The Ages of Shireroth

[Shyriath]

The Ages of ShirerothBy Shyriath Bukolos, Official HistorianBegun 1789 ASCI. The Khaz Modanian Age: Before ShirerothIntroductionThe history of our land of Shireroth, and the tale of the Kaisers who have ruled it, are both documented in a number of sources – mythological, anecdotal, historical. One wonders, then, why it must be gone over again; why, one might ask, make a history of Shireroth when others have already gone over it?To this, one can only answer that the histories that exist cannot do justice in and of themselves. Valuable though they are, they are but fragments of a greater whole; pieces of a puzzle, yet to be assembled. And some of the pieces are still missing; as you will see, much of the history of the great Khaz Modanian Empire, precursor to our own nation, has been lost, perhaps irretrievably. One can only hope that future archeological work will shed more light on such gaps in our knowledge of the past.Furthermore, it is my hope that the compilation of this work will prevent future gaps from opening. By centralizing all of what is known in one series of written sources, not only will our past never be lost to us, but the groundwork shall be laid for recovering further knowledge.It is in that spirit that this History is written.In the BeginningThe history of Shireroth, like that of any nation, begins with events that transpired long before the nation itself existed. To find the beginnings for Shireroth, then, it is necessary to look to the Khaz Modanian Empire.For many thousands of years, the Empire, whose heartland lay in the archipelago known as the Khaz Modan Isles, stretched its control over a wide area. It encompassed all the islands from Muad’dib in the northwest to Yardistan in the southeast, and also controlled the coastal areas of the east and south of the Shirerithian continent. In some areas, the Empire reached far inland as well, particularly in the south and along the River Elwynn; the current locations of Shirekeep and Brookshire Hamlet are, despite their distance from the sea, both within the old borders. Still, the coastal nature of most of the Empire’s territories suggests that they were a largely maritime nation, and were probably accomplished sailors.This is corroborated by evidence brought to this historian from Yardistan, whose scholars generously agreed to hold a ceasefire long enough to send him copies and analyses of ancient Yardistani histories and legends (see below, in the section on Yardistan). Among the oldest of these are accounts that refer to maritime exploration by “Khez Madonia” (Khaz Modan), by “Isvanerad” (Istvanistan), and by people from the coast of the continent. While the dating of these accounts is uncertain, they must go back at least to the years immediately predating the formation of the Empire. Accounts of subsequent times make mention of the colonization of the continent by the Empire (though not in great detail), and suggest that the use of explosives by the Khaz Modanians came about through contact with the inhabitants of Istvanistan.Still, the exact origins of this ancient nation are utterly lost to obscurity. A lingering myth suggests that the first Emperor was the son of Agni, God of Fire, but in all likelihood this was a story invented later, meant to glorify the throne. It is known, however, that the Emperors had a close identification with the fire god, due in part to their stewardship of the ancient weapon known as the Sword of Fire. Just as each Kaiser takes up the Sword of Vengeance upon attaining the throne, so did the Emperors of Khaz Modan take up the Sword of Fire; it was seen as the symbol of the Imperial Throne. Whether or not Agni was the true sire of the bloodline, it remains evident that when the God saw fit to forge the Sword and present it as a gift to mortals, it was the line of the Emperors to whom He chose to give it.Unfortunately, little concrete is known about the Khaz Modanians or their Emperors, save that they were a long-lived people. Occasional myths dating from back then survive to the present day, but most are of a religious nature, even when they are set during the time of the Empire, and as such are not particularly useful in determining a sequence of historical events. It is known that they were a deeply religious people, and so strong was their faith that it has been passed down to us with remarkably little change (including their Gods, and their devotion to the B0O0O0/\/\!!!). But of events, dates, and names within the Empire itself, we know next to nothing, most of what once existed having been lost in the events that destroyed the Empire. This remains true, however, only until a period toward the end of the Empire, where a selection of historical events has survived to be passed down. The End of the Old OrderWhatever was the nature of the Khaz Modanian Empire, it, like all nations, was not able to last forever. Even as it reached its greatest extent, internal forces were contriving to put the mighty nation under great strain. The conquered coastal peoples that the Empire now ruled were not always as submissive as their rulers would have liked, and their kin beyond the Empire’s borders were even more restless. As suggested by Yardistani records, the ancient Shirerithians had their own history of maritime exploration, and were probably proud and fierce peoples in their own right. It is probable that the treasuries of the Empire began to be drained by the cost of military actions against unruly city-states, and the reputation of the imperial government began to gain a definite tarnish. Yet this was nothing compared to the blow taken by the Emperors themselves, when it was discovered that the fabled Sword of Fire, symbol of the imperial office, had disappeared. This posed a serious challenge to the Emperors, and their authority began to become shaky.Yet despite these troubles, by the days of the late Empire the Khaz Modanians had developed immense powers with which to control their surroundings. A curious and inquisitive people, the Khaz Modanians had made great inroads not only into the development of technology, but also of magical powers. Eventually, the specialists in these disciplines coalesced into two separate groups; on the one hand, the technologists and scientists who had created the Empire’s fabulous devices became known as the Technomaezji, while on the other, the magical specialists became known as the Elemental Mages.The Elemental Mages became interested in a form of magical power called planar magic, which is believed to have been a way of opening and traversing passages to other planes of existence. Eager to explore these other planes, the Mages began experimenting with this poorly understood branch of the mystic arts, beginning around b2494 or so with the accession of the last Emperor, Niglai Me’Jiliad. But it appears that these activities were not popular everywhere in the Empire, and the Technomaezji in particular were vocal in their opposition, believing that such tampering was dangerous and irresponsible. In order to have the planar experiments stopped, the Technomaezji initiated political and legal action against the Elemental Mages in order to force them to stop. The exact nature of these political struggles are no longer clear, but it is believed that the clout of the two factions was such that appeals were made directly to the Emperor himself. Though no violence was committed, the situation became sufficiently tense to reach almost the proportions of a cold war.However, the Technomaezji evidently lost their battle. The Emperor permitted the Elemental Mages to continue with their experiments, and so they did. But, as the Technomaezji feared, the results turned out to be catastrophic.As with so many other facets of Khaz Modanian history, the nature of the disaster is utterly unknown. The Mages, in their experiments, stumbled upon something in b2474 – some being or event – that they were unable to control, and that whose danger became evident when it destroyed the Mages themselves. The Technomaezji, their worst fears realized, used the all the technological prowess at their disposal in order to stop the growing calamity, but found themselves unequal to the task. Faced with no other alternative but to save themselves, the Technomaezji used their devices to hide themselves away from the world, kept safe from the disaster. It would be three thousand years before they would emerge again.Their safety, however, was not a luxury the countless millions of the Empire had. The disaster, whatever its nature, shattered the Empire. The Khaz Modan Isles, and all the surrounding areas – the heart and core of the Empire, the part of the Empire with the most population, the busiest trade, the most advanced technology – saw its infrastructure, and probably no small number of its people, wiped out in an eye blink. And with the sudden lack of commodities or government, whatever survivors there were would have been hard pressed to survive. Only Emperor Niglai and his retinue managed to escape before the disaster.Meanwhile, out in the further reaches of the Empire, the situation also became bleaker. Although not subject to the disaster itself, Khaz Modanian colonies that depended on the heartland for valuable goods and protection suddenly found themselves relying on their own resources. Meanwhile, the numerous city-states and principalities that had placed themselves under the authority of the Empire found themselves independent again, and many began to destroy and plunder the colonies of their former masters, scattering their populations. What was left of Khaz Modanian civilization outside the heartland became swallowed up in the wars of conquest that followed over the next thirty years.The Heir of BrookshireBut not all of these emerging states were hostile toward the old order, and some had had good relations with the Imperial government. One of these was a city-state just within the borders of the old Empire, named Brookshire. A moderately-sized but influential polity, Brookshire had been ruled by a line of Dukes who had been friendly to the Emperors in the past, even helping to contain some of the more troublesome city-states, such as nearby Goldshire. It was to Brookshire, then, that the Emperor and his exhausted retainers managed to make their way during the mid-b2400s, after spending years crossing the chaotic lands between the coast and the borders of the city-state. The reigning Duchess, Fola Helipov, welcomed the refugees into her realm in b2447, and though the lands around them crumbled, Brookshire remained a haven for all its inhabitants.As Niglai settled into his new life in exile, he apparently found his friendship with the Duchess to be more than political. Niglai and Fola became quite enamored of each other, and although their love took many years to blossom, they eventually conceived a child. That child, a son, heir to the legacy of the Khaz Modanians, was born in the year b2430 ASC. He was given the name Raynor Me’Jiliad; but later generations would come to refer to him as Raynor I.But the young heir found himself in trouble almost as soon as he was born. Goldshire, a Duchy a considerable distance away, was historically an aggressive state, and before its absorption into the Empire had wielded considerable power in the region. But longtime rival Brookshire, backed by the Khaz Modanians, had long prevented it from expansion. But Ju’Uliave Mercaja, head of a powerful merchant family and Duke of Goldshire, had begun carving out his own petty kingdom after the fall of the Empire through a combination of aggressive trading practices and ruthless military bullying. The two Duchies had been at war only a short time before Niglai’s arrival in Brookshire; control of the economically vital River Elwynn had always been a point of contention, especially with Brookshire’s ally Musica occupying a strategic position at the mouth of the river.Realizing that eliminating the young Raynor could weaken Brookshire in the future, the Duke of Goldshire sent assassins to Brookshire to kill the young heir and his father. Although the attempt failed, Niglai took his son into hiding to protect him from any further attacks, though this meant that Niglai was never able to marry Fola. For years thereafter, the elderly monarch raised his young son in secret, attempting to prepare him for the day that he would return from hiding and claim his rightful place.The Origins of GoldshireIt is believed that the ancient Duchy of Goldshire dates back to pre-Khaz Modanian times. The foundations of the area’s commercial power also give the region its name, for not only ancient Goldshire but much of the area now occupied by the Duchy was rich in deposits of gold. Gold mining in the area has occurred for as long as records exist.This wealth attracted foreign powers at a very early stage. Invaders from what is now Treesia landed in Goldshire and their descendents formed the first Goldshirian noble families. This possibly included the powerful House of Mercaja, which established its dominion in a city-state occupying the area around what is now Goldshire Hamlet. Several Istvanistani expeditions also settled in the area.The coming of the Khaz Modanians to the Goldshire coast, and the occupation of the old ports by their colonists, cut off the Goldshirian city-states from their traditional trade overseas and crushed many of the most powerful of their leaders. Commerce turned inland, and the River Elwynn and it tributaries became the main means of transportation between the city-states. Even though the Elwynn valley was itself later subdued by the Khaz Modanians, colonization was not as intense, and trade along the river remained only slightly hindered by the tariff stations set up by the Empire.After the Empire’s collapse during the years following the disaster of b2474, the Goldshirian city-states regained access to the sea and wiped out the Khaz Modanian colonies. The Mercaja domain, which came to be called Goldshire, was among the most aggressive in the territorial struggles that followed, and by the reign of Duke Ju’Uliave had come to include most of the northeastern coasts and extended to the Elwynn. Under the Duke’s direction, Goldshire expanded still faster, and by the end of Brookshire’s Wars of Unification occupied most of its present territory.The Wars of UnificationNiglai Me’Jiliad, last Emperor of Khaz Modan, died in b2408. Raynor, now 22, emerged from hiding, and publicly took his rightful place as Heir of Brookshire, to much public acclaim.Much had happened over the past two decades. Goldshire continued to expand, controlling much of the River Elwynn in b2413, and its trade contacts brought in goods from all over the eastern part of the Shirerithian continent. The Musican Alliance began to be drawn within Goldshire’s sphere of influence, and in response, Fola had concluded numerous alliances and mergers with neighboring states in order to counteract Goldshire’s influence. But Brookshire still stood in danger of being out competed by its own rival, and Raynor saw that more drastic measures were necessary.Calling up the armed forces and militias of the Duchy, Raynor began a campaign of expansion. The closest of Brookshire’s allies were wooed into becoming part of the Duchy itself, contributing greatly to the Brookshirian army; this allowed Raynor to begin conquering the numerous smaller city-states south of the Elwynn. The Wars of Unification lasted from b2408 to b2400, and during this time Brookshire gained almost all of its modern territory, except for the islands of the Benacian Archipelago.The last of the battles of the Wars of Unification took place in Woodshire. Nowadays no longer remembered save as a place-name, the Thanedom of Woodshire was the last of the independent city-states south of the Elwynn. It lay mostly just to the south of the main fork of the river; however, the Thane also claimed a small spit of land between the West and East Elwynn. In early b2400, Raynor’s armies marched into Woodshire Hamlet and claimed all Woodshirian territories for Brookshire. A small detachment was sent to the section of Woodshire between the rivers in order to secure it; but after several days, nothing was heard of the small group. A larger force was sent, and this discovered a military outpost, manned by a Goldshirian military unit. Raynor learned from local inhabitants that the Thane of Woodshire had invited the foreign forces into his land as a protection against Brookshire; had Brookshire invaded only a few months later, Goldshire would already be in control of the territory. Raynor, angered by the interference, attacked the outpost and installed a Brookshirian garrison there. When news of this reached the Duke of Goldshire, a flurry of angered letters passed back and forth between himself and Raynor, each accusing the other of various grievances, and both claiming Woodshire as occupied territory. Toward late b2400, the already-tense situation continued to worsen, and the militaries of both Brookshire and Goldshire massed on the banks of the Elwynn.But there was a weak point in Goldshire’s fluvial armor, in the form of the Musican Alliance. Once a small confederation of city-states clustered around the mouth of the Elwynn, and a close ally of Brookshire, it had joined Brookshire a few years previously, and possessed holdings on both sides of the river. Fearing that this political bridge would allow Brookshire easy access into Goldshire’s territory, Duke Ju’Uliave, having gathered his forces as best as he could, invaded the eastern half of Musica. Raynor, in a strongly worded declaration, proclaimed (and rightly so) that Goldshire had attacked what was, completely without a doubt, the sovereign territory of Brookshire, and declared war upon the aggressor state.Utilizing the newly acquired outpost at the confluence of the Elwynn as a base, Raynor made temporary bridges across the Elwynn by laying wooden platforms on rows of anchored boats, stretching across the river. By the end of b2400, the armies of Brookshire, tired though they were, marched into Goldshire, to finish their conquests once and for all.The Fall of GoldshireGoldshire had not been idle in the time that Raynor had been expanding his Duchy. Ju’Uliave had poured his considerable wealth into the raising of armies to protect his land, and into the expansion of that same land. By the eve of the war, Goldshire covered all the territories east of the Elwynn, and was heavily defended in the meantime. Yet, the Duke of Goldshire made several strategic errors that were to heavily affect the course of the war.His first was his failure to deal with Raynor’s growing power. It is possible that he did not believe that Raynor was who he said he was; after all, Goldshire’s assassins were supposed to have killed him, and he had disappeared for twenty years. There may also have been a measure of overconfidence involved; Goldshire was, after all, the larger and better-organized Duchy up until the late stages of the Wars of Unification. As a result, Ju’Uliave was content to build up his military forces within Goldshire instead of striking an early blow against its growing neighbor.Secondly, the Duke of Goldshire was not as fair a lord as many would have liked. The scion of a lone of merchants, Ju’Uliave’s greatest concern with his empire was the extraction of funds; although he was a wise enough person to invest in his lands, many peasants (especially those of newly-acquired lands) found themselves taxed very heavily. Dissatisfaction resulting from this was harshly dealt with, and much of the population of the new provinces was only too glad to aid Raynor in freeing them. This also deprived Goldshire from using local militias for defense, as Brookshire did; the burden of defense was placed entirely on Ju’Uliave’s own forces.And lastly, and perhaps most importantly of all, the Duke was not the most strategically minded person in the world. At the time of Raynor’s invasion, Goldshire’s powerful military was almost entirely concentrated at along the Elwynn, forming what Ju’Uliave had hoped was an impenetrable shield along his border with Brookshire. However, aside from spreading his forces thin along the river, this left very little manpower available to defend the interior of the Duchy; only the capital at Goldshire Hamlet maintained a heavy defense force.As Raynor’s army punched through the defending force on the eastern bank of the Elwynn, he perceived that this arrangement had flaws that could be exploited to his advantage. He separated his forces into two; one, comprising the bulk of his forces, would turn east, trapping Ju’Uliave’s armies in between themselves and the River Elwynn, cutting them off from the capital in the process. The second, smaller force, consisting mostly of cavalry and other fast-moving units, headed north, into the interior of Goldshire. Led personally by Raynor, they called themselves “Raynor’s Raiders”, and caused severe havoc in some of Goldshire’s newest provinces. Over the next three years, Raynor continued moving from place to place in northern Goldshire, disrupting government activities and winning the locals over to his cause. The area came effectively under his control, and resources and materiel were sent south to the main army for their maintenance and defense. They were aided when Musican partisans in the south of Goldshire rose up in b2398; driving out the Goldshirian garrisons stationed along the river, they helped several militia units from Brookshire cross the Elwynn. Operating from bases on the marshy islands of the Elwynn delta, the militias were able to keep the southern Goldshirian armies sufficiently distracted that they could not turn north to attack the encampments of the Brookshirians.By b2397, Raynor had built up enough support in the north of Goldshire that he felt ready to complete his conquests. He led his fast-moving cavalry forces, followed by a somewhat ragtag coalition of local militias, to the east, and began attacking the loyal Goldshire merchant cities on the coast. From there he moved south along the shore, capturing city after city, and late in the year reached Goldshire Hamlet itself. Raynor’s Raiders were quickly joined by a large detachment from the main army, and laid siege to the town; after a few months, the defenders surrendered. Ju’Uliave’s own officers, perhaps tired of their former lord’s mismanagement, offered him up to Raynor, who slew him on the steps of the ducal palace.But the final act of the war was yet to come. Ta’Are Mercaja, son and heir of the Duke of Goldshire, commanded one of the army units trapped by Raynor’s army. When news of his father’s death was proclaimed by the victors, and the rest of Goldshire’s armies began to lay down their arms, Ta’Are angrily gathered up a group of his most loyal horsemen, and in b2396 managed to break through Brookshire’s lines, heading west, toward the river. Whether he was simply trying to flee Raynor, or to reach lands beyond the Elwynn to gain support for his cause, none remember; but he managed to find enough remnant loyalists to cause considerable trouble for the occupying Brookshirians in the lands he passed through. It is said that the Gods, looking favorably upon Raynor, sent him a sign warning him of Ta’Are’s escape. They sent to him a great rock, made from a strange metal, which fell from the sky, landing just outside Goldshire Hamlet. Realizing that his foe’s heir would escape his wrath if he did not act soon, Raynor summoned one of the greatest blacksmiths of the age, and commanded him to use the metal from the meteorite to forge a sword for him, so that he could carry the favor of the Gods with him on his chase. Laboring long into the night, the smith produced for Raynor a blade of black metal that gave a greenish cast when seen in the right light; Raynor named it the Sword of Vengeance in honor of his task. It became the symbol of his family and of the Kaisership; it is believed to have strange powers, granted by the Gods, that only the heirs of the line of Raynor may use.Raynor and his Raiders took up pursuit of Ta’Are’s band, chasing them through the wilds of western Goldshire until, after many months, the rebels became contained near the confluence of the Elwynn. Trapped between the river on the one side, and Raynor’s men on the other, Ta’Are sent out archers to ambush the Raiders and assassinate their leader, but Raynor was able to avoid the attempt on his life, and the assassins foiled. The Raiders traced the archers back to Ta’Are’s camp, and after a terrific slaughter, the rebels were decimated, almost within sight of the place where the war between Brookshire and Goldshire began. Ta’Are himself was taken prisoner, bound in heavy chains, and taken back to Goldshire Hamlet, thrown into the dungeons that were his by right of birth.The Founding of ShirerothAfter this last defeat, whatever resistance still remained in Goldshire began to die down. By early b2395, the last unrest in southern Goldshire was put down. The Goldhshirian armies were disbanded, and local militias, more loyal to Raynor, were given charge of the region’s defense. The conquest of Goldshire was complete, and, bit-by-bit, most of Raynor’s armies returned home.Raynor, now with two Duchies in his possession, was faced with the problem of how to deal with his new territories. He had completed his vengeance upon the Mercaja family, and had gained the respect and loyalty of the people during his campaigns; but now that Goldshire was his, he was unsure how to govern it. Simply incorporating it into Brookshire was out of the question; Brookshire’s capital was too far removed from Goldshire for effective governance, and extending its political power over a territory as big as Brookshire itself would be a task of monumental proportions, far more difficult than the extension of military control had been.Raynor realized that Goldshire could not be left to total independence; but neither could it simply be made part of Brookshire. He realized also, in his wisdom, that the most effective way to reconcile his problems was to make Brookshire and Goldshire independent of each other, but answerable to the same authority; two smaller polities united under one crown. So it was that Raynor began to build a new city around the outpost at the confluence of the Elwynn, building up the fortress there into a mighty castle keep, the Shirekeep, which gave its name to the city. From there, he would be able to govern both Brookshire and Goldshire more effectively, and from a location easily defensible from either direction.On the day that the first foundation stone of the new castle was laid down, Raynor made a speech to the people of the new city of Shirekeep, copies of which were carried to all the towns and villages under his domain; and in this speech he announced his vision of a greater nation, of which the two Duchies would only be smaller parts, and which he himself would lead as ultimate monarch. On that day, raising his Sword of Vengeance above his head as he made his declaration, Raynor Me’Jiliad became Raynor the First, Kaiser; progenitor of the Imperial Bloodlines, and founder of Shireroth.II. Beyond Old Shireroth: Yardistan During the Khaz Modanian AgeIntroductionOne 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 YardistanAncient 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 AgeA 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.InvasionThis 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 EmpireAs 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 GapBut 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.RebellionsToward 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 YardistanBut 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 StormSo 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.III: Building of a NationA Refutation of Other HistoriesIt has been suggested in times since that the story of Shireroth’s creation as told in the first volume of this work is utterly unfounded, the product of nationalist sentiment and popular myth. Some historians have said that Raynor himself never existed for certain, and that if he did his connections to the ancient Khaz Modanians were tenuous at best.For the sake of discourse, I will here state that some previous visions of the founding of the nation begin with the assertion that the Technomaezji were not of Khaz Modanian stock at all, but hailed from northwestern Brookshire. These stories furthermore claim that the first few Kaisers of the official lists were semi-mythological, being only chiefs of the Technomaezji tribes of the time, and that it was not till the reign of Erik I that the title of Kaiser came into common use. A

[Fax Celestis]

Wikitize it! Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

[AngelGuardian93]

ALL of that? There are no flowers, no not this time. There will be no angels gracing the lines, just these stark words I find.

[Fax Celestis]

Yeah, why not? Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

[AngelGuardian93]

I suppose it wont take up much space as its text but... There are no flowers, no not this time. There will be no angels gracing the lines, just these stark words I find.

[Andreas the Wise]

I know this is a very old topic, but that was absolutely wonderful Shyriath! I've only read about half of it, but so far it seems and awesome history, and very similar to the sort of thing I'd write, only better (which is high praise indeed).

EDIT: Read it all. Very nice. Just need to read the bits that actually involve Kildare now ...