Kheterata is a proud and ancient nation whose history began over four thousand years ago with its establishment by Elikhet. Since then, Kheterata has had a history of subjugation - sometimes willing, though, it typically was not so. Recently, Kheterata has reestablished its status as an independent nation. Only time will tell if that will remain the case as the nation is already beset on all sides by potential oppressors.
Ancient Kheterata
Kheterata was first founded by Elikhet almost three thousand years before the Day of Ashen Skies. He sought to free those who worshiped him from the oppression of the Genie Sultanates and earned himself the epithet of "The Renouncer", as he abdicated Heaven to guide the Kheteratan people from Bulwar to their new home in the Salahad Desert. Nirakhet, Elikhet's mother, wept for the sacrifice her son had made, and from her tears flowed the great river, now known as Mother's Sorrow. As time passed, Elikhet would earn many names for himself. Elikhet the Architect, as he built up Kheterata into a great nation of mighty buildings, and Elikhet the Avenger when he banished the genies who were enslaving his people, and Elikhet the Wanderer when he traveled the world, settling many places. During his time as the Wanderer, Elikhet oversaw the foundation of the modern day site for the cities of Busilar (As Busirat), Elizna (As Ibtat) and Eborthíl (As Tefat), all as Kheteratan colonies. The region of Akasik would be integrated into the Kingdom of Kheterata in this period, following the conquest of the local queendoms.
The Many Subjugations of Kheterata
As the era of Ancient Bulwar drew to an end, so did Ancient Kheterata. The colonies were razed, and the central government fell apart. In Kheterata's greatest time of need, Elikhet earned himself a new name as Elikhet the Provider as he saved many lives from death by providing a bountiful feast for all Kheteratans. However, this was not to last. Soon, the Gnolls invaded, and for the first time, Kheterata was subjugated. Though the Gnollish subjugation did not last this time, it was only a matter of time before they returned, in greater numbers.
The second Gnollish subjugation of Kheterata began as Elikhet himself passed away, leaving Kheterata in chaos. Elikhet's son, Sentkhet, would establish the Khetarchy as the primary decider of who would rule in Kheterata. To save himself from a short reign and ensure that the Khetarchs would remain the primary key to power in the nation, Sentkhet ceded rule to the Gnollish ruler, The Xhazobine. This would be the first of many times that the Khetarch would submit to a foreign state. When the Xhazobine died, Kheterata was independent once again, but not for long.
The Damerian Subjugation
The third time Kheterata submitted was to the Damerian Republic, though they remained steadfast and fought back admirably. They defeated the republic once, in 110 BA, then failed the second time in 105 BA, and the Khetarch submitted. The region of Akasik would be separated from Kheterata by the victorious Damerians, administered as its own territory of the Republic, while the Luminary of the Republic would now be ceremonially crowned as King of Kheterata before appointing a governor as proxy to handle local affairs.
Though Kheterata had resisted greatly during the war, there would little resistance once the Luminary had been crowned, the recognition of Damerian victory by the Khet being seen as a signal to cease any struggle. Only in the south, among the zealous monks and jealous mages of the sacred Lake Nirakhet, would hostility towards the Damerians continue, though this was of little interest to the Damerians or even the majority of Kheteratans.
Kheteratan culture would change greatly during this period, seeing the rise of Common as a major second language (and, indeed, a primary language in some northern cities) as well as a growing popularity of the Regent Court, especially the Dame. In many ways, Kheterata was rapidly adapting to its position as an overseas territory of the Damerian Republic. Some noble families had even begun sending their children to study at Damerian academies rather than the traditional Kheteratan ones, something that offended a religious and scholastic community that nevertheless could do little about it.
On the Day of Ashen Skies, roughly one hundred years after the Damerians invaded, Elikhet rose from his tomb, reborn one last time as Elikhet the Resurgent and saved the region from the flooding Mother's Sorrow. He declared that none but the Kheteratan people shall rule over Kheterata and began a long war against the Damerian Republic, eventually succeeding in breaking away, and slowly reclaiming the land belonging to the Khetarch. With control of the kingdom re-established, Elikhet would go on to purge it of Damerian culture influence, granting the traditional clergy who had been spurned during the Damerian period unprecedented influence while the nobility was abolished as a formal class. When his job was done, Elikhet returned to his rest, returning control of Kheterata to his descendants.
Kheterata During the Dragonwake
During the Dragonwake, around 475 AA, Aakhet the Bronze rose above Kheterata, burning Mother's Sorrow and demanding tribute from the people. The Khetarch Septkhet, powerless to keep his people from bending to the demands out of fear, bode his time until he was ready to wage a war against this dragon. The ensuing civil war would be known as the Kheteratan Dragon Wars and saw the Khetarch Septkhet pitted against Aakhet the Bronze and their followers. During this conflict, with Kheterata busy, the Crodamics would take over the Kingdom of Akasik. After years of arduous conflict, Aakhet rose victorious and Septkhet was slain in battle and earned the right to rule from the new Khetarch, Benukhet. After this, Aakhet campaigned in Bulwar as he aimed to expand Kheterata. He was successful in this endeavor, expanding the borders of Kheterata as far Azka-szel-Azka until he was defeated by the Sand Demon of the Salahad in 488 AA.
Crodamos Dynasty
After Aakhet's death, the Khetarch Benukhet, fearing reprisals from the once-defeated anti-Aakhet factions, invited the Crodamic King of Akasik Sedoric I to become King of Kheterata. Since then the Crodamos Dynasty has dominated Kheteratan politics and kingships despite losing the Kingdom of Akasik during the War of the Sorcerer King.
Kheterata during Jaher and Jexis
For a long time, the Khetarchs would assign rulers as they saw fit, choosing whomever among his people was fit for the job. When Jaher came to the Khetarch Baqtkhet I, the Khetarch was so taken by Jaher's charm and charisma that he offered him the Island of Ibtat as a gift. Jaher was promised the Kheteratan crown upon the current King's death. Unfortunately for Jaher, the king of Kheterata at that time outlived him and Kheterata remained independent, sans the Island of Ibtat, which Jaher had renamed to Elizna.
That is, until Jexis imposed herself onto the nation, her Bulwar Empire ready to invade and conquer Kheterata. The Khetarch Baqtkhet I cared not that his rulers were losing land to the Bulwari, and simply enjoyed his pleasure cruises down the great river, out to sea, and back again. Until one fateful day when his return trip was stopped by the Bulwari who demanded that the Khetarch surrender. The Khetarch, being apathetic and completely disconnected from his people, simply gave Jexis the right to rule over all of Kheterata and resumed his hedonistic and luxurious lifestyle. To this day, Khetarch Baqtkhet I is remembered as a failure of a Khetarch, who let his people burn when they needed his leadership.
Return of the Crodamos
The modern state of Kheterata was established in 1162 with the death of the Bulwari Empress Jexis. In the ensuing civil war, Sun Elf influence over the Salahad desert quickly waned, and, lacking strong leadership, the Khetarch Baqtkhet II declared the kingdom of Kheterata's independence, placing the Crodamos dynasty back upon the throne. The years following were marked by bloody conflict and righteous conquest of the Salahad.
The clergy of Nirat and a few nearby cities rebelled, setting up a temple state. The rebellious clergy claim that Khetarch Baqtkhet II has outlived his time as Khetarch and wish for his son, Amsiskhet III to ascend as Khetarch before his father's passing. In the west, a Gnoll warlord named Oglep Brrtekuh established the border state, with the help of the powerful Viakkoc. In the wake of these takeovers, the people started to doubt the ability of the Crodamos dynasty to rule.
The core region of Kheterata itself was divided - split in two. The battle between Kheterata and the belief in self-rule by Kheteratan kings, and the old Elven governors and the belief in noble rule by Elven kings. Both governments claimed to have the favor of the Khetarch, but Baqtkhet II steadfastly assured the Crodamoses that they have the right to rule Kheterata.