Evin Empires

The **Evin Empires**, sometimes called the **Evin Dynasties**, were a series of six Evin-ruled empires that ruled over the Gemstone Islands between 1204 BW and 593 BW. The Evin Empires were the first centralised states to rule over the Gemstone Islands propped up by the Goddess Adyana, who claimed the otherwise abandoned islands as her own in the 13th century BW.

Over time, the Evin Empires faced more and more pressure. While initially prospering under the First and Second Empire, the islands' Harpy and Human populations suffered increasing persecution under the Empires. When the Goddess Piqumi appeared on the islands, this culminated in the War of Two Suns, which was instrumental in ending the reign of the Evin. When the dust settled with the fragile Sixth Empire ruling over the Gemstone Islands mostly in name, a demographical crisis amongst the Evin saw their rule come to an unceremonious end. The collapse of the Sixth Empire would act as a turning point for the islands' history, paving the way for the rise of Human settlements as the dominant economic and political force, who would eventually bind together to form the Qiu Dynasty.

## The Evin Empires

### First Empire

*Main Article: First Evin Empire*

Following a series of conquests by the warlord Carik, he was named Skylord of the Gemstone Islands by Adyana herself in 1204 BW, giving rise to the First Evin Empire, at the time simply called the Evin Empire. While relatively short-lived, lasting only until 1176 BW, the importance of the First Empire on the entire history of the Gemstone Islands is often overlooked. The First Empire was instrumental in putting into effect codes of law, introducing centralised government, organising armies, and unifying various local folk religions into Adyana Worship. Furthermore, for the first time, the Gemstone Islands were treated as a single unified entity instead of separate islands under the reign of the First Empire. Despite this, they never fully controlled the Gemstone Islands and always faced some friction from Harpies and Humans, who weren't considered citizens of the Empire by its Evin rulers. This led to the eventual downfall of the First Empire, which was swiftly replaced by a state that sought to be more modern and inclusive.

### Second Empire

*Main Article: Second Evin Empire*

Born from a reformist movement, the Second Empire was founded by Skylady Inak in 1176 BW and reigned until its conquest in 1097 BW. The Second Empire recognised Harpies as fellow creations of Adyana and Humans as potential allies and included both races as citizens. The Second Empire is notable for having the only non-Evin ruler amongst the Evin Empires, the Harpy Regent Guvie, which sparked protest from the Evin populace. If anything, the Second Empire's downfall came from its ruling class, as an Evin supremacist movement grew during its reign fuelled by the increased social mobility of non-Evin. This culminated in the Second Bai Kecchrik Revolt under the warlord Zuath, who toppled the Second Empire and would name himself Skylord of the Evin supremacist Third Empire the following year. Nevertheless, for many Harpies in particular, the rule of the Second Empire is widely seen as a golden age during the period of Evin rule.

### Third Empire

*Main Article: Third Evin Empire*

Founded by Skylord Zuath in 1096 BW, the Third Evin Empire ruled until 952 BW when it was toppled by the Guidaozhen in the War of Two Suns. The Third Empire was characterised by its belief in Evin supremacy. It became infamous for its treatment of both Harpies and Humans in its borders. The widespread persecution of these races would lead to both the Harpy Migration to the Mainland and cause further resentment towards Evin rule, bolstering the eventual number of enemies it faced in its dying years.

### Fourth Empire

*Main Article: Fourth Evin Empire*

Founded by Skylord Iatoh in 946 BW, the Fourth Evin Empire was extremely short-lived, as it collapsed almost immediately upon Iatoh's death in 941 BW. Despite this, it is notable for being the only Evin Empire that favoured the Goddess Piqumi over Adyana, going as far as to outlaw Adyana Worship outright. The opportunism of Iatoh and the banning of the Gemstone Islands' primary religion proved too much for most moderates, making the Fourth Empire widely opposed and unstable during Iatoh's time. When he died, and his sons began fighting each other over succession, collapse was a natural consequence. The Fourth Empire would not be followed up by a new one soon after as had been the trend thus far. Instead, its collapse ushered in an era of decentralisation and warlordism known as the Two Hundred Years of Chaos.

### Fifth Empire

*Main Article: Fifth Evin Empire*

By far the strangest of the Evin Empires, the Fifth Empire was somewhat unexpectedly founded by Skylord Atah in 737 BW and ruled certain parts of the Gemstone Islands until its collapse in 708 BW. The Fifth Empire was founded on the ideals of the Golden Sky Movement, a secularist moderate movement that sought peace and cooperation between the followers of Adyana and Piqumi. While they achieved their goal, it was not in the way intended. Instead of banding together under the banner of peace, the Guidaozhen and Laidaozhen banded together in an odd moment of unity to topple the Fifth Empire, which they both considered to be weak and based on half-measures. The immense strain resulted in the inevitable collapse of the Fifth Empire, yet lasting 29 years was already longer than expected thanks to the competent military leadership of its two Skylords.

### Sixth Empire

*Main Article: Sixth Evin Empire*

Founded by Skylord Onawak, a Laidaozhen warlord, the Sixth Empire was a return to the policies of the Third Empire. It was staunchly pro-Evin and pro-Adyana, and actively persecuted anyone who did not fall under those groups. Reigning from 697 BW until its collapse in 593 BW, the Laidaozhen-backed Sixth Empire would be the ultimate victors of the War of Two Suns when Piqumi abandoned the Gemstone Islands in 614 BW. However, the victory had been short-lived. The losses of the War of Two Suns had been so devastating for the Evin populace of the Gemstone Islands that they lacked the numbers to maintain order. Often, the Sixth Empire only held authority in an area on paper, with local governance being carried out by Human settlements or Harpy clans who called the region home.

It should come as no surprise then, with the Empire being little more than a formality, that the slightest amount of infighting caused its unceremonial collapse in 593 BW. While there would still be Evin clans ruling over certain smaller regions or settlements, never again would another Evin Empire that dominated the Gemstone Islands arise. Humans had firmly replaced the Evin as the dominant political and economic force which would lead to the eventual rise of the Qiu Dynasty. Some Evin supremacists struggled in vain against the new status quo and were swept aside as nothing but a footnote, while others would integrate themselves into Human society.