Zannisht Umbra

Zanisht Umbra

Originally a mercenary company, the Zanisht Umbra, or Blackstone Order, has evolved into an influential military order that holds significant power over its territories and beyond. Being a semi-independent state at this time in its history, the Blackstone Order holds lands on the Zanishme, Maeijka, and Kusmundaa peninsulas. Historically serving Ischurrian Kings, the current Grandmaster originally declared neutrality in the Aschari Interregnum of 1568, but came to favor and serve prince Sivirrin.

Names

The colloquial name to refer to the order is simply "Umbra" or "Ordo" meaning, the Order. The order is sometimes referred to as the "Zannisht Umbra" meaning the Blackstone Order, in reference to its largest castle of blackstone. The name that the royals use to refer to it, is officially "Ordo dai Aizusant" which means the Order of the Brotherhood of the Sword.

History

The Order was initially a group of mercenaries under the Ischurri Monarch Atshara who were given territories in the northern parts of the realm to try and prevent raids from the northern barbarians who had previously launched invasions and raids into Ischurrai, even threatening the stability of the entire realm in years past. Thus it was, in 1332, that the mercenaries were given land and reorganized under the Edict of Faltenn.
The order under Atshara was used as an auxilary force of crossbowmen and pikemen that supplemented the main armies of the realm initially, prior to their reorganization following the blight of 1368. In this era, they built many different castles in the north, most famously that of Zannishnora. The pacification of the north itself began as a response to raids from the region of Locet by the Varisi, which prompted the grandmaster Sibrann to lead a punitive expedition northwards, where they established the fortresses Udasolm and Sharhin. Here, the natives were brought to heel through fire and sword until the Varisi were expelled entirely and the native Rizai people were free from their old oppressors, but now working the lands and reporting to their new lords in the Order by the year 1389. It was at this point, the order began to compete with the northern kingdoms for influence in the northern inland sea. Over the next few years, the order engaged in protracted naval conflict with the kingdoms until under grandmaster Ilham the Order hired shipwrights from Koisha and Alsivai, building galleys that were able to overcome the fleets of the northern powers in the battle of Hengerna near the modern city of Alnor. In the peace treaty, the order was seceded a piece of land that would become Sasaktin, the launching ground to head deeper into the north.

Organization

The Order is overseen by a Grandmaster, which appoints a council from officers within the Order. The Grandmaster also appoints the military governors of the two overseas territories held by the Order.

Go into detail about joining requirements, ranks, titles and other organizational tidbits

Demographics

The order is a diverse organization as it recruits from many different ethnic groups, although the leadership is almost entirely of the Ischurri peoples. Ethnic groups found in the order include the Ischurri, Rizai, Losetians, Krosaldyric, Marin, and even Varissi.
As for religion, the order COMPLETE THIS

Geography

The Blackstone Order’s unique placement across the peninsula has greatly shaped the Order’s identity and influence in the region. Bordering Ischurrai to the south, the Ukori League to the west, and the Krosal Kingdoms to the north, the Order maintains an expansionist attitude to the west and north. The Blackstone Order mainly centers around what is considered its ‘main holdings’, on the Zanishme and Maeijka peninsulas. Zanishme is home to the Order's headquarters/capital of Blackstone Keep, and consists mostly of heavily forested hills and rugged terrain. On Maeijka, the western region of the peninsula is characterized by hilly boreal forests, while the inland areas give way to bogs and marshes. Venturing farther north, the Order’s holdings on the Kusmundaa peninsula is characterized by forests near the coasts and hills near the center.

Type

Military Order

Alternative Names

Blackstone Order, Aizusant Ordo, Zannisht Umbra

Related Ethnicities

• Ischarri