The History of Vartai

Due to the arrival of the Exiles, the Azrath felt it more needed to secure and protect the Sanctuary due to their duties given to them by Alzria. This would result in early clashes between the Exiles and Azrath as the Exiles sought to move into the Hilllands and Mountains.
While overall these would be won by the Azrath, it would sour the relations between the two groups, leading to a long period of isolation from the Azrath and agressiveness from the Exiles.

At this time, the Exiles began to undergo a transition, from surviviors of the Age of Darkness, to Criminals and populations the other regions of the Shard had no desire to cater to such as religous minorities or extreme hermits. Its at this point a collection of Fire Blooded and Coilbrywen would arrive within Vartai, settling close to the already established population centers amongst the North.

It would be this period where AstellaTech would make its way into Vartai, slowly setting up their buisness within city of Karvárda and the growing cities of Talsava and Ostroca. The Company would, for the most part, be welcomed wiithin the region by the Boyars and the growing Crime/Merchant Families, who sought to work alongside the company.

While largely constrained to the Goetka communities at this time, their monastic and knightly orders would begin to make their way to the populated centers of Vartai, forming the basis of the growing religious network within the region. Notably their more spiritualistic view of the world and self-betterment efforts would attract various converts and supporters, with even some Boyars becoming part of the knightly orders and intergrating them with their armies.

Growing conflicts amongst settelments within the Fungal Hills and Mountains between the Azrath Margravet and the Goetka Orders would result in the Azrath-Goetka War. This war would be relatively short, lasting only a year, but would see a good deal of fighting between the Orders and Margravet, though little changing hands between the groups. The war would eventually be settled with the Treaty of Settlement.

With the death of the Boyar, the realm of Ostroca would fall into chaos, two main claimants would emerge, the Boyar's son: Czesław Rodak and the Boyar's second in command: Feliks Kortas, though both men were accused of having killed the Boyar to begin with. This war would see the rise of Kelemen Kozma, who would become famous for bringing the supporters of Rodak to victory in the war over Kortas, who would be finally defeated in a decisive battle commanded by Kozma. It would also see the city of Ostroca itself distance itself from the rule of Boyars, instead favoring councils akin to the Tanács and the Merchant Families, a trend that many other cities would soon follow.

Inspired by the actions Ostroca took to distance themselves from their ruling Boyar, the city of Karvádra would seek to do the same. This though would result in a crackdown by their Boyar who sought to keep the populous and rich city under their control. The city would respond with riots and more direct opposition, clashing with the forces loyal to the Boyar, eventually escelating to a full blow revolt against the Boyar. Notably, the revolt's main ally would be the Von Talhains, the local crime and merchant family, who would make deals with several nearby Boyars and Tanács to supply the revolt against the Boyar's forces.  The Revolt would eventually see a victory for the city, with the Von Talhains having secured a great deal of power and ensuring the city's independence. This would result in Karvádra being declared the first Canton of Vartai, an independent free-city with a more democratic government.

Realizing they would not be able to face the Imperial Army in open battle, the opening phase of the war would see the Vartain armies retreating from the open grasslands, heading towards the great forest to the south. While they fled, Vartain armies would utalize the hit and run tactics they would become famous for, harrazing the Imperial Armies, goading them into advancing further. A fatal mistake they would take.