OOC: Yes, I just ripped this from my article on the EoE wiki, but I do like it quite more than my other two stories
vomit
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Origins of Leun
It was said that Leun was started by a major Opunlensi expedition in the Leunan Sea, looking for, as always, trade. Presumably, they become shipwrecked at the capital of Leun, and founded the city right on the spot, roughly around 130 SR (Seshway calendar). Initially, a council, made of the various captains, together with a tiny bureaurcracy modeled after those of Opunlensi, if only for fimiliarity, held order as the city itself was established, and secured, and afterwards, dealt with managing the livelihood of the fledgling country as it slowly developed the previously untouched wilderness. Given what could barely be called more than a large outpost that contained only a few hundred, or maybe a few thousand people, depending on what sparse natives they could recruit for manpower, this was indeed, a very slow process.
A few years later, and much to the council's surprise, a small native kingdom to south was discovered, on the island now called Utene. Desparate for help of any kind, trade was soon established, and much needed foodstuffs was brought in to the capital, whose nearby lands, mostly sub-arid, weren't suitable for effective farming. Predictably, most of Leun quickly became fed by grain from Utene, and when a series of particularly deep droughts hit the region in general, grain shipments stopped being recieved from Utene, as they struggled to feed their own mouths, as did Leun, although to a far worse degree, its own farms quite failing to meet demand. With the entire region threatening to riot into anarchy, its was determined that largest force possible attack, occupy, and most importantly, secure the food sources of Utene. Of course, the largest force possible was a little under 300 men, armed with what the fixed supply of iron Leun could supply. However, using the merchant trick much like the Second Empire centuries ago, Utene was captured, and fairly bloodlessly at that, the people being surprisingly submissive to the men with "shiny spears" (Iron). Despite this triumph, many died during that hard time.
It was during this time however, or maybe a little after, that the king became the great ruler of Leun, possibly from the very captain who took Utene. Regardless, the transformation of the head of Leun into a monarchy marked the beginning of its yet unchecked ascent. The original council itself incorpating itself as the nobility of Leun, along with the few men already wealthy men of trade. Yes, by about 155 SR some say, solid contacts with the west were re-established, and trade, the lifeblood the world (at least from Leunan point of view), began flowing again. Coupled with successful crops leading to a population boom, Leun begin expanding in its own right, establishing a merchant outpost to aid trade with the west on the small island of Myroza to the west of Leun. The cape of Afra was also claimed, as well as the numerous islands between it's point and Utene, and several islands beyond it, one of which, Actas, turned out to be far larger than first thought, being even bigger than Utene after further exploration around the coastline and inland.
Speaking of exploration, the next major phase of Leunan history, if you would call it that, was led by exploration, as the unknown dark shroud which surrounded Leun from many angles was eagerly lifted by many young explorers of the new generations of Leun. Most importantly, this led to the discovery of the Acayan peoples and their city states to the north. A people with a strong passion for law and fairness, their republican nature was as quickly forgotten as their openness to trade was remembered. Instantly, hundreds of Leunan ships, if not all Leunan ships, could be seen at some point in their numerous journies, unloading and uploading their cargo at the many Acayan cities.
Leun however, was not the only state interested in Acayan products, and soon Western powers, namely the Opunlensi and Nahari, begun trade with Acaya, with Leun perfectly situated in between to reap the benefits. This truly marked Leun's enterance into the world as a viable power, and while it certainly couldn't match up against the likes of the Opunlensi, it could certainly control the only thing it could care about, the east-west trade route. In fact, much of Leunan expansion after the discovery of Acaya was dictated by way to further control the trade route. An outpost was established directly bordering the most southern Acayan city Isycha, while the trade town of Asardias was established just around point of Auona, and soon became the third largest city in Leun, after the capital itself and Utene (the city is named after the island). Additionally, because it seemed the only route to Acaya was around Utene to the north or south, complete Leunan control was established over the strait (of sorts), all islands being claimed for kingdom. Indeed, Leun so completely controlled the trade routes that even the mere existence of Acaya only became common knowledge to civilization of the west decades after they had acquired the products which were Acayan made.
By this point, over 100 years and 5 generations after the founding of Leun, for once, nothing notable happened in Leun. No new civilizations were discovered, nor particularly bad economic times befell the unfortunate, and maybe that was the best, for simple expansion, development, and trade certainly fit the ever growing ranks of Leun just fine.