Srians
Descending directly from their precursors, the Srians are known for political awareness shared amongst the common man, as well as their famous Kingdoms of Sria and Vatheria. Srians also possess an aptitude for intellect and strategy.
Origin: City-States around 1000 BR
Presence: Prominent, but waning
Common Religions: Srian Pantheon, Aetian Pantheon, Center of the World Real World Influence: Egyptian, Levantine 5e Additions:
Magic Proficiency: Divination
Non-Magic Proficiency: History or Insight
History
Srians call their home region Sria - a region on the north east of Barakon, close to the Zenos Straits, and inhabited entirely around the multitude of rivers which race to the coast. The Srians originally banded around the watered plains of the valley which returned great harvests. Around these pockets of farming grew infrastructure and cities. These cities, while growing independently at first, soon began to trade with one-another given their close proximity. To the Srians, little else existed around them. The only contact to "outside world" resulted from trade ships from the Aetian Peninsula, which were considerably rare in the early 1000s BR.
Srian Rule
Around 500 to 400 BR, the Srians city-state of Enaigenus grew dominant, and slowly began to impose its dominion on the surrounding city-states. By 300 BR, Sria stood loosely unified as a nation, under a leader who they called "The Ahkshi". Sria also ruled over two neighboring territories set up as client states: Therna to the west, and Amnus to the east. These nations were puppet states by Enaigenus to maintain security and prevent possible foreign incursion into what Enaigenus deemed to be core Srian lands. The cultures of Therna was mixed of Srian and Lammetrian, while Amnus was mixed dominantly by Srians, but also Aetians and Iananosians. When the Poscaean Empire rose around 0 BR/AR, Sria's exploitation of Amnus served useful, as they were able to halt Poscaea's invasions through the combined strength of Amnus and Srian armies. Sria survived unscathed from the invasions while Amnus was devastated. Sria's percieved abuse of Amnus led to a wide-spread rebellion by Amnus and sympathizing city-states which claimed over half of the core Srian nation. The Great Srian Separatism Movement, as it came to be known, caused the greatest moments of disunity the Srian people had ever suffered. Subsequently, the Seleutine Empire was able to take advantage of this chaos and outright conquer the Srians under the guise of restoring order and imposed their function of imperial rule.
Seleutine Rule
Under the Seleutine Empire, the Srians were recognized as brothers to the Aetian people and culture, and so they flourished in the new empire. However, rebellion is said to always be on the mind of a Srian, and it was once again a mass uprising of Srians - likely in response to upheaval in the Seleutine government - which, thus, crippled the Seleutines. In turn, the Morosians declared war on the Seleutines in 140 AR and a 12-year long struggle ensued. The Srian rebels actively sabotaged and worked against the Seleutine defense of Srian's own land, and eventually helped Moros win the war. The resulting treaty forcibly released the devastated Sria as its own nation once again.
Morosian Rule
Sria enjoyed full independence for about 60 years before the Morosians began to influence the new Srian noble class and eventually vassalized Sria in all but name by 200 AR. The people, recognizing their situation in the 200s AR, broke out in yet another large-scale rebellion - this time against Moros. Sria would continue to last in a quasi-sovereign state until it was symbolically annexed in 500 AR. Between 500 and 700 was the Great Pax Terrum where Sria endured a time of peace within the fold of the Morosian Empire. The early 700s saw the invasion of the Daahkens and the abrupt end to Morosian Dominance in the Barakon (the eastern half of which is called Lasseria by Srians and Aetians). Morosia managed to hold on to the coastal cities in and around Enaigenus until the civil war on Moros absolved any lasting ties to the government, thrusting the reigns of control upon Enaigenus to resume its hegemony over the last few independent Srian towns and cities in 837 AR. As a newly independent polity Enaigenus, led by a Moroso-Srian man named Hamad Legian, reorganized what was left of the military structure and marched on Nauphipo, controlled by the Dresnid Badiran Khanate. The Khanate was caught off guard but managed to organize a stout defense. Enaigenus persevered and 'liberated' Nauphipo and renamed it to Styphis. The war drew to an end the next year and Enaigenus became the capital of the new Kingdom of Vatheria.
Traditions
Srians, in their early days intrinsicly possessed an interesting form of national paranoia, which occasionally morphed into a kind of xenophobia. However this was largely not an issue because foreigners were rare in Sria, with the exception of Aetians, whom the Srians culturally trusted. Srian citizens have a habit of becoming deeply involved in political affairs of their overlords. One way or another, they are able to find information about who is leading them, and many often find a passion for discussing and participating in the political process in any way they can. This fascination on matters above them is often what leads to their frequent and zealous rebellions. Moreover, the Srians learned from the Aetians the techniques of pottery and sculpting, and so replicated the Aetians in many of these styles. These practices likely boosted the affinity between the two cultures, who historically grew hundreds of kilometers apart from each other. Srians place great importance on their many rivers which flow from the Tridonan Mountains and Lake Ube to a massive delta in the north of their country. Seasonal flooding allows for elaborate boat races along the banks of these rivers as an annual tradition found in many Srian cities and towns. Other classical Srian traditions revolve worship within their ancient pantheonic religion, including offerings and ceremonies honoring the goddess Phaelyn for matters of trade and feast days for Anaxima on the solstices.
Srian PantheonMythos
The Srians developed their magic separately in each of their city-states. Some specialized in the flow of the seas and general bending of water, while others looked to the stars and dwelled in the elements of nature to conjure prophecies and fortunes. As a culture, part of these fortune-telling arts were "borrowed" and utilized by the kingdom of Cana in later centuries.Naming Traditions
Srians adopt their home city, town, or village as their surnames, except for nobility, who are the only Srians who have adopted family dynastic surnames. Common examples:
Male: Nexu of Epine, Nadim of Seraya, Darim of Enaigenus, Kishar Ankhareb, Tauthas Phanur
Female: Isira of Aphyre, Sahni of Ardeshir, Basma of Khepsa, Nesira Karathis, Talisha Ishtares
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