Fact boxes for Rhea, Iacio, and Surutur

Here are the fact boxes for the regions of Rhea, Iacio, and Surutur, which will be featured in the next Atlas map, to be published next week. 

The High-res and textless versions will be available to shaper patrons next  week, and the low-res version will be available to everyone the week  after.   

Please find the regional history after the 2nd and 3rd fact boxes (its long).
 

A History of Rhea, Iacio, and Surutur

Rhea is a nation in the south-east of Llachatul that shares a history with Cuth. Descended from the kingdom of Arretoy, which emerged in around -200 RM, it became a stable region with well-connected cities by the time the kingdom of Karkauth made contact with it in 59 RM. The two became rapid allies, establishing a fruitful trade partnership, and by 110 RM the two had become so close that they were known as the Twin Kingdoms.

    Their royal families would marry into each other, and in 232 RM they finally become one kingdom with the marriage of the high prince of Karkauth and the crown princess of Arretoy. To celebrate the union a great colossus was constructed in the far east of Arretoy, at the delta of the r. Ehibel.

    The two took on the name of Karkauth, which was not received well by many amongst the Arretoyan nobility. Laws passed in 247 RM made it divine right for the Karkauthi royal family to rule over what had once been Arretoy. This led to riots in which three members of the royal family were killed. These events escalated into a civil war that ended in 253 RM, with two thirds of what was once Arretoy declaring secession and becoming independent. The region of Surutur, a sliver of land to the east of Arretoy, reamined a dependency of Karkauth.

    Karkauth sent troops east to reclaim its lands, but this led to a drawn out war of attrition in which neither side gained any advantage, and the fighting stopped by 342 RM, with Karkauth admitting defeat, making Arretoy an independent state once more.

    The old monarchy was reinstated in Arretoy by royalist supporters and the next in line was granted power, with the old line of monarchs who had handed Arretoy to Karkauth expunged from records.

    In around 900 RM a new religion known as Auradia began to spread across Arretoy and by around 1000 RM it had become pervasive, worshipped by most if not all Arretoyans, including the monarchy, many of whom became fanatics.

    A massive earthquake in 1293 RM devastated the east of Arretoya, destroying many settlements and toppling the great colossus that had been standing, looking to the east, for over 1,000-years. The quake left the east of Arretoya largely deserted, with refugees moving west. The east would slowly rebuilt, though retreating sea levels made the prospect difficult and the east would remain sparsely populated, at least until the appearance of Surutur. 

    In 1392 Auradian became the state-religion of Arretoy propagating the rise to power of a new dynasty of the ruling family 2-years later. Calling itself the Auradian Dynasty, this new house ousted the previous royal family and rapidly dropped usage of the name Arretoy in favour of the modern name of Rhea, signalling the start of a new age. This new dynasty valued culture and filled their state buildings with wondrous statues and tapestries.  

    The Auradian Dynasty came to control the entire headland, which is now occupied by Iacio, Rhea, and Surutur. It found itself in control of vast resources across varying environs, and had many natural inlets and bays that provided safe harbour to merchant and shipping vessels, causing many coastal settlements to appear. It became a powerful seafaring nation, and greatest amongst its cities was Haoh Sayon, which became a metropolis of well-over a million bodies, its harbours home to vast merchant ships. It minted its own currency, known as the Haon, which rapidly spread across the east of Llachatul, becoming the major currency of the region, remaining in use to this day.

    With its newfound wealth, Rhea invested in the arts, and its coastal cities became famed for their theatres, dance halls and art galleries, which became the envy of other civilised races. It also became a haven to those from without its own borders fleeing those who would condemn them for their differences, with the cliff-top city of Zarataba becoming a refuge to a great many different people, many of them having fled from the Pantheon Isles following their persecution there. Many more came from beyond as word of the city’s hospitality spread across Elyden.

    In c. 1510 RM the Autocracy of the Pantheon Isles sent envoys to Rhea with demands that it expel those refugees who fled its lands. It considered them enemies of the state and demanded that Rhea hand them back to the Pantheon Isles. Rhea refused and made its cities a safe haven to all refugees with a just cause. Agents and operatives of the Pantheon Isles were sent to Zarataba to assassinate those seeking shelter there, but most were apprehended and executed for their troubles. This caused the Pantheon Isles to declare war on Rhea in 1511 RM. 

    It was a desperate gesture by an insular tyranny that had little relations with the outside world. Rhea was a much larger kingdom, with far more resources and was defending its home from invaders that arrived in piecemeal fashion and little means of landing due to the natural cliffs surrounding the city of Zarataba. The Rhean navy was stationed in the Sea of Eruthrea, where it awaited any invading ships, easily taking them down. The few attacks that reached land were opposed by the defence, which included many expatriates defending their new home and freedom. 

    This fruitless war continued for decades and every ship that failed to return to the Pantheon Isles meant it had grown that much weaker. Its isles fell prey to increasing piracy as the Autocracy, rudderless through corruption and mounting defeats did  little to safeguard its lands. 

    The last attack on Rhea came in 1563 RM and though there was no formal surrender or cessation of hostilities, Rhea declared the war won, the city of Zarataba forevermore a welcome home to all. It grew into a thriving metropolis, a hub of culture and the arts in the east of Llachatul, and remains so to this day  

    In 1549 RM, 600-miles from the attack on Zarataba, a man was born to priests of Auradia. His name was Takhisis. He grew up amid political unrest in the city of Diondawa due to slavery and became an apprentice devotee in 1569 RM, just before the main temple of Auradia burnt down during escalating riots. His mother was killed amid the chaos and his father was imprisoned and later executed for defending slaves from attack. 

    Disillusioned by the events around him, Takhisis forsook the teachings of Auradia and the leadership of Diondawa, and began preaching a new philosophy that espoused peace and freedom removed from political or earthly motivation.

    He gathered a small following, though grew notorious and was persecuted by the same forces that had killed his father. He fled to the north-east with a handful of followers and settled in the jungles of Siscsaen for some years, though he was hounded there too and was forced out of Rhea in 1572 RM. He and his followers would go on to found the nations of Thetis and, later, Tethysia, where he is remembered today as a hero and prophet. Though his actions were celebrated in Tethysia, he was forgotten in Rhea and, in some instances, accused of being a traitor for his outspoken opposition of slavery. Though he was forced out of Rhea, he left behind some supporters who continued to work in defence of the slaves, and in 1668 RM, after decades of work and bloodshed, slavery was abolished in Rhea. 

    The Auradian Dynasties struggled to maintain their power in this time, but Rhea persevered despite vocal opposition from within and without. Its industries slowly recovered and the kingdom began to attract more immigrants - expatriates from Korachan, refugees from the Pantheon isles, and others from disparate places. Each brought skills and talents that were embraced, coming together to strengthen Rhea, making it a place of many cultures.   

    Surutur remained under Karkauthi control throughout this time, though when Karkauth faltered, to be replaced by Cuth under a new regime where religion and state are one, in 2275 RM, Surutur broke away, becoming an independent region. For seven centuries it carried on the legacy of Karkauth, keeping the name as its own, but the arrival of the Yalolilac regime in 2934 RM, saw it take on the name of Surutur once more. 

    The eventual lowering of sea-levels led to an increase in the territories of Rhea and Surutur, which were previously known for their shallow coastal seas. Many of their coastal settlements, including major harbours, such as Haoh Sayon, strugged in these times and many dwindled in size if they were not outright abandoned. Sea trade likewise diminished in this time as many harbours and ports across Elyden found themselves landlocked. It would be many centuries before new ports were built and sea trade reappeared on a large scale, by which time Haoh Sayon was miles from the water, a shadow of its former self.

    In 2653 RM Surutur made a claim on the Pantheon Isles, which, since their ill-fated attack on Rhea had dwindled in power and fragmented in the wake of persistent pirate raids. A colony, named Besaphto, was established there, from where various coastal settlements and islands were taken without opposition. Soon after Tethysia made claims on neighbouring islands. Settlers clashed over the next years, with the conflict escalating into war in 2655 RM, though neither nation was willing to make an open declaration of war. Suruturi forces gained the upper hand, beating the Tethysian colonies, giving them enough time to fortify their own colonies and establish a deep harbour there, through which resources were traded back to the mainland.

    Surutur grew wealthy from trade and new settlements appeared to take advantage of new lands exposed through waning sea levels over the past centuries. Amongst them was the fertile ever-expanding delta of the river Ennoia, which attracted many farming communities, few of which lasted more than a few centuries due to its rapid snaking across the land, which saw its position shift greatly over the centuries. These farms fed growing metropolises, including the capital of Buto, and Sugunia.

    Buto grew affluent, and its royal family fell into decadence. In 2898 RM King Hado ascended the throne. He suffered from albinism and believed himself to be divinely chosen through this gift. He sought out a wife who was similarly gifted. He searched across Surutur and beyond for many years and finally found one, beautiful and of porcelain skin, like him. They were wed, despite her lowly rank, and had many children. Despite this, he was not satisfied and continued his search, finding a Venthiri woman many years his junior. He wed her too and sired many children with her. Upon his death in 2934 RM his eldest son took a half-sister as his wife, beginning a tradition that continues to this day in the form of the Yaloliac Regime. 

    In around 2940 - 2950 RM a secret society of Firmamentists appeared in Rhea. At the time Firmamentism was heavily regulated and practitioners had to register to receive a licence for their skills. Despite this most non-shapers tended to distrusted them. Originally a sodality where accomplished shapers could meet in peace without prying eyes of laypersons observing them, it soon evolved into a more formal organisation, whose members began working for change in Rhea. Few were open about their intent, though they helped each other where they could. 

    Not long after this a mystery cult of sun-worshippers emerged in Tzallrach, diverging from the established Anatha Baetyl faith in around 3035 RM. Resided over by a secretive group of holy men calling themselves Hieromonarchs, the cult became popular amongst the lower-classes, quickly supplanting the prevalent faith of Anatha Baetyl.

    This prompted a holy war that in 3037 RM saw fanatics of Anatha Baetyl drive out the Hieromonarchs. Many were slain, but the survivors fled east, crossing the Argent Mtns. in around 3040 RM, where they headed into the Turcar desert. 

    By this time the Firmamental secret society in Rhea had grown, amassing members from the shaping community as well as sympathetic allies from outside their direct circle. The group became known as the Court of Dreams after a handful of high-ranking spiritualist members who were said to commune with the dead.

    The Auradian Dynasties promoted the supranatural arts though understood their potential for destruction and chaos, which was why shapers could only operate with licences, which had to be renewed often lest they face harsh punishment. Due to the difficulty in categorising shapers and their abilities, punishment usually meant death.

    The Court of Dreams wanted more autonomy and freedom to practice their art, which they believed would service to better the Kingdom of Rhea, which they otherwise had a great loyalty to. Openly their members did what they could within the law to improve their conditions - petitioning the royal dynasty, or speaking publicly to improve their conditions - yet most of their work was done in the shadows - sabotaging attempts against shapers, freeing individuals who had been imprisoned, even assassinating those who wanted harsher laws against shapers. This period went on for some years with little results other than increasing frustration for the shapers.

    In 3107 RM Surutur finally lost control of its colonies after years of unrest, as they declared independence. 

    The Hieromonarchs re-emerged in 3135 in the north of Rhea, challenging the ancient Auradian religion there. For decades the religion of Saewal struggled to gain a foothold from the city of Paezal, but the persistence of the Hieromonarchs paid off and by c. 3150 it had spread through trade routes to the south, gaining a foothold in most cities, where it gained further popularity, ousting the old Auradian religion. They gained a substantial following over the next decades, becoming powerful, until they were able to oust the Auradian Dynasties fully in 3192 RM. The Dynasty was expelled, with many members killed and other fleeing Rhea.

    The Auradian religion eventually died as Saewal became ever-more popular and the Hieromonarchs consolidated their power. They were conservative and made harsher laws to symie the growth of the Firmamental arts. Fewer practicing licences were renewed, leading in turn to more executions of shapers, many of which were seen as overly-harsh. Colleges of shaping in Immeria and Soparra were disbanded between 3192 and 3195 RM, leading to an exodus of many shapers who fled rather than face persecution. 

    Many, however, chose to remain and fight the Hieromonarchs, whose strength, particularly in the south, had grown considerable. In 3203 RM the capital was moved to Marechottay, away from the regions of influence of the Court of Dreams, which were concentrated around Immeria and Soparra, which became hotbeds of unrest, with conflict between the government and resisting shapers increasing in scope. 

    The Court of Dreams gained a large following in the north and in 3227 RM they opposed the Hieromonarchs, leading to 15-years of war that would soon encompass the entire nation. The war ended in 3242 RM with the Hieromonarchs withdrawing from Rhea, consolidating their forces in the south-west, around the city of Marechottay. 

    This led to the fracturing of Rhea in two. - the majority of Rhean territories were maintained by the Court of Dreams, in the city of Dherba; while the Hieromonarchs secured the south-west, renaming it Iacio, which they continue to rule from Marechottay to this day. 

    Today the Court of Dreams is the chief governing body of Rhea and exists apart from the Saewal religion, which remains the major religion despite the expulsion of the Hieromonarchs. The Court is comprised of144 apises, individuals who make up the Representative Council. Many amongst their numbers are shapers, and they are most well-known for practising animism, where they call upon the spirits of dead council-members to aid in their decision-making. The apises are elected by citizens of Rhea, and they in turn elect one amongst them to act as a speaker and overseer, and is bestowed the title of Archapex. The current Archapex is Abimelech, a powerful animist.