Oberdon

The Oberdonian frontier is a collection of islands under military rule. The biggest nation in Sai Don is in large part composed of inhospitable ice and stone covered islands. Such a cold land has led to the growth of hardy people most of whom would willingly give their lives to protect what others would consider grey and miserable hovels. The Oberdonian military patrols the seas as eager to engage in battles that would win them honor as it would to protect their charges.

## History

**Founding**

Sometime after the Tumult ended the fascist nation of Dunclaw in the Far Lands tried to lay their claim to Sai Don. They mobilized an armada of ships that settled in the frozen wastes of what would later become known as Oberdon. However, as the settlement was being established a secession occurred. Many of the Dragonborn masters sent to oversee the settlement grew distasteful of the barren landscape and sought passage back to their home. Left with a skeleton crew the remaining masters succumbed to a coup orchestrated between the "softskin" servants, lizardfolk allies,  and some of the native tribes people who were being evicted from their territory.

The Dunclaw masters eventually sent out a second armada to reclaim the territory but suffered massive losses in the frigid waters en route to the nation. When they arrived they discovered that through winter their former servants had fortified their encampment and the Dunclaw forces were unable to maintain their siege. The remainder of the Dunclaw fleet fled south to Rayska where they either defected into the Rayskan elite or returned home in disgrace.

**The War of the New Islands**

The first great conflict occurred in the Oberdonian territories. The newly established  Oberdonian state sought to liberate the barbaric hordes that lived in the island states surrounding their frozen nation. Sai Don's first war occurred as Oberdonian naval ships, outfitted with stolen Dunclaw armaments and weapons sailed the frozen reaches. Destroying pirate and barbarian encampments and unifying the scattered populations under one banner. Many of the island nations that joined the Oberdonians did so willingly and are still well-protected by the Oberdonian navy to this day.

**The Treaties**

As the Oberdonians sailed south during the first claim their navy eventually became thinly spread. The new Rayskan nation agreed to a treaty with the Oberdonians ensuring that the Rich Reef region would not engage in the war with the Oberdonians on the conditions that the assault was stopped and that no harm would come to Rayskan ships.

**The War of the Old Islands**

Some time after the treaties were signed Oberdon had managed to recover from its earlier war and sought to unify the remainder of Sai Don. They left Rayska in peace in accordance with their treaty, however, the military nation was unprepared for the opposition they faced from the old islands: those being the nations of Creser and Vulcuud.

The Creserans raged guerilla warfare against the Oberdonian ships and when one of the many island states was captured the pirates would hide out in one of Creser's many caves until the Oberdonians were forced to leave. Ultimately the Oberdonian fleet had greater success further in its expedition as it laid siege to many islands in Vulcuudian territory. This strong advance was eventually thwarted however when the Oberdonians led an assault on Vulcuud itself. The volcano for which the main island is named erupted destroying much of the Oberdonian fleet while the Vulcuudian's survived deep within a pocket of the earth.

Almost simultaneously a dwarven armada had managed to make its way towards the Oberdonian capital undetected. The Oberdonian navy was forced to surrender and return to their home defeated. With the aide of the Rayskans, the Vulcuudians drafted an agreement that allowed Oberdon to remain a nation and retain the territories it had established before the first war. In exchange Oberdon would teach The Established Decree, a set of tenants by which Oberdonians would live, and would assist in the construction and maintenance of a set of watch towers on the Oberdonian frontier that would alert the rest of Sai Don to any future attacks.

## Culture

The people of Oberdon followed the Established Decree:

1. Protect the citizenry - protect the citizens of yours and other countries
2. Glory for all - a victory goes to all those who won it, tacticians and warriors alike
3. Defense upon offence - defend yourself only when attacked
4. Forsake your weaknesses - do not allow weakness to corrupt your mind
5. Sharpen your Tools - keep all of your weapons sharp, including your mind and body