Ages of Shireroth: Volume Two

II. Beyond Old Shireroth: Yardistan During the Khaz Modanian Age

Introduction

One must never forget that the Shireroth of yesteryear, concentrated on one continent and possessing a common history, is not the same as Shireroth today, comprising six Duchies spread out across the very face of Micras. The original lands of Old Shireroth have been joined by others, often with very different histories. Any historian seeking to compile the story of our nation in its fullest respects would be remiss if zie did not seek to trace the history of those nations that joined it after its founding.

The Settling of Yardistan

Ancient lore tells us that the island of Yardistan was once within the bounds of the Khaz Modanian Empire. Records of ancient Yardistani history during and before this period, however, are considerably more complete than in Khaz Modan itself, having survived the destruction wrought in the heart of the Empire. It may be that the key to further knowledge about the Khaz Modanians may lie in some musty Yardistani archive.

As mentioned above, the oldest Yardistani accounts tell of maritime exploration by three different groups: Khaz Modan (called “Khez Madonia” in the accounts), Istvanistan (“Isvanerad”) and the peoples of what is now coastal Shireroth (“Tîrot”; though it originally referred only to a specific coastal region, it eventually became the name of the entire eastern half of the continent). Yardistan was first discovered and settled by this last group, who named the island Grønoroth. The colonists maintained strong trading links with their homeland, even after the discovery of both locales by the Khaz Modanians.

The Golden Age

A new chapter in Yardistan’s history, however, opened with the discovery of the island by Istvanistan. Expeditions by Istvanistani vessels, sailing to the northwest toward the Khaz Modan Isles, opened the island up to trade from its prosperous neighbor. The Grønoroth colony flourished as a trading depot for many centuries; merchants both local and foreign could find almost any good imaginable in the markets of Blässburk, the largest of the island’s ports. Explosives, developed by the Istvanistani, began to make their way into Yardistan and on to the Khaz Modanians. Both peoples were evidently very impressed, and it is from this time that the beginnings of B0O0O0/\/\ism probably date. Yardistan entered a Golden Age of prosperity, and as the wealth of the island increased, so did its population (especially through Istvanistani immigration). Newer settlements began to appear, and the older ones (particularly Blässburk) were renovated and richly decorated.

However, Yardistan’s wealth, and its increasing Istvanistani population, coincided with other events to change the island’s fortunes. Even as the Golden Age continued, the island began to lose contact with its homeland in Tîrot. Earlier immigration from Tîrot had left the region bereft of both a substantial number of people and of a substantial amount of wealth, and as its colony grew in importance, the homeland began to decline. Contact was finally cut off almost completely when Tîrot became swallowed up by the growing Khaz Modanian Empire. Although the loss of trade was more than made up for by the expanding Khaz Modanian economy, the colonists of Grønoroth found themselves saddened by the loss of contact. Though they had long since ceased to think of Tîrot as home, the cultural links between the two lands ran deep, and the loss of contact perhaps weakened the strength of the old culture.

And so, perhaps, did the strong links of the resident Istvanistani population with its homeland. By this time they had increased in such numbers as to make up almost a third of the population, and although the two communities remained separate, the cultural barriers had begun to erode. Already, linguistic features and popular terms from the Isvaneradi (old Istvanistani) language had entered the Tîrotian mainstream, giving the local dialects their own flavor.

It was this heavy Istvanistani influence on the island, as well as its great wealth, that caused the government of Istvanistan to attempt to gain the island for its own. Over a succession of years, one port after another was taken by powerful Istvanistani navy, and eventually the entirety of the island was annexed by Istvanistan, under the rule of King Istvan II. The Isvaneradi language was introduced as an official language, and the island of Grønoroth was renamed Izvaniard.

Invasion

This event marked a turning point in Yardistan’s fortunes. A slow decline began to set in; partially due to Istvanistan’s attempts to hoard the island’s wealth for itself, but mostly due to the drying up of trade. Khaz Modanian commerce with the island began to fall off as the burgeoning Empire focused on trade with its colonial possessions and with the city-states of the Shirerithian continent. The rapid population growth of the boom years slowed, and wealth continued to flow away from the island and toward Istvanistan.

And yet this was only to be the foundation of further troubles. Although Yardistan had declined as a significant trading partner, it was not forgotten by the Khaz Modanians, and neither was Istvanistan’s growing power. The two burgeoning powers became far more sensitive – and hostile – toward one another’s ambitions, and their growing tension settled around Yardistan. Naval skirmishes became increasingly common off the coast of the island, and at some time around b4300, the Khaz Modanians launched an invasion, taking control of the western half of the island for a period of a few years.

The Istvanistani navy, which had largely been held in reserve during the invasion, waited until the occupation forces were being disembarked before launching a vicious surprise counterattack, backed by newly-made cannons. They drove off the Khaz Modanian navy (although the ships apparently managed to escape before too much damage was done), and blockaded the occupation forces on the island. Unwilling to spend troops in battle to force the Khaz Modanians out, the Istvanistanis were content to contain and starve them; but this also cut off the inhabitants from food, and Yardistan was forced to subsist on what it could grow for itself. Settlers and occupationists battled for control of the food supply; the occupationists eventually surrendered, and were either imprisoned by the blockading forces or integrated into society.

But by the time the conflict was over, there was little society left to belong to. The fighting had destroyed much on the island, and even after the blockade came down, trade returned only to a fraction of its former vitality. The drain of maintaining the blockade left Istvanistan with little inclination or money to help Yardistan rebuild; although the government kept control of the island through an appointed governor and a small garrison, the island was left to its own resources.

Yardistan and Empire

As the Yardistanis began to slowly rebuild, nearby happenings were to prove eventful for them and their island.

To the northwest of the isle of Yardistan are Amity, and (further on) Mirioth. By the late b4200s, both islands were ruled by the Khaz Modanians, and had been planted with their colonists. Amity (then called Emetii by the Yardistani) was a volcanic island, and during this period had emitted much smoke and ash, but conditions apparently remained stable until b4205. In this year, the volcano on Amity finally erupted in a massive explosion, obliterating the top of the volcano and destroying most settlements on the island. Tons of ash and dust were thrown into the atmosphere, blocking out a significant percentage of sunlight and lowering temperatures all over Micras for a period of several decades.

Indeed, the cold was severe enough to lower sea levels slightly, exposing more land surface. A series of land bridges were created that connected Yardistan, Amity, and Mirioth sufficiently well to permit passage between them on foot. After several years, the devastated region of Amity became habitable enough for Yardistani settlers to cross to it and Mirioth. Migration was driven mostly by the devastation caused by the invasion, but was certainly aided by the sudden landlocked state of the old Yardistani ports and the food shortages caused by the cold snap. The chance to start new lives must have seemed very attractive to people hoping to escape their homeland’s problems, and none of the former inhabitants of the islands remained after the eruption.

But Amith and Mirioth still belonged to the Khaz Modanians. The Empire must have been extremely preoccupied with the ice age’s effects in the rest of its territory, because it permitted the settlers to pass their borders without harassment. All that was asked of the settlers was that, like all other inhabitants of the Empire, they pay a reasonable tribute. By the time sea levels returned to normal thirty years later, the new colonies on Amity and Mirioth were well established. As the old Yardistani ports regained access to the sea, a brisk trade with the other islands resumed, and the would-be conquerors of Yardistan, the Khaz Modanians, became the patrons of its colonies.

As informal relations between Yardistan and the Empire warmed, however, the political climate remained cold. The island remained technically under the control of the Kings of Istvanistan, with a governor exercising power locally, and past wars with the Khaz Modanians had never been forgotten. Thus, an sharp difference of opinion continued to build up between two increasingly polarized factions. The Istvanistani administration increasingly tried to limit contact between Yardistan and its Khaz Modanian-controlled colonies. The Yardistani people, meanwhile, who tended to look on the Khaz Modanians as benevolent, increasingly wished to join their brethren in the prosperity of the Empire. Remembrances of the past abuses of the Istvanistani came to play a role, as well, and the people came to regard their colonial rulers as tyrants and oppressors.

The Khaz Modanians, eager to best the Istvanistani, encouraged this trend by sending gifts and offers of trade to the island. When the Istvanistani administration refused them, unwilling to appear dependent on Khaz Modanian leavings, the Yardistani people became annoyed, and then outraged. Scuffles between the populace and the Istvanistani garrison became more and more common, and in b4138, the killing of a group of protesters by the garrison resulted in a rebellion. Although the garrison was taken by surprise, having not expected a challenge to its power, it was not immediately wiped out, but instead fell back to their largest strongholds in the east of the island.

Each side quickly brought in reinforcements. The beleaguered garrison, and the Istvanistani governor, were sent new troops from Istvanistan to aid in fortifying their positions. The Yardistani, meanwhile, called upon their brethren in Amity and Mirioth to aid their homeland. Not only did this requested help appear, but supporting it was help unasked for, in the form of the Khaz Modanian military. Although intending to remain outside of actual combat, the Empire supported the rebellion with shipments of supplies and weapons, and ferried the reinforcements from Amity and Mirioth in its ships. For the first time, many in Yardistan were able to witness the professionalism and might of the Khaz Modanians firsthand, and were astounded at the technology they carried with them.

Over the next few years, the rebels continued to lay siege to the Istvanistani strongholds. Although both sides benefited from the overseas supply efforts being directed to them, it rapidly became clear that the Istvanistani were at a disadvantage. First, the garrison only occupied a small section of the island, and were few in number compared to the bulk of the population that they were fighting. Although reinforcements from the isle of Istvanistan continued to pour in, there were never enough to force the rebels back.

Second, it is clear now from records of the time that Istvanistan itself was suffering a decline at the time. The rule of corrupt kings of the past (the same ones, evidently, who had once drained Yardistan of its wealth) had taken its toll on the island, whose treasuries were nearly empty. The kings of the time, meanwhile, were decadent, ignoring the slow crumbling of their power, believing themselves to be as great as their illustrious forbears. The troops they sent to fight the rebellion were poorly-trained and poorly-armed, and the ships of the once-great Istvanistani navy were old, leaky, and out of date. As the war continued, the last funds were used up in combating the rebellion, and the fortunes of the kingdom rested on gaining Yardistan back.

And lastly, of course, the rebellion had a powerful ally in the Khaz Modanian Empire. A vast state with advanced technology and a powerful navy, the Empire’s mere support for the rebels strengthened them immensely. And as the war continued, the Khaz Modanians took an ever more active role, sending out small fleets to disrupt the Istvanistani resupply operations.

One Istvanistani stronghold after another surrendered to the rebels. The last king of ancient Istvanistan, shocked and angered by what he saw as an assault on his unstoppable royal power, sent forth the entire navy to obliterate the rebellion once and for all in b4129. It has been wondered, in later times, whether or not the rebel could have defeated such a fleet on their own; after all, they had ships of their own, and controlled most of the island. But it is certain that such an event would have cost countless lives, and Yardistan again reduced to rubble, if the Khaz Modanian navy had not finally come out in full force. The banners of the Emperor flying, and their guns blazing, the Imperial ships completely encircled the Istvanistani fleet, and wiped it out in its entirety, sparing not a single ship. The power of the island nation was ended, and the Istvanistani King, hearing of the news hanged himself outside the gates of his palace. Its treasury squandered and its government paralyzed, Istvanistan collapsed within two years.

The victorious rebels of Yardistan, meanwhile, set about jubilantly organizing the new government of their island, forming a loose but powerful confederation of territories to govern their internal affairs. To commemorate this change in their fortunes, the Yardistani abandoned the name of Izvaniard for their island, and named it Iardista. They also repealed the official status of the Isvaneradi language, though it remained a language of learning for many years after; and in fact, the first history of the island was compiled by Kethra Mata in this era in Isvaneradi.

But the islanders, feeling a need to be left to their own affairs, decided that they required a protector so that they could develop in peace and trade with their kindred in Amity and Mirioth. Thus it was that when the Khaz Modanian Emperor offered to make the island a protectorate of the Throne in b4126, the Iardistanian Confederation agreed. Yardistan thus officially became part of the Khaz Modanian Empire.

The Historical Gap

But while beneficial for Yardistan, the island’s inclusion in the Empire has proven a burden to historians attempting to unravel the island’s past. Over a period of some 1500 years from about b4100 to b2600 (known as the Imperial period), official records and other important materials are relatively absent.

While the exact reasons for this are not agreed upon, it is believed that one major cause can be attributed to the centralization of records under the Empire. At the time of Yardistan’s inclusion in the Empire, the government was apparently instituting a policy of more direct control of its provinces’ official business. The policy included the tactic of sending all official documents to be filed in the Imperial Library in the capital city of Ke’Najrad. As it is no longer certain just where either the Library or the Khaz Modanian capital was located, it is conceivable that the records of the old Empire still exist in one of the many great ruins dotting the Khaz Modanian Isles; but given the scale of the disaster which later wiped out the Empire, it is far more likely that the records were destroyed and will never be recovered.

This means, of course, that little will ever be known of what occurred during Yardistan’s time under the Empire (not to mention, sadly, the affairs of the Empire itself!). It is known, however, that the island experienced almost a second Golden Age, benefiting from virtually unrestricted trade with the rest of the Empire. As the easternmost and southernmost territory in the Empire, it was also well positioned as a center for trade with other lands; artifacts and coins from the regions of ancient Micronia, from what is now Kildare, and even a few from as far away as the Babkhan continent have been found in Yardistan, all dating to this period. Some of the first maps of these lands ever to be made in Shirerithian lands were produced in Yardistan during this era.

It was also during this time that the Cedrist gods first made their appearance (in any historically recorded sense) in the guise that we know them today. Although they had certainly existed in the lore of Khaz Modan for hundreds of years at least, it somewhere during this time that the official pantheon first became established and ceremonial worship practices instated. Although Cedrism was not native to Yardistan in the same way B0O0/\/\ism had become, the Yardistani evidently welcomed the Gods fairly easily, integrating them into B0O0/\/\ist philosophies.

It is also known that the Imperial period of Yardistan was a time of cultural flowering. The Isvaneradi language, whose usage finally began to decline in about b3900, had completely given way to the native Iardistanian tongue as a language of learning by b3650; this coincided with a time of great national confidence. Many great works of literature and art were produced in Yardistan during this time, some of which still survive to this day.

Yardistani political theory, too, first got its start during this period. Despite the centralization of records by the Empire, as well as the appointment of a provincial governor, Yardistan apparently still had a great deal of internal control. The basic loosely-organized structure of the Confederation, formed in the years immediately after independence from Istvanistan, had remained intact throughout much of the period; but the same relative independence of the various city-states that made Yardistani life so dynamic also caused problems. Incessant territorial disputes, arguments over fishing and maritime rights, and demands for more representation in the ruling Council plagued Yardistani life constantly.

In response to this squabbling, two opposing views emerged. One, often closely associated with the Imperial government, held the position that the Yardistani, being one people with a strong sense of national identity and a common language, ought also to be united under a single strong government. The other side, however, argued that this would be a violation of the national spirit itself; the island had always been fragmented, and in being so kept its vitality. An extreme faction of this movement even argued that the fragmentation ought to go further, to the point of anarchy.

Rebellions

Toward the end of the Imperial period, this debate began to take on a new seriousness as Yardistan began to experience discontent with Imperial rule. Historical records are, as has been mentioned, very scarce. But from the analysis of philosophical and political tracts produced at the time, it is evident that four major factors were driving the dissatisfaction.

The first and earliest factor involves events elsewhere in the Empire. It seems that, for some time (from about b2900 onward), the westernmost provinces had been experiencing unrest. There are specific mentions of two groups of people, called the Vong Na and the Pen Na, protesting the cruelty of the governing family appointed by the Emperor; but it seems that there was general discontent even beyond these peoples. The west was, at the time, a backward and less-advanced region of the Empire, and generally neglected by the government, but nonetheless was a supplier of great quantities of beef and fish, as well as rare dyes.

Left to the management of largely corrupt governors and officials, the western provinces and the proto-Machiavellian peoples that inhabited them became more and more restive. Imperial responses to trouble in one of its most important source of meat were less than sympathetic; the army, encouraged and misguided by the corrupt local officials, took increasingly harsh measures to curb possible rebellion. Although it is not clear that the Emperor had full knowledge of the peoples’ plight, it is known that he personally authorized retaliatory measures against any rebellious elements. This was seen most dramatically in what is now Benacia, when the clans of the Pen Na were crushed after the Battle of the Bridge of Khilan Tase.

News of the increasingly heavy-handed tactics reached Yardistan, and by b2600 there were fears that the same would happen to their island; it was widely known that the Imperial government disapproved of the chaotic power structure there. It was at this point that the second and third factors came into play: Yardistan’s relationship with its island colonies in Amity and Mirioth, and general Yardistani national identity.

Ever since coming into the Empire, Yardistan and its colonies had been kept in separate provinces. Toward the end of the Imperial period, Yardistani nationalists both on the home isle and in the colonies had asked the Imperial government to unite them into one province, intending to bring the cities of Amity and Mirioth into the Confederation. Although most colonists approved of this notion, the Imperial government consistently refused to allow it. By b2600, unrest had begun to grow on all three islands, and the Yardistani people came to regard the Empire less and less as a protector and savior, and more and more as tyrants attempting to suppress their nation.

The fourth major factor, however, and the one which caused trouble entirely out of proportion to its direct relevance to Yardistan, was the loss of the Sword of Fire. Symbol of the Imperial house for thousands of years, and reputed to have fantastic powers, its disappearance from the capital at Ke’Najrad struck a severe blow to the authority of the Emperor, both in the core of the Empire and in outlying provinces like Yardistan. It is likely that the subsequent disgrace of the Emperors emboldened the Yardistani, and around b2600 they began to agitate for more home rule. In defiance of the old centralization policies, official documents and histories were no longer sent to the capital, but kept in local archives.

In b2572, events in Yardistan finally came to a head when the Imperial Guard invaded the chambers of the Council of the Confederation. The Guard delivered orders from the governor that the Confederation be disbanded and all city-states united under the direct authority of the governor. When the Councillors refused, they were immediately arrested and thrown into jail. When word of these actions reached the populace, riots and demonstrations arose all over the main island. In response, the Imperial Guard imposed martial law, establishing curfews and breaking up large Yardistani gatherings.

But such a situation could not remain stable for long, and in b2558 the First Unrest erupted. Sparked off by the raiding of several Imperial Guard outposts by a loosely-organized pro-independence group, the Unrest quickly escalated into a major conflict. Driving out the Imperial forces, the city-states in the interior of the Isle of Yardistan declared their independence and proclaimed the restoration of the Confederation, calling on all Yardistani to throw off the yoke of the Empire.

But although the Confederation forces had gained control of the less accessible inland regions, they were unable to establish a foothold along the coast, which was more thoroughly controlled by the Empire. Surrounded on all sides by hostile forces, the rebels were strictly limited in their strength and mobility, and were unable to do more than defend themselves. At the same time, rebel movements on Amity and Mirioth (which had greater concentrations of Imperial garrisons) failed to materialize, permitting the Imperial government to focus its attention on Yardistan itself. When an Imperial strike force dispatched from Ke’Najrad landed on the island in b2556, it was able to punch through a single point in the rebel defenses and force the Confederation into submission.

The discontent certainly did not end with the First Unrest; indeed, under the increasingly harsh measures imposed by the Empire as punishment, it worsened. Economic sanctions slapped on the Isle of Yardistan created a rapidly growing class of discontented citizens, bereft of their livelihood and angry at the government. Yet the swift efficiency of the crushing of the rebellion made many fearful, and for decades rebellion tended to be eschewed in favor of small-scale violence, rioting, and attacks on individual Imperial Guardsmen. The few rebellions that did occur (the Second Unrest in b2543, the Third Unrest in b2529 and the Fourth Unrest in b2506) were of lesser scale than the First Unrest, and were all ended within weeks of their beginnings.

Freedom for Yardistan

But as Yardistan passed into the b2400s, the situation began to change. Although the Yardistani themselves were not growing stronger, their rulers were growing weaker. We know from other sources that this was around the same time period in which the Technomaezji and the Elemental Mages were engaged in their political struggles in the heart of the Empire. Although those same sources indicate that no violence was committed in the name of that struggle, it seems that various factions in the government were preparing for trouble. In b2484 there was a major pullout of the Imperial Guard from Yardistan, Amity, and Mirioth (most of them from the latter two). Although the garrisons left behind were still formidable, their strength had been cut nearly in half.

This sudden vulnerability spurred pro-independence forces to make a serious attempt at breaking the Imperial hold once more. Several of the better-organized groups, which had already been preparing for a major offensive for a number of years, quickly began linking up with each other, this time including newly-formed resistance groups in Amity and Mirioth. Important figures in all the old city-states were contacted and integrated into the plan, so that they could rouse the people to fight when the time was right.

By b2481, all was ready. On one night in summer of that year, the Fifth (or Great) Unrest began when the best-organized militias attacked and seized the Imperial naval bases and ships that made up the backbone of the occupation, and quickly set out to destroy any nearby ships still in Khaz Modanian hands. While aid was thus prevented from reaching the Imperial Guard units, the less focused resistance groups began mobbing their garrisons and military police stations. As what was happening became apparent, the common people, urged on by their leaders, joined the mobs and forced many of the Guard units to retreat.

It was an auspicious beginning, but the Empire’s power was still great, and the Imperial Guard was well-disciplined. Following emergency plans of their own, Guard units on all three islands quickly gathered at preplanned muster points, establishing well-fortified strongholds and using them as bases for forays into rebel-held territory. The surprise offensive that the rebels had thought would rout the Khaz Modanians turned, by b2479, into more of a trench warfare situation, with each island divided up into patchworks of rebel- and Imperial-held territory. Meanwhile, although the ongoing political intrigue in the Empire prevented a full-scale retaliation, the Imperial Navy made its presence known quickly, and the ragtag rebel fleets found themselves hard-pressed to keep supplies and reinforcements from reaching the islands.

But eventually, the war of attrition on the islands began to slide in the favor of the Yardistani. The Guard units, stationed in hostile territory and cut off from easy sources of supplies or news of home, began to weaken, and starting in b2478 the more beleaguered units began to surrender, one by one. The main isle of Yardistan, on which the Imperial presence had been weakest, was entirely freed by b2476; on Amity and Mirioth, most of the territory lay in rebel hands, although the western portions of both islands remained Khaz Modanian strongholds. Still, toward the end of the year, it seemed that victory for the rebels was close at hand.

But in mid-b2475, the picture changed. Even as the last Guard units on Amity fell to the rebels, the Empire began to renew its attacks. The political struggle having been decided in favor of the Elemental Mages, the reunified government turned its attention once more to reconquering its more wayward provinces, including Yardistan. Greater and yet greater battle groups of Khaz Modanian ships were sent out against the Yardistani navy, which suffered severe losses. The Imperial Guard on Mirioth, taking advantage of the rebels’ strained resources, began gaining ground again, and took one of the port cities on the western coast, forcing the Yardistani to use part of the navy to retake the city.

During late b2475 and early b2474, the Yardistani learned that a massive invasion fleet was being assembled in Ke’Najrad to retake the islands for the Empire. Although the navy had been badly decimated by earlier skirmishes and would have no hope of stopping the armada, it was nonetheless concentrated off the western end of Mirioth as a shield against the oncoming invasion. Meanwhile, a large offensive was mounted against the remaining Imperial Guard units, so that they would not be able to aid the invasion fleet. Finally, in late spring of b2474, the invasion fleet set off for Mirioth, intending to thoroughly smash the defending fleet and retake the islands one by one. The two navies met in battle in one of the inlets between the smaller islands off Mirioth’s western coast, and as ship after ship fell on the Yardistani side, it seemed that the rebellion was doomed.

But, after several hours, the fleet began to pull out. The stunned Yardistani could only watch as the vast armada turned around and sailed for home, moving as fast as they could. From one of the few Khaz Modanian ships captured during the retreat, the Yardistani learned that all military forces capable of responding had been recalled, responding to a frantic plea for assistance from the Imperial government.

After that, no more was seen or heard coming from Khaz Modan or its Empire. The invasion fleet never returned from its motherland, nor did any others come. Scouts sent in later years to determine what had happened hardly ever returned, and those that did reported only that from afar, they could see the hellish glow of great fires shining from over the horizon, and smoke and ashes raining down upon the surrounding sea.

Though the Yardistani were awed and mystified at the disappearance of their oppressors, it was seen and celebrated as a sign from the Gods that Yardistan had received their favor. Saved from destruction by the armada, the Yardistani set about finishing the liberation of Mirioth, stamping out the last of the Imperial Guard units later in the year. At last, Yardistan was free.

The Calm After the Storm

So it was that over the next century or so, Yardistan set about building its identity as a free nation. Although the collapse of the Empire inevitably shattered much of the trading network that had once existed, Yardistan managed to open relations with several of the new entities that sprang up in the following decades. The most important of these was the Musican Alliance, which controlled trade at the mouth of the Elwynn. Sitting on the lands of ancient Tîrot, from which Yardistan has once been colonized, the Musicans were also descendants of the people who had remained behind, and so the two trading partners retained a conscious sense of distant kinship.

This kinship permitted Yardistan (which by the late b2400s had acquired its modern name) to gain favored access to the River Elwynn and the lands that bordered on it. The tropical fruits and other produce of Yardistan fetched heavy prices in distant Goldshire, and great quantities of gold made their way back to Yardistan (with Musica itself profiting as a go-between). The influx of gold caused some measure of currency devaluation, but this was kept under control in part by selling the gold in turn to the nations of the east, especially Istvanistan, in return for which it gained access to salt and wine from Babkha and spices and gems from Micronia and surrounding lands.

The restoration of Yardistan’s independence and affluence, however, had an odd effect on its efforts to govern itself. A strong spirit of individualism and self-reliance brought on by widespread wealth, combined with already-weak traditions of central authority, prevented the emergence of a powerful government. Instead, what institutions there were weakened even further, with governments being very informal and limited almost entirely to the level of cities or villages, and sometimes (in the largest cities) even to neighborhoods. By b2450, a sort of (strangely civil) anarchy had emerged.

But Yardistan could not entirely escape the need for a central authority, to provide a general direction for the nation if nothing else. And so it was that by b2435 there began to a emerge a succession of leaders, named Anarchs, whose accepted role was to mediate the worst of the disputes resulting from the lack of central authority, and to otherwise prevent the nation from going down the pipes. The first few Anarchs emerged more or less at random and are mostly forgotten (other than one notable individual who, being homeless, exercised his rule from a garden shed), but in b2419, a relatively prosperous merchant named Grifos assumed the title. When his son Loki also became Anarch in b2401, the title began to be treated as hereditary, and indeed has (more or less) remained in the line of du Grifos ever since.

As the turn of the century approached, Yardistan looked forward to a bright, if somewhat wild and untamed, future. But some were uncertain about the news being brought to them from Musica, telling of Yardistani markets in Goldshire being disrupted by war with a nation called Brookshire. As the war deepened, drawing Musica into it, these concerned Yardistani watched with trepidation the progress of the war, and the actions of the man called Raynor.