King Nirmaz, at the end of his reign, had united Dashtaka into an empire containing nearly all of Tierism. His nation and faith's further expansion, he declared prior to his death by old age, was up to his successors.
Succeeding Nirmaz the Uniter was his eldest son, Rydez. Rydez was a sickly person, and did little during his reign. He died after several months bedridden, and was succeeded by his brother Zyre.
Zyre was a far more healthy and ambitious leader, and quickly launched many colonial expeditions to the southern islands. He fought off the first of the major Th'lex raids throughout his long time leading the nation.
After continuing along this pattern for all of his reign, Zyre fell ill and died, along with many people in Dashtar during a plague. His only son also was killed in the outbreak, resulting in the ascendance in the first Queen of Dashtaka, Syra. She proved to be a militarily and domestically skillful leader, and successfully deflected all criticism from traditionalists who believed that the succession should be strictly and unwaveringly patrilineal.
Syra continued her father's expansions, and funded several expeditions out into the violent oceans beyond the sheltered Azeri Sea. These missions would eventually lead to the discovery of the New World. But not in her reign. Syra passed away after a multi-decade reign. Her mark was great. She helped improve the economy, striving to end the poverty of Dashtaka's peasant class. Th'lex attacks were repelled, and trade improved to unprecedented levels. Also, she abolished the old system of succession, declaring that the throne should go to the oldest child, not the oldest son.
To be continued...