concerted retaliation of Eshirian vessels and shapers, who destroyed them in an Atramental blast so strong it shook the remaining foundations of the fortress. The ships were destroyed, effectively ending the attack. Within weeks a ceasefire was signed with Kazzar, and an uneasy peace exists to this day. The fortress remained a ruin following this and little remains of it today.

Soon after this, a new branch of the Order of the Stone is formed, made up of resourceful and skilled individuals (many of whom are half-bloods and non-human), who work both within and without Eshir, with the singular goal of maintaining the secrecy surrounding the Sabriyan Stone. The organisation itself is believed to be nameless, though the few that know of it refer to it as the Society of the Stone. Society members answer only to the Chancellor, and it is believed that they keep knowledge of the Stone from even the Eshirian people, with the understanding that the less people know of it the better. The Society has also come to work abroad, quelling rumours of the Stone before they become widespread.

c. 3730 - Over the years, Eshir has had to secure its borders against foreign infiltration following isolated incidents of outsiders travelling through its territories, searching or asking about the Sabriyan Stone. Foreign policy has become somewhat draconian, with passport checks being mandatory at its ports and at land routes along the border leading into its territories, and foreigners are kept a close eye on by the Order of the Stone.

Since these isolated events the nation has become more insular, and even amongst its own people the Sabriyan Stone has become little more than a legend or cultural parable, with few thinking about it or even believing that it is a real object, and even less remembering the history surrounding the three fortresses. Some within the nation have continued the work of the Seekers, investigating ancient accounts of the Stone, hoping to learn more about it. They are treated with suspicion by the Order of the Stone, and many have disappeared over the years, without a trace.