History of Azurien

The history of Azurien is closely linked to the history of the Azurian people and involves two different states named Azurien, whereas the first one was destroyed.

Rise of a People

Long before the Azuran faith spead or other great nations noticed an emerging nation there wes a people on another continent living simple lives in loose organization. At one time some of these people were forced to move off their homeland, causing a larger migration period, probably because of war. One larger group later founded Landaende while the second larger group of people found a giant statue on top of a dead volcano. The people believed this to be a divine sign and prayed to it. The goddess Azura appeared and the people called themselfes azurians from there on. It was then when the first azurian nation was found.

First Nation of Azurien

The newly found nation was mostly characterized by peace and prosperity. Azurians discovered their talent in mining valuable ressources and the volcanic land (some of them more or less active) was fertile. After founding a larger harbor and tradeships trade extended to more than just Landaende. In Hasperia Azurien was known as that distant nation trading exotic materials, mostly with Eisenfelde, which had a ship in almost every harbor at that time.
Azurien had no influence on the political events that were defining Hasperia at that time.

Fire and Chains

In 820 AIC the volcano on which the statue of Azura stood and azurians build their capital erupted, probably causing other volcanos in that area to erupt whereby most of the land was covered in fire or ash making it uninhabitable. Only those lucky enough to live near the coastlines or were a sea at that time were able to flee the land.
The fleet of refugees came to the westcoast of Hasperia. Unfortunately they came to the sphere of influence of Izalith and Whitegold, which were slavers cities back then. Azurians were not able to make a stand at that point and found themselfes as slaves for the next decades.

Izalith was very involved in trade with Vineta, but tensions rose when Vineta was less and less competitive due to the cheap slave workers. When azurians (alongside with other slaves) rebelled against their slavemasters in 880 AIC they were supported by Lonien. The rebellion quickly spread across the land and also reached Whitegold.

At the end azurians founded Azurien again, which technically is the second one, although azurians don't see it that way.

The new Azurien

Although most of the people still lived in Izalith and Whitegold, the new capital Tel Aldnium was founded and it began the construction of a new statue of Azura. The new state of Azurien focused on defense and trade at the time, rebuilding old fortresses at the mountain passes and starting new ones at the coastline. WIth their expertise in mining they quickly became an important trade partner for the surrounding nations. After establishing a stable society, Azurien focused more on naval power. Foreign policy was characterized by condemnent of any kind of suppression leading to a heavy involvment in the Silvetian Revolution.

Today Azurien is the major power in the eastern sea with an influence that reaches from Greifenhausen to the Spice Islands and maintains diplomatic ties to many other nations.

Days of the Prophetess and the End of a Nation

After the death of the High Priest and their ritual at the Eternal Flame the Priests received a vision of a young Sister of Mercy to be the new High Priest, or Priestess. Since Priesthood is withheld to men only, this resulted in a crisis, with the priests split on the matter.

It was eventually resolved that the young sister would become the new High Priestess. Unlike the High Priest before her she was much more involved in the politics and her decisions quickly brought Azurien a golden age with conflicts of the past resolved, trade prospering and the land fertile. Thus she was called The Prophetess by the people. On the island at the mouth of the Oudariel a statue was build in her honor, depicting her with open arms, welcoming anyone to the grace of Azurien.

After about half a century, she was murdered by one of the priests that once opposed her appointment as the High Priestess. Only a few days later Azurien was hit by a cataclysma of natural catatrophies. Tsunamis hit the coastlines completely reshaping them. Massive landslides from the slopes of Mount Heightlimit buried the southern lands. In Tel Aldnium, fires broke out and ravaged the whole city. In the end multiple settlements were either buried under landslides or lost to the sea. The capital was abandoned and the Azurian people split into different groups.

A Shattered Land

Today the former capital is abandoned, survivors split into different groups. Those still following the Azuran faith searched for help with the Sisters of Mercy. They settled down directly next to their abbey forming a matriarchy ruled by the sisters, calling the combined settlement Adaslenya ('Temple Mother'). They control the area around the fertile lowlands.

Others completely abandoned their faith and formed a new society with a more rational approach to natural hazards. They formed the coastal town An-ruhn ('New Home') and quickly spread along the coastline with their fleet of small coastal boats and craftsmanship. Their sphere of influence also includes the city of Nicenstein, which was miraculously spared by the catastrophes and the remains of the Fortress at the lost Redharbor, which they call Vasha Trumbei ('Lost Fortress').

Outside Tel Aldnium survivors formed a shanty town of barracks and hastily built shacks that is called Dunbek ('Dark Village'). Even if the bridge wasn't destroyed, no one would go back to the former capital, which is now called Chi-Tel ('Changed Tower').

The southern high lands are controlled by clan-ish remains of the Azuran faith who believe the estrangement from nature was the reason for the cataclysmic events. Their first settlement is called Eltpoli ('Holy Seed').