The Lake Federation is a federation comprising the numerous political states that exist on the Triunic Lakes. The population consists of three cultural groups, the Zabatlari, the Metsamic, and the Khamgunai, with each originally split following three religions, each representing one of the lakes and each corresponding to one of the people groups, Yukel, Kodave, and Enuuk respectively. Later, Kalyin Worship, a unification of all three lake goddesses, would prevail as the sole religion of the Lake Federation. Starting as a loose and decentralised coalition of numerous states, it eventually grew into a united political entity in 1625. The Capital of the Lake Federation is located in the city of Qarshtuluu.
The Foundation of the Lake Federation[]
Map of the Member-states of the Lake Federation shortly after founding. Map dated to c.1445 A.A., recovered in 1572 A.A. by Field Chronicler Jândhi Alvez
The Foundation of the Lake Federation can be definitively dated to 1441 AA, being the first political entity to encompass the entirety of the Triunic Lakes. It was originally formed to end internal infighting, unite the disparate Triunic peoples, unify the dozens of individual states that emerged after the wake of The Great Incursion a year prior, and to ensure something like it would never happen again. There was also a great emphasis on safeguarding independence and democracy, as the entirety of the federation agreed to never allow another “Tyrant Queen” to emerge again.
Former political predecessors to the Federation, such as The Amberpact, were attempted in the past, however each attempted iteration failed to achieve the same political, military, and economic unification as the Lake Federation.
The Ratification of the treaty declaring the foundation of the Lake Federation was signed in Haraigizenhi Bulrek in 1441, a city historically known for hosting many treaties and diplomatic compromises, as well as being home to Haraigh.
The Era of Crises[]
The period from 1441 to 1625 is known to the Triunic Peoples as the “Era of Crises,” aptly named for its numerous political crises that threatened the unity of the Federation, and on numerous occasions led to widespread infighting and violence. Numerous centaur invasions and wars on the borders of the Federation occurred alongside these crises, as roaming centaur hordes took advantage of the federation’s instability. During this period, however, the organizational structure of the Lake Federation gradually stabilized and began to become more unified.
The War of the Three Goddesses[]
The War of the Three Goddesses occurred in 1449 when followers of Kodave believed she was deceived and conned while working out an iron deal with Enuuk, beginning a series of theological debates. Followers of Kodave demanded an official apology and compensation for the incident, which was then refuted by followers of Enuuk, who claimed the deal was legitimate and fair. This prompted the followers of Yukel to intervene between the two goddesses, seeking to mitigate any potential conflict. However, this would fail, and war broke out across the Lake Federation 3 years later in 1452. The conclusion of the crisis resulted in the victory of the followers of Kodave over both Enuuk and Yukel in 1458, strengthening Kodave influence and sewing division within the Triunic peoples.
The Rebellion of Frosted Glass[]
The Republic of Vahjevgiiv, for centuries seen as an expansionist state by its neighbors, conquered the eastern half of the city of Qarshtuluu in 1465 -having already been given control of half of the city following the Great Incursion under the promise that they would rebuild and renovate the city using their own coffers. In 1470 the city of Qarshtuluu, now united once more, revolted. The political and military response from the rest of the federation was overwhelming, with a new Ghuvkeshevdel being formed (the first formed to oppose Vahjevgiiv and Länkuuhsta during the former's first wars of expansion, and several more formed throughout the intervening years). Supplies and support from nearly the entire federation poured to the rebellion’s cause, and after 4 years of fighting, the City of Qarshtuluu would ultimately gain independence. The moment signified a turning point in the Federation’s history, as the right to self-determination cemented itself as a core value in many peoples’ minds. Contemporary Triunic historians conclude that the Rebellion of Frosted Glass largely diminished Vahjevgiiv expansionism, as no serious attempts at expansion were ever attempted afterwards.
The Ultakal Crisis[]
The Ultakal Crisis occurred in 1490 between the states of Khugatseig and Tzidoilhol over ownership of the island of Ultakal - the sole gold-producing mine in all of the Lakes and home to the grand mints which produced almost the entirety of the Federation’s coinage - when Khugatseig refused to cede the island to Tzidoihol as per the Ultakal Agreement, which since 473 AA stipulated that they were to exchange control of the island every 5 years. A year later Tzidoihol requested Federation intervention in the matter, causing the cities to divide into factions regarding whom to support, spurred on by the bribes offered by both sisters. Both parties used loans, bribes, blackmail, and many other forms of diplomatic leverage in order to garner support for their own faction. Amidst the chaos, a minority questioned if Federation intervention was even appropriate, as some considered it to be a “domestic” affair, unfit to be appealed to the multinational structure of the Federation. In 1495, as the two parties were on the brink of war, Kovtalzar - the president of the Federation at the time - intervened in the conflict in support of Tzidoihol. The move outraged supporters of Khugatseig, but ultimately few considered the matter worth a civil war. A year later in 1496, Khugatseig was made to compensate Tzidoihol; however, the wealth primarily went into paying back all of their supporters, earning neither party a significant advantage over the other in the long run. While the crisis undoubtedly caused a great degree of friction between the two cities, as well as between their supporters, the end result caused many to begin reconsidering and reflecting on the potential consequences of further division within the Federation.
The Revelation of Kalyin[]
The Revelation of Kalyin occurred when in 1525, a prophet claimed to see the truth of unity that was Kalyin. This immediately caused widespread and sudden debate across the federation. In 1534, the city of Raattakod became the first city to formally worship Kalyin, further expanding the debate as it gained political and religious legitimacy. This led to the rise of a reactionary party known as Individualists (who believed in three separate goddesses) to attempt to challenge the growing influence of Kalyin Worship in the Federation. In 1540, the first sparks of conflict erupted when the Temple of Kodave was rededicated to Kalyin, causing massive outrage among Individualists, especially Kodave Followers. By 1542, a slight majority of the total cities in the Federation officially worshipped Kalyin, which prompted the Individualists' factions to declare war in fears they would eventually be completely stripped of all political and religious authority. Five years later, in 1547, Kalyin Worship triumphed as the last of the cities in the federation formally adopted Kalyin Worship; however, the actual spread of Kalyin Worship to the wider population occurred at a much slower pace, remaining particularly unpopular in the federation's mainland colonies.
Ultimately Kalyin Worship prevailed as the sole de facto, and later dejure, faith of the Federation. This was the first crisis to truly push the idea of unification to the forefront of Triunic politics, as the worship of Kalyin symbolized a religious unification of the three triunic peoples, as well as the three lakes. Contemporary analysis of the rise of Kalyin Worship notes the belief that all gods are simply splinters of Kalyin, with each of the three goddesses being merely “faces” of Kalyin. The rise of Kalyin as the sole unified deity of the Lakes, and the view of many Triunic peoples who saw her as “gaining her full strength”, greatly coincided with the increasingly political and practical need for the solidification of the Lake Federation as a true political entity among prominent politicians and diplomats across the Federation.
The Seiche[]
The unprecedented Tsunami (or Seiche) that struck the Northern Westmarches and Western Heartlands in 1559 was unique in that it is widely regarded as a major unifying moment in the history of the Federation. Modern historians theorize that it was the result of a massive meteor impact in the Blue Sea, as records and observations prove that Kukatodic coasts and populations were also affected by the Seiche. The Seiche hit numerous cities, however none were as impacted as Sinesadma, which was almost entirely destroyed. The Seiche caused widespread devastation, and the resulting fallout caused tens of thousands of deaths and over a million people to be displaced due to the catastrophic flooding. The widespread and indiscriminate destruction wrought by the tsunami led to a federation wide relief and aid effort, with every member state supporting those hit by the tsunami. In the wake of this, reconstruction and rebuilding efforts lasted decades, beginning in 1562, which helped to allow those displaced to return to their homes safely, although the Rainbow Harbour would take a further decade to rebuild. While the rebuilding process was relatively quick from a humanitarian perspective, the emotional and political impact of states who previously fought against each other now helping each other in a moment of need solidified and deepened the growing sense of unity within the federation.
Arcane Ponderance[]
The Arcane Ponderance was a series of debates that took place across the Federation regarding the status of mages in Triunic society. For 1500 years the Lake Federation held a disdain for, and actively discriminated against, mages after the end of the Reign of the Tyrant Queen in 250 BA. The Tyrant Queen had experimented on people whom she ordered kidnapped and turned them into monsters by sealing their souls into homunculi. She was also known for conquering neighboring lands, and for worsening madness and cruelty as her reign neared its end. The Arcane Ponderance, as agreed by numerous historians, was an inevitable confrontation with the past as the Lake Federation moved into a new age. Debate was widespread across the lakes, but centered in the City of Narkel, built near the ancient City of Tyranny, which held the Federation’s only Magic Academy. Mages of the city had taken part in the fight during the Great Incursion, which both inspired and worried their non-magical comrades. The debate began in 1572, with tensions running high across the Federation as orators, politicians, diplomats, mages, and professors from the Magic Academy debated publicly. Ultimately, diplomacy prevailed and an organized committee was formed. Following 4 years of debate and argument, the general consensus of the committee was that Mages would once more be allowed to gather; however, the system of supervision established by Narkel - the Onyxguard - would be expanded across the Federation in order to watch and ensure something like the Tyrant Queen could never occur again. The victory of diplomacy during the Arcane Ponderance was to many a triumph of the Federation’s desire to work together and put fighting aside, especially in the wake of the Seiche.
The Drafting of the Constitution[]
The Drafting of the Constitution began in 1607, as the Republic of Yikashlay began drafting their idea of the constitution. Their first draft placed a primary focus being on the importance of production, as Yikashlay was one of the main centers of artisanry, being mostly free from threats due to the city’s high position. Two years later in 1609, the Republic of Zurkanrek joined in the drafting, with their constitution’s primary focus being on the importance of trade, as they were the port from which the Treasure Fleet would depart and return to. In 1610, Länkinä also joined in the drafting, with their constitution’s primary focus being on the importance of the military, as Länkinä was almost always on the front lines from Centaur incursions due to the ease with which ice bridges would allow crossings into the Lakes. In 1612, Qarshtuluu took part in drafting as well, with their constitution maintaining a balanced focus between production, trade, and the military. In 1620, the debate of the Constitution properly began, and cities took sides supporting the draft they felt most represented them; however, unlike previous debates, there was never a threat of war. Records show that previous drafts existed, however the drafts of Yikashlay, Zurkanrek, Länkinä, and Qarshtuluu were the only ones to gain popular support outside of their respective cities. Five years of voting, debating, and concession later, in 1625, the Qarshtuluu Constitution was finally adopted as the official Constitution, and the Republic of Kalsyto was declared, with Qarshtuluu itself chosen as the new capital of the united nation.
The Unification of the Lake Federation[]
The unification of the Lake Federation as the Republic of Kalsyto is widely considered the most important and most impactful event in the history of the Triunic Peoples, and to many historians the most important event in modern Forbidden Plains history. Numerous celebrations, parades, and parties occurred upon the day of unification and for many months afterwards, while the date of unification is still celebrated as a national holiday within Kalsyto.
The unification also led to the institution of a nation-wide linguistic curriculum and the construction of dozens of language academies across the lakes, leading to a rapid rise in citizens being able to speak all three of the main languages, with a slight majority of citizens living in urban areas being trilingual by the year 1836. Hybrid words combining the three languages are commonplace in Triunic society, and most modern vocabulary is intentionally hybridized to foster even closer cooperation and integration of all three peoples as one. The name of the nation, Kalsyto, was itself a hybridized word, meaning "Federation of Kalyin," with Kal coming from Kalyin, and -syto being a highly compressed version of all three languages word for "federation."
The next 200 years saw the steady rise of Kalsyto as it peacefully developed into one of the world's largest economies, and is seen by many as the global center of human rights.
Kalsyto Colonies and the Orachav[]
The bulk of the Lake Federation’s Colonies began to develop in the early 1500s, prior to Unification; however, upon the unification and the formation of Kalsyto, the administration of the Lake Federation’s mainland colonies needed to be streamlined, as independent colonization processes had to be consolidated under the new central government. The nearby lands of Nuzurbokh were of especially high value due to their resources and arable land. Because colonization there primarily took the form of joint ventures, individuals going out to claim land, and towns being founded independent of any city, administrative centralization was much needed in order to best exploit the land. Contrasted against the highly desirable lands of Nuzurbokh were the lands of the Kukatodic peoples, which were much harder to settle, composed of primarily taiga and lacking both in natural resources and arable land. By 1625, only a few colonies had been established along the Kukatodic coast; however, the Grombari colonial administration eventually annexed them, as Kalsyto did not see the lands as particularly valuable and not worth fighting a war over.
The Orachav (Cossacks) are a mixed grouping of Triunic peoples who sought to return to their ancestral homelands on the steppe, and took to a nomadic lifestyle - in contrast to the urbanized lifestyle of those residing in the Lakes. The reemergence of the Yudunyovi faith, which the ancient Zabatlari held prior to being forced off the steppes by centaur invasions, led to further separation from those residing on the islands, as they held a completely different pantheon of gods from Kalyin Worshippers. The Orachav were sponsored by the Kalsyto Central Government to reclaim and govern the Forbidden Plains, primarily the South, as governing over the entirety of the open steppes was seen as both an extremely difficult, and ultimately fruitless endeavor to many. The Orachav are nominal subjects who maintain a great degree of autonomy, an example being their independent policies towards centaurs, owing to their widely praised ability at guarding and protecting the frontier.
The Egdüqon[]
The Egdüqon - or Idyllic Shield - was a significant period of Kalsyto history primarily defined by the complete isolation of Kalsyto from the rest of the world. Anti-monarchist sentiment had long been a shared value amongst all Triunic peoples, in fear of the rise of another “Tyrant Queen,” however first contact with the heavily absolutist Empire of Grombar would prove to be the first cause of concern amongst the nation, as Grombar would prove to be their only point of contact with Cannor until Cannorian ships arrived in the Blue Sea, trade and information exchange was under heavy supervision. In spite of this, contacts with Cannor provided technological and institutional changes that were welcomed, and with the rise in republicanism in the Empire of Anbennar, many hoped democracy might prevail in the Empire, just as it had in the Trollsbay.
However, the failure of the Blackpowder Rebellion, and the simultaneous rallying of monarchs and their forces across Cannor to seemingly crush republicanism and democracy in its entirety sent shockwaves through Kalsyto. Many feared that similar forces, both internal and external, may take advantage of the examples of the Blackpowder Rebellion to enact a similar monarchist revival in the nation, and so with the widespread approval of many leading politicians, the Egdüqon was enacted, to protect and maintain Triunic beliefs, customs, and especially Republicanism and Democracy.
The small minorities of Cannorians residing in Kalsyto were allowed and strongly encouraged to leave, with ambassadors being expelled.