Ashwood Dynasty

The Ashwood Dynasty is the ruling family of Essotori, though it is far more famous as the enigmatic rulers of Conland-Sagadahoc, as well as the instigators of the Three Hundred Year War with Sereine. Since initiating the conquest of Essotori, use of the name 'Ashwood' has been severely limited, falling under the Ascended Taboo. Even within the former territories, due to the nature of the Nozerod Cult, regardless of it's more primitive state, the name Ashwood was generally used by outsiders or enemies. Within their territories, they were revered, with the Nozerod Cult's more primitive form operating as an alternative source of legitimacy.

## History

### Earliest Beginings

The exact origin of the Ashwood family is not known, though there existed two 'founding myths', that were fundamentally political in nature. The first, had a great warrior enter a cave, attracted by a glorious light, that enraptured him, knocking him to the floor, and assimilating him. This was the Ascended One, possessing the first Vessel since the Humanity War. The more orthodox version, is that the Ashwood family maintained the Vessel throughout the years since the Origin War, and took over pieces of land, slowly amassing enough wealth to rise to formal power within Treka.

### Conland - Sagadahoc

Regardless, it was said that the Nozerod caused Anderoscog’s Pestilence, a disease that killed over Nine percent of the national population within twenty years. According to folklore, this disease came about as the King's agents began spreading the faith to the local population, who were not welcoming or accepting of the Cult. In punishment, the Nozerod called upon his divine authority to cause a plague to infest the peoples of Treka. It was then said, that those who came into contact with, and submitted properly to the Nozerod were granted immunity to the plague, and were able to cure their loved ones. This is widely considered to be the origin of the Essotori belief of Ascended Grace, a similar concept in the modern day. Conland unified with Sagadahoc through a skillful combination of politics, assasinations, and royal marriages. The two nations united, and formalised power in Treka around 700, though their reach was limited outside the Crowncity. Even those within the realm's borders viewed the Cult with suspicion, and so there is a marked difference in luxuries and quality of life between the more central, urbanised areas of the realm, with the most skeptical outside regions. The Ashwood family's most important contribution to the economy and landscape of Treka was castles, which they built at an enormous rate, as well as roads to better defend their territory. The Kings of Conland - Sagadahoc had a generally hostile relationship with the other lords of Treka, and would attempt to prevent widespread communication with the outside nation, though this was far less possible than later.

This isolation, known as the Connish Golden Age, would come to an end with the Viking raiders, whom Conland Sagadahoc resisted, and generally attempted to raise the nobility of Treka against allowing the Vikings to settle in any regard. Conland - Sagadahoc was involved in the Great Trekan War, on the side of King Arthur, against Treka. King Richard of Sagadahoc Conland, or as he is known in the Cult, Nozerod Shimmering Brilliance, waged war. The Coalition started off successfully, pushing Treka back, culminating in the Battle of Wallochën, where the smaller Connish force achieved victory over the much larger, but less organised Trekan army, which was cited as the Nozerod's power manifested on the world, for the first time since the Humanity War. Afterwards, the Conland - Sagadahoc force accidently invaded the Soldolvan Kingdom, causing the Soldolvan Kingdom to join the war on behalf of Treka. After the peace, the original borders were restored. In 1098, the Trekan Kingdoms and tribes arrived at Connish, when the King of Conland Sagadahoc attempted to unify the nations under his rue. Unfortunately for him, the nations settled on a united Treka, where he was not permitted to rule, despite his achievements. Conland - Sagadahoc would continue to exert influence within Treka, though would grow hostile towards the native government, despite participating in the campaigns against the Vikings. In 1362, Calderia was impacted heavily by the 'Hell's plague', carried by fleas. Conland - Sagadahoc was impacted this time, which was blamed on the 'weak league of subverters' in Treka. This led to the first Trekan Revolution in 1392, due to enhanced peasent rights, and starvation. The Ashwood family, unlike most families, survived the revolution, and was able to maintain a portion of their holdings on the Trekan mainland, though generally through merchants and other forms of puppet rule. The main territory of the Ashwood family shifted to Seriene, where they were able to maintain nobility, and act as a bastion of aristocracy for Trekan exiles.

Though these experiences, combined with the native hosility to the Cult both within Conland - Sagadahoc and Treka itself, pushed the Ashwood Family to begin an external conquest, preferably far away from Treka. The first target, was Sereine, which was in the midst of general civil wars. The Cult commited it's armies, it's treasury and it's independent navy to forcing the Connish claim to the throne of Seriene between 1120 - 1437. They were partially successful, laying claim to a large territory of southern Seriene. From here, they were able to solidify their power, and endure the ongoing First Revolution, and the new government's hostility towards nobility.

### Conquest of Essotori

See Essotori

The 1600s were the century when the destiny of the Ashwood family would be realised. With a tenuous control of their mainland Conland - Sagadahoc being not at all secure, and their main seat of power being located in Southern Seriene, relying entirely on Seriene's inability to take back the territory, another conquest would be needed, and this time, permanantly.