Matsurien

Flag of Matsurien

Map of The Empire of the Nierae.

## Overview

The Empire of the Nierae is state made up of several Niedene (Nierae) groups which came together under the leadership of the city of Atsuren. It would go on to become the Empire of the Nierae following the great civil war.

## History

### Founding Legend

"In the days long forgotten, there were many peoples and tribes stretching across the northern continent. Among them stood the Nierae, those who still remembered their creators and the spirits. These clans sat in immeasurable strife due to the actions of the many demons that lurked the woods, and so the creator spirits took pity on the suffering of these people. One spirit, the life-giver, took pity upon the tribe. That night, the life-giver and his wife conceded part of themselves to create a child of the heavens of whom would be named Izara Aremi. This child was given to a young woman named Illia, who would carry the first leader of her people.

The child was born into the world on a calm spring evening, with a light snow overhead. He made not a single whimper or whine, but merely slept peacefully his first night. The people of the village celebrated as the new babe was born, and all gathered around to bestow his first gifts. Growing up, the boy would learn the many skills of a proper Nierae tribesman such as herding and fighting. Upon his 18th birthday he woke up and ventured outside to be met by a dense fog, from here he was visited once more by the Life-Giver and presented with four items, the first being a sword, the second a fine cloak of white and black wool, the third a paintbrush, and the last a white mask with streaks of black and red painted on. The life-giver spoke “With this sword, all who see it will submit to you or perish. With this mask, your true intent shall remain hidden from those who plot against you, with this cloak concealment is all but yours, and with this brush your mind is the limit.” The life-giver paused for a moment before saying “Go off with my gifts, serve your people and free them from their misery.” Then as quickly as he came, he vanished.

That night he set off to kill the great scourges of his people: a great ogre king named Arunim, a witch named Marisan, and a demon called Arikasa. As Izara wandered through the forests he stumbled across a stone wall, where a crow stood perched atop. The crow slowly transformed into a corrupted mage, now sitting and looking down at the boy. The witch's shape sat concealed as a mass of black mist,  within a humanoid being with various eyes protruding from it. With haste the demon began to approach the ground and spoke “What business do you have crossing my domain?” With Izara responding “What business do you have in the domain of my people?” He was met with a scoff and the witch responded “Yours? How stubborn.” From the witch a bolt of ice rang towards Izara who responded by lifting his cloak causing him to appear invisible.  drew his brush and with four strokes drew a mirror that appeared in his hand. He lifted the invisibility, where the witch cast a spell of flame once more towards the mirror, which deflected the spell causing the shroud of the witch to be lifted. From here two more strokes was an arrow, flying at the witch and into its heart. The shocked being saw the glint of a sword before darkness. A head rolled into the freshly falling snow. Marisan was dead.

The snow began to fall harder as he continued on towards the camp of Arunim. Among the white falling snow in the trees, he saw flashes of another white being. He began to listen and heard the silence interrupted by the fast pattern of snow crunching around his left and then behind him. Then in an instant it grew louder as it went towards him. The withdrawal of his sword was natural as he swung behind him and connected with the pale slender form of Arikasa causing  a screech. The demon's maw gaped open and its black eyes fixated on its prey. A claw swiped at the hero’s form who dodged to evade, however it hit the boy's arm causing it to bleed profusely. Izara dove and donned the cape, but it was no use as the beast sense of smell chased the tracks until the cape was thrown off and there stood the young warrior still, without sword or mask. Arikasa pounced and began to claw deep into the pinned hero. Ink began to coat the hands of the beast, but in its rage it could hardly notice until a single stroke of a blade came. Thus the head of Arikasa was on the ground. He began to dizzy as he bled into the snow, as two white horned beasts saw his deed and bowed before him. They took his arm, and wrapped it in hide before once again vanishing back into the blizzard approaching.

Izara weathered through the blizzard into the camp of Arunim, who stood drinking with plunder abound. Izara would hide beneath the snows and his cloak until he confirmed Arunim was indeed drunk. He withdrew his blessed sword, the blade of fate. With it he snuck behind Arunim and struck him across the neck, causing a great cut deep into him. Due to his injury, the cut had not been aligned properly and he failed to kill the great ogre. An enraged Arunim would turn around and swipe at Izara, who fled back into the snows and hid, with this Arunim pursued and wailed. Arunim, while faster, slowed down to scream more and as he finished his warcry, the boy was nowhere to be seen. He followed the footprints until from the side, a cloak was thrown to the side revealing Izara wielding the blade and dashing at the ogre. The blade once more swiped at his neck and finally decapitated Arunim. The great terrors of the Nierae had been slain. The boy freed the captured tribesmen at the camp and stood before the fire. He kneeled before the fire and let out a prayer to the spirits, “With the strength of you, I have freed my people from the demons which reigned over them.” To which the snow began to let up into a distant flurry.

Venturing home with the heads, all the chieftains of the Niedene went to his village to see the proof. Upon their arrival, all the chieftains gathered around the feast table. As the feast began, Izara entered with the heads of his enemies before him. The chieftains stood in shock as Izara had indeed slain the evils that plagued the land. Izara declared that the Nierae should unite to drive out the demons, darkspawn, and goblinfolk ruling over the lands. With this all the chieftains bowed before Izara and proclaimed him as the first Emperor of the Nierae, and thus the great dynasty and the Nierae rebellion began."

-Akeris III an Simmeri, Scholar from Ishtara.

### Written History

The Nierae state is said to have collapsed into many pieces hundreds of years following the death of Izara. One of these states was the city-state of Atsuren, which held would be ruled by the dynasty of Izara. This small state would earn the loyalties of its neighbors such as that of Wittori.

## Nierae Life

### Industry

The Matsurii are known to possess many industries such as sericulture, winemaking, apiculture, and horse rearing. All of this contributes to a healthier economy, that is rather reliant on its poorer regions to produce the refined goods prevalent in the richer areas like Wittori.