Zentirovan

During the Age of Empires the Zentirovans (commonly called Zentis) were the terrors of towns and villages along the coastline of Miran and Aquanius. Their raiding ships would sail in small packs and set ashore at night. The warriors would kill any that resist and haul off wine, wealth, and women. They were the masters of the sea and when hard-pressed by the warships of other lands they would retreat to the Tarakian Islands they called home. The shallow reefs made it dangerous to sail in those shielded seas.

That was changed by a series of volcanic eruptions that destroyed their largest cities and forced the Zentis flee to the smaller islands. Massive starvation and several years of higher that average rainfall resulted in widespread disease. Nearly 90% of the Zentis were wiped out before the rise of the Sea Lords. Zentirovan was rebuilt and once again Zenti raiders prowl the coastal waters looking for fat merchantmen.

• Temporal: 895 AE - Present

  • City-State Period: 895 - 1200 AE
  • God-Kings: 1200 - 1690 AE
  • Shattering: 1690 - 1918 AE
  • Four Sea Lords: 1918 AE - 183 AH
  • Nation-State Period: 183 - Present
• Entymology: Zentirovans, Zentis, Zents
• Population:

There are over 18,000 islands in the Tarakian chain; although less than 6,000 of them are actually inhabitable. By 893 AE the people on the six largest islands were large enough and prosperous enough to be more than just simple tribes. These people called themselves Zentirovans after the name of their Fire God that lived in the many volcanoes.

While the Zentirovans often warred and raided each other territories they build larger longships that could survive the trip to the coastal waters of the nearby continents and raid the towns along the coastline. Their homeland was rich in rock, gemstones, and timber, but severely lacking in the heavier metals needed to fashion brass and bronze.

Each of the city-states grew rich in wealthy trading among themselves as well as controlling all trade for the smaller cities whose merchants wished to leave the Serpente Sea. The shoag of Sithara closed the Dengal Strait to human ships, the only way out was to pass by the Tarakian Islands. The Zents extracted a toll from the merchants as well as acting as paid mercenaries to sink competing ships.

In the year 1200 the Escarian volcano erupted sending a large cloud into the air and destroyed nearly all life on the island. The most unusual thing about the eruption was the lightning that crackled through the fiery cloud. This announced the arrival of the God-Kings. Four (4) men and five (5) women arrived in the cities with the power to control the Fire Gods that lived in the volcanoes. The Zentis had seen magic before, but the power of their magicians paled in comparison to these newcomers.

What started out as a cult soon grew until the nine (9) newcomers were raised as the God-Kings in 1218 AE. By 1232 they had swept aside the rich and powerful, placing themselves ahead of all others. The God-Kings were not content to simply rule over the people, but went on raids with the sailors to the small villages and towns along the sea. They used their power to masks the ships, blow down walls, and drop lightning upon a town's defenders.

It is believed that the same God-Kings that had attempted to wake the Fire Elemental were the same God-Kings that first arrived four-hundred (400) years earlier. The God-Kings were always the same and with their voluminous robes and carved masks it was impossible to say otherwise. Their attitudes were not the same. From humble beginnings prostrated before the Fire Gods, they soon sought to supplant the gods and put themselves on high.

Awakening the Fire God was the height of their hubris and resulted in the eruption of nearly a score of volcanoes in islands. In a single day every city was utterly destroyed and the people who could not flee fast enough killed. By some unknown power some of the people killed were turned into statues of obsidian perfectly carved int their likeness.

From 1690 - 1918 AE the islands were all but inhabitable. The ash cloud descended upon the land and choked out the vegetation, which in turn killed the animals. A very small number of Zents survived on scores of different islands, some barely large enough to support a single family. In all likelihood they would have simply ceased to exist as a people except for the coming of the Sea Lords.

To survive some of the larger villages once again turned to raiding and piracy. Sailing under black sails and a blood red flag, these raiders became the terrors of the sea. Some captains gained a notorious reputation and decorated the flag so their presence was announced to the merchantmen the attacked. A pirate captain was like a king as he brought home treasure and luxuries to a people barely surviving. The most popular captains grew into legends as they were raised to the level of gods.

In 1918 AE five (5) large sailing vessels with brilliant blue sails arrived at the island chain. Commanding four (4) of these vessels were four magicians capable of commanding the wind and wave. They referred to themselves either as Stormbringers or Wavedancers depending on their power. They used their magic to save the Zentirovan people and rebuild their once great cities. The only exception was Talarak, the largest island, they did not set foot upon the island and forbid all others as well.

On the fifth (5th) vessel was a woman simply called The Oracle. It was whispered that she could tell the future and it was her vision that brought the Sea Lords. She read the truth in the storm, heard the words upon the wind, and looked into the souls of those around her. Upon the island of Nepai the men and women on her vessel constructed a home for the oracle and a village for themselves. There were eighty (80) people in the village from the ship and are only replaced when one of them cannot perform their duties. The number of people that serve The Oracle is always the same.

As the Zents recovered and their cities grew. Men and women of the Zents were taught the magic of the Sea Lords and became Stormbringers and Wavedancers in turn. In command of each city was one (1) Stormbringer and one (1) Wavedancer. They held the title of Sea Lords, regardless of their sex. By the year 300 AH, all of the Stormbringers were male and all of the Wavedancers were female.

In honor of their Sea Lord each Zenti ship sails under deep blue banners using their flags to proclaim their city. In addition, each Stormbringer and Wavedancer has their own banner that flies from the masts of the ships they are on. While this may seem to invite a concentrated attack from an enemy, so powerful at sea are the magicians that only the foolish would interfere with them.

In 183 the Sea Lords for each city gathered together in a great conclave. It was trade, and not raiding, that enriched their coffers and they wanted to increase their share of the maritime trade. To accomplish this they lowered the tariffs and docking fees for cities that reciprocated. Theodova immediately responded positively and currently a great deal of trade passes between the nations.

To further encourage trade they decreed an end to pirates in any waters they patrolled. Pirate Captains would be hung and the crews sold into slavery. While the Zents did not keep slaves they had no problems with others maintaining slaves. Captains that chaffed at the new law at first ignored it, but after the Sea Lords began ordering the sentence carried out nearly all of the “black sails”, as the pirates are called, left their home islands. They settled the only place available to them - Talarak.

The Oracle long ago ordered the Zentirovans to never set foot on the island for it was cursed. They were to avoid anyone that had done so as their fate was already sealed. This made the island perfect for piratical crews as the Zents would not interfere with them except in self-defense. The pirates know that The Oracle only holds so much sway, so in general they avoid Zent ships.

Zentirovan is located on the Tarakian Islands that stretch between Miran and Aquanius. There are over 150 active volcanoes and the islands are the subject of harsh weather and earthquakes. The Zents live on five (5) of the six (6) major island - avoiding the largest island on the word of The Oracle. There is a enough rainfall to create an area of high humidity, with a distinct monsoon and dry season. The volcanic ash from past eruptions has created a rich layer of loam that supports a strong agriculture.

Each of the large cities are rules by the Sea Lords - one Stormbringer and one Wavedancer. They hold absolute rule over the city and those smaller islands under their protection. Due to the size of the cities the Sea Lords task any number of Masters to oversee specific tasks (i.e Master of the Harbor, Master of the Grain, Master of the Ash, etc.).

There are several smaller islands that pay homage to the Sea Lords, but are not ruled by them. These smaller settlements pay heed to the laws of the Sea Lords (or suffer their wrath); although they are governed as they see fit. In most cases these smaller villages comprise only one to three (1-3) different families.

The Sea Lords do not maintain a standing army, instead relying on small militia units under the direction of a Master of the Infantry and Master of Defense. The Zents do not have a infantry tradition aside from sea-born raids nor do they have a calvary. If their islands are attacked the Master of Defense is tasked with creating raiding units that will use their knowledge of the terrain to see that no invading force can survive long.

At Sea the Zents have one of the most powerful navies in both isaurus Ocean. Their magicians can command the water, air, and storms. They can fill their sails and deny the wind to their enemy. They can call down lightning to destroy their masts and freezing hail to drive men from the deck. They can fly as the wind and move as fast as lightning as they cut down their foes with their obsidian weapons.

While the Zenti God-Kings raided their neighbors for wealth and slaves, the Sea Lords prefer trade. They will not hesitate to drive back the competition or stall their wind, some have occasional been known to sell merchantmen “protection” money - but their history of piracy is over. Using their commanding position as the gatekeepers between the Serpente Sea and the Isarus Ocean has given them a free hand to charge tariffs.

Main Article: Theodova

Zentirovan and Theodova are fierce competitors on the seas as each nation attempts to control the trade along the coastline. Zentirovan has the advantage of the superior geographical position as the Tarakian Islands serve as a bottleneck for ships that exit the Serpente Sea. Theodovan merchants advantage lies in their much larger merchant fleet and their position as Zentirovan's largest trading partner, while Theodova imports only a few goods from Zentirovan. This makes both competition and corporation in the best interest of both nations.

Main Article: Talarak

The original Talarakians were Zents that used the island to stave off the piracy laws of their own people. Over time more like-minded people arrived and now it is backwater flotsam. Relations with Telarak have always been strained by the issue of piracy, the Sea Lords want it destroyed - but quite a few of its citizens profit from pirates. The Oracle forbids them from setting foot on the island or attacking those in its waters. While the terrifying final judgement that she predicts may come true - it is little comfort to those merchants whose ships have been sunk or those families whose members have been sold into slavery.

The Zents survive by trade and have worked diligently to trade fairly with the other nations. This is made doubly so given their past history with piracy. They can sell obsidian, rare trees, and unusual fruits, nuts, and grains.

Living with volcanoes, earthquakes, and terrible storms leads to a generally fatalistic outlook on life. The Zents are not a religious people, but see the gods as forces of nature than cannot be pleaded or reasoned with - only endured. These features is why outsiders often view them as having one foot in the grave. They can be both bombastic and somber at the same time. Many Zents will find any excuse for a celebration and the only celebration worth having is a grand celebration for you never know when the eye of The Oracle will find out.

At several points in the history of Zentirovan worship of Sea Gods or Fire Gods spread among the population. Each time it would die within a few generations as the Zentis are more focused on the self rather than any promises of an afterlife.

The magic of wind and wave is at the heart of city life, outside the city simple herbalists and spiritualists can be found on several of the large settlements. The Zents consider any magic that harnesses the elements to be far superior to any other magic. They greatly despise diabolists, necromancers, and others that disrupt the natural flow of the world. Necromancy and summoning outsiders (either divine or infernal) is punishable by death.

The Stormbringer can harness the violent nature of the storm. They can lash their opponents with freezing rains, powerful hail, and hurricane-like winds. They can enhance their speed with the wind and their weapons with lightning. A Stormbringer, like the Storm, is always on the brink of destruction - ready to act at a moments notice.

Each stormbringer has fashioned for them a weapon of obsidian as it will never pit or rust in the hard seawater. Its edge is razor-sharp and the material takes well to magic, unlike iron. Most importantly there is plenty of of obsidian found on the islands the result of many eruptions in the past.

A Wavedancer can command the water, everything from a small drop to a large sea is called to their will. They can draw large waves from the ocean depths and destroy miles of coastline - or bring a gentle rain to an area parched by drought. It can be very difficult to move large bodies of water as they naturally flow on the current, but given enough time a Wavedancer could move the ocean.

Each Wavedancer is given a crystal staff that is filled with some of the world's oceans. This serves as a reminder of the natural ebb and flow as it will react to its larger likeness and keeps them bonded with mother ocean. All things come from the ocean and so all things must return.

The Oracle is a magician gifted with foresight. She, and it is always a woman, can see into the future although with some loss of clarity. She looks into the eye of the hurricane, the surge of the storm, and the mournful call of the great whales. She will usually task one of her helpers to give a message to a Zent on some task that he or she must complete. When this task is dire, she will come herself. An old Zent saying, “t is a very bad omen if The Oracle wants to talk to you - it is The End when she comes to you.”