Hano Koyokuna: Chronicles of the Ancient Ellians

[Ella2 6]

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Hano Koyokuna

Chronicles of the Ancient Ellians

A vignette by Ella

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[Ella2 6]

The Sujii Chronicles

001/01/-712000HE

Hyamaya'i, The Kingdom of Sujii
King Chuubyrojii of Sujii

The King's Feast was a grand banquet celebrating the arrival of spring and the start of the new year. It mostly consisted of the remaining supplies that were stockpiled for the winter and were supplemented by whatever fresh greens could be gathered from the virgin country. Customarily, those vegetables would have been prepared with seafood and made into dzyatsii, but between the winter and the War, they had all but run out of flour.

Chuubryojii sat in his throne room, receiving the various guests as they arrived to pay him their respects. The Chieftains of Sadu and Hidyao. The Chieftess of Xuna. The Baron of Jiishii. The Baron of Naozo, etc. etc. As the King concluded his brief conversation with the Chief of Gitu, Haoyi - the Duke of Wuhao and one of Chuubryojii's most trusted generals - stepped forward, bringing his hands together and bowing deeply from his waist.

"Season's greetings, my lord," he saluted, "I bring with me good tidings." He stepped aside to reveal a pair of tall figures dressed in the traditional robes of the Wuhao nobility. They bowed in a demonstration of deference to their King and when they rose, Chuubryojii perked up in his seat.

"Season's greetings, my lord." It was Crown Prince Tsubayu, the eldest son of the former king of Wuhao, the man who had led his father's armies across the hills and plains of Chuda during the early years of the Wuhao Wars. "As your good general just mentioned, we bring good tidings." The Sujii king waved him on, curious to what he has to say. "As you know, my dear father has just passed away recently. As his appointed heir, I am to ascend the Wuhao throne, but there is no longer a throne to ascend."

Chuubryojii nodded. The Kingdom of Wuhao was once conquered by the Chuda Empire, and when the Kingdom of Sujii defeated the Chuda during the Chuda Wars, the former state of Wuhao was parcelled to the Sujii as part of their truce. There was no doubt that the Wuhao wanted to regain their independence, but between the winter and the recent wars, there had been little time to address the issue of Wuhao.

Tsubayu stepped aside, presenting his companion to the king. "My lord, this is Byaruvukatsao, my eldest daughter." The young lady bowed slightly at the mention of her name. She was a tall girl, whose stature almost matched that of his father's, with a slim but well-proportioned figure. Her eyes were a bright, sparkling blue and radiated intelligence, complimented by high cheekbones and framed with long, dark green hair that summoned the vast, rolling plains of Weji to mind. "I wish to offer you her hand in marriage."

Chuubryojii did not respond to the Wuhao prince right away. "Byaruvukatsao," he repeated back, "'Blossoms during the spring.'" He stood up and descended the steps to his throne. The captain of his personal retinue (who stood beside his lord's throne) quickly followed, his twin swords rattling against each other with every step. "What a beautiful name." He bowed slightly, eliciting a small gasp of surprise from the opposing maiden. "It is my pleasure to meet you, Princess Byaruvukatsao of Wuhao."

"I wish not to waste your time so please answer me honestly," he continued, "Have you already a man you fancy?" The green-haired girl shook her head determinedly. "Very well." He mounted the steps and returned to his throne once more. "Princess Byaruvukatsao. The Kingdom of Sujii has many allies. Xuna. Gitu. Sadu. Hidyao. Weji. The Dukes of these provinces are all assembled here with their families today. Their bloodlines are as kin to me as my own. If you can find a better suitor among them then I will give you and your beloved my most sincere blessings. If you cannot, then I will accept your proposal of marriage."

"Crown Prince Tsubayu, regardless of whom your dear daughter weds, your Kingdom will await you when that day arrives. Until then, you and your daughter will be the Kingdom of Sujii's most honoured guests. You may visit my estate and those of my provincial lords any day you please. Now, begone with you. Begone and enjoy the New Year feast."

[Ella2 6]

Wish: To Build Empire

033/09/-703989HE

Naomaya'i, The Kingdom of Chuda
King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda

It has been a decade since the Wuhao Wars; time enough for the children of Chuda to take up arms again. Ruuxodaokaa, the King of Chuda, swept his gaze over his snow-bound domain from atop his tower. The frozen air rained down gently, unaccompanied by wind or foul weather. Ranks of Chuda heavy infantry trained in the open fields below, executing various manoeuvres to move, turn, attack, defend against infantry, defend against cavalry, defend against missile troops, etc.

These soldiers, known as the Kupoya'm - the Old Guard - were Chuda's finest. Though their ranks had been thinned by losses sustained during the Wuhao Wars and then swelled with promising, but inexperienced recruits who had just turned of age, they were already showing the demanded level of cohesion, discipline and unity - the three virtues of Chuda's elite without which heavy infantry tactics could not exist. Under the guidance of their mentors and with further training, they would be ready to take on the world in but a few short months.

While the troops were preparing for the next war, so too must their King. Ruuxodaokaa had learnt plenty from his defeats against the Wuhao and his father's defeat against the Sujii. The Chuda phalanx, though strong in pitched battles, was vulnerable in the fast-moving manoeuvre warfare practiced by the Sujii charioteers. In response to this, the Chuda King had expanded the use of light cavalry in his own army, arming them primarily with bows and javelins so that they could kill the enemy's horses and charioteers before they could threaten the infantry.

"You summoned me, Brother?" It was his younger brother Ruubrupoya, whose name means 'born warrior.' He was a tall man with a muscular build befitting his name and exceptional skill with the spear to match. Strong, cunning and reliable, he was an excellent tactician and the Chuda King's right-hand man.

"Yes. How goes your preparations in the North?" While Chuda's traditional enemies lay southwest of the capital, the state was not yet strong enough to tackle them. The Kupoya'm are renowned for their superior equipment, training and combat experience, but such experience had to be earned. The raw recruits that made up the reformed Old Guard must be put through a trial by fire before they are allowed to claim their place among Chuda's elite. Their test was to be those northern tribes that resisted Chuda expansion.

"My Lieutenant informs me that he's been able to amass a force of two hundred riders consisting of mostly of hunters. They regularly hunt on horseback and should serve us well. He also tells me that the border militias are nearly at full strength and will be ready to assist our campaigns in the north."

The Chuda King considered this news for some time. The Chuda economy never fully recovered from the devastation sustained during the Wuhao Wars. Between Ruubrupoya's riders, the Kupoya'm and the local militias, he could expect to field an army at least five hundred strong, but mobilising such a large force would place a great strain on the recovering economy. The campaign would need to be quick and the occupation forces trimmed to a bare minimum.

"Ruubrupoya," he began at length, "We will march out in force when the weather turns. Tell your lieutenants to start dispatching scouts to monitor the countryside and begin negotiations with the local tribes. Locate every major tribe and pay particular attention to which ones are hostile towards us. Most importantly, make sure he doesn't make any offensive movements until our arrival. We will make an example of those who resist us and, when we're done with them, the other tribes will think twice before refusing our generous offers."

[Ella2 6]

For Want of an Empire

43/01/-703988HE

Recusta Riverside, The Tribe of Naochu
King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda

Thaw, -979988HE. Ruuxodaokaa marches north from the Chuda capital of Naomaya'i with two companies of Kupoya'm each totalling some hundred-and-fifty-odd souls. The disciplined and well-trained heavy infantry maintained a steady pace across the countryside and they managed to reach the border village of Buba in nine days. There they were joined by Ruubrupoya's riders and a company of local militia, swelling the ranks to four-hundred-and-fifty infantry and one-hundred-and-fifty horse archers that doubled as light cavalry and skirmishers.

Ruuxodaokaa paused briefly during the tenth day to consult his scouts on their findings. According to them, the largest tribe in the area was the Naochu, whose population rivalled that of Buba's and was unreceptive to the notion of Chuda rule. The Chuda King rested his troops, dispatched further scouting parties to investigate the routes, before resuming the march. By the week's end, they were in deep within enemy territory.

The armies of Chuda and Naochu met in the mouth of a pass shaped by the small river that ran through it. Ruuxodaokaa drew up the Chuda heavy infantry in three lines, each ten ranks wide and five ranks deep and placed them in the centre. He placed the militia on the right with the steep walls of the cliff face anchoring his flank and preventing any flanking manoeuvres on his army. On this left, he placed the horse archers, partially refused from the enemy line.

The enemy tribesmen - numbering approximately two hundred and armed with shields and spears in a similar manner to the Chuda militia - had occupied the narrowest section of the pass, effectively nullifying his numerical superiority. Upon the Chuda's arrival, they attempted to mirror their echelon formation by extending their left flank and refusing their right to the enemy.

The Chuda King turned once more to Ruubrupoya, his brother and trusted general. "Take the riders and harass the enemy from afar," he ordered, "I wish to redeploy my line so as to better attack their front." Ruubrupoya nodded and mounted his command chariot, urging the driver to the left flank. The mounted hunters followed their prince eagerly and rode ahead of the main force while Ruuxodaokaa shored up his ranks.

The riders emerged from the treeline with a roar and, in the blink of an eye, it was raining arrows. The Chuda Prince lead his forces along the length of the tribal lines and back again in a wide sweep, peppering it with arrows but never entering into melee. On his way back, he spotted a weakness in the enemy's left flank and turned his chariot towards it, his cavalrymen following him with their javelins presented as makeshift spears.

Ruubrupoya's chariot smashed into the enemy lines, driving them back with the sudden, unexpected charge and disrupting their formation. The undisciplined tribal warriors quickly broke under the assault and the rest of the tribal line converged on the cavalrymen to support their clansmen. The rightmost of the hunters fell under siege from three sides and the untrained horses panicked, many launching their riders off of their backs. With his right thrown into disarray, the Chuda Prince was forced to disengage.

Ruuxodaokaa watched on from afar as the skirmish unfolded. He trusted his brother's instinct and judgement, but he had not expected his enemy to abandon their line. His own heavy infantry was still in the middle of reforming a new line and could not render timely assistance. Left with no choice, he left one of his lieutenants in charge of the heavy infantry line with orders to join battle once they had properly reformed. And with that, he steered his own personal chariot towards his brother's riders to rally them, urging the Chuda militia to follow.

Unfortunately for the Chuda King, he could not arrive in time to assist his cavalrymen and they were quickly routed in battle. However, once the horsemen were beaten back, the Naochu warriors elected to retire from the field at the sight of advancing Chuda militia and heavy infantry. The disorganised Chuda cavalry forces, were unable to immediately pursue, allowing the tribesmen to withdraw in good order and with no further losses.

With the battle all but concluded, the Kupoya'm reformed into marching order and marched northwards once more. Scouts were dispatched to survey the landscape and locate a good site where Ruuxodaokaa could rest his troops. By now, supplies were running low and many platoons were sent out to forage with riders dispersed among them to act as sentinels. A brief and inconclusive skirmish occurred in the afternoon, as the troops repelled a small tribal raid in the forests surrounding the camp.

[Ella2 6]

For Want of an Empire

044/01/-703988HE

Naochu Village, The Tribe of Naochu
King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda

The Chuda broke camp at first light and made for the Naochu settlement just northwest of their position. The cavalry was sent slightly ahead of the main force to reconnoitre the area while the infantry followed behind at a good pace. They returned shortly with detailed descriptions of the settlement and its defences. Having learned that the hamlet was fortified with a low wooden palisade and possessed two main gates to the north and south, Ruuxodaokaa divided to two and sent his brother with the militia and half of the cavalry through the woods to the south while he led the heavy infantry with the other half of the cavalry north in an encirclement manoeuvre.

As the militia drew closer to the edge of the woods, they were able to make out the wooden palisades that protected the village. Numerous tribal hunters and warriors were dispersed around them, their spears bristling from behind the walls as if the entire settlement was a massive hedgehog. Ruubrupoya, apparently unfazed by these fortifications, called for halt and ordered the men into battle order, allowing the woods to conceal their movements and protect them from potential arrow volleys launched by the defenders. The line was formed, and the man advanced at a steady pace.

To their left, Ruuxodaokaa's Kupoya'm advanced across the farmlands west of the village in marching order, just out of bow range as if to taunt the defenders. His long column was headed by a cavalry detachment and stretched a hundred metres - a parade, almost, to show off Chuda's might and intimidate their foes. As the tail of the Chuda serpent snaked its way out of the woods, a horn was sounded and the cavalry detachment broke off at a canter, moving parallel to the palisades just ahead of the main column.

The Naochu hunters let loose upon the Chuda ranks as they closed into bow range, but their volleys proved ineffective against the armoured infantry. With the ground open before them, the Chuda cavalry returned fire with a volley of their own before charging the archers in an attempt to break them. The fortifications absorbed the worst of the damage, but nonetheless some of the hunters on the right flank are struck down in the arrow exchange. A brief and indecisive skirmish ensued as the riders clashed with the archers manning the walls, neither side able to gain any particular advantage over the other. Naochu spearmen soon arrived to relieve the engaged archers, compelling the cavalry to withdraw.

As the horsemen fell back, Ruubrupoya's trumpeter sounded his horn and a fierce cry rose up along the Chuda militiamen. The line surged forward with a wall of spears presented to the enemy. A small volley from the Naochu hunters sprinkled the centre, disrupting the general cohesion of the advance, but only slightly. Spears rattled against spears and shields clashed against shields as the infantry met the tribal warriors in melee. The tribesmen manning the gate did not falter under the impact. The line was held.

As the Chuda centre ground itself against staunch resistance, the troops on either flank began constructing earthen ramps to overcome the walls. To support the infantry while they worked, the horse archers showered the tribal hunters with arrows in an attempt to disperse them. The ploy was unsuccessful, however, and the tribals took this opportunity to launch a counter-attack on the disorganised flanks, dealing a critical blow to the Chuda army's morale.

The bitter fighting that ensued inflicted significant losses on Chuda militia. Seeing the turmoil, Ruubrupoya ordered in his reserves in a bid to stabilise the line and prevent a rout. As the second line poured into the gaps that were beginning to form in the line, the tide of battle began to turn. The Naochu, now faced with a numerically superior foe, were forced back by the weight of the reinforcements and were soon pushed off of the walls completely. They eventually managed to regroup their centre, but not after taking heavy losses.

But as the line finally began to stabilise, troubling news was brought to Ruubrupoya's attention. A little further in the village, almost a hundred Naochu warriors were gathering and were marching to meet the advance of the exhausted Chuda forces. The Prince ordered his men to fall back to the walls, hoping to use the higher ground to hold off the counter-attack. At the same time, he ordered his cavalry left to outflank the Naochu, hoping to rout the engaged tribal warriors.

The ploy worked, and as the horsemen trampled the tribal left, the centre collapsed to a well-coordinated infantry attack. The remaining tribals retreated further into the village, hoping to regroup, but news of the arrival of Ruuxodaokaa and his two fresh companies of heavy Kupoya'm infantry shattered all hopes of resistance. Seeking to avoid any further pointless bloodshed, the tribal warriors surrendered.

[Ella2 6]

Ha's Blessings: To Build Empire

045/01/-703988HE

Naochu Village, The Tribe of Naochu
King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda

Negotiations with the northern tribes proceeded smoothly. Cowed by the defeat of the powerful Naochu at the hands of a smaller Chuda army, the northern Ellians quickly surrendered their lands to King Ruuxodaokaa lest they suffer a similar fate. Yet despite the great victories backing up their diplomatic weight, the Chuda terms were generous - partially out of fear that the border tribes would revolt against Chuda rule as soon as Chuda military presence waned in the region.

The various tribes were demanded to pay a small amount of tribute meant to speed up the rebuilding of the damaged Chuda economy as well as provide troops to their overlords when called upon for war. In return, the Chuda King recognised the tribes as the traditional custodians of the land and ennobled their leaders as gaaya'n - barons whose lordship over their respective domains was absolute. The tribes were permitted to retain their autonomous and self-reliant ways, promised protection from foreign powers and would not be subjected to Chuda settlement of their lands.

All in all, the Chuda conquest of the north was a stunning success, and the short campaign brought much-need wealth to the Kingdom of the Split Ring. As Ruuxodaokaa marched back from the northernlands with his column of Kupoya'm elite infantry, a brilliant falling star was observed in the heavens. The Chuda King stood atop his command chariot and proclaimed: "The gods smile upon us this day! Take Ha's fire, and let the flames of war burn in your hearts!"

This year's expansion campaigns were only just beginning, and although the militia army was disbanded as soon as they returned to the capital so that the men could work the rice fields, this host will be gathered again in summer, just in time for a quick campaign east before the soldiers returned for the harvest.

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Su's Blessings: To Reunite Family

045/01/-703988HE

Feemiya'e, The State of Wuhao
King Tsubayu of Wuhao

The flight of the falling star promised victory. An omen from Su, the Earth God, that the old Wuhao lands would be returned to them. King Tsubayu of Wuhao sent dispatches to Sujii, requesting military aid in his campaign. The Sujii reply was a negative, however, as the Sujii had interpreted the passing of the falling star as a sign of peace from their ancestors and they berated the Wuhao for attempting to instigate bloodshed.

Tempered by Sujii urging, the King of Wuhao was content with dispatching a few elite scouting parties to Chuda to play a more passive role for the moment. These units were tasked with blending in with the native Wuhao population so as to better gather intelligence on Chuda military movements. It soon became clear that the main Chuda army was campaigning in the north, but the Wuhao were unable to capitalise on their advantage as the Chuda King returned to the capital only a few days later. The opportunity to strike first had been lost.

As summer approached, Tsubayu received reports that the Chuda army was mustering once more after being disbanded for the spring campaign in the north. Fearing that the Chuda was preparing an invasion of Wuhao, the King began recruiting soldiers from all over his domain and garrisoning all the major fords across the Tsusaoke River. Tsubayu once more sent a plead for reinforcements to Sujii, and this time their ally was much more understanding. Striving to honour his marriage alliance with the King of Wuhao, King Chuubryojii of Sujii marched a sizeable infantry force north to the Wuhao capital, but he left his elite charioteers back in Sujii as he expected a purely defensive campaign.

Summer came. The Chuda army unexpectedly marched west but Tsubayu was concerned that this was a feign. Given the long march it would take to reach Naomaya'e, he decided that it was not worth the risk of committing his newly raised forces against the seasoned Chuda troops that participated in the spring campaign, especially without any possibility of chariot support. Eventually, the season of fire drew to a close, and after receiving no attack, large parts of the Wuhao army was disbanded for the harvest season. Only a small contingent was left to defend the capital alongside its regular garrison in case the Chuda offensive commenced during this critical time. Chuubryoii returned also returned to Sujii with his troops, after seeing that the Chuda invasion was not coming.

Wuhao scouts continued to remain in Chuda to observe troop movements. But as winter set in, it became clear that neither side could support the harsh rigours of a winter campaign. By spring, the energy that had formerly filled the Wuhao clansmen was lost and King Tsubayu found it difficult to muster enough support for an offensive campaign into Chuda lands. The stalemate would continue, but while the state of Wuhao saw no major developments, the Kingdom of Chuda was steadily strengthening its military and economic position.

Now with a steady source of income in food and tax revenue from the newly conquered tribes, King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda was able to begin rebuilding the devastated Chuda economy as well as installing a series of reforms aimed at improving the quality of training for his militiamen. The officers of the campaigning troops that the Chuda King had personally led into Naochu were awarded lands and titles for their service and in return were required to oversee the raising the training of new militia units using the experience they gained during the spring and summer campaigns.

An Ellian war in -979988HE may have been avoided, but it was clear that a conflict was brewing in the near distant future. The two old rivals, Chuda and Wuhao, will meet again on the battlefield to settling their hundred-year-old feud, and it was only a matter of time to see who shall make the first move.

[Ella2 6]

The Dzu'egoaya

081/11/-703988HE

The City of Naomaya'e, The State of Chuda
King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda

The Dzu'egoaya are a group of tribes that inhabited the shifting sands of the vast Dzu'e desert. They are known by many names along the coastline of the Fertile Cresent. The Sujii called them 'the desert followers.' The Tsusaokenao called them the meniga - without tea. But regardless of what one called them, they were known by all for one thing: trouble.

The unique conditions of the Dzu'e have turned these otherwise normal Ellians into a hardy folk who endured scorching summers and arctic winters with seemingly no water nor agriculture on their lands. Their people wrapped themselves in the wools and skins of lions and stalked the desert sands at night. For these followers of the mighty desert, the sweeping equatorial plains of their southern neighbours had always been a jealously desired prize. But one thing had always stood in their way.

The Kingdom of Shiisu'e was the northernmost state of the Sujii region and was located on the river Shiinao, the only natural barrier between the Dzu'egoaya and the Sujii plains. For centuries, the people residing in this northern bastion have kept the desert raiders at bay. But in the year of -980052HE (64 years before present-day), an unforeseeable occurrence had set in motion a chain of events that changed the course of history in this region forever.

On 042/06/-704052HE, a tribal leader, called Madepuki by his people, was crowned as the High Chieftain of Chiidzu'e. With unparalleled foresight and a fanatically loyal army under his command, Madepuki conquered vast swaths of the Dzu'e though a combination of force and negotiation. In just twenty years, the entirety of the great desert was unified under his banner and the Aorunnyahayu'n dynasty was born.

But Madepuki would not live to see his empire flourish. On 105/02/-704028HE, the great monarch died of alcohol poisoning. With no clear successor among his four sons and four daughters, his realm plunged into an entire decade of civil war. At the end of it all, an unlikely successor had emerged victorious: Mivesexii, the youngest daughter of the desert king. Having outsmarted all of her older siblings, the young queen now sat on the Dzu'egoaya throne. After spending several more years putting down rebellions and consolidating her rule, Mivesexii was finally ready to take the great prize for her kingdom.

In the year of -704019HE, she lead her army of almost a million desert nomads across the Chiinao river. Armed with powerful war bows, javelins and a lifetime of experience hunting lions in the hot Dzu'e desert, these warriors were not only expert archers but also superb light cavalry. Rayunehayoka, the then-King of Shiisu'e, could only muster an army a third of the size of the invading force. He stood no chance. Shiisu'e fell in less than a fortnight.

As the Dzu'egoaya expansion continued with seemingly no end in sight, King Ruuxodaokaa of Chuda grew increasingly concerned with the current geopolitical climate. The envoys he had send to meet with the Dzu'egoaya queen were not able to negotiate any substantial agreements, returning with empty assurances from the Aorunnyahayu'n dynasty that Chuda lands would be respected. With the threat of invasion looming over his realm, King Ruuxodaokaa knew that the only way he could mount an effective defence was if the various Sujii states united under a single banner so that they can direct all of their energy outwards.

Diplomats were dispatched to all remaining Sujii realms, requesting support for this most singular of causes, but they all returned emptyhanded. With their eastern flanks guarded by the great Nao river, the most of the Sujii states felt no sense of urgency to stop the Dzu'egoaya threat, reasoning that they will simply turn back at the river. Only the state of Sujii was willing to send aid and military support, but they were forbidden from doing so by their ally, the state of Wuhao, who sat between the two of them. Wuhao (as it had many time previously) refused to allow Sujii troops and materials to cross into Chuda unless Chuda surrendered the traditionally Wuhao provinces they occupied. Negotiations faltered as neither side was willing to compromise.

The northern Sujii tribes were perhaps the only cooperative people. Many felt threatened by the Drugua expansions, though the Chuda expansions many years prior had left them distrustful of their southern neighbour. Still, trapped between hammer and anvil, they understood that they needed to pick a side in order to survive the next few decades, else face annihilation between the two opposing forces. Many tribes flocked to the Chuda cause, but these gains were barely enough. Something radical had to occur if the state of Chuda were to have any chance at holding back the invaders, but time was running out fast.