Chapter Two: Hardened Clay (Y280)
Twenty years since the Great Inception, the blessed lands had changed dramatically, but not in all regions. In Mehureeoh, specifically the lands along the banks of the Mehur, not much changed. The Mtskhat'ski people had sparse contact with anyone in the region, only rarely exchanging some goods with the Lapacites. The Lapacites themselves were a bit stagnant. Labohka had not grown the least bit- most Lapacites claimed that the lack of fortune on display came as a result of a lack of sacrifice and prayer, but the down period may have well happened because of a string of droughts struck the region year after year.
South of Lapaz, the Incabra quietly gained considerable power. Ingenious Incabran traders served as middlemen between the Ghaskans and the Lapacites, funneling wealth to their own vaults. This decreased profits for both Lapaz and Ghask. With the western traders making less profit, Ghask suffered a bit as well. Attempts to increase agricultural output and cultural development were futile as the focus was placed on discovering how some of their neighbors were able to make clay pots. Ghaskan traders were jealous of those from Firen, and rightfully so, for the pots of clay served as solid containers for transporting metals, spices and other goods that came in smaller pieces.
Firen fared better than the civilizations to their west. Thalas remained one of the most frequented trade junctions, with a growing population of Fireni traders constantly making trips in all directions. Aran Harndir was growing a prosperous civilization, and garnered respect from foreign leaders. Firen's neighbor, Butalia, who had lived in Firen's shadow for years, began to develop nicely as well. Immediately after the Fireni discovered good pottery techniques, Butaliaites were also making pots in a very similar way. Butaliaite traders even began to make the trek across the sands to Draten to make exchanges.
In this period, Draten began to come out of isolation. Drati troops were some of the most hardened battlers in the region and had only fought nomadic barbarian tribes in the desert until Emperor Ightam developed a plan to use the military to strike down a more sizable opponent: Maculal. After traveling several days in the desert, Drati fighters arrived at the Maculal capital of Rampe. The initial plan to split forces and use a flanking method was scrapped after one third of the force was ambushed at night by marauders from the unknown parts. Despite having a smaller army, the Drati were hungrier and fought with a fire in their eyes. Rampe was pillaged and burned to the ground, and most Maculal people fled south to Firen or north to Golba.
Traffic in Old Golba decreased significantly- traders from the northern branches of the river just didn't stop by as frequently. Golba progressed minimally, as they were tormented by their new neighbor, Skur, a tibe descendant of the Ishkant people. In just a few short years, Skur had managed to stop Ghaskan scouting expeditions coming through their area and also raid the closest Golban villages.
A similar brand of militarism was developing on the other branches of the Great Golbari River. Ishkant spent a lot of time and effort developing their military. A moderate increase in their population turned their laughable army into a frightening one. Ishi forces began to retaliate against passing nomadic raiders, freeing up land for farmers and merchants that wanted to move out of Skan, which was beginning to get a bit crowded. Goth Urlgan was a feared man, for nobody knew what was he was scheming for the near future.
Illdira developed in a different manner, focusing more on technology. Illdiran merchants discovered the same pottery techniques that the Fireni and Butaliaites knew, providing for a solid population boost. Illdira was more active in the trading scene, and began to rake in the profits that Golba did not. Some brave merchants even went along with scouts to the unknown lands to the east, only to find barren desert with no sign of civilization other than small camps of desert savages.
Vozle began to catch up to Mehureeoh in terms of activity, and at the center of the development was Sauromavia. Although Sauromavian traders had been slowly gaining control of the region's trade for several years, Yulaeotju Scytho craved a stronger influence. For that reason, a large Sauromavian trade post was set up along the coast right next to Herite, for direct access to markets in Heritite lands. Such an ambitious move may not have sat so well with another civilization, but luckily, the Heritite ruler, Yulatjou Asothu recognized that Sauromavia and Herite shared many cultural similarities and did not see the trading post as an attempt to take over Herite.
To the east, Ez Dera Than surpassed Mirysk in trade influence and military power. A small dispute arose when Mirysk traders set up an unauthorized trading center in Ez Dera Thani lands, and the traders were drowned in the river as a punishment. Tempted to retaliate, Larj Ricluf Clomskoart withheld his fury, for he knew that Ez Dera Than had a larger and more well-trained army than Mirysk.
Ishalin, another delta power like Sauromavia, grew in power since the last chapter. Ishalin turned out to be the only civilization in the region that knew of pottery, and the newer cultures of the region like Kerchan or Veshelard had a deep respect for Ishalic craftsmen. Also, Ishalic scouts were sent to the north and east and discovered their neighbors: Veshelard, a culture similar to Ishalin that arrived shortly after the Ishalic state rose, and Ndriakoro, a newly forged state along the K'lish river, just north of Veshelard.
"Hardened Clay" represents more than just the pots and vessels made by advanced tribes such as Butalia and Firen. "Hardened Clay" represents the fresh civilizations, which not long ago were soft like clay fresh from the ground. Now, the civilzations were hardening; locking into place and anchoring themselves along the rivers and coasts of the Blessed Lands. One must keep in mind, however, that a brittle clay pot is easy to shatter.