Fact Box for Aethios

Here's the fact box for the next Atlas map to be published, detailing a region that has already been featured in a fact box before. This is an updated version of a fact box I shared last year, and takes into account changes made to the region as I created the new map. 

This is also the first of my new-style fact boxes, with extra information (government and ruler), as well as a larger, clearer map, which I'll be using on all new fact boxes going forward. I'll slowly be updating the old ones for the full page nation fact boxes that will feature in the Atlas, but no time-frame on these yet :) I might post a bunch of these together As an update if I get enough of them made outside of the normal atlas updates. Let me know what you think :) 

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. 

Below is some regional history (Sorry, it's long...) 

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 A History of Aethios

The kingdom of Aethios, as it is known today, emerged in 3810 RM, following years of vassalage to Sarastro, though it has a tumultuous history going back to the beginning of the Fifth Age of Mortal Life.

    We can trace the roots of Aethios to c. -1500 RM, when survivors of the Shadow War that ended the Fourth Age settled in fertile floodplains surrounding the upper river Shibboleth, in a region that is today dominated by Aethios and Rhinocoloura. 

    Descended from three groups of people - immigrants from the south-west of Gelhana, the domains of Acatas, and exiles from ancient Salasah - these semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers lived in clans with little material wealth, and were of a warrior-culture that enjoyed ritual antagonism and ritual battles with each other.

    Eventually these people settled into family groups that each claimed a length of the river as their own and on whose banks they planted crops and built settlements. Collectively this stretch of settled land became known as Actanors, after what would become its largest settlement Whether this was a remnant of the Fourth Age culture from which they were descended, or a new name self-proscribed, we are today unsure. We know that it became commonly used around -850 RM, as the city of Actanors grew in power.  

    The people of Actanors would trade with the ancient trade-post of Kanach, which would go on to become the centre of the so-called Citadel Mounts, with which Actanors would have a healthy relationship for some centuries. The city of Actanors grew wealthy from this trade and would slowly go on to unite the disparate tribal states along a 700-mile stretch of the Shibboleth over the next 500-years. This period of unification brought with it renewed exploration of the surrounding lands, where ruins of disparate Fourth Age empires, including expansive abandoned aiklah aeries to the east, were encountered and looted for their riches, many of which were traded with northern merchants, allowing the people of Actanors to flourish, concentrating on the arts as they expanded their dominion over the river Shibboleth.

    Encounters with merills was relatively common in this time, particularly when the cursed aquatic mortals travelled upstream to their ancestral spawning grounds. This migration of individuals would often number in their thousands, and would disrupt fishing and river trade to the point where the people of Actanors began slaying merills that would venture too close to their vessels. It is said that at times the waters of the Shibboleth ran red with the blood of merills, and that this culling of their numbers would eventually contribute to their diminishing during the Fifth Age of Mortal Life. Though individuals are still sighted swimming up the Shibboleth, the sight is now uncommon.

    The city of Actanors grew around a great spring that first attracted nomads to it around -12000 RM, and around which the first settlement was erected around 2,000-years later. By around -100 RM the spring had been covered by a great fountain, known as the Fountain of Vol, which became a wonder of the ancient world, attracting travellers from across the civilised world. The fountain was the hub of a great network of aqueducts and cisterns that watered not only Actanors, but vast square miles of farmlands. The city and its imitators grew famous for their lush hanging gardens and verdant pools that dominated the courtyards of all villas and public bathhouses that became synonymous with the nation, remaining a defining feature of Aethios to this day. So defining was the fountain to the culture of Actanors that a legend came to surround it, saying that Actanors would thrive so long as the waters of Vol still flowed.

    Between 450 - 550 RM Korachani missionaries became a relatively common sight, first in the north of Actanors, but eventually making their way beyond its southernmost borders into Rhinocoloura. Until that time, the people of Actanors had revered the river Shibboleth as a deity and source of life, and the fervour with which the Korachani missionaries spread work of the Undying Machine rapidly upset the religious balance in the region. The first church dedicated to the Machine was erected in 493 RM, with many more following. This began a period of religious strife, where the old faith was supplanted - violently in many cases - with worship of Rachanael. To ease the transition the Church of the Machine stated in 503 RM that the river Shibboleth had been created by Rachanael and that worship of the river was, by extension, worship of its creator, and Shibboleth was made a saint of the Church of the Undying Machine, becoming a patron of Aethios in the same year. This eased the transition, and by around 600 RM almost the entirety of Aethios had been converted to the Church of the Machine, with most revering St. Shibboleth as an aspect of the Machine.

    In 545 RM Actanors found itself under attack by a rogue warlord who rose to power in the city of Thia, who marched against the capital with a large army amongst which fought Auereni barbarians. Despite the city’s defences, the attackers were able to make their way into the mountain passes above the city, allowing them a vantage point that led to the fall of the city, which was looted and razed. The invading forces were later beaten back, with outside aid from Korachan, who had a vested interest in the region, but never took full control. The capital was rebuilt in Korachani style, and a large cathedral to the Undying Machine erected there in 589 RM.

    Between c. 550 - 750 RM, Atramental activity in the region was noted to increase, particularly in the West, where birth defects and aepathy became more common. This led to Actanors studying the Atramenta, and until c. 900 RM, severely limiting the use of shaping, to the point that those found able to shape were executed. This stance was relaxed as scholars better-understood the Atramenta around the dawn of the new millenium, and Atramental colleges were established where shapers could train to withstand the effects of the Atramenta and stall its spread and held cure Atramental diseases. This was at odds with the teachings of the Church of the Machine, and over time the Aethiosi sect of the church would diverge form its distant heart in the north. This new sect taught that the Atramenta was to be respected and feared. It had the power to give, change, and take life. Those who thought they could control it would eventually be defeated by it, but it was believed that respectful manipulation and defence against it were viable means of combating it. And so, a cadre of well-trained shapers known as Sephians became a policing force across Actanors, their duty to defend against Atramental corruption of all forms. 

    By c.1175 RM, around 200-years after their introduction, this policing force had evolved into a governing entity overseeing the leadership of the cities, acting as advisors to the council that ruled the empire of Actanors. Though it was not acknowledged historically, it is now understood that the Sephians were already becoming a popular force in Actanors, well on their way to taking over power.

    By 1920 RM the city-state of Siriphagos had become a monolithic trade empire in the region, dominating trade along the Salt Road that it helped established. This weakened the relative power and influence of Actanors, which had little in the form of trade monopolies, until the discovery of a stable source of Soul stones, which were highly prized across Elyden for their history and application in shaping and technarcana. Actanors showed great business acumen in controlling the demand, creating artificial scarcity, driving up prices, bringing steady revenue to the empire. The territories of Actanors were pushed farther north to exploit a near endless reserve of Soul stones that is still mined to this day.

    In 2111 RM the Covenant of the Mounts is signed between Actanors, a newly-independent J’thana, Arkos, and Siriphagos to unite them, safeguarding trade relations across the Salt Road and establishing a military code of alliance for combatting outside threats, such as the tribes of Mulciber or the Korachani empire. The Covenant was short-lived, and broke down in c. 2300 RM as the quarrelling of Aethiosi states led to a resurgence in Auereni activity against Siriphagos and Arkos.

    The arrival of exiled auspexes into Actanors in c. 2200 RM brought instability to the region. One of its states broke down completely in c. 2275 RM, with the auspexes becoming influential, questioning the Church of the Machine and the Sephians. This period dragged on for decades, ultimately leading to the fracturing of the Covenant of Mounts in around 2300 RM, following which border clashes between Arkos, Mulciber and Actanors, became common. This led to further destabilisation of Actanors as Siriphagan merchants and Korachani investors sought to control the Soul stone mines, leading to centuries of near-contrast conflict in the regions of Dagesareth and Zolandeth. This led to the north of Actanors being heavily fortified.   

    The year 2543 RM saw the arrival into the city of Actanors of the expatriated Korachani patrician Ethand, who first used the word Aethios to describe the region. This was the Korachani name for the area, and though was common in the heartland, was relatively unknown in Actanors itself. The term gained popularity amongst a subset of people who were against the quarrelling that had consumed the nine states and wanted stability to return. Unbeknownst to the populace, Ethand had already been manipulating public opinion for years before his arrival to Actanors, which only served to expedite the process. 

    Ethand was already two centuries old when he arrived to Actanors, and a known umbraphage. His cultivated rumours and tall-tales about himself, doing nothing to deny them, even as a cult of personality grew around him. He was a half-plagi from Lidea, trained in its prestigious Military Academy before being given command of a Steel Legion in 2301 RM. By then he had already become addicted to umbra, and was beginning to augment his body through technarce means, which were responsible for his longevity. Immensely charismatic, he immediately gained the attentions of influential families and individuals across Actanors.

    By c. 2545 RM Ethand was able to gather a large-enough backing to oppose the Sephians, which by then had risen to power, controlling the republic. In 2547 he appointed himself Negus, an ancient title resurrected to aid in his battle against the Sephians, who had done little to quell the fracturing of their empire. Within three years he had secured enough allies, including a not insignificant number amongst the Sephians, to secure the council of the republic. His first action was to rename Actanors Aethios, an action that further fractured the empire. 

    Over the next decade he introduced more foreign trade into Aethios and increased industries across the nation, particularly in the north, where the majority of its Soul stone reserves were. By c. 2560, he had stripped the Sephians of much of their powers, taking on their responsibilities himself, founding the Royal House of Ethand in 2561 RM, to which he became the first Archnegus. In 2861 RM Ethand propagated designs of a great concrete dam across the river Shibboleth - an engineering feat that would be the envy of Korachan itself. The damming of the great river was opposed by many nations, most of them downstream of Aethios, who were worried that it would impact the flow of water into their nations. As a result many people, notably Paraiya and Lidea, applied economic sanctions against Aethios, which suffered as a result, but Ethand’s vision was contagious and he had convinced his people as to the future benefits of the dam’s construction.   

    In 2942 RM the waters of the Fountain of Vol stopped flowing. This caused panic in the cities and many people believed that the end of Aethios was at hand. Many commentators noted that Actanors itself had died the day Ethand took control, and that the legend of the Fountain had become meaningless. Nevertheless, in an unrelated act that had its roots years before the Fountain stopped flowing, in 2943 RM the capital was moved to a new city constructed especially for the task, called Ethand. 

    The year 2943 RM was to be a monumental one for the history Aethios, for it was the year that construction on the Dam of Aesapia dam was finally completed, 122 years following his first mention of the project. Cheap electricity was introduced to dozens of Aethiosi cities, allowing for the rapid growth of industry there. The nine states of Aethios were united like never before and the Kingdom was strong. 

    Downstream of the dam, the flow of the once-great river slowed, adversely-affecting hundreds of settlements downstream and the way of life of disparate cultures. Relations with nations upstream became strained, causing Aethios to cheapen its exports to attract foreign trade in a bid to foster good relations. It was for naught. Korachan was furious, and declared war on Aethios.

    Korachani troops marched onto Aethios, but the ntn. was well-defended and had prepared for a possible war. The invading forces found it difficult to reach Aethios. Between Paraiya and Aethios was the neutral territory of N’rach, populated by the spider-like xenophobic aanth, who defended their territories savagely and did not allow Korachan easy passage, causing Korachan to rethink its war. What was originally envisioned as a great pitched battle was downsized and changed into a secret war, where Korachani spies worked in the shadows, disrupting trade, sabotaging supply-lines and destroying important structures. The war drew out for over 6-decades, and despite the Aethiosi defence, Korachani forces were eventually able to destroy the dam in a great Atramental explosion in 3017 RM.

    The explosion was devastating, destroying the dam, though so big was it that its foundations were not fully ruined. The collected waters of lake Aesapia flooded downstream, bringing chaos and destruction to hundreds of communities that had adjusted to the river’s new levels, killing thousands, most of them people of Korachani territories. Dozens of Aethiosi cities were left without electricity, causing further panic. Its manufactories were unable to work to their full capacity, causing further disruption to its economy.  

    The people of Aethios could not accept how the god they shared with Korachan would guide allow Korachan to do this to them. This led to a crisis of faith, in which many people forsook the Aethiosi sect of the Church of the Machine, eventually growing into a full-blown civil conflict, where those whose allegiances remained with the Church of the Machine found themselves greatly outnumbered by the panicking majority, and were persecuted for being korachani sympathisers. Many fled, either heading north into Korachani-occupied Paraiya, or south into Rhinocoloura, where they hid their allegiances.

    This forsaking of the Church of the Machine brought with it a great change to culture in Aethios. Most structures with their roots in Korachani design were toppled after this, including the many Churches dedicated to Rachanael and St. Shibboleth. They were left to decay, eventually being reclaimed by nature, where they became gathering places to animists whose beliefs slowly spread across Aethios, filling the void left by Rachanael. St. Shibboleth, who many felt had been wronged by the construction of the Dam of Aesapia, was returned to a place of prominence in their worship, becoming the head of a cycle of nature spirits that were revered. At the centre of this cycle was the Atramenta, as an antagonist that represented temptation and corruption. This religion is now known as Aethiosi Animism and remains the main faith across Aethios to this day. The Abuna emerged in the early days of this movement. 

    Sentiment towards Archnegus Ethand soured and as pressure was applied to his household, he disappeared in 3027 RM, his fate unknown to this day. His daughter took over the mantle of Archnegus, and the house of Ethand continued to rule in his stead. Past links with Korachan were severed and attempts were made to restore relations with its neighbours.

    Following the signing of the Sarastroan Sanction in 3103 RM Sarastro became increasingly confident, pushing against the borders of neighbouring nations, including Mulciber and, farther south, even Aethios. Its primary targets were the Soul pearl mines in the north of Aethios.    

    In c. 3100 RM the city-state of Rhabdon emerged in the far south of Aethios, growing in power and influence after the discovery of gold reserves there, pushing against the borders of Aethios and Rhinocoloura. It ignored Aethiosi claims of sovereignty and claimed independence, having to fight the larger Kingdom for most of its existence. At the height of its power in 3279 RM it claimed around 125,000 square-miles as its own. Then, just as suddenly as gold was discovered, it ran out. By 3281 most of its cities and quarries had been deserted and Rhinocolouran troops had moved into the remaining settlements, claiming them as their own. Aethios had its hands busy dealing with increased Sarastroan attacks around its Soul stone quarries, and was unable to secure the old Rhadboni territories, and lost them to Rhinocoloura.

    Meanwhile, in the north, the Aethiosi armies were losing a protracted war of attrition. Sarastro had greater numbers to bring to bear and was technologically superior to Aethios, with the only difficulty being bringing its troops across the Growing Mountains into Aethios. Though once there, they were unstoppable. Between 3315 - 3368 RM it was able to slowly take much of the north of Aethios, and it pushed on south, managing to force the Royal House of Ethand into accepting vassalage in 3379 RM. The Soul stone quarries were taken by the Sarastroan government, which supervised works there, sending bounties directly north to the capital in Argea.

    The Royal House was allowed to maintain control, though only as a vassal to Sarastro, forced to pay seasonal tithes to Sathep the Risen in form of tribute. This forced the people of Aethios to change, seeking out new resources to give to its new ruler. Members of the Royal House did what they could to maintain their lavish lifestyles, marrying into Sarastroan patrician houses, and working their subjects to death. Uprisings were not uncommon, but were quelled through the intervention of both the Sarastroan forces that policed the region and the Abuna, who helped in keeping the peace.  

    The arrival of a calamitous Atramental plague to Zion in 3650 RM found Sarastro diminishing. The plague swept through Sarastro like wildfire as refugees from afflicted Zioni cities travelled east, bringing the disease with them. By the time the plague subsided in c. 3780 RM, Sarastro had diminished in grandeur, struggling to survive, only its rich diamond trade allowing it to persist. Aethios was largely unaffected by the plague, and it was able to wrest control from the occupiers in an attempt to gain independence.

    The eruption of Mt. Umbratophhen in late in 3810 RM left much of western Aethios devastated, covered in a thick layer of Atramentally-tainted ash that went on to corrupt flora and fauna in the direct area. This act was instrumental in swaying Sarastros decision to abandon the region to the Abuna, who took control and immediately set about abolishing the Royal House of Ethand. This culminated in a week of bloody attacks against members of the Royal House, who were slain ruthlessly for their corruption and betrayal of Aethios to Sarastro. The Abuna renamed Aethios as the Holy Republic and instated a council made up ruling Abuna from major cities and states across Aethios. The Holy Republic was formally acknowledged by in 3817 RM following a reorganisation of its nine states, which were granted more autonomy than they previously had.