The Children of Aebaster - Aemarda

Aemarda was created by Aebaster at the end of the First Feud to populate Qadal, securing the victory of the Eshan over Ácolitus. He utilized the power of Eshara, granted by the celestial bodies, and combined them with the oceans of Qadal, forming Aemarda in its every variety. It is said in the ancient lore that from the waters of the Wolonorends that Aebaster created the men of Loryne, Grestovich, and the Karthuulite tribes, such as the Norgost and Wodnost; from the Gismyr Sea came the men of Valgorod and Nevan; from the Semyr in the south came the men of Grathem and Lothrand, and from the sea of Zolrassus came the Eurobians and Vestidians. They were created from the waters of the seas and dropped into their new homelands, infantile and weak. Aebaster did not remain in the mortal realm to live amongst them like Atûn had decided, leaving them to their own devices in a dangerous world. The reason for this abandonment is not a disdain for mortals, for he had sparked the First Feud for their creation, rather it was matter of limited power among the Eshan. Aebaster created over a million mortal souls during his era of creation, scattering them across the entirely of Qadal- barring Etal. That drained him immensely, rendering him unable to maintain a mortal form. After creating Aemarda he released his spirit from Qadal and preserved the remainder of his power amongst the celestial bodies of the Void. He, in effect, returned to the state in which he existed before Qadal had even been created. Aemarda was left a race adrift and lost in a new world of death and terrors without guidance or support.
The meagre benefits Aemarda had over other races was their large population and their tenacious ability to adapt to unstable conditions. While these strengths were not gawdy like those of the Eshara-infused Etayen, who were made strong by the energy of the Eshan, the ability to survive without direct guidance led them to prosperity. In time, Aemar settlements appeared in almost every continent of Qadal. These were tribal societies, with simple forms of government and culture- entirely unrecognizable from their modern descendants. Indeed, centuries passed before any of these groups began to show signs of distinct culture, language and society. They operated as hunters and gatherers, surviving off the readily available resources of the land around them. Their scattered populations made this possible. During the -4000s, around the height of the Awakening, legitimate Aemar settlements began to dot the temperate landscapes of Qadal. Developed civilization followed settlement, with cultural identity forming around the daily practices of ordinary people. The peoples of Nevan became maritime traders and fisherman, using the boons of the oceans to support them when the weakness of the land could not. Those in Everos grew into large agrarian communities where the land was rich and spread into smaller villages where the mountains were greater. In Othos, the nations of men huddled around the resources that were closest to them. Hillside kingdoms built up around mines, while other huddled along the borders of forests, building for themselves walled towns of timber. Unlike the Etayen, the realms of Aemarda became highly diverse between one another, for they were different in location as well as lacked the guidance of an Eshan to steer the development of the race. Aemarda expanded at their own pace, and by the beginning of the Ascension era had matured into definable tribes and kingdoms, though they were not united beyond their local areas.
During development of Aemar cultures and society throughout the Awakening and following eras, divisions and distinctions began to manifest themselves. However, these divisions were established along cultural and political lines rather than engrained racial or geographic lines. For example, Aemar defined themselves in terms of tribes- Tembris, Algesian, Balesian, Norgost, Wodnost; they also defined themselves by faith- Aebasterian, Ancestor Worshipper, veneration of earth and air spirits, others. All of these things were based upon cultural developments pioneered by Aemar themselves, for themselves. They could therefore change, and mesh as required. Among Etayen, on the other hand, the distinctions between them are much for pronounced. Etûletal, who are born in the homeland of Etal, hold themselves as an elite class, while Voletal, who are born outside, are often referred to in dirissive tones. In those cases of social class defined by birth place, there is little chance for mobility or mixing, and the two groups often remain apart. In the case of Thûnetal, or Etayen mixed with Aemar, the response could be even worse. Among Etayen, such peoples are shunned by both Etûletal and Voletal, while they are mistrusted and feared by Aemar. All being said, Aemar viewed other members of their race as Aemar, sharing a similar bond of creation that unified them and allowed for cooperation.
Aemarda has not escape the influence of the Ebal’eshan and Voryndal, though the Divine Mandates were intended to separate them. Among Aemar, there is a sub-group called the Vormar, known as the outside men. They were lured to Axoggan by the cruel Axokari Ry’nyx during the late Awakening. He had come to them and claimed he was the God of Power- an obscure religious figure worshipped only among a small population of the Nevan. Those who believed Ry’nyx and flocked around him and his allies. Those who rejected him were subject to fire and utter ruin. The cult of this ‘God of Power’ which Ry’nyx had stolen grew in popularity, and after half a dozen years grew to thousands of followers. When Ry’nyx finally grew bored of Nevan, he bid they gather on ships and follow him westward. They agreed, and thousands of people gathered in a great migration to lands unknown- Voryndal and the lands of the Ebal’eshan. Upon arrival, the Axokri’hesma chastised Ry’nyx for his plotting. In additional punishment, she forced Ry’nyx and the other Axokari to treat these Aemards slaves like their masters, attending to their will and wishes. Under the eyes of the Axokri’hesma, the Vormar lived peaceful and prosperous lives in Axoggan, the promise of paradise seemingly furfilled.
The Vormar dwelled in Axoggan for centuries, and over time were altered by the Eshara of that land. Their bodies were still basically Aemar, but their skin took on a darker, almost reddish hue. The eyes of the Vormar began to change as well, taking on a brilliance like the light of Éshabal. Finally, it is said in legend that certain members of the Vormar adopted the power of the Axokari and Eshara of the Axokri’hesma. These odd folks are called Breathers by those around them, and are often viwed with mistrust and hatred by the other Vormar. This is because such power is a direct connection to the centuries of enslavement under Ry’nyx and the destruction of Axoggan after the reawakening of rhe Axokri’hesma. However, among the native Aemar populations these Breathers are often seen with a measure of honor or reverence. The power of the Vormar is a bridge between the Eshan and mortals, and through the worship of Aebaster many Aemar appreciated such a connection.
In the Twilight and Imperial eras, Aemarda vyied for dominance among its own members and the others races of Qadal. Whilst the Etayen threat remained vague in the former era, the might of the western Axodraharik and transigence of the stubbon Daorhu to resist foreigners guided Aemar relations with their neighbors in creation. The Corgastorians, being the largest nation among men, clashed with Yor’shagon over the fate of the Gismyr sea and associated islands, culminating in the infamous war of 1864 which secured the independence of Merehel. Eurobia spreads is influence across Othos in the Twilight era as well, claiming dominion over a fractious collection of Aemar realms united by little more than vague, shared lineage. If nothing else, the primacy of Eurobia dashed any remaining hopes of the repressed Odyrzid of asSerting themselves of the world stage, virtually besieging them in the westernmost reaches. In the latter era, however, the balance of power changed. The Etayen began to reasSert themselves, the Axodraharik grew in strength before dismantling power, and the Daorhu slintered as a coherent entity.
The recent dawn of the Wandering era has left Aemarda adrift once more, just as they had been during the Awakening. However, the deaths of Aebaster and Corgastor mean that the power of Eshara has left them. No longer can they rely upon the power of divine forces to bolster their political and military might.