The Dual-Exarchy of Astria-Selucenia, more commonly known as Volodaria, is the largest Exarchy within the
Empire of Nara Tok. In most respects, it is better regarded as two separate Exarchies with separate governments, one in
Selucia and one in
Astria, though only the Selucian Exarch is granted a seat in
The Senate. Volodaria is home to the largest population of
Volodarin, and encompasses what was once the heartland of the
Aelder Wood. It borders the Exarchy of
Lucrenia in the west and the lands of the
Halfling Crews in the east, while its northern townsteads border the Untamed Hills and the Alari Desert - areas of untouched wilderness, guarded by the
Wildwatch. Along with Lucrenia and
Yethisia, Volodaria is often regarded as a Savage Province, as it features areas that defy complete subjugation. The Dual-Exarchy features seventeen protected regions of woodland known as the Forests of Volodar, where the last true
Aeldrin make their homes.
The Astrian and Selucian governments are not particularly cohesive - both keep separate militaries and navies, and have different systems of legislature. Historically, this lack of cohesion has resulted in slow regional responses to catastrophes - during the events of
Dragonreign, and more recently the
Amaran Rebellion.
The Dual-Exarchy was formed after the signing of
Volodar's Pact, which ended the
Aeldrin-Imperial Frontier Battles. The early years of the Exarchy saw great change across the eastern portion of the region, as the native
Volodarin adapted slowly to their new lives within the Empire. The first Astrian Exarch was
Volodar himself, who worked throughout his life to establish his people's new rights, and help them assimilate into the imperium. He gathered the first iteration of the Qai'din, who would go on to decide his successor.
In the mid-3rd century IF, the
Goblin Crusades in Lucrenia caused a large influx of migrants to the Selucenian region, as soldiers and their families arrived from the north, and settled into the area. The population of Selucia more than doubled during this time, and even the far-eastern towns of the province saw some new arrivals.
During the
Empire's Golden Age, both Exarchies saw many investors arrive from the north, searching for new mercantile opportunities. Among these were the rich
House Raducci, who bought out and developed most of the lumber-camps, found throughout the region. The Exarchy also suffered its first major disaster, the
Dragonreign, which decimated the northern villages.
Selucenia
The government in Selucia is controlled by House Sel-Anganeux, a cadet-branch of the great
House Anganeux, descendants of the Ipolian general who conquered the region, in the name of the Empire. It exercises direct control over the lands west of the Fajla river, which include the remnants of the
Jarnish Colonies and the Empire's earliest colonial settlements. It borders the province of Lucrenia in the west,
Grane marking its western limit, while the city of
Iferi, the Desert Flower marks its border with the province of
Yethisia in the north. Selucenia's largest centre of population can be found in Selucia proper, though the entire region is fairly densely populated - far more so than in the east. Selucenia features robust fishing and agricultural industries, however most of its economic power comes from its position along the Grand Lumber Road. Wood from lumber camps across both Exarchies makes it way through Selucenian land, on its way to the northern markets and shipyards, providing the Selucenians with a firm hold over the industry.
During
Thaerseimai, the region of Selucenia came under threat from the north, as the Yethisian Exarch attempted an
Invasion of the southern Exarchies, following escalating disputes over tariffs. The Selucian Exarch, Mani Sel-Anganeux, organised his forces in defence of his ally, the
Lucrenian Exarch, and together, the forces of the
Twin Union were able to defeat their invaders at the very gates of Lucria.
The two Exarchs have remained close ever since, and the Exarchies are some of the closest in the Empire, sharing military intelligence and offering reduced tariffs to merchants travelling between their cities. By 408 IF, the region of Selucenia has mostly recovered from the failed Yethisian invasion, and has re-established its place in the Empire's lumber industry, however the menace of
Amara has resulted in the loss of many Raducci camps. Ongoing troubles in the east have caused a minor refugee crisis, and many Selucenian towns have now been inundated with fleeing migrants from the Astrian Exarchy.
Astria
The Exarchy of Astria is de-facto ruled by a council of diplomats, merchants and politicians rather than the Exarch themselves. This council is known as the Qai'din, and many of its
Volodarin members served as leaders among the
Aeldrin, during the
Aeldrin-Imperial Frontier Battles, though some humans and halflings also make up its ranks. The Qai'din are responsible for selecting an Exarch from within their number, when the previous Exarch dies, who acts as the face of their government, as well as direct ruler of Astria itself. The Exarch has little control over the wider Exarchy however - the Qai'din rule the lands east of the Fajla river, bordering the
Halfling Crews in the east and the rebel city of
Amara in the south-east. The regions greatest export is lumber from its many lumber camps, and it also exports magical herbs, which are collected from the remnants of the ancient
woodland. It is not a particularly wealthy region, however, as most of the profits from its lumber industry are collected by northern merchants, from
House Raducci.
The towns of the Astrian Exarchy were almost all newly founded, immediately after the signing of Volodar's Pact. It took many decades for their population to grow, first as more and more Volodarin began to settle into their new lives, and then as more and more Volodarin began to be born. During the
Empire's Golden Age, the region began to see migrants arriving from across the Empire - humans, dwarves, halflings, ghoblins and many more besides. This is when the Astrian townsteads began to become true imperial towns, with booming populations. However, this was also the period during which House Raducci were able to gain most of their power in the region. The rich Great House invested heavily into the burgeoning Astrian townsteads, in return for exclusive rights to lumber camps across the south-east.
In the early fourth century IF, the easterly town of Viala became the birthplace of a new religion, led by
Amar, who claimed to be a holy prophet of
Daisha. Amar's sermons taught that the ancient goddess had grown angry with their failure to protect her sacred home, the
Aelder Wood. He taught that there would be a reckoning, and that only those who took arms against the forest's
imperial invaders would be spared her wrath. Amar's bloodthirsty religion proved popular, and Amar gathered a large Volodarin following within the town, and among the local villages and towns. In 318 IF, Amar was captured by the local garrison and executed, for treason against the Empire. The Vialans had intended to decapitate the Amaran movement by killing its leader, but succeeded only in enraging it. Riots raged in the town for a full month, as Amar's followers took up arms against the Vialan government, before finally being quashed by a large force of
Redcloaks from Astria itself. The Amaran cult was not completely destroyed however - instead it was forced underground, where its leaders waited for another opportunity to re-ignite the flames of their religion.
In 389 IF, the city itself suffered a terrible set-back. The Exarch Lerqi Vi'a was caught in an accident involving a horse-and-cart and took a serious a head wound. Before the accident, Lerqi was famed for his wisdom and careful legislation. Afterwards, however, the Exarch has become an eccentric tyrant, enforcing nonsensical policies within his domain in Astria. Lerqi was responsible for the birth of the town's moniker - the Twilight Town. He is also blamed for the town's poorly coordinated defence against the
Amaran Sabotages, and the subsequent rise of the vigilantes, the Vala, within his city. Unfortunately, the Astrian Exarchy remains somewhat archaic in some of its laws - there is no system currently in place to depose the Exarch without their willing consent. Lerqi has caused untold damage in his reign, by virtue of his incompetence.
In 393 IF, at the beginning of
Thaerseimai, the town of Viala once again saw unrest. Followers of Amar, driven underground but not completely wiped out, began a campaign of sabotage and rioting across the town. Their numbers had swelled over the decades, as the cult had inducted many Vialans into their bloodthirsty religion. For three years, the city struggled in a war of subterfuge, against the Amaran menace, and many died in the process. In 396 IF, the Amaran campaign proved successful. With little aid arriving from the Qai'din, the Vialan military fell victim to betrayals within their own ranks, and were decimated by the insurgents. The Amarans were able to storm the very seat of Vialan government, and slaughter the town council during a session. Over the course of the following weeks, the cultists fought a series of battles against the remnants of the Vialan garrison, eventually emerging victorious. The town was theirs, and the Free City of
Amara was born. This is considered the beginning of
Ilar-Thai by followers of Amar.
Over the following months, the Amarans began their crusade against the invaders of the forest. They sent their military to the eastern townsteads, raiding them and taking their inhabitants as slaves, or else forcibly converting them to their cult. They conducted raids on caravans between
Astria and the
Halfling Crews, essentially cutting the Astrian Exarchy off from their eastern allies. After the establishment of an alliance between the Amarans and the
Maea Sundemari, after several exchanges of
letters between their leaders and
Aelluin, the Summoner, the Amarans began to fund campaigns of
sabotage in the towns and cities beyond their reach - the city of Astria and the town of
Luria especially. In 402 IF, following the success of the
Vengeance Campaign, Aelluin arrived in the city himself, and established himself as the city's de-facto ruler. The Summoner continued to coordinate the Amaran crusade, and employed his powers in defence of the city from, most notably during the
Siege of Amara, which culminated in the death of the legendary
General Vraidan Ffandor.
In 408 IF, the region of Astria, which had always been one of the poorest within the Empire, remains as troubled as it has ever been. The Amaran campaigns continue across the south-east, and Raducci lumber camps have been heavily targeted, and many loggers slain. The province's lumber industry continues to decline, even after the restoration of the Grand Lumber Road. Even without the Amaran menace, the province's working population remains firmly under the Raducci yoke. While the rise of the
Reclaimers has provided a modicum of hope to loggers across the region, their victories have remained minor, and their numbers small. Troubles across Astria seem likely to continue for many more years.
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