Pozhari Empire

The Pozhari Empire is a large imperial regime located in the far-north-western region of the continent of Gradakesh. It lies to the west of the Kryell Mountains, south of the Sentinel Sea, and north of the Mobellan Woodlands and the Kingdom of Aetheraea.

The territory's primary inhabitants are the Pohzari, whose society is based on a (now unified) clan system. Other minority groups include the Ytrosi and Mobellan peoples, who are used as a slave labor force.

Emergence and separation of the Nirva people (7,000-4,500 B.C.Y.)
The Nirva were a nomadic people of the Lapradeen peninsula in the far north of the continent some 8,000 years ago. This period was accompanied by higher average global temperatures and the retreating of the arctic zone further north, allowing the region to be habitable as mostly tundra and taiga climate. About 6,000 years ago, the arctic zones rapidly expanded, forcing the Nirva people south beyond the Kryell Mountains and into the newly forming Taiga forest climates.

Many Nirva settled around the River Pethis and the River Pozhir, and later the River Ytros. These societies became increasingly distanced from one another, leading to the separation of the Ytrosi people about 5,500 years ago. The Nirva here constructed a large city, Pozhira, above a fire-crystal geode and expanded out across the continent. Many Pozhari began to worship the geode as a religious deity, which they refered to as Drathari, which led over time to the formation of the Infernal Cresent. As conflicts over resources became more common, the Nirva divided into hundreds of clans.

Some Nirva travelled south settled in the Mobellan Woodlands, particularly around the River Adalia. They constructed a capital above an Earth crystal geode, which they named Adalato. Due to a chemical present in the fauna of the Mobella Woodlands, the Nirva's natural purple-red hair faded into various shades of blonde. These people also began to practice Earth-based magic rather than Fire-based magic, leading to major cultural divisions and the eventual recognition of the Mobella as a separate ethnic group.

Inter-clan conflict and unification (4,500 B.C.Y.-269 A.C.Y.)
With hundreds of Nirva clans competing for dominance, many of them waged war against each other. The region is best described as an amalgamation of small chiefdoms which regularly came in and out of existence - being either revived from the merger of allied clans or destroyed by other rival clans. At this time, Drathari religion had not developed the social infrastructure to spread itself amongst the clans. Over the course of the next 1,000 years, the number of clans would reduce dramatically. By 270 A.C.Y. only 16 clans remained.

When the Vycaraen Empire invaded and conquered the city of Adalato from the Mobella in 268 A.C.Y., the 16 clans agreed to unify, forming the First Pozhari Empire.

First Pozhari-Vycaraen War (270-277 A.C.Y.)
The Pozhari clans agreed to forming a united nation in Pozhira in 269, with all parties agreeing that that would be the capital city. The unification was spearheaded by the First Kahlstar, S'ythyana, who would serve as ruler until the Great Collapse of 301. They launched numerous campaigns against the Vycaraen Empire, who sought their territories. In 271 A.C.Y. the Vycaraen's conquered the city of Saravhin from the Pozhari, but suffered a crippling defeat at the Battle of Dahrvan Bay a year later. The Vycaraen's briefly occupied the city of Pethis in 274 before being defeated and pushed out by Pozhari forces within a few months. In 277, the Second Battle of Saravhin proved a decisive victory for the Pozhari, who took control of the city and pushed the Vycaraen's back beyond the River Ura.

Peace Settlement and later conquests (277-295 A.C.Y.)
Following the fall of Saravhin in 277, the Vycaraen's agreed a peace settlement with the Pozhari Empire. The settlement saw the Vycaraen's agree not to conquer any territory north of the River Ura, except for that which they already held. The agreement allowed the Pozhari to begin the consolidation of their control over the region, beginning with the swift conquest of the Ytrosi settlements in the north between 279-283. They carried out an invasion of the Mobellan city of Pethis in 286, and over the following decade, proceeded to integrate the native population into the Empire, also as a slave labor force.

First Pozhari Civil War and The Great Collapse (301-330 A.C.Y.)
The peace settlement allowed the Pozhari Empire to exist without any real threats to its sovereignty. The Ytrosi and Mobella had been completely conquered and incorporated into the Empire by 295, the Vycaraen Empire was occupied by continuing conflicts with Rkhonish barbarians, and the Kryell were too weak to pose a threat. S'ythyana died in 301, leaving the position of Kahlstar open. This reignited the previous tensions between the various Pozhari clans, who challanged each others claims to the title and resulted in the total collapse of the Empire's political infrastructure. Regions had been assigned to various clans in a feudal system, with each clans leading family taking up the position of feudal lords. These regions became the new de facto territories of the clans, who then proceeded to wage war against each other.

Over the course of the 29 year conflict, which existed in a constant state of stalemate, the clans amalgamated into three distinct alliances - the Vislekh, Gorrh and Kaylen. These clan alliances were headed by the ruling families of the three most powerful clans of each clan. Towards the end of the conflict, the allied clans became tightly knit with the alliances and pledged blood vows of loyalty to them. As the waring factions became weary they agreed to a peace settlement at the neutral town of Gythyr. Here, the Gythyr Accords were signed in 330 A.C.Y., effectively ending the conflict.

Gythyr Accords (330 A.C.Y.)
The Gythyr Accords established a new Pozhari Empire with an improved framework to prevent against its disintigration. The Council of Nine was established to repsresent evenly the interested of the three clan alliances and was to be made up of three representitives from each of the three clan alliances. These alliances later came to be considered clans in their own right as the major families grew closer to each other politically.The Council of Nine would then serve as an advisory group for the Kahlstar, who was to be appointed according to the bloodline of S'ythyana.

The Infernal Cresent was to be given the responsibility of overseeing the religious education of the Pozhari population. All Kalnyra's were instructed to commission the construction of temples and shrines in any villages, towns or cities within their given lands. The Circle were then permitted to outline the IC's doctrine.

Second Pozhari-Vycaraen War (342-350 A.C.Y.)
Following its formation, the Pozhari Empire began a campaign of conquest against Vycaraen-controlled regions of the Mobella Woodlands. War was declared by the reigning Kahlstar, Pryath I, who intended on capturing all territories north of the River Ura.

Pozhari forces marched on the city of Dalgodir in 342, defeating the Vycaraen forces swiftly before moving onto the southern-most city of Valdamura. The city was also captured swiftly, allowing the Pozhari to surround the largest city of Adalato and beseige it in 345. The Seige of Adalato lasted over a year, with the Vycaraen's responding relatively slowly to incursions in the Woodlands. Vycaraen armies reconquered Valdamura quickly in 345, but struggled to defeat the Pozhari at Dalgodir in 346. They eventually recaptured the city in 346, but by this time Adalato had fallen to the Pozhari.

The Vycaraen's response was to beseige the coastal city of Saravhin in the spring of 347, hoping to draw in Pozhari forces from the Woodlands. Their strategy was successful and the Pozhari attacked the seige forces in the first week of 348. The Vycaraen's simultaneously launched a counter attack against the cities of Dalgodir and Valdamura, conquering both swiftly but losing Saravhin. Vycaraen forces marched on Adalato in 349, but suffered a crippling defeat to the Pozhari. Climates further north in the Mobellan Woodlands proved relatively cold, which impeded the effectiveness of the Vycaraen's water magic. The Vycaraen's agreed to end the war in 350 following the failure to capture Adalato and agreed as part of the terms to ceed the city of Dalgodir. Pryath had originally demanded all territories north of the River Ura be ceeded, however he compromised as he was concerned about increasing numbers of Ytrosi rebellions in the north and wanted to use his military resources against them instead.

Peace and conflict with Kryell (350-450 A.C.Y.)
Whilst the 100 years leading through the 3rd and 4th century A.C.Y. was relatively peaceful, the Pozhari occasionally battled with the Kryell. An all-out war against the Kryell was considered impossible by the Kahlstar's of the time, as well as the Council of Nine, due to the inhospitable terrain of the Kryellan Mountains. However, the Kryell capital Ghrodji was briefly conquered in 381 by Pozhari forces. Due to the cities distance and harsh conditions however, it was abandoned and returned to the Kryell in 384. Skirmishes with the Kryell continued until 450, when the two nations agreed to a future of cooperation and trade.

The Long Peace and the Greater Pozhari Slave Trade (450-814 A.C.Y.)
The Long Peace refers to a substantial period of time within the Pozhari Empire when no wars or conflicts were fought. Many non-Pozhari scholars dispute the reality of this period, pointing out the numerous Ytrosi and Mobella rebellions faced that are seemingly ignored. However, if the period is taken to be one in which there were no conflicts with external powers, the description would be accurate.

The Kahlstar's of this period engaged in various political and social reform. Under Yura II (617-669 A.C.Y.), the Empire granted some autonomous rights to the northern Ytrosi peoples who were not enslaved. At the same time, the Greater Pozhari Slave Trade emerged as a primary source of income for the state. The trade saw the sale of slaves to the Vycaraen Empire in the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries, and continued to sell to the newly formed Aetheraen Kingdom through the 8th century. These slaves followed distinct trade routes, initially via the River Adalia, through the Woodlands and down via either the River Ura or the River Ekrit. They would also be transported from Dahrvan Bay to Dlzaeki Bay by boat.

The War of Three Kingdoms (814-834 A.C.Y.)
In 812, Vycaraen forces attacked the Aetheraen Kingdom, seizing the cities of Urani and Dlzaeki. By 814 they had continued their push north and once again beseiged the city of Saravhin. The Aetheraens approached the Pozhari about the posibility of an alliance, however the latter refused. The Vycaraen's proceeded to capture Valdamura and Dalgodir in 815, but were held up in their push north on the road to Adalato. The Aetheraen's attacked the Vycaraen's fortifications on the River Ura in the early spring of 815 and had beseiged Saravhin themselves in the summer, defeating the occupying forces quickly. With the exception of occasional conquests of border towns and fortifications, no major cities were traded between the three kingdoms between 816-823.

By 824, the Vycaraen Empire had begun to drastically overstretch itself. The earlier conquests of the 3rd and 4th centuries were viable due to Vycaraea's limited expansion in the east. However, by the 9th century they had expanded to conquer the vast western Rkhon steppe, as well as much of the southern Vanosi peninsula. From the 820s onwards they would continue to suffer repeated defeats which would culminate in the Sapphire Revolution of 1004 and the end of the Vycaraen Empire. The Pozhari and Aetheraen's made large gains during this period. The Pozhari finally launched an offensive against Dalgodir in 825 and swiftly defeated the Vycaraen's in less than 3 days. They immediately turned their attention to Valdamura, which they beseiged in the spring of 825 and conquered by 826.

The Vycaraen's had been retreating from numerous positions accross the Vanosi peninsula. They had granted the Aetheraen Kingdom control over the cities of Urani and Ayrisi, and had recognized the sovereignty of the Vanosaen Kingdom in the south and its control over the cities of Avatica, Krysaea, Portarys and Sarnaea. Sensing weakness, Kahlstar Dreya III launched an invasion of the Vycaraen city of Kylaea in 827. It was the first and only time the Pozhari Empire would attempt to conquer territory south of the River Ura. The invasion was slow as the armies were held up at outlying fortifications at the River Ura and later at the River Ky. They eventually arrived and beseiged the city in 828, though it managed to hold out for quite some time. Eventually the city fell in the autumn of that year, but with great losses on the part of the Pozhari.

Minor attempts were made by Vycaraen generals to retake Kylaea, firstly by Niotus in 829, and again by Hadrio in 830. Each ended in failure and the Vycaraen's withdrew their forces completely from the western region of the continent and settled behind the border fortifications to the west of Nyraeca. The Pozhari launched a campaign to retake Saravhin from the Aetheraen's in the early autumn of 830 but were defeated at the Battle of Galatorrh. This defeat marked the end of the Pozharis medium-term ambitions of conquering the city.

Conflicts with Aetheraea (834-869 A.C.Y.)
In the proceeding decades following the War of Three Kingdoms, the Pozhari Empire engaged in numerous intermittent battles with the Aetheraen's. Most of these conflicts were contested at border fortifications and smaller villages on either side of the River Ura. The Aetheraens carried out seiges on the cities of Valdamura and Dalgodir in 841 and 843, which whilst unsuccessful in claiming the cities, significantly reduced the resources of the Pozhari. These seiges contributed towards the Pozharis decision to abandon the city of Kylaea and return it to the Vycaraens in 845, choosing instead to defend the territories in closer proximity to them.

The Woodland Rebellions (874-906 A.C.Y.)
In 874, a group of Mobellan slaves took control of several villages in the heart of the eastern Mobellan Woodlands. These rebels recieved support from the governments of Aetheraea and Vanosaea, who hoped to promote instability within the Pozhari Empire. The two southern kingdoms provided the rebels with training from powerful Air Mages. The new techniques informed Mobellan offensive and defensive strategy which took the Pozhari by surprise. They managed to liberate several villages and a fortification just outside Valdamura by 876 and by 880 they had seized control of the city, as well as Dalgodir.

The rebels then established a realm which they called Free Mobella, and called on Mobellans in the cities of Pethis and Adalato to rebel also. The Crystalline Church helped them to establish elaborate propaganda campaigns within the cities which culminated in further mass rebellions in 887. At the invitation of the Mobellan rebels, Aetheraen forces entered the region and took provisional control over the cities. In 890 they launched a joint invasion of Adalato and seized the city from the Pozhari. They seized a key fortification close to the source of the River Ura in 891 and marched on the city of Pethis in 893, beseiging it for 2 years until it was surrended by the Pozhari in 895.

Whilst the Pozhari were drawing up plans to retake Pethis and Adalato, further rebellion erupted in the western Woodlands. Unlike in the east, the Mobellan rebels faced far greater resistance due to the higher population of ethnic Pozhari. The rebels seized a forification close to the Aetheraen border in 898 and attempted to seize the town of Gythyr in 900, only to be viciously repelled by the Pozhari. The Aetheraens, who had already poured significant resources into the eastern Woodlands, refused to provide assistance and the Pozhari reclaimed all rebel territory in the west by 906.

Following the end of the eastern rebellion, the Aetheraens established the Mobellan Cooperative of Free Cities (commonly refered to as the Mobellan Cooperative) which would govern from the city of Adalato. The territory was intended to act as a puppet state of the Aetheraens and to provide a buffer zone between themselves and the Pozhari Empire. The Crystalline Church also encouraged the creation of a buffer state in order to spread their own religious practices to the Mobella, though this has had limited success. The new state was also welcomed by the Vycaraens who were concerned about possible Pozhari attempts to retake Kylaea, though the Pozhari held no such desires.

The Second Pozhari Civil War (930-935 A.C.Y.)
Following the death of Kahlstar Nephya VII Brakyn, the Pozhari Empire entered a period of political turmoil. Nephia was poisoned by an assassin at the age of 17, possibly by an Ytrosi or Mobella rebel. As she had no offspring or siblings to serve as heirs, Girrah Tahvaya, her aunt-in-law, assumed the role of Kahlstar. This was met with widespread disapproval as Girrah was highly unpopular amongst the Council of Nine and Infernal Cresent, as well as the leading families of many of the clans, due to the fact she was not directly descended from the bloodline of the original Kahlstar Sythyana. Girrah belonged to the Tahvaya family, who were members of the Kahzluk clan - the most powerful clan in the Kaylen alliance. As she had not initially being an heir to the imperial throne, she was permitted, as all non-heirs were, to engage in inter-clan marriages. Although she had been married to Kyleb Brakyn, Nephia's biological uncle, he had died some years prior, leaving her as the only surviving family member.

Drayna, the leader of the T'rina family and the Dahik clan (to whom the Brakyn's also belonged) orchastrated a rebellion against Girrah in 922 which initially failed following defeat at the Battle of the Nyr. The Tahvaya's had successfully negotiated a loose, but functional pact with the Vislekh clans, on the grounds that they would be rewarded favourably with land holdings. Girrah was also able to bribe the ruling High Drath Ygalya into supporting her regime and dissolved the Council of Nine for the period of her rule, enforced by her families own armies. Drayna then fled into the Kryellan mountains, along with other members of the T'rina family and some members of Gorrh-aligned clans. Over the next decade they would further plot to overthrow Girrah's regime.

Drayna's forces carried out raids against nearby Kaylen and Vislekh villages along the edges of the mountain range between 924-929. In 930 they attacked and held a dozen towns to the north of the River Pozhir, triggering the Second Pozhari Civil War. Whilst Girrah and the Kaylen-aligned clans controlled much of the political infrastructure, they could not control the Infernal Cresent, who had gained a new High Drath, Agahlyra. She had begun to work with the T'rina rebels early-on, unhappy with the pact her predecessor had made and the decline of the IC's power. IC informants provided the rebels with strategic information regarding Girrah's forces, allowing them to very swiftly conquer the surrounding regions of the capital. In 931, the Vislekh-Kaylen pact collapsed and Vislekh began actively supporting the Gorrh-aligned factions. The capital was taken by Drayna in 932 and she declared herself Kahlstar. Girrah's forces retreated north into the Gharsa region where they would continue to hold down any loyal villages that allowed them to settle until they were finally defeated at the town of Pyrogal in 935. Girrah was taken back to the capital where she was executed by beheading at the gates to the Infernat. Her body was then offered to the Pozhira geode as penance.

The T'rina Dynasty (932 A.C.Y.-present)
Drayna I T'rina named herself Kahlstar in 932 and consolidated control over the Empire by 935. The T'rina dynasty has since ruled for the last 300 years.

Drayna I T'rina (932-961)
Drayna's rule marked a period of reform within the Empire. Her first act as Kahlstar was to forbid inter-clan marriage between the Dahik's and all other clans, including other Gorrh clans. This initially placed strain on the relationship between the Dahik's and the rest of the Gorrh alliance, but was tempered by Drayna who offered the disgruntled clans extra land which she confiscated from clans which had been loyal to Girrah (Tahvaya and Toh'ran). She also stripped the Tahvaya family of its seat on the Council of Nine as penance for assuming the role of Kahlstar as an imposter, giving it to the Gorrh clans. Following this, she reformed the way in which Kahlstar's were selected, granting greater say to the Council of Nine and the Infernal Cresent. This was intended to ensure that new Kahlstar's would be selected according to Drathari doctrine.

In 940, Drayna radically reformed the Pozhari military aparatus. Under previous rulers, the only personnel permitted to serve as soldiers were ethnic Pozharis. Drayna expanded the law to allow Ytrosi to serve at the lowest rank during times of war. The law did not permit Ytrosi to volunteer for military service, rather they had to be selected by the local or regional Kalnyra (equivilent of a Lord or Lady). If they were selected, their families would be given a plot of land by the Kalnyra in exchange for their services. Ytrosi soldiers would be trained by the Kalnyra's or by skilled military personnel asigned by them. Drayna died of natural causes in 961 and was succeeded by her youngest sister, Graydhel.

Graydhel II T'rina (961-980)
Graydhel's reign continued the policies of Drayna, choosing to spend her remaining years in power studying fire magic crystals. She was extremely interested in crystal alchemistry and funnelled money to the Infernal Cresent for experiments regarding them. These experiments lead to the discovery that the Pozhari geode was losing magical energy and that it would be completed depleted in roughly a millenia if levels of usage continued at the same rate. This information was kept secret by the Infernal Cresent and was known only to themselves and Graydhel. It has since been passed down to each Kahlstar, though the IC had not yet made this known to Khashar at the time of Orphan Princess.

She also was highly inrigued by the unknown lands beyond the Sea of Ytros and sought to embark on expeditions, hearing of powerful kingdoms from Aetharean merchants of the south. The first expedition began in 966 under the captaincy of Ghanar Kavel, who set sail from Dahrvan Bay and landed upon the shores of the continent of Urayakesh in autumn of the same year. HIs ship arrived at Drosvodal, the most northernly city of the Nasasid Empire, where he was introduced to unique fruits and berrys, advanced architectural methods and maps of the eastern half of the continent. His return began the process of increased trade with the Nasasid's.

Graydhel died in 980 of natural causes and was succeeded by her youngest daughter, Drayna.

The Hundred Year Glory (975-1069)
Following Graydhel's reign began what is known as the Hundred Year Glory - a period in which the Pozhari Empire was extremely prosperous and during which it suffered no defeats in war. It was overseen by four Kahlstar's - Drayna II (980-1002), Pryath V (1002-1017), Ursua I (1017-1060) and Drayna III (1060-1073), with the period coming to an end in the early years of the reign of Lyra I.

The discovery of Urayakesh prompted a new influx of trade with the Nasasid Empire, leading to an economic boom for the entire Empire. Of particular importance were the coastal settlements of Kontorrh and Dahrvan Bay which became major trading centres, attracting visitors from across the Sea of Ytros, as well as from the southern kingdoms of Aethaeea and Vanosaea. The arrival of exotic foods and beverages from across the sea provided an incentive for further trade within the inner cities like Garshavhin and Pozhira, with a pipeline for trade established along the River Pyra.

There was little need for expansion during this period due to the increased trade opportunities, though these benefits began to tail off by the 1010's and Pryath V began to engage in further campaigns. He first set his sights on the Sentinel Isles and the island of Jaspyr, which had remained untouched by the Pozhari despite there proximity to the Empire's coast. His campaigns were swift and successful, subduing the native Sentinalites and Jaspyri and returning the bulk of their small populations to the Empire to serve as slave labor. By the time of Khashar, these slaves had been completely bread out of existence and were now indistinguishable from regular Pozhari. Pryath then directed his attention toward the Kryell, engaging them in battle at The Nyr in 1014 and seizing some limited territory to the east of the city, granting the Pozhari some direct access to the Kryellan mountains.

Pryath died in 1017 at the hands of an Aetharean asassain and was succeeded by his sister Ursua I. Urusua began a campaign of vengeance against the Aetheraens, attacking and conquering Galatorrh in 1018 before beseiging the Mobellan cities of Adalato and Pethis once again in 1019. Having held these cities for a couple of years, she advanced further, seizing the city of Skarn. In 1022 she launched and invasion of Nagyr Island and seized that from the Aetheraens also. This marked the greatest period of successive expansion in the Pozhari Empire's recent history and earned Ursua legendary status in Pozhari history books. The Empire consolidated its control over its new holdings before becoming embroiled in a series of border conflicts with the Kryell which kept the armies occupied and prevented them from making any real southern advances for the following half a century. Rebellions were also common throughout the Mobellan cities they had conquered and many resources were directed at quelling them during this period. Ursua died in 1060, having conquered Galatorrh from the Aetheraens, several cities from the Mobella, quelled over a dozen rebellions and fought off the Kryell eighteen times. She is the only Pozhari ruler to have never suffered defeat during war.

Ursua was replaced by Drayna III, her cousin. Drayna's reign was relatively uneventful, continuing with the suppression of rebellions in the Mobellan Woodlands and resisting attacks from the Kryell. She became romantically involved with one of her Mobellan servents, Janu Danvacoor. She appointed him as her most prestigous personal servent in 1066, securing the secretive affair for the remainder of her rule. Janu was in fact a Mobellan rebel whose purpose was to infiltrate the royal palace. Janu was himself murdered by an Aetheraen assassin disguised as a trader in 1069 (though it is likely that the assassin was another Mobellan rebel). In blind rage at the death of her lover, Drayna launched a retaliatory invasion of the city of Saravhin at a time when Pozhari resources were stretched thin defending its previously captured territories. The conquest was a crippling failure, and by 1073 the Aetheraens had reconquered Galatorrh also. By the same year, Skarn had liberated itself from Pozhari rule, and Drayna's reign came to an end as she was deposed and executed by her eldest sister, Lyra, ending the Hundred Year Glory.

Lyra I T'rina (1073-1119)
Lyra I's reign was marked by constant battles to maintain the Empire's outlying territories. Following Skarn's liberation, the cities of Adalato and Pethis also went into rebellion against the Pozhari. They briefly formed the North Mobellan Coalition which recieved some military assistance from Aetheraea as they briefly retook the cities in 1076. Lyra, desperate to maintain a hold on the Mobella, requested 4 ice mages from Kryell to assist in the suppression of the rebellions. Using Kryellan ice magic, she ordered the agricultural lands surrounding the two cities to be frozen solid, preventing any crop growth throughout the sping and summer months of 1077. She repeated the order the following year and as the cities crop surplus ran dry, they surrended. The Pozhari were extremely brutal in their reprisal of the Mobella: both cities were ransacked by invading forces with almost half the Mobellan population killed. Lyra ordered that the northern regions of the Mobella forests become "exclusive hunting zones" for slavers. She also ordered raids on Skarn and Valdamura as further punishment.

Lyra spent the remainder of her reign attempting to regain territories to the south, with limited success. Pozhari forces briefly recaptured Galatorrh in 1080 but were pushed out by the autumn of the same year. They were also forced to abandon Nagyr Island in the winter of 1081 due to violent westerly storms which destroyed most of the islands villages. The island was later resettled by the Aetheraens. Raids were carried out on Galatorrh, Skarn and many outlying Aetheraen and Mobella towns and villages between 1082-1100, with many of them being captured by the Pozhari. However, despite small gains, Lyra did not manage to retake any major cities or lands.

From 1105 ownwards Lyra fell ill and would suffer from chronic disease for the remainder of her reign. In this time, the Council of Nine assumed many of her duties and re-orientated the Empire towards exploration. Their aim was to expand into unchartered territories in the hope that they would come up against less resistance than they did to the south. Explorations from 1107-1112 produced very little other than to lend further evidence that the Hashanti Ocean was indeed vast and possibly unending, as previous explorers had theorized. In 1114, explorers discovered a large continent to the far north of the Sentinel Sea. Much of the continent was explored throughout 1116 and 1117, but a planned colonisation was halted when Lyra I eventually passed away. She was succeeded by her youngest nephew, Kyleb.

Kyleb III T'rina (1119-1180)
Kyleb III was the youngest Kahlstar to ever ascend to the throne, aged 6. The early years of his rule were overseen by the Council of Nine, who oversaw the majority of his duties until he came of age. They did not continue with Lyra I's exploration campaigns due to the Ytrosi famines (1121-26), which saw large swathes of the northern taiga suffer from particularly harsh winters which crippled crop yields. The Council began taxing Kalnyra's and Tagyra's from affected regions so that grain would continue to be funnelled to the major cities of the south, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Ytrosi peasants and slaves. This culminated in the Northern Rising, in which organized groups of sessionist Ytrosi peasants momentarily seized control of various towns and villages and executed their local Tagyra's. The Council of Nine responded by sending flame chanters to the vassal state of Ytros, who were ordered to destroy any rebellious peasants without mercy. They had successfully subdued the rebellions by 1125 with relative ease.

In 1129, as Kyleb was meant to assume the Kahlstar's primary duties, the Council of Nine attempted to retain power by extending the regency period until he was 18. Fearing that this was a ploy to take over the Empire altogether, the Infernal Cresent intervened. Their first move was simply to block the decree, as High Drath Nalyeris had the power to do during times of regency. When the IC later discovered a plot by the CoN to assassinate Nalyeris, they took more radical action. An informant on the CoN instructed the council to convene in the council chamber at midnight on the 176th yulkan of 1129, at which point a fire chanter of the IC incinerated every member (except the afformentioned inforement) into ashes over the course of 10-15 minutes. This event has come to be known as the Midnight Fire. These ashes were then collected and taken to the Infernat where they were presented by Nalyeris to the Pozhira geode as sacrificial gifts. Nalyeris then installed Kyleb as Kahlstar and guided the young ruler in appointing new members to the Council of Nine.

Nalyeris' influence over Kyleb was far greater than that of previous High Drath's. In 1131 she helped to arrange his marriage to Jarysa Hadrak, primarily because she was from a family directly under the influence of the IC. Her father, Kahravin, was a Drath of the IC and was used by Nalyeris to influence Jarysa, who guided Kyleb in his political decision making. They convinced Kyleb to begin again the exploration campaigns of his predessor, this time exploring further into the Hashanti Ocean. These missions continued until 1133 when the exploration ship Tagarya mysteriously dissapeared. Although ships had gone missing before, this event was accompanied the suvivor of a single crewman who washed up on the western shore of the Gharsa region a year later. He spoke tales of a legion of underwater dead, with web-like hands and scaled skin which attacked the vessel and sunk it. Two months after his discovery and a series of interrogations by the Infernal Cresent, he took his own life at his chambers in the palace of Ytrosira. No further explorations have been made into the distant Hashanti Ocean, though independent explorers have taken the task upon themselves.

Kyleb's rule after 1140 was marked by internal conflicts. The Vislekh, and especially the Kaylen families were becoming increasingly disgruntled at their land shares within the Empire. The Vislekh's had been rolled back gradually over the previous centuries, primarily due to their armies being used to defend reclaimed frontiers like Saravhin and the Mobellan forests. With these territories back under the control of southern kingdoms, the Vislekh were left only with what remained within the old borders. The Kaylen were even worse off, with the Tahvaya family limited only to the barren Ytrosi tundra in the north. Although the troubles never errupted into outright civil war, Kyleb faced many political challenges. A plot by the Tahvaya to overthrow him was uncovered by the Infernal Cresent in 1144, to which he responded by stripping them of all townships except for one, and had the family patriarch Gharasah Tahvaya imprisoned in the capital.

The Vislekh brought the Council of Nine into crisis on multiple occasions in an attempt to control more land. They formed a working alliance with the T'ohran family throughout the 1150s in order to stalemate important political decisions in exchange for more important lands. They successfully maneuvered Kyleb into granting the Hadrak family the coastal city of Kontorrh in 1156, a move he had resisted for many years despite pressure from his wife, Jarysa. In 1160, Kyleb granted several townships near Lake Govhina to the T'ohran family, and gave similar concessions to the Soq'Ut in 1163. When he gave control of Pyrogal and most of the Gharsa region to the T'vori family in 1167, several Gorrh families took action and attempted to oust him as Kahlstar. The Lohr had lost significant lands due to Kyleb's redistributions over the previous decade and spearheaded the coup, which ultimately failed when it was uncovered by the Infernal Cresent. The Lohr, who controlled Dahrvan Bay and Gythyr, had these lands offered to the Drisaya in exchange for Garshavhin. The Drisaya refused, intending to maintain control over their historic home city. Instead these lands were taken directly by the T'rina family.

Kyleb died in 1180, officially of natural causes, though the Infernal Cresent suspects he was poisoned by disgruntled members of the Gorrh. He was succeeded by his grandson, Vytikor.

Vytikor III T'rina (1180-1221)
Vytikor assumed the role of Kahlstar aged 20 and immediately began a period of radical land reforms. He began with the Kontorrh Decree (1183) which enacted the following:


 * 1) The Tahvaya and To'hran families were officially banned from controlling any major towns or cities within the Empire, or any future territories comprising major towns and villages (although this had been unofficial policy for most of the T'rina dynasty, the decree gave the Council of Nine official power to enforce it against future Kahlstar's).
 * 2) Gave the Sentinel Isles from the T'rina family to the Salukh family in order to demonstrate to other families that loyalty to the Kahlstar would be rewarded handsomely.
 * 3) Created "permanent" holdings (lands that were to be officially tied to one family and which could not be revoked or transfered except under extreme cicrumstances) and "maliable" holdings (lands that could be transfered either by the Kahlstar of the Council of Nine). Permanent holding priviledges were granted to the T'rina family over the cities of Pozhira and Dahrvan Bay, and to the Drisaya over Garshavhin.
 * 4) Designated the Infernat and the Pozhira geode as direct holdings of the Infernal Cresent.
 * 5) Decreed that in future wars, new lands were to be granted to the families whose armies had conquered them.

His reforms were met with widespread disapproval from the Kaylen families, though there was little they could meaningfully do as their influence on the Council of Nine had been dimished to only two seats. In addition, the decree was generally accepted by the Viselkh, and heavily supported by the Gorrh. The Infernal Cresent also backed the decree and further strengthened their support for Vytikor.

In the early 1190s, the Empire experienced another major famine which lead to uprisings in the Ytros region. As well as this, the Pozhari economy lagged behind the Kryell and Aethereans, whose populations saw better growth rates, whose land was more fertile and where slavery had been abolished. To counteract this, Vytikor sought about enacting major reforms on slavery and the Ytros region which culminated in the Ytros Decree (1192). The decree did the following:


 * 1) Released Ytros as an independent vassal state under the oversight of a Pozhari kalnyra, accompanied by Ytrosi advisors.
 * 2) Created the Council of Ytros, which was comprised of Ytrosi selected by the kalnyra (this council had little meaningful power).
 * 3) Abolished the capturing of slaves within the new vassal state (but importantly, not within the Gharsa region, where many Ytrosi also lived).
 * 4) Decreed that all children of Ytrosi slaves were to be made free upon their 14th birthday.
 * 5) Allowed the Ytrosi to form independent local councils for villages and small towns (though large towns and major cities remained under the direct and absolute authority of the kalnyra).

This decree was met with some support from the Gorrh and Vislekh clans, but with skepticism from T'vori and Soq'Ut families who worried that this would encourage Ytrosi in the Gharsa region to make similar demands. Vytikor originally wanted to open the region up further and allow Ytrosi to began practicing magic, though he revoked this decree under pressure from the Infernal Cresent.

Vytikor further reformed slavery within the Empire in 1199 when he outlawed the hunting of Mobella within the Empire's borders, restricting it to the independent regions to the south. He also sought to improve the general treatment of Mobellan slaves - freeing them into becoming serfs and servants. Noteably, he made sure Mobellan servants in the central palace were given personal chambers and provided with fresh food and water, removing them from the squalorly conditions on the cities outskirts that they had usually resided in.

In 1205 the Empire began to explore the Hashanti Ocean once again, making first official contact with the Hashanti.

Sorqeth I T'rina (1221-1250)
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Khashar I T'rina (1250-present)
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Geography and Demography
Pozhira is the capital city of the Pozhari Empire and is centred on the River Pozhir which runs from the Kryell Mountains into Dahrvan Bay, out into the Carnelian Sea. It is constructed above a large fire crystal geode, and is the central place of worship for Drathari religion. Another large city, Ytrosira, lies to the north along the River Ytros. The river flows through a region called the Ytrosi Taiga - a region of heavy forest which sees frequent snowfall. It is inhabited primarily by the Ytrosi people, who are used as slave laborers by the Pozhari Empire. The south of Pozhari territory is home to the large Mobellan Woodlands. This territory is divided between the Pozhari Empire, Aetheraea and various independent Mobellan city states and townships. It is mostly inhabited by Mobella peoples, who are also used as slave labor by the Pozhari. The region north of the River Pozhir is mostly Taiga climate, with some Alpine Taiga towards the Kryell Mountains, and Tundra along the northern coastline of the Sentinel Sea.

The population of the Pozhari Empire is approximately 31,000,000. Roughly 22,000,000 inhabitants are Pozhari, with 5,000,000 Ytrosi and 2,000,000 Mobella. The remaining 2,000,000 are made up of marginal minorities of Kryellans, Aetheraeans, Ganymedaeans and Nirva people. There are approximately 3,850,000 slaves in the Pozhari Empire, mostly made up of Ytrosi and Mobella. This number represents almost all of the 2,000,000 Mobellans living within the borders of the country, with the remaining 1,850,000 made up of Ytrosi.

Magical Affinity and Religion
Pozhari culture is based heavily around fire magic, especially as a result of the fire crystal geode upon which the city of Pozhira is built. Fire magic users rapidly rose to the highest positions in Pozhari clans and established an order. This had a profound effect on the role of women in society, who were more gifted in magical practices than men. Around half of clan leaders are women, and throughout Pozhari history, roughly 60% of the empires Kahlstars have been women.

Drathari religion is the predominant religion of the Pozhari people. It is based around the worship of the Pozhira geode as a deity. The name 'Drathari' is taken to be the name of the geode, though there are conflicting accounts of how this was supposedly discovered. Drathari religion does not accept converts, and Mobella and Ytrosi are specifically forbidden from conversion. However, members of other races who are capable of mastering fire magic are permitted to convert, such as a very limited group of Kryella. Religion plays a large role in propaganda within the Pozhari Empire. Pozhari children are introduced to Drathari teachings at the earliest possible age and are encouraged to attend local shrines, which the Drathari teach are conduits to the fire geode at Pozhira. They are taught that all practioners of earth, water and air magic are all natural enemies of the Pozhari Empire and the Kahlstar, who is held to be the chosen protector of the fire magic geode and of Drathari religion.

Drathari shrines are usually occupied by Flame Chanters, the lowest ranking members. Above Chanters are Draths, then the High Drath. The highest ranking High Drath's form the Infernal Cresent, a religious council which elects the High Drath. The High Drath has a tremendous degree of power within the Empire as they control not only the teaching of children across the Empire, but also have tremendous influence over the selection and maintenance of new Kahlstars. Warrior Mages are a separated class of magic users who are permitted to use magic only in military settings, and are trained in techniques that apply to combat.

The majority of the Pozhari population are not taught actual magical techniques and do not use fire magic in their everyday lives. The Kahlstar, Kalnyra (the noble families of various Pozhari clans), Draths and Flame Chanters (members of the Infernal Cresent), and Warrior Mages are the only individuals trained to use fire magic. Education and training is overseen by the Infernal Cresent. Flame Chanters occupy positions at village Inyernas (small temples or shrines) which carry out the education of locals, though they are forbidden to teach magical abilities to anyone not selected by the Infernal Cresent. The purpose of the education is to indoctrinate the population into Drathari religion. Draths usually oversee temples in large towns and cities. Prospective Fire Chanters and Warrior Mages are instructed to these temples in order to recieve training. The High Drath is situated at the Infernat above the Pozhira geode and oversees all operations of the Infernal Cresent.

Clan System
Pozhari society is controlled by the three clans that survived the First Pozhari Civil War, and their respective families: Vislekh clan families


 * Hodrak
 * Larhsa
 * Soq'Ut
 * T'vori
 * Drisaya
 * Vorn
 * Balukha
 * Kathmari

Kaylen clan families


 * Tahvaya
 * Toh'ran
 * Gahmura

Gorrh clan families


 * T'rina
 * Brakyn
 * Salukh
 * Ranirya
 * D'navori
 * Lohr

Land Ownership
Each Pozhari clan controls a certain area of land which they are allocated either directly by the Kahlstar, or more commonly, by the Council of Nine. The ruling family of each clan then allocates land down to their respective Tagyras. The title of clan leaders is Kalnyra (greater Lords and Lady's) and Tagyra (lesser Lords and Lady's). Any common Pozhari falling within these lands are then subject to the policies of the Tagyra or Kalnyra that rules over them. Kalnyra's are placed in charge of all the slaves living in their region when assigned land. These slaves are then allocated to the Tagyra's by the Kalnyra. When new slaves are captured, it is the Kahlstar that allocates them to the Kalnyra's, though he/she often defers this to the Council of Nine.

Taxation is extracted in the form of lukans or materials by the Tagyra's, who recieve a cut of their takings from the regional Kalnyra's. This cut depends on the amount of tribute Kalnyra's owe to the Kahlstar. The raising of armies is the responsibility of the regional Kalnyra's.

In the case of the Kingdom of Ytros, a major vassal state of the Empire, taxation is overseen directly by the ruling viceroy. The viceroy is selected by the Kahlstar direcly. One primary difference between Ytros and the Gharsa region (where many Ytrosi also live) is that Ytrosi must pay taxes directly to the regent. The Council of Ytros is also a unique institution which is designed to give the illusion of granting autonomy to the Ytrosi, however it has no realistic power and can be overruled or dissolved by the viceroy at anytime, who also selects the councils membership.

Slavery
Within the Pozhari Empire, there are approximately 3,850,000 slaves. 2,000,000 of these are Mobella and the other 1,850,000 are made up mostly of Ytrosi. The stratification of these two groups differ greatly however, with most of the Ytrosi slaves laboring in exclusively manual roles such as agriculture. Mobellan's on the other hand are more evenly spread across sectors and make up the bulk of the servant class within the noble families of the clan system. Despite this, practically the entire Mobellan population is in some form of servitude, whilst there are roughly 1,150,000 Ytrosi living as free men in the Gharsa region and around the River Ytros.

There are gendered divisions amongst the slave labor force, with the majority of Ytrosi women taken as low class sex-slaves. Male Ytrosi are used primarily as agricultural laborers or low-ranking soldiers. Mobellan women are more highly regarded within the slave system, and generally serve as maids/servants or sex-slaves for high-status families. Mobellan men are also used as servants, cooks and low-ranking soldiers during war-time. They may also serve as part of the imperial guard, but only after many years of good service and exemplarly behavior.

As of the Ytros Decree of Vytikor III, Ytrosi slaves are no longer captured within Ytros, however all Ytrosi slaves remain tied into servitude until death and hunting may still be conducted within the Gharsa region. Any children they bare are to become freemen. Pozhari raids against outlying Mobella villages are the primary source of new slaves for the Empire as of this decree.

Political Administration
The primary political administrations of the Pozhari Empire are the Kahlstar, the Council of Nine and the Infernal Cresent.

The Kahlstar
According to tradition, the Kahlstar is to be selected from the direct bloodline of Sythyana, the first Kahlstar of the Pozhari. In practice, new Kahlstar's only rise to the position with the support of the Infernal Cresent, specifically the High Drath.

Heirs are not selected in the same way as Kings. Gender is irrelevent to the position of Kahlstar, and daughters and sons may assume the role. The entire direct family of the Kahlstar are considered to be potential heirs and are selected based on age, with the youngest selected as first heir, not just the offspring. For example, if the sister/brother of the Kahlstar has a child younger than the offpring of the Kahlstar themself, then that child will serve as first heir, followed by the second youngest family member, etc. The youngest ever Kahlstar was Kyleb III T'rina, who assumed the role aged 6. If Kahlstar's rise to their position as children then the Council of Nine will rule by decree until the Kahlstar reaches the age of 16, at which point they will assume all typical roles of the position. Although the Council has attempted to retain power, they have historically failed to do so due to the influence of the Infernal Cresent.

The Council of Nine
The Council of Nine is made up of the 9 most influential members of the clan alliances. Each clan has 3 seats on the council and is forbidden from electing individuals from the same clan.

The Council of Nine exist to protect the interests of the other clans from rogue Kahlstar's who may seek to transfer land to his/her own clan. Whilst the Council technically have the power to remove the Kahlstar in the event of threatening the clans interests, they can only do so with the support of the Infernal Cresent. This significantly reduces their real power in Pozhari society and effectively serve as an advisory body for the Kahlstar. The degree to which the Kahlstar listens to the Council's advise depends on the Kahlstar themself. The Council spends most its time dealing with less significant affairs, such as arranged marriages between clans and civil disputes.

In the event of war, the Council of Nine deals with the raising of armies, as ordered by the Kahlstar. Members will decide which clans will recruit the most soldiers and contribute the most horses, food, water, clothing, and other resources.

The Infernal Cresent
The Infernal Cresent is the institutional wing of Drathari religion. Their role is overseeing the religious education of the Pozhari population and the teaching of fire magic to warrior mages, Kalnyra's, Draths and Flame Chanters. They are highly influential as they oversee the selection of new Kahlstar's.

The leader of the Infernal Cresent holds the title of High Drath, whom have historically always been women (this is in contrast to the Kahlstar position, where 40% of all holders have been male). They are selected by the Half Circle - the ruling council of the Infernal Cresent (usually referred to simply as 'The Circle'). The order possesses a further two ranks - Drath who are considered to be masters of fire magic, and Flame Chanters who range from amateur to moderately advanced.