Empire of Da'al Mon

***“**Kings die; countries fall apart. Cities crumble; cultures are erased. But Da'al Mon? They are a constant.**”***
— Giraldir

The **Empire of Da'al Mon**, alternatively spelt **Ta'al Mon** or **Daal Mon**, is a neutral country located in the South. They are bordered by the Kingdom of Amagoi to the north, the Desert Lords to the northeast, the Empire of Sallant to the east, and the Republic of Da'al Mon to the south. They have a coastline on the Western Ocean. The Empire of Da'al Mon is currently fighting a civil war with the Republic bearing the same name.

The Empire was founded in the wake of the Darkest Decade and the Sapphire Empire of Da'al Mon, which had been ruled over by Emperors Taslona I and Taslona II, two Sallanthian nobles. The ethnic Da'al Monis, a matriarchal people since the dawn of their culture, were quick to overthrow them.

Da'al Mon is considered a rogue state by the Empire of Sallant, who claim to be the Sapphire Empire's successor. With the two having a long and complicated history, the Da'al Moni Empresses have been thorough in opposing the Sallanthians at every turn, most notably in the Great Game.

In recent years, the Empire has tried to stay neutral during the Great War. In the wake of the Second Sallanthian-Da'al Moni War, the Republic of Fühlgart sponsored a rebellion led by Prince Ilar. Subsequently, a civil war broke out and the Republic of Da'al Mon was founded, shattering the Empire's neutrality. However, while opposed to both the Sapphire League and the Republicans, the Da'al Monis have refused to join the Monarchists, mainly due to their involvement in the Sallanthian invasion of their country, albeit unwittingly.

## History

### Establishment

The region known as Da'al Mon, literally translating to "Land of the Humans", has been inhabited by states bearing the name since the Second Human Rebellion. The modern Empire was only established in 1020 AW, however. Previously, the Kingdom of Da'al Mon had been conquered by King Ilu of Sallant during his conquests of the South and was subsequently integrated into his new Sapphire Empire.

The Province of Da'al Mon and the Province of the Great Sand Sea would ultimately become the seat of the second Sapphire Emperors besides the ones in New Sallant. Despite this seat, however, these Emperors were not only male but also ethnically Sallanthian. The female-dominated Da'al Monis were therefore disgruntled with this state of affairs. The Emperors of Da'al Mon, despite claiming to be speaking for the people they ruled over, were deeply unpopular and faced much internal resistance.

Ultimately, the Sapphire Empire would come to an abrupt end due to rapid and careless decentralisation. A third Imperial seat had been founded in Daletia, leading to the Empire having three Emperors at the same time at any given moment. Ultimately, this caused the Collapse of the Sapphire Empire in the late 10th century AW, as the nobility turned on each other and provinces began breaking away and declaring independence. Da'al Mon, too, claimed independence, in the form of the Sapphire Empire of Da'al Mon.

The new state, led by a Sallanthian noble, Taslona I, claimed to be the true successor of the Sapphire Empire, with roughly a dozen other countries doing the same. The golden age Taslona and his predominantly Sallanthian followers were expecting didn't come, however. The Sapphire Empire, unstable as it was, was heavily economically integrated. With the Southern economy in ruins, the Sapphire successor states began to face extreme economic downturns, and Da'al Mon was no exception.

Taslona I was eager to place the blame on something, and ultimately blamed the Dryads, who had played a key role in the Sapphire Empire's diplomatic offices and internal administration. Claiming that the Dryads had caused the seeds of doubt required to collapse the Empire, he founded the Sapphire Inquisition. The Sapphire Inquisition, led by a former Daletian general, Rahmiero, was tasked with finding guilty Dryads and punishing them. While that was their official mission, Taslona and Rahmiero worked together to kill Dryads and take their land and wealth for themselves to boost the Da'al Moni economy drastically. Unsurprisingly, the Dryad population of Da'al Mon began to flee in the thousands. When no more Dryads were left, Rahmiero was granted free reign over any non-Human in the Empire.

Other Sapphire successors looked on as the Sapphire Inquisition stole hoards of wealth from the non-Human population. With their own economies in ruins, they were eager to rely on the Inquisition to help them as well. What followed was a downward spiral of escalating events which would later be known as the Darkest Decade. The Darkest Decade would be the largest genocide in Enselonde's history, rivalling the hatred, paranoia, and death toll of the Divine War. It is estimated that by the end of the decade, 98% of Da'al Mon's non-Human population had either been killed or fled, with the remainder having turned into guerillas for their own survival or going into hiding.

The Darkest Decade would come to a destructive end when the Sapphire Inquisition suffered a major blow at the Battle of the Green Grove at the hands of Nyara, the Goddess of Life. Rahmiero returned to Kirisil, the capital of Da'al Mon, to recruit a new army to continue the offensive in the North. However, Cossyxia, Goddess of Stars. utterly destroyed Kirisil in 1009 AW in a matter of seconds, decapitating both the Imperial government and Inquisition in one attack. Kirisil was turned into a crater that burns to this day. Rahmiero and Taslona I – alongside every one of their influential followers – had been annihilated, becoming little more than ash in the wind. The government of the Sapphire Empire of Da'al Mon had been utterly decapitated.

Taslona I's son, bearing the same name, took over as Emperor Taslona II. What he inherited was a state without a government and a population that hated him. Unsurprisingly, the ethnic Da'al Monis, seeing a chance to free themselves of Sallanthian control for the first time in centuries, rose up in drove under Lady Ayga Niazni, who ruled over the city of Kalesh. Out of desperation, Taslona II began recruiting criminals, bandits, mercenaries, and nomads in mass to cling to his power, but he was soon ousted, retreating into the Great Sand Sea. When his money ran out in early 1011 AW, his army of outlaws killed him and fought over minor fiefdoms in the Great Sand Sea. They would go on to become the first Desert Lords.

Whereas Taslona II had fled, many Sallanthian nobles, having been appointed to their post in the Province of Da'al Mon, were defeated. Ultimately, Ayga Niazni proved to be just towards the captured Sallanthian lords. Each was given a fair trial, and all lords who had been good towards their subjects were pardoned and – in some cases – even allowed to keep a more minor position of power. In the wake of the trials and the death of Taslona II, the Da'al Moni lords and ladies collectively chose Ayga to lead them. Together they formed the current Empire and crowned Ayga Niazni as Ayga I of Da'al Mon.

### Rise to Power

The Empire's early years were peaceful, though somewhat chaotic. Ayga I had settled into her role as Empress and sought to politically and economically stabilise the Empire. Ultimately, it was her decision to not attack the Desert Lords, as they were too entrenched, the terrain made getting troops and supplies into the Great Sand Sea difficult, and the land was practically worthless.

Instead, Ayga I repaired damaged infrastructure, formally moved the capital to her native Kalesh, forged an independent Da'al Moni military, and established diplomatic ties with other Sallant-opposed Sapphire successor states, such as the Empire of Daletia and the Kingdom of Amagoi. She also lifted up the ladies of the realm, giving them a voice in how the Empire should be run by establishing the Noble Council of Da'al Mon. The Noble Council appeased the ladies of Da'al Mon by giving them some power over the crown and ensuring their right to rule. However, Ayga I was skilled in wielding the Council for her own benefit, using it to quickly spread decrees and new reforms across the Empire, making it beneficial for both parties.

When Ayga I died in 1037 AW, her brilliant daughter Etiy took over. A renowned diplomat with ties across Enselonde, she expertly positioned the Empire on the diplomatic landscape. She attracted investment offers and trade from every corner of Enselonde. When the newfound Empire of Sallant, claiming to be the successor to the Sapphire Empire, began making threats towards Da'al Mon, Etiy sailed to New Sallant herself, demanding an audience with Emperor Nisuh I. The two discussed behind closed doors, and the deal they made is unknown, but Sallant ceased all ambitions to invade Da'al Mon for the rest of her reign.

It wasn't until Etiy's death in 1054 AW that the two countries began antagonising each other. Princess Ayga II, now Empress, was a devout militarist, having previously served in the Imperial Guard as well as having been the general of the Third Army. Under Ayga II, widespread military reforms were implemented. The four armies of Da'al Mon were established, the navy was modernised, and a mighty Dragonfleet was established. Niluh I, seeing Ayga II's reforms of the military as a threat to Sallanthian influence in Qibiqa and Agumia, launched the First Sallanthian-Da'al Moni War in 1059 AW.

The conflict between the two Empires was fought in the strategically worthless lands of the Desert Lords, as both sides bribed and threatened the Desert Lords into aiding their forces over the enemies. However, the Sallanthians would ultimately be humiliated during the conflict. The Da'al Moni Dragonfleet was able to defeat the Sallanthian one, allowing them to rain fire down upon their troops. Finally, when the supposedly weaker Da'al Moni navy gained the upper hand on the seas, going as far as to blockade New Sallant, the economy of the Sallanthian Empire began to worsen rapidly. Nisuh I wished to keep fighting, but the nobles forced his hand, ending the war with a white peace in 1061 AW.

### The Great Game

In the wake of the First Sallanthian-Da'al Moni War, it became clear to the Sallanthians that the breakaway empire would be more difficult to bring back into the fold. Instead, an indirect proxy war broke out between the two states in the territory of the Desert Lords. Ayga II didn't care much for the loose collection of rogue rulers, leading to the overwhelming majority of Desert Lords being bribed by the Sallanthians into attacking Da'al Mon. It resulted was the First Desert Lord Invasion in 1072 AW. The conflict was extremely destructive to the empire and Ayga II had to scramble to defend the Da'al Moni borders. While the empire would prove victorious, the three-year-long conflict would cause heavy casualties and serve as a painful lesson.

Ayga II's successor, Kayil, recognised the value of the Desert Lords and began to appease them with wealth and supplies. This resulted in the balance of power shifting in Da'al Mon's favour. The Desert Lords were moulded into a weapon to attack Sallant and, after a considerably large bribe, they launched the Second Desert Lord Invasion into recently annexed Sallanthian Agumia. This invasion would be quickly quashed, though it also made the Sallanthians more aware of keeping the Desert Lords happy. While a joint invasion between the two empires would have easily destroyed the Lords, instead, both sides began a complicated power play called the Great Game to influence, bribe, and threaten the individual Desert Lords into submission. This made the lords extremely rich, though it also made their fiefdoms highly unstable as pretenders and rivals were constantly sponsored the moment they swore allegiance to either empire.

Kayli's successor, her daughter Uysai, would have a complicated rule revolving around the Great Game. After barely a year as empress, it became clear that she was being bribed by the Desert Lords into "supporting" them, without any allegiance actually being given to Da'al Mon. Effectively, she was damaging the empire's economy to line her own pockets, causing the Noble Council to replace her with her sister, Ayga III. Uygai would be banished, later becoming a Desert Lord herself.

Ayga III was similar to Ayga II in her militaristic outlook. At first, she played the Great Game, yet began heavily fortifying the Da'al Moni border. Satisfied with her defences, she stopped paying bribes from 1125 AW onwards. Unsurprisingly, the Sallanthians regained control over the Lords, leading to the Third Desert Lord Invasion in 1126 AW. This invasion would be catastrophic, as Ayga III's defences would fail almost immediately. While some desperate counteroffensives would ultimately drive back the Desert Lords, Ayga III paid the ultimate sacrifice near the end of the conflict. Her successor would make sure to keep the Lords content.

The Desert Lords launched two more invasions since then, the fourth into Sallant and the fifth into Da'al Mon, though the scale of these invasions gradually began to decrease. The Great Game would ultimately come to an end nearing the end of the 12th century AW as the two empires began paying less and less tribute. Internally, the Hegemons began to slowly feudalise the Desert Lords during this period. Though some violent raiders still exist, they generally became less aggressive and territorial, as their internal borders slowly began to solidify. However, this peace would shatter during the Great War.

### The Great War and Present Day

When the Great War broke out in the North, Da'al Mon was an unlikely country to become involved. However, the Monarchist exiles under Erik von Kalzberg and Cecilia Mitthel had travelled from the Eastland to Sallant to evade the Republican invasion of the Eastland. While Empress Erimia didn't view them as a threat, Muzai II of Sallant saw an opportunity. While the Desert Lords had largely been pacified, the Monarchists could be wielded in a similar method as the Lords had been.

Sallant joined the Monarchists, promising to help topple the Republic of Fühlgart. In return, the exiles would aid Muzai II in a war against Da'al Mon. Empress Erimia got no advance warning of the invasion, and the Second Sallanthian-Da'al Moni War came as a complete surprise to the empire. Erimia, a good empress yet mediocre commander, gathered her forces rather slowly, allowing for many Da'al Moni borderlands to fall. Muzai II had also recruited many Desert Lords to his side in the invasion. Even with all their forces deployed, the Da'al Monis began losing ground, and the empire looked all but lost. That was, until a dancer, of all people, came forward. Shalyah Lodu was a relative nobody before the war with a world-changing secret: she was a Phantomancer. Phantomancy is extremely rare and most Phantomancers were killed in childhood by Lyxis the Blind and the Nytalyrian Empire. Lodu had slipped through the cracks.

After a brief magical training, Shalyah Lodu was ready to see battle. She accompanied the First Army into battle. Accompanying the army, she would constantly resurrect the fallen, both ally and enemy during battles. These temporarily revived fallen soldier would be turned against the Monarchists and Sallanthians, with every one of their fallen allies becoming an enemy once resurrected. When the Monarchists saw what they were dealing with, they retreated en masse. The war bogged down into a stalemate, as the Da'al Monis retook most of their occupied territory. Knowing they could push no further, Muzai II annexed what little strips of useless land he still occupied and signed a peace treaty. The Desert Lords had lost many men and much influence, and the Monarchists were, unsurprisingly, betrayed and attacked by the Sallanthians soon after the conflict came to a close.

While the Da'al Monis celebrated their de-facto victory, more strife was to come to the empire. Prince Ilar, the firstborn of Empress Erimia, plotted a rebellion against her. Due to cultural aspects, Ilar stood to inherit nothing, as any princess would in a different country. Resentful, he reached out to the Republicans, ultimately being contacted by Adrian Strickmann, the head of the Fühlgartian spy agency, Group Zero. Strickmann gave Ilar money, supplies, and military advisors, as well as covert access. In return, he tasked the prince with rebelling against his mother and his homeland. Ilar, long grown disillusioned by imperial politics, happily agreed.

His treason was disguised at first, as Ilar funded rebels in the Da'al Moni hinterlands while remaining at court Kalesh from 1218 AW onwards. It is only in 1221 AW, after a series of disappointing battles, that Ilar personally travelled over to unify the rebel groups under the banner of the Republic of Da'al Mon, which he claimed to be the ruler of. This was a major escalation of the Da'al Moni Civil War, though the land Ilar claimed was poor and underpopulated. This made it largely impossible for Ilar to fund an offensive against the empire, though the rough geography occupied by the Republic also made it difficult to advance for the Imperials. This led to the Da'al Moni Civil War bogging down into a stalemate that lasts to this day.

To this day, the Empire still reels from this betrayal. The civil war drags on with no end in sight, and the Da'al Monis remain isolated on the diplomatic stage. With the Republican influence inside their borders, the Monarchist Amagoi and Hexad Empire to the north, and the Sapphire League led by the power-hungry and ruthless Empress Danakha to the east, combined with renewed Desert Lord attacks, many wonder if the current Da'al Moni state will continue to exist for much longer. Yet, if their empire is to fall, it is likely that the Da'al Moni people will endure and find a way to come back in the future.

They always have.

## Politics

Da'al Mon is an empire where the empress is the highest authority. That said, the individual ladies of the realm enjoy a high degree of autonomy and can also serve on the Noble Council, which can influence and (with the aid of the royal family) depose and replace empresses if it is required for national security, such in the case of Empress Uysai. Da'al Mon currently fights a civil war with a Republican-backed state led by Prince Ilar, though the Republicans enjoy little support domestically, as the Da'al Monis have strived for neutrality in the Great War and Epilogue Wars.

## Geography

Da'al Mon is a largely infertile state, though regional differences do exist. The coastlines on the Western Ocean are fertile and serve as the breadbasket for the rest of the empire. Its long coastline has also made it a trading state with a large naval presence in the South. Further inland, the land is more vertical, with many hills covering the majority of the empire. These lands are generally much drier than the coasts and, at times, outright arid. Further inland, to the eastern edges of the empire, are the outskirts of the Great Sand Sea. This gigantic desert makes up a minority of the country's landscape, and largely serves as a natural border between itself and would-be invaders beyond.

## Economy

The Da'al Moni economy is centred around trade. Its large coastline and position on the corner of the continent allow them to build great trading fleets, that travel as far as Whitecrest and the Eastland. However, overland trade with Amagoi and – until recently – Qibiqa are also major contributors to Da'al Mon's trade economy.

Besides trade, fishing and agriculture make up a good majority of citizens' jobs, though Da'al Mon is also famous for its skilled craftsmen and artists. Da'al Moni tapestries and clothing are in high demand in other parts of Enselonde, though this, too, is tied to trade. The recent breakdown in long-distance trade due to the Great War has been a severe blow to Da'al Mon's economy, as piracy has increased and Republican ships often attack their ships on sight. This forced the empire to import and export through third parties, such as Ganglu Family Shipping, Willethorn Trading Company, or Pichier and Sons.

## Demographics

The Darkest Decade is a distant memory that the Da'al Monis would like to forget. However, the Sapphire Inquisition has left a permanent mark on its demographics. It is one of the most overwhelmingly Human states in Enselonde, though small communities of non-Humans do exist, most of them Xyphians and Naerisi.

## Culture and Religion

Some claim that Da'al Moni culture is the closest to the Human Freemen of the Human Rebellions. The region was the only part of the Kingdom of Humanity to resist Nytalyrian invasion towards the end of the Divine War. This has resulted in Da'al Moni culture not being influenced by the Empire of Nytalyria like Sallanthian culture was. That said, the Da'al Monis have experienced cultural shifts over the years, most notably lifting up the position of the women over the men.

**Languages**

Da'al Mon has three languages: Da'al Moni, an evolution of Old Human, Sallanthian from the days of the Sapphire Empire, and Common.

**Holidays**

Da'al Mon observes all religious holidays except for Onir's Night of Madness. Non-religious holidays are Independence Day, celebrating Ayga I's overthrowing of the Sapphire Empire of Da'al Mon, Remembrance Day which remembers the destruction of Kirisil and acts as a warning for the future against groups such as the Sapphire Inquisition, and finally, there is the famous Red Festival where the Da'al Monis celebrate the harvest and the start of Redfall.

**Arts**

Da'al Monis are a historically literate people, favouring poems, plays, and texts over visual arts and music. In recent years, they have enjoyed a resurgence in famous writers. The most notable of these are:

* Toizul Biskun (1069-1137 AW) - Poet and Writer, famous for A Dream of Hope.
* Aselia Alozella (1110-1187 AW) - Writer and Political Theorist, famous for Nine Decrees of the Stars.
* Izsena Oztin (1115-1175 AW) - Priestess and Writer, famous for The Priesthood of Kalesh.

**Food**

Not much of Da'al Mon consists of good land for agriculture except for the coastlines, leading to their region developing a mostly carnivorous diet. Plants usually serve as side dishes, though Da'al Mon is known for farming many plants with sugary elements, allowing them to create cakes and sweets for desserts. Notable Da'al Moni dishes include their national dish, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Skewers, and famous desserts such as Apple Snowballs and Da'al Moni Cream Cakes.

**Sports**

Da'al Mon has been a historical supporter of the Enselonde Fighters League and its local scene is considered one of the most prominent and prestigious. The Da'al Moni branch of the Rangers Guild continues to operate within the Empire despite its ongoing civil war, as it has been deemed non-threatening enough to pose a danger to the branch.

Da'al Mon is big on fighting sports and is the birthplace of Kilird, a unique duelling sport as well as Agzidi, a form of martial arts that hasn't enjoyed much popularity outside of Da'al Mon.

**Religion**

Da'al Mon follows the Faith of the Five Gods like most Human nations. However, there is a notably lower amount of worship granted to Cossyxia, the Goddess of Stars. This is the expected outcome after the destruction of Kirisil.

## Relations

* Kingdom of Amagoi - Da'al Mon considers them their main trading partners, though the two countries are far from allies.
* The Desert Lords - Da'al Mon considers them business partners and frenemies. Their fading influence has made Da'al Mon cut most ties with them.

* Empire of Sallant - Da'al Mon considers them their number one enemy since the Collapse of the Sapphire Empire.
* Republic of Da'al Mon - The Empire considers them Northern bootlickers. Enemies in the ongoing civil war.
* Republic of Fühlgart - Da'al Mon considers them illegitimate puppet masters for their role in sparking the civil war and propping up Prince Ilar.
* Kingdom of Fühlgart - Da'al Mon considers them dishonourable after aiding Sallant in the Second Sallanthian-Da'al Moni War.
* Sapphire Kingdom of Qibiqa - Da'al Mon considers them a remnant stuck in the past and Sallanthian lapdogs.

## Military

### Land

* First Army - Main force. Tasked with fortifying the borders and garrisoning forts.
* Second Army - Da'al Mon's levies. Raised due to the ongoing civil war.
* Third Army - Minor army. Private force of the Da'al Moni Empresses.
* Fourth Army - Reserve troops. Raised due to the ongoing civil war.

### Sea

* First Fleet - Main naval force. Only embarks during wars.
* Second Fleet - Minor fleet. Tasked with trade protection.
* Third Fleet - Minor fleet. Tasked with trade protection.
* Fourth Fleet - Minor fleet. Tasked with pirate hunting.
* Fifth Fleet - Minor fleet. Private force under the Da'al Moni Empresses.

### Air

* First Airfleet - Main airfleet. Only flies during wars.
* Second Airfleet - Minor airfleet. Raised due to the ongoing civil war.
* First Dragonfleet - Major dragonfleet. Raised due to the ongoing civil war.

## Empresses of Da'al Mon

* House Niazni
	+ Ayga I, 1011-1037 AW
	+ Etiy I, 1037-1054 AW
	+ Ayga II, 1054-1088 AW
	+ Kayil I, 1088-1110 AW
	+ Uysai I, 1110-1111 AW
	+ Ayga III, 1111-1128 AW
	+ Ayga IV, 1128-1152 AW
	+ Zemica I, 1152-1179 AW
	+ Isayn I, 1179-1210 AW
	+ Erimia I, 1210 AW-

## People

*For a full list that includes dead people, see: Category:Characters (Empire of Da'al Mon)*

* **Erimia I of Da'al Mon** - Empress of Da'al Mon.
* Shalyah Lodu - Phantomancer.

## Locations

*For a full list, see: Category: Locations (Empire of Da'al Mon)*

* **Kalesh** - Current capital city.
* Kirisil - Former capital city, destroyed by Cossyxia.

## Documents

*Main Article: Documents*

* A Dream of Hope
* Nine Decrees of the Stars
* The Priesthood of Kalesh