Record 004: REVOLT

[The Rising Dragon]

“There are those who fear the progress of Stamaria. There are those who do not seek out the future, and refuse others that future. They would not let us have our way, and allow us our evolution. But we will stand firm in our resolve and continue on. The deaths of our people on the southern borders are another proof that our Empire is evolving. The death of my trusted Viceroy in Acera is yet another proof! Fight on! The future of our empire is in the hands of its people, and in the hands of its leaders! All hail Stamaria!”

- Aurinar Stamarin, 5th Emperor of the Holy Empire of Stamaria

REVOLT

In the beginning years of the Stamarian Empire’s war of conquest, many of the southern nations of Cher Plek fell in short order, quickly defeated by the empire’s superior military forces. Overwhelmed by the superior numbers and vastly superior technology, these smaller nation’s military forces were quickly wiped out, and the leaders captured and deposed by Stamaria. As such, the majority of the conquered peoples of the nations held a deep resentment for the empire, despite the reforms and reconstruction that followed immediately after.

Whenever Stamaria conquered a kingdom, it would offer its people the choice to join their people and become honorary Stamarians—statistically, the nations conquered do improve in stature and economy after the war. Many people join the Empire because of this, but national pride is a hardy creature, and most resist the changes in their kingdom, and resent and hate both the Stamarians that occupy it, and the natives who tolerate their presence. Terrorism quickly springs up, targeting civilians and military equally, which only enforces racism and dissention between the conquered kingdom and the Holy Stamarian Empire, and forcing the local occupation forces to try and route it in a timely manner.

Anti-Stamarian sentiments began to spread throughout the world as Aurinar’s campaign continued, with most of the kingdoms nervous at the stunning size of the empire as it already was, thanks to its unifications with the kingdoms of Minervum and Tsuminar. Some kingdoms began to consolidate their power, like the kingdoms of Valtheran, and their islander neighbor, the nation of Aube. Those closer to the conflict were not so lucky. As such, it was only natural that the terrorists lashing out at Stamaria began to organize into a resistance, one bent on turning the tide against the empire.

Sometime during her diplomatic mission to Stamaria, the Cher Plek ambassador Ver Jorin took an interest to the Imperial Library near the Imperial Citadel of Kallagulia. In these halls, Jorin came across ancient tomes about the study of the past, and of the numerous expeditions into the very dangerous Temples of Power scattered across the planet of Ymaggion. They detailed the study of the ancient magic flowing through them and into the rest of the planet, and of the scant findings about the catastrophe of the Wood Temple’s destruction. It is here where Ver Jorin discovered the knowledge of the mythical entities known as the Primals, and would set in motion a revolution that would change the world once more.

During her stay in Kallagulia, Ver Jorin came under the watchful eye of Trens Stamarin, the 4th Emperor of the Holy Empire of Stamaria. He could easily see the advantages presented by the beautiful young ambassador, knowing that through her, many avenues could open up concerning the southern kingdoms of Cher Plek. Being a highly adept sorcerer himself, he subtly seduced her for political measures, utilizing powerful sorceries to bring her under his control. Having fallen to both his physical and magical charms, Ver Jorin made several favorable treaties and agreements with the Empire that allowed it access to the southern continent. He was quite cunning with it, but by the time he was done he found himself more interested in her physically as well as for simple political gains, so he began sleeping with her. As this went on, he foolishly let up on his subtle magic, and she discovered what he had done when he attempted to be honest with her. Filled with feelings of anger and disgust, Ver fled the continent of Zailleon, returning to Cher Plek and taking what knowledge she had acquired in the Imperial Library with her.

Upon returning to Cher Plek, Ver found out that during her affair with Emperor Trens Stamarin, she had become pregnant with his illegitimate child. In her fury, she swore vengeance on the Emperor of Stamaria, and delved into her findings on the ancient past of Ymaggion. On the eve of the child’s birth, Trens Stamarin was slain as a sudden storm raged through Kallagulia, and lightning pierced the cloudy veil on the night sky, killing him instantly. Ver Jorin did not stop at this, and she quickly destroyed the treaties and agreements between the nations of Cher Plek and Zailleon, both those crafted in times past, and those created during her affair with the late Emperor. The borders between the two continents were quickly fortified, as the outlying nations built new defensive fortresses, and traveling Stamarians, as well as those currently residing on the southern continent, are quickly apprehended as their stay in Cher Plek becomes outlawed. Several fierces battles erupt between them and the Empire when they learn of the treachery, and soon, hundreds lay dead on both sides, with villages razed in the Empire’s wake. As Stamaria searched for its captured people, and hunted for Ver Jorin, the ambassador began a journey through the various nations of Cher Plek, spreading teachings and knowledge of the once-forgotten Primal known as Korinus, of the purifying flame.

She inspired the desperate people with her knowledge of the mythical entity, sparking the inspiration of a resistance against the Empire. Worship of the mythical figure Korinus had become increasingly popular in Cher Plek, many of the ancient smaller temples being vague tributes to the Fire Primal. As war reached the borders, Ver Jorin began travelling throughout the continent, convincing leaders of towns and tribes alike of the evil of the Stamarian Empire. As more joined the cause, Ver began to spread the idea as well that the Primal Korinus had seen the worship of mankind, and would bestow favor upon those who wished to defend their lands with his temples, and that Korinus was infuriated by the Fire Temple being part of the self-serving Stamarian Empire.

Having dealt with losses on the borders of Cher Plek primarily, men and women began to eat this information up like nothing else, grasping onto the concept and spreading the word themselves. Boats sailed to the other continents, and word began to spread of an organized rebellion forming. As the news moved through the southern portions of Kouchi, it tunneled down as low as Acera. The residents of Acera took to the news even more enthusiastically than most of Cher Plek had, having felt the direct wrath of Stamaria when it had been brutally annexed, and most of the citizens had assured themselves that their taxes and treatment had to be much worse than any other city simply because of the inconvenient location for the necessary trade.

In truth, the citizens of Acera were the first to actually strike back in the name of the Korin, assassinating the recently instated Dwarven Viceroy for the Stamarian Empire. Much of the law enforcement which had been reluctantly following the lead of the Viceroy quickly joined the cause, and the city was turned over in a matter of weeks, investigation by the Stamarian Empire being killed in the tunnels on the way to the city.

Encouraged by this news, the Korin throughout the world began to form themselves much more seriously, creating armed forces and hit-squads, extending their reach further and further, destroying anyone who supported the Empire along the way. Spreading the word into the claimed territories on the border between Cher Plek and Zailleon, revolts in claimed towns and small cities broke out like the plague. Heeding his mother’s advice, Khordus Jorin aided in quickly turning over control and forcing Stamaria to send more and more soldiers into the violet forests and jungles to reclaim their lost territory. Stamarian grounds quickly became Korin or no-man’s land.

War had struck the world.