[hider=A Not Yet Completed History of Faenaria] [i][u]A Timeline of the Faenarian Peoples and Nation[/u][/i] [b]~3000 BCE:[/b] The Rahuri human tribes are first mentioned in the histories of Kera-Bijan's ancient city state of Neo-Giranal. A clay tablet from an excavation contains a writing from King Ashurnazziban issuing a royal decree, noting the presence of a "Rahurana Prince" attending a religious festival. [b]1090 CE: The Clan of Faenar[/b] rises to prominence in the Cethosi isles when their original clan leader, Giran Fonola, perishes without heir or issue. The Faenar establish themselves as rulers on the isle of [b]Ishanadar[/b], building a powerful but aloof clan. [b]1510 CE:[/b] The Cethos of Faenar are called to the Wars of the Empyreum on behalf of the Cethosi Royal Family. Tirana Faenar, Clan Mother, receives the call and answers with her clanguard setting sail to war. [b]1511 CE:[/b] The Clanguard of Faenar are decimated in naval battles with the Imperial forces. Cethosi numbers and skill does not win out against Imperial discipline and coordination. The Cethosi Royal Family immediately demands a new flotilla be raised by the Faenar to replace their losses in battle. Tirana agrees to begin building new ships. [b]1512 CE:[/b] Tirana Faenar's eldest son, Yisan, is killed in battle with Imperial forces. [b]1517 CE:[/b] Tirana Faenar's second son, Hasal, is killed in battle with Imperial forces. [b]1519 CE:[/b] Tirana Faenar makes her displeasure known when an entire warband of Faenari are lost in battle while ambushing the Empire's second fleet. The battle should have been easily won, but conflicting orders, quests for recognition by the Cethosi King, and poor logistics ensure the warband is nothing but shark food by the end of the engagement. Tirana is summoned before the Cethosi King and answers for her complaints. She is locked in his dungeons on charges of disloyalty to the Cethosi people and crown. Like-minded nobility is cowed and continues to support the war. Her youngest son, Loanost Faenar, is empowered over the clan, though a regent loyal to the crown reigns during his young life. [b]1520-1522 CE:[/b] Tirana Faenar perishes in the dungeons of the Cethosi Crown. Historians debate the year of her passing to this day, though her remains indicate a death from blunt force trauma to the skull and ribcage. [b]1535 CE:[/b] [b]Loanost Faenar[/b] succeeds the regent to rule Ishanadar. The war with the Empire begins to intensify beyond skirmishes and pirate actions. Faenar petitions the crown for a pardon from the Conscription to war, arguing that Ishanadar has the wealth and resources to build a great armada, capable of defending the isles from invasion. The King of Cethos accepts this proposal. [b]1543 CE:[/b] The Great Armada is completed. One-third the size of the entire Cethosi fleet- from the greatest warship to the lowliest fishing vessel. Loanost Faenar presents the fleet to King Cethos as a token of his loyalty. King Cethos accepts the fleet and orders Loanost Faenar to crew the vessels himself. Loanost is taken aback by this request. [b]To crew the fleet will require every man, woman, and child aboard Ishanadar to answer a call to the waves.[/b] Ishandar would be left empty and they may still not have enough hands to set sail. Moreover, it gives credence to rumors that King Cethos will soon attempt to invade the Empire. [b]1544 CE:[/b] King Cethos commissions a great invasion of the Imperial City of Ilium. Forces from every island answer the call to battle. A war that began as little more than a coordinated campaign of piracy begins to resemble a true barbarian invasion. The Faenarians use their great fleet to move many soldiers to the mainland and support the attack on the city. [b]1546 CE:[/b] Ilium withstands the siege under the leadership of Princess Dissaria and the Cethosi are forced back to the isles. The noble families are left weakened. King Cethos conducts a purge of the nobility to ensure he will not face rebellion for the disaster. Loanost Faenar is recalled to the Home Isles to face the same purge. He refuses the call, citing the impending birth of his child. King Cethos is openly defied by his most powerful vassal and he does not have the soldiers to bring him to heel, fueling harsher crackdowns on those families that did answer the call. [b]1548 CE:[/b] Emperor Hektor of Kratoris prepares a punitive invasion of the Cethos Isles. Those legions not actively engaged on the Empire's frontier are summoned to Ilium. [b]Princess Dissaria[/b] is given command as a test of her ability. King Cethos calls the banners of the nobility to resist impending invasion and slavery. The noble houses are decimated from decades of intermittent warfare and the purges after the attack on Ilium but answer the call, conscripting their remaining peasants. [b]King Cethos[/b] orders [b]Loanost Faenar[/b] to put the [b]Great Armada[/b] to sail in defense of the isles. Loanost Faenar recognizes that he commands the largest assembly of warships in the isles by far, and that the entire nation is being mobilized to fight. His clan will be thrown into battle first, but the ships will not be crewed by soldiers but by his peasants. If he fights, his people will die. If he refuses the call, the Cethos will be conquered. He answers the call, but continues to slowly mobilize. [b]June, 1548 CE:[/b] King Cethos leads the Cethosi armada into battle with the Imperial Expeditionary force. Every seaworthy vessel takes to the waves in defense of the homeland. Imperial Marines land on the island of Gonala to establish a base of operations and supply depot. A palisade is erected and command center built. Cethosi conscripts will battle legionaries on the shores here until the battle's end. King Cethos continues battling the Imperial ships daily. Loanost Faenar arrives to battle with his entire people in arms, anchoring behind the King's flotilla. King Cethos demands Faenar lead the armada in a great charge toward the heart of the Imperial navy. Faenar responds he will lead his people to battle at his own pace, challenging King Cethos to attack with his remaining professional soldiers. King Cethos promises to raze the isle of Ishanadar, leaving none of his subjects or family alive on its shores if Faenar does not immediately enter the battle to save Cethos. Faenar's reply is disputed, but apocyrpha holds his reply to the King's messenger to be [b][i]"The King's threat has already been carried out. There are no Cethos left alive on Ishanadar. They are all here with me."[/i][/b] Faenar gives the order to take sail and leave. The clan of Faenar never again returns to the Cethosi isles. [b]July, 1548 CE:[/b] The Battle of the Isles is ultimately inconclusive. Cethos maintains its independence when the Imperial fleet abandons the campaign due to lack of sufficient fresh water supplies. The number of dead Cethosi is incalculable- modern scholars debate whether it may be classified as a genocide. The Cethos do not attempt to attack the Empire for generations. Princess Dissaria is hailed as a hero for her defense of the Gonala palisade and she cites the weakness of the Imperial Navy for preventing the ultimate victory. While she is lauded publicly, Imperial histories claim she begins to suspect there is a whisper campaign to smear her reputation in secret. From this point onward, she begins to demonstrate questionable mental stability in private. [b]1549 CE:[/b] The Faenarian flotilla island-hops for months, searching for a land capable of supporting the many thousands of Cethosi aboard the ships. Hundreds are lost to storm, disease, battle with pirates, and deprivation. A portion of the flotilla disputes the leadership of Faenar and breaks off from the fleet under [b]Tirala Yinan[/b], striking out to the east. [b]1550 CE:[/b] [b]Loanost Faenar[/b] encounters the [b]Rahuri[/b] in their [b]Outer Isles[/b] while his peoples' ships begin to founder and wreck within the [b]Great Mithril Reef[/b]. Rahuri ships guide the fleet safely though the reef and to landfall in the Outer Isles. The Isles cannot support the many thousands of Faenarians on the waves, but an effort is made to repair the ships, nurse the worst of the Faenarians back to health, and spirit them onward to the Great Island, Loa Nota, where they can find some succor. [b]A Council of Caciques[/b] is called by the Rahuri to discuss the appearance of these visitors while the exiles are permitted to disembark and tend to their sick and wounded. Loanost Faenar orders his people to remain within their vessels while the council deliberates the fate of the Rahuri. The Council of Caciques debates for days, listens to the story of the Faenarians, and considers their own position on the waves and how such a great fleet may challenge them. Faenar, his children, and his captains are summoned and interrogated by the council regarding their ultimate intentions and what would be expected of the Faenarians in order to find succor and homes in the isles. An accord is struck, called [b]The Great Compact[/b]. This Compact will become the basis of the [b]Faenarian Constitution[/b], and its opening declarations are as follows: [i]- The Faenarians must swear never to raise arms against the Rahuri. - The Faenarians must swear never to abuse the hospitality of the Rahuri. - The Faenarians must pledge to be accepted into a household of the Rahuri, binding them to the people of the isles as family. - The Faenarians must pledge to share their catches, spoils, and discoveries with the Rahuri. - The Faenarians must hold no kings or claim of rulership over the Rahuri people. The Scions of Faenar may hold a place of privilege as the living embodiment of this pact and command their own ships and people in battle. - This list of pledges may be added to by the Council of Caciques as they please, so long as a Council is called to the Home Island where its additions may be added to by the Council in full view of the Rahuri. - The Faenarians shall hold a place of brotherhood within the tribes, and shall be accepted as equals among them. - The Faenarians shall be entitled to hold all property they brought with them on their exodus as their own.[/i] Loanost Faenar consents to this arrangement. His family is given the title of [b]Autocrat[/b] by the Caciques, a living embodiment of this pact among the tribes and his people. He formally titles his people "Merfolk" after creatures of Rahuri mythology to cut ties completely with the Cethosi isles and as a sign of his willingness to integrate with their new hosts. The fleet disperses to the rest of the isles, though the majority of the Merfolk remain on Loa Nota and begin to construct [b]The Coral City.[/b] The first Merfolk artisans discover the orichalcum deposits within the volcanoes of Loa Nota and begin experimenting with its use, creating what is now known as [b]"Water Glass."[/b] Sheets of crystal forged in the pressures beneath the waves, the glass holds the appearance of shifting waves. Baubles- from liquor decanters to mirrors- are forged using this technique and begin to be sold elsewhere. [b]1551 CE: The Breakaway Fleet[/b] limps to the shores of [b]Luminaria[/b]. [b]Tirala Yinan[/b] and her followers are accepted among the Luminarians and establish Yinan Province, integrating with the nation over the next ten years. [b]1558 CE:[/b] The Rahuri Isles are stricken with famine, with many believing the Merfolk are to blame for the scarcity. Loanost Faenar approaches the Caciques with a proposal: His people will crew their vessels again and launch a trade mission to the Shah of [b]Kera-Bijan[/b] to bring back food and crops. The Caciques consent to this and the fleet is launched to the mainland. The Merfolk come to the court of the [b]Shah[/b] with Rahuri tobacco and Merfolk Water Glass to trade for grain, fruits, and meat. The trade is established and the people of the isles return to a time of plenty and building. [b]1560 CE: The Shah and his wealthiest Satraps[/b] increase their demand for Water Glass, and begin to trade gold and luxury goods for it rather than just food. The Merfolk are invited to establish a settlement in the north of [b]Kera-Bijan[/b], [b][i]Locha Noa[/i][/b]. The colony helps to ease the burden of feeding the Rahuri in the home isles while enriching the Merfolk. The wealth is brought back to the home isles. [b]1565:[/b] The [b]Linana Clan[/b] of the Rahuri announces that they are dissatisfied with the changes brought by the Merfolk and the rapid growth of the Coral City. [b]The Rahuri Civil War[/b] begins. Loanost Faenar decrees that no Merfolk should fight in the war, holding to the decree of the Caciques not to bear arms against the Rahuri- if the Rahuri decide to expel their people, it will be honored. He secretly orders his lieutenants to fortify [b]Locha Noa[/b] as a new homeland. Merfolk quietly evacuate the isles and settle in the new city in greater numbers. [b]1568 CE: The Steppe Tribes of Kera-Bijan[/b] attack Locha Noa, hoping to pillage its wealth. In cooperation with the levies of the Shah, the attack is repelled. The Merfolk replace the crude palisades with shaped coral walls in a great undertaking. The work will not be complete until 1574. [b]The Glass Bank[/b] is founded in Locha Noa to handle and take account of the material wealth of the Merfolk in this time of upheaval. The bank is so named because the bank charter is signed within a Water Glass workshop, and the wealth of the people stored in its Warehouses. [b]1569 CE:[/b] [b]The Rahuri Civil War[/b] ends in defeat for the Liana clan. They are welcomed back into the family of the Caciques as wayward brothers rather than rebelling tribes, and the Merfolk are invited back to live in the Coral City in safety. [b]1573 CE:[/b] The Rahuri and Merfolk launch joint trading expeditions to establish relations with the old world. One fleet heads far to the East, another West to make contact with the Kratorian Empire. Their holds are filled with Water Glass, tobacco, pepper, silks, and sugar, along with soldiers and marines to defend the ships. [b]1574 CE:[/b] The [b]Westerly Fleet[/b] makes contact with the [b]Kratorian Empyreum[/b]. The vessels surrender their cargo in a sign of goodwill, and a diplomatic conference is held with the Admiral of the fleet, [b]Ritana Faenar[/b], daughter of Loanast. Guarantees are made toward good intent and customs houses are established in the coastal cities of the Empire. Sugar, Tobacco, Water Glass, and Silk flows freely into Imperial ports. Rum soon follows (much to the dismay of captains of all stripes in the Empire). [b]1578 CE:[/b] The [b]Easterly Fleet[/b] makes contact with the Merfolk of Yinan Province in [b]Luminaria[/b]. The Admiral is overjoyed to find their wayward brothers and sisters, but troubled by their peaceful, almost fanatical subservience to the Luminarian way. Suspicion of a magical compulsion breaks out amongst the crews. Persuasion fails to bring the merfolk home to the Isles. Armed attacks and kidnappings take place, but the Merfolk of Yinan resist. The Easterly fleet splits in two- one half returning to the Isles to report what has been discovered, one half remaining off the coast of Luminaria, operating as pirates to try and "liberate" their kinsman. [b]1589 CE:[/b] [b]Loanost Faenar[/b] perishes on a shark hunt. He is entombed within the great vaults of the volcano beneath Loa Nota, along with other Rahuri Caciques. [b]Ritana Faenar[/b] succeeds her father as Autarch of the Isles. The Easterly Fleet is subjugated by the Luminarian Navy. Its Admiral taken prisoner and their ships beached. Diplomatic envoys leave for Faenaria seeking reparation for his acts of piracy and kidnapping, but also peace. [b]1590 CE:[/b] [b]The Bank of Glass[/b] moves its headquarters and Wealth to the Coral City. Representatives of the Imperial [b]Marble Bank[/b] begin making the voyage to the home isles to assess the true wealth and capability of the institution. The two begin sharing theories on practices of wealth management and record keeping, leading to an informal friendly (if competitive) relationship between the two. The Marble Bank introduces wealthy imperials to the Glass Bank, contacts that the Faenarians would otherwise never interact with. The Glass Bank opens an official vault for the Emperor and Empress. Sentimental items are stored here, but the security of the vaults compared to those tainted by the bitter politics and corruption in the Empire leads to greater cooperation. The Luminarian delegation arrives. The Caciques and Ritana Faenar accept their requests for peace and pledge to discipline those who remained in the trade fleet, claiming no knowledge of the extent of their actions. Historians dispute this, citing the return of half of the fleet years earlier. Some argue that Ritana was unaware of the extent of the piracy and attacks, other that she hoped to extend Faenarian control to the isles off the coast of Luminaria. Ritana consents to allow the Merfolk in the fleet to be subjected to Luminarian justice, though the Rahuri ask that their people be returned to the isles. The Luminarians consent to this request. [b]1600 CE: Princess Dissaria[/b] becomes Empress of [b]Kratoria[/b]. She begins her reign by announcing grand expansions to Imperial art, architecture, and armies- paid for by taxes on the Senate and Primarch households. [b]1604 CE:[/b] Members of the [b]Imperial Senate[/b] open accounts in the Glass Bank to secretly stow wealth for their families out of reach of the Mad Queen's tax increases. Back channel communications are established between the Marble Bank, the Faenarian Customs Houses, and the Glass Bank to facilitate the transfer of wealth outside the view of the Mad Queen. [b]1611 CE: Princess Athena[/b] of [b]Kratoria[/b] is born. [b]1632 CE:[/b] 1632 CE: The Bank of Glass begins to finance regular trade fleets. Enormous treasure armadas begin to set sail monthly, banding together to share supplies and fight off pirates and sea monsters. Many of these treasure ships head to tried and tested ports, like those of Kratoria, but others exhibit an adventuring spirit and head into the great unknown. In late summer, one such treasure fleet makes first contact with Sidarid fishermen. The clansfolk are stunned by the creatures of myth aboard the ships. Despite the language barrier, the fishermen manage to lead the fleet towards Glenmagar, from where the young [i]Bhaenrhig[/i] Parhaigen ruled Sidara. The language barriers were soon traversed, for an [i] Arwyndyn[/i] who knew the Cethosi tongue was quickly found. The young [i]Bhaenrhig[/i] and many Sidarids were stunned by the craftsmanship and luxury items that the Faenarians brought. This would mark the beginning of the first phase in Faenaro-Sidarid trade. The Faenarians enjoy a near-monopoly on imports and exports (limited in nature as those naturally were at the time) for some time. Despite Anvegadian attempts to disrupt this trade and newly-forged relationship, trade and commerce between Sidara and Faenaria would continue uninterrupted until the Faenarian Banking Crisis in the Isles decades later. The initial encounter, short-lived though it was, would have a lasting impact on Sidarid approaches to business and trade, and would contribute to the the Sidarid Enlightenment of the eighteenth century and the eventual creation of Clan-Companies. [b]1641 CE:[/b] Princess Athena rises to a formal position within the Imperial Court. She accompanies a goodwill delegation to the Isles of Faenaria, renewing vows of friendship between the two nations. Ritana Faenar and the Caciques receive her on the Home Isles. Formal discussions about trade policy and taxation are secondary to the relationship established between the two. Ritana and Athena begin a long written correspondence, some of which survive to this day- many have been transcribed, most notably those by the Imperial historian Horus under the title [b][i]"On the power of Queens and the State."[/i][/b] Topics range from monetary and military policy to cuisine critiques and political maneuvering. [b]1651 CE:[/b] The [b]Kratorian Civil War[/b] begins in the outer provinces. Primarchs and Senators rally around Princess Athena as a figurehead to resist the actions of the Mad Queen. Alliances, territory and allegiances change regularly. Only the increasing brutalities of the Mad Queen keep the war raging. [b]1662 CE:[/b] Wealth from trade to Kratoria dries up as the civil war drags on. [b]The Bank of Glass[/b] releases more and more wealth from the vaults in an attempt to alleviate the economic downturn. [b]This triggers runaway inflation in the isles[/b] that affects Kera-Bijan. Faenarian gold and silver from this recession has been traced to Etresna, the Sidarid Isles, Luminaria, and even as far away as Uruk. [b]1663 CE:[/b] The Caciques call a council to deal with the continued economic fallout of the opening of the Vaults. Citing the original pledge of "Sharing Spoils" established by the original council of Caciques and Faenar, they demand an input on monetary policy and ownership of the Bank of Glass- it becomes plain for all to see that the Caciques will attempt to seize the bank outright. Ritana Faenar rallies her own supporters and prepares a counter offer. The Isles have been held together for a century under an informal policy of "two races, one family." She proposes the creation of a nation state akin to Kratoria, Kera-Bijan, and Luminaria. The wealth of the Bank of Glass will be managed directly by this new Nation rather than any one race or people. The merfolk will continue to build and crew warships in defense of the waves and their trade, while the Rahuri will raise armies to defend the islands and administer justice themselves. The Merchant Compacts of the trade fleets petition for a second, private institution to manage risk to their own personal ventures- establishing the original Coral Exchange in a beachside rum tavern. Ritana asks that the new nation be formally titled Faenaria, as a pledge from the Caciques toward their own good faith. The Caciques consent to these arrangements. The Caciques assemble in the great hall of the Palace of Faenar to hold debates, counsel one another, and give consent to actions by the Autarch on the waves. The Rahuri 'Vanata, Banker from Coral City' is elected the first Cacique of the Vault to manage the wealth of the Glass Bank and set monetary policy. Vanata counsels that taxes should be raised to remove coins from circulation and employ citizenry with a program to build a new fleet for the nation's navy, replacing the original Coral Shaped vessels the Merfolk took to sea on. [b]1670 CE:[/b] Monetary records mark a downturn of inflation; scholars mark this as the end of the Faenarian Banking Crisis in the Isles. [b]1691 CE:[/b] The Kratorian Civil War grinds to a halt with the threat of Etresnan intervention. Kratoria lies in ruin, the Mad Queen still commands the heart of the Empire while Athena's core army remains intact. Neither side can feed or pay its soldiers in adequate numbers. A delegation of Senators and Primarchs smuggle the remaining wealth of their households out of the Empire aboard a Faenarian trade fleet and makes their way to the isles. They offer up the wealth of ancient Imperial Households as collateral. They request formal loans from the Glass Bank to finance the war effort and purchase arms, supplies, and mercenary companies. The Caciques call a council as there are fears that the money requested could trigger another Banking Crisis, much less war and invasion of the isles. The debate is settled by rules of the Glass Bank's charter. The Primarchs agree to accept a reduced loan from the bank "for personal use" while the remainder of their funding is secured through the Coral Exchange. The loans appear as nothing more than a refinancing of properties and investments in Kratorian Villas. The Primarchs return home with a treasure fleet to carry their funds to Princess Athena, along with an aged banker Vanata, First Cacique of the Treasury, long since retired from her position at the head of the Glass Bank. Vanata assists in the disbursal of funds alongside members of the Marble Bank to prevent rampant inflation. Mercenary companies and merchant caravans begin to converge on the Rebel encampments, hearing that there is coin to be had. By the turn of the year, the IVth Legion finds itself being paid in barter goods. They will desert their post and declare allegiance to the Princess. [b]1692 CE:[/b] The Mad Queen continues to lose soldiers as the rebel provinces enjoy a return to prosperity. Ilium falls to the rebellion after a popular uprising. During the summer campaign, rumors circulate in Loyalist cities that Faenarian Customs houses are actually great repositories of gold and silver, hidden from public view. There is debate among historians whether the Mad Queen actually believes these rumors or used them as a pretext to punish the Faenarian Glass Bank for aiding the Rebellion. Loyalist troops seize the Faenarian customs houses and confiscate their goods and coin. Merfolk and Rahuri are killed in anti-Faenarian pogroms while the Summer Trade Fleet is attacked by the Imperial Navy- nine of the twenty-seven ships are sunk, five are captured, and thirteen are forced to retreat, eventually finding their way to the Sidarid Isles for aid and reconstruction. The Anvegadian Military-Governor Whiteforge, known as the Cannon-Forged Governor, was by this time old and ailing, not entirely in control of Sidara. The more politically intuitive and fiercely intelligent young [i]Rhig[/i] Aenfys had managed to run rings around the old man, while deluding him into thinking of Aenfys as a pliable and loyal puppet. The Faenarian fleet is welcomed at Baena's Bay and every help and luxury that could be afforded them is provided. This proved an excellent opportunity for Sidara to re-establish relations with an old friend and secretly study Faenarian ship designs to improve upon the fleet they were building right under Anvegad's nose. Once the Faenarian vessels were repaired and their sick and injured had been cared for (those that were not beyond saving, of course), they are sent home laden with gifts and messages of friendship and goodwill. Due to the events that followed, the newly rekindled relationship could not, unfortunately, be maintained. By Autumn, the Summer Fleet returns to Loa Nota. The Caciques call a council of war. All signs point to an eventual victory for Princess Athena, though there is a debate about how long that victory will take to win. An aged Ritana, nearly one-hundred years old, asks for permission to sail the Golden Fleet in defense of the Merfolk and Rahuri. The Caciques vote 17 to 8 for war. A messenger departs for rebel territory, carrying a message of intent: - Faenaria will soon enact a blockade of the Mad Queen's coastline. Any ship flying her banner will be boarded and their cargo taken as a prize. - The Faenarian fleet will engage the Mad Queen's ships where practical and attempt to sink the Imperial Fleet. - The Faenarians will attempt an invasion of two coastal cities, opening up a new front. - Any territory, prisoners, or ships seized by the Faenarians will be administered under Rahuri Law, but will be returned to Princess Athena or one of her loyal Primarchs. The Golden Fleet embarks on a punitive expedition at the start of winter, lead by the Rahuri Gidall, Warleader of Loa Cana. Gidall engages the merchant compacts to arm their own ships and harass Loyalist vessels. This marks the first sailing of the Privateer Fleet. [b]1693 CE:[/b] The Golden Fleet arrives off the coast of Kratoria and begins its campaign in support of Princess Athena. [b]1699 CE:[/b] The Mad Queen is deposed by Princess Athena. Popular legend in Faenaria has it the Queen died after drinking a draught of mercury and orichalcum in an effort to attain otherworldly power. The Faenarian occupation of the Imperial coast ends. --- [b]1865 CE:[/b] Etresna and Kratoria enter a conflict with global ramifications. Kratorian Senators approach Faenaria with requests to join the war on the waves. Yarana Faenar, knowing that he does not have the support of the Caciques to enter the conflict, offers mercantile contacts to help fund the Kratorian Empyreum. [b]1867 CE:[/b] Etresna engages in a program of land seizures, infrastructural development, and population transfer on the Nine Isles it conquered from Sidara. These 'undeveloped' lands that Etresna seizes are in fact clan lands. The Etremaden do not understand this, and the subsequent outrage from the local population as well as the Sidarid government is not given much notice. Sidara begins aligning itself with Kratoria, contacting Faenaria for support in its efforts to build-up for a liberation war, and attempts to woo Uruk's favour by investing in its arms and heavy industry. [b]1868 CE:[/b] Yarana Faenar again approaches the Caciques behind closed doors to woo them for the votes to war. The Coral Exchange, normally his chief political sword and shield, has been much diminished by the war on the waves. The Glass Bank and trade with Kera-Bijan is singlehandedly buoying the Faenarian economy. The peril of Sidarid being conquered and the Clan Companies being wiped out with their debts unpaid causes no end of stress among the bureaucrats and politicians. The Caciques vote 14-11 to abstain from war. However, a clandestine money-funneling program begins unloading Guilders into the Sidarid Isles, helping them to finance the creation of a modernized military. At the same time, the Coral Exchange merchants begin cashing in their Etresnan government bonds and private stocks in a mass selloff. Loans are called in. Credit is constrained on the mainland. The initial effect of this on Etresna is negligible. Etresnan hard currency makes up for this loss. [b]1873 CE:[/b] Sidara's navy and armies are fully prepared to join Kratoria in its war against Etresna, and Sidarid technological support and economic investment means the Uruk military has developed rifled weaponry and more modern war tactics. The Faenarian Caciques are carried to war in a 13-12 vote in the Assembly. The Golden Armada sails to the coast and begins a policy of containment of the Etresnan fleet. Etresnan industry begins experiencing a Credit Crunch as more and more businesses cannot obtain secure loans from the Glass Bank or the Coral Exchange. Etresna experiences stagflation. Despite the fact that their military is fighting off no less than four superpower-class nations (and winning on several fronts), popular support for the war begins to erode. [b]1876 CE:[/b] The Kera-Bijan trade route experiences a downturn in demand. The Faenarian Coral Exchange experiences a collapse. At the same time, Etresna goes from a Recession economy to a Depression. Preliminary peace talks begin behind the scenes as the financial contagion spreads beyond Faenaria and Etresna. [b]1877 CE:[/b] The Etresnan political class sues for peace with the Fourth Coalition. The Etresnan military is deployed to quell bread riots in several cities, while in others they are greeted as heroes with great parades and celebrations. The Sidarid Isles are reunited and whole once again. [/hider] To add: - Faenarian interactions with the Sidarid. - Resolve the Luminarian Interactions with the Eastern Fleet. - Anvegad civil war: How did the gold find its way to Faenaria?