Iloisa Conquest

### Outcome

Fall of the Iloisa EmpireNear-extinction of the DwarvesDeportation of the Ynoforans

Founding of Usybork Republic

The **Iloisa Conquest** was a global set of conflicts that took place in the mid-5th Century AT. It began with the Dwarven Genocide, and was fought on several fronts on Ditarre, Däe, and the Garden Continent.

The war resulted in the fall of the Iloisa Empire, which had been founded in 150 BT. It was the first global conflict amongst the Ea in the Era of the Tulkon.

## Prelude

The Iloisa Empire was founded in 200 BT, and by 150 BT encompassed all of the Human territories in central Ditarre. From the start, the Empire believed that one day it should expand. One attempt was made to colonize the yet-uninhabited Frozen Continent around 30 BT, but failed. Bytu, a native Iloisa and the first Tulkon, became famous for his many travels around the world, which helped link together the world's various disparate peoples. This established the Empire in global trade, bringing it great wealth and international influence. Bytu prior to becoming the Tulkon, helped the Empire start a colony on the Phocachirsk Peninsula of the Garden Continent, further consolidating the Empire's power in the region.

In 248 AT, a brief rebellion took place in the region of Usybork. Tulkon Ageus helped quell the rebellion peacefully, but the Empire's response was greater security measures and a more heavily-promoted national culture. In 250 AT, the Empire purchased the Baikhal Region from Orcanth and sent thousands of settlers. The descendants of these settlers and the native Keghotuhr would become the Baikhalakh.

Emperor Grytu ascended to the throne of the Empire in 440 AT after the death of his mother, Empress Ylema. Grytu firmly believed in the destiny of the Iloisa Empire to expand, and decided that all lands should belong to Ilois. A Tulkonist, Grytu understood that the Tulkon's support would be needed for the world to accept the Empire. In 448 AT, the young Dwarf Rum was unveiled as the Tulkon. An idealist, Rum opposed the expansionary policies that the Empire was beginning to pursue.

## Events

The Conquest began with the Dwarven Genocide. The goal of the Genocide was threefold: first, to kill Tulkon Rum so that the next Tulkon would be born within the borders of the Empire, giving the Empire an apparent divine right to rule; second, to make room for planned colonies in the Onor Peninsula and demonstrate the strength of Human culture; and third, to send a message to the Empire's enemies. The Genocide was successful on all three counts, and resulted in the deaths of 80% of all Dwarves, including the entirety of the Mul ethnic group. The surviving Dwarves were moved to a tiny reservation on the eastern tip of the peninsula while new Human colonies were built on the western half. The world's other nations immediately declared war on the Empire. Tulkon Rum was reborn as the Uzyb Ytinise, who was tracked down by the Iloisa Government and adopted by Grytu after her parents were murdered. Grytu indoctrinated Ytinise in the ways of the Empire and raised her to be an obedient killer, without knowledge of the true purpose of the Tulkon.

Over the next 23 years, the Empire attacked the rest of the world. Notable battles included the Subjugation of Ynoforan Country. Most of the Ynoforans were deported to the Däe Peninsula, and their native land was ruined by the Iloisa. Another notable event was the Gardenian Campaign, a decade-long battle in the southern Garden Continent and the island of Nen Ren. Ytinise oversaw the campaign in its later years. Numerous other battles and invasions took place around the world, with the Empire having a total advantage over its enemies. At the Empire's peak strength on the eve of Ytinise's Rebellion, the Empire had taken control parts of the E'Deonadi Peninsula, Däe Ydelhiad, Keghotogh, most of the Garden Continent, and the Rodadzz Islands, including its territories of Onor and Baikhal.

In 471 AT, Ytinise began questioning the ethics of the Empire's actions. She discovered the true purpose of the Tulkon, which was to bring peace to all people rather than fight on behalf of a single empire. She decided to return home to her native Uzybad and defected from the Empire. She founded a new nation called the Usybork Republic, which broke off from the Empire, turning the tide of the war in favor of the Empire's enemies. The Usybork Province was among the most important in the Empire, and the effects of its cession were widespread. The founding of the Usybork Republic inspired the Dwarf Balgro, a survivor of the Genocide and leader of the resistance group Edox, to fight back against the Empire. With Ytinise's support, the Human colonists on the Onor peninsula were driven out, and Onor was thus freed.

The Republic of Usybork, Onor, and various other allies from around the world worked to liberate the world from the empire's grip in a 5-year military campaign that saw devastating losses. In 476 AT, Grytu was captured and arrested, causing the Empire to crumble. The final remnant of the Empire was located in Phocachirsk, and was destroyed in Darrum of that year.

## Aftermath and Legacy

After the war, all remaining Human colonies were abandoned and their lands were returned to their rightful owners (with the exception of Ynofora, which remained mostly unoccupied for several centuries). The core regions of the Empire- Ilois, Usybork, Nokina, and Phocachirsk- all became part of the Usybork Republic. Ytinise designed a plan for the Republic to be broken up into a confederation of semi-independent states in case it became to imperialistic; the plan came to fruition in 700 AT, when Tulkon Bodor helped found the Republic of Independent Human States. The RIHS would dominate the bulk of Human history for the next two-and-a-half millennia, with the Kingdom of Usybork, a breakaway state founded by rogue Tulkon Epi'hu, being an occasional member state and enemy. The RIHS was officially disbanded after the Immortal War in 2905 AT.

Balgro helped expand the Onor across the Onor peninsula, and founded the country of Norte-Muldox with the support of Ytinise. Meanwhile, Ytinise also established the country of Ynofora, a new homeland for the Ynoforans located on Däe, with the help of Däe Ydelhiad. The Deportation of the Ynoforans would have a significant effect on Elven culture hereafter, beginning a chain of events that millennia later would lead to the Elven Nationalist Conflict.

The events of the Conquest were so chaotic that the Demons considered beginning their second invasion during the fight, but Ytinise's efforts dissuaded them from doing so, They eventually returned during the 40-Year War in 1160 AT.

Thousands of Humans settled in conquered territories, including Onor, Ynofora, Gardenia, and Baikhal (a region in the Frozen Continent). Many Humans remained in these territories (except Onor and Ynofora) and left a somewhat significant cultural and genetic legacy. Following the war, Orcanth's government became much more centralized.

Elements of the war and the fall of the Iloisa Empire were dramatized in the play *Conquest of Love*, which premiered in 3076 AT, on the 2600th anniversary of the end of the Conquest.