Petra

The **Petra**, often called **Petrans**, are a species of Lizard-folk residing across south eastern Calast and western Calor. They were the first species incorporated into the Montiac Empire, starting in ME 123. Along with this, the nation of Sitai was formed in western Calor in ME 297, and has continued to incorporate tribes of its kinsfolk to this day. However, Petrans in both Sitai and the Empire have little connection to the state. Instead, their society revolves around the Qos Preists, and has for some centuries. The Qos Preists have instilled a belief in the Lizard-folk that the material world is just an illusion, and that they do not exist. Because of this, Petrans are notorious for their lack of motivation or care outside of very basic tasks.

## History

### Origin

Released in the south east of Calast during the second awakening, the Petrans were one of the final species to be introduced to the continent. Intelligent and resourceful, they had still managed to spread themselves a considerable distance across the region by the time the Empire encountered them. Due to the Qos Priests labelling it as blasphemous, early Petran history was largely erased prior to the Montiac Era. It is known that the Lizard-folk followed closely in the path of early Lepus, forming numerous albeit smaller city-states. These numbered in the hundreds, and were known to war with each other.

### Montiac Era

The First Qos Priest was Vako Qos. The son of the chief of the Qos tribe, part of the city-state of Qizu, Vako was well off and respected in his community. At some point in his life, in ME 63, he became angered at his father and declared himself a deity. He first predicted that the moon would block out the sun, which shockingly came true, and then that invaders would attack Qizu. Sure enough, a band of invaders attacked the following week. These predictions gave him even greater respect, and he soon overthrew and killed his father. Word of his accomplishments spread across Qizu and Petran land, and within a decade he had become a deity to his people after fabricating numerous other predictions. Under the Qos priests, Petran society saw a complete shift. Once a species on the verge of becoming a major power, the Lizard-folk instead abandoned their ambitions to serve the priests, who they saw as living gods.

Under direction of the Qos, thousands of Petrans migrated into Calor in ME 119 with the purpose of founding a holy land for the priests to rule. The unfamiliar terrain of Calor proved difficult. Specifically, the numerous Qos Priests who reigned over the long Petran colonization were picky over where their land would be. One Qos Priest would find a preferable spot and settlement would commence, only to die before it finished. The successor would then choose a new spot, and so on. Ultimately, this state would not come until centuries later.

#### Integration into Montiac Empire and early resistance (ME 123-130)

The Montiac Empire began expansion into mainland Calast in ME 119, but did not reach the south east of the continent until ME 123, when a group of settlers sailed across the Montiac Mare to found what is now Ilderda. Months later, Petran hunters would spot the settlement and give word to reigning priest Jisk Qos. Because of their lack of fear of the unfamiliar Lepus, it's possible that Petrans had interactions with other species prior to their integration into the Empire. Jisk would lead a group to spread their faith to the Lepus settlers some weeks later but, as reported by the settlers, were almost immediately attacked, the Rabbit-folk terrified of the Petrans. Jisk then declared the Lepus a holy enemy of his race, and a handful of raids from nearby Petrans would occur for some years. A handful of diplomatic 'missions' to Petran communities did occur between ME 123 and 126, but were entirely unsuccessful. From ME 126 onwards, Montiac legions would march eastwards to scout Petran communities, now an important target for the expanding Empire. Around 18 were integrated by ME 130, with their populations either fleeing or fighting. Those that fought would only survive a few days, as although they had no fear of death, they lacked proper equipment and training to pose a threat to Lepus soldiers.

#### Qos acceptance of Montiac Empire and integration (ME 130-297)

Peaceful integration did not occur until Jisk's death in ME 130, after which the Qos Speaker made a deal with the Empire on behalf of newborn Gimo Qos. The Speaker would declare the Empire as a holy ally, thus allowing Petrans to unite with it, while the Qos Priests would be allowed to continue their cultural rule over their people. This deal was accepted, and the Petran race was *de jure* apart of the Montiac Empire from that point forward. The Qos Speaker announced this union during his touring of the Petran lands to present the newborn Gimo to his people.

In the first years of their residence in the Montiac Empire, the Petrans and Lepus famously did not get along. The Lepus found the Lizard-folk disgusting, especially their scaled skin, and they were generally seen as unsettling, while the Petrans disliked the Rabbit-folk due to their belief in the existence of free will. Despite this no major clashes occurred between the two, even when the Lepus began mass migrations into Petran lands. The Qos Priests were given generous offerings to keep their people accepting of the Empire, and thus physical Petran resistance was rare. The priests themselves were fairly disliked by Montiac politicians working with them, and they were seen as charlatans who used deception to rule over their species. It was understood though that working with them was more convenient than forcefully assimilating the Petrans.

The state of Tithos was released in ME 163. Gimo Qos, in the last years of his life, wished to have a private burial site his people could take a pilgrimage to. He chose his birth city of Draxassa as its spot, and with the help of the Empire, the city was cleared out and its residents resettled elsewhere. Months later he insisted that the rule of the Qos Priests should done from the city, and that their palace should be relocated to it. Although the Empire initially refused, mainly due to the unrealistic demand of moving a palace, after Gimo made thinly veiled threats towards Emperor Lars Bellicus the Empire agreed to build a replica palace in the now abandoned city.