Aquelia

Map of Aquelia at its peak in 4 B.B.

**Aquelia**, or the Aquelians, was/were a Cyanic state inhabiting southern Nerdensburg and Galak Sea region from 211-3 B.B.

## Founding and Early History (500-211)

The Aquelians traced their lineage to the Axusa people who inhabited the Auuvsian Core Valley, which around 500 B.B. began migrating eastward to the south of the Kumanas Mountains. One such Axusan, named Absasga, reportedly founded the town of Celliz in 468 B.B. Absasga had only one child, named Yígana, who himself had three sons. These three sons were named Dzatama, Dzavis, and Rexasu.

Yígana, who had considered himself a scholarly man, had sent his three sons into the care of three different priests; one a Selenite priest, one a Dawnist priest, and one to a Folk priest. When all three had become adults, they returned home to the growing town of Celliz to the aging Yígana who knew death was near. Upon their arrival, he granted each of them each a seat to succeed him as the Baron of Celliz, claiming whoever's God was strongest would eventually consolidate themselves as the sole Baron. Yigana would soon then pass away in the year 218 B.B., and for the first seven years the tri-barony had operated as intended.

Conflict began in 411 when a dispute over the newly constructed Temple, and to which deity it should be dedicated to. Dzavis, who had been educated by the Dawnist priest, demanded it be dedicated to Khali Ama. Rexasu on the other hand demanded it be dedicated to Selenia, and Dzatama, who had been educated by the folk priest, demanded it be dedicated to the traditional pagan diety of the Cyanics, Yarilivitar.

The three remembered the proposition their father had told them, and decided that a duel would be the only appropriate way to solve the conflict. In the autumn of that year, the three dueled and Dzatama prevailed, killing both of his siblings. And so it was declared that Celliz would be a pagan state. That same year, Dzatama invaded and conquered the city of Ktame, and formed the state of Aquelia.

## Early Conquests (411-353 B.B.)

Dzatama pressed on, and invaded the Auuvsian Core Valley, taking prominent cities like Abydis, Tir, and Ria. In 405 B.B.: Dzatama invaded the Morhavians, whose kingdom had recently fractured, and quickly subjugated them. Dzatama died in the year 370 B.B. and passed the monarchy to his son, Dzatama II. Prior to his death, he announced the Decree of One, stating that all future successors of Aquelia, as he did his own, had the right to commit fratricide if they so viewed their siblings as a threat to the security of the state; and would become standard practice in the Aquelias Dynasty. Additionally, he decreed that all members of the Aquelias Dynasty must be left-handed, as superstition viewed left-handedness as a positive trait. It is thought that Dzatama himself was born left-handed.

Dzatama II continued on with further conquests. He pressed down toward southern Auuvsia near present day Khisbaldee, and then toward the delta itself. Notably, he began to settle the island of Tiron and form Aquelian settlements throughout Elliksni and the Galak Sea. In 359 B.B. He invaded the gradually declining Mannonians in southern Auuvsia and easily subjugated them, and then pressed on eastward, seizing the Elbas region in 354 B.B, and crossing the Haska Sea into Mauveaum for the first time.

## Rebellion of Yuxara and Middle Aquelia (353-175 B.B.)

In 353 B.B., Yuxara, a eunuch serving in the Aquelian court, rebelled against the monarch Dzatama II and overthrew him; soon then fleeing to Purple. For ten years Yuxara reigned as the new monarch of Aquelia, and even began the Aquelian settlements in Oldfoundland. Dzatama II then returned in secret and assassinated Yuxara in 342, restoring the Aquelias Dynasty to the throne. Following the restoration, Dzatama would further push into Purple before dying in 340 B.B. His eldest son Livas would be coronated that same year.

Livas would slow down the rate of Aquelian expansion, although would continue to develop the various settlements in Purple, he instead focused on the further development of Aquelian institutions and culture. Notably, he reorganized trade northward with the Matrians and Montsälviq people, but especially focused on developing trade in the wealthy Galak Sea area. In particular, cultivation of the Igni Pepper significantly accelerated and grew to become very valuable, making Aquelia very wealthy. The capital of Celliz soon outgrew its city walls and the new Masidini Walls were constructed soon thereafter.

Livas, unlike both of the monarchs before him, chose to spare his only sibling, his younger brother.

## Late Aquelia and Balderlinian Invasion (175-3 B.B.)

In 75 B.B.: Lís D'i Awagastas, or "Our Travels", is published. Revolving around the travels of two siblings In 4 B.B., Balderlane, a Crestopolian warlord, invaded Aquelia and defeated the Aquelian army at the Battle of Arkos; spelling the end for Aquelia. Over the next year, Balderlane's army would pillage and subjugate Aquelia and all of its colonies. Nearly 8 million people were killed or fled Aquelia, mostly migrating into Purple or westward toward the isles.