Iseres

**Iseres**, officially The Iser Empire at Turn 1, is a country located on the south-west coast of Cygetauria along the Maiseres Bight, commonly identified with a pale or light blue province colour. Iseres borders the mountain range Mons Maiseres, with a coastline into the interior ocean. The country is operated by Kokui. Iseres' capital city is Oridias, built into the mountains on the north side of the country, which roughly has a population of 850,000 (T0), with a total population in the Iser Empire around 5.5 million. The [*exports*] Iseres predominant race is the Sensu (*see below*) with other races present but not prevalent.

### History

#### Prehistory

The Iser arrived approximately 2,000 **B**efore **E**xpansion (BE, also Turn 1), although exact figures remain unknown, except through select ancient texts. Iseres used to be a province of around three hundered, then fifty, and then about twelve nations - all collectively referred to now as the Isero (lit. *divisions of Iseres*) according to *the Chronicles* - with the biggest known as Iseres. The provinces in modern-day Iseres dwindled over time, but through two main events, the Isero Genocide and the Unification of Iseres, Iseres through Tryses conquered all other provinces and they collectively all became one nation. Iseres from around 2,000 BE to 300 BE was categorised by a strong army. The army under Tryses (general and acting monarch at 120 BE, due to ) conquered the Isero, and united them under a single banner, as they were similar in a linguistic and racial sense. As these cultures intermingled more and more, the culture of Iseres became recognisable as largely similar, and a common name for the culture was created, Iser.

The Isero's cultures numbered over 300 about 2,000 / 1,800 BE. They ranged from small and complex territories such as the Hahnenhs to the large and well-defined territories such as Unenseri and the previously mentioned Iseres. They also ranged from cultures of varying influneces, cultures of varying wealth, and cultures of varying science. Most Isero cultures at 1,800 BE spoke the same language, which is the 'One Language' or the 'Ancient Language', (see below) and ones that did not were quickly absorbed before 1,600 BE and they were forced under blade to adopt the One Language. Slavery was extremely common during this time - with limited intercommunication between cultures, barbaric raids were often conducted, mostly by bigger cultures on smaller ones, to garner the giant amounts of work required by the larger countries. With no way of retaliation, the smaller cultures suffered, quickly conceding to larger ones due to this or if they demanded it. Isero cultures dwindled to 50 by 1400 BE. However, among the larger cultures - which were all One Language speaking - administrative and legal mechanisms provided a strong method of appeal between cultures and in cultures, which kept the strong strong and the weak weak. Groups of states consolidated to create trading partners with economic and militaristic cooperation, but quickly often formed into the same culture.

##### The War of Isero, or the Isero Genocide

The War of Isero dates from 1323-21 BE to 1308 BE. With rising political tension between the cultures, the main unions gathered and preformed a genocide among the smaller nations and unions, absorbing them into their territories and killing all who resisted. There was hardly enough resistance to call it a war, but it has been named such in *the Chronicles*, a series of clay tablets carved from approx. 1080-60 BE by numerous authors, that described much of the history since around 1,800 BE. This war resulted in heavily increased production for the larger countries, further increasing their strength. This war was led by Insei, the monarch of Hahnenhs.

##### The Unification of Iseres

The unification of Iseres, alternatively *The First Iserian Conquest,* occurred at 121 BE and is referenced by several texts, predominantly the *Tryses Cylinder* which dates 103 BE (according to the date in the ancient calendar (*11.15.365.21.2*)), but occasionally scraps of tablet found mostly in the mountainous regions, named today as the *Monei Xetes* (lit. books of the mountain) and it is referenced once in *the Chronicles* *plt* (plate) *14.* The main reason for the Iserian unification came from the common language groups that these twelve cultures held and the commonspread species of the Sensu, the main race, though this was only the case after *The War of Isero*. Tryses used the expansive Iserian army to conquer the opposing cultures which had since united against Iseres. Desire for power by Iserian nobles as well as a vast expansionist policy (which hurried the start of the war) as detailed below, spurred the campaign into fruition for fear of counterattacks. However, Tryses proved successful after just a 4 year campaign, though not without difficulty.

Tryses, later given the name Tryses en Leses (Tryses the Large - large meaning 'intimidating'), was the general and acting monarch of Iseres. He recognised the growing nationalism in Iseres and his subsequent own desire for a unified country. Power was also desired by army officials and nobles, and they drafted many expansionist policies which were leaked to other cultures by spies. Quickly over the next month, tensions built as every culture united against Iseres with intent to destroy them. Tensions erupted at *The Battle of the Unsen Front*, a small region in modern-day eastern Iseres. Iserian armies were being shuffled around the regions to better position for a first strike. This was countered by an ambush on both sides at the Unsen, which quickly divided and defeated the Iserian army in a decisive victory.

Tryses received word of this loss a few days after according to the *Tryses Cylinder* (line 23). He quickly routed most armies and pushed them towards the Unsen Front, where a fort had been hastily constructed by the opposition. Leading the army himself, he brought the armies around the front of the fort. Attempting for a diplomatic resolution first, he approached the walls himself and demanded a peaceful resolution. He was shot at by an archer, and retreated, with full intent to strike later that same day.

> In an extract from *the Chronicles plt 13* (translated): "My fellow soldiers. For a commander to speak to his men of courage in an action that involves no danger is an insult to his audience and that the commander is not much of a man. Encouragement is not needed for a situation that is riskless, but I freely admit to you know that this is not one of those situations. However, the battling against such difficulties is the true preserve of men who wish to prove their courage. There is nobility in a death with honor served. The heroism of those who lead will not go unrewarded. And, if there is battle to be done inside - which I doubt - our position above our enemies' heads, occupying the very air they breathe, will surely guarantee us a speedy victory..."
>
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According to the *Tryses Cylinder*, the fight resulted in little casualties and was indeed a speedy victory for Iseres, though it is likely biased, though was still a decisive victory. This first victory was perhaps the most crucial. The resilience and will of the opposing cultures dropped terribly - the fort they had constructed at the Unsen Front held their most powerful armies, yet the might of Tryses' army 'easily conquered.' However, the enemies' failing will did not mean an easy campaign. Soon after the Iserian victory at the Unsen Front, a small shock force was sent to Oridias, as the majority of the army was gathered at the Unsen Front. Oridias was crippled (but not destroyed), as there was little defending forces. Tryses' army was forced to return to Oridias, though the victory on the Unsen Front still helped greatly in the course of the campaign.

After the strike on Oridias, the main Iserian legions (Cepes, Mais, Setri, Eres, Inus, Pronteres and Maiseres), which were the most powerful by way of experience and numbers, were kept with Tryses as the main Iserian attacking force. Of the remaining nine, they were stationed at Iserian borders to fortify the state as well as major towns which couldn't be lost, including Oridias. Eiwwis and Nyrswis. Tryses took the powerful legions and took necessary towns effectively and quickly. The Unification of Iseres ended at the Battle of Qodor (*Koh*-door) in the Hahnenhs province, the state that could be considered the biggest opposition to Iseres in the latter part of the war.

The battle took place near Qodor, a Hahnen fishing village by the sea. During the war, Tryses pushed his builders and scientists to work on boating technology, as it had been seen where the Amayano very occasionally came to trade. Additionally, Tryses also created another new style of combat using Feldeus as mounted cavalry. Though they were not often found on Iserian shores, they could swim effectively and carry far more than what Tryses was able to use boats to attack Qodor from the coast, which Hahnenhs did not expect, as ocean battles had not been seen before as the provinces did not have boating technology for themselves. Tryses won in less than a day.

#### The Iser Empire

##### The Construction of the Iser Empire

Tryses was immediately named Emperor, a title which had not surfaced before in Iseres, after the battle of Qodor by his legions especially en Maiseres. Subsequently, the government was reformed though it still retained an absolute monarchy. All power was put in the hands of the Emperor, and a group of nobles called the 'Conclave' was created in order to advise the Emperor, though they actually held no power. These nobles were either 'Nobles of the Sword', 'Nobles of the Shield', or 'Nobles of the Spear', with Sword being ones that had purchased their way into the Conclave, and Spear being ones that had been originally selected by Tryses as nobles. Some office positions were made, and they came from elections at different times based on the position. These held Conclave power temporarily, and were Nobles of the Shield. Positions were made such as described below:

After a period of debate with the Conclave, Tryses agreed to create a number of political roles, each which held power to improve the governing of Iseres. With new nations coming to light, such as Galvan, Tarnessen and Noscura, Tryses quickly elected to create a minister of foreign affairs, known formally as an Eneses in the year 58 AE. This role has power regarding relationships with outsiders including first contact, though has some executive power over in-state matters including the conducting of a census every 8 years. Frensuns also have some power to submit bills to the Emperor for special consideration (assuming they relate to their areas of government) and has power in creating their own roles assuming these new ones hold the same power or less. There are always three Eneses at any one time, elected once every 3 years where the oldest one is retired for a total period of 9 years. [BLOCK QUOTE]

##### Tryses: The Question of Succession

In the year of 63 AE, Tryses started looking into his succession. After living for almost 210 years, far more then a Sensu typically lived, Tryses, having only daughters of his own, adopted the son of his deceased nephew, who was killed in a skirmish with barbarians to become the next Emperor. Previously he had considered other options, but after they had each been murdered, killed or proved unfit to rule Tryses had to settle with his nephew Octys. Octys had little diplomatic skill at the young age of 22 (born in 41 AE) and had no reason to. Tryses lived only two more years, in which he almost neglected the Empire in effort to educate Octys, additionally giving him a mentor to essentially rule for him in the first years of his reign. Tryses eventually died in 65 AE, much to the dismay of the common people. With such a benevolent ruler such as Tryses, and him being the first ruler of Iseres, what would happen? Many Sensu had been born and had died in Tryses' reign, and very few remembered the Unification of Iseres. To say public reception of Octys was one of hesitancy would be an understatement. The public downright feared Octys, as he had no known experience, and was basically unknown even to Nobles. In early 65 AE, Tryses managed to secure the Eneses for Octys in the same year he became Emperor (one could hold as many office positions as they wished, including Emperor), which dissipated some hostility towards Octys, though Tryses dying a few months later made it not help too much.

### Flora and Fauna of Iseres

#### Feldeus

The Feldeus is one of the more important animals in Iserian culture, due to its mountainous origin in Mons Maiseres, but also their, mobility, widespread milk production, and use in furs. [*incomplete*]