The Iashi Martial Order
The Iashi archipelago is a dangerous place. These scattered islands host many dangerous beasts, larger even than anywhere else in the world. At their heart, are dragons. Castaways of both chromatic and metallic brethren who renounced their kin in draconia in favor of a more wild, primal lifestyle. Their ancient magic shaped the islands into wonders of nature and magic, overflowing with enough life to support the greatest creatures in the world. It seems impossible for humanoid life to live here, and yet, they flourish. The Iashi Martial Order is an alliance of the many warrior clans of the islands in a rigid hierarchy based entirely upon martial skill. After decades of war with the great beasts of this island, the archipelago is finally under the command of a single leader. The great slayer of dragons. The harsh warrior culture of the Iashi leaves none behind, even the woman and the elderly are masters at arms and more than a match for the beasts of the islands. Victorious is their reconquest of their ancient home, the Iashi fly northwards on ships built and armored with the bones and scales of dragons. Victory at arms is the highest honor there is, defeat is not an option. And the whole world will feel the sting of Iashi might.
Structure
The structure of the Iashi is based on duels and martial might. Zendianos, the current ruler, pledges to offer up his command to any who can best him in combat. There are a few broad tiers that can be climbed, but the exact structure within a tier essentially revolves around the differment to those who are stronger in combat. The lack of respect, can lead quickly to a duel to establish the chain of command. The broad categories are as follows.
Nestward: The lowest tier that is made up of those who are unable to fight (too young or too old) or are very poor fighters
Tribesman: The standard tier that makes up most Iashi who do jobs that do not involve fighting.
Hunter: These Iashi hunt food and also assist in keeping beasts away from the cities.
Warden: These Iashi are tasked with defending cities and taking down especially dangerous beasts
Titan feller: These Iashi are very skilled fighters that have slain beasts such as hydras or other large monsters. They lead hunting patrols and perform many higher up functions.
Dragonslayer: The highest tier in Iashi society, save for the great slayer himself. Each dragonslayer has done exactly that, taken down a dragon. They are incredibly elite warriors but there are very few of them within the ranks of the Iashi order.
Nestward: The lowest tier that is made up of those who are unable to fight (too young or too old) or are very poor fighters
Tribesman: The standard tier that makes up most Iashi who do jobs that do not involve fighting.
Hunter: These Iashi hunt food and also assist in keeping beasts away from the cities.
Warden: These Iashi are tasked with defending cities and taking down especially dangerous beasts
Titan feller: These Iashi are very skilled fighters that have slain beasts such as hydras or other large monsters. They lead hunting patrols and perform many higher up functions.
Dragonslayer: The highest tier in Iashi society, save for the great slayer himself. Each dragonslayer has done exactly that, taken down a dragon. They are incredibly elite warriors but there are very few of them within the ranks of the Iashi order.
Culture
The Iashi culture is a martial one. They are very skilled fighters and find worth only in the slaying of beasts and the conquest of new lands. The warring tribes are now united under one front, but still they fight for a higher spot on the ladder of hierarchy. To the Iashi, skill at arms is the most important skill to have, and determines greatness in an individual. To live is to fight, to surrender to is die.
History
The first colonists reaching the Iashi archipelago were Brenaurus colonists, always seeking more land. This was before the fall of zeadora, and they used that city to supply resources to their colonies. They took over some lizardmen from the sand teeth as slaves. When the revolt in Zeadora happened, the colonies in the archipelago were cut off from supplies and assistance. The makeshift colonies devolved into factions warring for food, resources, and land, and their slaves took up arms in their own tribes. Civilization diminished into a simpler, tribal lifestyle as generations went by without contact with the empire from which they were sent. The weak among them took the ships and fled back to the empire, the strong remained, to fight it out for dominance. This went on for several centuries until newcomers arrived. Exiles from their people, and of a power far beyond the abilities of the colonists. Dragons fled here, both chromatic and metallic, fleeing the fall of draconia and the war in the north. These dragons cared little for politics and wars, they cared only for the taste of meat in their jaws and the thrill of the hunt. But so many dragons could not come to a single place without repercussions, for the magic of a dragon is great, and the magic of a hundred will change even the strongest of soils. The land itself was warped by the sheer multitude of dragons descending upon these islands, and rocky cliffs grew from nothing as life exploded in all forms. These once tame islands became havens for life and magic, festering a collection of creatures to put even the gladewood to shame. The people of the archipelago were forced into hiding, trying to avoid the ire of the great beasts which seemed to spring up out of nothing. But they were fighters, and they did not give in. The tribes fought back against the dragons, and could even fell one or two on occasion, but they were fully outmatched. Until he arrived. A man born of the blood of dragons. Zendianos, the slayer. A man of immense power and charisma, Zendianos rallied his people and taught them to slay dragons. And from the corpses of their enemies, they fashioned great weapons and armor. Over a century of fighting, they managed to capture back the islands, building cities united under the banner of the dragonslayer. Now they expand outwards, intent on asserting their might across the whole world.
