Askari Matriarchy (The Servant)

The Askari Matriarchy, also known as the Queedom of Skovos, the Askari/Amazon Queendoms, is a matriarchical monarchy based in the Skovos Isles. Established following the downfall of the nephalem, the Skovos Isles would be settled and undergo a series of expansion under the militaristic matriarchal Askari, who would later enact a policy of isolation near the beginning of the 2nd century AK, which has only recently begun to go away with. 
== History ==
Askari society stretches over centuries, though given how far their mythology dates back, its actual origins lie back millennia in the past. Few records can precisely place down when exactly the Askari settled on the Skovos Isles, with the best estimates being around -3200 Ak.
=== Origins ===
Askari civilization has its origins with Philios, a first-generation nephalem, and Lycander, an angelic follower of Inarius. When Lilith betrayed Inarius's followers, Lycander fled back to the High Heavens, but maintained contact with Philios through a device called the Sightless Eye. In time however, Lycander's fellow angels discovered that she was communicating with someone outside Heaven, though they did not know who. Lycander ended the romance and insisted that Philios hide the Eye so that Heaven would not learn of Sanctuary's existence. A grieving Philios obliged, and hid the Eye on Skovos.
Philios wandered the world, and in time, met the mortal woman Askarra. The two fell in love, and Askarra gave birth to twin girls. The girls grew, and upon hearing tales of the Sightless Eye, vowed to recover it. Finding the Eye on Skovos, they discovered that while they could not use it to communicate with Heaven, they could use it to see the future. So it was that their culture grew with the Sightless Eye at the heart of their society. From the more stalwart sister, the Amazon Caste descended, while from the more ethereal one would come the Oracle Caste.
The exact dating for the settlement and establishment of the Askari (named after Askarra their progenitor) is unknown, with the Askari claiming they have resided on Skovos since before early man could write. Most scholars estimate that the Askari have at the very least lived on the Skovos Isles since around -2900 AK.
=== Early Expansion ===
The first Askari established a small society on the island of Skovos, guarding the Sightless Eye, and quickly expanding their domain. They built a small settlement known as Temis, which would expand over the centuries into a vast sprawling capital. The rest of neighboring islands were home either to small human tribes or unnatural monsters, and much of early Askari mythology tells legendary tales of brave heroines who conquered the dark creatures that lurked around the Skovos Isles.
Circa -2500, the entirety of the Skovos Isles had been brought under Askari domination. During this period, Askari oracles predicted the events of the Dark Exile thousands of years before it occurred; their predictions also included the fact that the three Prime Evils would rise again. Thus, the warriors of the Amazon Caste trained for millennia, turning the early Askari communities into aggressive militaristic settlements.
=== The Askari Dark Age ===
Beginning around -2400, the Skovos Isles entered into what is known as the Askari Dark Age, sometimes referred to as the Time of Many Troubles, or simply the Time of Troubles. During this period records ceased and the Askari became divided into small communities known as polis, which functioned essentially as small city-states. Prominent cities such The Dark Age was a time of warfare and conflict, with invading tribes and rampant piracy, as well as civil strife, famines, and plagues. One of the most famous incidents was the siege of the city of Tran Athulua by pirates, eventually lifted thanks to the divine intervention of the goddess Athulua herself.
Despite a period of disunity, the Dark Age produced numerous legends and myths, and numerous traditions and customs evolved that persist to this day. The greatest of these are the Philios Games, which served as a temporary period of peace and cooperation between the Askari city-states. Held in the shadow of Mount Karcheus, Amazonian competitors tested their strength, agility, and cunning, and victors were awarded a legendary shield said to have been crafted by Hefaetrus . In addition, a vast trading network sprang up, with the sea-faring Askari being adept sailors and traders, connecting the tribes of the west to the mighty Kehjistan Empire in the east.
=== Reunification ===
The Dark Age lasted until around -430 Ak, during which the twin rulers Delias and Megaera reunited their people. This started a new period of peace and development in Askari culture. New settlements were expanded and established, and the prosperous trade network already in place flourished. Thanks to their skill in sailing, the Askari became the preeminent traders of lower Sanctuary, spreading their ideas and language across the Twin Seas. Numerous ports and small colonies were founded in key locations, and flush with trade, the Askari were able to flourish like never before. 
This period of tremendous growth and prosperity lasted for centuries, with successive Oracle & Amazon Queens wisely ruling their people. This was also a period of numerous progressive reforms, with prominent Askari arguing to do away with traditional division between men and women, granting males more authority within their society. 
Many Askari of the Amazon caste began to travel further into the lands of men, finding work as mercenaries. Following the Mage Clan War, from -210 to -203, Kehjistan collapsed into various fighting warlords and minor kingdoms, and many Amazons found plenty of service in the area over the next two centuries. The role of the Amazons during this era established most of the views modern Kehjistani and Westerners have of the Askari as a whole. Amazonian mercenary groups became famous for their skill and efficiency, with legends such as Medusa the Green Snake, or the Sunspears Company. Most infamously was the "Amazon Empress" Rhea, who conquered her own kingdom and declared herself the empress of Kehjistan. 
Askari society remained largely at peace, however, until the rise of Kehjistan under a new dynasty in -92 AK. This lead to a new rivalry between Kehjistan and the Skovos Isles, with the 16th Dynasty constantly trying to expand its influence and take over Askarir trade routes and networks. Throughout the following century tensions would rise, and numerous small skirmishes would occur. 
This eventually boiled over into the Amazon War from 124-128 AK. Despite some prophetic warnings, Amazon Queen Kynthia sailed to the capital of Kehjistan in order to attempt to hammer out a peace deal between the two nations with Emperor Dunakkis II, an arrogant but brilliant military tactician. The moment she set foot off her ships, the emperor was dumbstruck by her beauty, and ordered that she be seized and promptly married her against her will. 
When news eventually reached the rest of the Askari of what had happened, the immediately prepared for war, and set on in late 124. Over the next year they fought a bloody battle to regain their queen, but Dunakkis was able to fight them successfully. However, a revolt in one of his provinces divided his forces, and in 126 the Amazonian armies managed to breach the capital. Their queen, however, was dead, and so instead they stole her daughter with Dunakkis, who quickly returned from his campaign and forced the Askair to flee. 
Raising a large fleet, Dunakkis invaded the Skovos Isles. He crushed the Askari fleets at the Battles of Spathens and Atharta, proving Kehjistani superiority over the waves, and launched a successful assault upon the islands of the Askari. To help his cause, he orchestrated mass revolts by the men of Skovos, who wanted more rights and powers within their society. By 128, thanks to his tactical planning and military genius, he had successfully crushed most armies sent against him, though he suffered heavy damage and bad supply lines. That year he attacked the Askari capital of Temis, laying siege to the city for months. However, the defenders would not give in, and so Dunakkis feigned a retreat from the area. The Amazon defenders left the city and were promptly butchered, allowing Dunakkis to assault the now poorly defended Temis. The sack was brutal, with a bloody massacre of the entire population. Dunakkis finally retrieved his daughter and even slew the Oracle Queen, though he received crippling wounds to his left arm and legs. Following this, his army was racked by disease and terrible storms, with an extremely angry army of Amazonians marching towards his position. Razing the countryside, he fought one last pitched battle, but it was said that the gods themselves were arrayed against him, and he retreated from the field, taking the remnants of his forces back to Kehjistan. 
The Amazon War left a brutal psyche memory upon the Askari. It remains the only time their islands have been successfully invaded and their holy city of Temis lost, and it took over a decade for the remaining revolts and civil infighting under Queen Menelaia. The Askari entered into a deep state of isolation, with Kehjistan, while busy with its own political infighting, would become the dominant naval power of Sanctuary.
From 128 on, the Skovos Isles remained almost perpetually banned from outsiders, and underwent a period of conservative reforms. Trading and interacting with the outside world was forbidden, and the Askari were sharply divided among their castes. Men lost most of their previous privileges, and the Askari remained extremely defensive, attacking almost any ship that got to close to their waters.
=== The Sightless Years ===
The intensive isolation of the Askari began to wane over the centuries, and was effected dramatically by the loss of the Sightless Eye, the foundational artifact that their society was initially built upon. In 1134, a number of Askari dissidents made off with the Sightless Eye, establishing their own sisterhood in Khanduras. The reasons for this remain unclear, with some theories postulating that the Askari received a vision to do so, Regardless of the cause, the lost of their society's most treasured relic caused immediate uproar, with Queen Nysa raising an army to retrieve it. She marched her forces into Khanduras and the Kingdom of Westmarch, and other small Amazon forces were sent out across Sanctuary to look for the Sightless Eye. While taking as much care as to avoid trouble, the people of the Western Kingdoms did not appreciate these strange armored foreign women in their lands. Westmarch, under the reign of King Justinian I, did not stand for it, and the two forces soon came to blows. A small army under the Amazon Queen Nysa managed to defeat a larger force of Westmarch soldiers at the Battle of Oxencross, leading to a dramatic escalation in conflict. King Justinian lead rallied his own army to push the invaders out of Westmarch, and the two forces met at the city of Kingsport. On the dawn of the battle, however, the Amazons retreated, with Queen Nysa appearing before King Justinian and then promptly ordering her entire host to return to Skovos, and upon return claimed that the "gods themselves spoke" to her.
The remainder of the Sightless Years saw a slow but gradual opening up of the Askari Queendom. A few ports and cities were opened to some limited trade. In addition, a few Amazons began to venture out into Sanctuary, seeking a chance to hone their battle skills as mercenaries. By 1200 merchant fleets had begun to sail out across Sanctuary, with the Askari embracing their traditional seafaring ways. In addition, the overt military style invasion to search for the Sightless Eye were stopped, and the Askari began to turn to less offensive methods. Trade and travel became encouraged to see if the location of their relic could be discovered, and young Amazons began to set out onto Sanctuary to gain experience, and secretly keep watch for their sacred artifact.
On Skovos itself, the loss of the Sightless Eye lead to dramatic political shifts. The Oracle Caste, which had been the second pillar in Askari society, found themselves without their principle means of forecasting (though other methods exist), and so power became more and more relegated in the hands of the militaristic Amazon caste. While the Oracles are still influencial and revered, the Amazons are the true power within Askari society, and the the line between Amazon and Askari has blurred much.
One Amazon warrior in particular has played a vital role in recent years. Cassia took part in the battle against the Prime Evils in the 13th century, allying with a number of other heroes and the Horadric scholar, Deckard Cain. However, their predictions did not end there, and they believed that the demonic hordes would rise again. Thus, Cassia returned to her homeland to train an army.
== Government ==
==== Administration ====
The Askari operate under a matriarchal government. Men are responsible for any number of positions in the community, government, and clergy, as well as merchant and agricultural occupations. However, their voices carry less weight in Askari affairs, and males are prohibited from holding the highest offices. In truth, political power is shared between two castes—the warrior Amazons, and the mystic Oracles. In fact, the name Amazon is incorrectly applied to the entirety of Askari culture, because the aggressive Amazons are the first and often only contacts the rest of Sanctuary has. Each caste is represented by a queen, and thus, both queens rule the Skovos Isles in tandem. Each queen is generally succeeded by their youngest daughter, with many dynasties ruling each caste. However, anyone can challenge a new queen to a trial of combat if they believe themselves worthy.
==== External Relations ====
In regards to the wider world of Sanctuary, the Askari are a relatively isolated culture. That being said, as a seafaring culture, the Askari were one of the first civilizations to make contact with both the kingdoms of the West, and Kehjistan of the East. Their prominence in the world's trade establishment has afforded their warriors the reputation they currently enjoy as cunning strategists and skilled combatants. They are much sought after as mercenaries, being both expert soldiers as well as extremely loyal, as long as the assignment does not conflict with their strict sense of ethics. At times though, nomadic bands of Amazon warriors roaming the South Sea come into hostile contact with other peoples. The Askari maintain vast merchant fleets that sail to the far corners of the world.
== Military ==
Intense training and stern discipline make Amazon warriors formidable foes. Their agility and combination of magical and martial prowess make them flexible and adept opponents in battle. Specific training is carried out to help Amazon warriors avoid potentially devastating blows. Through strict martial discipline and focus, an Amazon warrior can attune herself to her environment and the dangers around her, allowing her to react to these hazards with superhuman agility. One aspect of this ability is her knack for avoiding missile fire.
On the martial side, Amazon warriors are highly regarded with their skill with the bow, their ability rivaled only by the Sisters of the Sightless Eye. Unlike the Sisterhood though, Amazons are also adept in the use of the spear and other such weapons. In regards to magic, Amazons can wield prime and holy magic.
Some Amazons take upon the path of the healer, a worthy path due to the toxicity of many native plant species in their homeland. They may also be blessed by their deities should they prove worthy.
When needed, the Amazons may call together their entire standing army, which is organized into units of centuries, or 100 women, led by a centurion. A century is made up of 10 decades, with one decade made up of 10 soldiers, and lead by decadiene. 
== Geography ==
The Skovos Isles, known largely to outsiders as the Amazon Islands, is the homeland of the Askari. Within the southern Twin Seas, they consist of four main islands: Philios, Skovos, Lycander, Skartara, as well as several smaller ones. For the most part, the islands possess an ever-balmy climate, and winter never seems to arrive. Only the permanently snow-covered peak of Mount Karcheus breaks the expanses of lush forests on the islands.
The isles possess a dense rain-forest environment that teems with life. It is in the forest canopy in which the Askari have constructed their cities. The canopy is so dense that little light reaches the ground. Hunting through the forests' undergrowth is fraught with many obstacles; confining overgrowth and fierce indigenous animals conspire to make combat difficult, if not impossible, though the Amazons have adapted to their forest home in this regard. Some of the native flora is toxic.
=== Known Locations ===
* Mount Arnazeus (located on Philios)
* Mount Karcheus (located on Philios)
** Great Hall of Mirrors
* Tran Athulua
* Temis (capital)
== Culture & Society ==
Askari hold their architecture as a source of pride. Having had millennia to adapt to their tropical home, their cities are an architectural phenomenon. They hold the destruction of the Prime Evils as their destiny, ushering in a new era when mortal men and women can at long last take their rightful place in the universe, no longer merely playthings for the beings of the Outer Realms.
The Amazon is a powerful woman warrior of the Askari, who belongs to nomadic bands who roam the plains near the South Sea. The wandering of these groups often brings them into conflict with other peoples, so the Amazon is accustomed to fighting to defend her own. This lifestyle has made her fiercely independent and able to weather severe hardship and travel. While her skill with the Bow rivals that of the Rogues, the Amazon is also adept in the use of Spears and Javelins, as well as in hand to hand combat. Amazon Weapons are items which only Amazons can equip. These are special Bows, Javelins and Spears. The Amazon is much sought after as a mercenary, in which type of service she will be loyal as long as her own ends are also served.
=== Martial Prowess ===
In Askari culture, only women serve as warriors, as their lithe bodies and superior dexterity are better suited than men for the dense jungles of their homeland. Amazon warriors are known for their deftness, superior hand-to-eye coordination, and the ferocity of their attacks. In the jungles of their homeland, Amazons are adept at the tactics of misdirection, and can even draw on the jungle to support themselves. The jungle itself can be a hindrance though, and early in training, Amazon warriors are taught how to overcome these conditions. Indeed, all Askari are taught how to hunt and fight during the night of the jungles.
Their society is far from stratified, however, as men are responsible for any number of positions in the community, government, and clergy, as well as merchant and agricultural occupations.
The Amazon people are a relatively isolated culture. Adapting over the centuries to their tropical milieu, they have built magnificent cities in the forest canopy. These cities are an architectural phenomenon and a source of great pride to the Amazon people. They do not follow the teachings of the Zakarum, but instead practice a polytheistic religion that adheres to the strict principles of Order. Their oracles long ago predicted the Dark Exile, and they have been preparing to combat it ever since. Amazons regard the destruction of the Three Prime Evils as their destiny, ushering in a new era when mortal men and women can at long last take their rightful place in the universe, no longer merely playthings for the beings of the Outer Realms.
The Amazons are a seafaring people, one of the first to have made trade contact with both the Kingdoms of the West and with Kejhistan in the East. Their prominence in the world’s trade establishment has afforded their warriors the reputation they currently enjoy as cunning strategists and skilled combatants. They are much sought after as mercenaries, being both expert soldiers as well as extremely loyal - as long as the assignment does not conflict with their strict sense of ethics.
=== Religion ===
Their pantheon of gods consists of a well-defined hierarchy, each member upholding some segment of the balance of Order. It is this strong sense of order that drives the Amazon people to achieve greatness in even the smallest of their endeavors. Their prime deity is Athulua who, with her consort, Kethryes, rules over the seasons and the weather. Under these Goddesses are a wide assortment of lesser deities, each responsible for his or her own sphere of influence among the Amazon people’s daily life. The Amazons believe this pantheon is the remnant of the original inhabitants that settled the islands centuries ago. According to ancient records, they share the same names as these gods, although aspects of their personalities seem to have evolved over the centuries.
Many Askari devote themselves to a specific "path," choosing to devote their entire lives to the service of a specific god, usually by becoming a member of priesthood of their deity, though this can also refer to the military allignement of a warrior. Spearwomen of the Path of Zerae, for example, are often regarded as "violent and indiscriminate as the Twin Seas."
Askari religion is polytheistic. The core of their mythology revolves around Philios and Lycander, but otherwise, their pantheon of gods consists of a well-defined hierarchy of two prime deities and numerous lesser ones, each member upholding some segment of the balance of Order. It is this strong sense of order that drives the Amazon people to achieve greatness in even the smallest of their endeavors. The Amazons believe this pantheon is the remnant of the original inhabitants that settled the islands centuries ago. According to ancient records, they share the same names as these gods, although aspects of their personalities seem to have evolved over the centuries.  Known deities include:
* Athulua (prime deity, rules over the seasons and weather)
* Hefaetrus (lesser deity, god of fire and rebirth)
* Karcheus (lesser deity, known as "the Watcher")
* Kethryes (prime deity, consort of Athulua, co-rules with her)
* Zerae (lesser deity, goddess of vengeance and storms, bride of Hefaetrus; She prizes the Amazons devoted to her by giving the power to enchant their javelin and arrows with Lightning. The ones that are most devoted to her try to pass the Rites of Vengeance, and are even further rewarded)
*Tellis - God of wisdom, cleverness, and strategy, frequently courts mortal women
*Melita - Goddess of trees, nature, fruits, and natural landscape, as well as fertility
Other figures of note include Palashia and Celestia, though these individuals are not deities. It is also worth noting that the Askari appear to have a concept of the afterlife.
Category:The Servant