Órestusil Vyndal - The Imperial Era (2304 to 3451)

The end of the Great Conflict heralded an era that was already in a nascent stage: The Imperial era, where Qadal was divided among a few powerful empires. In Everos, the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor burst out in every direction, sweeping over its neighbors. In Othos, the Eurobasar Empire reigned unchallenged by any significant enemies, save for occasional rebellions or civil wars. In distant Nevan, the Axokari and their Axodraharik Servants had established an Axodraharik Theocracy, which they called Yor’Shagan. Under iron rule, the continent and its many islands were shifted into distinct social and religious castes that completely altered society as it had existed. Across the Semyr, Etal remained, an empire unto itself, the last vestiges of Étunas that refused to relent to new realms. Every one of these nations, and others that were not mentioned, all vyed for control and influence across Qadal. The defining characteristic of the era is this struggle for empire with numerous contenders, each of whom used military, diplomatic, and economic means to achieve their ends.

In the end, however, this millennium long struggle proved to be the undoing of these many realms. Shortly after the year 3000, the theocracy of collapsed. A Neyasi republic followed that was entirely divorced from the old Axodraharik vision. In 3401, the Veld Othosar tore apart the beleaguered Eurobasar Empire, breaking it apart into three equal kingdoms. The arrangement was a painful compromise- Eurobia refused to completely surrender while Vehod Lohas and Vestidia failed to decide how to properly divide their conquests. The old days of Eurobasar glory were passed. Finally, in 3451, the last of the great realms of Qadal was broken. The Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor, which had so long endured threats from within and without, was assaulted by a force it could not resist- Ácolitus himself. It was the victim of machinations going back centuries. Corgastor, along with the majority of the empire’s hierarchy, were all killed by a beast named Zarthum before the thing was slain. Without deity or government, the Corgastodmar Empire rapidly splintered into a number of smaller realms. What wourld follow for those people was entirely uncertain.   The nations of men in Everos received the greatest benefit from the sudden and decisive end of the Great Conflict. Whilst they had expanded in previous eras, they had always been limited by the stalwart defenses of neighboring nations, such as Jequa, Sutan, Lodon, and the Daorhu holds. The detonation of Bal’gorod’s stone and the destruction of Nathrovas led to the complete annihilation of Sutan and the critical destabilization of Jequa, which was taken by Grathem shortly afterward. Suddenly, within the course of a year, there was not a single Voletal nation left in Everos. The largest obstacles to further expansion of Aemarda's kingdoms were gone, and only Etal remained across the Semyr. The Daorhu Bannafs were as well broken during these early times, though they would reform in later years of the era. That left Lodon, which by itself could not hold to stand against the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor to the northeast and the Lhendom of Grathem to the southeast. The stage was set for a time of short wars and even shorter truces between these nations, as the empire contended itself with conquering the remaining hold out regions in the north and Grathem required time to organize itself after the conquest of Jequa.   The decline of the Etayen successor kingdoms more so than any of dynamic broke the fragile balance of power that existed between the major powers of the world. This has manifested itself most recently in the Etayen invasion of the Ghetunbalastod ast Corgastor with an army of over 40,000 soldiers in the early months of 3451. The empire was taken completely by surprise, since it had not been within the past few centuries that Etayen warriors had marched en masse against a foreign enemy. They had spent much time keeping to themselves and expanding their power across Etal and the mysterious lands that lay beyond its southern reaches. Aemarda had been complacent to this threat and fumbled terribly in its response. Over 10,000 men were killed or scattered in battle between the Lorvelgis of the Hemon Ghesed and the Etayen outside of Drakar, while the rest of the army was sluggish to mobilize. By the time the host of the Ghetunbalastod Valunis arrived in Grathem, the Etayen had achieved their goals and had since departed. The only thing left for the empire to fight were the fires and chaos of Drakar and the surrounding hamlets. Ghetunbast Lothast has assured his people that retribution shall be had, but some within his realm see this destruction and humiliation as a sign of greater hardships to come. The age of Aemarda's ascendancy has lingered for more than 1,000 years, and the winds of fate may be changing once again.   Beyond the eternal feuding between Everos and Etal, the rest of Qadal experienced similar change during the Imperial era. The peoples of Nevan shed the auspices of the Draconic Empire and adopted the patchwork of republics that it is in modern times. This was met with a considerable amount of chaos when the change first came, but over the course of a few years the major land magnates rose above their lesser rivals and took control. This opened but a whole new realm of opportunities for both the Neyasi and the nations surrounding them, for the Dhraconic aristocracy cared little for interacting closely with the impure and allegedly weak nations of Qadal. An attitude of that type characterized the land for centuries, but the succeeding trade republics could only survive if the previous prejudices were forgotten and trade networks were established in all major ports.   The eastern continent of Othos was changed by the shifting fortunes, for during the Imperial era it reached a zenith of power but as well plummeted to the depths of ruin.   The vaunted Imperial Era came to an in 3451, with a terrible invasion of southern Everos by the Etayen warriors of Etal. Precise details of that encounter are written in the histories of Everos, but suffice to say here that this invasion was no common land-grab. It was the latest chapter in a multi-century campaign by Etayen masters to return their dead Eshanic master, Atun, to life. The first chapter was in the 2100s, when the joint cities of Drakar and Etumrassus sought to use Akaryne power to draw forth sufficient power to renew Atun, and for such employed an enigmatic Nith’eshan living amongst them. It went awry, of course, as all things involving the Eshan do, but its near success scared and angered Acolitus, such that he designed his own machinations against them.   Now the third, spearheaded by Unain Sekoras, sought to retrieve those same lost elements of womb and housing once more, but with certain Eshanic knowledge revealed to them since the last calamity.   No iteration of Atun appeared from this success, but instead the dread creature of Acolitus which dwelled within the Womb all along- Zarthum, with sufficient power and task to annihilate the rebellious Eshan. He emerged from the Womb, flesh jagged and pale like ice, and immediately undertook his task, free from Eshanic Mandates and other alliances, to assail the Eshan and olundi. It was a miserable slaughter- conducted in lightening flashes of movement across the stormy sky. Yet, it was not a final victory, for nothing of the Eshan goes without difficulty. Corgastor, heir of Aebaster, came down from Vussalas in violation of the Mandates to fight the dreadful Zarthum upon the mount of Shar’kova. They struck one another deadly blows, but Corgastor was empowered by the built-up centuries of his peoples’ Esseythu so granted upon him, and thus he did well.   Acolitus now feared that Aebaster would intervene, and took a monumental but immensely risked gamble. He mustered the great preponderance of his power, through untold abandoned Esseythu, and turned it against Aebaster. In a great display of radiant, terrible light flashing through Vussalas, the Creator laid the sudden death blow against the Eldest Eshan. No words were exchanged in this encounter, but all the malice turned the eternal space a hideous red. It was over swiftly, the Eshor which was Aebaster was blasted to complete ruins- nothing but dead space and the faint wisps of dying power, then it was done. Corgastor could barely attend to that development while be battled Zarthum to the death, but Aebaster was gone. Why did Acolitus risk it? He was certain that no Eshan would travel to Misladur to claim the bounty of Eshanic power from Idorun- none living so loved Aebaster, for his transgressions were many and famous, and those few who loved Aebaster were not brave enough to stand. The bounty remained unclaimed for many years.   Meanwhile, Corgastor and Zarthum slaughtered each other to lethal effect, such that both gushed out Eshanic power and both died.