North Mar Sara

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Once the People's Republic of Mar Sara, settled by the fabled Starsearchers, Mar Sara was long one of Shireroth's farthest-flung colonies before now finding its way into the Bovic Empire.

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Vilhelm Benkern
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North Mar Sara

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Just spitballing on this topic, but just pondering about how to deal with the loss of territory to Matbaa and then Antica. The northern half of what was then considered an unimportant, far-away, underdeveloped territory was given away in the Atkins reductions of 2006. Later, Matbaa claimed the territory (deliciously detailed map to be found here). A whole narrative for its colonisation was written and I will go over it soon. Finally Antica claimed it, as Antican Suryo, where it has lingered underdeveloped.

Cross referencing Max's Matbaic map with Ryan's climate map, we see that the areas are forest, plain, desert, or mountain - very varied indeed, but not inconsistent with the Matbaic view of things, as a beautiful, almost touristic resort colony, yet still a centre of religion with 35 monasteries (including the famous White Monastery, 'Deir el-Abiad') dotting the mountain ranges and valleys.

I include a small list of settlements that remained throughout the whole history of the North:
Jacurutu became, under Matbaa, became Akhakilez. Named after the Kilez river, marking the edge of the western forest;
New Gettysburg, under Matbaa, became Yira. Yira is slightly more coastal and to the north, and therefore I am contemplating the two being slightly different (Gettsburg falling?)
Yidl, a Matbaic settlement in the centre of the great bay, roughly corresponds to the later Antican city and naval base of Sant Mateu.

Another interesting aspect of Mar Sara's experience under many nations is that its mountains have been the object of military might. The history Fort Suryo, built close to the summit of one of the highest peaks on the whole island, is on the other side of the eastern mountain range to the White Knight Guard fort of Suryo Wardo and the Sourenian family castle, right on the border.

To be continued, with great interest!
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:08 am

Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Antican Cultural Development

Chris' topographical map:
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Vasroe's map of San Mateu:
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And finally...
Elliot's Manor
Elliot Markham wrote:This is the first time I have noticed the Suryoan cultural forum. It looks like Phineas has added some interesting items.

I hereby declare my intent to build a beach house here in Suryo. In addition to my Nafticon City condominium, my Akhilec mansion, and my Phedodahn/English summer chalet and farm, I will now have another wonderful place to stay during the summertime.
Phineas Elastopon wrote:There's a small likelihood that such a house may be burnt down by Matbaic Orthodox zealots, but by all means, holidaying Anticans are welcome. :ugeek:
Elliot Markham wrote:The fact that the capital was named San Mateu may work in my favor. I am a distant relative of the venerable St. Mateu. ;)

I hereby make Suryo my official region of residence, and declare myself of Suryan ethnicity. DNA testing has confirmed that my great-great-great grandmother was Suryan.
A little later...
Entropious wrote:Reports have been flooding in all morning about a curious event on the beaches of Suryo:
A Poor Journalist wrote:
San Mateu Herald - 17 July 2010

MARKHAM BEACH HOUSE MEETS FIREY END
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Late last night, the former beach house of Mr. E Markham was mysteriously burnt to the ground. The group of local youth who first discovered the fire also reported seeing an unfamiliar ship docked nearby, but when officials reached the scene some hours later, no clear traces of the ship or its crew could be found. Officials are still working to decipher the remnants of a mysterious message (pictured above) that was found carved in the sand. The fire is being investigated as arson, but no suspects have yet been named.

The house's construction earlier this year had been met with some resistance on the part of the local populace, and threats had made against both Mr. Markham and his home. From the day he was first discovered planting Antican flags along bits of the coast until his eventual departure for Samudra, Mr. Markham was a controversial figure in Suryo. While some praised his contributions to the ongoing urban planning projects, most dismissed him. Desipte his claims of Suryan ethnic heritage, one prominent community leader argued that Mr. Markham simply “another damn tourist” with “no respect for the land or the culture."
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Just been researching the Matbaic period of Mar Saran history. Here's their introduction to Suryo:
Occupying the Northern Half of the island of Mar Saba, Suryo was until quite recently the most distant province from the mainland of Cibola that the Zatriarchate of Matbaa owned. Today it is something of a tranquil backwater, seeing very little visitors except those from Matbaa. However, it is one of the nation's most beautiful areas, and is very mountainous, which makes some quite dramatic scenery. Suryo is most famous, however, for its monastic communities. It is believed that there are some 35 monasteries in Suryo Province, each one with anything between 2 and 200 resident monks. Because of the relative isolation of many of the villages and towns in the area, Suryo relies on agriculture for its economy, much of which is sold in the mainland or in Novasolan nations. Other economic schemes to modernize the province are being introduced fast by the Matbaic Ministry of Economics. The largest and most important city in Suryo is Sulayil, occupying a narrow peninsula at the top of Mar Saba island and commanding a natural harbour. No other settlements in the province are nearly as large, so Sulayil is essentially the most important area of Suryo. Though Suryo is probably one of the least wealthy provinces of Matbaa, steps are being taken to bring tourism to it and thus help the quality of life in the more rural villages. Most of the people in Suryo are ethnically Matbaic Syriacs and so this is one of the places to experience Matbaic culture at its best, undisturbed and unspolit from generations of isolation.
What attracts many people to the province is its long coastline with many unspoilt beaches, which may well attract a lot of investment for tourism in future years. Suryo province borders the Imperial Republic of Shireroth to the South, with several border crossings to the Shirereithan city of Sileni.
Below, the story I referred to above, written by Armen Sourenian (aka St. Fenix). He was governor of the Matbaic colony of Suryo. This is too good not to be canon history of the island. But, every history is just his-story and therefore it is to be taken with a pinch of salt within the context of the timeline found in another thread.
The Colonization of Suryo, a Short History:
Written by: Armen Sourenian

In the Beginning:

The Colonization of Suryo as it is commonly known proceeded slowly at first, beginning in the open shores and gradually working its way into the heartland, this process itself was the insurance that once the colonists from Matbaa proper reached into the heartland of Suryo that many discoveries would await the daring Colonists from a far away land, especially due to the lack of Sailing Technology at the time which ensured the trip from the Mainland to be over a two month voyage, which ensured many would die from dysentery and various other ailments carried upon the rats which were often present in the holds of the ships themselves. The Suffering induced though was merely a side note to the colonists who would begin another life in the faraway land of Suryo.

Once the colonists would arrive they would behold a land of plenty and bounty, in such a virgin form that few had seen anything of its like. Even the farthest oases in the Desert Provinces or in the Hidden Gullies in the Motherland’s coastal provinces were hard pressed to match the beauty present in some of the areas in Suryo. From the Forests of various beeches, maples and oaks that huddled near the mouth of small streams next to the beaches with many various foreign fish lapping at the sea edge to begin fighting their way back up stream. To the Majestic Suryo Cedar who’s twisted limbs and small green needles would glisten in the sunlight in the highlands as well as from the mountains. Their needles would lie over the mountainside, even a traveler with bare feet would feel at home in the giant carpets of soft brown needles provided. To the various poppies and rues that grew in the forest clearings and the great fields of daisies that could dwarf anyone in the shear size of their stretch. This was the land of Suryo that would be home to the Matbaics. The land itself remained empty however while the days went in and out sometimes with rain quietly washing over the landscape.

The Mysterious Shirerethians had made Southern Suryo their home for many a year. This being long before the first Matbaic explorers began to nudge their small carracks into the bays and river inlets in Northern Suryo. They had come to the land and settled primarily in the South, and for reasons unknown to this day, left the Northern half of the island relatively peaceful. It was merely considered unmapped with no purpose to be mapped. The Shirerethians however continued to live in the colder south speaking in Shirerethian tongues of things few outsiders knew of, or merely of the Shirerethian Homeland.

It wasn’t long before the Shirerethians began to slowly leak tales from the island, and various curious Matbaics drove their ships into the blue water around Cibola in order to further their knowledge of such an island. Often the ships would meet with shoals of dolphins and in the deeper waters, the whales of Cibola whose mighty bodies could sometimes dwarf even the larger Matbaic ships. It was in these Warm Southern Oceanic waters that the Matbaic Cibolans would send their ships in pursuit of the edge of the world, or the edge of Adventure.

The Matbaic colonists who first arrived faced a variety of challenges that few Matbaics were ready for. The first of which, and the most friendly was the mere fact that such a green place actually existed. For many Matbaics whose lives were spent on the burning Desert Plateaus, or the scorched sands of the Motherland such beauty was a hard thing to take in and many thanked god that such a place could exist; each thanking him for the chance to make such land their own. However it wasn’t merely the minds of the people who began to colonize Suryo many left Matbaa with little knowledge of what lay over on the island and few were truly prepared for the task at hand in dealing with terrain which was radically differed from their own.

The Shear poverty of some led them to first live either in tents or in caves should they be available. But most simply shared space in the outdoors, usually under the soft shade provided by the Suryo Cedars, or in the oaks which lived closer to shore. Quite often many would band together and survive by the shear force of numbers and work that a small group could put into surviving and growing. Each giving what others needed, and taking only what he needed to survive. Each working on making more tools and skills needed to survive in the new lands. It was during this time that Poison was rampant as many various people would tempt fate by tasting various fruits and nuts available around the island, leading many of them to die due to some of the poisons present in some of the plants and trees. While many found food sources and medicines In the foreign plant life, the Bark of the Suryo Cedar having the medical properties of a painkiller when mixed with water.

The Settlers came in droves, and eventually the upper classes began to book ships to the new land, coming in smaller but safer numbers, they had the money required to live in luxury on the way over, and took many serfs and various servants along in order to begin new lives in the new land. The Colonists at first didn’t take well to them, but when the opportunity to help the men with money build their house in exchange for one of their own came around, very few kept their previous attitude. Even so these nobles created their own kingdoms around their power and the money they provided. Each “Kingdom” would build elaborate houses and building complexes, as well as long strips of palisades, all out of the wood on the coastlines. Eventually these manors would become the basis of many villages along the coasts and spread all the way down the coastlines and eventually meeting the Shirerethian villages, where a natural distrust of the strangers kept the Matbaics from colonizing any farther. Suryo however only began to take civilized shape when the Zatriarchate officially arrived.

The Zatriarch arrives:

The various Zatriarchs who ruled over Matbaa during this time period began to take serious interest in the island when droves of serfs and peasants began to migrate, thusly coming up the chain to the nobles who needed them to work their land and for many other menial jobs. This emigration also provoked many members of the clergy to go with their congregations and ensure the teachings of god would be obeyed in the new land. The Zatriarch began to realize that if any other power attempted to control the lords of the island or conquer each one at a time wouldn’t have much trouble. The Shirerethians being the preeminent power on the island already, the Zatriarch decided to take no chances. He would send a detachment of the military to consolidate rule over the Matbaics already there. And in only three months over three thousand men were ready for the voyage and the ships were being gathered.

The Force arrived at the point of first landing by the Matbaics: The small town of Sulayil, ironically the future capital of the territory was also one of the smallest towns in its founding, and on an easily defended position: A small island with a few feet stretch of water between it in and mainland. The force itself had hoped to be greeted, but the inhabitants of the town mistook the invaders as a foreign force and locked the entire town, which coincidentally was the only Matbaic town which had a wall in Suryo made of stone. The Troops immediately demanded the opening of the town in the name of Matbaa, and after some dialogue was sent between the commander of the force and the town leaders, they opened up and once again embraced the rule of the Zatriarch. The commander requisitioned a garrison from several buildings and after two days of establishing themselves began a historic march down the coast demanding the loyalty of the noble kingdoms, or they would destroy them.

At first several nobles were quick to capitulate and eagerly joined Matbaa sending their personal forces with the army as a sign of goodwill. The Army took upon itself another 500 in this manner, and began to make significant progress. Each soldier hardly minding the long walk in the brilliant forests, and plains along the coasts. And having more food each night then many had had in rations on the mainland. They kept up the march and eventually came unto a Noble who refused to acknowledge the rule of the Zatriarch, stating that this land was new and that he was hear first. The Army gave him a second warning, and after being ignored assigned ranks and charged the palisades of the compound. The Noble was not in a weak position being upon a small hill in the Forest, as well as having a large guard of 200 men. They fought madly against the army and many were felled because of Zatriarchal arrows, however due to their efforts the Palisades were unable to be uprooted and the army (who had 10 killed and 15 wounded) fell back to contemplate its next move and to lick its wounds..

The Army officers considered burning them out, but many of the soldiers had already grown attached to the scenery of Suryo which would surely catch fire as well, this leaked up the officers themselves; They decided against it. They then thought of assaulting the palisades with ladders, but the resistance put up would make it a long drawn out affair, with the assurance of more army casualties that would burden the army more then it already was. The Last plan would be to create rams and charge parts of the Palisades. And then Assault the rest of the fortress, but it would take time. However in this case it was no worry and the army looked for Oaks that would fit the job.

The army began its work on the rams and after 10 days had assembled the rams and covered them in Syriac Prayers as well as various taunts to be hurled at the Noble himself. The plan was then put into action, but the army itself found its way into a strange position. Over the last ten days it had come to pass that a member of the guard had escaped the army’s scouts around the Noble’s Palisaded land, and had request help from other Nobles. The help came in an thousand man force that was equipped with various weapons, some from the Matbaic mainland, and some Shirerethian, Some still were wooden or stone weapons from the land itself. Either way it was not a force that could be dealt with by the army at the present time, not without too many casualties. Even so the commander had faith that it could be done and order the ranks to be formed, the rams to be set aside and all men readied for immediate battle.

The Battle that took place was not nearly as lopsided as one would imagine, the Nobility army had had time to get ready and had caught the Zatriarchal army by surprise, in addition the Zatriarchal army was not ready for a complete conflict and many soldiers had been readied merely to support the assault on the Noble’s land instead of just a straight all out battle against another force. This left many without proper armament and thusly to act as Battlefield fodder.
The Nobility army charged and began to make good use of the various weapons they had gotten from many different sources. The Zatriarchal army suffered at first but began to pick up speed, and after 20 minutes of fierce hand to hand, the Zatriarchal army was feeling the effects of the charge. However they began to quickly make up for the lost time and after a few minutes their numbers began to win through. The nobility army with its various weapons had the downside of being outnumbered. This was temporarily alleviated when the army had been joined by the Local Noble’s Army and had actually grown at a point in the battle, but was quickly reduced to what it was and then to 800 men. This left the men in a Panic and they began a retreat. The Zatriarchal Army who was by far better trained took up a rallying call and quickly charged after the retreating army, chasing them into the woods where they dispersed, with the Local Noble’s defense returning to the compound.

The Zatriarchal army had suffered 185 Dead and 278 wounded in the battle while the opposition had not been able to be sufficiently numbered in the first place. This burdened the army, which needed all of its hands for the rams and the assault force; but nonetheless the assault continued and the rams were put to use against the palisades. It had been a long time in camping around the fortress and morale was high as they began the assault, only slightly undermanned. The Assault began well with the rams making it to the palisades almost unmolested, but as the ramming began the defenders started to fight. The Palisades stood almost no match to the rams, and eventually holes big enough were torn into the walls for a general assault to take place, and the rams withdrew. The Army stormed the compound and over the course of an hour slaughtered near everything inside. Taking only several prisoners.

The Army however one returning victorious to the camp was fatigued, and it was at this time that an unforeseen event came to the fore. Another Nobility army encouraged by the failure of the first showed up, numbering around 2000 this was a far more serious threat, especially with prisoners and wounded, it became obvious that such a position was untenable and they began to make their way back up the coast at full march, Stopping only twice and each time almost coming into contact with the new nobility army which had followed right after. Along the way the work of the Zatriarchal army began to be undone as nobles felt that the winning side would be Nobility thanks to the distance from Matbaa to Suryo. (Which coincidentally was in this period grossly exaggerated thanks to the fact that the trip to Suryo took far longer then most other trips around the Cibolan Continent. The Wind currents and various natural phenomena took part as well, insuring that any trip between the two lands was painfully slow.) The Nobility army swelled in the troops it took on, and eventually it began to heavily outnumber the Zatriarchal army, at one point even to the point of 5,000 to the Zatriarchal Army’s 2500.
The commander of the Zatriarchal force realized that if this wasn’t put down the island could centralize itself behind Noble rule and may even become independent. This couldn’t stand and he decided that instead of running along the coast down the Eastern side of Suryo, he would force a confrontation in the Fort town of Sulayil. He arrived at Sulayil nearly two months after he had first arrived, and the town was shocked to see overnight that they were put into a Siege position by the army. And several spoke against it, but these were quickly silenced. The commander requisitioned every able-bodied man in the name of the church and manned the walls. The 5,000 strong army (coincidentally this army contained nearly every armed man native to Western Suryo outside of Sulayil at the time. Eastern Sulayil had about 3000 at this time.) began to take up siege positions. The first day was marked through many volleys of arrows both sent at each other when the Nobility army attempted to use siege ladders, which were hastily taken from many of the nobility compounds farther down the coasts. They failed due to the amount of defense the Zatriarchal army put up and eventually both settled down sending many volleys of arrows that had little effect on both sides, but drained the arrow resources the Men in Sulayil had at the time.

The Secret Army:

Unbeknownst to both sides however, The Zatriarch in Matbaa had decided to send another 6,000 man army to Suryo three months after the first left, and the lack of communication of his intention left the Commander already on Suryo ignorant to the arrival of such a giant reinforcement and it was to the detriment of the Army already there that they prepared for annihilation and lost so much without the knowledge that the new army was coming. The commander of the New Army was none other then Yaq’ab Ashur who had been a relatively little known commander at the time but who would later make a name for himself in the wars after Suryo was secured for the Zatriarchate. He would also be famous for his flamboyant personality and his well-known Yellow eyes that added a very frightening effect to his face, making him a very fierce looking general. He was also known for his Mustache that he kept very neat. The Zatriarch didn’t know it immediately at the time but he had sent the perfect person to Suryo.

However the order itself was tall and word was able to get to the army by merchant ships that an army of the Nobility was trying to consolidate rule on the Island and that the Zatriarchal army was having a time of it trying to take control. Yaq’ab was furious that it could get to such a point without the other army effectively taking control of the island, of which seemed to be asking for independence primarily from its Western coasts. But he knew that such a “revolution” wouldn’t remain there and would probably take Suryo, as well as antagonize the Shirerethians in the South and possibly even cause them to take steps in the war. Something that Yaq’ab knew couldn’t come to pass or the Island itself would become one giant mess. And it would all be because of Matbaa. So he set about learning everything he could, but it was hard work due to few ships that would come by. Each not wishing to know anything, much less declare they were on a losing side by aiding the Matbaic army, which looked really plausible at the time. So in the end he was left with very little knowledge, and many worries.

Back on the Mainland the situation looked grim as the Nobility army began to realize that the Zatriarchal army was in dire need of Arrows. The Men on the walls of the town had been told to fire at one point only when a hit was guaranteed, or in short, only within 50 yards. This left the Army vulnerable to the Nobility archers, which took many of the lives of the guards on the walls. In exchange the Zatriarchal army had little to do but attempt to grow food which was getting low as well, even attempting at one point to build a raft out of ruined arrows and various pieces of furniture to use as a fishing boat on the Oceanic side of Sulayil. It was lowered to the water 40 feet below with ropes on the calmest nights, and would return not long after sunrise to ensure that they could catch what they could in the early morning light. Four attempts failed before one raft was able to successfully return with a cargo of Local Suryo Salmon, however the next time it sailed it was located by the Nobility army and went down a pincushion of arrows.

The Battle of Sulayil:

The army of Yaq’ab showed up quite unexpectedly one morning, much to the rejoicing of the army inside the walls. The nobility army however to reasons unexplained to this day took no special notice of the Sea during these days and In fact left several memoirs of “A perfectly sunny day with the chance of another attempt at an assault on the castle”. The Nobility Army itself had over the last few months began to build itself into a proper force and due to the amount of men present actually began to decide upon building a central Suryo government. It was under these conditions that they began to plan the new government and with little prospect of an immediate opening in Sulayil felt that they should establish such works. And they had even began to gather the various nobles traveling with the army in order to come to a decision through their consensus of who the head of the island would be. They began to plan the war with a goal that they would make Matbaa understand their right to be a separate country and would over time grant them access into the Church, which many of them still very faithfully followed. It was during one of these meetings that the Army under Yaq’ab made its appearance.

Meanwhile Yaq’ab was made aware of the army besieging Sulayil, and he made preparations for a running start on the beaches, going so far as to create a plan B that would consist of the Ships of the squadron sailing full-sail onto the beach and then having the prepared warriors disembark and attempting to attack. It however never came to this as he merely anchored his ships a mile down shore (Luckily behind a local Behind a local Beech forest, he couldn’t be spotted easily by the Nobility Army which had just begun its newest meeting upon the creation of the Throne of Suryo.) They took a day to debark from the ships, and after scouting the area formed up into ranks and began the march down the coast. It was in the Journals of many of the soldiers that tomorrow would be a faithful day, especially as the army had no idea how many of the soldiers were left here on Suryo, whether any had joined the other side, or whether or not they would stand a chance against the large army they had spotted a day before.

In fact two soldiers of the Previous Zatriarchal force had turned traitor, but both were caught halfway in the act and were both killed by their senior officer. The reasoning behind their treachery was vague but they did act against their own troops in battle by fleeing and attempting to join their ranks after they fled from the first battle. In the Meanwhile 34 soldiers from the Nobility army had joined the Zatriarchal army, all had defected during the battle and retreated with the army. One of them would later become famous after the war in the Matbaic Homeland for inventing a new style of the Famous Matbaic scimitar. The Overall Casualties to this point for the entire campaign had been around 600 but that would change once that two armies would commit to a major battle, something both were not entirely prepared for. The Nobility army not consisting of any veteran soldiers, and the Zatriarchal army under Yaq’ab not entirely ready for a land battle after several months at sea and still consisting of Matbaic hardtack from the ships holds, hoping to get to the battlefield sooner. This was to be a distraction for the Matbaic Army where Yaq’ab was far too worried about coming to a Gallant rescue, when he could have easily waited another day to get better food for the men.

The two Armies met each other in the Early Morning two days after the Arrival of the new Matbaic Army under Yaq’ab. And at first both began wish a series of skirmishes between scouts on both sides. The scouts of both sides would hunt down the scouts of the others and then have Archers direct arrows to the area, however it was slow going and eventually the armies penetrated far enough to the point where the Nobility army thought it best to confront the army in the open space near Sulayil Island, thinking the inhabitants too starved, it would be a pushover to fight a battle and then continue the siege. However Yaq’ab was ready for this eventuality, he unlike his predecessor had Horses with him (Which were coincidentally not native to Suryo) and was able to form a small cavalry unit that he would use to deadly effect on the battlefield. It was these forces that he sent south and then around to the north to hit the flank of the opposing army. And it would be one of the decisive factors of the battle itself.

It had progressed to sometime in the early afternoon when the main armies began to square off. The Matbaic army however had the benefit of being behind the forest and choosing when to charge, and Yaq’ab gave his men a moment to prepare before he made an immediate rush onto the Battlefield keeping a reserve force, that also contained a small call force that he would send in order to order the Cavalry to advance, this force would then charge with the cavalry. The plan was set out and Yaq’ab made his decision. It was time to attack, and with his scimitar out he commanded the front forward and the men rallied with the cry “Nahrain!” and swept out of the forest into the waiting Nobility Archer’s arrows.

The Nobility army had not been unwise in its choice to let its battle be fought out in the open and now that they knew where the men were coming they let loose with all of their archers who made the first Wave by Yaq’ab almost null by the time it reached the ranks. It was at this time that Yaq’ab saw that he needed his cavalry and sent out the call Force. He then began the charge of the next wave, after that he would only have his reserve and he wished to save that for the thick of the battle. It was this time that the Cavalry made its arrival and the 300 man Cavalry quickly made the wait worth it, and quickly avenged the losses given by the Nobility army. They had arrive right at the moment in between the alternating Dual-volley of arrows that the Nobility Army had perfected over the last few months against Sulayil as a siege tactic. The Cavalry Made quick work of the Archer lines and almost immediately the Nobility army was almost completely without archers.

The members of the Nobility army quickly lost heart at the sight, many of them who had not seen horses since the times in the old land were impressed by the power they brought onto the battlefield. However they were not disheartened enough to quite just yet, and as the cavalry swept through they began a rather disorganized charge into what little remained of the First wave of the Zatriarchal Army. This happening just after the second wave began to appear from behind the forest trees. This would be by far the shortest and most climactic part of the battle as the first wave of Zatriarchal Men disappeared in exchange for the opposing forces Archers. However it wasn’t just up to the Zatriarchal army to make this battle, the Men in Sulayil had other plans.

The Local Commander of the previous force had died during the siege when an Arrow had pierced his side during a wall top inspection. In exchange Altan Qom an Oromoykhan soldier took over the reigns of command and inherited a poor force, but nonetheless he was determined to make an impact in the battle happening outside the walls. He armed as many men that were willing or able to and dropped the Drawbridge by cutting the cables, shattering part of it, but allowing hundreds of men to run across into the flank of the enemy. They quickly joined with the Cavalry, who had run off the battlefield after taking out the archers and had wished to make another charge, but spears were ready now and it would have been to their disaster. Their commander wisely called off the next charge. That all changed when they saw the men from Sulayil charge out, and they quickly rode alongside and made their presence felt once again.

The combined forces of the two fronts began to push the Nobility farther back on the field, but they had just begun. They had two rows of reserves and only two of the four had seen combat. It would be a long day; even the Zatriarchal archers had trouble making a dent behind the deep lines of Zatriarchate and Nobility soldiers. It was in these conditions that rain began to fall onto the field, causing the coastal dirt to turn quickly into mud. This slowed down the battle, but as Yaq’ab and Altan had seen the pressure was on and the enemy wasn’t taking it well.

The battle continued into the afternoon and into the edge of the evening as the waves began to collapse, reform and then charge once more. This time Yaq’ab saw little use of his reserves and formed another front on a flank of the opposing army and began to surround the army, eventually getting to the Nobles who were huddled in the center. But it was not doubted in any way that they would have the best weapons and training of anyone on the battlefield. But it was also in the hearts of the Zatriarchal Army that it would be the end of the Campaign when all of them lay dead. And they saw to it as the army became more and more fractured, many began to surrender and several groups of the army ran into the forest and were not seen again In the battle.

A Few minutes to nightfall the battle was over, and the smell of blood hung thick in the air as the fresh sea breeze halted a moment before the evening fog began to roll in along with the inland air going out to sea. It was in this surreal environment that the Matbaic Army accepted the surrender of the last 100 men of the Nobility Army. And it was in this quiet where the only sound hitting all the ears of the combatants was the sea that Altan and Yaq’ab finally met. Both congratulated the other on a very well done battle and they began to make plans on what to do when the sun rose on the thousands of corpses as well as possible still alive men who would miraculously survive even some of the most brutal wounds. Both didn’t sleep a wink as many of the men who had fought all day fell asleep, some In the woods, but most in the town away from the battle were so many had fallen.

The Aftermath of the battle was largely unrecorded from this point on, but it is known that a huge rush of soldiers, and peasants rushed the battlefield and stripped many of the dead and dying of their armor and weapons, the soldiers would take them as souvenirs since many were Shirerethian Steel and were very impressively conceived. While others could make plenty of money off of a well-forged sword. Yaq’ab and Altan began quick friends and both became steadfast drinking buddies. Altan’s small beady but strangely gray eyes with Yaq’ab’s fierce façade became a common sight in Sulayil as what remained of the Matbaic Army marched down the Eastern Seaboard of Suryo and accepted the surrender of all private Nobles and incorporated them into the Zatriarchate formally. The Numbers of dead on the field also grossly exaggerated at the time are hinted to be around 2000-3000, however the real number may only be around 1500. Evidence suggests that the formal story itself may also be somewhat fabricated and it is possible that a large part of the Nobility army surrendered early but there is no conclusive proof as few stories of the battle were passed down.

A New beginning:

Suryo after the Rebellion began to actively flourish as a Zatriarchate colony, and only 10 years after the battle had regained most of the population lost through its fight, and the first few children born on Suryo began to grow up in a land of plenty. It was in this light that the Zatriarchate took more formal interest in the island, and after much thought a new city was founded near the center of the Island which was now quickly becoming more and more explored everyday. It was surrounded by some of the largest forests of Suryo Cedar on the entire island and its economy would be run by it. The New city however was at a loss for a name, and everything from Suryo to Yaq’ab came up as a suggestion for a name. But when the church formally came to consecrate the ground for the city it was decided that it would be named Altan. After the Man who lead a successful charge against the rear of the Noble army and ensured their defeat and provided a legendary story about the cutting of the drawbridge in order to charge across faster.

Altan quickly grew into an economic powerhouse, and its massive forests provided so much excess lumber that it could be sold very cheaply and still make a very large profit. The Warehouses were never at a loss for wood and for quite a long time life was very good in Altan. Even at one point becoming the home of the Altan Cathedral, which was known as the hallmark of Suryo Architecture. It was during this time that more and more waves of colonists from the mainland swelled the population of the town from 1000, to 100,000 over the course of 20 years. Causing many problems in housing to go unsolved until, as many skilled laborers could be present to help expand the city in need of expansion.
In Addition to this Suryo quickly became the spot of many Monastic Communities each following the Teachings of the Church but in the more secluded areas of the Suryo Highlands, as well as a few along the coasts. It was during this time that Suryo became more of a mainstream Province. However it never really lost its colonial feel. It is still often argued that Suryo is not a true province of Matbaa. It also took on a new name during this time by being the Headquarters of the Metropolitan of Suryo, the leader of all members of the Church overseas. It was a highlight of Suryo’s history when it was named in such an honor.

The Industrial Revolution hit Suryo solidly and was one of the most quickly industrialized places in Matbaa, Altan Among them. It was only in the first years of the revolution that a fire broke out in Altan that quickly obliterated the city off the face of the map. The Authorities of Altan felt that the need to rebuild it would be the most important work the Zatriarchate had at the time, however the truth was that many Nobles on the island opposed it do to the fact that it was probably the most industrialized city in the Zatriarchate and its presence took away from the profits that the Nobles reaped on their massive plantations as well as orchards and lumber ranges. It was this pressure that caused Altan to be abandoned and its inhabitants to disperse among the burnt husks of the Cedar trees, many of which were beginning once again to grow.

Suryo then went through the industrialization of its populace a process still continuing but emerged without much of the turmoil experienced on land, and quickly adapted to the changing order of the Zatriarchate. It was during this time that Joseph Sourenian, and Kemil Qom (the Great Great Great Grandson of Altan Qom) among others became a force in Suryo politics. It was in this time that began the rise of the various farming corporations that have ruled the island every since. It was also during this time that the Zatriarchate began to de-commission its many castles built around Suryo during the Darker ages and had held over only on the condition that their walls could stand up to the now ever increasing power of cannons. The Monastic Lifestyle that had become so prominent also underwent a lengthening lack of interest in the subject and eventually an overall downturn in the number of monks into the various orders, and eventually leading to the abandonment of several old standing Monasteries.

Suryo itself is currently poised and ready for the trials that await it in the near future. It is the home of many groups from around Matbaa, and is considered one of the most scenic of all lands in the Zatriarchate. Its future is a bright one among the Cedar trees that call Suryo home.
An article by the same about the Suryo Aurochs, the native cattle:
Suryo Aurochs
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It was only among the deepest and most hidden valleys during the early colonization of Suryo that many herds of one of Suryo’s most famous animals came to be found. Although they were known from time to time to migrate to the coast to feast on the various plants that lived around it, it was remarkable that few settlers came into contact with the massive beasts each being about 6 feet tall (2m) and about 9 feet long (3m) Each with Massive horns that could easily be mistaken for the trunk of a small tree. It was in these times that the herds were massive some with over 500 individuals, and herds lived all across the island.

It was in this time that the Matbaics began to colonize Suryo and the Aurochs began to make a decline from its original massive population and the herds that would migrate along the coast became fewer and fewer, eventually they began to stop coming altogether, being hunted to such small numbers that they could easily survive in the valleys deeper in Suryo. And for quite a time the Aurochs did very well for themselves in the middle of the islands, but after the formal incorporation of Suryo into the Zatriarchate, many began to start colonizing the interior. Many held little regard to the Aurochs and began to take over the valleys and after clearing out the Aurochs could have tons of meet, hide as well as horns to sell to any passersby on their way even deeper into Suryo. Many Aurochs even became domesticated under the Matbaics.

Domestication for the Suryo Aurochs was something that had unseen effects upon the Aurochs themselves who over the consequent generations began to look less and less like Aurochs and eventually began a evolve the creatures into something quite different, which would later be known as a “Lesser Aurochs”. These Aurochs didn’t have the characteristically big horns that the Aurochs did and didn’t grow as big, these Aurochs were growing steadily into something else entirely and after about 100 years the change in some of them was complete, and they remained the smaller miniature versions of the Aurochs but with many variations in color and horn style. The Original Aurochs continued to live in the wild and being pushed farther and farther inland became hardier.

Eventually under Aleksander Sourenian Suryo began to observe more conservation practices. Instead of being hunted by anyone the privilege would be solely the Nobility’s. In this way he could reduce pressure, from the general populace. Most often those who were found to have broken this punishment would be severely punished, whipping was common, and some of the most die-hard nobles would even behead those who would infringe upon the law.

It was in this climate that Aleksander proposed a race among the Nobles in the name of sport in creating the largest heard of “Aurochs” among them but “Lesser Aurochs” didn’t count. It was with this in mind that Nobles all over the island spent fortunes upon the raising of the Aurochs and after 2 years the Winner was declared to be Sargon Girbram a Noble who lived in Southern Suryo who wound up with over 540 heads of pure Aurochs on his massive plantation. Sarkis Qom (The Son of Kemil Qom) came in close second with 533 heads. All other nobles had far less with Aleksander only have 43.
Around this time many who began to attempt to domesticate the Hardier Highland Aurochs who had fled from civilization noticed that these Aurochs didn’t begin to devolve after time passed and instead remained solid in their nature and even after several generations remained just as large. These aurochs then began to be sold to those who lived farther and farther north, eventually displacing many of the “Lesser Aurochs Species” and in a way reclaiming the land that had been taken from them and had almost hunted them to extinction. However now they would serve under the Matbaics as a food source and a source of prosperity.

Suryo Aurochs themselves are a great mystery in the development of Animal life on Micras, being almost un-explainable in the matter that they lived in such large herds on Suryo so far from any continent. It was here that they were able to flourish as a species and remained and still does remain the largest animal upon the islands itself. It along with the Suryo Cedar has been taken to be a symbol of the island itself and over the years it has assimilated into the local culture and there remain many paintings of the Aurochs herds on the horizon as a harbinger of good times as well as prosperity upon the island.

The Aurochs Horn of Plenty originated upon the island itself and is a symbol for prosperity all over Matbaa and even in neighboring countries where small Matbaic Diasporas have sprung up. Some Matbaics even live with some of the Aurochs who have been deported from Suryo itself, to have their fortunes in other lands under different suns. Oromoykhans are among those who embraced the Suryo Aurochs and several herds can be seen in Oromoykha.

The Aurochs ended the last millennium with the projected number of Aurochs that lived upon Suryo when the settlers first arrive. Over 300,000 and with the recent expansion to other lands and even to foreign nations this is expected to grow as the Aurochs continue to grow into a world-wide species and begin to provide food to millions. The Aurochs future looks far brighter then in any other time in history and even with the pressure put upon by hunting the population has keep pace, and will be expected only to grow in the next few years.
An article about the famous 'White monastery':
Deir el-Abiad (White Monastery)

Simply known as the White Monastery, this ancient monastic community lies deep in an isolated valley in Suryo province, alongside the River Quzlum. Only 5 minutes from a road leading to Sulayil, the provincial capital, Deir el-Abiad is unmistakable amidst the barren, rocky scenery which surrounds it. The huge sandstone walls are broken by three gates, each defended by towers. Its name is derived from the white paint which covers the walls, and is decorated with Coptic-style crosses. There are now some 35 monks resident in the monastery, and it was extensively rebuilt and renovated in the 1850s by Zatriarch Maria V. Irrigation from the nearby river allows monks to grow fruit and vegetables, and they may offer travellers to join them for meals, all which include freshly grown produce. Entering via the vast metal-studded doors of the river gate, one arrives in the main courtyard, dominated by a large fountain and beautiful garden, which contains a great many pieces of masonry and carving from an older monastery from the mid 11th century which first stood on the site. To the left is the monastery church, which is the oldest part still standing, known locally as the ‘hanging church’. Strangely, who exactly the church is dedicated is unknown, as very few records of the monastery exist, and those which have not got any references regarding the consecration of the monastery church. The hanging church gained its name from the architectural feature it possesses, in which the body of the church is raised high and accessed by stairs up to the main entrance. Underneath the main church body is a crypt containing the remains of monks and abbots from the 12th-18th centuries. The monks’ quarters themselves are not especially interesting, yet the building they are located in is built into the wall, so the windows in the monks’ cells served as archers’ emplacements if ever Deir el-Abiad was under siege. As usual, the building is topped by ribbed domes and surrounded by carved columns. Two by the gate are particularly fine, and have carvings of peacocks and other birds. Some niches along the wall are now used as shrines, and local villagers leave alms to the monks here. Inside the church itself, alternating slabs of black, red, and white marble have been used for the floor, whilst traces of early 10th century fresco can be seen around the apse. Behind the altar is a huge, simple mosaic of a cross, with a long inscription on Syriac painted above it.
This is a detailed article about the Sourenian family history, and their estate at Sourenian Castle:
Sourenian Castle

The Sourenian Castle has been the Residence of the Sourenian Family for over 5 Generations. However the Castle itself holds history that begins long before that.

The Sourenian Castle was at one time a Zatriarchal Outpost of the Army on Suryo, And being relatively near the Shirerethian Border various Shirerethians had lived in the area and helped to add to the Architecture of the area leaving most buildings with a Gothic feel to them. However when the outposts began to be consolidated, and siege combat began to wane as the primary form of warfare, many of them were either abandoned or Dismantled. The Sourenian Castle was one of this number. However being partly dismantled as part of the Zatriarchal Armies bid to gain some of the money back that it had spent on them in the first place. So it remained in the hills Between Suryo In Matbaa and Sileni in Mar Sara to decay for over 350 years. In such a time many trees sprung up around the Castle and the Castle faded from view, and eventually was merely known as the Mar Saran Ruin. Its Signature Red Sandstone walls shining in the mornings onto the castle through patched in the trees.

The Sourenian Family History:
the Sourenian Family's occupation of the Castle Began during a Particulary harsh Drought in Nazarain when the Armenian Family began to run into trouble on the Family Plantation. the Family itself being enserfed to a Syriac lord who took little pity upon the family and their belief in the Apostolic church. It was during this drought however that food began to become increasingly rare and the serfs who were always thought of last were forced to give up almost all of their harvests every year to the nobles to ensure that their fine wines and luxuries would remain theirs even in the harshest years. After 5 years of continous drought many Serfs had died and those who had survived had grown sick with the luxury of the Nobles that allowed many Serfs to die. Eventually during a time when the Local Noble had sent his Local army off to help the Zatriarch Sfeir V in quelling some of the revolts in neighboring Kasdim where the Drought itself had created far worse problems. Leaving many parts of the Zatriarchate without food.

The Sourenians were among the families who gathered after dark one night and began to plan the overthrow of the Noble, and then escape, preferably to one of the Zatriarchal Colonies of which were rumored to have so much food that often it was sold off as fertilizer after the people had their pick.

The Armenians and several Oromoykans raced into the local residence killing the gaurds in the process with pitchforks, and tracked down the noble, Killing him in a frenzy of pent up violence over his cruelty.

The Sourenians once realising that this deed was completed knew that it may have been for nought, beacause even as they had helped kill their own lord, they would be hunted down and executed for such a heinous and heretical murder. Most likely by the White Knights. For this reason they packed up as many things as they could and bid farewell to the Oromoykans who they had known for so long. They marched East and after passing through into Rashid found confirmation that the White Knights were after them, especially after news began to spread to the other provinces about the Murder of the nobles. Many of the Oromoykan Families had already been hunted down and it would only be a matter of time with the Sourenians. They eventually found their way through various hamlets traveling with an Armenian troubador group for most of the journey. They eventually found their way to the city of Bani Yas on the Great Cibolan Bay. And worked their for two months bringing in only enough to feed the family. Of which had grown from its 5 members to 7 over the journey.

They managed to secure enough money to buy tickets to begin their journey, first around Cibola to Matbaa City. (Beth Sanaar had been in the throws of Revolution and had been the original cause of the leaving of the Noble's Army. It had still yet to recover and many ships gave it wide berth to ensure that no refugees would swarm the boats.) Then From Matbaa City they would be dropped off in a small hamlet in Suryo. They left merely a day before the White Knights tracked them to the city. the Boatride over the ensuing month was simply "Hell". Food was to be caught by any means and the Family itself had no fishing equipment, Thusly leaving it to consist on a diet of Various things found upon the ship. Seagulls near shore, And then later during the darkest parts of the voyage across the open ocean it would be rats, and the Various crumbs of hardtack found during the voyage. It was even to be the worms found in the wood that the ship consisted of. This lacking Diet insured that sickness was rampant, and dysentary plagued the family and most of the crew. The Family itself lost its youngest member and was severely weakened almost losing its elder as well. They arrived in Matbaa city a month later and almost at the point of starvation. They left the ship and wandered ashore spending two nights on the dockside eating whatever they were able to get, Even so they ate far better then on the ship and began to recover. Losing the Elder who had fought so hard on the ship. This left the family with 5 members: a father, a mother, two sons, and a daughter.

It was unfortunate that at this time it was the White Knights who finally tracked them down. Appearing in the Middle of the night they destroyed their makeshift shelter and grabbed the family. They began to trade words amongst themselves cursing the Heretics and their worthless Religion. However one of the sons came forth and declared that the murder was his personal doing. That he had long held a Vendetta against the Noble, and committed the murder. He agreed to come quietly and peacefully if they would let the rest of the family go. The White Knights believed him, although their torturing of the Oromoykan Families had all of them confessing to the murder personally they were amazed that one would come forth so easily about the killing. They took him in his families place. And left them to the grief of losing him feeling that it would be punishment enough.

They Used the second half of their tickes to Suryo and although the voyage this time was far more comfortable they still grieved over the loss of the son, He who happened to be the eldest was also able to work and would'nt help the family by not being there. Even so the pain was almost unbearable. They arrived in Suryo and were met with many other refugees who had heard of the bounty of Suryo. However all of them had been forced to remain at the dockside by the Local forces who had discovered that many of them were illegal refugees who had simply boarded any ship to arrive here. Most would probably be forcefully shipped back to Kasdim or Nazarain. It was for the firest time in the voyage that luck smiled upon the family who had actually worked their way to the island with propper tickets. They were allowed to leave.

They quickly left for Suryo which at this time was a bustling city, which would be decimated many years later. They arrived by ferry (which was fortunately covered in their tickets) and applied in the Office as citizens of Suryo. It was at that time that they discovered that everything was'nt as rosy as they believed it to be. Suryo was ruled by Nobles and all those who wished to live on their own would usually be incorporated into a serfdom with a local Noble. Many of their servants had offices around the Suryo Immigration Office. They would do their best to spread the word that working with the nobles was preferable with free lodging and free farmland. They willingly Singed up and quickly found out that it was nothing at all as it was advertised. They quickly learned that it was'nt the Island's pure richness that brought in the huge amounts of food but merely the efforts of the Local Nobles to produce massive amounts of produce for the Suffering Mainland. This raked in enourmous profits. The tradeoff was the overworking of many serfs and bodies would be thrown out with all of the bad harvest or various other Rubbish every few days. The Sourenians being stronger from their nicer voyage were ready for the challenge and felt that opportunity would probably be best afforded through hard work. When other Serfs told them of the brutal conditions, The Sourenians ignored them feeling that they were'nt up to the task at hand and they proceeded to work.

The Younger Son was now barely old enough to work in the Higher fields with his father, the Daughter being only just born had to go to work with her mother. They worked for many weeks and began to look as if they may be able to cope with the Production that was constantly being sped up as more and more fields some many miles away from the estate began to be plowed and worked. In the meanwhile others would follow up doing the weeding and ensuring that the plants were growing well. The job itself was continous and when few immigrants would arrive the current serfs would have to take up the slack, and more would die of overworking. Then the remaining serfs would have to take their places as well. The Son of the Sourenian Family worked well and grew strong. His Father worked harder and harder everyday and began to return enough harvest to the table so that the family itself could spend a little more on gaining for themselves furniture in the house. Even going so far as to get a Matress stuffed with leaves and a blanket to aid in the Exceptionally cold Suryo Winters. It was only to compound the families good fortune when the Father was accidently injured by a Scythe in the fields, and was unable to walk. He had to stay home for almost a month as the wound healed, Became infected, was cured with local herbs and kind donations from other serfs, and then Healed once again. This month crippled the family, and they were forced to work harder once again to pay for the food that they were beggining to lack as the Noble's men began to punish the family for its lack of output.

However once the Father was healed and returned to the fields, it was merely the first day when he was injured once again, this time by a careless picker who through a hammer to the side and unfortunatly aimed perfectly at the father head. He woke up fine, but with a wound that would ensure him being Bedridden for another week. time that the Family did'nt have.

Eventually the problem came to a boiling point as the family began to produce what it could, and found out it was'nt enough. An officer of the Nobility came and proclaimed that they were to be sent to Suryo where they would be little more then slaves as they helped to construct new buildings, and various other low jobs where there was no pay. The Son pleaded for his family with the man, and tried to make him understand their plight. The Man spit in his face, calling him a Dirty Armenian, And that they were lucky they had gotten this far. This insulted The Son profoundly and he took a pitchfork laying the corner of the house and stabbed the man clean through the face. Ending his life with plenty of screaming and pain. The son set down the pitchfork and was in awe of what he had done and began to weep, realizing that no court in Suryo was fair where the Nobles were concerned. And that most likely no matter the outcome he would be executed along with the family and most likely the sorrounding serfs families as well. Making what serfs were left even worse off then before.

They Hatched a plan that night and the family packed up what it could of its belongings, and left the Estate under cover of Moonlight. Taking care to hide the body of the Official deep in the Fields. They left the plantation around midnight and spent the night in the sorrounding woods. In the morning they woke up and trecked deep into the forest, eventually emerging in the rings and ranges of hills around Suryo. They trecked up and down countless hills, Praying that they would find a place decent enough to live. but the cold hills provided no Shelter. They eventually set up a small camp in a cave in an area known for many of its rogues and bandits. It was in the middle of the night that such an event occured and many bandits decended on the Small camp. They took the entire family hostage. And as an act of Cruelty took hold of the small Baby girl, and threw the crying baby into the air. Catching it on the way down on an upraised sword.

The Family cried and asked for mercy in any form. However the Bandits were drunk and did'nt listen to their pleas, merely wishing to have some fun with some foreigners that no-one knew and no-one cared about. They began to joke loudly about ways of killing them. This outraged the Father who wished to not go down without a fight and he began to put up a desperate struggle and one that he knew would get him killed. It was at this time that the Bandits who had hold of the family unsheathed the rest of theor scimitars and Shirerethian Swords. They sorrounded the father and although he began to strike out he was going against 10 Scimitars with his two fists. The boy who was being held by a younger Bandit took hold of his arm with his teeth and managed to make the Bandit let him go. The boy grabbed the Scimitar from the Bandit and Ran him through with it. Then without even pausing he dived into the brush around the hills and began to run. The Bandits did'nt notice for another 5 minutes as they began to chop the corpse of the boys Father into pieces.

The Boy Emerged from the hills right next to an old Monastery in the early morning and began to hear the early morning ringing of its bells. The Monks who lived their then began to exit the front of the monastery to deal with their usual morning jobs of tending to the gardens, Each comming out in a line until unexpectedly a dirty faced boy with tears streaming down his cheeks stood in their path. One of the Monks bid him over and asked him who he was. The Boy said his name was Joseph Sourenian.

The Monks took pity on the boy and offered to make him part of their order, He could'nt believe it, and for the next few days was unable to speak as he began to regain his strength thanks to the kindness of the monks at the Monastery. He was re-christened into the Syriac Church and after several months began to persue an education. After many months of education he decided to leave the monastery and find his fortunes out in the world. He had become a man at this point and left the monastery, vowing never to forget what they had done for him.

He then wandered for a time taking upon any job he could, and temporarily working with various artisans to gain a little side money or various items that could be traded for money later. He eventually wound up in a small village right under the Mar Saran Ruin, and upon viewing it proceeded to learn everything he could about it. Its history, why it was there, why is was destroyed and many various things. He then decided that he would live in it, and moved directly from a hut into the village into a small room in the Ruin with no door and missing one wall. He covered the opening with a tarp he had gained in the village and proceeded to work from his position. He eventually signed on permanently into an apprenticeship with a Ringsmith of some reknown. He learned the art of smithing Rings with almost any material and eventually word got out to the Nobles of his impressive skills. Eventually Nobility began to make up his clientelle each paying him more then the last for his quality and impressive looking rings. It was during this time that he survived in the ruin by growing a small plot of land around the Castle, which was impressively fertile and managed to feed him and from time to time produce a little excess money. This he had to pay back to most of his clients in the cost of materials and although being of a good skill gained little money in it. He eventually began to work late into the night as well as during the day to make money.

During the spring we would collect various sprouts of sorts to sell with his food as herbal remedies; During the Summer he would look for various game that would make their home around the area and were highly desirable in the market; In the Fall he would pick mushrooms of various sorts to sell as both poisons or food; And in the winter he would find trees of Maple in order to make syrup for the market, something that few knew how to do and he was able to learn from the Smith he was apprenticed to. He eventually came out with a decent amount of money and he hired a man to help him farm. the extremely Fertile soil and a fairly large sized creek going across the forested land ensured that all harvests were gaurenteed and he would save his harvests to the winter commanding far higher prices for them and gaining from it. These days ensured that they were a far cry from the old days where he lived in a house with no wall. Now he had a propper Cabin built into the side of a Battlement, with a tunnel that went into the Castle's outer wall which now only consisted of a 20 Meter run. He was doing well in his lot and eventually the harvests turned up such profit that he was able to hire two more men and simply supervise their work. He also began to restore parts of the Castle, He began to restore Parts of the Keep. The small area that he orginally lived began to resemble more and more of the Castle that the Ruin once was. And after hiring Shirerethian Architects ensured that architecture would return to what it once was, maybe even more Shirerethian. The castle over the next few years began to resemble more of what it was and even its ruler took an Armenian wife from the small hamlet he lived in. He began to raise a family in the wealth he had worked for, and eventually was elected head of the Village unanimously in a village meet when it was plainly obvious that he was doing good for himself, so he must be doing something right. He began to represent the village in meetings and eventually began to administer the Matbaic tax upon the village, of which he was sure to subsidize so that it would be affordable to the Peasants who lived there. Eventually his lands grow and many trees fell leaving only one side of the Castle covered and allowing the others to shine in the Sunlight. The Red Sandstone Castle was being rebuilt from the same pit its rocks had come from, So it looked quite natural as it kept growing into a propper castle. At first having only enough room for the family, but eventually having enough for the Hired hands, and then even people from the village with no other place to go. For the first time in his life Joseph had everything he wanted and he was happy.

It came to his attention one day that the Zatriarch who by this time was aging had formally issued a decree that he was to vacate the castle, since it was Matbaaic Church land. Joseph bargained with the Official and told him to return a note to the Zatriarch and proclaimed that he would buy the land off of the Church at a very impressive price. The Zatriarch who was still getting over the political aftermath of the droughts years ago, only too readily agreed.

The Castle in exchange remained at a half-rebuilt size for another Generation, as Joseph passed on into the next life, and his son: Aleksander took his place. Aleksander continued his fathers fair strategies, and filled with stories from his father of the brutality of the White Knights to the Sourenians and Bandits, Found ways that he could fight both. by Offering up his crops to the government he could subsidize the people in his village, the problem though was that he commanded a large amount of food in this area of Suryo and if he did'nt hand it up, he could technically ruin the local economy. In this manner he was able to get his way with many sorrounding officials and villages. He also actively began to keep a force of guards on his property that began to grow with the size of his land. Eventually growing them into a trained force that he lent out to various other areas in Suryo to help fight bandits. Providing a good service to all people. Aleksander father two children a daughter whom married into Nobility and a son who took over the House, His name was: Ivan. Ivan grew up learning to rebel and after he found out that his father was an enemy of many high officials felt that the best way to get back at him would be to join the White Knights. In this manner he knew though that he could'nt leave the newly renamed Sourenian Castle, So he taught his kids that the government of Matbaa was divine and that it was only in their interest to follow through with it. Thusly establishing a trait of the Sourenian Family to join the Government, and at times become members of the White Knights. Several even joined the army and served all over Micras and Matbaa in Various wars, and actions.

All throughout this time the Castle grew until it was entirely rebuilt. The Sourenians became famous for their generosity which was inherited from Joseph, and their willingness to cooperate with the Government, The Legacy of Ivan. Aleksander also bred hatred into the family of lawlessness and banditry. It was through many succesive Generations that these traits followed even to the present day. The Family Itself is also devoted to The Syriac church and Most Sourenians can speak both Armenian and Aramaic.

Sourenian Castle and its Fame:
Sourenian Castle has become famous over the years as a provider of the people, and its vast reserves are often invoked to provide monetary grants to those on the mainland and all over Matbaa. It is famous for its Spiced wine which was brought into the family thanks to many of the Sourenians marrying into Nobility or even in rarer Cases the Peasantry of Nazarain. Ensuring that the Armenian Traditions Remain strong. Even now the Sourenian Castle and its sorrounding village host a large diaspora of Those of Nazarain, Knowing that they are welcomed in the village itself. The Castle's primary income is still the agriculture that its founder relied on and it produces some of the regions largest amounts of produce. Even becoming Something of a Family Business. The well aged and Spiced Sourenian wines sell all over Matbaa and even sometimes on the world stage as some of Micras's Finest wine and demand is high.

Armen Sourenian is the latest in the line of the Sourenians, but is not the owner of the Castle. His brother was awarded the honor through a family argument, but both remain on good terms. They often Socialize with Armen returning during intervals in the year and helping to celebrate major holidays.

The Castle Grounds:
the Castle is divided into two parts, The Castle Propper and the Castle Improper. The Castle Propper contains the Castle itself and its re-built Red Sandstone outer wall. The Castle Propper consists of the Keep of the Castle in the Corner of its grounds, Of which the Bottom houses the Dining Rooms, and the Kitchens, as well as several living rooms. The Upper floors host several balconies and the rooms of the Sourenians. There is the Gaurdhouse which does host a small detachment of hired guards, but is mostly inhabited by the staff of the Castle itself who live in the outer walls, which are divided up into smaller rooms where the staff lives and sleeps. The Library is a Building built the farthest Corner of the Outer wall from the Keep and houses the Sourenian Family Library, of which anyone is free to borrow from. It is known for having many rare books that the Sourenians of the Past bought to sate Knowledge needs. Under the Keep is the Aging racks where all Sourenian Wines are aged.

The Castle Improper refers to those lands that the Sourenian Crops are grown on, as well as the various elements the Sourenians use to make their famous wine. It is considered part of the castle due to a series of "Mini-Castles" which are about the size of a small house that are built in the same red sandstone and house guards that guard the harvest during all times of the year, and in an older time would provide early warning for marauding armies or large numbers of bandits of which did attack Sourenian Castle numerous times, each time being succesfully repelled. The Castle Impropper also has upon its grounds a processing facility for some of the harvest, and a facility to help manufacture the spiced Family Wines.
The Iron River article:
The Iron River - Farzou El' Nakhra

Although Suryo was colonized rather quickly as a land full of new opportunities and huge amounts of untapped and unpolluted resources, it remained surprisingly unexplored for much of its history, and not until the founding of Altan was the interior fully explored as a s part of Suryo. Part of this belief actually emanated from the belief that the Shirerethians already inhabited it, with several sightings as well to prove it. But each was merely in the wrong place and the wrong time and had actually crossed into Shirerethian Territory Completely on accident

Image
The Course of the Iron River
Alt image link

The River of Iron is an incident especially worth noting due to that fact that although it runs into the Ocean in South-Western Suryo, it was amazingly unknown until a band of settlers finally reached the southern Peninsula Late in the colonization of the Suryo coast. It was told to run blood red, and that Satan himself spewed forth the blood of those in eternal torment from the ground. It was terribly frightening to the colonists who vowed never to return to the place.

Colonists however were running out of completely empty room on the island and it was eventuality that more settlers reached the River. And the reaction was much the same. It was such an uproar when the news spread to nearby hamlets that such a cursed river existed upon the island many considered the entire island cursed and some even returned to Mainland Matbaa in fear of salvation.

The uproar only began to calm down after a priest visited the site and declared, “No Satanic Influence no matter how strong exists at this site.” What then was the cause of the river? Many thought the priest to not be with god and was tempting people to visit it. However the truth was far less Biblical.

The River itself runs Red with Iron from the nearby mountains; it goes right through a very big Iron Vein, which has coincidentally been partially mined. The Result is the famously colored water and the rocks around it. All of this was due to the corrosion of the metal in the water. In other words it is bringing out the Iron and causing it to rust.

The River itself began to spark a witch-hunt of sorts around this side of the island and people were blamed for the red water and many tortured to death. However it finally came to such a head that the Zatriarch sent a crew of Scientists and priests to study the water itself and determine what it was. They then determined the same as the previous priest. Which began to provide a calming effect on the island.

It was only 20 years later that a Scientist testing the water found it to be rich in Iron, and thusly turning everything the water touches red. But it required a massive amount of time to do so. Many people then began to see the River as something of a remedial elixir that was coming out of the ground and many began to bottle the water as both Holy water and as a cure-all. This too eventually died out.

Suryo in the Modern age has come to accept this River as an integral part of its ecosystem, and part of a growing Tourism plan where people from the mainland and all over Micras can come and see the famously Red water and can if they wish buy bottles of it, or fish from it. All the fish, which also happen to be red as well, are famous for their unique taste and restaurants have sprung up in the area providing anyone with a red fish of any kind, straight from the river itself.
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Flags of the north

Image
The Provincial Flag of Suryo (Matbaic)
(Ratio 2:1.5)
The dark blue background stands for the South Cibola sea, which surrounds the island and provides its lifeline to the Matbaic mainland. The saint in the centre of the flag is in the fresco style and is of Mar Moran I, the first Matbaic Zatriarch. There is a motif along the sleeve side of the flag taken from a local carpet design.

Image
Flag of Antican Suryo
The figure is that of Assur, an ancient Assyrian god, formerly the state symbol of Matbaa, symbolising the links of Suryo to Matbaic culture.
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Another Matbaic map which includes a previously unmarked ruin, which has since disappeared from all maps, called Ihlara.
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

I can't believe how short-sighted I was not saving those Matbaic maps, now the matbaa.wikispaces site and Max's photobucket have gone down. I think I may have saved copies on my hard disk, but probably not. Glad I saved the cultural output in terms of text!

Anyway, I came here to produce, not moan about what is lost. If anyone has ever wondered about the Iron River (see above article quote), here's some RL pictures of what it might look like. After the recent floods, the River Holme in West Yorkshire, England has suffered from a similar phenomenon. The water is safe to drink, and remains a tourist attraction in Mar Sara - the vivid waters are quite unique on Micras. Rumours that the iron dried up years ago and has been supplemented by Comital government/Inst. MS Geog. & Clim.-orchestrated chemical dyes should be ignored as baseless.

Image

Image

Source: BBC news article
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Verion
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Verion »

Once again it is clear that something that is once posted on the internet will not stay there forever.
1.Titus Morvayne, Prefect of Shirekeep, Count of the Skyla Islands
2.Eki Aholibamah Verion, Queen in the North
3. Ludovic Verion, Lord of Blackstone and Governor-General of the Iron Company
4. Jeremy Harwinsson Archer, super sleuth

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Ryabin Merkayastreb
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Ryabin Merkayastreb »

I'd like to trawl it with a magnet just to see what happens.
Ryabin Merkayastreb
- Son of Krasniy, Father of Stellus
- From 5222-5461 ASC, Duke of Goldshire
- From 5323-5416 ASC, Kaiser Mo'll I

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Tokaray al-Osman
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Tokaray al-Osman »

Ryabin Merkayastreb wrote:I'd like to trawl it with a magnet just to see what happens.
Cancer. Especially if you fall in...
His Imperial Magnificence Aurangzeb II Steffki, Kaiser of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, Thane of the Shirelands, Keeper of the Apollo Legacy, Wielder of the Sword of Vengeance, Grand Master of the Orders of the Dragon, Griffin, Phoenix, and Chimera, Sovereign of the Golden Mango Throne.
Dr Tokaray al-Osman KBH, Commissioner of the Chamber of the Crypteia, Emir of Jadid Khaz Modan, Annexer of Yardistan

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Ryabin Merkayastreb
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Ryabin Merkayastreb »

Cancer of the Magnet - terrible affliction.
Ryabin Merkayastreb
- Son of Krasniy, Father of Stellus
- From 5222-5461 ASC, Duke of Goldshire
- From 5323-5416 ASC, Kaiser Mo'll I

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Tokaray al-Osman
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Re: North Mar Sara

Post by Tokaray al-Osman »

You have to wear a copper bracelet to ward off the cancerous ferrous magnetic energy. Many reputable websites sell them.
His Imperial Magnificence Aurangzeb II Steffki, Kaiser of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, Thane of the Shirelands, Keeper of the Apollo Legacy, Wielder of the Sword of Vengeance, Grand Master of the Orders of the Dragon, Griffin, Phoenix, and Chimera, Sovereign of the Golden Mango Throne.
Dr Tokaray al-Osman KBH, Commissioner of the Chamber of the Crypteia, Emir of Jadid Khaz Modan, Annexer of Yardistan

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