Tajaran History

Pre-Contact History

For as long as Tajara care to remember, Adhomai had always been under the rule of nobility. The oldest historical text that exists in Tajaran possession dates back at least three thousand years and talks about the presence of nobles. Many historians agree that the trend of blood rule is more deeply-rooted in Tajaran existence than was before considered.

The tajaran history is divided into the following periods: Pre-History, Incarnate Dominion, Migration Period, Warring Kings Era, Gunpowder Age, Steeple Peace, Galactic Age.

The traditional Adhomian calendar uses the start of the Incarnate Age, in 1158 BCE, as its epoch. The current year 2461, would be 3619 in the Adhomian calendar.

Pre-History

The ancient past of the Tajara is poorly documented and historical texts are almost non-existent; meticulous combing and destruction of educational material by millennia of harsh rule resulted in total atrophy of most scientific arts in Tajaran society. Little is known about Tajara civilization before 500 BID/1500 BCE

The south of Ras’narr, between the Razhar and Khazan mountains, is the cradle of the tajaran civilization. The first recorded culture is known as the Proto-Hharar, they were responsible for the invention of agriculture, writing and the foundations of the religion that would develop into the S'rand'marr Worship and the Ma’ta’ke pantheon. The earliest form of government were local monarchies supported by religious authorities; the ruler and their families were considered of divine origin. Most of the settlements were similar to rural fiefs, with the population working for those dynasties in trade of their protection. Urbans centers started to appear around places of worship, with Trizar and Mezuma being the most important ones.

In 150 BID/1308 BCE a nomadic horde, also known as the Proto-M’sai, migrated into the region of Southern Ras’narr. Modern archaeological evidence indicates that they were natives from the plains close to the the Nraz’i mountains. This new tajaran people clashed with the sedentary Proto-Hharar. Riding Zhsram into battle and using curved bows as their weapons, they were able to raid the northern territories with little resistance. This threat was only subdued in 25 B.I./1183 BCE when the king of Mezuma, Dirrnavirr'Almalik, defeated the nomads in battle.

Instead of expelling or exterminating the invaders, the Proto-M’sai were assimilated into the tajaran civilization. They were employed as soldiers and enforcers by Dirrnavirr'Almalik, creating the foundations of the modern M’sai ethnicity. The nomadic leaders intermingled with the Proto-Hharar aristocracy, giving birth to the Njarir’Akhran. Dirrnavirr'Almalik launched a military campaign against the remaining independent territories, subjugating the entire south of Ras’narr in twenty-five years. At the end of his conquest Dirrnavirr proclaimed himself as a living avatar of the Sun gods, adopting the title of Incarnate, inaugurating the start of the Incarnate Dominion.

Incarnate Dominion

Southern Ras’narr experienced a long period of prosperity under the rule of the Incarnate, a dynasty of kings that claimed to be the divine manifestation of the Suns themselves. Each Incarnate would adopt the name of Dirrnavirr'Almalik when crowned, affirming to be the continuation of the previous monarch.

The fields of metallurgy, science and religion saw great advances during this age. The holy city of Sana Sahira was founded in 150 AI/1008 BCE, serving as the seat of the main priesthood. The urban population grew exponentially, burdening the peasants with increasing demands for food and other materials. In 180 AI./1003 BCE the Incarnate turned his attention to the tajaran population living at the eastern mountains of Ras’narr, the Proto-Zhan-Khazan. In a military effort he subdued most of their tribes, transferring their population to the fields and mines of the dominion. Those that managed to escape the abduction adopted a nomadic lifestyle, becoming the Rhazar'Hrujmagh.

It was during this time that the caste system, that is still a living part of the tajaran society, was institutionalized. Each ethnicity had their place and duties enforced by law, interbreeding was punished with death or exile. This social structure would remain in place for the rest of the tajaran history, only being challenged in modern times. This era lasted until 800 AI/383 BCE, when harsh winters, plagues and constant revolts caused the collapse of the dominion. The Incarnate dynasty and title came to an end when the last of the divine Kings was assassinated by a group of rebellious peasants. The kingdom of Mezuma was then split into several city states and territories controlled by nobles. This disaster marked the start of the Migration Period.

Migration Period

Due to the difficult conditions at Southern Ras’narr, several nobles families accompanied by their serfs and retinues migrated to other regions of Adhomai, establishing their own kingdoms, towns and fiefs. The rest of Ras’narr was settled by the first wave of migrant, establishment societies similar to the ones that they experienced at the south. Amohda and Das’nrra were reached using paths of ice created by the harsh winters. The first settlers of those islands organized themselves into villages based around fishing and archaic shipwrighting. The continent of Harr’masir was left uninhabited during this period, even if amohdan sailors were aware of its existence.

The lack of central leadership strengthened the priesthood, changing the religion that venerated the deceased God King into the church of S'rand'marr. The concept of the Incarnate as the avatar of the Suns was abandoned, with Dirrnavirr'Almalik being considered only prophet or a great leader by the priests. The theology of the faith shifted to justifying the existence of the caste system, alongside with legitimizing the rule of the nobility.

The Migration Period came to an end in 1270 A.I./88 CE with the foundation of Shastar kingdom in Das’nrra. With the severe winters coming to an end, the new monarchies started to expand and compete with each other, inaugurating the Warring Kings Era.

Warring Kings Era

This age was marked by the expansion and the constant warring between the monarchies established after the end of the Migration Period. Advances in farming, medicine and construction techniques allowed the population numbers to blossom once more, encouraging further territorial expansion. The countless kings started to compete with each other, subjugating all independent towns and cities found in the way. The power and importance of the nobility grew even stronger, with most of the population being forced into a state of servitude in the fields.

The system of serfdom characteristic of this age, named Ras’narr Model by historians, would be enforced until the end of the first tajaran civil war. Zhan-Khasan and Proto-Hharar peasants would work in large plantations and mines owned by the Njarir’Akhran nobles. Serfs had no political rights, social mobility or access to education. The M’sai were the designated martial caste, serving as soldiers and law enforcers under the service of the nobility. The few existing cities were usually inhabited by free artisans, unlanded nobles, merchants, clergy or philosophers.

The period of wars between kingdoms lasted from 1270 A.I./88 A.D. until 1900 A.I./718 A.D., at this point most of the territories were under control of the major monarchies. A long period of relative peace followed, with trade between countries starting to flourish. Crevus in the Kingdom of Das’nrra, initially a small fishing town founded during the Migration Period, was indispensable in establishing naval trade routes between Das’nrra, Ras’narr and Amohda. The most rich nobles families in Crevus played an important role in the kingdom’s politics at the time, influencing the king into investing into ambitious expeditions to explore the seas of Adhomai.

In 2107 A.I./925 CE the first colony, a settlement that would become the city of Baltor, was founded in Harr'masir as a result of an expedition financed by the Kingdom of Das’nrra. For the next few years, several other colonies were established into the continents by many of the Adhomian kingdoms. This new competition for territories sparked another period of conflicts, referred to as the Colonial Wars of Harr'masir, between those states. Many peasants and nobles families were relocated to these new lands, serving as their settlers and guardians. The politics of displacement and the constant warfare created a powerful feeling of resentment in the colonists of Harr'masir.

The Colonial Wars of Harr'masir came to an abrupt end in 2378 A.I./1286 CE, when an ambitious Rhazar'Hrujmagh caravan elder started a campaign of conquest against the nations of South Ras’nrr. Tajrhalrr Jrruzhani was a famous nomad mercenary of his time, that managed to acquire a large fortune under the service of the Kingdoms of Mezuma and Nazira. Using his experience and wealth he was able to unite several nomadic caravans under his control.

Tajrhalrr Jrruzhani waged war against Mezuma and Nazira, subjugating both by making use of a mobile force of Zhan Nomads armed with bows and spears. The Rhazar'Hrujmagh created the title of Almalik’Rhazar, meaning “King of the Mountains”, denoting his rule over all of his people. The Nomadic domain disintegrated after the death of Tajrhalrr, divided between his sons and generals.

While the kings of Ras’narr turned their attention to the Nomadic threat, many nobles administrating the colonies at east saw this an opportunity. The continent of Harr'masir erupted into several wars of independence. Those conflicts would last until 2512 AI/1420 CE, resulting in all nations, except of the Kingdom of Nal’tor, losing their territories at Harr'masir.

This later period of violence favored the development of new military technologies, among them the invention of gunpowder, rustic firearms and cannons. The first use of field guns in 2537 AI/1445 CE marked the end of the Warring Kings Era. This new discovery changed the battlefields of Adhomai, inaugurating the Gunpowder Age.

Gunpowder Age

The Gunpowder Age was marked by the slow replacement of traditional Adhomian battle tactics and weapons, that included melee weapons and crossbows, in favor of cannons and primitive firing lines. The Kingdoms of Amohda, Nal’tor and Das’nrra were the first countries to make use of this new technology.

During this period, many kings had the ambition of uniting their continents or regions under their rule. This aspiration gave birth to large and powerful states, with each of their rulers claiming to be the Kings of Kings. Long and destructive wars were waged with the goal of uniting those territories. The use of massive cannons barrages, early firearms and bayonets charges were a common sight in battle. The Suns War of Harr'masir is an example of one of those early conflicts. Three mains empires emerged during this period; the Empire of Amohda, Empire of Das’nrra and Empire of Ras’nrr.

Even with technological advances, the Adhomian society was stuck with their old feudal system. The tension between nobility and peasantry increased due to new burdens brought by recent military campaigns. The first writings against the serfdom and caste systems started to appear around 2800 A.I./1732 CE, with those early revolutionaries being dealt with violent by M’sai enforcers. Draconian laws and sanctions were introduced against those that defied the status quo.

Relations between the ruling class and commoners were precarious, believed to have stemmed from harsh rulers and laws. Technological and cultural knowledge and breakthroughs had begun to trickle down from the noble families to the peasantry. The invention of the printing press in 2824 A.I./1756 CE favored the spread of anti-monarchist pamphlets. Owning a copy of an unapproved text was a capital crime.

Despite the best efforts of the monarchies, a large underground ring of revolutionaries was formed in the Empire of Das’nrra. Philosophers, merchants, peasants and few landless nobles were united against the old ways. This movement was lead by a tajara known as Purrjar Ekhranrar. A revolt happened in 2945 A.I./1877 CE, with several cities experiencing combat between imperial troops and rebels fighting against the monarchy.

The other kingdoms, fearing the victory of rebellion, sent military expeditions to help the Empire of Das’nrra. The revolution was defeated in 2951 A.I./1883 CE, with the revolutionaries defeated and Purrjar Ekhranrar hanged for his crimes. The regimes, now aware of more dangerous enemies than themselves, created a way to secure their rule over Adhomai. The Steeple was established in Nal’tor. An internal embassy where the countries of Adhomai would resolve their disputes through diplomacy, creating a robust intelligence system aimed at subduing any threat to the world order. This event started the Steeple Peace.

Steeple Peace

The Steeple Peace is a period marked for centuries of peace between the Adhomian kingdoms, slow and controlled development of technologies and systematic repression of the population. Tension between the peasantry and nobility continued to worsen, resulting in further enactment of more harsh regulations.

Adhomai underwent a form of industrialization with the creation and proliferation of the steam engine in 3022 A.I./1954 CE. This forced the peasants into harsh new laborious professions, digging in mines and working 18 hour days building rail lines for private use by the Njarir’Akhran nobility. Laws were soon enacted that banned any commoners from utilizing electricity or riding on trains.

Thirty years before human discovery of Adhomai, the deep-seated mistrust between peasants and nobles had reached an all time high. The Tajaran species was trapped in a technological bubble forced upon them by their nobility. At the height of their industrial revolution only a few years prior, the leadership at the time became wary of the unification of many Tajaran workers who demanded greater rights, seeing themselves in what could be accounted as another 'Renaissance' era and result in more 'enlightened' individuals straining their already crumbling control over the populace.

The realms of education, science, and luxury found themselves under severe restrictions, and your basic Tajara was forced into almost twenty hour work days with minimal time afforded for eating and sleeping on the job. Analysis of the noble houses proves that during this time in Tajaran history, the nobility had never been worth more in Sol credits than before. This is attributed to the fact that rather than modernizing Adhomai the nobility had seen fit to confiscate and use these fruits of scientific thinking for themselves.

Automobiles are considered one of the best examples of this. The first automobile is recorded to have been created in 3360 A.I./2292 CE. Using a combustion engine much like primitive human vehicles, with extra anti-freezing measures and thick treads, one of the first functional automated cars had been produced by a collection of Tajaran engineers and scientists, at the behest of the nobility. These large creations were considered by many older Tajara to be a symbol of negligence and gluttony by their leaders. Workers were never provided with such things; they were forced to transport themselves through Adhomai's harsh winter conditions on foot or by using designed 'snow bicycles', regardless of how far they were from their place of work.

Further restrictions of the rights of the individual Tajara were enacted by a furious nobility after several instances of violence against Njarir’Akhran, but specific information on these incidents has been lost. Legislation was introduced against 'workers unions' as well as any sort of illicit groups; a permit was required to form anything from hunting parties to agencies. In this whirlwind of political turmoil, a fresh generation of Tajara were growing up, deprived of what most humans consider to be 'basic rights'. As they grew older and angrier, the nobility saw fit to continue tightening their control over their subjects until a civil war was almost inevitable. Like a powder keg ready to blow, only a single spark was needed to light the flame.

This came in the form of human discovery in 3576 A.I./2418 CE. A Sol Alliance funded expedition into the Tajaran home system discovered the pre-space age species and their homeworld of Adhomai. The first contact with these aliens started the Galactic Age.

Modern History

First Contact

A map of Adhomai before the first contact

Lush with untapped resources and potential workers, Adhomai was an attractive prospect for many human super corporations, especially NanoTrasen. Because of their slow technological progress, most of Adhomai's valuable minerals remained untapped by mining or drilling. It was due to this that several corporations attempted to insert themselves into the dealings of Adhomai.

However, the nobility felt incredibly threatened by what they considered 'intrusions' by humanity and completely refused them diplomatic access to their planet. The Alliance stepped in, initially unwilling to interfere in a pre-space age society and, reluctantly, the super corporations were forced to abandon their wishes to stake claims on Adhomai's resources - at least in the open. In the year 3578 AI/2420 CE, a group of Tajaran intellectuals - considered rebels by the state - were shuttled off-world by a still unknown entity. Given asylum in the Sol Alliance, they met and discussed much with human scientists and officials. Tensions between the Alliance and Tajaran nobility rose after such an event and they accused the humans of harboring terrorists.

Eventually, these rebels were returned to Adhomai with supplies and weapons. Fed with new ideals of personal freedom and 'rights afforded to all' by their influential human friends, the seeds of revolution were sowed among the Tajaran populace, spread by word of mouth. Workers, doctors, teachers, even soldiers that were questionably loyal to the nobility were swayed by these promises of freedom and equality. Meetings in the basements of dark taverns or barns were common, and relations between the nobility and their peasants were at the lowest ever recorded in Tajaran history.

The Uprisings

It took little more than a year for a formal uprising to be staged. On 3579 AI/2421 CE, after the nobility had captured one of the original Tajara that had been shuttled off world, he was sentenced to be publicly hanged by the neck in front of their peasants to show just how serious they were about keeping control. Ultimately, many historians believe this to be a highly egregious mistake. Rebels in the audience, armed with advanced off-world weapons, proceeded to open fire on loyalist forces and kill a nobleman in the process. This event, called the D'as'ral Massacre (so named for the city it took place in) by the nobility was all the excuse they needed to enact martial law.

However, they found themselves in a cornered position. Weapons and supplies were being shipped in off-world by mysterious benefactors, and their collections of scientists and engineers had either fled to safety being noblemen themselves, or took up arms and joined the revolution. Without significant scientific presence to deconstruct or understand these new human weapons or support the war effort, the conflict resulted in a string of rebel victories that drew closer and closer to the capital cities of each providence. Fighting was extremely fierce and atrocities were recorded by both sides.

Among the noble families, the largest and nearly the most powerful was a dynasty called the 'Hadii'. Their castle was amongst the best defended in the region and the battle to take it was waged for six months of non-stop fighting. As it became increasingly clear to them that they were eventually going to be overrun, the Hadii struck a deal with the rebel leader; in return for complete immunity from the war, as well as persecution, they afforded the revolutionaries with unique tools and even blueprints of other families' castles, pointing out weak points and infiltration spots.

It was this turn coating that tipped the revolution in favor of the peasantry. Armed with this new information, they made use of radio systems previously restricted for nobility to methodically and ruthlessly end their uprising by murdering most of the noble families and whatever soldiers and civilians remained loyal to them. By 3588 AI/2431 CE the revolution had finally come to an end with a total of more than 92 million casualties with more than half of that being loyalist forces, and 40 million civilian deaths. Many Tajaran cities and villages were utterly destroyed by vicious fighting as well as bombardment by uncaring nobles. A informal ceasefire was declared between the factions, though skirmishes were still common.

Outcome of the Revolution

Following this total upheaval of Tajaran society, rebel leaders met with Hadii noblemen and discussed how to form a government, given that only the Hadii were experienced with ruling. Human corporations took express interest in this; the Hadii were one of the few noble families that saw profit in human stakes on Adhomai, and many back-room deals were made until ultimately the Hadii were placed at the head of Tajaran government in 3589 AI/2432 CE, and ushered in a new federal republic: The People's Republic of Adhomai. The Tajaran public was markedly distressed by this turn of the events, and fearing another uprising, human intervention again helped defuse the situation. The Hadii promised that it would not be like it was before.

NanoTrasen, suspected by many conspiracy theorists to be behind the funding and supplying of Tajara during the war, holds claim to most of Adhomai and has a monopoly over most of the planet's valuables. Collaboration between them, the Sol Alliance and the Jargon Federation has resulted in more technological advances in Tajaran society recently than ever before in their recorded history. Approval ratings for the current leadership rose in response.

However, serious problems remained. Rhagrrhuzau Hadii suddenly began to back out of the People's Republic's agreed upon business deals with NanoTrasen, all of which saw a massive amount of Tajaran natural resources exported. Citing humanity as greedy and destructive, Rhagrrhuzau made clear his intentions to make Adhomai independent until it was ready to take on the burden of interstellar politics.

The Second Revolution

The disagreements and hatred of the Hadii republican government had led to insurrection and treachery between Adhomai's major power figures since Rhagrrhuzau Hadii's new economic policies were revealed. Many Tajaran business contractors - just recently denied their ability to sell ludicrous amounts of natural resources and workers to the massive human megacorporation, NanoTrasen - felt threatened by the reforms of the Hadii government and its first President, Rhagrrhuzau Hadii. On 3608 AI/2451 CE, during a military parade, President Rhagrrhuzau was assassinated by a young Zhan-Khazan radical. A known secret service agent of the People's Republic, the radical was sentenced to death for his treachery, brought on by the violent tendencies of his Zhan-Khazan genetics. His brother and vice-president Njadrasanukii Hadii quickly assumed the office of the presidency and immediately passed brutal laws that punished Zhan-Khazans and 'subversive elements'. NanoTrasen was invited back to Adhomai and menial workers were sold en masse to NanoTrasen workplaces while the rights to the bountiful natural resources of Adhomai were sold off to NanoTrasen. Public hangings and firing squads became the norm once again.

Picture taken by the Adhomai Chronicle moments before the Assassination of Rhagrrhuzau Al'Mari Hadii. The single most defining moment of this generation of Tajara.

Many military generals that had fought for the Republic soon defected under the banner of the Adhomai Liberation Army, the leader of which being Rhagrrhuzau Hadii's old friend and ally, Halkiikijr Nated'Hakhan, and Adhomai found itself embroiled in yet another global conflict that continues to this day. "His gun was on stun" became the rallying cry of Rhagrrhuzau's fiercest supporters, "Hadiists," as they alluded to how he not only left himself greatly vulnerable during the parade, but had even left his energy pistol on stun while he was assassinated.

Adhomai Today

The Tajaran home world has suffered plenty in the three decades since the end of the First Revolution. With the sudden injection of advanced technology into their relatively simple life, the discrepancy between modernized cities and outlying areas could not be more obvious. While the Tajaran capital boasts the most modern developments with sleek skyscrapers, advanced connections and phone lines, as well as hospitals and schools, the further you get from the larger cities, the more apparent it is that things are not quite so flashy. Expanding infrastructure remains difficult, as most public funds are seized for use by the military or used to repair infrastructure damaged by shelling or bombings.

There is a steady stream of money being fed into the People's Republic of Adhomai. NanoTrasen, as per it's agreement with the president, have set up mining and logging operations on Adhomai using the local work force for the most menial of tasks. In return, company funded clinics and schools are slowly being spread out and build in the needy areas. Tajaran resource operations are now all but nonexistent; the buildings that were once part of the nobility's small gathering efforts have now been refurbished and are being used by NanoTrasen.

Literacy has risen to its all time high on Adhomai, and with the assistance of the Alliance, teachers have been brought in from off world to educate the younger generation of Tajara. However, this number has begun to decline as the dangers of working on Adhomai are beginning to become common knowledge. Special establishments for older students have also been constructed to assist the elder generation in being brought to the same level of education, but NanoTrasen has not expressed significant interest in this; these people make up the brunt of their low-paid workforce and they want to ensure that they are kept that way.

There are still several proponents of revolution that oppose the current government, which has plunged the planet into another all-encompassing civil war that remains at a standstill today.