Pozhari Empire

The **Pozhari Empire** is a large imperial regime located to the south of the Sravhin Mountains. It occupies territory in the Nyr Valley and the Pazhara basin, and the coastal areas of the Carnelian Sea and northern Sentinyl Isles.

The territory's primary inhabitants are the Pohzari, whose society is based on a clan system. Other minority groups include the Ytrosi and Mobella.

## History

### Origins and the Nyrese people (7,000-1,500 B.G.U.)

The Nyrese were a semi-nomadic people group which inhabited Grazhnardahl prior to the Frozen March. Pozhari scholars theorize that the Nyrese were the original builders and occupants of the ruin city of Toguz, situated just south of the Sravhin Mountains. The presence of Nyrese religious artifacts, most notably the Temple of Yagramar, provide evidence for this theory. It is believed the city was constructed during the Frozen March, as the Nyrese were forced from their historic dwellings in Grazhnardahl around 5,000 years ago, over the Sravhin mountain range, and into what would come to be known as the Nyr Valley. The Nyrese worshiped a pantheon of folk-gods, the most powerful of which were believed to hold dominion over the forest (Mubel), the flame (Kroh), the ground (Sravha) and the winter (Grazhnar).

The Nyrese would expand through the forests of the valley and migrate westward and southward over the next millennium, culminating in the social and culture balkanization of the group. The primary descendants of the Nyrese were the Pozhari, whom inhabited most of the Pazhara basin and the Sentinyl Isles, building settlements along the Pazhara River and the coast of the Carnelian Sea. Another group splintered from the Nyrese over the same period to the south of the Pazhara basin, making their homes in what would come to be known as the Mobellan Woodlands.

Another group of Nyrese migrated westward during the Frozen March, choosing not to travel across the mountain range. These peoples settled in the region of Ytros, becoming the Ytrosi. Some scholars believe that the Kryellan's are also related to the Nyrese progenitors.

Some Nyrese would even migrate as far south as the Ayrisi Valley, building settlements like Yusana and the now-ruined city of Ucjani.

### Era of Clans (1,500 P.U.-0 B.G.U.)

Over the course of several centuries, the Pozhari splintered into various regional clans, each vying for dominance over the Nyr Valley and Pazhara basin. These clans were extremely numerous and were regularly formed and defeated in their early years. Within a decade, roughly a dozen major clans emerged as permanent powers, with a dozen more operating as 'vassals'. The Vislekh, Gorrh, Kalyn, Rahbek, Neme't, G'ramak and Ranirya clans controlled most of the Nyr Valley. Each clan subscribed to their own folk religion, loosely based on the pantheon of their Nyrese ancestors.

As the clans solidified their power in the region, they began to operate as kingdoms, or "Strhanate's". Their "Strha's" governed with the same power as the traditional Kings and Queens to the south, although the title held no gendered leaning, simply translating to "ruler". This lack of gendered duality in terminology was reflected in Pozhari society, with women often becoming Strha and waging war successfully against other clans.

Between 45-40 B.G.U. a large crystal geode was discovered beneath the town of Krohpoth. Although the geode would become the bedrock of future Pozhari civilization, it initially has limited impact. It's magical properties remained undiscovered for several decades, and it was mainly considered a site of natural beauty, rather than religious importance. The geode fell under the control of the Gorrh clan around 24 B.G.U. The Gorrh Strha, S'ythyana, visited in 9 B.G.U. According to Pozhari scholars, after entering the chamber it is said that the entrance collapsed, trapping her inside. Although most in her court presumed her dead, they persevered to bring back her body from the cave, intending to grant her a proper burial. To their surprise, when they finally cleared the entrance after over a month of digging, S'ythyana was found alive and healthy, and fully conscious.

Due to her seemingly miraculous survival, the clan originally intended to appoint her a position as a deity in their pantheon. However, S'ythyana rejected the proposal, instead instructing her subjects to abandon their old religion. S'ythyana claimed that she has been saved by the geode, which had granted her a piece of itself (a shard of crimson crystal, later made into a pendent that would adorn her neck), She claimed she had long discussions with its spirit, that its name was Drathar, and that it had brought her back to life so as to bring its teachings and its will to the rest of the world. It had also granted her extraordinary powers, she claimed, allowing her to conjure and manipulate flames. This marked the beginning of Drathari religion.

Between 6-1 B.G.U. the Pozhari clans faced an existential threat when they were invaded by a power to the south known as the Nazba Zham. Little is known about this group, other than that they inhabited the wastelands north of the Skarn Mountains, known as the Kryellan waste. Information about their initial invasion is limited, however accounts of battles describe enemies atop of huge birds capable of shooting lightning from their talons with the power to level entire cities. After several years of consistent losses, most of the eastern half of the Pozhari holdings lie in ruin, with several major clans now extinct. The Gorrh had since retreated to the coast, basing themselves in Dahrvan Bay. It was here S'ythyana met with other clan leaders and agreed to unify themselves against the Nazba Zham.

### First Pozhari Empire and the Nazba Zham (0-5 A.G.U.)

Initial talks for unification were fruitful, with most of the minor clans pledging themselves to S'ythyana and the Gorrh, viewing her magic as being their best chance of survival against the avian-riders. This sway in the balance of power lead other major clans like the Kalyn, Neme't and Raniyra to join their cause, with the others following them soon after. Each of the Strha's renounced their claims and dubbed S'ythyana the first "Kahlstrha" (Great Ruler). The exception to this were the Vislekh, the largest of the clans. Their Strha, Wyrla, rejected S'ythyana and left the city, intending to battle the Nazba Zham alone. The alliance continued as planned and S'ythyana declared the creation of the First Pozhari Empire and formation of a new calendar, beginning in the same year.

The Empire would begin its campaign against the Nazba Zham quickly, retaking Krohpoth within a year. The Battle of the Nyr proved to be the final offensive for the Pozhari, defeating the Nazba Zham swiftly. By 3 A.G.U. the last of their forces had been driven back over the Skarn Mountains.

### S'ythyana of the Nyr (5-35 A.G.U.)

After the defeat of the Nazba Zham, the Empire turned its attention to consolidating its control over the Pazhara basin. Whilst they now controlled most of the major cities between the Nyr and the Carnelian Sea, Garshavhin and its surrounding areas were still under the control of Wyrla of the Vislekh, who had suffered heavily at the hands of the Nazba Zham. In 4 A.G.U. S'ythyana began a campaign against Wyrla, defeating her forces in less than a month. The swiftness of the victory was in no small part due to warrior mages, trained by S'ythyana in pyromagic during the previous war. The Vislekh proved to be no match for their powers and fled Garshavhin. They took refuge in the Sravhin Mountains where they would engage in guerilla attacks against the Empire for several months until Wyrla was captured and executed in the spring of 5 A.G.U.

With all her enemies defeated, S'ythyana began expanding the empire westward. They conquered many of the northern tribes of the Sentinyl Isles, their populations assimilating into Pozhari society. Coastal settlements such as Bahlarek and Salmaryy grew into large cities over the next decade, attracting many who wished to exploit the fish-rich waters of the Sentinyl straits.

S'ythyana wanted to build a lasting Pozhari identity, one which would survive her ultimate death and ensure that the clans would stay unified. She decided that turning her relatively new cult into an organized religious institution was the best method by which to achieve this. The Infernal Crescent was established in 5 A.G.U. with the intended purpose of delivering the teachings of S'ythyana and Drathar to all. Its highest position, the High Drath, was initially occupied by herself, making her the only person to ever occupy both positions of High Drath and Kahlstrha simultaneously. Initially, the Infernal Crescent's main duties were educational. It established many small temples in towns around the Empire which were usually manned by a single pyromage, often weak in skill, but well read on S'ythyana's teachings. These would be passed to the local populace, who would often attend the temples for medicine. Larger temples were constructed in big cities, which would provide lessons in reading and writing to those who could afford. S'ythyana also oversaw the construction of an enormous temple (known as the Infernaht) above the geode at Krohpoth, making this the center of operations for the Infernal Crescent. It would also serve as the center for the study of the geode, and other magical practices.

In 23 A.G.U. S'ythyana abdicated her role as High Drath, passing it to her closest confident, a woman named Vylara. S'ythyana herself turned her attention to conquest. In 25 A.G.U. the Pozhari invaded the northern Sentinyl Isles. The native Sentili possessed little in the way of magic and were no match for the highly skilled fire mages of the Pozhari. Their tribal leaders surrendered within the year. The Empire then set its sights on the southern islands. However, failure would prove to be the hallmark of any Pozhari campaigns against the Sentili from these islands. In 27 A.G.U. the Pozhari attempted to invade the largest island, Jaspyr. Their forces were met by a well equipped Sentili navy. Their wooden ships would usually have been turned into death traps by the pyro magic of the Pozhari's fire mages, however the extreme weather conditions during the battle proved devestating for the invaders. One sailor who survived the invasion described how one moment their ships were preparing for battle, and the next the entire vessel was ablaze, along with the rest of the fleet. He described witnessing one magic attempt to launch a fireball at a Sentili vessel, only for it to be blown back towards him by the heavy winds. It would be another 2 years before the Pozhari would attempt an invasion of the island again. This time they would fair slightly better, landing at Jaspyr's main port. However, they would be defeated by forces on the ground, with heavy winds once again inhibiting the effectiveness of the Pozhari's fire magic, with their pyromages instructed not to use any offensive magic in the event of extreme weather conditions.

## Government

### Political Administration

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##### Trade

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1. ↑ The Frozen March refers to a period in which the northern ice caps expanded over the course of several millennia, forcing many people to move southward.