Unathi Recent Events

A brief summary of the storyline for the Unathi is here.

Unathi Enter the Bluespace Age (2457)

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Technically spacefaring, the Hegemony never had time to build a fleet before the Contact War caused Izweski attention to collapse inwards. But in June of 2457, all of that changed. By inviting Unathi raiders from all across the galaxy to return to Moghes and swear fealty to clan Izweski in exchange for amnesty, Hegemon S'kresti managed to assemble a small fleet of warships. This fleet would be used to force the Solarian Alliance and Nralakk Federation to the negotiating table by taking Qukala marines prisoner. The negotiations would see the peaceful transfer of the colony world Ouerea to the Hegemony, marking the end its joint administration by the Alliance and Federation.

On June 2nd the S’kresti Izweski announced amnesty for all Unathi raiders in the galaxy if they came to Moghes and swore fealty. Several ships accepted the call, and overnight the Unathi had a small, rag-tag fleet that began to grow in size.

One of the first vessels to answer the call, the HMV Cataclysm became a namesame for the later class of super-dreadnaught.

On June 3rd the frigate NMV Daedalus was attacked and destroyed by an Izweski vessel, which rammed it and boarded it to seize the ship and crew before scuttling the ship. In retaliation NanoTrasen completely shut down their infrastructure in Uueoa-Esa space. Within hours Uueoa-Esa had lost the majority of satellites, shuttleports on the surface shut down as the human staff left, and the bluespace gate for the system itself was shut off.

On June 4th the Sol Alliance the Prime Minister Michael Douglas held a speech condemning NanoTrasen's response to the Unathi crisis. Immediately after the speech there was a vote of no-confidence, ousting the Prime Minister, his cabinet, paralyzing SolGov and making it hard to respond to the seizure of a NanoTrasen telecommunications satellite in orbit of Moghes.

On June 23rd Hegemon S’kresti Izweski used a seized NanoTrasen t-comm satellite to broadcast his agenda of expansion for the Hegemony, as well as demanding the return of the Ouerean colony back to Unathi officials. Ouera was jointly administered by the Nralakk Federation and Sol Alliance at the time, who originally ignored the demands. Nralakk even warped four extra frigates in orbit of Ouerea to ensure the safety of its citizens on and around the planet.

On July 5th, Hegemonic Fleets jumped into Ouerea orbit. They fired a broadside across the bow of several Federation ships, in order to notify them of their presence. Hegemonic forces would then announce to the Federation that several Qukala marines had been taken prisoner by the Hegemony. These prisoners were essentially used as hostages to force the Federation and Alliance into negotiations for the planet.

On July 7th newly elected Alliance Prime Minister Chater announced he was ceding Ouerea to the Izweski, deeming the planet not worth the loss of lives in an actual conflict. This lead the Hegemon to name Tarkart Yiztek as Overlord (King) of the planet.

On July 12th Nralakk ceded all claims the planet in exchange for all Skrell prisoners being returned, and the opportunity to evacuate any skrell who wished to leave Ouerea.

Hephaestus Industries was quick to swoop in and fill in the void left by a withdrawn NanoTrasen. On the 19th of July they announced a partnership with the Hegemony, and laid the groundwork for a tightly woven relationship between the Hegemony and the mega-corporation.

The Cataclysm (2458)

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The construction and sabotage of the first Dreadnaught, the HMV cataclysm. Following it's sabotage, the amnesty fleet would go undertake it's first real military operation, fighting the pirates of Izharshan's Raiders. While the raiders were not destroyed, the expedition was generally considered a success; Izharshan was killed by Hegemonic forces, and his pirate fleets severely damaged. The operation would cement Lord-Admiral Trazial Yizarus as a popular war-hero, and give him influence above his station for years to come.

On February 13th, the galaxy's first Super-Dreadnaught was launched by the Hegemony thanks to a partnership by Hephaestus Industries. Hephaestus had helped kickstart the orbital industry around Moghes needed for the project. It was a warship of then-unrivalled size, and used the Hegemony's unorthodox naval strategy of close quarters naval combat and shock tactics, bristling with heavy weapons and a reinforced frontal ram. Lord-Admiral Trazarial Yizarus, an older establishment nobleman, was granted the vessel as his flagship for a new future fleet.

That same day, the launch of the HMV Cataclysm was mired by an act of sabotage of the ship's second Supermatter core. The attack killed just over a hundred Unathi and the ship was critically damaged before its maiden launch. The Chief Engineer of the superdreadnaught, Yiazar Tsaera, was murdered in his office by a Guwan infiltrator that had been on the vessel as a janitor.

On Febuary 14th the culprit was captured and interrogated, he revealed himself to be working for Izharshan's Raiders, a pirate group that mainly operates within the territory of the Hegemony. The hegemony would retaliate with a large military operation, with the overall goal to be the capture or death of Iklex Izharshan, the leader of Izharshan's Raiders. Many Raider ships were captured or destroyed, and several of his lieutenants and crews were captured as the Hegemony raided forward operating bases. Those captured by the Hegemony would go onto be punished; officers were executed on the order of Lord-Admiral Yizarus, and crews were sentenced to lifetimes of hard labor.

On Febuary 29th, the turning point of the expedition came. Sinta who had joined the Hegemony's 'amnesty navy' under the command of Captain Zyuiz Sitraz, conducted a massacre against a Raider occupied station just outside of the Hegemonies borders. The station was home to not only the Raiders, but members of their families, primarily women and children. Ignoring hails from the station and requests by the inhabitants to be allowed to surrender, Sitraz and his men indiscriminately cleared the station, leaving no survivors. For his crimes, he was personally condenmed by the Hegemon and accused of Abhorrent Dishonor. He fled the Hegemony before being arrested.

On March 15th, Ilkex Izharshan was killed when the Hegemony raided a well defended asteroid base just outside of the Hegemonies territory. The Hegemonic Navy was led to the base by tracking a damaged raider ship carrying a supply of Phoron. The assault was led by Lord-Admiral Trazial Yizarus, as his brother was battling a seasonal sickness. Ilkex was killed on the bridge of the base when several hegemonic warriors threw frag grenades into the room. This also marked the end of the Hegemonic Navy's first true military operation, which they completed rather well. It is seen by many as the day the Hegemony became an equal player within the Badlands.

By March 19th the repairs to the HMV Cataclysm were completed, and the ship was re-launched to much fanfare. It joined the 1st Fleet, commanded by Lord-Admiral Trazial Yizarus, and became the fleet's flagship.

The Succession Crisis (2458)

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In 2458 the Heir to the Hegemony, Yakt Izweski, would suddenly perish in a shuttle crash on Moghes. As a result, the line of succession shifted to Not'zar Izweski, who was seen as a weak and undesirable heir. Following the funeral of his son, Hegemon Sr'kresti became recluse, locking himself away in the Izweski Keep eventually falling into a coma. This left a power vacuum within the Hegemony, leading to S'linzar Ickza, a son in law of the Hegemon, declaring himself Regent with the support of many powerful vassals. Eventually, Not'zar challenged S'linzar to single combat for the throne, triumphing by utilizing a large skrell made exosuit.

Death of Heir Yakt: Rise of S'linzar

May 6th, 2458 will forever mark a turning point in the Hegemony's history. Hegemon Heir Yakt Izweski along with his wife Asalizathi and 4 other passengers were killed when a private shuttle crashed in the mountains just north of To'ha'dat. According to sources within the Moghean Shuttle Service Authority they received a distress signal from the shuttle's pilot. The pilot had declared an emergency after its engines failed at 45,000 feet from an unknown malfunction. His death decapitated the Izweski's succession plans. The prince was the epitome of Unathi ideals, being a warrior-poet who strengthed the Izweski clan through a powerful marriage alliance with the Ackza clan through his wife. His death left as heir the undesirable Prince Not'zar Izweski, 20 years old at the time and second oldest child to the Hegemon and his First Wife. The physically handicapped and unassuming Unathi was never expected to achieve anything, and most people skipped over him to focus on his younger brother Prince Z'krazki Izweski who was 16 at the time. Z'krazki was seen as the same sort of robust, strong-headed Unathi that his eldest brother and father were. It also left in a powerful position Lord S'linzar Ickza', 25 at the time. He was brother-in-law of the late Heir and Son-in-Law of the Hegemon after marrying the 19 year old Rzasul Izweski. He personally commanded the Ickza Levee forces, which fought extensively alongside Izweski forces under his late father in the Contact War. Many of their forces were tragically lost, including Slin'zar's father, in the nuclear exchange but the Ickza continued to be a dominant force in the Hegemon military as its leading officers and a sizable portion of the Moghean levies.

On May 8th, S'linzar saw his chance after the sudden loss of the Hegemon. During the funeral of his lost son, Hegemon S'kresti, already having experienced the trauma of living through a nuclear apocalypse that saw him lose friends, family, and almost his entire civilization, became inconsolable upon seeing his son buried. Following the burial the Hegemon cut off all contact and resigned himself to his quarters in the Izweski Citadel, not leaving his bed. His doctors soon found the grief and major depressive episode had caused the Hegemon to fall into a coma. After losing their heir and then immediately losing their Hegemon, a power vacuum was ripped wide open in the Hegemony. Immediately power players made moves to seize the ultimate prize. Faster and savvier than the others, S'linzar Ickza unilaterally declared himself Regent and immediately gained support of powerful vassals.

By May 11th S'linzar attempted to purge his enemies and uplift his loyalists, but hit a roadblock in the form of Lord-Admiral Yizarus. After purging and sidelining large elements of the upper nobility in government, Lord-Admiral Trazarial Yizarus was also given a letter of retirement ordering him to cede authority of the 1st Fleet which is still withdrawing from operations in the Frontier. Lord-Admiral Yizarus announced that he would refuse to abide by the letter, and that he would continue to operate the fleet, which accounts for almost half of the orbital navy of the Hegemony. The Yizarus clan and its direct vassals remained the majority of officers in the young Hegemon Space Command, whereas the Ickza and their vassals dominated the politics and manpower of the army of Moghes and Ouerea. Lord-Regent Ickza responded by threatening to brand Lord-Admiral Yizarus a traitor, forcefully stripping him of his titles and lands. Complicating the matter, Lord-Admiral Azikyui Yizarus, Trazarial's brother, commanded the 2nd Fleet which had just returned to the orbit of Moghes. Azikyui did not give any statements on his position and the 2nd fleet went silent, refusing hails from both the Moghean Space Command or the 1st Fleet's hails. Lord-Admiral Yizarus demanded his brother defy the Lord-Regent while Lord-Regent Ickza has sent demands for Azikyui to detain his brother and seize control of the 1st Fleet.

Following this on May 19th, S'linzar doubled down on his attacks against Not'zar Izweski and his immediate family. Not'zar had just went to diplomatic summit in Tau Ceti to meet emissaries from the Jargon Federation, seeking recognition for his own claim from the Jargon Federation. Ickza visciously mocked and attacked the young Prince for this move, trying to discredit him by painting him as a pawn of xeno powers in words that quoted the famous 'false smiles and unknowable minds' line from King Don'zai Azarak and his Firebrand Summit of 2437. Following this maneuver, the Overlord of Ouerea declared his support for Ickza. This also caused Azikyui to break his fleets silence and declare himself for Ickza. It seemed evident to all that Not'zar's only choice was to either formally abdicate to Ickza or rally his existing forces and seize his claim by force, plunging the Hegemony into a brutal war of succession that would forever prevent them from reversing the spread of the Wasteland, and potentially ending Unathi's chance for civilization entirely.

Defeat of S'linzar: Rise of Not'Zar

On May 27th, Not'zar Izweski showed his grasp of intrigue and political acumen by taking a third choice. Having been secretly shuttled to the Cataclysm, Not'zar Izweski broadcast a speech in which he challenged S'linzar to a duel of personal combat. He antagonized Ickza's pride by declaring he'd spare his in-law upon his defeat. Publically challenging Ickza before all Unathi and having such self-confidence in his own victory manipulated Ickza into immediately accepting at risk of losing face. The key in Ickza's response was that Not'zar, who was known to be physically handicapped, could "choose whatever weapons and armor he can walk to the field with."

On June 16th, the duel of personal combat marked a stunning reversal in Ickza's trajectory. The duel was conducted that morning with Lord Regent S'linzar arriving outside the Izweski Citadel, the capital of the Hegemony and personal castle of the Izweski family, in a Mk II Class Breacher Suit taken from the Izweski personal armory. The duel was taking place in the courtyard of the Izweski Citadel with the ramparts filled with various members of the Hegemony nobility. Many were encouraged by the self-assured Slin'zar to take the victor as the legitimate and legal heir to the Hegemony. Not'zar was allowed by the terms of the duel to arrive with whatever weapons and armor he could personally carry, and it's believed that this loophole was exploited as a reason for his dramatic entry in a large skrell-made mech. The mech's use in the duel was not known until it departed from a shuttle that had landed just outside the citadel walls. The shuttle itself had embarked from the HMV Cataclysm, which had jumped in orbit above the capital city despite protests from Moghean Space Command and threats of retaliation from the nearby 2nd Fleet. The duel continued despite the surprise of Lord-Regent S'linzar but was quickly ended when Not'Zar fired a series of ion bursts that disabled S'linzar's Breacher Suit and depleted its charge. Lord-Regent S'linzar was them asked to surrender and keep his life and nominal titles, and the offer was accepted.

On July 2nd 2458, Not'zar Izweski ascended to Lord-Regent and the formal heir of the Hegemony during an official coronation ceremony in which he laid out his vision for the Hegemony's future. Not'Zar Izweski gave an extremely controversial speech to the assembly. Following this speech thirty-eight of the assembled delegations staged a walk out. The fifty-three remaining Lords and Ouerean Overlord Tarkart Yiztek reportedly had extremely mixed reactions to the speech, with several instances of fighting and heated arguments between the assembly. This fierce disagreement would be the norm for the next years of Not'zar's reign as the young prince tried to steer the Hegemony into a new future.

The Rise of the Iron Masks (2458)

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Using the fire of religious tensions and superstitions, the Izweski Court Chaplin, soon to be High Priest Unzi, seized power over the church of Sk'akh. He formed the Maraziite Order, otherwise known as the Iron Masks, a religious police force who had authority throughout the Hegemony. High Preist Unzi's paranoia would see this force used to target thousands of Sinta, eventually attempting to target Clan Izweski themselves. The Maraziites would lay siege to the Izweski Citadel, attempting to assault it several times but being repelled, until negotiations between Not'zar and Unzi reached a peace, with a compromise between the Hegemony and church of Sk'akh.

On September 24th news came out about a feudal Lord on Ouerea that had been arrested by his Watchmen, on accusations of black magic. Originally elected as the city mayor before Ouerea was returned to the Hegemony, he had been serving as its feudal Lord since only 2457. This incident was originally thought to be a minor incident that was embarrassing for the landed nobility for twin reasons: the fact there was a revolt against a landed Lord at all, and that it made the Unathi look incredibly superstitious and backwards to the galaxy. However this soon became known as the first incident in the coming occultist panic that would see the rise of a powerful new political player in the Hegemony: High Priest Unzi.

September 20th gave another warning sign when Ouerea officially banned conducting seances without a license. But November 11th is often considered the true birth of the panic and the origin of the Iron Masks. Yizra Unzi, a Sk'akh priest with a prestigious but ceremonial title as the Izweski's formal chaplain and priest, reveale alleged evidence of unprecedented infiltration of Hegemony society by what he called "Occultist influences". The investigation sparked immense alarm across Uueoa-Esa as mass panic gripped nearly every major city. Not'zar Izweski tried to appeal for calm and to caution against superstition, but this was futile as powerful elements of the nobility, the general public, and even extended members of the Izweski clan itself had already called for a broad and unprecedented growth of the power of the Sk'akh church.

By November 14th this broad coalition allowed Unzi to unilaterally name himself the head of the Sk'akh Church. This same day he created an armed inquisition called the Maraziites, or the Iron Masks recruited from the pools of Warrior Priests or hired from the ranks of civilian Watchmen. This religious police was unilaterally granted unrestricted jurisdiction across Hegemonic space and supremacy over civilian courts. The Order was granted authority to put accused cultists before trial in the new High Court of Tranquility, which would punish Unathi with exile or even death. Despite these reforms being extremely illegal, Not'zar Izweski did not have the power base necessary to resist without his attempts blowing up in his face.

Going into the rest of November, the Maraziites ruthlessly targeted enemies of the Church. Consolidating power incredibly quickly, Unzi began targeting Unathi outside the original documents. In an ever-expanding web of "occultists" and "daemonic influences" the High Priest began to see enemies everywhere, until his eyes settled on the biggest threat of them all.

Defending from the Cult Menace and the Failed Coup

November 23rd was the climax of the Maraziites rise. It saw the Orders sudden siege of the Izweski Citadel. The Order accused Clanmother Rak'ta of the Izweski Clan of practicing black magic on the comatose Hegemon. Iron Masks attempted to breach the citadel but were repelled, and a 5-day stand-off ensued. The Lord that ruled Skalamar, Trikzara Sirax, attempted to attack the Maraziites using his forces in the city but was deterred by Not'zar Izweski who wanted to avoid the situation escalating.

On November 28th, At the end of the 5th day there was a dramatic battle that saw the Maraziites try to actively break down the walls of the Citadel but they were unsuccessful. Following the defeat, High Priest Unzi agreed to meet with Not'zar Izweski. The two of them crafted an agreement that would compromise power between the Sk'akh Church and the Izweski Clan. While this avoided bloodshed, the agreement is also seen as a formal acknowledgement of High Priest Unzi's legitimacy in his new role.

Not'zar's Rule is Tested (2459)

The Arrival of Vaurca

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The arrival of the K'lax Hive in their massive hiveship saw the Hegemony adopt them into their empire, granting them the world of Tret. Their Queen would be named overlord of the planet, and become another vassal of the Izweski. The hive would then go on to act as Not'zars private army in many disputes, and some K'lax unbound even being named to the Admiralty.

March 9th, saw the arrival of one of the major Vaurca Hives. The object was colossal, with long range scans showing it to be almost 28 kilometers in length where the Cataclysm was just under a single kilometer in length.

March 13th revealed that after originally being incredibly alarmed and fearing conflict after an error in translation, which saw the mobilization of the Hegemony's armed forces, the Vaurca were soon revealed to be seeking refuge.

On March 17th Not'zar Izweski allowed them to settle on the small world of Tret within the Uueoa-Esa system. He named their Queen Overlord of the planet and vassalized the K'lax

On November 15th, 2460, a Vaurca named Za'Akaix'Xitac Klax achieved the rank of Admiral within the Hegemony's Navy. Xitac had shown consistent talent and promise since 2459, and in May, in the season of Versakh, he was tapped as the potential leader of the growing 3rd Fleet.

On December 4th, 2460, the new 3rd Fleet of the Hegemony received its flagship: The HMV Annihilation. The Cataclysm-class warship differed significantly from its sister-ships. Its main focus was a heavy compliment of stike-craft: bombers and fighters that used the vessel as a carrier. The Annihilation would be the flagship of the K'lax Admiral Za'Akaix'Xitac Klax.

The Restoration of the Kataphracts

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Not'zar would restore the Kataphract Order, warriors who swear allegiance only to the Hegemony rather than specific clans. Some of his appointments would see backlash from other lords. More information can be found here.

[ On April 26th], Not'zar announced the resurrection of the Kataphract Order. Not'zar included in this resurrection the new titles of High Kataphracts who would be held up as paragons for the entire species. The First High Kataphract was Saa Yui’zai of Clan Timzula. The second was Lady H'zala. Her appointment broke convention and upset many traditionalists, and only came after she went through an arduous series of trials and quests not required by her male peers before her eventual success.

On May 4th, the next High Kataphract was a hero of Youthstone, Ozal’kai Zizae.

On May 25th, it was revealed that Zizae was a fraud. He was a Guwan who had taken his deceased brother's name in order to fight in the war. Upon this discovery there was little leniency offered; Not'zar Izweski stripped him of his title and he was imprisoned.

On June 10th, he was allowed to have his name restored as his status as Guwan removed. However he still had to embark on a quest given by the Lord-Regent with only a ship, a spear, and a laser rifle. Only by completing this quest would he be allowed to return fully into the fold of his Clan.

On June 7th, Za’Akaix’Ziza K’lax became the first K'lax Kataphract. The medical doctor had been tending to Wastelanders deep in the desert when raiders came and stole supplies and kidnapped a patient. Ziza then later went on a quest to attack the raiders at their camp and liberate his patient and the stolen medical supplies. He was lauded as an exemplar example of the Hegemony's ability to bring non-Unathi into the fold of heroism and honor.

The Hegemonic Assembly

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A assembly called by Not'zar in the city of New Skamander, during which the primary issue was the direction the Hegemony would take, and it was decided that the Hegemony would undertake a massive terraforming effort on Moghes, in an attempt to fix the wasteland. Secondarily, it was also used by Not'zar to limit the power of clans.

On July 8th Not'zar Izweski called an assembly to determine the future of Moghes and the Hegemony. With limited resources, the three choices were to either invest in terraforming Moghes, invest in expanded territory and resources through conquest, or abandon Moghes and relocate the Sinta people to Ouerea. The K'lax Queen was also in attendence as a delgate. In the end, despite a heavily militarist bent, the Assembly decided to invest in repairing the environment of Moghes. Heavy industries and a massive investment in terraforming equipment was made. But at the same time, Unathi who had for decades made a home in the Wasteland were now being evicted by the Izweski Hegemony and their lands seized. It was a bitter reminder to those who still remembered how the Izweski had done this all before, but this time there was no unified force to resist them.

On August 28th, four weeks later, Not'zar Izweski announced a decree that provided token protection against the practice of Clans branding someone as a Guwan. The new law required an imperial court to brand someone a Guwan, and not a Clan Leader. This antagonized traditional elements of Unathi society, with Not'zar facing intense criticism at what many Lords and Clan Leaders called an arbitrary seizure of power.

On September 26th Not'zar faced a reprieve. The Wasteland experienced its first rainfall for 20 years. The moment marked a tremendous moment of jubilation within the Hegemony as a sign that the investments in terraforming were already bearing fruit. The day was so celebrated that September 26th became known as Restoration Day.

October 21stsaw strange news that foreshadowed either the arrival of the Aut'akh or the long history of occultist powers. The Hegemony Guild Of Xenoarchaeology announced a startling find: an ancient temple pre-dating Sinta'Unathi civilization. Master K'arzl, a prestigious xeno-archaeologist, conducted an expedition into the deep cave system that housed the temple. The Iron Masks, antagonized by the spiritual threat they claimed the temple possessed, had a scuffle with the Master and then sealed the caves leading to the temple.

The Return of Clan Ickza (2459)

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Due to the ascension of a peasant admiral to the command of the 2nd Fleet, several lords announced they would be refusing Levy services to the Hegemon, causing half the army of Moghes to disappear in a single day. These lords were led by Czia Ickza, who had taken control of the clan following the defeat of S'lzinar in 2458. Not'zar would call upon the K'lax of Tret to supply him with warriors, of which he was granted ten thousand, and use them to lay siege to the Ickza ancestral estate. The discipline of the Vaurca and their alien appearance caused panic within the Ickza levy, leading Not'zar to force a capitulation without battle. Czia would become a hostage of the Izweski, and Not'zar gained incredible control over the military system of the Hegemony.

On November 3rd The second Superdreadnought HMV Catastrophe was launched from an orbital dockyard. An elaborate ceremony in Skalamar, Lord-Regent Not'zar officially named Oyuti Gour'zai Admiral of the 2nd Fleet and Captain of the Castastrophe, taking the place of the retiring Lord-Admiral Azikyui Yizarus. Oyuti was the first one of the officers that graduated from Not'zar Izweski's Imperial Academy that was training officers exclusively loyal to the Izweski rather than the many feudal Lords. Following Azikyui's public support for a pretender and rival to Not'zar Izweski, none were surprised by his being replaced. But many were shocked to see Lords passed over in favor of someone they saw as a peasant.

On November 7th this immediately saw a retaliation from the many Lords, they announced that they would be refusing their Levy services to the Hegemon entirely. Just over half the army deployed across Moghes disappeared over a single day. The move caused incredible antagonism between Oyuti and the nobility, with Oyuti boldly echoing Yizarus' statement during the Succession Crisis that any attempt to take his fleet would have to be done via force. Bizarrely to many, rather than wade into the middle of the dispute Not'zar Izweski left on a shuttle to the K'lax planet of Tret. The reason for this soon became clear.

On November 13th Not'zar Izweski landed four miles north of the Ickza's ancestral estate with over 10,000 Vaurca warriors. Taking his new K'lax levy on the march, Ickza soldiers abandoned their posts and even villages fled rather than face these strange aliens. The Vaurca played up their strange customs, moving in complete silence and with a discipline unknown to any major galactic species, and partaking in no violence. They ended up taking up positions near the Ickza's ancestral castle.

On November 19th the bizarre stand off around the Ickza's ancestral home came to an end. The Ickza requested their own vassals answer a summons to rally an army of their own but many of the Ickza's lower vassals refused the summons. The Ickza ended up with a force of 2,500 Sinta surrounded by the tens of thousands of Vaurca. The Vaurca remained completely silent and unmoving for hours and hours on end during the stand-off as Not'zar negotiated with the Clan-Leader Czia Ickza nearby. By nightfall on the 17th the Unathi forces, wearing full combat gear and holding melee weapons or rifles, were becoming exhausted after standing in place for 13 hours. The commanders refused to let anyone move until the sun began to set on the next day. By this time the Ickza's levy-men had gone nearly 40 hours standing in place with no food or water and many collapsed in place from exhaustion. Ickza commanders then finally signaled all the formations to break up and return to their camp. It was then that the Vaurca's entire force, suddenly took two steps forward, startling the Ickza forces. The sudden short advanced the entire Ickza army routed from the field. In the end Czia Ickza agreed to return to the Izweski Citadel as a hostage while Not'zar took direct control of all the Ickza's lower vassals. With the leaders of the short rebellion defeated, the general strike dissolved and by December Not'zar now enjoyed a much greater control over the military than before.

The Discovery of Wasteland Diona (2459-2460)

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Late in the year, a Diona Gestalt was discovered within the wasteland. Using it's ability to absorb radiation as food, the Gestalt had brought down cancer rates and radiation sickness dramatically, leading for the local shaman to declare the Diona a blessing from the ancestors. Hegemonic scientists swarmed the site, conducting studies on the Gestalt, before Th'akh shamans spirited the Diona away, declaring the studies to be too invasive. The Sk'akh church then met with the Shamans, and after discussion, agreed that the Gestalt was holy, leading to pressures against the Hegemony. This combined pressure would see a recall of all the Hegemonic Scientists, and the declaration that Diona are a scared species within both churches. The wastelanders however would take this to another level, merging diona with their bodies in a symbiotic relationship, which is viewed with revulsion by the wider public, save for the Sk'akh church who condone the practice.

On December 3rd it was discovered that a Dionae Gestalt had somehow found its way into a Wasteland community. It had given itself the name The Silent Friend Embracing The Weeping Souls In A Blanket Of Purity And Love. Over the time it had been there it developed a relationship with the local community. Using its natural ability to absorb radiation, the Gestalt brought radiation sickness and cancer down dramatically. The shaman of the local village had declared the dionae a blessing from the Ancestors intended to protect them and had persuaded the villagers to bring it regular tribute of food and water. However Hegemonic scientists swarmed to the small town to conduct invasive studies on the Gestalt. Objecting to this, Th'akh shamans helped the dionae escape the scientists. After retaliating with arrests and an extensive manhunt the Sk'akh Church came to meet with the shamans. The two faiths found a common respect for the gestalt. In a rare moment of cooperation, the Church and the shamans both pressured the Izweski to call away the scientists and allow the dionae to live with the village in peace. This incident marked the first of the growing relationship between Unathi and the Dionae.

On January 15th this would evolve into Dionae being declared sacred.

On December 22nd news came out that Wastelanders had created a ritual where they merge dionae nymphs with their body, forming entire new limbs. Originally it was believed it was a parasitic relationship and was immediately condemned by many religious and civil authorities.

By December 28th, discussions with the Unathi in question with religious leaders had the Sk'akh Church and many shamans reconsider it a symbiotic relationship. The Sk'akh Church went so far as to condone the practice. Despite this, the public's views on the matter would continue to be dominated by revulsion.

The Year of Chaos (2460)

Rumbles on Ouerea

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Starting as a protest against Hephaestus Industries, civil unrest would eventually spiral into full-blown rebellion on Ouerea, with demands to abolish feudalism, end taxation, and the return of a democratic government. Overlord Yiztek responded with a brutal crackdown of the rebellion, causing most of his levymen to abandon him and join the rebels. The rebellion swelled in power, seizing nearly all major cities save for the capital, arresting members of the nobility and ransacking estates. With the situation dire, Not'zar would arrive on Ouerea, and begin to negotiate with the rebels against the advice of the Overlord. While negotaitions were ongoing, the overlord would kill many rebel negotiators, forcing Not'zars hand, causing the Guwan Guard to storm the capital and arrest the Overlord, who was then branded Guwan and exiled to the wasteland. The rebel army accepted Not'zars terms for peace, which led Ouerea to become a democratic colony under the Hegemony. Not'zar was then nearly murdered by surviving members of the Overlords Clan, but was saved by Hizoni Razi. This caused the entire Yit'zek clan to be branded Guwan, and exiled into the wasteland.

On January 12th, 2459 it was finally brought to public consciousness that the women of Ouerea were politically agitating via what they called Women's Councils. These argued against the exploitation of Ouerea and its falling standard of life and loss of its diversity, focusing on the children of the women in particular. Ouerean Overlord Tarkart Yiztek tried to appease the groups by redirecting their criticism to Not'zar.

On Janurary 27th the public consciousness present on the planet got a boost through an appropriated war chant bellowed by Wastelanders who attacked an Izweski terraforming site with a leader claiming to be Don'ziki Azarak, the leader of the Traditionalist Coalition.

On March 6th, Ouerea would explode into unrest once again. The protests originally began in New Skalamar, focused against Hephaestus Industries' treatment of Ouerean workers. The original protests grew into an organized rebellion that almost immediately overwhelmed five major cities. The original demands of this rebellion was the abolishment of feudalism on Ouerea, the banishment of Hephaestus Industries, the end of taxation to Moghes, and the return of a democratic government. Overlord Yiztek responded with a brutal crack-down that failed spectacularly in containing the violence.

On April 10th, in response to his retaliation, large portions of the Ouerean levymen abandoned the Overlord and joined the rebels. They seized government buildings across several major cities in a coordinated surprise attack. Feudal Lords were forced to flee or be captured, and in only a handful of cities were the aristocracy able to maintain control. This rebellion would continue to rage on Ouerea for some time, being a festering problem with no solution in sight.

On June 2nd, 2460 the rebel movement on Ouerea that became known as the Ouerean Confederation managed to flip all the major cities of the planet except for the capital of New Skalamar. The rebellion's violence was mostly focused on the property of the nobility. Many estates and castles were ransacked by rebel forces. Many high profile noble Clan elders were arrested by the rebel army while dozens of Sinta in general had perished. In lands that the Confederation controlled the Maraziite Order was also expelled by force. The planet was majority Th'akh and did not appreciate the presence of the Order that had burnt their sacred temples to the ground. The Confederation's main army, commanded by General Zik'San then besieged the capital.

On June 3rd Not'zar Izweski himself arrived on Ouerea. The Lord-Regent's arrival came after Overlord Yiztek expressed frustration with the handling of the crisis, at one point directly attacking Not'zar's honor by saying that it was easy for the Lord-Regent to give orders far away from the front lines. After these reports reached Moghes, Not'zar Izweski is said to have immediately left his Citadel for a shuttle to Ouerea.There he flew into the encircled city and took a direct part in directing its defense.

On June 20th Not'zar left the city to directly speak to the rebel General Zik'san. Initially being at the walls directing reinforcement of the western gate and discussing how to best distribute food supplies being shuttled in from orbit to residents of the city, Not’zar suddenly signaled his Guwan Guards and informed the assembled defenders that he would be ‘seeking a better alternative’ to the crisis. Not’zar Izweski began by asking Zik’san his terms for a peaceful end of the conflict. General Zik’san reiterated the terms sent to Overlord Yiztek. Zik'san was originally reluctant to engage in negotiation with someone he saw as unable to keep their word, having dealt with only the dishonorable Overlord. Not'zar requested a radio in response and ordered the expulsion of all Maraziites from New Skalamar. Impressed by this overture Zik'san and Not'zar were able to engage in earnest negotiations.

On June 22nd negotiations were halted when Overlord Yiztek locked the Lord-Regent outside the city during the latter's return from a negotiation. The Overlord had hoped that the rebels would seize the Lord-Regent as a prisoner and give him the justification to engage in a violent reprisal. Not'zar Izweski went back to General Zik'san, who felt honor-bound to ensure Not'zar's safe return. The general offered the Lord-Regent a shuttle to fly over the city walls and Not'zar was able to return to the city. After meeting with Yiztek for several hours in private, the Overlord apologized publicly for the accident. In addition future negotiations were to take place in the Overlord's castle inside the city.

On July 6th Yiztek had the rebel emissaries assassinated in his own castle. Overlord Yiztek is defending his action by claiming that they were spies attempting to get information. Zik'san swore retaliation and gave the city 3 days to surrender before he assaulted it.

On the 3rd day an assault came in the form of Not'zar's personal Guwan Guard storming Yiztek's castle. The castle garrison was taken by surprise and quickly overwhelmed. Several dozen of Yiztek’s Clan and followers were arrested. Refusing to become a Guwandi Yiztek was branded a Guwan and exiled, sent back to Moghes to be released into the Wasteland. The Ouerean Confederation accepted peace and soon Ouerea was reformed to become a democratic colony of the Hegemony.

On September 28th, 2460, at a formal dinner to celebrate a local Ouerean holiday and to commemorate the peace, Not'zar Izweski was nearly assassinated by surviving elements of Yiztek's family. The assault failed thanks to the efforts of Lady Hizoni Razi, a mysterious azure who was close to Not'zar at the time. In the fallout the entire Yiztek clan were branded Guwans and exiled into the Wasteland, and Lady Razi grew closer to Not'zar Izweski.

Our Brother, Dominia

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A joint anti-pirate operation between the Hegemonic and Dominian Navies. All the objectives of the operation were accomplished, and the pirates within the system were destroyed.

On May 6th, an emissary from the Empire of Dominia named Keanu Markarus was abducted by pirates based in the Youthstone star system. The incident was taken as a grievous insult that dishonored both the Hegemony and Dominia. Normally having cold relations, Not'zar Izweski immediately offered a joint counter-piracy expedition that was accepted by the Empire. Both Admiral Oyuti and his HMV Castastrophe as well as Lord-Admiral Yizarus and his HMV Cataclysm were deployed with their respective fleets.

On May 8th things started smoothly with a summit onboard the HMV Catastrophe when the Domion Fleets met with Hegemonic fleets. The ceremonial meeting took place as initial fighting took place in the Youthstone system.

The day after saw the invasion take place proper. The Youthstone system was a major hub of pirate and raider activity and so boasted a robust defense. Despite their best efforts the coalition was able to break through and land forces on the pirate's planet's surface.

The Iron Crusades and Religious Tensions (2460-2461)

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The Iron Crusade was a religious conflict between the Th'akh Akhanzi shamans and the Maraziite Order, caused by the persecution the Th'akh faith faced by the Church of Sk'akh. It saw the Maraziites completely destroy the Akanzi Order, demolishing their ancient temples and butchering their members. No lords were willing to oppose the Church of Sk'akh and High Priest Unzi, and only The Prophet Si'akh openly defied the church, rescuing several Akanzi Elders, aiding them to escape to Tau Ceti.

Beyond the Crusade, the years also saw the outbreak of the Aut'akh heresy. Seeing the religious tension within the Hegemony, and the outbreak of heresies, Not'zar Izweski called for a summit in New Skamander for all religious leaders to attend. The convention accomplished little beyond allowing grievances to air and starting inklings of well reasoned theological debate. However, it was generally agreed as a step in the right direction.

On April 1st The Wasteland also saw great unrest. Akhanzi Order shaman Elder Vuthix Akhandi entered Bo'ha'dat and gave a public speech; a very rare sight from the reclusive Elders. In it he warned the people there of the Sk'akh Church and the Iron Masks, speaking out against their persecutions.

By the next day the Maraziites were targeting Akhanzi Order. Using helicopters and off-road vehicles Iron Masks reached many secluded mountain temples and their surrounding villages, attacking them and harassing's the villagers. This prompted uprisings from Th'akh Unathi were angered at the attacks. On April 12th there was prison-break by Akhanzi shamans out of Iron Mask custody, prompting a dark warning of retaliation by High Priest Unzi.

On April 22nd the Maraziite Order launched the Iron Crusade. A coordinated attack on the secluded Akhanzi Order temples saw their complete destruction, including the oldest standing structure on Moghes at the time: Durahi Monastery. Over the Crusade's duration the entirety of the ancient order of shamans was ended. The survivors and refugees, dispossessed, relocated to Ouerea and as far as Tau Ceti in the largest religious diaspora in the history of Moghes. The Iron Masks appeared unstoppable due to the reluctance of Lords to intervene against them, fearing High Priest Unzi. The most successful resistance came from The Prophet Si'akh. On May 4th the prophet Si'akh rescued several Elders from the Order, aiding them in escaping to Tau Ceti.

On January 6th, The Aut'akh formally announced themselves in a huge shock to Moghes. The High Church, under Unzi, and conservative Lords immediately moved to destroy the heretics that are the Aut'akh.

On January 9th, an expedition made by the Church, with volunteer levys, were soundly defeated in a decisive battle dominated by geurilla warfare by the Aut'akhs against the inexperienced Iron Masks. Not'zar Izweski exploited this to maneuver to decree that the Aut'akh may live. Many express confusion as to why Not'zar is siding with the Aut'akh instead of the Church. But Not'zar Izweski understood that if High Priest Unzi were to secure prestige and power from a second successful Iron Crusade, he would effectively dwarf the power of the Izweski dynasty. Not'zar Izweski, attempting to avoid the mistake of the Iron Crusade, is undermining the Church and showing that he still has power over it.

On July 11th Not'zar Izweski a grand convention in New Skalamar on the colony of Ouerea which was meant to establish a formal dialogue between the Unathi Religions. Delegates came from Th'akh, Aut'akh, Sk'akh, and even Si'akh.

On July 17th the Convention came into full swing. The Sk'akh and Th'akh delegates immediately addressed the first Iron Crusade that all but scoured Moghes of the Akhandi Order. Their arguments continued for so long that Not'zar intervened and asked the Th'akh to address the Aut'akh. During that exchange the Th'akh were extremely critical, but the Aut'akh persisted. In the end, Clan-Mother Mortenga conceded that souls can manifest in inorganic material ‘in certain circumstances’. This was rejected by nearly all the Sk’akh delegates as well as the lone Si’akh delegate, who insisted a soul can only reside in organic material. A turning point came when two Sk'akh delegates signaled they were interested in the Aut'akh's arguments. This caused the head of the Sk'akh delegation to interrupt the convention with loud condemnations, throwing the affair into disarray. It ended in a show-down between Not'zar and the Sk'akh delegate in which Not'zar dared High Priest Unzi himself to come and speak for the church he claimed. The convention then dissolved.

On July 27th the convention started up again. This time High Priest Unzi was in attendance. To everyone's surprise the doomsday prophet Si'akh, who had been disguised, revealed himself and entered into a fierce tirade against the High Priest. The convention concluded without any concrete peace being made, but it did plant the seeds of small scale reconciliation between individuals of the differing faith. The open and honest dialogue and theological discussion broadcast on galactic media gave many Unathi words and arguments to explore other faiths.

The Hegemon Wakes! (2461-2462)

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In the most defining moment of the contemporary history of the Unathi, Hegemon Sk'resti awoke from his coma and reassumed his duties, dissolving the authority of Not'zar. It would be the start of a slide into chaos, as the Hegemon gave warmonging speeches, stoked the fires of militarism, and openly adopted the beliefs of the prophet Si'akh, believing his son had been re-incarnated in the wasteland. This last would cause the destruction of the tenuous peace between Church and State, with High Priest Unzi condemning the Hegemon himself for heresy. It was discovered that the hegemon was suffering from severe PTSD, and was unwilling to seek help for fear of looking weak.

On December 30th the Hegemony was radically altered in the course of a single day. Hegemon Sk'resti woke from his coma and immediately Lord-Regent Not'zar Izweski's authority dissolved. The Hegemon, filled with the same resolve and militarism as before, made bombastic speeches in which he openly declared his intention for a great conquest of the Hegemony's foes. This fired up the bellicose members of the nobility and many began to prepare for a new age of war and conquest.

On January 2nd of the new year 2462, the Hegemon went on a tour over several Wastelander territories. During this he vowed to persecute, run out, and even slay the Wastelanders. The Hegemon swore that all lands reclaimed by the terraforming efforts would be settled exclusively by loyal Sinta, and that in this new era there would be no room for Wastelanders.

On January 5th the Hegemon was holding court in the city of Res’karum, Moghes, to meet with Wasteland representatives to hear their cases for their own existence. During this a robed figure entered the room and presented the Hegemon with a scarred Wastelander child. The robed figure was revealed to be the Prophet of Flame Si'akh. The Prophet declared the child was the reincarnation of Yakt Izweski. Initially outraged, the Hegemon paused when attempting to strike down the child and the prophet. As the Prophet escaped in the resultant riot and chaos, the Hegemon, who never fully processed his grief, seemed to accept the child as his own.

On January 11th the Hegemon adopted the child, declaring him Yakt Izweski and his true heir. The Hegemon's open adoption of Si'akh's belief in reincarnation immediately blew up the tenuous peace between Church and State. Reprisals against Si'akh communities across Moghes took place, and High Priest Unzi condemned the Hegemon for heresy.

On January 14th a mundane article on water treatment reports that seemed to show corruption was found by sleuths to be embedded with documents exposing the Hegemon's mental state. In the documents, which consist of audio and video, the Hegemon is suffering from hallucinations, episodes of explosive violence, and irrational anger. In the logs its made clear that the Hegemon is still suffering from severe 'Post Trauma Disorder', but is both unwilling to seek help while his retainers and courtiers are too afraid to convince him to get help, believing it would be humiliating for the Hegemon.

On January 17th Z’krazki Izweski, now 20 years old as the youngest of the Hegmon's children, is named a Kataphract. During the ceremony he was continuously asked about his thoughts on his father's actions but became agitated and left.

The Burning of the Scept

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Following the condemnation by the High Priest, and hostility between the church and the Hegemon, the Church was accused of kidnapping the reincarnated heir, Yakt Izweksi from the Citadel. The city watch of Skamander laid siege of the Grand Scept of the church, facing off against the Maraziites who had been discreetly arming themselves within the scept. Eventually, after a tense 3 day stalemate where neither side began overtly hostile actions, the Hegemon openly accused High Priest Unzi of the kidnapping in a public speech. Immediately, Izweski bannermen began to attempt to fight their way into the Scept, making it to the entrance as priests barricaded the doors and windows. As anarchy began to grip the city, the Maraziites attacked the city watch, which itself had divided as many members deserted to side with the Church. After a night of fighting, the Izweksi bannermen were repelled from the Scept, leading the Hegemon to personally lead an attack to the Scept with his Guwan guard. This attack would overwhelm the Maraziites and members of the Watch with them, and in the resulting capsulation the Hegemon sacked and heavily damaged the Scept. With Lords swearing to avenge this destruction, the Hegemony was on the brink of a full scale civil war. However, Hegemon Sk'resti would not live to see this, as during a meeting with loyalist lords, Kataphract Z'krazk Izweski, son of the Hegemon, would slay his father. thrusting Not'zar back into the role of Hegemon.

On January 19th the grand temple of the Sk'akh faithful in Skalamar. Moghes, was surrounded by the City Watch on the orders of the City's Lord Trikzara Sirax. The Watch initially respected the Scept, meeting with delegations from inside on the steps. They accused members of the Church of kidnapping Yakt Izweski, the adopted child of the Hegemon. In defense of the Scept Maraziites began clandestinely rearming themselves and moving to the area, actions explicitly banned by the law. High Priest Unzi himself canceled his trips and returned to the city to the seat of his power.

Violence broke out on January 21st throughout Skalamar. In a public speech the Hegemon accused Unzi of kidnapping Prince Yakt and made his intentions for violence known if Yakt was not returned. The Izweski's personal soldiers fought their way to the Scepts entrance as the priests barricaded the doors and windows. In retaliation the Iron Masks violently assaulted the Watch, attempting to reinforce their holy site. The Watch itself was divided, with many deserting to join the defense of the Scept. The brutal and confusing three-way conflict Lords across Moghes responded by summoning their own forces.

By the morning of January 22nd the Izweski bannermen were repelled by the Watch and by the Iron Masks. In response the Hegemon, personally wearing a Breacher Suit, led a large contingent of his personal Guwan Guard to the Scept. A loose coalition of Watchmen, Iron Masks, and armed commoners were viscously and decisively defeated and scattered as their clubs and ballistic rifles were useless against the heavy armor of several Breacher Suits and the advanced laser weapons. Other groups surrendered immediately. The Guwan Guard and the Hegemon made their way to the Scept where they were confronted by Lord Trikzara Sirax himself. After a brief argument Sirax stood down and refused to participate in the assault. As a consequence the Third Scept was sacked by the Hegemon and the Guwan Guard. High Priest Unzi himself was critically wounded in the attack that saw the destruction of countless priceless religious and historical artifacts. The building itself suffered heavy structural damage. By the end of the day several Lords swore to avenge the sacking and declared themselves to be in open revolt. By nightfall the Hegemony was once again teetering on the brink of a full scale civil war.

On January 23rd the Hegemon was meeting with loyalist Lords to discuss their strategy, with his sons Not'zar Izweski and Kataphract Z'krazk with him. During the war council the Hegemon began demanding increasingly harsh responses, at one point even calling upon Captain Xirac, present in the meeting holographically from the HMV Annihilation, to commence orbital bombardment of all cities with Lords that declared themselves against the Izweski. After a fierce argument and escalating tensions, Kataphract Z'krazk drew his sword and killed his father before all those present. Not'zar Izweski was then unceremoniously thrust back into his role as leader of the Hegemon as his brother was clad in irons. Even with the death of the Hegemon, the rebelling Lords refused to end the conflict and announced that they would only follow Not'zar once again if he defeated the rebellion in open battle.

Not'zar's Civil War (2462)

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Thrust back into the position of Hegemon, Not'zar was faced with a civil war due to his fathers actions. His own forces were disorganized, with loyal lords refusing attempts at centralization, and most of the lower nobility having defected to rebellion resulting in a critical shortage of officers. In an attempt to fix this, Not'zar decreed that even the lowest members of the nobility, landed or otherwise, could serve as officers resulting in many Unathi from across the spur to return to Moghes to fight on the side of the hegemony. Others would return to fight on the side of the growing rebellion. As armies maneuvered, it was soon discovered that the rebellion would be decided in a single battle, the battle of four hills. Fought north of To'ha'dat, the battle was an intense struggle, but would see the loyalists prevail over the rebel forces, with a significant number of foreign-born unathi fighting within the battle. After the battle Not'zar met with the leaders of the rebellion, and through skillful political maneuvering, managed a separate peace with the primary military leader of the rebellion, forcing a total capitulation of who remained.

The civil war saw the consolidation of Not'zars power, the growing acceptance of Diona augments, the dissolution of the Maraziite order, and the imprisonment of High Priest Unzi. It would mark the turning point for the Hegemony in the eyes of many, being seen as the last point in time where the Izweski could have been dislodged from their position as the Hegemon of Moghes, and their resulting victory a sign that they would remain where they are.

On January 25th Not'zar found that even within his own loyalist forces, patience for his radical ideas was strained. Lords rejected his attempts to centralize their forces and appoint officers from his Cadet Schools into the army. Due to mass defections by lower-nobility to the rebel side, this left Not'zar's army with critical shortages in officers. Another option was implemented, allowing even the lowest members of nobility to become officers. This saw many Unathi from as far as Tau Ceti come to Moghes to fight on the side of Not'zar, while others returned to fight on the side of the rapidly growing rebellion. Several battles broke out in these initial stages, with victories and defeats on either side. But the primary upcoming battle was at a site known as the Four Hills, which if lost by the loyalists would throw open the gates of To'ha'dat and Skalamar itself to the rebellion.

January 25th saw ceremonial preparation for the Battle of Four Hills. Here Not'zar, oversaw his assembly of Unathi and Vaurca warriors while across Moghes smaller scale battles were taking place.

On January 27th the Battle of the Four Hills decided the civil war. After the intense struggle nearly saw the loyalist forces rout, and even after the near-death of Not'zar in personal combat, the loyalists prevailed and routed the rebellion forces. The battle is historically significant for the large number of foreign-born Unathi who came to Moghes for the fighting. A large number of Unathi from Tau Ceti came, fought, and then retuned to their home Star System.

By January 28th Not'zar Izweski, met with the three leaders of the Rebellion: High Kataphract Zakeai, Lord Orezali, and Maraziite Chapter-Master Nu'ghai. During the peace conference he skillfully divided the rebellion by tapping into the animosity between their leaders. He secured a separate peace with Lord Orezali, which reduced the rebellion's forces so significantly that they had no choice but to comply in turn. The consequences of the brief civil war were intense on historical, political, and sociological scales. It saw the consolidation of Not'zar Izweski's power, growing acceptance for dionae augments and the becoming of Kizitaa - or "bonded ones", or even Aut'akh augments by maimed warriors, the deposition of High Priest Unzi and the dissolution of the Maraziite Order, the eventual loss of Gakal'zaal by the Hegemony to the Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai, and a wider belief that the Lords were losing their ability to dislodge the Izweski from their position.

The Reign of Hegemon Not'zar (2462-Present Day)

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His victory in the brief civil war and quick consolidation of power made Not'zars full ascension to Hegemon assured, as political maneuvers eased the transition and more formally esbatlished his authority. Immediatly after the surrender of the rebellion, Not'zar presided over the trials of his brother, for murdering their father, and of High Priest Unzi, for the kidnapping of Yakt Izweksi. In both cases, the defendants were established to be guilty, with his brother Z'krazki taking on the title of Guwandi, and High priest Unzi being exiled into the wasteland. At the conclusion the Trials, Not'zar was seen speaking to Hizoni Razi several times, who had just been given broad powers as the Izweski Spymaster by Not'zar.

In the announcement for his coronation, Not'zar promised to repair the image of Clan Izweski as honorable leaders, emphasizing his goal to take a more traditional style of rule compared to the times during his Reign as Lord-Regent. Following his coronation which took a large phsyical toll on the handicapped hegemon, the colony of Gakal'zaal fell to rebellion due to the draconian actions of Overlord Yizarus. Due to his actions, including the execution of a pro-hegemony Tajara family, the overlord was stripped of all titles, and handed over to the people of Gakal'zaal to do with as they pleased. The colony was written off by the Hegemony, and has since been under the tenious control of the Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai.

The Hegemon then supported the Republic of Biesel in it's conflict against the Solarian 35th Fleet, before the Hegemony was struck heavily by the onset of the phoron scarcity. With emergency phoron reserves depleted, Not'zar reigns over a Hegemony in dire straits, with a bulk of the navies best ships unable to travel interstellar distances, and Moghes undergoing a famine, with strict rationing in place to attempt to stave off widespread starvation for the time being. Smuggling runs rampant, with the Navy ineffectually running patrols to intercept smugglers. The Hegemony stands on a precipice, and only the spirits knows if it will fall.

On February 10th Not'zar oversaw the trial of his brother. During the trial Not'zar demanded that Z'krazki justify his crime, and his obstinate younger brother refused to speak until mid-way through the trial. Z'krazki's legal defendant, Advocate Miziak, was unable to persuade the emotional Not'zar. The young Hegemon demanded that Z'krazki take on the title of Guwandi and enter exile. This offer was accepted and Z'krazki was escorted deep into the Wasteland.

On February 16th High Priest Unzi faced trial. During the trial the same questions were brought up on the relationship between the church and the state, and where each had authority over one another. Unwilling to concede, Unzi trapped himself into sharing culpability with the Iron Masks. In the end he was found guilty on all counts and exiled to the Wasteland. In addition Not'zar was seen speaking to the azure Hizoni Razi, who only a year ago saved his life. Unknown at the time, the young noblewoman at that moment was being given broad power over the Hegemon Shadow Service as spymaster for the young Hegemon.

On March 31st, Not'zar Izweski made a speech for reconciliation and to repair the Izweski's image as honorable leaders, and emphasizing that he would be taking a more traditional kind of rule to placate the Lords. Hizoni Razi also spoke, herself announcing the formal coronation of Not'zar Izweski as Hegemon in the next seven days.

On April 7th Not'zar Izweski was officially coronated as the 68th Hegemon, and the 19th Izweski to have the title. The experience was exhausting for the physically handicapped nobleman as he had to wear heavy clothes and a lot of jewelry, but the image portrayed as a strong, calming presence to his citizens in the first publicly broadcast coronation further increased his approval with the public.

The Fall of Gakal'zaal (2462)

On August 15th, word came from the Hegemony colony of Gakal'zaal, a majority Tajara planet, the second son of Guildmaster Mj'akurahur disappeared from their clan’s estate just outside the capital city of Zikala. The Guildmaster blamed the Tajara of the colder northern regions which had never submitted to the Hegemony. Overlord Makar Yizarus, relative of the famous Lord-Admiral Yizarus, swore retaliation for what was believed to be an abduction.

But by August 17th, the story became even more complicated, turning from an abduction in the dead of night to a story of love, religious conviction, and the resistance many of the local Tajara felt to their Unathi overlords and the demands to convert to their so-called "liberators" religion.

On June 20th the colony of Gakal'zaal was finally pushed over the edge. Overlord Yizarus' continued floundering and brutal treatment of the natives had worn out the patience of of the local Tajara population, the Guilds he was exploiting, and even Not'zar Izweski.

By June 30th the corruption and mismanagement prompted a more serious rebellion. Using guerilla warfare the Tajara rebels imposed significant casualties on the forces of Overlord Yizarus, who engaged in even more draconian punishments in an attempt to quash the movement.

On July 15th Overlord Yizarus was discovered to have been the mastermind of an elaborate ruse that saw the execution of a prominent pro-Hegemony Tajara family. In addition the Overlord had used a holographic projection claiming to be a moderately well known and honorable nobleman Shiassta to protect his own honor. Disgusted, Hegemon Not'zar Izweski stripped Overlord Yizarus of his titles and all but granted Gakal'zaal both autonomy and the right to do with Yizarus as they pleased if they caught him. Writing off the colony, Gakal'zaal became an embarrassing stain on Not'zar's proclaimed ability to integrate anyone within the Hegemonic system.

On August 25th Spymaster Hizoni Razi announced the conclusion of the investigation into the kidnapping of Yakt Izweski. It was revealed that an Izweski Citadel maid abducted the child and handed it over to the Maraziite Order. While the investigation did not settle the question on Unzi's involvement, it nevertheless proved to be the final blow in the Iron Masks's legitimacy, all but ending the Order entirely. At the same time the fate of Yakt Izweski was still undetermined, with the childs whereabouts still unknown.

On November 22nd Not'zar Izweski announced that the Hegemony would be intervening in the conflict between the Republic of Biesel and the attacking Solarian forces. Summoning Kataphracts and levys, forces were assembled an dispatched to protect the fledgling star nation.

By December 4th the crisis had been resolved, but due to elaborate demands on how the Hegemonic forces should return to Tau Ceti, the withdrawl took a considerable length of time that resulted in hundreds of warriors being stranded in the star system.

The Phoron Scarcity (2464)

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The Hegemony was finally caught by the Phoron scarcity in 2464, resulting in an economic downturn followed by famine. Not'zar pushed many reforms in an attempt to avoid total catastrophize, tightening his control over the economy, demanding taxes from the guilds, instituting rationing and tapping Ouerea to become the Hegemonic food production center. These reforms managed to somewhat stabilize the situation, but greatly increased the influence of Hephaestus Industries, while decreasing the influence of individual guilds within the Hegemony.

On May 4th, the Master of Rivers for the Hegemony, Overlord Azui Hutay'zai announced that the Hegemonies phoron reserves had finally depleted. The depletion of the reserves was an extreme danger to the economy, as it would become more and more difficult to ship goods manufactured or created within the Hegemony across the stars; The massive amount of exported goods from the Hegemony has been it's main source of revenue since first contact, and now the flow of credits into the nation had been cut off.

On June 14th, it was announced by Lord's Claws Mizaruz Izweski that a large number of the navies galactic ships, including all three of the Cataclysm Class Super Dreadnaughts would no longer be able to travel interstellar, due to a lack of phoron to fuel their bluespace drives. The most advanced ships of the Hegemony were effected by this, and all ships above bulwark class were remanded to the the First and Second Fleet, who began to patrol the orbits of Moghes and Ouerea. The 4th fleet was created with all ships that could still go interstellar, and patrols the fledging Hegemonic colonies and borders.

On June 21st, a string of announcements by megacorporations and their subsidiaries spelled out a general withdrawal from business within the Hegemony, and with Hegemonic Guilds citing unfriendly practices and difficulty transporting goods due to the Hegemonic tariffs and guild system. The only two companies not to withdraw from business with the Unathi were Hephaestus Industries and Orion Express.

On June 24th, the Hegemon, with the Master of Rivers, announced their response to the withdrawal of megacorporations that had happened the following week. The response was an reform to the tax system, centrally the introduction of a flat guild tax that must be paid by guilds of the Hegemony, the establishment of a sales tax within the Hegemony, and the raising of tariffs. Secondarily, colony worlds were no loner allowed to transport goods directly from their ports, all goods must first go through the Moghes Orbital docks. The sales tax is also double on all colony worlds. In addition, mining operations began on Chantrell, the Moon of Moghes, with 1/3rd of the lands being given to Hephaestus as payment, and the other 2/3rds being put up for auction. The guilds generally despised these reforms, with only Hephaestus Industries praising the Hegemon for his wisdom.

On July 13th, a joint report was released by the Fishermen's, Medical, Hunters, and aquaculture guilds of the Hegemony. The report stated that due to the scarcity making it near impossible to import enough food foodstuffs, and the issues of food production post-contact war, the Hegemony would soon be facing a full on famine as food stocks after the next harvest would only be enough to feed roughly three-fourths of the population. The report then went on to propose a solution, strict rationing under the Hegemon himself could hold over the Hegemony without widespread starvation, while food production is massively expanded on the Ouerea.

On July 19th, a ship carrying smuggled goods was seized in the city of Tzonia. The goods were high end electronics, and the smugglers, mostly human, were intent on selling their goods without paying tariffs or enforcing the sales tax required by the Hegemon. The seizure illustrated a larger issue, where populations who before had easy access to high-end off world goods, primarily the urban nobility, wishing for a return to their pre-scarcity quality of life, regularly purchased smuggled goods. As a response, the Hegemonic Navy announced it would dedicate those ships unable to go interstellar to fighting smugglers.

On July 26th, a Aut'akh community was discovered being used as a smugglers base in Raizr. The community was using profits from their illegal operations to purchase high-end prothesis and electronics from the wider spur.

On August 2nd, the results of the Hegemonic Navies attempt to combat smuggling were revealed. Due to the ships used in the attempt being incredibly large, and only able to utilize subspace engines, as well as tactics practiced by the Hegemonic navy, very few smugglers are intercepted. Most use small atmospheric shuttles who land in the wasteland, outside the reach of any city Watchmen. Those selling smuggled goods also began to use mobile shops, slipping into cities to sell their goods, before ducking back out into the wasteland.

On August 9th, the Hegemon official announced a policy of food rationing over the radio. Ouerea had agreed to terms setout by the Hegemon, having it's colony taxes and tariffs revoked, as well as assurances those working on Ouerea will be majority Ouerean in return for becoming a food production powerhouse within the next year. Stealing food became a extreme crime, punishable by up to 15-20 years of hard labor. Rationing will work by having every clan register themselves and all their members with a local representative of the Hegemon, who oversees the distribution of food. Clans will pick up their food together, with each member being given a card with their photograph containing dates for pickup and type of food.

The Wedding of Not'zar Izweski (2465)

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In mid-2465, a brief moment of joy interrupted the ongoing famine ravaging the Hegemony, as Hegemon Not'zar announced his intent to marry and continue the Izweski line. Suitors from across the Hegemony flocked to Skalamar in the hopes of winning the Hegemon's heart, with each of them working to their own agendas. Eventually, however, Not'zar chose to marry for love rather than politics, marrying his spymaster Hizoni Razi. The consequences of this, and the factions alienated by the Hegemon's choice, have yet to fully unfold.

On April 20th, the Hegemon announced his intent to marry, leading to widespread celebration and speculation. Within hours of the announcement, the powerful factions of the Hegemony began planning, and seeking to turn this announcement to their advantage.

The first suitor to formally announce her interest was Seleta Sarnac, the High Speaker. On April 23rd, the diplomat announced her intent to court the Hegemon - though receiving some criticism for her progressive views, she persisted in her efforts.

More suitors would follow, with two more arriving on April 26th. Zsash Hutay'zai, daughter of Overlord Azui Hutay'zai, was the first to arrive - followed shortly after by Overlord Rokasi Miazso of the Southlands. Hutay'zai's interest proved controversial, as the only Th'akhist seeking the Hegemon's hand; while Miazso's rivalry with the Sarnac clan as an oft-discussed subject among those speculating on the Hegemon's wedding.

The final two suitors proved stranger still - the first not even nobility, but an elected official from the Ouerean Confederation, Ozesh Zuruziir. She arrived on Moghes on April 29th, and rapidly began putting her own plans into motion. A short while later, on May 2nd, a young woman by the name of Azihoa T'zakal announced her interest - the niece of Hephaestus's Sector Administrator, with close ties to the megacorporation in her own right.

On May 10th, the Hegemon made his choice - announcing his imminent marriage to spymaster Hizoni Razi. Though rumors of a relationship between the two had long-abounded, her lack of expressed interest meant that the decision came out of nowhere to many of those observing. Nonetheless, the choice was made.

On May 14th, very soon after the announcement, Hizoni and Not'zar were married in the Great Scept, before the assembled nobility of the Hegemony. Though the celebrations seemed to bring some light into the Hegemony's dark situation, many of those who sought the Hegemon's hand - whether on their own, or through other proxies - left Skalamar angry at the Hegemon's decision. Whether his choice was a bold or foolish one remains to be seen.

The Titan Rises (2465)

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In 2465, the phoron scarcity's impact on the Hegemony would reach a tipping point, as the major guilds began to fall into bankruptcy and Ouerea erupted in rioting against potential ecological devastation caused by Hephaestus Industries. With the nation on the brink of collapse, the megacorporation swept in, buying out many of the major Hegemonic guilds and establishing a near-monopoly over the Izweski economy. This would not be purely one-sided, as concessions were required in order to sway the nobles of the Hegemony to allow such an action, naming Yukal T'zakal as Guildmaster, standing equal to Titanius Aeson himself on the Board of Directors - the highest corporate position ever achieved by any non-human in the Orion Spur. As Hephaestus seizes nearly all the major Guilds, and Unathi gain ever more influence within the company, it seems apparent that now more than ever the nation and corporation are tied tightly together - and though both benefit from this, it is not without its own risks, and the potential for a schism in Hephaestus from the very top has not gone unnoticed...

On July 20th, Hephaestus Industries announced construction of a new aquaculture center on Ouerea, in the hopes of bringing an end to the famine gripping the Hegemony. Though some Ouereans claimed that it would damage the environment of Ouerea, these protests were small and largely dismissed.

On July 22nd, that would change, as leaked documents - allegedly confidential Hephaestus internal memos - showed projections that the seas of Ouerea would be rendered barren by the megacorporation's aquacultural program. The planet erupted in outrage at Hephaestus, protests gripping the planet - while on Moghes, the general opinion was more favorable towards this, valuing the survival of the people living there over the Ouerean ecosystem. Though Hephaestus claimed the documents were forgeries, and released their own predictions showing that their project would be sustainable, it was too late - the fire had already been lit.

On July 24th, Izweski and Hutay'zai troops were deployed to Ouerea to quell the rioting. Martial law was imposed in several cities, in scenes reminiscent of the Rebellion, and several Oueran protestors wound up dead during battles in the streets of the planet's major cities. The rioting would continue for several days, with nearly one thousand dead from both protestors and Hegemonic forces.

On July 27th, the rioting ended, with Hutay'zai bannermen withdrawing from Ouerea to be replaced by K'lax Warriors. Several prominent Ouereans, including members of the Synod of Scales, condemned the riots - as well as voices from further afield. The K'lax and Izweski forces would remain on the planet to maintain order, before being withdrawn. The Hegemony's troubles were far from over, however, as would soon become clear.

On July 30th, the Merchants' Guild, a cornerstone of the Izweski economy, declared bankruptcy - driving the ongoing recession into what could only be described as a death spiral. The other guilds reeled from this, unable to export or trade their products without the Merchants, and it seemed that a depression was imminent in the Hegemony.

On August 2nd, the other guilds would begin massive layoffs, attempting desperately to stay afloat as the economy crashed and burned around them. Guildsmen who had lost their livelihoods took to the streets in fury, protesting the cowardice of the guildmasters who had, in their eyes, thrown them under the bus. While Hephaestus snatched up much of the skilled workforce who had lost their jobs, thousands of Unathi across Moghes were left suddenly unemployed.

Later that same day, Overlord Hutay'zai made waves with an incendiary proclamation, condemning the Hegemon and claiming he will sell the Hegemony out to aliens. This proclamation bordered on treason, though the Hegemon's response was surprising, expressing sympathy rather than condemnation, claiming that Hutay'zai is being misled and hoping he realises that. What exactly the Overlord meant with his words, none were certain - at least, not yet.

On August 3rd, history was made as Hephaestus CEO Titanius Aeson gave a public address, declaring that Hephaestus was alien no longer - both a human corporation and an Unathi guild, and that its leadership should reflect this. Former Sector Administrator, Yukal T'zakal, was raised to Aeson's former position of Guildmaster - a position equal to the CEO in authority, above the board of directors. This would be the highest corporate position ever reached by a non-human, and it would send shockwaves through the entire Spur; though they would be nothing compared to what was to come.

That same day, Hephaestus made its move - bailing out nearly all of the major Hegemonic Guilds (with the exception of the Merchants), and reorganizing them as subsidiary corporations. In a matter of hours, the megacorporation had suddenly achieved a near-monopoly within the economy of the Izweski Hegemony - and brought an end to the ongoing economic collapse. While some former guildsmen protested this, viewing it as vindication of Hutay'zai's outlandish claims, many rejoiced, having regained their jobs complete with the newfound benefits provided by Hephaestus.

This would send shockwaves even further afield, with Hephaestus stock prices skyrocketing as thousands of newly-hired Hephaestus workers on Moghes bought company shares. In the Republic of Biesel, economists were astounded at the masterstroke of Hephaestus, creating a monopoly that previously only NanoTrasen had dared to dream of - and in an entire nation, rather than one system.

On August 17th, Hegemon Not'zar would announce widespread reform of workers' rights, in collaboration with Hephaestus. Guild workers across the Hegemony received paid vacation, sick leave, and mandatory Guild-provided healthcare - which would now largely be provided by Hephaestus, thanks to its acquisition of the House of Medicine. This would be celebrated by many, with the anti-Hephaestus sentiment on Moghes already fading among commoners and guildsmen - the economy was saved, and the workers would thrive more now than ever.

On September 13th, the day many had awaited finally came, as the Hegemon declared an end to rationing. The aquaculture centers on Ouerea had begun exporting fish en masse already, and food distribution stands were torn down across the planet as the looming spectre of famine was finally banished - in the Untouched Lands, at least. Though the Wasteland still struggled with famine, the broad feeling across the Hegemony was one of hope - hope that the worst had finally passed, and the nation would emerge greater than ever.

The Sk'akh Restoration, Part 1 (2465)

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While the Hegemony's economy entered its final descent, the ancient religions of Moghes were engaged in their own crisis. The Akhandi Order, exiled to Tau Ceti during the Iron Crusade, demanded reparations from the Sk'akh Church - who were unable to agree, being deadlocked with only four Archpriests since the exile of Unzi. Eventually, Overlord Azui Hutay'zai took action - using his right to appoint an Archpriest and break the deadlock, an act which he previously had decried as a betrayal of his Th'akh faith. With the new Archpriest appointed, the Church voted in favor of reparations, leading to celebration among Th'akh faithful - and some wariness among the Hegemony's nobility, as the once-broken power of the Church begins to repair itself.

On July 20th, the Akhandi demanded several billion credits' worth of reparations from the Church, with Overlord Hutay'zai speaking out in favor and urging the Archpriests to pay the reparations. Faithful Sk'akh nobility were outraged at this, urging the Church not to cave to the Akhandi demands.

On July 27th, Sinta Articles revealed that the Archpriests were conflicted - unable to reach a consensus on the matter of the reparations, and seemingly growing angered in their debates over the matter. This deadlock would continue for some time, as without a High Priest there was no voice to call the highest of the Church to order.

On August 5th, the Hegemon stepped in, as the ongoing economic crisis had been averted by Hephaestus Industries. The Archpriests were summoned to a meeting with Not'zar Izweski, and reportedly left looking pleased, leading many to speculate that the Hegemon had managed to get them to agree on a solution.

On August 19th, the Archpriests announced that they would formally vote on the matter of reparations. In the Tza Prairie, Overlord Hutay'zai's court shaman called on him to rise to his station and appoint an Archpriest, in the hopes that the ancient Akhandi temples could once again be rebuilt. The Overlord took this suggestion poorly, refusing to legitimize the Church in an angered public outburst that shocked many. In response to this, the Hegemon summoned Hutay'zai to Skalamar to meet with him personally.

On September 4th, Hutay'zai seemingly had a shocking change of heart, agreeing to appoint a Sk'akh Archpriest for the Tza Prairie - a historic first, as the region had traditionally been a heartland of Th'akh. The new Archpriest, Akale Roeruz, thanked Overlord Hutay'zai for his appointment, and spoke on the necessity of peace and friendship between their two faiths.

On September 11th, Archpriest Roeruz was formally inaugurated, promising an end to the months of deadlock and dispute among the Church. Crowds of Sk'akh faithful celebrated, bells ringing in the streets - as the Hegemony waited to see how the vote would unfold.

On September 13th, the Archpriests voted three to two in favor of reparations to the Akhandi Order. The elder shamans of the Order gave their thanks, hoping that a new age of peaceful coexistence between Th'akh and Sk'akh could come to be. Some Sk'akh faithful, however, were less than pleased with the decision, protesting what seemed to them to be the Church bending its knee to heretics. Regardless, thousands of Th'akhists made pilgrimages to the ruins of the Akhandi Temples, in the hopes of blessing the reconstruction when it begins.

Unlikely Alliances (2465)

During Hephaestus's rise to power, an Unathi pirate who had long evaded justice was captured by the forces of the Southern Solarian Reconstruction Mandate. Zyuiz Guwan, formerly Captain Zyuiz Sitraz of the Izweski Navy, was captured on August 8th, 2465, and charged with the crime of piracy in Solarian space. After negotiations with the Hegemony, the SSRM permitted the prisoners to be extradited and tried by the Hegemony in a temporary embassy on the planet Sankt-Frederick. Lord-Admiral Yizarus presided over the trial, executing the captured pirates in a swift and merciless trial which shocked Solarian audiences. With the deed done, the admiral departed - leaving the Hegemony and the Reconstruction Mandate more open to future cooperation.

The Rise of Si'akh (2466)

Due to the divided state of the Sk'akh Church and ongoing problems in the Hegemony, the Si'akh faith saw a sudden rise to prominence, with the Prophet Si'akh making several appearances both across Moghes and offworld. Si'akh priests began preaching vocally on Ouerea, Biesel, and Mictlan, leading to religious conflict across the Spur. Several Si'akh preachers attempted to enter the Empire of Dominia, and were caught and executed for their heresy - an act which worsened Izweski-Imperial relations. The full details of these events can be read on the arc page.

The Sk'akh Restoration, Part 2 (2466)

In 2466, the Archpriests of the Sk'akh Church finally gathered to appoint a new High Priest, with the rising influence of Si'akh threatening them into action. After a period of much debate regarding the future role of the Church in society, the question of Church militancy, and the spiritual wellbeing of the nation, a new High Priest was finally chosen - Korza Azandar, former Archpriest of the Southlands. A moderate voice, Azandar was able to gain the support of both the militant Archpriest Malza and the radically progressive Archpriest Azente - though what concessions they extracted from him in exchange for their votes remain unclear. The Church was permitted to raise a small force of armed men, though one far more tightly leashed than the Maraziites of old.