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Map of Zhatonya

A THUMBNAIL HISTORY

The history of Zhatonya as a defined island nation began in 2113 PK, when the younger brother of Felinian Emperor Karlon IV, Veleth Rosselon, a naval admiral, took control of all the islands on the Central Ocean, uniting them for the first time in history. Prior to that time, the islands were ruled individually by tribal leaders, most of whom were related in one way or another. Rosselon was interested in creating a buffer state between the Empire and the Union of Robaryl which, at the time, was threatening war over trade.

Taking the name Veleth Raznov, more acceptable and pronounceable in the language of the islands, he was crowned as the first Duke of Zhatonya, and set up an extensive Naval presence in the islands, which were nominally independent, but remained, in fact, under Empire domination. This domination varied from administration to administration over the next 350 years as tensions rose and fell in the Central Ocean.

It was during a period when the Empire was not particularly interested in Zhatonya, in 47 PO, when the 78th Caliph of Qitlan, Rhavi al Joren, the son of the founder of the House of Joren, was trying to prove that he was more than just his father's son. Qitlan, by this point, was growing in its sea power in defense of extensive trade connections. The Caliph staged a surprise attack on Zhaton (Chaton) Island, and within a few weeks had taken control of the government. There had been little resistance, and even less reaction from the internally pre-occupied Empire. The reigning Duke, Parpat Vodnenko, was very elderly and in poor health. The Caliph conspired with Parpat's youngest son, a rather popular member of the Duke's family, to take the title under Qitlan supervision. He was generally considered to be an excellent Duke, and his popularity continued until his death.

Qitlan proved to be even less interested in the internal affairs of Zhatonya than did the earlier Empire overseers. For most citizens, life proceeded unchanged for many years. The only noticeable change occurred gradually on Zhaton Island as the Qitlan government built a larger and larger infrastructure, primarily to service its booming trade. It was during this period that the famous Zavi Docks were built for ship refurbishing. But the support of the growing Chaton population and the financial demands put upon Qitlan's government to help the populations of the other islands was irritating to later Caliphs.

In 402 PO, an extremely successful young trader, Cales al Avandy, offered to purchase a great amount of property on Zhaton, including the Zavi Docks, promising to allow free access in perpetuity to Qitlan ships. The 92nd Caliph of Qitlan, who had only recently come to power amidst financial turmoil because of his high-spending predecessor, saw this as a way to remove some of his own pressures. For a great sum of money and promises of extensive taxes to be paid in future years, Cales was put in charge of all Qitlan operations on Zhaton Island. At the time, however, nobody thought it important to notify the reigning Duke of Zhatonya, Ghrol Voshchavi, a particularly unpleasant person to deal with in the best of times. He was neither particularly intelligent nor charismatic, and had a nasty tendency to execute people who crossed him, even on issues of trade.

From the beginning, Ghrol refused to recognize the existance of Cales, dealing only with Qitlan authorities and his trading partners. Cales, on the other hand, quickly gained the respect of those who were working closely with him. Not only did he create successful enterprises out of what had been governmental disasters, he did so by utilizing the skills and talents of the existing work force, and paying them appropriately. It soon became apparent that those who worked at Zavi and at the trading center that was growing at the port in Zhaton City were becoming wealthy and successful. Over the next 9 years, Cales established thriving industry throughout Zhaton Island, and it was apparent that on the Island, the existing Ducal Court was becoming irrelevant.

In 411, Cales applied to the Qitlan government for the right to extend his growing empire to the islands north of Zhaton, which lay between his headquarters and Qitlan. This was seen as a way to make trade even more fruitful, and his request was granted, again with payment of a great sum of money and promised taxes to Qitlan. This was the last straw for Duke Ghrol and his supporters, and a substantial underground movement was started, with his approval, to commence a series of terror killings and burnings against Cales-run enterprises and employees. This continued and increased until early 414, when over 100 prominant and wealthy Qitlan traders were killed in an attack by mercenary soldiers on a major trade conference in Zhaton City. The result was a full scale invasion of Zhaton Island by the Qitlan Navy. Thousands of the Duke's supporters were killed in the ensuing battles, all members of the Ducal Court were imprisoned in Qitlan or executed, and Ghrol was found dead in his quarters, having been tied up and hanged, apparently by his embittered supporters.

With Qitlan Naval support, all residents of Zhaton Island were given the option of swearing allegiance to the Qitlan regime, in the person of Cales, their representative. Those who did not wish to do so, or who had in any way participated in Ghrol's activities, were exiled and physically transported to Bolyo Island, the southernmost island in the chain. Because of their location, the five southern islands were of no interest to Qitlan, so they reestablished the Ducal Court in Dostrovy, the main city on Bolyo, and appointed a prominant trader, Khorus Bargov, as Duke. Bargov had maintained good relations with the Empire, and it was Qitlan's hope that they could wash their hands of the greatly diminished Zhatonya, leaving their support and dealing strictly to the Empire. To emphasize this, the small islands in Central Zhatonya were also placed under Cales' jurisdiction.

The Empire did indeed begin to take an active role in Zhatonian affairs, and the slow building of Empire naval presence in the islands caused concern in Lyrador. In order to protect their interests and ocean access, Lyradorian Naval forces landed on easternmost Heron Island, established a major base, and over the ensuing 10 years, forced all Zhatonians to emigrate to the remaining 4 islands.

In 416, the Zhatonian government opened their borders to any dissenters who did not wish to live under Qitlan rule. Few took them up on the offer, but it remains in force today. In 597 PO, Zhatonya is a quiet, relatively poor, rather old-fashioned place. Turning inward, and stressing the values of old Zhatonian culture, the residents have become quite different from their cousins who chose to remain in what is now Chaton, the most modern state on Drak.

BOLYO ISLAND - Capitol of Zhatonya, is primarily agricultural except for the capitol city of Dostrovy, which is a rather run-down medieval walled fortress. A majority of its citizens are involved with the Ducal Court and its substantial bureaucracy.

EZKATY ISLAND - Heavily forested, its citizens provide lumber to the shipping and woodworking trade, with fishing as the primary means of support.

SOZLEZY ISLAND - The most successful of the Zhatonian Islands, Sozlezy is the center of trade with the Empire. The island is known for beautiful woodworking, with furniture and other highly decorated wooden items among its most popular exports. There is also a fine trade in high quality liquors.

VUZHNIK ISLAND - The agricultural island in Zhatonya, producing much of the food for the other three islands. The climate and soil is especially good, and the residents have learned many techniques of successful cultivation.

GOVERNMENTS & RULERS

OTHER FACTS AND STORIES