Potamoun Empire

The Potamoun Empire (1279-999BGE) was an independent state in the Potamoua region, north of Argaivia. It was formed as a successor to the Empire of Argaiv following the First Catastrophe and consisted of the cities of Zenadia and Alasia, former Argaivan city-states.

Although a direct rival of Ruby's Remnant Empire, the two empires never engaged in any serious political or military confrontation due to their geographical distance and attention on their own local issues and goals.

## History

Prior to the First Catastrophe, Zenathéa and Alasia were both trading partners and political rivals. Following Argaiv's destruction, both Zenadia and Alasia were immediately cut off from their traditional land trade routes, as well as their main food sources (as both had been net importers of food). Alasia was particularly isolated due to its previous reliance on wealth from the salt trade to import goods. Zenadia attempted to dispatch ships to contact settlements along the Argaivan coastline, but none returned.

After the formation of Ruby's Remnant Empire, explorers were sent from Ruby to search for surviving settlements. One such explorer reached Zenadia and advised them of the situation in the Orient, including the founding of Ruby's empire. Following this, the council of Zenadia approached the archon of Alasia to propose their own rival successor empire to Argaiv.

The Potamoun Empire conducted limited maritime trade with Ruby and the Ankhosian Empire, however both were considered rivals and the Potamoun Empire considered them an existential threat at various points throughout its existence. Potamoua experienced increasingly harsh winters over the next two centuries and begun a gradual decline, experiencing periodic waves of emigration to Ruby and Ankhos (in the case of the latter, Potamouns often found themselves enslaved).

Following the Second Catastrophe, a particularly harsh and cold year hit the region, leading to mass starvation and pushing a large contingent of surviving Potamouns to seek refuge at Raqqos during the Gomsode period. It is believed that these groups were massacred, and possibly cannibalised. Surviving records indicate that additional groups were unaware of this and also attempted to escape to Raqqos over the next few years, although there is no indication of what happened to them. It is considered likely that they died in the ice fields, although their survivors may also be the ancestors of the Ice People.

## Zenathéa

Zenathéa (sometimes spelled *Zenadia*) was a port city to the west of modern day Drumpfton. The city was settled before recorded history and went through numerous political upheavals during its existence. In antiquity, Zenathéa was an ally of Mésoukeanisi with whom they shared many cultural similarities (such as a matrilineal government) and a distinct Argaivan dialect. Zenathéa sent an army to support Mésoukeanisi in the War of the Sapphire Brooch, but their troops arrived too late and were massacred by the Ankhosi who had seized the island.

After the collapse of the Argaivan Empire, Zenathéa allied with Alasia to form the Potamoun empire.

Today, Zenathéa exists as a fairly well preserved series of ruins, owed to its rapid but peaceful depopulation. The area was relatively uninhabitable and difficult to reach by ocean until recent decades. However, limited resettlement has occurred following the Great Melt of the ice fields near the ruins, which has made the ruins accessible by sea. Zenathéa Bay is now a viable route through which Drumpfton has began to trade salt via the inland sea. Some of the Ice Peoples who had lived in the nearby ice fields have settled in Zenathéa following the Great Melt.

## Alasia

Once known as the "Salt Bastion", the ruins of Alasia were resettled by Prince Constanz of the Tall Kingdom and renamed Drumpfton.