Sotela

Sotela is the name of the planet where Wars in Sotela takes place in, consisting of two major continents; Klonura and Bovarne as well as multiple small-large islands.

Sotela's climate varies depending on location, but generally near the equator features the warmest temperatures, as such the most common biomes there are tropical jungles, savannas and deserts. While the north and south are mostly made of the freezing tundras and taigas, and everything else falls inbetween.

Sotela has a meridian length of 13 740 km, about 69% of Earth's meridian length

## History

### **Tribal Ages (Prehistory - 2528 BFK)**

The tribal age of Sotela covers a massive part of history, few records of this time exist, which are mainly cave paintings. The Tribal Ages lacked any nations, as people were instead found in small tribes, usually consisting exclusively of one family, at most around a 100 people could be found in a large tribe.

Skirmishes between tribes have happened, as Sotelan archaeologists have found many old skeletons from the tribal ages who upon further examination, had died of non natural causes, suggesting they had been killed by other humans.

### **Age of Nations (2527 BFK - 2289 BFK)**

The age of nations was when the first true nations were formed. Starting with the formation of the Klesholian Kingdom and then followed by a few others. This would naturally lead to the first wars when civilisations got to the point where all land around them had been occupied by other nations.

Combat in the early age of nations would be rare, as plenty of unoccupied space did exist, however when it did happen, it would be fought almost entirely with infantry. Few nations had experimented with anything close to artillery or ranged units.

#### Formation of the Klesholian Kingdom (2527 BFK)

*Main article: Klesholian Kingdom*

In 2527 BFK, at the Shersham river, two tribes, Vor-Kles and Narolen had been existing, separated from one another by the river for centuries. One man, Kaeso, decided to change this by convincing members of both tribes to unify with eachother under what he'd call a 'nation.' More specifically, he founded a kingdom with two kings, one from each tribe; the Klesholian Kingdom. It would be the first nation and kingdom in Sotela.

#### Klesholian expansion and new nations

Over the next 10 years, Klesholia would become more and more developed as the population grew from neighbouring tribes moving to the young kingdom, switching from old tribal ways to becoming more like a true nation; people had specific jobs, there was a rudimentary economy, where random items would be exchanged for other goods, and the population was booming, with the capital of Kleshol booming in population.

However, Klesholia wouldn't be the only nation in Sotela for long. Just 4 years after their founding, in 2523 BFK, a new nation would pop up in a small grasslands area, west of Kleshol. The Kingdom of Versia, a near identical copy of the Klesholian system of government, the only difference being that Versia only had a single king instead of two.

A few months later, north east of Klesholia, at the Reatondale Lake, the United Tribes of Altondonia was founded. Altondonia was ruled by a council of five rather than a single king, as they were five tribes united under the single nation.

3 years later, in 2520 BFK, Guildburia would form at the Seadingale Lake. Guildburia would suffer from having a low population compared to the other nations due to the harsh desert and jungle biomes they inhabited.

Another year later, south of Klesholia, Tremasingsia would form, very similar to Versia, they were a copy of Klesholia's Kingdom system.

4 years later, in 2516 BFK, the Bamers Tribes, or just Bamers, would form in the north of Bosbure, inhabiting temperate rainforests.

3 years later, the very first self proclaimed empire would be formed, the Martean Empire. Founded by an aggressive barbarian tribe that would frequently get into skirmishes with other tribes, this would reflect on the behaviour of their new nation in the future. The Marteans would come up with the word 'Empire' and strived to own as much land as possible.

8 years later, the first nation on Anyarv would pop up

#### First nations on Anyarv (~2505 BFK)

The first nation on Anyarv would be Semoria, like most other early nations in Sotela, they were a kingdom. What made Semoria unique wasn't their system of government, but their reliance on the sea for food. Most nations started practicing agriculture with a few who still relied on hunting and gathering, but Semoria relied heavily upon fishing given their location being right up against the coastline.

A similar story to the rise of the Klesholian Kingdom would play out on Anyarv with Semoria, with neighbouring tribes finding out about the new nation, and making their own, which would then lead to more tribes creating their own nations and so on.

The second Anyarvi nation would be the United Tribes of Kovem, founded very quickly after Semoria, only 3 months after.

Next would be the Kingdom of Reykesia, founded a year after Kovem. Reykesia was somewhat similar to Semoria, also being somewhat reliant on fishing to bring in food.

Two years later, the Kingdom of Narlea and the Kingdom of Barcosia would be founded, only a couple of months apart from eachother in 2502 BFK. Narlea was an isolationist nation, believing that if too many foreign visitors came into the nation, it would grow unstable and fall. Barcosia would be the first nation to practice agriculture on Anyarv.

#### General expansion (~2500 BFK - ~2450 BFK)

Over the next few decades, the nations would slowly expand in population and size, although tech remained mostly stagnant. The main form of development during this period would be things related to the organisation of the nations themselves or agriculture. By 2490 BFK, most nations would be using atleast a little bit of some form of agriculture.

In 2550 BFK, the first "professional army" would be founded by the Martean Empire. Initially, organisation was lacking, with Martean soldiers usually being identified by a small pink or purple head/armband, and with weaponry ranging from various improvised weapons crafted out of stones and sticks such as slingshots, clubs, or sometimes even just a large stone. But over the next few years, Martea would upgrade their army with standardised training and limited organisation.

#### Klesholian Civil War (2445 BFK - 2443 BFK)

*Main article: Klesholian Civil War*

In 2445 BFK, tensions that had been brewing for years in the Klesholian Kingdom exploded in a civil war, splitting the kingdom into north and south. Although the north was significantly larger they were unable to take the south as the Shersham river made a challenging natural barrier to cross, with the only easy way to cross being the bridge that was heavily fortified on both sides. the south faced the same situation so the war would eventually come to a peaceful end after two years.

Klesholia would be split into north and south in the aftermath of the war, around 3 thousand people were killed.

#### Invasion of Klesholia (2442 BFK - 2441 BFK)

*Main article: Invasion of Klesholia*

Upon hearing about the news of Klesholia's fracture, the King of Versia saw a weakened Klesholia that could be conquered to gain more control over the vital Shersham river and the fertile soil surrounding it. Versian troops would quickly overwhelm the two nations while they were still rebuilding their armies. Versia would still suffer moderate casualties as a result of their inexperience in combat. This would be the first war between two independent nations in Sotela. Versia would use the lessons learnt from this war to develop their tactics.

#### Uneventful Period (2440 BFK - 2289 BFK)

After the invasion of Klesholia, there would be a 150 year long period where not much happened, most states experienced moderate population growth (by population standards of the time) and a few had minor territorial expansions. Even the Martean Empire slowed down territorial conquest significantly to finally develop their empty land.

### **Bronze Age**

In 2289 BFK, bronze was discovered and started to be used in Versia and neighbouring Tremasingsia. Versian Merchancts who knew about the existence of Altondonia travelled there to trade the new material with them, from Altondonia, merchants went to the nearby Martean Empire despite uneasy relations with them and distance as well as the Bamers Tribes. Guildburia would get bronze a year later when Tremasingsian merchants finally travelled there and gave them bronze in exchange for goods.

Anyarv wouldn't be quite so unlucky, only discovering bronze 14 years later. Over there the material would be discovered by Sernorians.

The bronze age would be important for Sotela's history, as it would be the era where many features of civilisation would be developed such as currencies, laws, writing and in some areas, religion. It would also be characterised by the use of bronze as it was more durable and allowed people to make more durable tools and weapons. Although for weaponry, it was still limited by length, as long blades of bronze were rather fragile and could snap on impact, leading to bronze daggers being used.

#### Formation of the first Southern States

In 2275 BFK, the Community of Alhambea would be founded in South Bosbure, being the first southern state there.

Fifteen years later on Anyarv, the Chadonian Free Territory would be founded in the south.

#### Rising tensions on Anyarv

With states expanding rapidly, there would be a race between neighbouring nations to occupy land before their neighbours could. This was especially prevalent on northern Anyarvi nations which were already squeezed rather tightly together.

#### First naval expedition

In 2258 BFK, Sernoria was fully blocked off from gaining any more territory due to Barcosian expansion to the north. No nations had experimented with travel by sea yet, and Sernoria would be the first. They took a few settlers onto 12 large rafts, each carrying 4 people for a total of 48 and set sail. With the limited knowledge of the world at this time, they stuck to the coast until they found land not claimed by Barcosia and landed there. This was the first naval expedition in Sotela.

Following this expedition, rafts would be used for transporting goods and relaying messages between the two separated Sernorian territories. They'd also be used for fishing, allowing fishermen to move further from the coast where more fish were located.

#### Sernorian Invasion of Barcosia and Kovem

*Main articles: Invasion of Barcosia and Invasion of Kovem*

Although the naval expedition was successful in establishing a colony, Sernoria still wanted to connect their lands as it would provide an easier route to transport goods and people between the the mainland and the colony. Sernoria tried negotiating with Barcosia for the small chunk of land, however they refused. This prompted Sernoria to simply take the lands by force in a quick invasion in 2245 BFK. In the process, razing their capital down to the ground.

Five years after the greatly successful invasion of Barcosia, the king of Sernoria saw a chance to eliminate Kovem which sat directly south of them to free up even more space to allow Sernoria to take neutral lands, as well as gaining full control over various rivers and plundering their villages of any useful resources. This invasion was slightly less successful, Sernoria would take double the losses they inflicted on Kovem not including civilians. Just like Barcosia, the Kovemi capital would be razed to the ground and all valuables plundered.

#### Formation of the Kingdom of Deneria (2237 BFK)

Years after the the two invasions by Sernoria, numerous citizens and soldiers who had fled formed a new nation south of Sernoria, the Kingdom of Deneria. This nation would eventually become a rival to Sernoria.

#### Rising Tensions on Bosbure (~2082 BFK)

With a long period of peace on both continents, all states significantly expanded their territory. This would cause problems later as most neutral space would be occupied, leaving expansionist states with only one option to take more land; war.