Ilsairi Ketsing

The Ethereal Dynasty of the Soranni Empire

Overview

Etymology

The Empire of the Soranni has several names, with the most common single word being the Ekketsing, meaning "Great Dynasty." Besides this it has gained other nicknames based around the region of Soranna, with Soranna basically meaning "City of the Sky" and so this is where the word comes from. Other common names for it include Ilsairi Ketsing and Irasterrai dai Iluri Sora. The full name of the Empire is the Îlsairi Ketsing dai Narae dai Ekori Îrasterrai Îmrani Sora'eanna which means the Etheral Dynasty of the People of the Great Empire of the Eternal City of the Sky. Ilsairi Ketsing means the Ilsairi Dynasty and Irasterrai dai Iluri Sora means the Empire of the Holy Sky. Others debate Soranna coming from Sireanna, meaning "Southern City" as it may have been Ingharan founded or even "Under the Sky," coming from Sura dai Anna.

Symbolism

The Soranni realm is often represented by an eagle or phoenix in literature due to the bird's status on the palace banner. In the actual reign of the empire however, the primary symbol used was the Ilsairi banner which is featured at the center of the heirloom seal of the realm.

Culture

Overview

The Ilsairi Ketsing was very diverse, although the heartland culture of Soranni held the majority for most of the Empire's history due to the large Soranni population and their colonization of several regions. Some of the largest minor cultures include Arhi (Later Ischarri), Anesar, Kassae, Gentari, and Ithellenoi.

History

Foundings of the Country

Aremi (1-63 KAA)

Legend says that the Sorrani realm begins with the rise of kings in the region of the gulf of Soranna. Local warlords would come to power by leading bands of warriors into taking over regions and extracting wealth and slaves from the people, which they would use to create small fortresses to rule over the countryside from.
One of these later kings in the Era of Pretenders would come to rule over a prosperous city on the coast named Miise, and decided to make an example of a small fishing village called Itsosin. Seeing their plight, the creator Anetos descended and gave much of his power to a young villager named Aremi Izara Kessiar. Aremi would challenge the proclaimed god king to a duel, which resulted in the death of the invader. His armies would subsequently bow and serve Aremi, who would go on to bring prosperity to its town. Over time it would grow into the town of Sora’eanna, a hub on the great sea called the Soramari.
The modern legend given by Uriyun of the Kirrentai goes as follows:

Aremi and his descendants would go on to campaign against the other Niedene warlords and tribes, until he was the only demigod remaining and much of the Niedene were united under the banner of Soranna. The most notable of these was a warlord and avatar of the storm god situated in the Gendur basin, who was named Orashshagin.
Aremi's dynasty would become known as the Ethereal, or in Auri as the Ilsairi clan. For several generations they would lead the country in a great peaceful period, in which technology and the arts flourished. The position of Emperor became revered, soon the capital held the first meeting of the predecessor of the Kirrentai called the Ilmae. The Ilmae Kirrentai was originally a meeting of the great temples of the lands, but this would develop into a permanent council. Eventually this permanent seat would become a perpetual diet of the great temple-masters and the Emperor would pick a leader to be the ruler of the clergy. This organization was in charge of ensuring no dark spirits were worshipped, and balance was held between the spirit realm and the mortal world. At the same time, many previously powerful shamans became founders of temples and noble houses, giving rise to the clergy class.

Areshae (63 - 87 KAA)

Under Emperor Areshae, the realm saw itself grow in every direction. Emperor Areshae built the imperial navy, a fleet of galleys that would use flaming arrows and boarding primarily along with mages. Areshae himself traveled with the fleet to the many cities of the Ithellenoi, demanding their submission. Areshae carried the spirit of his father within him, and when the Ithellenoi capital of Eudilon refused to submit he did not invade the city but blotted out the sky and struck the palace with lightning, causing a fire that engulfed the city. After this, many of the towns of the Ithellenoi submitted without a fight, with only a few needing the imperial navy to conquer.
As trade with the south grew, many cities such as Ijmidera, Illoraci, and Miszur would prosper under the realm, becoming hubs of culture and literature. Ijmidera in particular grew to host the legendary Kuuhua clan which served as pristine poets and were exemplars of the clan system. These clans and their cities grew into important parts of Soranni society, as warrior clans began to rival the centralized Lauzha system that used to dominate in the early years of the Ketsing.
Areshae would integrate the petty kingdoms of Anosfae using diplomacy for the north, while the south resisted. He would begin a series of wars against the Anesari and the Ornesans in 78 KAA, but left it in the hands of his generals as he began the construction of Koraci near to the site where he and his father defeated Orasshagin. He retired to Soranna city for the final years of his life, dying in 87 KAA of the heartbreak he experienced when one of his sons died in the Sahiric wars.

Aresada (87 - 113 KAA)

Aresada's reign began with a rushed coronation, of which he traveled south immediately and defeated the Sahiric by sacking the Arkhai capital of Azhdaevak, ending the major part of the Sahiric wars as his generals went around and cleaned up the tribes for the next decade; the war formally ended in 101 KAA when the Soranni army was finally demobilized. When he returned in 90 KAA, he focused on the finalization of his fathers work - the Jidai system. He established a system of governance known as the Jidai (Count Realm) system, in which the empire was divided into countages that were ruled by a local ruler that was confirmed by the Emperor. The Emperor would have absolute authority and crownlands in strategic locations, stripping important cities from the counts as well such as Koraci and Korisaangtai becoming free independent cities ruled by elected positions.
He ruled primarily from Soranna in these years, but sought to create a palace in Ra'mua as well that wasnt completed until after he died. He would abdicate in 113 for his son.

Early Empire

Mirassada (113-148 KAA)

Mirassada came to power after Aresada, seeking to develop Soranna. He repaired many of the canals in Soranna and established highways across the empire. He introduced the imperial examinations through his establishment of schools throughout the empire and especially at Lusiijeanen.

Ourinsada (148-152 KAA)

Ourinsada was a brother of Mirassada who attempted to take power, but was killed by his nephew who took power as Wuvai. His reign was short and tumultuous.

Wuvai (152-191)

Wuvai took power after killing Ourinsada, he presided over an incredibly peaceful period in the empire. As the son of Mirassada, he continued the developmental policities of his predecessor.

Yuuvai (191-229)

Yuuvai continued the reforms of his predecessors. Despite the country growing to an immense size due to the strength of imperial authority and the local Jidai system producing armies that were able to defend their territory, the realm was still mostly centered around Soranna and Anosfae. Reforms in the Jidai system allowed for greater integration of territories like that of Ithelen and Sitlang, who became rather important as Ithelen came to host one of the largest branches of the imperial navy and Sitlang became important as traders were established in the Serrenese gulf region.

Gevai (229-241)

Gevai was the cousin of Yuuvai who chose not to engage in military affairs and instead chose to indulge in life around the city of Koraci, his reign came to an end when he fell down the stairs when heading down to his river barge.

Yuushen (241-266)

Son of Yuuvai, Yuushen took power from Gevai and immediately began to strengthen his position as the ruler of Gendur by banning the Ingharan ideology of Îddehua, which espoused the primacy of the self as a spirit equal to the gods. To accomplish their destruction he created the Ijosin; the Ijosin were a group of warriors who swore oaths of loyalty to the emperor and his cult alone and stood guard at the imperial tombs and sought ought dark forces to destroy. The Ijosin were lead by a position known as the Metsun, meaning Overseer. The Ijosin began their service to Yuushen by enacting a purge of all known Îddehua temples.
In the later years of his reign, Yuushen began to construct a great palace at Koraci centered around a dome at the zenith of the island complex. He died in 266 with his eldest daughter Yuuame coming to power after him.

Yuuame (266-293)

Yuuame was a soft and kind ruler, promoting education and establishing the Kirrentai out of the Ilmae as a way to allow approved different religions to be combined into one faith that was easier to regulate. Yuuame repaired, constructed, and improved a series of highways and canals that made travel around the empire easy. Yuuame ruled for many years before allowing her son to rule, although she often advised him until her death.

Yuuirae (293-312)

Yuuirae was a young and inexperienced ruler who survived only due to his mothers guidance. His rule allowed the local governors to expand their power, leading to his ousting and the first interregnum.

The Interregnum (312-330)

The Interregnum was a period of conflict when the general Sendaril took power in a palace coup. This sent the realm into a period of fracture as the Anesari dukes sought to support Sendaril and the Soranni split over the sons of Irae and his cousins. The first Interregnum would come to an end in 318 when Sendaril was exiled south after being defeated. Despite this, nobody could decide on a new emperor and so he returned in 320 and ruled for another few years before being killed.

Sumessai (330-356)

Sumessai, a nephew of Yuuame, took power by killing Sendaril. In the interregnum he built a power base around the city of Mivamo while his cousins bickered over Soranna and Koraci. He hired a contingent of Ischarri warriors and marched to Koraci, pledging his support to Sendaril. When he was to bow to Sendaril before his throne, he drew a sword and cut the general down as the Ischarri warriors rushed into the throne room and detained the guards of Sendaril. In his reign, Sumessai demanded his cousins cease their claims in return for land and wealth; most of his cousins denied and were killed, but the governates of Ramu'an and Sejemri were created for those who decided to become loyal and cease their claims.
After securing power, Sumessai campaigned to put the Anesar dukes back in line but failed to reconquer all of them; It was at this point, that the empire was much reduced in size and power. Sumessai's breakthrough came when he was able to repel a nomadic invasion from the north, giving him enough time to march south and take Durjera and Aatrene before threatening Istranna. In the end, he was able to secure the lake region, while Ornesa remained out of imperial control.

Sumeane (356-373)

Sumeane took the throne of his father upon his death, spending his money and time on the Kirrentai and controlling religion in his realm rather than conquest. He began to encourage studies into the previous Ingharan thoughts, bringing back old philosophies and ideas that he found worthy of praise.

Sumehuua (373-399)

Sumehuua, or Sumehwa, came to power after his father retired to a monastery. He continued spending money on the Kirrentai to appease his father until his death, but after that began to focus on inquisitions and research into the spirit world. It was during this age that the list of dreamers was compiled and a correlation to witherances occured. Sumehuua fought off a major witherance originating in Anosfae and the Tarai basin. Sumehuua would begin creating universities around Lunmen, Hassamo, Yirenes, and Miseatta.

Imkehua (399-400)

Imkehua, or Imke, was a short lives emperor as he died of a disease a year after his ascension.

Middle Empire

Museras (400-435)

Murasermas, or Museras, was a cousin of Imke who came to power with a philosophy that promoted heavily order and a deep adherence to laws. He established a strict code of law and ethics, as well as a code of honor for the Ishtari (warriors). He ruled a relatively peaceful realm, although it is said he let the Ithellenoi assert more autonomy and eventually lost controll over all but Ramu'an in the southern regions.

Muare (435-444)

Mu'aresh, or Muare, was an emperor committed to the establishment of honorable traditions and festivities. He saw himself as a leader of the Ishtari class and perpetuated his ideals leading to a class of landless Ishtari that wandered the land attempting to earn it through good deeds.

Musuran (444-462)

Murasuran, or Musuran, was considered by many to be a great emperor. He defeated an invasion by the Ischarri, subjugated the hostile remnant tribes of Uzhilli in the hills, purged goblins from many urban regions of Soranna, and purged the Kirrentai of those using dark magic.

The Second Interregnum (462-484)

The second interregnum occured when Musuran and his heirs were attacked in their palanquins, with only the youngest daughter Ishan'ama surviving. The toddler was not yet old enough to rule and so the cousins of Musuran began to feud over who was to rule through plots and not open warfare. Eventually, a necromancer named Iyuna took control and established a draconian regime until while her niece grew up in a small village near Lunmen. Their son Ishanmei was brought to the throne in 484 when the plotting nobles assassinated Iyuna at a banquet, poisoning much of the nobility in the process.

Ishanmei (484-502 KAA)

Eventually in 502, the weak Emperor Ishanmei died while his heir Îllomin Yuufari Mua'ai Sivisenn an Ilsairi was still a youth. This power vacuum allowed the empress Na'vea Wusiin to take power. Na'vea ruled with an iron first and used the wealth of the empire to benefit herself and not the people through her grand spending schemes. She enacted many draconian practices, which would result in her downfall when 108 criminals condemned to death by Empress Na'vea's laws rose up in revolt and overthrew their captors.

Empress Na'vea (509-512)

During the revolt, the criminals split up as to spread word of the rebellion far and wide. 32 men, who were from Anosfae, hijacked a ship from the naval base at Mākinzhou and sailed to Anosfae, convincing the dukes to rise in revolt to overthrow the Empress Na'vea. At the same time, 47 of the criminals who had formerly been in the army raided the mansion of the Imperial family at nightfall, abducting prince Îllomin, who was set to be executed due to the fact he was of another wife and was the primary heir. At the same time, the remaining 29 split up to gather support among the garrisons and set fires to many towns unsympathetic as to distract the armies of the Empress. Although many of the heroes had now perished, their work was not for naught as the dukes of Anosfae and Gendur allied in a righteous army to restore prince Îllomin to the throne.
Smoke billowed from mount Felkerr as the two armies clashed below. The battle swelled as armies arrived to support both sides, with the tides turning as evening rain began to fall and the lava finally swept down towards the battlefield and the rivers began to fill with flame. Yuusang of house Kuuhua led a contingent of rebel forces over a stone bridge surrounded by magma to carve through the imperial guard and slay the Empress, causing the disheartening of the army as Anesari crossbowmen shot down the loyalist general Riinlang, ending up in the collapse of the army and restoration of the crown prince to his rightful place.

Emperor Îllomin (512-573)

Îllomin enacted many fair laws such as a ban on slavery in the year 516 and instating a reform allowing local elected representatives to enact laws with his approval in a sort of Senate that was based out of the city of Koraci; this local senate used the lower palaces when the Imperial Council was not meeting. Nomadic tribes from the northern Gendur tried to invade, but were repelled at Shushanan; following his victory, Îllomin's general Ourinn dai Haanfai destroyed the confederacy forming in the north and conquered as far north as modern Tahan Moghai. The Akhitai led by Ilhujan an Tuye ventured south and captured the modern region of Harrak. The empire at this point reached the height of its power as wealth flowed and none could challenge the security of the empire.

Late Empire

During the later 700s and 800s, the Soranni state would begin to fall apart as many other dynasties rose around it, but none would take the holy cities due to the implications that it was holy and the domain of the Ilsairi clan. Some of these great surrounding clans would make their own dynasties, but none would dare claim the title of Emperor. The Illiro clan of Kurthai and the Sio house of the Gendur valley would be some of the most powerful at this time.

Gentari Invasions

Eventually, the Gentari had recovered and began to push south again, sacking the cities of Kihsatta and Daranna. The threat of the nomads caused the old secondary capital of Koraci to be abandoned as the imperial family fled to Soranna. Despite the invasions pushing through to Anosfae and even threatening Soranna, the shrewdness and tactics of those like Ninnehan Kiizon Adavao would persist and leave the Gentari unable to take the gulf and lake region of Soranna. The empire, largely reduced, survived onwards with its powerbases being Soranna city, Tarrin'amo, Illoraci, Luncii, and Toramise.

The Shattering

In the year 966, dark arts would be uncovered, and from the old capital the corruption first struck the lands. It is said to have originated when a hostile great spirit called Sanri leaked it from his realm, in order to lure out Anetos. This corruption turned nearly all who encountered it into vile creatures, however some with strong enough life force were able to resist. As the battle raged for the capital, a great storm came in as the seas and thunder were harnessed by the Niranni mages and warriors. Before long, the storm hit its zenith and swallowed the city. While the blight had been mostly stopped, the people of the city and even the Emperor were as well. A few stragglers survived, such as the pregnant wife of the Emperor who fled far to the Ischurrii lands. In addition to this, even some blightspawn found their way underground and inhabited the parts of the city that remained above water following the battle. These capital ruins set an example for many a town to come. Priests claim that realm of heaven even saw a great battle between the creator and the corruptor.

This outbreak of conflict began a war among the spirits that raged across the landscape, while men saw this and turned on each other for power. Both man and spirit were in a great age of warring states. Many a city would fall to ruin from corruption, spirits, or man. Eventually most of the spirits would end up reducing in power after their initial emergence until the main players were once again mortals and their armies. Almost all states from this time would fall due to the many spirits and wars, many peoples would fall upon their villages and local lords to keep themselves alive.

Final Death of the Empire

As the last of the Empire rotted from corruption and decadence, the nail was thrown into the coffin as the only remaining Ilsairi in power was a cousin named Iorisora. Iorisora was a courtly official who tried taking power from the city of Irasaci, as the city of Sora’eanna had been destroyed in the calamity. In 990 he claimed the empire survived in Itsosin and wished to rebuild the empire from there, although he lacked support as many questioned the empire in the face of the calamity. This prompted a general named Gensier to gather many of the estate holding nobles to overthrow the government under pretext of corruption and failure. Gensier's alliance overthrew and put Iorasora under house arrest; eventually the coup led to them taking power and declaring a state at Sianemri. The old Imperial family was split into two, those who fled to Ischarra and those who held little power in Irasaci.

Despite the success of Gensier, many of his allies grew disgruntled and began plotting against him. This led to the war of shattered blades where the Siokan Gensier Tsirsara fought the rival Ilarren clan led by Sirrika. Sirrika lost and was executed, with his family sent far to the east to the lands of Sirrdairen. Over time they would regain power and launch another war in 1020 where their clan overthrew the Siokan but failed to gather enough power to hold onto their gains due to the fact the world was still ravaged by spirits. In the end both clans became reduced to local lords as no true state held power as many minor lords grew from the estates popping up. The age of warring states in conflict would go on, with the empire now dead.

Military

Notable Units

The Akhitai

Symbol of the Akhitai, the Scorpion and Flame
Akhitai, meaning the many flames, is the name used to refer to the elite corps of soldiers recruited from northern anosfae and western Soranna.
The unit was made up primarily of elite archers and spearmen and were renowned for the formation Raiji (scorpion). In this formation, the front would make contact and enter a defensive stance with the weakest troops while the strongest stood at the wings and tried to encircle them. Behind the weak core was the best archers who acted as the stinger to support the center if it faltered, and to rain down arrows.
The Akhitai were most famous for their campaigns in southern Nirann and routing the Gentari from Amilais. The unit was largely destroyed during the Essukad wars, where they fought to defend the southern frontier. The survivors of the unit, the sick and injured, were sent back to Anosfae but ended up disbanding during the shattering.
Many of the soldiers also learned the units dance, known as Akhotta - the dancing flame. This dance was done with swords and involved twirls and jumps.
As for the units appearance, the officers wore orange and the commander gold while the regular soldiers wore red; all of these clothes had a golden (or red for commanders) trim. Primary archers wore a white belt, primary infantry wore a black one, while cavalry wore both. The soldiers wore soft puffy hats originally, but during the empire came to wear masks with a screaming face on them. Their helmets had black feathers on them.

The Vanttai

Symbol of the Vanttai, the Wolf and Moon
Vanttai, meaning the many winds, is the name used to refer to the elite corps of soldiers recruited from Ischurrai and the Northern Gendur.
The unit was made up of primarily horsemen and swordsmen from these northern reaches, with horse archers becoming particularly renowned. The unit was founded around the same time as the Akhitai as a way to guard the north from the threat of Ischurri tribesmen and Gentari nomads, both of which had become skilled in horse archery and raiding. As a result, those seeking fortune from these groups were able to join the Vanttai as a way to protect the empire and gain fortune. The unit was most famed for the wolf's strike, which was when they would bait an enemy through a feigned retreat and destroyed the now disorganized enemy.
The Vanntai were famous for their campaigns in the north against the nomads as well as in the Mijan rebellion where they captured the cities of Soranna and Koraci. They were the last of the major units of the Ketsing to disappear, as they are said to of traveled with the royal family north after the shattering, settling in the Lileanen peninsula region.
Their famed dance is that of the Vannotta, the wind dance. This dance is similar to Akhotta in the fact it involves twirls and weapons, but the Vannotta even uses bows.
As for appearance, the unit often dressed in black long robes, with commanders wearing gold belts while everyone else wore white. The soldiers had differences in helmets, with there being Soranni, Ischurri, and Gentari style helms; however, all wore war masks over them with tusks being a common feaure. Their helmets usually had a black or white feathers, with a similar color of cloth hanging from the top ornament.

by Sivirri

Erjiman Suul dai Ilsairi Ketsing
Inherited Seal of the Ilsairi Dynasty

by Sivirri

Sennkitai dai Ilsairi Lauzha
Warbanner of the Ilsairi Army

Îksaira Îllomin Yuuaisiin Mua'ai an Ilsairii
Great-Emperor Îllomin Yuuaisiin Mua'ai an Ilsairi