Rise and Fall of Iysgarth

This tome, found by Tamsin on Fishguard, documents the Rise and Fall of the Iysgarth Empire, as written by Melanie Loverby.

## **Abstract**

In 1632 PB, Ivar “The Bloody” Garth declared himself High Emperor of the Iysgarthian Empire. Since then, the Iysgarthian Empire has ruled over varying extents of Ostaria and the Archipelago to the west. The Empires territory peaked approximately 150 years ago following the Shastina Sea Dynasty, at which point almost the entire Archipelago and Ostaria were under imperial control. However, over the next 100 years, a series of civil wars, militant uprisings and general mismanagement caused the Empire to lose much of its territory, power and influence. At the time of writing, the Iysgarthian Empire is limited to Ostaria (minus Merchendale, Naraccard and the Wastelands, which were never truly part of the Empire at all) and the Island of Ansgarth. Yet, despite being much smaller and less powerful than at its prime, the Iysgarthian Empire still wields significant military and economic power. As such, many of the now independent islands of the Archipelago fear that one day the Empire might try to reclaim their lost territory. This tome outlines the Rise and Fall of the Iysgarthian Empire through an overview of the High Emperors and Empresses that have ruled it. The tome concludes with a description of Iysgarthian power structure, military tactics and weaponry.

Overview timeline of the High Emperors and Empresses of Iysgarth:

* Ivar “the Bloody” Garth, First Emperor of Iysgarth (1632 – 1643 PB)
* Rosanna “the Wise” Garth, First Empress of Iysgarth (1643 – 1690 PB) [Eldest daughter of Ivar]
* Fasyldan “the Fortifier” Garth, Second Emperor of Iysgarth (1690 – 1719 PB) [Eldest son of Rosanna]
* Renys “the Researcher” Garth, Third Emperor of Iysgarth (1719 – 1782 PB) [Eldest nephew of Fasyldan]
* Shastina “the Seaborne” Garth, first of her name, Second Empress of Iysgarth (1782 – 1809 PB) [Eldest daughter of Renys]
* Shastina “the Seaborne” Garth, second of her name, Third Empress of Iysgarth, (1809 – 1843 PB) [Eldest daughter of Shastina, first of her name]
* Shastina “the Seaborne” Garth, third of her name, Fourth Empress of Iysgarth (1843 – 1868 PB) [Eldest daughter of Shastina, second of her name]
* Leon “the Lost Garth, Fourth Emperor of Iysgarth (1868 – 1875 PB) [ Eldest son of Shastina, third of her name]
* \*Wenceslas “the Weak” Garth, Fifth Emperor of Iysgarth (1875 – 1909 PB) [Eldest son of Leon]
* \*Daedalus “the Deposed” Garth, Sixth Emperor of Iysgarth (1909 – 1915 PB) [Nephew of Wenceslas]
* \*Geralt “the Gutted” Garth, Seventh Emperor of Iysgarth (1915 – 1918 PB) [Cousin of Daedalus]
* Mikael “the Mild” Garth, Eight Emperor of Iysgarth (1918 – 1953 PB) [Younger brother of Geralt]
* Rollor “the Reader” Garth, Ninth Emperor of Iysgarth (1953 – 1985 PB) [Eldest son of Mikael]
* Cristina “the Corrupt” Garth, Fifth Empress of Iysgarth (1985 – 2014) [Eldest daughter of Rollor]
* Seraphina Garth, Sixth Empress of Iysgarth (2014 – present; 2021 PB) [Eldest daughter of Cristina]

\* = periods of civil war.

## **The Rise of House Garth**

In the year 1400 PB, House Garth were a minor noble family who ruled over a small duchy of towns from their Fortified Homestead, Iysgarth, on the shores of the Sidra Sea. The land in this region was exceptionally fertile, and the territory ruled by House Garth soon became a major exporter of agricultural produce within Ostaria and beyond. House Garth used the taxes raised on their land to invest in better infrastructure, expanding Iysgarth to be ever bigger and well-fortified, whilst ensuring the villages and towns they ruled over were well connected by road and sea. For several generations, House Garth were content with a peaceful yet steady expansion, whereby new territory was legally acquired via purchases and marriage. By the year 1600, House Garth ruled over a significant portion of south-eastern Ostaria, and had built up a dedicated House guard and small navy to protect their interests.

### Ivar the Bloody, First Emperor of Iysgarth

The peaceful expansion of House Garth came to an end in the year 1,620 PB, when Ivar Garth (later to be known as Ivar “the Bloody”) suddenly ascended to the head of House Garth following the suspicious and untimely death of his father\*, Randyll Garth. Ivar had always had ambitions for war, and quickly began expanding both the navy and House guard, the latter of which he rebranded as his personal militia. In the year 1624 PB, Ivar launched a sudden attack on the Island of Tahir, which lay to the south-east of Iysgarth. On reaching Tahir, Ivar and his forces quickly and bloodily subdued the indigenous populations (mostly Dragonborn), who were caught completely unaware by the sudden show of military might. Ivar declared that Tahir was now under the direct rule of Iysgarth, and would from then on be known as Ansgarth (in old Iysgarthian, “Ans” means “also”, so the name literally translates to “also of Garth”). Following the successful annexation of Ansgarth, Ivar spent the next two decades waging war across Ostaria, eventually taking control of the Dwarven lands surrounding the great mining city of Eastcairn, the Elven lands of Faendorei and the human-halfling-gnome populated shires between The Spine and Ramsdale. In the year 1632 PB, Ivar declared himself High Emperor of the Iysgarthian Empire. Over the next 10 years, Ivar consolidated his forces across those territories he had already taken, whilst violently quelling various attempted uprisings.

Ivar then turned his attentions to western Ostaria, deciding to conquer the Wastelands and Orc fortress-city of Naraccard, both of which lay on the far north western tip of Ostaria. In the year 1643 PB, having established a huge military force at Ramsdale, Ivar led his armies west into the Wastelands. This was to be the last excursion Ivar ever made. Little is known of what exactly transpired in the Wastelands, but the few Imperial soldiers who returned spoke of a continued series of disasters. They told of the Iysgarthian forces being constantly attacked and harried in guerrilla-style raids by “huge horse-like creatures”, whilst the scorching days and freezing nights proved too much for their own men and horses to bear. By the time the Iysgarth forces reached Naraccard their numbers were reduced by half, and those who had survived were starving and weak. Yet, Ivar was not to be dissuaded from his conquest, and he insisted that the assault on Naraccard went ahead. After a two-day battle, the Orcs of Naraccard emerged victorious with Ivar’s head on a stick and the Iysgarthian forces scattered to the winds. Never again would an Iysgarthian army attempt to cross the Wastelands.

*\*According to recent research published by Professor Merlin Xander, expert restorationist and former Head of the Iysgarth University Department of History and Ancient Literature, Ivar was not in fact a direct blood-relation to his father, Randyll, and was actually born of an adulterous relationship between Randyll’s wife, Vivian Garth, and a visiting minor noble, Lord Octavius. If this were true, it would call into question the legitimacy of the entire Garthian bloodline. However, this research has been viciously denounced by both the High Council of Iysgarth and the University of Iysgarth, who have jointly labelled it as “heretic”, “treasonous” and “simply false”. On publication of the research, Professor Xandar was fired from the university, stripped of his titles and accused (but not convicted) of high treason. Publication and dissemination of Professor Xandar’s research was outlawed, and the original manuscripts and sources he worked on seized, so there has been no way to independently validate whether his claims are true.*

### Rosanna the Wise, First Empress of Iysgarth

The reckless bloodlust of Ivar could have destroyed the Empire as quickly as it had built it. However, in the year 1643 PB, on hearing of her father’s death, Ivar’s eldest daughter, Rosanna Garth (later to become known as Rosanna “the Wise”), immediately assumed control of the Empire and quickly set about ensuring the Empire’s survival. Realising that the only cities with enough power to rebel were Faendorei and Eastcairn, she quickly deployed all of the Empires remaining battalions to those cities. This proved wise, and neither city was able to organise quickly enough to reclaim their independence. However, soon after this, Rosanna realised that with the Iysgarthian forces so depleted, holding Faendorei and Eastcairn by force would be impossible. As such, in a major departure from Ivar’s bloody methods, she offered both Faendorei and Eastcairn semi-autonomy in exchange for remaining within the overall jurisdiction (and most importantly tax system) of the Empire. This garnered much criticism from the other members of House Garth, but proved genius. In one stroke she removed the threat of war in both cities, thus freeing up her military forces, whilst ensuring that both remained as tax-paying vassals of the Empire. Indeed, the Dwarves of Eastcairn became actively pro-Imperial due to the economic growth the Empire brought it.  Rosanna also forged a peace-treaty with the great trade city of Merchendale, agreeing that the Iysgarthian Empire would honour Merchendale’s independence in exchange for favourable trade deals and a moderate tythe. Rosanna ruled for a total of 47 years and died peacefully aged 69, in the year 1690 PB. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Fasyldan Garth.

### Fasyldan the Fortifier, Second Emperor of Iysgarth

Fasyldan ruled the Iysgarthian Empire for 29 years. Like his mother, he had little aspiration for conquest and instead focused his efforts on construction and fortification. He began the designs and construction of the now famous Copper Spire Fort, where the Garth family reside to this day, and also invested heavily in the construction of the walls and defences around Iysgarth. Fasyldan never married, and was succeeded by his nephew, Renys, on his death in the year 1719 PB.

### Renys the Researcher, Third Emperor of Iysgarth

Renys had a mixed approach to leadership. He was involved in several battles, most notably in the brutal quelling of an uprising on Ansgarth, where he is said to have ordered that hundreds of rebel Dragonborn be burned to death. However, he spent the rest of his time engaging in more academic pursuits, founding the University of Iysgarth in the year 1736 PB. He was also responsible for the creation of the “Crimson League”. The Crimson League are an association of Mages in direct control of the current High Emperor / Empress. Initially known as simply “The League”, the Crimson League were originally a secret sect of magi who had plotted to overthrow Renys and take control of the Empire for themselves. However, one of their members betrayed them and told Renys the location of their secret headquarters. Renys sent a large force to ambush the traitorous mages, successfully capturing all of their key members. Renys had the three leaders of The League brutally flayed alive in front of the others. He then gave the other magi a choice. One, they renounce their treasonous ways and instead work for the Empire. Or two, they would be flayed “until crimson” (i.e., until dead). Perhaps unsurprisingly, the other magi chose the former and were rebranded as “The Crimson League” as a reminder that any disloyalty would result in death by flaying. Since then, the Crimson Leagues main duties have been three-fold. First, to ensure the immediate protection of the current High Emperor/Empress – it is unheard of to see an Emperor or Empress in public without at least three members of the Crimson League. Second, to seek out and destroy any potential magical threats to the Empire. Third, to control the usage of magic and magical items within the general population of Empire. The Crimson League also have a commercial side, mostly in the creation of custom spells and magical items for sail across the Empire and beyond. To this day, members of the Crimson League can be recognised by their crimson-purple robes emblazed with their sigil; a flayed man. The current High Lord Archmagi of The Crimson League is a high-elf named Syldan Fexidor. Reny’s had the longest rule of all the Iysgarthian leaders, ruling for 63 years until his death in the year 1782 PB. He was succeeded by his eldest daughter, Shastina.

### The Shastina Sea Dynasty

Unlike her immediate predecessors, Shastina was not content for the Iysgarth Empire to sit still, with ambitions for conquest on a scale not seen since Ivor the Bloody. Having travelled throughout the Archipelago as a young adult, she knew that the islands there were ripe for the taking. So, on becoming the Second Empress of Iysgarth, first of her name, in the year 1782 PB, she rapidly initiated a naval expansion programme that increased the size of the Iysgarth navy by 10-fold. Over the 27 years during which she ruled, over 54 islands of varying size were forcibly incorporated into the Empire, including the large civilisations of Butzhol, Taehia and Altheel. When Shastina died in the year 1809 PB, her plans were continued by her only daughter, also called Shastina, Third Empress of Iysgarth, second of her name. Shastina the 2nd had been well groomed for command, and over the 34 years during which she ruled a further 29 islands were added to the Empire, by which point the Iysgarthian Navy had gained complete control over the seas between the Archipelago and Ostaria. When Shastina the 2nd died in the year 1843 PB, her eldest daughter, also called Shastina, Fourth Empress of Iysgarth, third of her name, took command. She was as successful and competent as her mother and grandmother, and over the course of her 27-year rule she added 37 islands to the Empire, fully consolidating the grip of the Empire on the Seas. By the middle of her reign the Iysgarth Empire was at its peak in terms of area, number of territories and military strength. However, the last decade of her reign was undermined by consistent rebellions on the Trifecta (an alliance between Butzhol, Taehia and Altheel). Indeed, in the year 1868, Shastina the 3rd was killed during a particularly bloody uprising on Taehia, which saw the Trifecta finally gain its independence from Iysgarth.

## **The Fall of House Garth**

### Leon the Lost, Fourth Emperor of Iysgarth

When Shastina the 3rd died in the year 1868 PB, her eldest son, Leon Garth, Fourth Emperor of Iysgarth, took charge. With the Trifecta having declared independence, Leon was initially successful in stopping the fires of rebelling spreading via a combination of careful diplomacy and sheer naval might. However, in the year 1870 PB, with relative calm restored to the Empire, Leon turned his attention to the Dragon Spine Mountains and the strange misty lands to the southeast. Leon amassed an armada larger than any built during the Shastina dynasty and sailed boldly into the mists. Of the rumoured 358 ships that set out, less than 80 returned. Leon was not amongst them. Leon ruled for just 5 years, making him the 2nd shortest serving Emperor of Iysgarth. Widely known as Leon the lost many sailors believe that the ghost of Leon haunts the seas south of the Dragon Spine Mountains to this day.

### Wenceslas the Weak, Fifth Emperor of Iysgarth

In the year 1875 PB, when it was assumed that Leon was never returning, his 14-year-old son, Wenceslas Garth, was crowned the Fifth Emperor of Iysgarth. Wenceslas was widely considered to be the weakest of all Iysgarth’s Emperors and Empresses. It is said he was fully controlled by his chief advisor, Lord Leslie Loughborough, and spent most of his time hidden away in the Copper Spire. Wenceslas ruled for 34 years, during which time at least 12 islands rebelled against the Empire and gained some form of independence – allegedly with the secret help of the Trifecta, though this remains unproven.

### The 1st Garth Civil War

In the year 1909 PB, Wenceslas passed away suddenly during the night. Lord Loughborough declared that Wenceslas had been poisoned by his three sons, Geralt, Mikael and Barabus. Loughborough ordered that all three be arrested, and proclaimed Wenceslas’s nephew, Daedalus (a close ally of his), as the Sixth Emperor of the Iysgarth Empire. However, the three sons escaped capture and fled with half of the Iysgarthian fleet into the Archipelago. This marked the beginning of a 6-year civil war which pit the three brothers against their cousin and Lord Loughborough. Most of the Archipelago territory leaders declared their support for the brothers, as did the Elves of Faendorei, whilst Ansgarth, Ramsdale and Eastcairn declared for Daedalus. The Trifecta and other now-independent islands officially stayed neutral during the conflict. However, it is generally accepted that the Triefecta were secretly supporting both sides of the conflict in an effort to prolong the civil war and further weaken the Empire. Eventually, the three brothers defeated Daedalus’s forces during the great naval battle of the Sidra Sea in the year 1915 PB. Daedalus managed to flee the battle and hid on Ansgarth, but was found two years later and hung for treason in the year 1917 PB.

### The 2nd Garth Civil War

In the year 1915 PB, with Daedalus defeated, the three brothers had to decide who should rule. By law, the eldest brother, Geralt, should have become High Emperor. However, Barabus, who was by far the most military minded of the three, staged a coup and attempted to overthrow his brother. Unfortunately for Bayabus, the coup failed, and he was forced to flee to Faendorei. The elves took him in and vowed to support his claim for the Emperorship in return for full independence. This marked the start of the 2nd Garth Civil war, which pitted Barabus and the elves of Faendorei against Geralt, the Seventh Emperor of Iysgarth, his brother Mikael, and the rest of the might of Iysgarth. This civil war was far shorter than the first, lasting just 3 years. However, during the final battle, even though Barabus was defeated and captured, Geralt was slain. He had ruled for just 3 years, making him the shortest serving Emperor.

### Mikael the Mild, Eighth Emperor of Iysgarth

In the year 1918 PB Mikael became the Eighth Emperor of Iysgarth. Mikael ordered his brother Barabus to be hung for his crimes, but forgave the Faendorei elves for their betrayal, allowing them to maintain their semi-autonomy in return for renewed support for the Empire.

Mikael’s time as Emperor was defined by chaos. During the two civil wars, dozens of islands had taken the opportunity to rebel against the Empire and claim independence. What the Empire needed at this time was strong, decisive leadership, but Mikael fell short of the mark. He made several flaccid efforts to regain some territories, but failed to commit sufficient military resources and was consistently defeated. By the end of his 35-year rule, almost every island in the Archipelago had regained independence and the Empire’s territory had receded to just Ostaria and Ansgarth. No longer could the Empire claim dominance of the seas. Mikael’s time as Emperor also saw the formation of the High Council of Iysgarth, which, in an attempt to bring stability back to the Empire, was designed to remove ultimate power from the current High Emperor/Empress. To this day, the High Council is made up of 15 members and is chaired by the current High Emperor or Empress, who still wields significant power as they directly appoint many of the council positions.

In the year 1953 PB, Mikael passed away, and all subsequent Emperors and Empresses have withheld from re-starting any military conquest, instead focusing on staunchly defending their remaining territory (Faendorei, Eastcairn, Ramsdale, eastern-Ostaria, and Ansgarth) and increasing their economic and diplomatic power. The list of Emperors and Empresses between 1,953 PB and the present are as follows:

### Rollor the Reader, Ninth Emperor of Iysgarth

1,953 PB – 1,985 PB: Rollor the Reader, Ninth Emperor of Iysgarth - well known for his love of scholarship, was an honorary lecturer at the University of Iysgarth.

### Cristina the Corrupt, Fifth Empress of Iysgarth

1,985 PB – 2014 PB: Cristina the Corrupt, Fifth Empress of Iysgarth – best known for a corruption scandal in which it transpired she and several of her High Council appointees were taking significant bribes from some of the noble dwarves of Eastcairn in return for favourable tax deals and large work contracts. When the elves of Faendorei, other Dwarven clans, and members of the Guilds Alliance discovered this, they were furious and insisted on her removal. This sparked the first ever official impeachment process (as opposed to an outright coup) against a sitting Emperor or Empress. Despite requiring a two-thirds majority in the High Council (over a third of which is made up of House Garth members or direct appointees of the High Emperor Empress), the impeachment vote was passed. Cristina was thus forcibly removed and succeeded by her eldest daughter, Seraphina. On the orders of Seraphina, Cristina remains under house arrest within the Copper Spire Fortress.

### Seraphina, Sixth Empress of Iysgarth

2014 PB – present: Seraphina, Sixth Empress of Iysgarth. Little is known of the current High Empress. During her coronation speech, she spoke of the need to root out corruption, lawlessness and evil across the Empire. However, since then she has rarely been seen outside of the Copper Spire Fort.