History of Vendriothos and the Khas-Kirat Empire (HEAVY WIP)

(Map by Noronica)

TBD stuff

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Rock carvings at Sinja Valley

We Mitravarta descent people now...

In 747 BCE, King Vladimir and 200 men from the city state of Ariethos (in Roendavar), while on his grand voyage, established contact with some local Yaxa people. The locals panicked at the sudden presence of these armed "alien demons" and attacked them. However, King Vladimir managed to defeat the Yaxa with only three men dead on his side. After his scouts reported of more hostiles on their trail, the king and his men retreated to their ships in haste and came to conclude that this region was Vendriothos (Roendavarian: "Land of the Werebeasts").

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Gurung Yantra symbol made by Yaxa astronomers

At around 300 BCE, speakers of Ipachi languages, from what are now Samudera and Ainslie, arrived in eastern parts of the Magarat region. These "unarmed" sea-faring Ipachi traders were received much better by the local Yaxa population. The Ipachis brought Buddhism as well as the knowledge of ironworking along with them. The influx of this Ipachi speaking population is generally said to be the start of Iron Age in the Magarat region. By 200 BCE, these traders were settled in the entirety of the Magarat region except for Yaxa territory and known as the Argean Ipachis. The Yaxa and the Argean Ipachis often traded with one another, but otherwise, the contact was still very minimal due to natural and cultural barriers.

The Argean Ipachis in the Magarat region can be divided into ten different tribes which are the Kisans, Kusundas, Jhangads, Tharus, Danuwars, Darai, Dhanuks, Majhi, Rajbansi and the Santhals. Of these ten tribes, only the Kisans, Kusundas (who have only one clan in existence and less than a dozen speakers), Jhangads and the Santhals speak Argean Ipachi languages nowadays. Throughout history, the Tharus, Dhanuks, Majhi and Rajbansi have become heavily influenced by the Sinjali Khas and immigrants clans from Mitravarta with their languages now being classified as Southern Khas. The Darai and the Danuwars have been extremely Kiratized and speak an Eastern Kirati language. Nonetheless, all of these ten Argean Ipachi tribes can trace their history back to the advent of Iron Age in the Magarat region and all of them are listed among the 40 Guns of Magarat.

The Darai and the Danuwars were the westernmost group and often acted as the buffer zone between the Yaxa Civilization and other Argean Ipachi tribes. The Kisans and the Rajbansi settled on the fertile Koch plains right since the beginning as rice cultivators whereas the Majhi and the Santhals kept to the eastern Magarati coastline with all the other Argean Ipachi tribes populating other areas of the Magarat region for several centuries to come.

During the Iron Age, there was widespread prevalence of the symbol that would later be known as Gurung Yantra (as a character 卍). Most non-Magarati historians consider the use of this symbol to have begun after the introduction of Buddhism by the Ipachis while Magarati historians are of the view that the Yaxa, known for their astronomical interest in mapping the stars and making calendars, were depicting comets as the symbols were often drawn alongside a sun.

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The Magarat region in late 216-215 BCE

Remember King Vladimir and his 200 men from Ariethos? Well, the year is 119 BCE and the ancestors of Roendavarians set foot in the Magarat region once again. Only this time, it was no mere 200 men band of explorers. Just a year ago, Ariethos had united with other city-states to raze Passareebu Empire of the Ipachi to the ground and expand outwards. Remnants of the Passareebu Empire had sought refuge among the Majhi and Santhal tribes in eastern Magarati coastline. An army was dispatched to hunt these last remnants of Passareebu. The experienced Corinthi force, with their technological advantage and superior battle formations, easily routed tribal armies of the Majhis, Santhals and other Argean Ipachi tribes standing on their path and claimed territories along the eastern Magarati coastline as part of their empire.

Over the next half a century, Corinthus Vendriothos (the name given to this particular division of the empire) rapidly expanded to pretty much all of what is now the Central Canal Authority, most of present-day Athara Magarat and northern parts of San Montagna. Corinthi incursions into their territory forced the Argean Ipachi tribes to merge into confederations. Jaring (Various Ipachi languages: "Fishing Net"), also known as the Three Star Ipachis, was the first of these tribal confederations with the Majhi, the Santhals and the Dhanuks acting as a singular political entity. The Kisan and the Jhangad of the Koch plains formed their own confederation with the Darai and the Danuwars in the west doing the same. However, it would the Kochila confederation between the Rajbansi and the Tharus alongside the fiercely independent Kusunda, locked from all sides by hostile Corinthi territory, with Corinthus Vendriothos would have most of the conflicts.

TBD

At around 400 CE, nomads from the Yhaivan steppe (in New totzka) migrated in large numbers to the southwestern Vendriothos. The Yaxa constructed several simple fortifications along their coastline to defend against these Yhai nomads who were skilled the art of mounted warfare. The Yaxa, like their ancestors from Xrevaro, had only domesticated yalaluks (native to their ancestral land), bees and Kirati yaks. Yaxa warriors, who had never seen horses before, lost battle after battle against the highly mobile Yhai nomads. A plague, supposedly brought by the Yhai, hit traditional Yaxa lands in the mid-5th century, with hundreds of farms being depopulated. The Yaxa migrated further and further inland as the Yhai, who were resistant to the plague, settled at Sinja Valley and surrounding areas. Some Yhai chieftains were able to take over previously Yaxa farms and fishing hamlets, control the trade and become dominant powers in the region.

Historians consider the end of prehistoric period in Vendriothos to be marked by the fall of Yaxa Kingdom, transition of Yhai to Khas and the ethnogenesis of the Kirati tribes. By 6th Century, the Yaxa had developed into several different tribes speaking different languages due to separation by rivers, forests, hills and mountains. These new tribes were now collectively known as the "Kirats" and had adopted the nomadic ways and mounted warfare of their former Yhai enemies. The Yhai themselves had fragmented into the nomadic "Northern Khas" and the settled "Southern Khas" who had taken up rice cultivation and fishing for sustenance. Waves of Khas and Kirati raids and migrations into traditionally Argean Ipachi eastern Vendriothos, Keomoran Akar island and northern San Montagnan territories resulted in the native peoples of these places becoming "Kiratized".

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An artist's depiction of Srijunga

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10th Century Lortik ships

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Army of Srijunga in a Doman painting

In mid-9th Century, a powerful Eastern Kirati tribal confederation known as the Yakthung Thibon rose in northeastern Vendriothos. Various chieftains competed to be the leader of this confederation and the top two contenders were Wedo Hangun and Nembang Hangun. In order to learn his rival's secrets, Nembang sent his sister Dalima to join Wedo's division. However, while seducing Wedo, Dalima ended up becoming pregnant. Nembang then brought this issue in front of the Yolmo hang and alleged that his sister had been raped by Wedo. Nembang was told to punish Wedo any way he saw fit. The former then launched a night raid into the latter's fort and had him impaled with sharpened bamboo sticks. During the attack, Dalima fled to her ancestral village of Chempujong in order to escape from her brother for she knew that he would murder her child in wrath.

Months later, Nembang Hangun finally managed to locate Dalima in Chempujong. She had switched her baby with a neighbor's and pleaded to her brother that a "girl" would not bring him any harm. Henceforth, the child Srijunga Dalima-menchuma:sa was raised as a girl and when she was of age, Nembang Hangun made recruited her as his spymaster. Like with his sister, Nembang used his niece to seduce his rivals. In late 9th Century, Uba Hangun had replaced deceased Wedo as Nembang's primary rival. Since Uba was as old as Nembang himself, Srijunga was sent to entrap the former's son Mabo Bahadur Uba-yambicha:sa.

A few years later during a heated brawl, Nembang Hangun challenged Uba Hangun to a duel but the latter's son Mabo jumped in for his father. The young man was able to easily cut down Nembang, who was not the warrior that he used to be due to his old age. Srijunga then went into a fit of rage for having her revenge on Nembang being denied forever and struck down her lover in blind fury. After this incident came to be known, Srijunga's actual identity as a man was also revealed and he was exiled from Vendriothos for a decade.

Exiled Srijunga was conscripted into Rajang Thami's raiding party that landed in the islands known today as the Noronican-Vancouvian Special Joint-Administered Overseas Territory of Black Isles in 902. Srijunga rallied a few other outcasts like himself and some captured native Brellans to steal a ship from Thami's raiding party. However, the escapees were captured by the feared Polar svalbard-descent Lortik pirates of Belle ilse en terre and taken as slaves. After several years on board one Lortik ship after another and several attempts to escape, Srijunga and his group finally managed to take over a pirate vessel and sail north all the way to Domanania.

Srijunga and his crew spent at least a year raiding along the southern and eastern coastline of Tiwe island. During his raids, he came to realize that this distant land was far more richer than any other place known to either Khas-Kirati raiders or the Lortik pirates and that there were no horses; just like how Vendriothos had been before the Yhai invasion. He also came to know through spies that the large and rich island was divided between quarreling Holy Empire of Domanania in north and southern tribal kingdoms.

In 911, Srijunga and his crew arrived back in Vendriothos. He widely circulated tales of this distant island and the riches it offered as well as its vulnerabilities. Due to unprecedented decline in forests, Vendriothos was suffering from a long period of drought. Many were tempted by Srijunga's captivating stories of this new land and the heaps of loot he had brought as proof. Though only 1,500 Khas-Kirati men and women joined his band, the numbers were far more than what Srijunga had hoped for. Before invading Domanania, Srijunga and his party arrived in the Ilse to buy Lortik vessels (which Srijunga deemed to be far better than traditional Khas-Kirati ships) and men from various Lortik kings. Sources say that 20 Lortik ships and 500 mercenaries were bought in this deal that would be extended in centuries to come.

In 914, Srijunga and his army of 2,000 landed in southern Tiwe island. Marching north, they avoided major conflicts and rallied nomadic southern Doman tribes to their forces. The numbers of Srijunga's army had reached 3,500 by the time they launched the actual invasion of the Holy Empire of Domanania. Srijunga strategically positioned his troops on higher elevation, made extensive use of feigned retreats and superior mobility provided by horses to defeat the Empire's armies that were several times the size of his band. As the invaders pressed further and further into the Empire, more and more Doman men were killed in combat. The Empire's best hope was to wait the invaders out in winter but it proved to be impossible to do so. After less than a year of major humiliating defeats, the Holy Empire of Domanania was forced into signing a treaty that put it under the Kirati yoke.

After becoming victorious in the War of the Horses (the Khas-Kirati conquest of Domanania as called by the Domans themselves), Srijunga laid the foundation of the Khas-Kirat Empire with himself as the Mahang (Various Khas-Kirati Languages: "Great Hang"). As the tradition required for him to be officially crowned as the Mahang by the Kurultai (Various Khas-Kirati Languages: "Assembly" or "Council") of tribal elders, Srijunga embarked on voyage back home. However, no sooner had he left the Doman port, Srijunga died on board under mysterious circumstances as the revolting Domans gleefully claimed to have poisoned his food.

Since Srijunga had never married, the Kurultai decided to elect his adopted son - a southern Doman boy named Mabo - as the Second Mahang. Historians often speculate that Mahang Mabo was elected due to pragmatic reasons as well since Domanania had now been divided between pro-Kirati government and Doman nobles who had been revolting since the death of Srijunga. It would take until 921 for Mahang Mabo to restore peace in Domanania and rest of the Khas-Kirat Empire.

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Portrayal of Tira Mgar by Sikurimma Toyahang in the series 'Arrow of Argus'

Mahang Mabo spent much of his rule in restoring peace in Domanania and ensuring that all Khas-Kirati and Argean Ipachi tribes bent their knees to the empire declared by his adopted father. Starting at 923, he launched major raids into Leykan state of San Montagna to force them into becoming his vassals but that turned out to be much more difficult than he had expected. In the meantime, he also got married to a woman named Mgar (Muh-GAR) and the couple had four daughters: Dhanusha (Various Khas-Kirati Languages: "Bow") of the Ipachis, Tira (Various Khas-Kirati Languages: "Arrow") of the Kirats, Kukri of the Khas and Banchari (Various Khas-Kirati Languages: "Wild Bird" or "Ax" depending on tone) of the Domans. Historians suggest that their actual names were probably Dhan Kumari, Tara, Kukee and Birsha; and that they were likely renamed by later sources to make them even more legendary. Though the lack of a male heir had initially troubled Mabo, he was convinced by Mgar to change the succession law and eventually, he himself came to see them as capable successors as they grew up. Still, he was unsure which one of his four daughters to make the Third Mahang and thus created another rule of succession stating that the Mahang would have to be elected by the Kurultai of tribal elders.

In 942, Mahang Mabo and his raiding party were captured before he could launch a major raid. Both Khas-Kirati and Lortik sources attribute the imprisonment to betrayal by some of his disloyal Lortik soldiers but where or how exactly he died still remains a mystery. Mabo's domains were divided between his four daughters after the news of his death arrived. The eldest Dhanusha established the Greater Ipachi Hangate, the second eldest Tira gained lordship over the Hangate of Arun Valley, the third daughter Kukri became ruler of both the Northern and Southern Khas states while the youngest Banchari received Domanania and suzerainty over Lortik vassals in Belle ilse en terre. The Kurultai were as unsure about the next Mahang as Mabo had been and declared that whoever avenged his death would be crowned the Third Mahang of the Khas-Kirat Empire.

Among the four sisters, the youngest Banchari was the most shrewd. She was not willing to risk her life on some campaign to unknown lands and more focused on continuing the stabilization and prosperity of Khas-Kirati territories in Domanania. She also knew very well that if her sisters died on those campaigns into treacherous foreign lands, the crown would automatically fall to her. At the same time, some Lortik nobles had formed a dangerous faction to oppose the authority of these four women whom they considered to be "unqualified little girls". As Lortika was under her suzerainty, Banchari used the rebellion as pretext to stay safe within the Khas-Kirati realms. She reassured her elder sisters that she would act the regent of Greater Ipachi Hangate, the Mahakirat Hangate and the two Khas states with their blessings and even provided Doman and Lortik soldiers to them for their campaigns.

Dhanusha, Tira and Kukri, with the advice of their shamans (who some sources claim had been paid by Banchari), decided that their combined army of roughly 30,000 would first march south and then east since the news of their father's death had arrived from southeast direction. As they progressed south into Lyeka, the three sisters massacred, pillaged and burned all villages and cities on their path. This prompted hostile reactions from the Lyekans, who had suffered more than enough from half a century of Khas-Kirati incursions into their territories. However, the professional armies of the three sisters quickly routed the local Lyekan forces in various small skirmishes and big battles to finally force the latter into being incorporated under the Khas-Kirat Empire.

After consolidation of Lyeka, the army of the three sisters marched east .

TBD

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The horse archer was the primary military unit of nomadic clans

After the establishment of the Khas-Kirat Empire in 914 by First Mahang Srijunga the Conqueror, nomadic Khas-Kirati tribes started migrating to Argean Ipachi lands. After the death of Srijunga's adopted son and successor Mahang Mabo in 921, the empire was divided between his four infant daughters born from a woman named Mgar. The process of a hangate being fragmenting into more hangates divided between the children of a deceased hang or hangma began. The empire became politically instable as one tribe would rise, establish a powerful hangate and then fragment into several more time and again until the 16th Century. (It is to be noted that this was a particularly mainland Vendriothos problem and most outer hangates did not fragment into smaller hangates upon the death of a ruler.)

Beginning in the late 10th Century, Argean Ipachi tribes started taking advantage of this political instability to take back control of their traditional lands (while still being part of the Khas-Kirat Empire) by marrying into the Mgar dynasty and establishing their own hangates. The Santhals were one such Argean Ipachi tribe. Before the beginning of the 11th Century, the Santhals controlled a huge amount of territories in southern Vendriothos including regions along the southeastern coastline to the Koch plains, the Chathaese Steppe (which they took from the Crimson Horde in 975) and the Marubhumi desert to even parts of the Tamsaling region. These Santhali-controlled territories were aptly named Greater Ipachi Hangate as they covered almost all regions inhabited by Argean Ipachis (and they are not be confused with the Great Ipachi Hangate that would be established later in 16th Century by Irim, the second son of Razzgriz-born Mahang Aklia, after marrying a Santhali noblewoman). But like with other (mainland Vendriothos-based) hangates, the Greater Ipachi Hangate too began to shatter. Roughly two decades after the advent of the 11th Century, the Tharu clans of the Marubhumi desert broke off to establish their own hangates. Constant raids by the Tharu clans and infighting between the Santhals themselves became increasingly common. In 1045, the Lyekan Empire of San Montagna even invaded Chatha. Fortunately for the then Santhali ruler Hu Murmu Hang, a solution to these problems was available. In 1046, he signed a treaty with the leader of 12 nomadic clans that they could settle on the Koch plains and Chathaese Steppe during winter; provided that they fought for the Santhals and acted as merchants by selling Santhali goods to markets in the north during summer when the nomads returned back home). Despite his own family members and prominent elders of the Santhali tribe arguing that this move would lead to Argean Ipachi lands being under Khas-Kirati control again; Hu Murmu Hang was confident that he could keep these nomads in check as their overlord.

So who were these 12 nomadic clans? Most historical sources agree that they were the Bhalanja, the Budathoki, the Dandamare, the Gharabja, the Gharti, the Gyapchan, the Jhingraja, the Khadka, the Potlange, the Purane, the Singe and the Tathapja. Among them, the Budathoki and the Khadka were Khas clans whereas the rest were all Western Kirati. The Gyapchan were Buddhist and initially members of the Thakali tribe. The Bhalanja, the Gharabja, the Gharti, the Jhingraja and the Tathapja are related to the Four Kham (who are technically the largest Khas-Kirati group in modern-day Athara magarat). Some sources claim that these six clans initially belonged to the Four Kham but migrated south once the Pun clans started taking over the tribal federation and enforcing Christianity; though modern historians are skeptical of such claims. Regardless, it is known that these shamanist clans gradually embraced Buddhism from the Gyapchan. Very little information is available is known about the Dandamare, the Potlange, the Purane and the Singe other than the fact that they too were shamanist Western Kirati clans that embraced Buddhism from the Gyapchan.

The agreement between these nomads and the Santhals worked only for around two decades. Most sources attribute this to the death of Hu Murmu Hang and the coronation of his son Kan-Hu Murmu as the new ruler of the Greater Ipachi Hangate. Kan-Hu Murmu Hang forbade the nomads from marrying Argean Ipachis, declared that any child born in his realm had to be "raised Santhal" and tried to stamp out Buddhism since it was becoming popular not only among the nomads but among Argean Ipachi tribes in the Koch plains as well.

In 1061, the Tharu clans launched a devastating raid and took the daughters of the Khadka clan leader as either concubines or slaves. The heads of the 12 nomadic clans planned to raid lands held by Tharu clans in revenge and rescue the women but were forbidden from doing so by Kan-Hu Murmu Hang. Some sources claim that he had been trying to bring back Tharu clans into the Greater Ipachi Hangate by placating them and that he had even arranged his marriage with a woman from one of the more prominent clans. Regardless of the reasons for this, the nomads were now infuriated and they rebelled against their hang by launching a punitive raid into Tharu territories. But the raid was unsuccessful and the Tharu clans repelled the 12 nomadic clans; who started sacking cities and towns in Santhali territories instead. After nearly two years of fighting a losing war against the rebellious nomads, Kan-Hu Murmu Hang requesting military assistance from other Western Kirati clans (ancestors of the Chepangs); ironically promising the latter that they could settle in the Koch plains and the Chathaese Steppe. These Central Kirati clans granted Kan-Hu Murmu Hang a swift victory, forced the rebels out of Santhali territories and beheaded the leaders of all 12 rebel clans.

In 1064, the son of the former leader of the Bhalanja clan returned to Vendriothos after receiving news of his father's demise. He was a fearsome man reportedly six foot tall and rumored to have killed bears with his fists. Nicknamed, Bhai Bhalanja the Bear, he had gained a reputation as a mercenary who had worked for the rulers of both Majh Kirat Hangate in Aprosia (New aapelistan) and Kheno-Madu Hangate (in modern-day Linaviar). He rallied the children and friends of the slain clan leaders under his banner to exact revenge on the Santhals and the Central Kiratis. However, he was quickly defeated by the Central Kiratis in battle even after slaying the enemy commander in a duel. The sons of the slain Central Kirati commander swore to kill him one day. After this defeat, Bhai Bhalanja and the warriors under his banner instead bought ships and spent the next year launching raids into Purvalok (the Khas-Kirati word for International District) and Alteran Republics. In 1066, he and his crew requested a meeting with the Mahang and presented slaves and exotic goods as tributes. Bhai Bhalanja allegedly told the Mahang that he could have more tributes every year if he granted him "invasion rights to an island that only he knows" and better ships to transport more horses. (It is to be noted that the "outer hangates" were required to pay annual tributes to the Mahang and other Khas-Kirati warriors also probably knew where this island was because it was along the sea route that they took to travel to the Majh Kirat and Kheno-Madu Hangates).

Battle of Enmore

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Battle of Enmore

After being granted "invasion rights" and better ships to transport more horses, Bhai Bhalanja the Bear sailed to modern-day Townside with 6,000 warriors from the 12 clans under his banner. To gain invaluable information and intelligence about the lands he would be invading, Bhai Bhalanja hired some fishermen as spies and sent scouts on horseback to survey key settlements of the indigenous Ainur Ipachi and their various kingdoms. The fishermen were surprised to see the horses these strangers had brought and Bhai Bhalanja became even more confident of a quick victory. He ordered his warriors to burn and the capital of the Kingdom of Nightingale before taking half of his forces to sail further south along the Yara River. in order to march into the Kingdom of Elmore.

The scouts returned with reports that numerous Ainur Ipachi forces were defending its capital Enmore. The invaders stopped roughly ten miles north of the enemy capital and started making preparations for the encounter. Ainur Ipachi forces were hastily levied only after the Kingdom of Elmore received news of Nightingale's sacking. Led by the King of Elmore and his two brothers, the Ainur Ipachis spread their line thin along a stream that flowed into the Blue Elmore River. The king's brothers took command of the flanks while he led from the center. The total number of the Elmore army was roughly 5,000 Ainur Ipachi tribal warriors.

The first Khas-Kirati units arrived and lined up to oppose the Elmore army. At this point, Bhai Bhalanja was outnumbered by the Ainur Ipachis since half of his forces were still in Nightingale and a further significant portion of his men had been ordered to guard the ships. Numbers vary according to sources but he most likely had around 2,000 cavalry, divided into two groups, when the battle took place. The Elmore king and his brothers wanted to take advantage of their superior numbers since Bhai Bhalanja's warriors were still arriving. The battle started when units in the Ainur Ipachi center and right flank charged towards the Khas-Kirati right wing. Since Bhai Bhalanja's least experienced warriors were deployed in this area, the invaders were initially pushed back both sides suffered some losses.

Bhai Bhalanja and his left wing waited while battle commenced on the right flank; hoping his least experienced units could hold their ground against a good portion of the Ainur Ipachi forces. However, the Ainur Ipachi left flank had not still joined the battle. To draw all of the enemy units out into the battlefield, Bhai Bhalanja and his left wing feigned a retreat. The Elmorekingbrother2 this bait and ordered the Ainur Ipachi left flank to charge forward and encircle the enemy's right-wing. To their great surprise, Bhai Bhalanja and his left wing returned back on the battlefield as they charged along the Blue Elmore River and struck the Elmore army's side and rear. The Elmore king and his brothers were unable to reform their lines and were forced to order their units to retreat.

Despite being victorious, Bhai Bhalanja's side suffered 600 casualties. Still, they had inflicted heavy losses upon their enemy. Enmore surrendered to the invaders and it was spared because Bhai Bhalanja did not want to burn down his future capital where the Chhantyal Hangate to be established. The 12 clans that participated in this invasion would now come to identify as a new tribe called Chhantyal with their own language and traditions that have borrowed various elements from the Ainur Ipachis. They would introduce Buddhism and various new animals (such as the horse) to Townside and develop the island by selling its precious metals and rare minerals to other hangates; allowing them to rise among the hangates as a major power and play important roles in future conflicts related to the Khas-Kirat Empire to come.

TBD

TBD

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Portrait of Aklia

In the mid-15th Century, Vendriothos had been at a state of constant warfare between the numerous hangates for nearly 500 years. The constant inter-hangate (and often tribal) conflicts had deteriorated the economic situation of Vendriothos. In stark contrast, the "outer hangates" had grown more powerful than ever. The Sunuwar Hangate in northern Gael engaged in the lucrative North Argus Slave Trade while the Hangate of Tamuwan, in parts of Dragao do mar and New totzka, had their capital Monpak as one of the most important ports in the maritime trade route of the Mesder Sea. Similarly, the Chhantyal Hangate (in what is now Townside) had grown prosperous thanks to their commercial activities involving precious metals and rare minerals. The authority of the Mahang has been just formality for centuries as rulers of these rich and powerful outer hangates held the real power.

Among the men who sought to hold the true power in the Khas-Kirat Empire was Mikchan Hang of the Second Tamsaling Hangate. Since he had been born from a bastard and did not possess the Mgar blood, he could not become the Mahang despite his ambitions. As such, he did not actively participate in the inter-hangate conflicts save for minor raids every now and then despite possessing one of the strongest armies in Central Argus. However, this was to change in 1448 when his exiled half-brother fathered a girl named Aklia with a Northern Yaeli woman (remnants of Roendavar's old empire). Despite being born and raised in the Kingdom of Aspana (part of Razzgriz), Aklia was often told by her half-uncle that she was destined to become a Mahang in the future. Her hair turned grey as she reached adulthood; a recessive genetic trait that her half-Uszian matrilineal great-grandmother also possessed.

The opportunity arrived for Mikchan Hang and his now 21 years old half-niece when Yanli Hangma, the then Mahang of the Khas-Kirat Empire, died under mysterious circumstances (with some sources alleging that these two were involved in this) in 1471. As other Mgar candidates started gathering their armies, Aklia rallied Iszkari warriors under her banner and was aided by her half-uncle's Tamang Cavalry. The succession crisis ended two years later with Aklia being crowned the new Mahang.

Mahang Aklia's reign marked the introduction of Iszkari dieties to Vendriothos (and they are worshiped even today by some Mundhum sects) and the establishment of Yitoria city which functioned as the capital of the Khas-Kirat Empire during her reign. In 1483, she rallied Iszkari holy warriors and declared (what is now called) the First Aklian Crusade against western Wellsia. Using her silver tongue, she managed to convince her vassal hangs that she was launching a punitive expedition against the isolationist Xiangu Hangate. Aklia became popular as a Mahang after this successful campaign as many of her predecessors had launched their own failed punitive expeditions against the Xiangus (mostly since they had perished while passing through land by Aizcona instead of naval landings due to fears of various pirate fleets that operated in the southern seas); although the truth was that her army had not fought the Xiangus but instead engaged in a holy war against the indigenous Aziri people of Wellsia.

In 1496, the Eastern Kirati Panthar clan (taking advantage of the fact that Mahang Aklia was still somewhat unfamiliar with Khas-Kirati imperial practices) requested that they be allowed to launch an invasion of Purvalok (literally "Eastern Realm"; the term used by Magaratis for International District). Despite the imperial court reminding her that Mahangs granted "invasion rights to establish a hangate" to tribes not clans; Aklia not only granted them the "invasion rights" but also decided to join the invasion of this barely 700-strong force of Panthar clan warriors as an observer. The merchants of Purvalok had hired the Vaen Guard (mercenaries from modern-day Vancouvia). One of the Vaen Guard recognized the Mahang and attacked her; cutting down her bodyguards in the process. In the ensuing duel, Aklia was rendered physically incapable for rest of her life.

The news of this duel spread across the Khas-Kirat Empire and various candidates for the throne started preparing their armies. However, before any of them could act, Aklia's second son Imir took over as her regent while her third son Rhon took over the command of the Imperial Gun (a 10,000-strong unit of elite warriors formed to serve the Mahang; the closest thing the Khas-Kirat Empire ever had to an actual imperial army). Their blind sister Patwa started the Sotar Sect dedicating to the worship of their infirm mother as a living goddess. The siblings tried to make the veneration of their mother the imperial religion. The vassal hangs rebelled against this and the four years war that followed is called the Second Aklian Crusade in Razzgriz while the Magaratis call it the only Aklian Crusade (as the first conflict of the name was seen as a punitive expedition against the Xiangu).

Battle of Khiji

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Battle of Khiji

After the children of Aklia declared the veneration of their mother the state religion, the rulers of the nine Buddhist hangates in northwest Vendriothos (Lem Hangate, Chahmru Hangate, Kon Hangate, Chhaijai Hangate, Ngopchai Hangate, Rupchai Hangate, Kle Hangate, Plo Hangate and Ghale Hangate) request fellow Buddhist rulers of the Chhantyal Hangate (in modern-day Townside) and the Hangate of Tamuwan (in parts of Dragao do mar and New totzka) to intervene. Though Rhon and the Imperial Gun managed to fend off initial attacks in the northeast Vendriothos, the Chhantyals marched south and linked with Tamuwani army from the west as they captured key territories; including Simraungadh (in modern-day Koch Hangate) which was one of the biggest fortified cities in southern Vendriothos at the time. After taking over Simraungadh; the anti-Aklian forces sent a letter to Irim demanding that he resign as Aklia's regent and let the tribal elders hold a Kurultai to elect the next Mahang.

As expected, the Aklian siblings refused to agree to these demands and they called upon assistance from the Sunuwar Hangate in northern Gael. The Sunuwars, who were rivals with the Chhantyals, landed an army of their own in Vendriothos. In 1497, the armies of these two rival "outer hangates" clashed in Mechinagar; a battle which the Sunuwars won. Fortunately for the Chhantyals, the Tamuwanis and their allies, the enemy commander Suja Hang of the Sunuwars died shortly after the battle due to illness. The bulk of the Sunuwar army then returned back to northern Gael to elect their new hang. The anti-Aklian forces took advantage of this situation to take over more territories.

After it became evident that the Sunuwars would not be joining the war anytime soon, the three Aklian siblings summoned Iszkari holy warriors and hired Vaen Guard mercenaries from Vaenland (modern-day Vancouvia). They also entered into dynastic alliances with two powerful tribes: the Western Kirati Thakalis and the Argean Ipachi Santhals; with Aklia's eldest son (a bastard born before she was wed) marrying into the Thakali while Irim took a Santhali lady as his wife. Despite being the ruler of the predominately-Buddhist Second Tamsaling Hangate, the aging Mikchan Hang was willing to fight on the Aklian side not just because they were his half-niece's children but also due to the fact that Rhon was married to his youngest daughter (who would later become Nee Mikchan Hangma). The Panthar clan, who considered their invasion of Purvalok (the term used by Magaratis for the International District) as the event that resulted in Aklia's injuries that made her physically incapable forever, also proclaimed their support for her children. What was supposed to be a swift Chhantyal-Tamuwani intervention had now turned into a full-scale war as all hangates, tribes and clans in Vendriothos picked one side or the other.

On 27th November 1500, nearly 40,000 Aklian forces (the 10,000-strong Imperial Gun led by Rhon, roughly 15,000 Iszkari holy warriors and nearly 15,000 Tamsalingi horse archers commanded by Mikchan Hang) laid siege to Mechinagar again. The barely 2,000-strong garrison resisted this attack for 10 days. The Aklians had not only lost 3,000 men during this failed siege but also precious time. Rhon ordered a strategic retreat all the way to Panthar clan's seat in Khiji; where Irim had assembled the rest of their army. The final battle of this war would take place in this town on 12th December 1500.

The Chhantyals, the Tamuwanis and their allies numbered roughly 90,000 while the Aklian forces were around 120,000 strong. The Aklian forces were already in battle position when their enemy arrived in Khiji at around 5 AM. A thick fog covered the coastal town and visibility was reduced to a few meters, which made it difficult for troops on either side to properly identify their enemy. The fog dispersed at around 8 in the morning and the confrontation began.

A small group of horse archers from Ghale Hangate were the first to attack. This initial attack, carried out right after the fog had disappeared, was so surprising and effective that it dealt much higher casualties than expected among the Iszkari vanguard and the arrows even reached the lines of Santhali (and various other Argean Ipachi) tribal infantry. An attack from the Tamuwani army (mixed forces of Tamu cavalry and Marian infantry) devastated the already-weakened Iszkari vanguard. However, this attack was contained after Rhon led warriors from the Imperial Gun to assist the Iszkari vanguard.

The 20,000-strong Chhantyal army (which too was a mixed force like the Tamuwani army; albeit with Chhantyal cavalry and Townsider Ainur Ipachi infantry) then charged directly against Irim's position from the left flank. Irim's bodyguards quickly created an improvised defensive ring to prevent the Chhantyal army from reaching the regent. This attack was stopped after Mikchan Hang's Tamang cavalry arrived and started flanking the Chhantyal army. The leaders of the anti-Aklian forces decided to send even more troops (such as Tharu clansmen from the Marubhumi desert) into the left flank to prevent the Chhantyal army from being surrounded and routed. But the Aklian forces managed to withstand this attack after support arrived in the form of the army of Baram Hangate (in modern-day Brulafi).

As the Aklian center of Iszkari holy warriors, the Imperial Gun and Santhali tribal infantry was somewhat weakened by the Tamuwani army, their enemy sent forward a group of gunpowder units who managed to fire a volley. However, Rhon quickly moved Aklian gunpowder units (in particular, the mercenary Vaen Guard) into the area and the anti-Aklian gunpowder units were pushed back. The Vaen Guard and other Aklian gunpowder units then attempted to counter-attack but they were flanked by the Sinjali Khas horse archers from the left and the Chepang heavy cavalry from the right (both of these units had been in the anti-Aklian reserves till now). This forced the Vaen Guard and other Aklian gunpowder units to retreat back to their initial positions.

Seeing the anti-Aklian reserve units like the Sinjali Khas horse archers and the Chepang heavy cavalry fight in the frontlines, Rhon ordered the Aklian reserves from the Four Kham tribes to join the fight but they defied the orders and left the battlefield along with the Vaen Guard mercenaries.

Further to the right, the Yakthung Thibon (army of the tribal federation of Eastern Kirati clans such as the Panthars of Khiji) was also ordered to support the center. Unfortunately for the Aklians, the important members of the loyal Panthar clan had been killed in the thick of the battle. The Yakthung Thibon stopped functioning as a cohesive unit as leaders of other Eastern Kirati clans started arguing over who should be in command and what to do next. Most of the Eastern Kirati clans decided to betray the Aklian siblings and join the anti-Aklian forces as they attacked the Aklian center of Iszkari holy warriors, Imperial Gun and the Santhali (and various other Argean Ipachi) tribal infantry from the right flank. The Aklian center was quickly routed with this attack and Rhon was taken as prisoner.

Seeing the Aklian center defeated, Irim tried to use the final ace in his pocket. As per his brother Rhon's suggestion, he had placed the Newa nation, the Chuli people, the Lepchas, the Yolmos and various other smaller tribes on a nearby hill and they were still in full strength. As Irim and Mikchan Hang were about to be surrounded by anti-Aklian forces, they expected the tribes positioned in the hill to charge down and change the course of the battle. And it might have if the attack had happened. The Chuli and the Lepchas, who were at the front of this group, refused to attack and that did not allow other tribes to join the battle. Eventually, the whole group positioned in the hill left the battlefield. Irim and Mikchan Hang's remaining forces were soon surrounded by the enemy and massacred; while the two men themselves were taken as prisoners. The Aklian forces lost about 40,000 troops (mostly during the massacre at the end of the battle) while their enemies had suffered only around 5,000 casualties.

In the immediate aftermath of the so-called Aklian Crusade, the three siblings were stripped of all ranks and titles they held. Out of both respect and fear, the victorious anti-Aklian forces agreed to allow Aklia to be TBD TBD

TBD basically Rhon is a four star badass and they don't want him to join the court of other powers and give him Yitoria ("hey buddy, we just went to war but we like you and this city was built by your mom and we like her as well despite everything, so you can rule his city and take care of your mother here for rest of your life") and TBD Rhon is like "only if my big bro Irim gets something" TBD "Fine, he can have those Argean Ipachis we don't like (not you, Tharus, we love you guys...we meant the Santhals and others like them)" TBD that's how Yitoria becomes a city-state where Aklia is later buried and Irim's descendants aka Satars rule over the Great Ipachi Hangate (modern-day Koch and Jaring).

TBD also, new era of foreign conquests (and colonization) start since Peace of Vendriothos says "12 Magarati hangates cannot declare wars of territorial expansion on each other" TBD it leads to conflicts between Magarati hangates and "outer hangates" down the line TBD this is also when the term "Magarat" starts coming into use TBD religious reformation TBD Aklia as living goddess idea stolen and adapted into Kumari tradition TBD TBD

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Chhantyal horse archer supported by Townsider Ainur Ipachi foot soldiers try to stop a charging Estral warrior on horseback

After the Peace of Vendriothos ended nearly five centuries of constant warfare between the inner hangates (they were forbade from declaring wars of territorial expansion on each other), it became clear to the leaders of Bara Magarat ("12 Mgar hangates" of Vendriothos) that they would need to find another target for hundreds of thousands of warriors now roaming around Vendriothos. Immediately, the new Mahang Hyungi Pachyu Hang (upon the insistence of the Bara Magarati hangs) declared an invasion of Purvalok (literally "Eastern Realm"; the term used by Magaratis for International District). Since the Mahang did not promise the Bara Magarati hangs with new territories, they participated half-heartedly in the invasion. The result was an embarrassing defeat at the hands of an army of merchants, volunteers and mercenaries from Vaenland (Vancouvia).

To save from this humiliating defeat, Hyungi Pachyu Hang declared yet another Khas-Kirati invasion of Domanania (aka "the land with most number of Khas-Kirati invasions"). But the invasion fleet was destroyed by a hurricane in North Mesder Sea. Fearing this to be a divine retribution, the Mahang changed the target of his invasion. He decided to launch a punitive campaign against Xiangu Hangate in Wellsia; who despite being considered a part of the Khas-Kirat Empire, were pretty much independent. The Xiangu hangs had not paid their tributes to the Mahangs for centuries. Previous Mahangs had been too busy putting down rebellions in Vendriothos or settling disputes between warring inner hangates to be able to punish the Xiangus for this insolence. Hyungi Pachyu Hang was eager to prove himself by doing what none of his predecessors had succeeded in doing.

However, the armada sent to western Wellsia engaged a pirate fleet in Lotus Sea. The origin of these pirates is heavily debated but it is most likely that they were either Aziri or Keveraite. In the ensuing battle, most of the Khas-Kirati ships were captured and thus, no invading army landed in Xiangu territory. The news of this event made the Mahang furious; but it also made him even more determined to anything to fix his reputation. Since most imperial ships were now either at the bottom of the ocean or in the hands of pirates, the Mahang finally decided to march his army into Xiangu territory through the land route.

In early 16th Century, the modern-day nations of San Montagna and Brulafi were both part of the Khas-Kirat Empire. While northern Brulafi was under a singular Baram Hangate, San Montagna was divided between four or five warring hangates. And thus, Aizcona remained the only nation between the Khas-Kirat Empire and the "rebellious" Xiangu Hangate. The Estral nation had been left independent as a buffer state between the inner hangates and the powerful Xiangu clan. The other reason the Khas-Kirat Empire had honored the Estral independence thus far was the area was a perfect target of raids; especially by smaller clans who were not rich enough to buy boats capable of raiding far-away places like Domanania or Iza nation (Corindia). Since slavery of imperial subjects was banned, the independent Estral nation was also an easy source of slaves (although most of the slaves in the Khas-Kirat Empire were still natives of Gael captured by the Sunuwar Hangate as part of the lucrative North Argus Slave Trade).

The then ruler of Baram Hangate, Taki Hangma, was ordered to send a message to the Estrals in advance before the swiftly-marching Mahang's army arrived there. The message was a threat of invasion if the Estrals did not provide military access to the Mahang's army. This put Taki Hangma and Baram noble clans in a difficult position. They had long been trade partners of the Estral nation and had even fought time and again against non-Baram leaders that sought to raid Aizcona. While this fact made the Barams the ideal diplomats, they also feared a possible outbreak of hostilities that might damage their trade with the Estrals which granted the Baram nobility most of their wealth. Aiming to soften the diplomatic blow as much as she could, Taki Hangma altered the Mahang's message to the Estral court. This altered message left out the part where the Mahang threatened to invade Aizcona if military access was not provided to his army and even stated that the Baram Hangate (on behalf of the Khas-Kirat Empire) would pay certain amount of sum as "marching fees".

In a lethal blunder, Taki Hangma sent the rough and war-hardened Mak Wan Hangun of the Baramu Gun to deliver the message; instead of going herself or sending one of the clan leaders. Mak Wan Hangun offended his Estral hosts by comparing the size of their swords compared to his own and mocking their lifestyle. The uncouth nature of the envoy's conduct led to the Estral's refusal. For this diplomatic failure, Mak Wan Hangun was ordered to become a subordinate of the Chhantyal ruler's vanguard in the Mahang's massive army of 300,000 troops. However, only around 150,000 soldiers were to invade Aizcona itself with the remaining forces in reserve for the invasion of Xiangu Hangate; the actual purpose behind the gathering of this massive army. Of this 150,000 army; the single largest unit was the Baramu Gun numbered around 20,000. Roughly 80,000 men were levies from the Bara Magarat and the various hangates of San Montagna. The Imperial Gun personally under the command of the Mahang had exactly 10,000 standing soldiers. The final group had forces from the rivals Sunuwar Hangate and the Chhantyal Hangate (in modern-day Townside) combined into a single 40,000-strong unit. The Sunuwars were led by Sew-Suja Hang, the son of Suja Hang who had died immediately due to illness after the Battle of Mechinagar in 1497 where he had defeated a much larger force of the Chhantyals, Tamuwani hangs and their allies. Sew-Suja Hang claimed that the Chhantyals and their allies had poisoned his father and heavily resented them. It is still a matter of debate as to why the Hyungi Pachyu Hang grouped forces from these two rival outer hangates in the same unit.

Battle of TBDcity1

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Battle of TBDcity1

On May 4th of 1509, Baram troops led by Mak Wan Hangun and the Chhantyal Hangate army set out for TBDcity1. They arrived there by the nightfall of May 5th. After a final demand for unopposed military access for the Mahang's army on its way to Xiangu Hangate was rejected, the Siege of TBDcity1 began at 4 am on May 6th. The attacks were spearheaded by the 5,000-strong Barams followed closely by the 10,000-men Chhantyal army (a mixed force of Chhantyal cavalry and Townsider Ainur Ipachi infantry).

After a brief siege, the main fortresses of TBDcity1 fell; triggering panic among Estral military leaders. Instead of acting decisively, the incompetent Estral commanders destroyed their weaponry and provisions; retreating south as quickly as they could. With TBDcity1 secured, the proud Chhantyal ruler (who also frequently boasted of having played a decisive role at the Battle of Khiji) refused to wait for the reinforcements as instructed. Instead, he immediately pushed south to monopolize the glory of capturing the enemy capital for himself. On May 8th, the Chhantyal army first came to the deserted town of TBDtown2 and then went onto TBDtown3 and TBDtown4 by May 10th; conquering and plundering as they did. The governor of TBDprovince, TBDgovernor, tried to lead a force north to meet the Khas-Kiratis. However, he soon withdrew after learning that TBDtown4 had also fallen.

Meanwhile, on the same day; the 20,000-strong Sunuwar army led by Sew-Suja Hang arrived at TBDcity1. Mak Wan Hangun informed the newly-arrived rulers that the Chhantyal ruler had not waited for reinforcements. This irritated Sew-Suja Hang and he swiftly pushed southward to meet his rival (whom he also alleged of having poisoned his father Suja Hang shortly after the Battle of Mechinagar). Sew-Suja Hang took the western route, seizing the cities of TBDctiy2, TBDcity3, TBDcity4, TBDcity5 and TBDcity6 on the path to the Estral capital. In fact, his units marched so swiftly that they reached the Estral capital before the Chhantyal Hangate forces. Mak Wan Hangun had no other choice than to follow after the Sunuwar army.

On May 11th, the Mahang himself arrived in TBDcity1 with his 10,000-strong Imperial Gun. The Mahang and his soldiers took the eastern route south after seizing the nearby fort at TBDtown5. All of the Khas-Kirati units were now set to converge at the Estral capital but they would not get to the city totally unopposed.

Revered Estral general TBDgeneral had assembled a sizable resistance army of 10,000 men at TBDcity7 around a 100 kilometres north of the capital and he intended to fight here. This ragtag group consisted of TBDgeneral's cavalry troops, officers who had retreated from the north and hastily raised levies from the south. At midday on May 16th, TBDgeneral drew up his army outside TBDcity7 on a stretch of flat ground. As the Chhantyal ruler arrived at the battlefield, Sew-Suja Hang and Mak Wan Hangun (whose quick Baram units had caught up with the Sunuwar army) emerged from the west. Sew-Suja Hang was furious at his rival and demanded to take the lead on the battlefield. The Chhantyal ruler refused and Sew-Suja Hang decided that he would take revenge on his rival at TBDcity7. As the Chhantyal ruler began his advance towards the city from northeast, only Mak Wan Hangun's Baram vanguard joined them on the charge against the enemy. The Sunuwar army had stayed behind, hoping their rivals would be defeated.

The attacking troops fanned out as they approached the city; finally emerging opposite TBDgeneral's force in a vast arc. At around 2 pm in the afternoon, the Chhantyal ruler divided the attacking forces into three main units. 5,000 Chhantyal cavalry and gunpowder units directly under his command would be in the vanguard while the 5,000 Baram troops under Mak Wan Hangun formed the left flank. Finally, the 5,000-strong Townsider Ainur Ipachi infantry were placed on the right.

The battle started with a volley from the Chhantyal gunpowder units. This attack was followed by a volley from Chhantyal horse archers. TBDgeneral's amateur forces were almost immediately overwhelmed and began to suffer devastating losses. The peasant soldiers in the Estral ranks began to rout under the pressure but the brave general would not retreat so easily. He led his cavalry in a headlong charge towards the enemy line but it was to no avail. The constant volleys from Chhantyal horse archers and gunpowder units on his horsemen; breaking the charge before any contact was made. When the Chhantyal heavy cavalry performed a charge of their own, TBDgeneral's army of 10,000 ceased to exist. Most of the survivors of the initial slaughter were hunted by pursuing Chhantyal cavalry and Townsider Ainur Ipachi infantry.

TBD