Orchyre

Orchyre (pronounced ɒrkaɪər), is a nation situated in Western Hesperia composed of a series of islands. Orchyre is renown for its large coastal port cities and its thriving market. Orchyre is a federal parliamentry consitutional monarchy consisting on 5 provinces or Kingdoms. Orchyre's closest neighbor is Bapitus to the east. Orchyre emerged from 5 unified kingdoms of the Orchyrian archipelago, Navis, Nestowe, Estwael, Yanyl, and Ancelstierre.

Prehistory (4500 BCE - 550 CE)
The earliest evidence of human occupation within what is now Orchyre are human remains dated from around 15000 years ago, found on the central part of Nestowe. A number of cave paintings depicting early man hunting have also been found in the area. Numerous primative artifacts have also been discovered on many of the islands in the Orchyrian Archipelago. It is unclear how early man reached Orchryre but is subject to much speculation. The establishment of permanent settlements in Orchyre began around 4500 BCE. Around 1200 BCE countless tribal kingdoms began to emerge all around Orchyre. By 0 CE Orchyrian farming, metalwork, and construction had become increasingly advanced.

Cerberusian Orchyre (550 BCE - 409 CE)
In 550 BCE a Cerberus explorer named Erbein of Acellevin circumnavigated Orchyre and brought back maps of the area to the Cerberus. In early Summer 43 Emperor Thorip Jubilo of the Cerberus Empire ordered the invasion of Nestowe. By the Summer of 44 CE all of Nestowe had fallen under Cerberus control. In the 49 CE the first Cerberusian citizen-colony was founded at Donathal. Later in 52 CE The Cerberus Empire launched an invasion of Ancelstirre and various islands near Nestowe. These invasions were successful and these islands fell under the control of the Cerberus Empire as well.

At the height of Cerberusian expansion in Orchyre the Cerberus Empire controlled all of what is now known as Orchyre from 66 CE - 409 CE. During this period there was some resent to Cerberusian rule, however, many people came to accept it. Many Orchyrians also assimilated into Cerberusian culture and became 'civilized'. Local aristocrats were encouraged, and soemtimes forced, to throw of the culture of their Orchyrian ancesters.

In addition to culture, the religion of the Cerberus Empire, Veritas, was widley spread across Orchyre. The religions of Orchyre's first peoples, often called Druidism by the Cerberus Empire, was outlawed and worshippers were often sentenced to death. By the fall of the Cerberus Empire almost all of the peoples of Orchyre followed the Veritas religion.

In 408 CE the Cerberus Empire divides into North and South. The Cerberusian presence in Orchyre was severally weakened. In the Summer of 409 CE the Viceroy of Orchyre threw of his alleigence to the Cerberus Emperor and Orchyre offically detached from the Empire. Because of the schism of the Cerberus Empire Orchyre was able to declare independence peacefully without much notice from the Northern or Southern Emprie.

The Division of Orchyre
After the Viceroy of Orchyre had claimed independence, he established the Kingdom of Orchyre and declared himself King. However, the Kingdom of Orchyre quickly fell due to internal issues within the Kingdom. After the fall of the Kingdom of Orchyre the Orchyrian archipelago was divided into many independent tribes, these tribes lost much of the technological and cultural advancements left behind by the Cerberusian Empire. The tribes of Navis, however, continued to hold on to the traditions of Cerberusian Orchyre and seeked the reunification of Orchyre. In the Spring of 410 CE the three major tribes of the island of Navis (Charsel,, and Sardel) unite into one people, the Kingdom of Navis, under King Asarar I of Losalindel who gave each tribe a provincial area call a duchy to rule. The Tribe of Charsel was given western Navis, The Duchy of Charn. The Tribe of Sardel was given Eastern Navis, The Duchy of Sardin. King Asarar I ruled over central Navis, The Duchy of Losalindel, in the great capital of the Kingdom - the city of Asara.

As time past The Kingdom of Navis grew substantial power and influence in the reigion. Especially in Navis' southern neighbor, the island of Estwael which at the time was divided amongst four major tribes (Belija, Dardal, Olietius, and Orar). Asarar II, the son of Asarar I and King of Navis, carried his father's imperialistic ambitions and desire to see Orchyre unified. On March 9th 512 King Asarar II of Navis provided an ultimatum to the four major tribes of Estwael, swear fealty to the King of Navis or prepare for invasion. All the tribes but Belija accepted the offer. On June 28th, 512 King Asarar II laucnhed a full-scale invasion of Estwael with the support of the Belija, now known as the Duchy of Belija, who controlled northern Estwael. This was the beggining of the First Navis and Estwaelen War. Soon after the begininng of the war, July 1st, 512, the three remaining independent tribes of Estwael united to form the Kingdom of Estwael under King Dandole I of Estwael. After eighteen years of fighting the Treaty of Delonshire was signed on January 25th, 530, ending the war. In the treaty Navis was allowed to keep the northern part of Estwael, Belija, in exchange for a promise to not longer interfere with the affairs of the Kingdom of Estwael.

In 583 the self-proclaimed Queen of Orchyre and relative to the former Viceroy of Orchyre, Queen Gira I, began an ambitious campaign to conquer all of Orchyre. Gira I led Miribul Tribe in southern Orchyre. By the Summer of 586 the Tribe of Miribul, led by Gira I, had expanded across all of the Ancellstierrian islands. Gira I renamed The Tribe of Miribul as the Queendom of Ancellstierre. Queen Gira I now sets her eyes towards the smaller western islands of the Orchyrian archipelago and begins a campaign of conquest for the western islands. By 599 Queen Gira I controlled all of modern-day Ancelstierre and Yanyl. In 658 Queen Gira II of Ancelstierre begins an invasion of the Aunden Islands which ends unseccesfully.

In the Summer of 587 the two remaining tribes of the island of Nestowe, The Tribe of Ethul and the Tribe of Actica, begin a war over the cpmplete control of Nestowe, known as the Nestotian Civil War. The Kingdom of Navis provides support for Ethul. In 609 the Tribe of Ethul wins the Nestotian Civil War largely due to the support from Navis and the the Kingdom of Nestowe is established under King Isrian I.

On July 2nd 648, during a visit to Navis controlled northern Estwael, King Asarar III of Navis is killed by by Estwalen nationalists. Asarar III's daughter, Panriel I, becomes the queen of Navis. On July 29th, angered by her father's assination, Panriel I declared war on Estwael. This marked the beggining of the 2nd Navis and Estwaelen War. In 650 King Isrian II of Nestowe joined Navis in the 2nd Navis and Estwaelen War. On December 3, 671 the Estwaelen capital of Dalansvale is captured by Navis forces and on February 7, 672 the Treaty of Asara is signed, ending the 2nd Navis and Estwaelen War. A puppet government is put in place in Estwael by Queen Panriel I.