Ailhaotnůṙ

Corasur is a flat world of unknown (potentially infinite) extent, and (quite obviously) cannot have the same physical properties as Earth and the real universe. See World Map for more geographical information.

Creation Myth

Before time itself, there was only an infinite, formless, static Expanse. In this expanse, a spirit arose, an infinite and eternal consciousness, named Ailistiff. Ailistiff has few traits we mere mortals can comprehend, but among them is the capacity for boredom. The Expanse is nothing, and no thought can stem from it.

Ailistiff determined that Form was needed to stimulate thought, and created perfection. Ail created from the formless nothing the World Seed, a diamond that contained within it the form of an entire world. For uncounted aeons, the great emerald forest Nacis crystallized around it, the pinnacle of geometric order and beauty. Yet, Nacis was as static as the Expanse itself, and Ailistiff grew bored of it as well.

Ailistiff sealed the borders of Nacis from the static Expanse, and created twelve Aspects to expand the world in a way that could not be predicted. Only this could entertain Ailistiff for an eternity.

Calendar and Cosmology

See Calendar

Regions and Points of Interest

Corasur: The name of the world. I haven't yet decided what shape Corasur is, but I think I'm leaning toward flat. It's anchored to Nacis, as are all things with physical forms, because forms do not exist in the Expanse.

Nacis: The site of the World Seed, and the center of the universe. Nacis is a great and perfect forest of emerald and glass, and within its borders nothing changes. At the very center is the World Seed itself, a veritable mountain of pure diamond, the static core on which the entire world is anchored.

Kormar: The glorious and ancient Capitol of The Empire is a thriving port city, just as glorious as when it was built, or so it seems. The fringe wars are rarely spoken of in polite company, but after dark, or all day on the docks, rumors are whispered, and the security of The Empire is in doubt. Many realize that, when The Empire does fall, it will fall hard, and the more forward-thinking of the citizenry make plans for emigration. Politically, Kormar is divided into four wards, the Temple District, and the Central Commons, the seat of government. The first ward most people encounter is the Docks, which actually covers much more than just the docks themselves, but is rather everything outside the walls. Inside the walls are the High Ward, the Middle Ward, and the Low Ward, where the High Ward is closest to the Temple District, containing housing for the government and Priests, the Middle Ward surrounds the Central Commons, mostly the haunt of merchants and doctors, and the Low Ward is the area of the city farthest from the Temple District, containing those members of the lower caste, as well as the barracks.

The Temple District: The Temple District is the glory of the Priesthood, a sprawling complex of muraled walls and red roofs covering over a hundred acres of land in a hexagon on the hill overlooking Kormar. It was built in ancient past, and maintained and improved over centuries. At the center is the Spire, dedicated to Ailistiff, and arranged around it in two offset rings of six are the Aspect Temples. The Temple is surrounded by a wall, though it has never seen a battle and is not as impressive as the wall of the Capitol, though it is far better decorated.

The Fringes: A general name for all of the satrapies farther than a week's travel from Kormar. More broadly, the areas that are politically unstable, because the Empire cannot mobilize fast enough to effectively stifle revolts or because the native people are protesting the rule of foreigners. Several satrapies are in outright war, in fact, and the Empire might lose some of its most economically important territories.

Satrapy of Dai'ala: Three weeks away from the Capitol, Dai'ala has been unstable for two generations, ever since the low caste soldiers staged a coup and publicly executed their satrap for the crimes of theft of land and liberty in K1359.La. (49 cycles (162 yrs) before standard present period begins.) The Priesthood conceded to them representative rule, because the satrapy is the largest source of refined copper. Dai'ala means approximately "Unending Peace". As it was founded in K1086.Curon, (The farthest region claimed in the second crusade) the name did prove to be fairly accurate.

Brief History of Corasur

For now, this is very Kormar-centric. I'll look this over rather extensively later as well, this is a first draft while rather very tired.

BK200

   Current estimation of the time a city first surpassed 5,000 citizens. The site has been named "Firsthome" in the Common Tongue and is in the territory of the modern Surihay Satrapy. Older sites exist, but the Empire has not developed radiocarbon dating and all estimates are very broad.
   Note that 1600 cycles is 5300 years. 

K0.List.1.1

   Calendar Starts. Estimation as of K800 of the dawn of human civilization. Widely considered considered falsified now, but it's beyond changing. Earlier dates are expressed with a B preceding the date, applied before the K for Kormar. 

K250

   First recorded habitation of the area that is now Kormar. 

K400

   Founding of the original Kormar, under the name Salmar, "Silver City". 

K500

   First clear evidence of the operation of the Priesthood in the area of the Temple District. 

K600.Kof

   The First Great Fire of Salmar - Salmar is largely rebuilt. 

K950.Sal

   The Union of Five is formed of five city-states and nations into a loose theocratic republic. Salmar is designated as the seat of the secular government. 

K1030.Kof

   The Second Great Fire of Salmar, the city is replanned, renamed, and rebuilt on the hill under the already-extant Temple District, henceforth to be known as "Kormar", "City of Order", or "The Capitol" in the common tongue. 

K1033.List - K1055.Jaf

   The individual nations in the Union expand semi-independently during this time. 

K1060.Voli

   Taking advantage of the lao of change, the Priesthood declares that the Union of Five is to be the central core of the new Empire, now known as Salta Colra ko Fisuria. The lands claimed since K1030 are reclassified as 4 satrapies, but little power is moved from the nations. In the lands claimed by --name--, a representative government is established, with a satrap elected from the high class. 

K1070.List

   The First Crusade is launched by the Empire, first 6 conquered satrapies are formed. 

K1085.Fi

   The Second Crusade is launched by the Empire. Dai'ala is founded in K1086.Chron, along with 7 others. 

K1107.Sal

   Third Crusade launched, founding 6 satrapies. The Empire reorganizes with the inception of the Court of Lords, and political power is finally granted in limited form to the citizenry of the satrapies, of which there are currently 24. 

K1138.Sul

   Fourth Crusade launched Westward, is an utter failure due to an unusually harsh winter that cycle. Only the Satrapy of Corasal is founded; the economy of the Satrapy of Calasuri (A very important cereal grain exporter) collapses due to the cost of the military effort leading to famine in many regions. Nationalism declines significantly and the Empire's military is left mostly unused until the Fifth Crusade. 

Interim

   *Much political upheaval* 

K1221.Curon

   Fifth Crusade launches, successfully founds five new satrapies in the fringes. 

K1232.List

   The Satrapy of --name-- does not deliver the winter tax, and the navy is dispatched. Current satrap is deposed and a new satrap is instated, drawn from the family of a High Seer. 

K1309.Sal

   Sixth Crusade launches Southward, founds three satrapies. There are now 33 satrapies. 

K1359.La

   Dai'ala Peasant Revolt - Satrap executed and after military threat fails to quell the populace, the Priesthood cuts their losses and declares that Dai'ala's satrap is to be elected from the people. 

K1360.Ail

   "Sympathetic" revolts in --name-- result in similar provisions from the Priesthood, however, realizing that they are setting unfortunate precedent, all further revolts are met with military action. Within two cycles, order is tentatively restored. 

K1362.Ail

   The "Lost Crusade" is launched to the East, but nearly three quarters of the soldiers die from a mysterious and highly virulent disease. The satraps in that direction are ordered to build a wall and further Eastward expansion is forbidden citing the will of Rakofar. 

K1408.List

   Standard Present Period begins. This is the time period depicted by the map. 

K1412.Sal

   Eighth Crusade launches Northward and Westward - No new satrapies, this crusade is only meant to quell attempted revolutions in the fringes. The satrapy of Forlasi is significantly reduced in territory and the satrapy of Forlhay is created from the reclaimed land. 

K1425.List

   Standard Present Period ends.