History of Ischanor

This is a conclusive History of Ischanor and its immediate surroundings.
== Geologic past ==
The geology of Kejafros, and Abexilas as a whole, is currently poorly understood. However, the earliest rocks known in Ischanor are a series of hard migmatites and gneisses. These are heterogeneous, as some grade into schist and eventually slate; others appear to rest nonconformably onto slate beds.
Some of the earliest surficial formations in southern Ischanor comprise the Nadzija Sandstone, a formation that, despite its name, actually includes more than just sandstone but also breccia and conglomerate. These likely originated from a small mountain belt further to the west which has since eroded significantly. The overlying formations seem to reflect a continued orogeny as there are much larger overlying conglomerate beds, which grade sandstone, claystone and shale, and eventually into limestone progressively moving east. The southeast of Kejafros, therefore, appears to have been a sedimentary basin which preserved a coastal and shallow-marine environment that persisted for millions of years. 
The economic ramifications of the geologic past is very important; the Lowelthangia Formation, a series of carbonate rocks, was extensively mined for its chalk, gypsum, and oolite, the latter of which was used extensively in construction. It and the overlying Ogogrok Limestone and Seraphia Formation all can host beds and nodules of chert and flint, both of which are useful in the manufacture of stone tools. Ancient stone tools made from these locations can be found across Kejafros. The Valkenlase Formation is known for its coal seams, and supports the mining economy of Free City of Selidoar in the modern day. 
The continent of Kejafros is split tectonically into two large sections; the Kejan plate, making up most of the continent's landmass, and the Sentaro-Coran'i Plate, which comprises the westernmost landmasses. These lands were probably once part of a separate continent, with contiguous landmasses stretching to the Mnian plate in modern Talasi, but the continent had separated millions of years prior. A rift valley between the Mnian, Rozakkoran, and Sentaro-Coran'i plates formed and eventually the eastern pieces collided with the rest of modern Kejafros. 
This collision resulted in the formation of the Mejranica mountain range to the east of the continent, during a period called the Mejranican Orogeny. This period also saw occasional volcanism, as the subducting oceanic portions of the Sentaro-Corani Plate spurred the upwards motion of magma as far east as Marisvalor. There were secondary tectonic events even further east, which may be related to the collision. This closed off the Southeastern Sedimentary Basin, and caused the folding and exposure of the rock layers now shown on the surface. 
== Stone Age ==
There is little known evidence of human habitation in Kejafros prior to the Neolithic. The earliest sentient beings known from the archaeological records on the continent are ancestral Noctadel elves, themselves at the time hunter-gatherers. It is possible that humans, having higher birthrates than elves, came to the continent in lower numbers but quickly outpopulated their contemporaries. Most tool industries at the time appear to be shared by both (or all) present sophont groups for a long time, mostly consisting of various tools made from nodular flint harvested in southeastern Ischanor. 
In the Neolithic, the two main human ethnolinguistic groups, the Aysari and Baszku, resided in the southern tundra. The Aysari were very fond of earthworks, constructing massive barrows and monumental mounds. These mounds were almost always oriented in an east-west manner to match the rising and falling of the sun. Pit houses were among the most common dwellings, although other forms of housing certainly did exist. Storage pits were also a common attribute of an Aysari settlement. For most of Aysari history, they were hunter gatherers until the introduction of pastoralism from ancient Herlundians, and then agriculture from outside of the continent. Many of these ancient lifeways are still practiced today among the Lachawakans.
The Aysari worshiped at least 3 deities, *dʰridas the creator, *xurabuz the moon, and *xeljas the sun. *dʰridas is distantly related to the names of creator gods Diena and Aldreda. It is clear that the creator was genderless, as in the Children of Diena, the creator is interpreted as a female, while in the Ischanic Church, Aldreda is physically genderless, but is usually referred to with masculine pronouns. The three god system was carried along with the Ischanic peoples, who continued the tradition, while the Thoadrala people added on the concept of a larger pantheon.
=== Aysar Migrations ===
At around 5000 AIAF, or roughly 5100 years before Abexilas launch, a warm spell caused a population increase in game and local forage, which caused an Aysari population boom. This was followed by a short freezing, which forced the new population to move northward in search of food. This event is known from ice cores taken from mountain glaciers throughout southern Ischanor and Zilatra, as well as in oral histories of the Lachawakans.
They migrated north in two distinct groups, the Proto-Lynari and Eastern Aysari. The Proto-Lynari people occupied the Lynari peninsula, which at the time was full of abundant game animals like horses and wild oxen. The Eastern Aysari moved into the Celrasi Plains, displacing the native Proto-Herlundians southward and making room for the Lachawakans and Lowelthangians. The Eastern Aysari could have been a descendant of an older Central Aysari, but this is unconfirmed.
At 4500 AIAF the Proto-Inóc people split off from Eastern Aysari and move into modern Lenogath, as well as displacing some Eastern Aysari northward. At a similar time, the Proto-Ojszari move north into the tundra. Arsenical bronze farming tools are also found during this time period. Proper bronze working develops gradually until the formation of Bodevaure, the most prominent Bronze Age Empire.
In roughly 4000 AIAF, the Thoadrala culture crops up in the Celrasi plains as the descendant of Eastern Aysari people. Their pottery spreads throughout the rivers connecting Ischanor, but the east remains dominated by early Inóc farming villages. In 3500 AIAF, the final Aysari migration occurs into the Artsvehhi, becoming the Proto-Ischanic People. During the migrations, Proto-Baszku people likely followed the Aysars as they traveled, but most supplemented the Aysari lands.
== Bronze Age ==
=== Polities of Bodevōre ===
The Polities of Bodevōre formed the first major state to exist within Kejafros (c. 3400 AIAF). The Bodevōre did not leave much in the way of the archeological record, but their cultivation of millet and potatoes was among the first to occur at such a large scale. Along with this, they frequently traded with the Baszku, importing and growing their native plantains. Bodevōre was a part of a larger sociolinguistic group known to scholars as Central Aysari, which is now extinct, This culture mostly formed into cities states which frequently warred. However, the Bodevōre was the largest state to successfully unify them all. The Bodevōre followed Aysari tradition in that they constructed massive earthworks, and on the top of the massive mounds were temples, noble villas, or mortuaries. Sometimes, in the case of large and complex platform mounds, there were secondary hills on top of the main hill.
The Bodevōre was in a constant state of flux, warring with the local Lynari, Central Aysari and Ischanics, conquering and losing cities constantly. This had the effect of the capital moving on a frequent basis, usually coinciding with the changing in Kings. There were two notable periods of prosperity, namely by King Ōpsibeš I (A common given name, tracing back to Aysari *olpse "narrow" + *pers "face"), and later, King Sumeš IV. Kings of the Bodevōre commonly took names of their predecessors upon receiving kingship
.
=== King Ōpsibeš I ===
King Ōpsibeš I (c. 3340 - 3290 AIAF) was known for his conquest of the northern Proto-Lynari people, as well as plunder-motivated campaigns into the Artsvehhi and neighboring Central Aysar city-states. His reign was distinguished by not following primogeniture and instead stating his nephew as heir, most likely due to corruption of his direct descendants.
=== King Sumeš IV ===
King Sumeš IV (c. 3100 - 3060 AIAF) was known for great administrative reform, as well as pillaging and exploring as far east as the Inúc people.  His reform saw this capital stabilize into one location, as well as the standardization of writing, and formation of a massive law code. The pillaging to the east brought great wealth and prestige, but their southern territories were lost to a Lynari coalition while Sumeš IV was preoccupied.
=== End of the Bodevōre Polities ===
The Bodevōre state was succeeded by a collection of sometimes aligned city states, which were eventually ruled over partially by Ischanic peoples and the Thondean Empire, which saw the assimilation and extinction of Bodevōre people. Their presence remains, mostly linguistically, as well as their platform mound architecture. Their word for copper, numios, is the root for most Ischanic words for bronze or copper.
=== Inóc Culture ===
Inóc is the broad term for the cultures descending from Proto-Inóc, which is the ethnolinguistic makeup of modern-day Lenógath. At the time of the bronze age, Inóc farmers were using arsenical bronze until the much delayed introduction of Tin via Kobold trading routes. At this time, the Inóc outnumbered Thoadralan peoples, and continued to push them northward as Inóc society developed. Still, the Inóc remained relatively unorganized themselves, keeping to local tribes and not forming large-scale kingdoms or empires until the 1st millennium AIAF.
== Iron Age ==
By the start of the Iron age, the eastern plains had fully developed into agricultural city states, farming mostly potatoes and millet. Wheat agriculture began to spread its way from the west, as Meimeienn traders from Rozakkora began to trade with Ojszari tribes in what is now Gran Coran'i, and Testificate traders slowly spread other crops from around the world. Though the process took hundreds of years (due to the lack of any centralized states in the region), most modern grains, vegetables, and livestock had reached what was to become Ischanor by about 2000 AIAF. 
Despite the advent of new technologies, including iron and various new foods, many of the various peoples of ancient Ischanor held out from the innovation to live off the land. Several different hunter-gatherer tribes roamed the land, often finding success eking out a living in the mountains and interior where agriculture was particularly difficult. These tribes hunted, fished, and gathered much as their Aysar ancestors did, usually worshiping a nature goddess of many names. They were skilled hunters and formed relationships with settled peoples by maintaining a consistent fur trade with the farming tribes. They came into conflict whenever these hunting tribes encroached into the lands of farming tribes, usually to set up fishing camps along the rivers and coasts. Further conflict ensued as the forests the hunters dwelled in were felled for timber. These hunter tribes slowly became rarer and rarer until only a single tribe remained in the Sek Anqe swamps- the ancestors of the modern Lachawakans. 
== Thondeum ==
One particular tribe around Lake Thoaldrala became specialized as fishers. It is not known if they were descendants of the later hunter-gatherers, or merely influenced by them; but these peoples had a strong tradition of fishing the lake for its abundant fish. Yet it is recorded that in 1673 AIAF these small tribes united to form a confederation of four important city-states. Visgralai, Igidrium, Cilraz, and Thondeum, all four of which were important to both the fishing industry and trade networks of Iron Age Kejafros, began to form the first true empire in Ischanori history under the rule of king Thīnur Icondē. 
=== Suzerain ===
Thīnur ruled from 1673 - 1640 AIAF, absorbing some of the neighboring Thoaldralan city-states under his own rule. His middle son, Numiē Iconthur, ruled from his father's death to about 1612 AIAF, and created the first Holy Council. Whilst for the next few decades the surrounding Thoaldralan city-states and tribes were functionally independent in many ways, they found themselves increasingly relying on the Thondean Suzerain for protection, especially against raids from the Inóc kingdoms to the south. 
=== Empire ===
By 1462 AIAF, power became centralized within the city of Thondeum itself, reforming into a proper empire. This period saw rapid expansion of Thondeum. The Thondeans were able to integrate the rest of the Thoaldralan peoples, and set themselves towards the conquests of the Inóc/Lenógach kingdoms to the south, fighting the Settler's War and the Merchant's War. 
Once the Lenógach had been subjugated, the Thondeans then moved further south, conquering the proto-Ischanic tribes to the west and the tribes of modern Lovvres. In the far south, the pigmen tribes of what would become the Herlundy became tributaries of Thondeum. However, the Thondeans sought greater control of their immediate frontier, and set to conquer the Lowelthangian and Lachawakan tribes. The Lowelthangians succumbed to the Thondeans, who had built a large castle atop the local mountain, and used this fortress as a military stronghold over the tribes. The Lowelthangians were exploited largely for slave labor, both in the limestone quarries and for channelizing the Sek Anqe swamps for the Thondean riverboats to go through. Through the oppression of the Lowelthangians, the city of Kalkenstein was built and eventually their descendants would come to rule the city as its own free state. 
The radical changes to the water flow of the swamp drastically affected the fish population on which the Lachawakans depended on, which angered the tribe severely. This prompted a revolt, and raids on trading ships, military convoys, outposts, and villages in and around the Sek Anqe. These raids by the Lachawakans were difficult to combat, as the hunters proved to be excellent guerilla fighters in their swampy homeland. 
=== Collapse ===
The empire reached its maximum territorial extent around the 1240s AIAF, pushing as far west as the Mejranica Mountains and the western coasts of Kejafros. It controlled almost all but the southwestern territories of modern Ischanor. However, the empire soon plunged into a large civil war, which only concluded in 1250 AIAF. This began a long, slow period of collapse. 
== Modern history ==
=== Founding ===
The modern state of Ischanor was founded around 52 BVE, or 0 AF, roughly a century prior to the arrival of Iristor's Comet. Each state joined the burgeoning new Ischanor empire for a myriad of reasons. Tsiladen, having been established as a country only a few centuries prior, had its capital of Vallumae ravaged by a severe earthquake, and Ischanor promised to aid the ailing nation. The main driving force behind the founding of Ischanor, however, was the slow collapse of Rugundy, the last hegemonic empire before Ischanor. The fall of Rugundy was largely due to the rise of Lorenis, which formed an alliance between Celras and Lynarith that eventually grew into the modern Empire. 
=== Dawn of the Voyager's Era ===
The founding states were eventually met with an influx of refugees around the first years VE, who settled in the regions of Osriguard, Selidoar, Beloslavia, and more.
The first emperor of the Voyager's Era, Kanasky II of house Toss, was sworn in as Emperor in the spring of 0 VE after the death of his father Kanasky I. His rule brought in the refugee states to Ischanor, and continued bureaucratic reform of his predecessors. It was at this time that Ischanor became the single most populous country in Abexilas. Initially having several border disputes with the then-new settler states, especially those in the north and with Vinovia, the new borders solidified as the imperial government maintained peace with all. Despite this, the sheer size of the empire's claims drew the ire of many external viewers, who grew critical of these territorial claims believing Ischanor was overclaiming; these eventually dispelled as it became clear that Ischanor was very densely populated.
The largest dispute of these was with Vinovia, which (albeit unseriously) insisted on claiming nearly the entire southeastern region for itself and its allies. However, the Vinovian forces that reached Abexilas from Rathnir were only able to stake out small parts of the Lynari Peninsula and southern Marisvalor, as well as a few exclaves in the center. This situation became the central dispute in Ischanori foreign policy discussions, and a long cold war between Vinovia and Ischanor became the status quo for decades. During this time, emperor Kanasky II entered a marriage alliance with Thession I of Chimeria in 08 VE. Later on, in 16 VE, Kanasky II signed military alliances with Jarazeh and Aethos furthering Ischanor's diplomatic ties to other continents.
==== Frogist Uprising ====
In the autumn of 18 VE, the Selroan Senate had a round of snap elections. Thus began a debate, which led to rioting in the streets of Selroa. A flying, talking frog appeared to the people, which began attracting followers. It appeared to fire lighting from the sky at those who opposed it. The frog then commanded its followers to lay siege to the Ischanic church in Lisvar City. The Zealots defending the church retreated to Selroa where they regrouped as the Frogists claimed victory.
The Frogists then turned their sights back to Selroa, where their Zealot opponents were fortifying. Another battle happened which lasted into the following year, ending in another Frogist victory. The zealots pleaded the imperial government to intervene, but to no avail. Both side gained forces- the Frogists from Cirion and the Zealots from Celras. Now erupting into a full-blown civil war, the Frogists laid siege again to the castle at Bachengart, a stronghold of the Zealots. The defending Zealots won at Bachengart, but then the Frogists set their sights towards the capital of Lisvar City once more. They decided to finish the job of securing the capital city, and with the Kobolds of Tharx refusing to aid the Zealots in their campaign the capital fell once and for all to the Frogists. By this time, the frog declared "total victory", and both sides negotiated for peace.
==== Tossing of Toss ====
Upon the summer solstice of 20 VE, rumors had spread of great misconduct committed by the emperor; Kanasky II stepped down after allegations of abusive behavior towards minors seemed to be confirmed by multiple sources. The entire rest of the empire seemed to reject him in reaction to these deeds as they came to light. 
In his place was Floki Bygederic, then king of Lynarith, who was immediately and unanimously crowned as the new emperor. A campaign to restore Ischanori public image was immediately put in place explaining that the nation's identity and politics had little to do with the former emperor, as the international community learned of his deeds in horror.
=== Reign of Emperor Floki I Bygederic ===
As emperor Floki I solidified his rule and Ischanor began the process of 'detossification', the country seemed not to last much longer. However, the new emperor's efforts proved successful in keeping Ischanor a whole nation, as the kingdom of Lorenis tried to wipe the old Toss dynasty from its own identity, and the imperial capital moved to Lynathorpe.
To raise national morale and maintain unity, emperor Floki led the nation with an annual Imperial Booze Cruise, wherein a drunken entourage with the emperor and imperial Round Table visited several cities across the country. Reforms were made to the empire, including a new tax code, replacing the old and inefficient point system that was previously in effect for the past two decades. Many new roads were constructed during the new era, as part of the imperial highway network; these new roads were funded with the new taxes. The rest of these funds went to rejuvenating the military and culture ministry.
==== Proxy wars ====
In 24 VE, Ischanor joined the Order of Liberty alongside its ally of Aethos, adding Dyshella, Amyris, Rozow, and Vhagaria as its allies. Merely a year later, however, a dispute over land ownership in Talasi led to the outbreak of the Sting War between Beepeck and Brukel, the Voyager's Era's first major armed conflict. Despite not being allied with Beepeck- in fact, many Ischanori citizens protested the act of war involvement due to their negative views on the belligerent country- many of Ischanor's allies found themselves on Beepeck's side in the war. Further alignment was caused by Vinovia, still Ischanor's regional rival, supporting Brukel's side. Ischanor, to support its allies, combat their rival in a proxy war, and gain an upper hand in diplomacy with Beepeck, decided to lend military aid in the form of materiel and mercenaries to Beepeck's side. Despite Beepeck's loss in the war, Ischanor was still able to seize economic gains from their involvement, in the form of mercenary contracts and some war gear as spoils 
The Vinovians began to lose some of their claims to inactivity and lack of funding. The loss of their claim of Kallos, their largest town, further invigorated Ischanor as the Marisvalorians took back land they saw as rightfully theirs, and it seemed that victory against the enemy would come not with war but a patient outlasting. Plans to construct a new imperial capital at Eivōras were put into place in the fall of 25 VE. The city is planned to be built at the edge of a eucalypt forest, atop the ruins of one of the former Vinovian exclaves in the Ischanori heartland.
==== Celrasi-Lenógach Dispute ====
The years following the ascension of Emperor Floki I were stable, but not without internal conflicts. Most internal disputes were centered around borders or land, but one of the largest disputes was between Celras and its vassal kingdom, Lenógath. A movement consisting of two towns, Gotread and Clumah (now Thienora), had begun, aiming to leave Lenógath and integrate into Celras. Their dispute lied with their liege lord, Count Bréant Alúch, due to disputes on methods of recruiting and inaction regarding growing inactivity within the county. The Baron of Clumah was convinced to stay with Lenógath initially, but then gave up his town to move into Celras. Count Bréant demanded the King of Celras, Silvarie Vros Hirfeas, to not accept Gotread into Celras. When King Silvarie decided to accept Gotread, Count Bréant immediately contacted Celras's other vassals, Turtlestad and Thallasia, and began plotting secession from Celras. This failed however, as King Silvarie immediately learned of this fact, and ejected Lenogath from Celras dishonourably. King Silvarie and his cousin Lucius Raene went to Lynathorpe to announce the decision, saying the following,
Ironically, 18 years later in 96 AL, after the death of Silvarie I and the ascencion of Remon I, 75% of Lenógath would be bought back by Celras due to inactivity and integrated into a new subrealm Arroveas.
==== The Imperial Charter and Imperial Court ====
Emperor Floki I's reign would also see the rise in administrative reform, both in the ministries, but heavily codifying the Imperial Government. This would come to a climax in the creation of the Imperial Charter by King of Celras Silvarie, who established a 28 page document outlining nearly every function of the Imperial Government. Along with this, it established a high judiciary, the Imperial Court, which would act as judges for cases of high importance. Silvarie, also one of 3 Arbiters serving on the Imperial Court, wrote the first opinion in 87 AL detailing a resolution to a conflict based where coastal realms had disagreed on the existance of artificial islands, and construction had gone on without unanimous support, with insuing violence.
The Opinion was quickly recognized by the involved realms, and the discussion for a unanimous contract regarding the artificial islands (natural islands in-lore) remains ongoing, however, it showcases the effectiveness and robustness of Imperial Institutions in conflict resolution.
The first case of the Imperial Court was Turtlestad v. Selidoar, alleging that Oogway island was rightfully Turtlestadi and that it should not be in the hands of Selidoar. but the defense quickly backed down and recognized Turtlestad as the owner, despite previous claims to the island. The case was then dismissed.
Category:Ischanor
Category:History