History of the Marble Isle

50 years before the Doom of Sydonia, a man named Ekoros received a vision from the gods. In his dreams, he saw the tallest peak on Dragon's end erupting in a giant fireball of death. Smoke, ash and magma rained from the skies and turned the land into a charred wasteland. So sure was he of his vision that he ran out into the streets of Old Sydonia and told any soul who would listen. He demanded an audience with the young king Agwellan, who in turn exiled Ekoros from Sydonia. Forced to flee his home, the prophet became a hermit living in the jungles of southern Dragon's end.
The stories of the crazed hermit in the woods spread, and before long people came to visit him and listen to his stories. War against the dragons had taken a heavy toll on Sydonia, and the end was nowhere in sight. His visitors became followers, and spread the word throughout the kingdom. Before long, he had gathered nearly 300 men, women and children to his cause. Within the year, they had built ships on the eastern coast. King Agwellan sought to destroy their ships and imprison the cult, but was thwarted when copper dragons from the mountains attacked his army. This was the last time metallic dragons were seen on Dragon's end.
Thus the followers of Ekoros sailed east across the Sapphire sea, hoping to find a new home to escape the coming doom. They first landed on the emerald isles, discovering villages of peaceful bird-like kenku there. The islands were too small for their host, but some settled there among the kenku (and some kenku joined the followers on their journey east). The kenku who joined them proved extremely useful as fishermen to feed the hungry host. They also showed themselves to be expert navigators and capable of drawing incredibly accurate maps and sea charts from their journey.
Two months after their departure, the followers of Ekoros landed on the western shore of the Marble Isle. In Thalassa wood, they encountered the first inhabitants of the island. The goat-like satyrs of Thalassa Wood were peaceful, but wary of the newcomers. With the help of the Kenku, the Ekorosi (as they took to calling themselves) managed to learn their tongue and establish trade between their small coastal outpost and the denizens of the wood. The satyrs introduced the Ekorosi to the horse-like Centaurs and lion-like Leonin of the plains. The Leonin refused to trade with the Ekorosi and prevented them from settling near their isolated coastal villages on the south and eastern sides of the whitepeaks.
In their first few years on the marble isle, the Ekorosi flourished. Their initial settlement at the foot of the Whitepeaks Mountains (chosen for its mild climate and access to fresh water from the mountain rivers known as the "fingers") was named Ekoros after their leader and prophet (who would die only 10 years after leading the exodus). Abandoned by their own gods, the Ekorosi adopted the gods of the native Satyrs, Leonin and Centaurs. Their language also evolved by integrating loanwords from the tongue of the marble isle. The island was officially dubbed "The Marble Isle" after the Ekorosi began mining the whitepeaks and discovered marble (though clashes with the Aarakokra who nest in the mountains made the work more dangerous). The small camp grew to a large town and eventually a massive metropolis within a few generations. Meanwhile, settlements along the northern coast sprang up. The largest of these were the 3 towns of Aspiranthos, Corfu, and Oia.
The Charter of Ekoros was drafted shortly after the death of the prophet, outlining the laws and system of government on the Marble Isle. The original 8 ruling families were elected by popular vote, and most of them have remained in power since (bolstered by their presence on the merchant council).
Over the next 200 years, the Ekorosi civilization developed into the dominant civilization on the marble isle. Marble statues, massive temples to the gods, and sprawling residential areas lined the streets of Ekoros. As Ekorosi settlements grew, the Satyrs and Centaurs retreated into the Thalassa wood and became increasingly elusive. The Leonin continued to enforce their territory on the southern coast, and sometimes clashed with miners and fishermen who ventured too far. As the prominent families of the Ekorosi grew in power, the need to protect their interests also grew. Some took to recruiting Leonin mercenaries (either by coercion or by force). This was the age of mercenaries, adventurers and heroes. Monster hunting became a legitimate occupation, with much of the island still wild and untamed.
By 500 AD, the Ekorosi had outgrown their island paradise. They set sail for the east, looking for new trading partners. The merchant navy was established to support these efforts, while the marble marines were created to maintain the peace at home as conflict between the ruling families became more common. Supported by war clerics, the military of the Marble Isle became a force to be reckoned with and the temples who trained and supplied the war clerics found their coffers ever expanding. After braving the pirate-infested waters of the shipwreck isles, the Ekorosi navy discovered the Sadim Desert and began trading with the roaming Musafir. Their exchange was largely focused on providing salt (for preserving meat in the hot desert), fruits and weapons to the musafir in exchange for spices and magical trinkets from the ancient desert empire.
By 600 AD, the Ekorosi had established trade with the Sadim Desert, The Nihon of Yamato and attempted an expedition to Chab K'al. In 600 AD, they landed on the southern coast of New Sydonia and established contact with their distant cousins for the first time. After spending 650 years apart, the two cultures were vastly different. Trade drove all interests between the two, and the rigid society of Sydonia often clashed with the liberal culture of the Ekorosi. By this time, the shipwreck isles had proven too dangerous a route and the Ekorosi began sailing across the western sea to reach the east (steering clear of the ruins of Dragon's end).
With an influx of new trade goods, The Marble Isle became a trading powerhouse in the world and a center of cultural diversity. While Sydonia continued its expansion across Arlyss, the Ekorosi merchant families continued to clash with one another over power and resources on the island. The families' private armies soon overshadowed the blue cloaks, and all-out war occurred on multiple occasions. When a family could not be voted out, they were wiped out by a rival family or pretenders hoping to take their place. This constant competition ensured the Marble Isle maintained its trading power in the world. Whatever technological innovations came from Sydonia were soon found in the Marble Isle, either through trade or Ekorosi spies in the halls of the Manufactorium.
In 1282 AD, A second expedition to Chab K'al was attempted with the goal of establishing a colony there. Three colony ships set sail for the mysterious island. The colonists were never heard from again.
In 1430 AD, Sydonia tried to annex the Marble Isle, but was repelled by a massive storm conjured by their clerics. A peace treaty officially ended the war less than 6 months after its start, and peaceful interactions between the two nations resumed.
In 1620 AD, The Ekorosi tried to evict the Leonin from their villages on the southern coast. The war that followed lasted for 10 years and took the lives of untold numbers on both sides. Fighting ended with the Leonin promising to send 10% of their young into service with the blue cloaks, so long as the Ekorosi stayed away from their lands. Fortifications surrounding Leonin lands were built to enforce the treaty.