[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/0gkhJW3.png[/img]

[b]300 - 400 A.E, the Times of Change[/b][/center]

Srathi was not the first saurian to desire to expand Zaqir, but she was the first to push so strongly for colonization. Indeed, one of her first speeches took place in 302 A.E., and she said concerning expansionism:

[quote=Srathi the Firehearted]Once it was that saurians ruled all the Red Shores. Once it was that we were the strongest. But Promethea surprised us with its trickery, its deceitful ways of war, and with its sheer numbers. Promethea is gone now, and our time is now. We are the strongest. We are the most fit to rule. We have proven this many times before, and with the blood of our enemies on our hands we will plant our banner on every last isle and every last shore![/quote]

This was the powerful, furious rhetoric which spurred the last resurgence of the raiding culture. In the next ten years, raids became more frequent, more bloody, and unfettered by the old laws. The results were of immediate gain: wealth once again flooded into Zaqir, certainly. But there were many saurian and human warriors who died on these raids. All around Zaqir, the nations of the world were growing, expanding, and developing new means of fighting raiders. Few realized it at the time, but this was the beginning of the end for the raiding life.

Technological developments were made to make the Zaqiri army stronger. "Shrieking missiles" were developed, arrows and javelins with holes in their heads that whistled as they soared. In volleys, these missiles produced a deafening wail, the sort which terrified enemy and animal alike. Elite Zaqiri warriors also began fashioning metal discs to wear over their mail armor, often very ornamental yet also very sturdy. These discs provided extra protection, yet they did not overburden warriors who fought in the sweltering jungles of home or aboard the ships at sea.

In the rise of such developments and with the fury and passion with which Srathi spoke, many women were blind to the rapid change spreading across the world. They did not see their dominance fading, but rather saw it growing. They did not see the looming end. They saw a grand beginning.

One woman, however, was wise enough to see the end of a way of life. She was Asqari, and she had been a raider all her life. But while others around her reveled in the plunder, she saw a Dominion clinging to its old ways. She saw weakness.

This woman, Kayris, would not stand to watch her fellow warriors throw themselves against enemies who were increasingly able to beat them back. She decided it was time for change. Kayris challenged Srathi to a duel of the traditional sort. It was unheard of: an Asqari raid leader, a soft-skinned half-breed woman was challenging one of the great battle matriarchs of Zaqir for her place as Potentate! Srathi thought she could not lose to her, and so they fought. Kayris won, and she held aloft the head of her slain opponent and declared herself Potentate in 312 A.E.

A period of great discontent followed. Like all the strong women who preceded her, Kayris fought off assassins and put down uprisings against her rule. Dozens of would-be rulers clamored to dethrone the Potentate, but in the end she killed them all, taking each and every one of their heads as a prize. For this she became known as Kayris the Decapitator.

Yet Srathi's powerful speeches had filled the people of Zaqir with a lust for real conflict. They would not be sated by simple raiding, nor would they accept peace with a ruler who would not give them the glory the previous Potentate had promised. So, after much deliberation, Kayris took the steps that pushed Zaqir toward war.

The Or'Rouzi Isles to the south had long possessed resources Zaqir wanted. There was good wood to be had, and there were good fish to be caught, too. There was also an unspoken sort of competitive drive Zaqiri people had with Ashkar: the two nations had long opposed each other, and so what belonged to Ashkar certainly ought to belong to Zaqir. The isles also served as the perfect staging point for future raids and wars against other nations. Finally, there was a slowly growing population of humans, and humans had long been seen by Zaqir as equals, a people who made good warriors. Such humans and their Ashkari masters would present a tough fight, too. And should they be conquered, their people and their history of conflict could be counted among the warriors that fought for Zaqir.

Kayris sent a delegate to Ashkar before the war, as ever. The demands Zaqir made were seen as unjust by their neighbor: Zaqir demanded that Ashkar relinquish the Or'Rouzi isles to Zaqir or else a war would be fought over their ownership. Upon being denied, the Zaqiri delegate applauded the bravery and eagerness to fight possessed by the Ashkari, then returned home to deliver the news. Suddenly, the revolts stopped. The assassins no longer plied their trade. Zaqir was poised for war.

The Zaqiri Conquest of Or'Rouzi began in the spring of 315 A.E. Countless raiding vessels, warships, and even merchant vessels piloted by traders aspiring to become warriors sailed for the Or'Rouzi Isles. Ashkar's fleet met them head-on. But the Ashkari were outmatched at sea, even with their dozens of vessels designed for the sole purpose of sinking Zaqiri ships. They were outnumbered, and saurians climbed up from the water onto the decks of Ashkari vessels. The fighting was fierce, but Ashkar's fleet suffered the greater loss. Some vessels unloaded what troops they could to aid in the defense of Or'Rouzi. Others fled the battle.

Having seized control of the sea around Or'Rouzi, Zaqir began its first major assault on the largest isle. But the Ashkari defense was staunch: the attackers weathered hails of arrows trying to sally the walls of the town, and scaled bodies floated in the water at the end of the day. Kayris took her lieutenants aside and planned a second attack, this time in the cover of night. That proved to be the decisive decision: with surprise on her side, Kayris' forces overcame the defenders, killing or shackling edimmu and Or'Rouzi alike.

Kayris secured the rest of the islands with relative ease, but there was barely any time to muster a defense. The Ashkari fleet returned, this time with reinforcements, and they came with a vengeance. The weakened Zaqiri fleet was battered in the ensuing battle, and this time it was Zaqir whose losses were greater. Saurians leapt into the sea and swam for land, but not all of them reached the shore. Many vessels were forced to retreat.

Ashkar's first move was to retake the town Zaqir had fought so hard to conquer, and their fresh troops were successful in doing so. Zaqir's warriors fled into the woods, however, escaped into a terrain which Ashkar was not comfortable fighting in. When the victorious Ashkari soldiers pursued them, Kayris applied Mazari tactics. She carefully positioned her troops, and she managed to disguise the movements of some of her units so they could gain a superior position. Using shrieking missiles, the Signal Corps, the terrain and her people's love of the charge to their fullest, she turned what would have been a decisive loss into a solid victory. Ashkar was forced to retreat back to their ships and abandon the Isles.

A month of raiding passed. Or'Rouzi rebels had to be put down by the occupying Zaqiri force. Both Ashkar and Zaqir were licking their wounds, but Zaqir was solidly entrenched in the isles, and they still had striking ability. Kayris decided it was time to open negotiations with Ashkar.

Kayris herself met with representatives of Ashkar and spoke with them at length about the matter of land. The Ashkari were surprised to learn that an Asqari woman was the Potentate who had led the fight against them - a woman whose blood was descended from Ashkar - and some speculate that swayed the negotiations in her favor, as did her willingness to make concessions. Indeed, it is in those talks that she made one of the decisions that would forever change Zaqir's future: Kayris agreed to end the raids on Ashkar.

This moment is one of great contention among our scholars. Some claim it is a testament to her wisdom that Kayris made this decision. Others claim the decision was made too soon and without the input of the Zaqiri people. Regardless, centuries of constant back-and-forth bloodshed were brought to a close. Though surely Ashkari people felt animosity toward Zaqir still, the raids would come to an end.

Both nations benefited greatly from the Or'Rouzi Treaty. For one, Zaqir and Ashkar were the chief raiding nations of the era (with Ashkar's raiders focused on punishing Zaqir). Their agreement not to raid each other meant each nation's shoreline provinces would no longer be threatened by foreigners. The treaty also divided the Red Shores and the Pearly Sea in two: a horizontal line was drawn across the map of the known world, with Zaqiri being granted free reign to colonize the north and Ashkar free reign to colonize the south. They would not interfere with each other's efforts to expand so long as their colonies did not extend past those lines. The Or'Rouzi Isles were an exception to this rule. Kayris made it very clear that Zaqir was more than capable of conquering more land from Ashkar, and that the isles would be the price paid for a peace between the two nations. Begrudgingly, Ashkar's ruler accepted these terms.

There was uproar in the capital city of Zaqir. A great many warriors had died hoping to revel in an age of ceaseless raiding, and their right to raid Ashkar had been taken from them. The usual revolts took place; and as usual, they were put down. But Kayris was savvy to the wants of the people, and she'd already prepared several solutions.

The first was to train Zaqiri women to fight as mercenaries in foreign wars. Kayris knew that Zaqir's warriors were famous throughout most of the world, especially since the Almurzani had introduced foreigners of all shapes and colors to the wonders of Zaqiri battle prowess. Saurians frequently proved themselves in the Ring of Valor and in arenas in other cities, even foreign ones. And there were certainly wars in other parts of the world. Kayris believed it was only natural that Zaqir begin to sell the services of its army in return for fame and fortune. She had this to say when she created the first Zaqiri force dedicated to mercenary work, the Sword Sisters, in 321 A.E:

[quote=Kayris the Decapitator]Why should we spend our resources on finding enemies when we can be paid to have them given to us? Why should the world hate us for slaying their neighbors when it can praise us for the same? We shall fight war for the other realms, and they will laud us as their champions.[/quote]

Kayris' argument convinced a great many women of war. But it was not her only alternative to raiding. Around the same time that the Sword Sisters were established, women were encouraged to begin exploring the lands around them in earnest. There were still parts of the jungle which were unknown to Zaqir, and there were islands which were within Zaqir's territory yet were not actually conquered or colonized. Kayris pushed for that to change. In her reign, several islands and much more of the jungle would fly the Zaqiri banner. Villages of humans and saurians who had never joined Zaqir would be subjugated and annexed. Zaqir expanded its borders quickly.

Finally, Kayris decided to introduce a new sort of bloodsport to the arena: that of beastslaying. She had saurians capture a great many beasts from the jungle. Boars, dire tigers, giant snakes, and the terrifying serpent flies[sup]1[/sup] were captured and brought back to the capital. There, they were used in the Ring of Valor and the Almurzani as opponents for contestants. This new bloodsport was very well received.

Of course, some Zaqiri realized there was potential for these animals to be used as more than bloodsport. One saurian man, Jaqesh, believed the boars were a very flexible animal that could be used for many purposes. He learned how to tame the boars and use them to find tubers and other valuable foodstuffs. He even began domesticating some for slaughter, and others he used as draft animals on his wife's plantation. It was not long before others followed Jaqesh's example.

A saurian woman named Sanaka the Beastmaster realized the beasts could also be used for war. She began breeding some specifically for that purpose, and before long she'd developed a breed of boars who would fiercely charge enemies with a little encouragement. These she called battle boars. She also began the arduous process of training serpent flies, and she discovered they were actually very intelligent creatures, even if they were inherently unruly and violent. She trained them to serve as hunting companions, and then it was only natural for them to become beasts of war.

By 340 A.E, the Zaqiri people were proud of their Asqari Potentate. Kayris had demonstrated the superiority of Zaqir over Ashkar, secured lands for her people, found new ways to spill blood, and displayed great personal skill in battle. She started suffering from weak lungs and shortness of breath, and sensing her impending death she asked that aspiring warriors come forth and take the title of Potentate from her so she could die a worthy death. Her wish was granted: after besting several opponents in battle, she was slain by Istani the Builder with a spear to her heart, and Istani became Potentate in the winter of 340 A.E.

Historians now believe that Kayris chose Istani to be her successor and let herself be slain by her so as to give her legitimacy as a ruler. Istani shared many of Kayris' beliefs, and had expressed them very publicly in the past. It's noteworthy that Kayris was famous for her martial prowess, but Istani was known to prefer to have others fight for her as Potentate. Somehow, however, she slew Kayris in single combat. At the time, however, Zaqiri believed that the victory was genuine, and historians do agree that Istani must not have known she had been chosen by Kayris.

Istani's epithet came about early in her career. She had been an adventurer before becoming Potentate, and she had met many regulii in her travels. They divulged in her their longing for a new home, and Istani decided to give it to them. In 342 A.E. she began one of the greatest reconstruction efforts the world has ever known: she hired a great many laborers and builders to begin the process of remaking Ilitscium. Though it would take over thirty years, in 374 A.E. the city would be rebuilt. Some regulii chose to return to their ancestral home, but many hated the idea of living under Zaqir's rule, fearing they would lose their home once again should they choose to live in Zaqiri territory. Those regulii who did settle in New Ilitscium were joined by saurians, humans, Asqari, and even some soun'yei who still lived in Zaqir.

Istani also is responsible for completing the construction of the canal connecting the Red Shores and the Pearly Sea. She planned the final construction efforts herself, and apparently had an eye for such matters. Under her guidance, an effort which was previously believed to not be completed until well after 400 A.E. was finished by 360 A.E, and the cost of construction was cheaper than expected. The joining of the two seas strengthed Zaqir's control over its territory and made further colonial efforts possible. Istani named the canal the Conqueror's Canal, and she named the main segments after the four Potentates she considered the most influential: Buzi, Tatika, Mazi, and Kayris.

Asqar and Shaqir were also built during Istani's rule. Asqar was settled largely by Asqari people who saw an opportunity to make a city in which their own individual culture could thrive. They were still loyal to Zaqir - incredibly so, especially since Kayris had become Potentate - but wanted to appoint their own leaders who would in turn answer to the Potentate. So, they requested permission to colonize the far shore in 350 A.E, and Istani granted them their wish. A group of saurians and humans wished to start their own city shortly thereafter, and they too were granted permission, thus creating the city of Shaqir in 361 A.E.

Meanwhile, the Or'Rouzi in the south were chafing under the rule of the Rosians. The Rosians were physically human, like the Or'Rouzi, and had their dark skin. However, they were culturally Ashkari, and they had been allowed to rule in the Or'Rouzi Isles so long as they pledged allegiance to Zaqir. The Or'Rouzi eventually had enough, and they rebelled against their masters in 353 A.E. They succeeded, and they viciously slew their masters.

When news of this reached Zaqir, Istani sent an ambassador with congratulations to the Or'Rouzi. She informed them she was pleased to know the weak Rosians had been overthrown, and she would welcome the Or'Rouzi into the Zaqiri fold. Wanting to avoid a war with Zaqir and not wanting to rejoin Ashkar, the Or'Rouzi leaders accepted and remained relatively free to self-govern themselves.

Cultural shifts occured in Istani's reign as well. Since the Ashkari philosopher, Apiashal, had delivered great knowledge to Zaqir and spurred the creation of the warrior philosophies, the role of men in Zaqiri society was being debated. For a long time men had been seen as wholly subservient to women, good for work that did not involve warfare but ultimately meant to serve their wives. But were men, perhaps, capable of being something more? There was evidence to suggest this could be the case. Apiashal, the Ashkari soldiers, the Yossodite Brotherhood, and Jaqesh were all examples of men performing great deeds for their people. Both as thinkers and warriors, they seemed to be capable of doing something more. So, it was decided by the Circle in 365 A.E. that men could serve alongside women as raiders, and that men could own their own homes. This was a shocking change for our society, but concerned Zaqiri citizens were assured that no man would ever serve as Potentate. That was a job for a woman.

The martial philosophies grew in popularity, and more of them began to crop up. Still, Mazarism and Samaksism remained the most prominent of the philosophies. One, however, began to rise in this century: Ilism. Derived from the name of the Yossodite religion, Ila, Ilism was as much a religion as it was a philosophy, a merging of Zaqiri worship of the Divine, Yossodite worship of God, and the qualities that distinguished Zaqir's enemies from the saurian warriors. It preached the merits of soldierly discipline and of how fighting for the group rather than for the self would bring about victory. It also preached that the Divine - believed to also be God - wanted warriors to devote their lives to their craft. Most Zaqiri people did not take this new philosophy very seriously, but its following started growing slowly.

Perhaps the growth of Ilism is only sensible given the activity of Yossodite priests in Zaqir. They began converting the populace of the Dominion to their religion. There was no great enthusiasm for Ila yet, but each year saw an increased number of the faithful in Zaqir.

The last major cultural change to occur during Istani's rule was the birth of the Bargeplayers. The Bargeplayers were poets and musicians who purchased merchant vessels and began visiting the various cities of Zaqir and Ashkar to ply their trade for payment. They practically lived on their barges, forming a sense of community and a culture not unlike that of the wandering regulii. Indeed, some regulii could be counted among their number, as could Zaqiri-born saurians, humans, Asqari, soun'yei, and occasionally members of other races. They used a wide variety of instruments, especially percussion and wind instruments.

So it was that Istani died in 380 A.E, her reign relatively peaceful save for her violent death at the hands of the next Potentate. Another series of great struggles over who would be Potentate followed, the Circle becoming rather involved in the process. Eventually, the saurian woman Yaka was able to consolidate her control of the Potentate throne. She began her rule in 385 A.E.

Yaka's rule persisted through the end of the fourth century. She eagerly let Zaqiri warriors conquer the remaining parts of the jungle which were not yet part of Zaqir, and she pushed for raids to continue further northward along the Pearly Sea than had been possible before the construction of the Conqueror's Canal. Her mercenaries, too, found battles to fight abroad. By the time the fifth century rolled around, Yaka's armies were ready to take on a bigger challenge.

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1. The serpent fly is a curious creature that seems equal parts insect and serpent. It is capable of flight, has a deadly poisonous bite, and has impressive senses of hearing and smell. They are comparable to smart dogs in intelligence, but are also inherently violent creatures. Once secured as a friend, however, they are allies for life.

[img]http://img00.deviantart.net/73db/i/2015/104/6/1/serpent_fly_dragon_fly_by_kobaltmaster-d8jg23d.jpg[/img]

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[center][h2][u]Major Events of Zaqir - 4th Century[/u][/h2][/center]

[b]Cultural:[/b] 

The vaunted raiding culture of Zaqir is finally starting to die off. While it has not disappeared, it has become impractical to seek out wealth chiefly through raiding. Raiding persists, but Ashkar is no longer a legal target of raids, and those who attempt to attack them are severely punished.

The Conqueror's Canal is finally completed. This gives the raiding culture a final boost of longevity, as now the raids can continue further northward than before and potentially further eastward. The four main segments of the Conqueror's Canal are named after Zaqir's four greatest Potentates: Buzi, Tatika, Mazi, and Kayris.

Alternatives to raiding have been sought out by Zaqir. Mercenary work and adventuring have become common practices (though said mercenaries are disallowed from fighting against Zaqir).

The warrior philosophies grow in popularity. Ilism, highly religious in nature and highly focused on discipline, has begun to gain a small following. It is not, however, accepted by the majority of saurians. The Yossodite religion, Ila, begins to spread in Zaqir.

Men have gained additional rights in Zaqiri society. They are no longer viewed as mere property of women, but they are far from being equal to women still. However, being allowed to earn prestige as raiders and warriors is a step forward, as is the ability to own their own property. Most saurian men choose to use bows and slings, preferring to leave close combat to the much larger, much more dangerous women.

[b]Technological:[/b] 

The shrieking missile has been invented. Arrows and javelins have holes in their heads which make them whistle when launched. When launched in volleys, this creates a deafening, morale-breaking wail.

Bronze and iron discs are now being worn over mail and cloth armor. While not as effective as breastplates or fuller armors, this simple, elegant design leaves the wearer with considerable mobility and does not hinder their ability to operate in extremely hot climates. It also deflects blows away from the chest and back.

Boars have been domesticated for a variety of purposes. They serve as draft animals, as tuber hunters, as livestock, and as beasts of war. Serpent flies have also been tamed and are used as pets, hunting animals, and are also used in warfare.

[b]Military:[/b] 

While the raiding culture has begun to fade, Zaqir's armies were highly successful in the Zaqiri Conquest of Or'Rouzi. That war lasted between 315-317 A.E.

Colonial efforts saw the conquest of the untamed portions of the Zaqiri jungle. Previously independent saurian and human villages have been annexed and are now part of Zaqir.

[b]Government Changes:[/b]

Srathi died in battle against the new Potentate, Kayris, in 312 A.E. Kayris ruled until 340 A.E. until she was slain by the next Potenate, Istani, who may have been chosen by Kayris to succeed her. Istani had a fairly peaceful reign until she was slain in single combat by a would-be Potentate, and the fight for who would be Potentate lasted from 380-385 A.E. In the end, a saurian named Yaka was the last woman standing.

[b]Territorial Expansion:[/b]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/CrcfqCT.png[/img]