Taming the Yethis

The Taming of the Yethis is the name given to a military campaign conducted by the Empire of Nara Tok, which culminated in the annexation of the Yethisi and the formation of the imperial Exarchy of Yethisia. This campaign took place between 144IF and 146 IF.
In 139 IF, the Empire of Nara Tok sent an envoy to the dwarves of Grok Makar, seeking to negotiate the re-opening of the Frijan Seal, which had been closed since the Slaughter of the Groki, over a thousand years previously. Many northern courts had attempted to send envoys to the Groki, over the centuries, yet none had previously been accepted, as the Groki still nursed an ages old grudge against the successors to the Greatwood Empire. Yet, they accepted the imperial envoys, for several important reasons. Chief among these was the clear threat posed by the Empire - their miraculous rise had seen them go from victory to victory, re-conquering the Greatwood territories and even expanding into Thragea. While they had suffered a defeat in the First Imperial-Cyrinese War, many decades had passed since then, and the new Emperor had a reputation for his expansionist ambitions. Furthermore, the Empire had recently recovered one of the Frijan keys, which might allow them to threaten the fortress of Grok Makar for the first time in centuries. Dwarves are well known for their longevity - the massacre of their people at the hands of the ancient Greatwood Empire had occurred just a few generations ago for their population, and few wished to risk a repeat of such a castrophe.
Debates raged among the Groki for five years, before in 144 IF, a decision was finally reached. The dwarves would re-open the Seal, and join the Empire, so long as several conditions were met. First, the return of the Empire's Frijan key, which had been stolen so long ago by the Greatwood Empire. Secondly, the re-establishment of Groki tariffs, though far more moderate than in the days of the Greatwood Exchange. The Groki demanded much - the power to enforce their own tariffs, separate from the Empire was something that no other imperial territory had been granted; while, the return of the Frijan key would require relinquishing one of the Empire's most powerful bargaining chips with the dwarves. Yet, the Empire knew that the Groki were well prepared to defend their citadel, and had little desire to waste the lives of its soldiers on breaching their ancient defences. Then-Emperor Valius agreed to the Groki terms, and the bastion of Grok Makar was annexed into the imperium.
During the reign of Idicas, Valius' predecessor, the Empire had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Cyrinese, losing control of the town of Deletra after the First Imperial-Cyrinese War. Valius sought to re-establish the Empire's military might, and expand their rule over the south of the continent, by conquering the ancient Sufi-Nazadi kingdoms, and founding a new Exarchy in the south. And so, just a few months after his annexation of the Groki, Valius ordered the beginning of the Empire's Yethisian campaign. A host of twenty thousand Redcloaks marched through the Groki mountains in the spring of 145 IF, and into the lands of the Sufi-Nazadi Kingdoms, commanded by the Seven, a council of the most well-respected imperial generals. These forces were supported by a dozen imperial mages, as well as the mercenary Puldermen, who had garnered a reputation for siegecraft.
The Nazadi had prepared for the arrival of the Empire - they had received warning from friendly traders among the citizens of Harinia and Jirna. Citizens and supplies from nearby towns and villages had all been gathered in the Nazadi capital of Ab-Naza, and the Nazadi had settled in for a prolonged siege. The Redcloaks besieged the Nazadi city for two months, losing nearly three thousand soldiers in the process. With little progress made, and the Emperor breathing down their necks, the Seven grew desperate to produce results, at any cost. And so, the Puldermen were granted leave to use their most powerful and dangerous weapon - a new form of puldercannon, affectionately referred to as Fat Betty. Betty was fired at the city for a day a night. The city's once-mighty walls were brought down in less than an hour, yet still the cannons fired. By the time they finally stopped, the city's population had been decimated and much of its infrastructure had been destroyed. The Palace of Gardens had been reduced to rubble, from which the body of the suferian king was eventually recoverd, along with his Crown of Flowers. With the razing of Ab-Naza, the last beta-suferian dynasty was brought to an end.
The Seven extended their forces across the northern desert, garrisoning many Nazadi towns and cities along the river, and establishing their rule over the Nazadi kingdom. However, their atrocities in Ab-Naza had provoked outrage among the Yethisi people. They found their occupation of the north was frequently challenged, as the Nazadi led insurrection after insurrection, seeking to destabilise their rule. In the face of this unrest, the Imperial army was unable to continue its campaign in the south, and conquer the Sufi kingdom, as its supply lines were too often threatened by insurgents and renegades. The razing of Ab-Naza had also provoked outcry among scholars and noblemen in the northern courts, who bemoaned the loss of many centuries of history and relics. As a result, the Seven were unwilling to impose harsher measures to contain the rebellions, instead seeking to find some way to appease the Nazadi more diplomatically. This stalemate continued for nearly a year, before at last being resolved.
It was a young Ferian captain who found the solution for the Nazadi problem. Emine had spent time serving in a garrison in one of the Nazadi villages, and had learned much of Yethisi customs. It was he who learned of the importance of the Crown of Flowers in The Cult of Dama. In the summer of 145 IF, Emine's posting came under attack by a horde of Desert Ghouls and Emine was nearly killed. This experience seemingly convinced him of the truth of the Damari myths. Emine presented himself to a council of Isada, and subjected himself to their tests, seeking to prove that at least some of the Empire's troops could prove worthy of the crown. His testing lasted for half a year, but in the end Emine successfully proved himself to the Isada. They informed him that they would accept the rule of the Empire, but only so long as he bore the crown of flowers himself. When Emine informed the Seven of his experiences, they dismissed him at first, but in the face of continued Nazadi insurrections, and continued pressure from the Emperor, they were eventually convinced that Emine's plan had some merit. The crown of flowers had been kept safe, but unworn, since the razing of Ab-Naza, as the Seven did not wish to presume to challenge the Emperor's own power, or else risk becoming an enemy of his cult. But, after communications with the Emperor, it was agreed that Emine would be crowned Exarch-Regent, and be granted leave to wear the suferian crown. After Emine's coronation, news of the Isada's approval spread among the Yethisi, and many Nazadi insurgencies were ended.
The Redcloaks were free once more to march on the kingdom of Sufi, where they were met with little resistance. News of Emine's coronation had spread to many Sufi settlements, and covinced many to accept the imperial yoke, trusting in the guidance of their Damari priests. The city of Iferi, ruled by a crownless Sufi queen, held out for a little longer, but eventually surrendered, fearing devastation as had occurred at Ab-Naza. In 146 IF, the entire Yethis Desert had come under imperial control, after the city of Harinia was blockaded by the Imperial Armada. The Exarchy of Yethisia was officially formed, and Emine became the first Yethisian Exarch. His descendants continue to bear the Crown of Flowers to this day.