Braschech

With Ki’Allack and - more specifically - the Storm-Screamers have joined with the Empire, it was only a question of time until the Empire would seek to expand its influences past the Wyrding Sea, and the first nation to meet with such a fate was to be Braschech. Far off the south-western coast of the Empire lie the two island nations of Braschech and Killios, remote enough so that they were only vaguely known to the Imperial Continent at large, yet not so far away that bringing them into the fold would prove to be an unreasonable first step. Both the braschini and the killione were known to send trading expeditions to Aerth and Hiloth both, and the Hi’nahe had been known to use both islands to resupply on lengthy sea journeys, either through mercantile effort or raids. Since the War of the Tributaries, the Empire needed something to bring it together again, and nothing did so quite as well as conquest. Thus, ships of ‘merchants’ were sent to Braschech and Killios both, with the express mission to gather intelligence for the coming campaign.
It did not take the Empire long to see the potential in Braschech. Not only was it a wealthy nation, with deep mines of valuable gemstone (strikingly similar to the crystal armour of the Guards of Gant, the spies noted), but it was also in a rough spot. Throughout the years, Braschech and Killios had been going from conflict to conflict with one another, each one claiming the other to be the original aggressor. At different points throughout history, each island had controlled the other, before the population of the domination nation had broken free and launched a counter-invasion. It was during the late stage of one such upheaval that the Empire found Braschech; up until recently, the Triumvirate of the braschini had controlled Killios, yet an organised faction of the killione had broken free, under the leadership of two siblings. Freed, the killione were now launching weekly raids against Braschech, pushing further and further inland every month, and the Triumvirate feared that they would soon find themselves toppled. Seeing their chance, the merchant-spies approach the Triumvirate, offering to travel back to the Continent and hire mercenaries to fight their war for them. Desperate, the Triumvirate were more than happy to accept.
The fleet that would later arrive were of course no mercenaries, but the Imperial Force themselves, though their General, Qi’Vaha, played her role well in negotiating with the braschini leaders. Standing before them, she’d press them for as many riches as she could, just as a mercenary should, while begrudgingly acting as if she found it bothersome that she would be required to welcome braschini soldiers into her ranks, so that her forces could learn how wars were fought on the isles. This, of course, was her real goal - before setting out on the campaign, it had been agreed that if Brachech’s military could be completely turned into an Imperial military, then the island would quickly become part of the Empire. Even as the Imperial Forces helped to defend the shores of Braschech, they would fawn over the braschini soldiers, shower them with respect and platitudes, and put pressure on the Triumvirate to increase their pay ‘in service of their country’. It did not take long for the braschini soldiers to view Qi’Vaha as more worthy of their loyalty than their countrymen, something that would serve her well when she would later become the island’s Governorness.
Unwittingly being aided by the Empire, it did not take the people of Braschech to push the killione from their lands, and soon enough, strikes were set out to bring Killios back under control. Yet at this time, the Triumvirate had begun to worry. Even as Braschech was liberated from further raids, more and more of these forgeign ‘mercenaries’ seemed to arrive on their shores, and few of them seemed to be soldiers. Raising the issue with Qi’Vaha, they were told that the people arriving were functionaries that she required to operate the war effort, now that it had grown from a defensive conflict to an offensive one. The Triumvirate took little consolation in this however, as more and more, they found these foreigners controlling the day-to-day business of Braschech, with few but the most token of issues arriving making their way to their ears. Angered and afraid, they spoke to Qi’Vaha, ordering her to leave… to which she had only smiled and left the room. The next day, killione assassins had slain the Triumvirate, and the General assumed full control of the state to bring vengeance.
By the time the two siblings who led Killios had been defeated, Braschech had become little more than an Imperial outpost. Now Governoress, Qi’Vaha had already begun the process of building schools and installing Imperial Law, all while promoting loyal braschini soldiers to important positions - which the people loved her for. To this day, Braschech still celebrates the day the Liberator came to their island with a grand feast held once every year. Becoming part of the Empire was little more than a formality at this point, and one the brachini barely noticed - by the time it was official, they were already Imperial in all but name.
Today, Braschech is the main supplier of veingems in the Empire. Since it was found that the crystals could be used in the construction of firearms, it has become one of the most important states in the Empire, with their Governor position one of the most coveted roles by any Imperial with political ambitions. Though a significant distance from the Continent, the island may stand as the peak example of Imperial integration.

Type

Geopolitical, Country