Second Evin Empire

The **Second Evin Empire**, simply called the **New Evin Empire** during its time, was the second of the Evin Empires ruling over the Gemstone Islands, reigning from 1176 BW until its destruction in 1097 BW. The Second Empire was founded under a reformist ideal and was widely accepting of both Harpies and Humans alike, happily integrating both into its ranks.

The eventual downfall of the Second Evin Empire came from reactionary pushback among the Evin elite, who saw the rise in prominence of Harpies and Humans as a threat to their status. This resulted in numerous revolts with the Second Bai Kecchrik Revolt under the warlord Zuath being the critical one that toppled the Empire in 1097 BW.

## History

The First Evin Empire was founded in 1204 BW when Adyana appointed the Evin warlord Carik as Skylord of the Gemstone Islands. Issues that constantly plagued the First Empire were a lack of regional autonomy demanded by various tribes and clans and the barring of Harpies from citizenship. This led to a growing movement calling for reform, which rallied behind a charismatic Evin lady called Inak.

Lady Inak heavily influenced the politics of the First Empire, eventually being designated regent of the last Skylord, the child Karragho, in 1177 BW. Inak would build her strength and eventually bloodlessly coup the young Skylord the following year, dissolving the First Empire and replacing it with the New Evin Empire, or the Second Empire as it came to be known with time.

Inak rapidly introduced a myriad of popular reforms. The most notable were equal treatment for non-Evin and regional autonomy for select clans. Unsurprisingly, this caused some grumbles amongst the sitting Evin elite, yet popular support for Skylady Inak's reforms kept it limited to just that. After her death, Inak's descendants would retain these reforms, with the reign of the Second Empire being something of a golden age in terms of racial cooperation, peaking with the six-year regency of the Harpy noble Guvie for the young Skylord Tarah.

Yet, with time, the old Evin aristocracy became increasingly more vocal with their dissent. Whereas there had once been hushed whispers, now they publicly voiced their dissatisfaction. A wave of Evin nationalism spread across the Gemstone Island stirred on by a myriad of warlords and nobles, resulting in numerous revolts from the late reign of Skylord Tarah and onwards. With the government increasingly failing to put down rebellions, it was up to local warlords to do it for them, often being paid with autonomy and bribes. One particularly notable uprising, the First Bai Kecchrick Revolt, was crushed by the bandit Zuath, who was pardoned and granted control over the city.

Yet, Zuath proved to be an uncontrollable firebrand. Instead of quelling unrest, he adopted the ideas of Evin supremacy. Under his reign, Bai Kecchrik became a hotbed for dissent under the charismatic Warlord, who took the helm of the Second Bai Kecchrik Revolt in 1098 BW. Try as he might, Skylord Zhirrich and his loyalists were unable to stop Zuath as he went on a spree of conquests. Zhirrich met a violent end as Zuath descended on Bai Qhollea, razing it until there was nought but ash.

From the ruins of the Second Empire, Zuath and other Evin supremacists would eventually create the often controversial Third Empire, which once more made Harpies, Humans, Xiphians, and anyone else who was not an Evin a second-class citizen. As fast as the Second Empire's reforms had come were they abolished by Skylord Zuath. For many, Skylady Inak's Empire remained a fond memory.

## Skylords of the Second Empire

* Skylady Inak, 1176-1167 BW
* Skylord Zir'ros, 1167-1139 BW
* Skylord Tarah, 1139-1105 BW
	+ Regent Guvie, 1139-1133 BW
* Skylord Zhirrich, 1105-1097 BW