Colassian Articles of Joining

by Eron12 with Hero Forge

-Akeem of Magicland, Professor Emeritus of History

"Most of the humans in East Colassia were settled on or near the western and southern coasts of the continent. The dark elves were settled on the eastern portion of the continent.   The dark elves and humans were geographically separated by mountains, ocean, and desert. The desert and mountains had no shortage of dabeshi and other hostile creatures that attacked humans and elves indiscriminately. But the dark elves were superior sailors and staged a great many raids to steal and food and treasure and to kidnap humans for enslavement.

  Eventually, the small human nations and tribes realized they needed to overcome their differences. Before formal treaties were signed, at the very least there was an informal understanding that humans should not spill human blood, at least in East Colassia."

by me with Hero Forge

-Gaatha of the Lanterns

 

"Over a thousand years ago, the dark elves tried to conquer the continent outright, but they didn't have the military strength to utterly dominate the humans and they lost a lot of elves to constant rebellions.   They decided to switch to a tributary system where they didn't occupy human lands but they kept the human nations weak and vulnerable and either demanded heavy tribute or simply staged periodic raids.

  The more inland human tribes didn't have to deal with elves as often, but they had to face near constant raids by dabeshi. A few unlucky humans had to deal with dabeshi and elves.   This was the status quo for centuries. Through all this, the various human nations fought each other almost as much as they fought dabeshi and dark elves.   Three peoples, the Marshlanders, Musselanders, and Moooringslanders made a formal treaty and agreed to back each other up against external attacks.   At this point, the Kahdisterian government wasn't conducting raids, they authorized privateers and freelance adventurers to plunder and kidnap in exchange for a percentage of the bounty.   The dark elves didn't realize that three of the human tribes were now organized. They thought it was a mere coincidence that these three groups were able to fight back more effectively. Because the raiders were freelancers, they wanted to avoided to minimize risks and maximize rewards. So they mostly stopped raiding the Musselanders, Marshlanders, and Mooringslanders. They stepped up their attacks on the others.   This caused other nations to ask "Why are we being attacked more and you are being left alone?" Some of the East Colassian humans thought the alliance was secretly in league with the dark elves, but eventually some Musselanders were able to explain "We are working together and using proper strategy, dumbass". The alliance of three nations became an alliance of four nations. Then five, and eventually nine nations.   The Kahdisterian government didn't realize what was going on until at least seven or eight of us had joined. This forced a national level response. This led to a long war and an uneasy peace, but that's a story for another day. I don't want to start a brawl, not everyone is happy how things ended."

by Me with Hero Forge

-Basim, Confederate Satyr Apothecary And Reagent Dealer

 

"The nine nations of the Confederacy all agree to kill any dabeshi or dark elf that dares shows their ugly head in our territory.   We don't agree on much else. We fight about trade agreements, political lineages, cultural disagreements, and sometimes bicker about fuzzy borders. Especially since the Mereshnari are nomads and don't even have borders.   While we agree that the dabeshi and dark elves are our eternal enemies. We disagree on whether the yeti should be our friends or should be left alone. We disagree on whether the goblins should be our friends, enemies, or people to be left alone.

  We disagree on how to handle half-elves. We disagree on how to handle visitors who are wood elves or elves. Are they potential allies or are they potential spies.   It's messy, and during the hundred years of relative peace, the Confederate Nations have more time to bicker we each other now now that all the human veterans of the last war are dead and dust. This might be the dark elves plan. Elves are fond of laying out long-term plans. Wait for our internal disagreements to boil to a head, and then attack."

The first three nations of the Confederacy formalized their alliance in 1253 and the ninth nation signed on in 1513.   Usually, when a new nation joined, they wrote a new up a new treaty from scratch. So technically, the Confederacy was born in 1513, but in spirit, it was born in 1253.   Is it three hundred years old or is it six hundred years old? Arguably, it's just a number.   If you discount East Colassia and look at the rest of Scarterra (and discount the the Second Age and the First Age), there are some treaties between two nations that go back several centuries, but to my knowledge, there are very few treaties between three nations that have stood the test of time for more than two centuries.   There is nothing close to an alliance betweennine nations at all...except the Colassian Confederacy, which is an amazing achievement.   Recently, it has been suggested to me that the Border Baronies could try something similar. Unlike to succeed, but it would be a legendary achievement for peace and stability if it is achieved."   -Aurum Zara of the Dawn, an emigrant from East Colassia, now the head of education among the Fumayan Keepers

Eron12 with Hero Forge by Eron12 with Hero Forge

 

"The Articles of Joinin' are set to last until the Third Unmaking, or until we done make peace with the dark elves and the dabeshi.   So that there treaty will stand till the Third Unmaking."   -Zakarel, part-time hunter, part time fisherman, part-time military scout