The Age of Petty Kingdoms is the name given to the history of Bulwar between the fall of Aakhet the Bronze in 488 AA and the arrival of the Sun Elves in 1001 AA. This period is characterized by decentralization, with dozens of city-states and akalates, both independent and subordinated to either gnoll packs and harpies, that were unable to consolidate large territories. The balance of power shifted over time, with periods of greater human rule, and gnoll packs were less stable than the classical kingdoms of the Age of Monsters.
Birth of the Mašnsih[]
While we have archeological evidence of the Mašnsih from the I century AA, during the Age of Petty Kingdoms we see the rise of a Mašnsih culture and identity. The settlements of Edešukeru, founded by the remains of Aakhet's army, and Šimlardu, founded by the szal-Ayarzil tribe, became points of reunion of the tribes and centers of trade for the caravans that travel through the Salahad, from Rahen and Sarhal to Bulwar.
The most important event of the period was the establishment of the Sihrušam, the Sand Banner. In 980 AA the leaders of the szal-Ardeth, szal-Adad, szal-Zaid, szal-Attalu, szal-Yazkur, szal-Surubaz and szal-Ayarzil tribes reunite in Šimlardu to respond to the threat of the szal-Belil tribe, who had become powerful due to their alliances with the gnolls, and who did not hesitate to capture entire tribes to sell them as slaves. The Sihrušam was established as a pact of defense, offence and general mutual aid between the seven major Mašnsih tribes. The war against the szal-Belil lasted 2 years, and ended with the almost destruction of the tribe, who fled to the Harra Oasis.
Maqet's Rebellion[]
A slave of Brassani descent born in the kingdom of Xharraranaz, that controlled the city of Bulwar and the middle Suran plain at the time, he believed for most of his life that oppressed shall rise and not wait for Surakel’s return. Moreover for Maqet and his followers the fight was not against an unidentified Malevolent Dark but against the Xhazobines and their cult. In 916, he took control of the town of Anzarzax and began to roam the Buranun and the Suran plains to free slaves and establish a true independent Bulwari kingdom against the Gnolls. This lasted around 10 years, when he notably managed to retake the citadel of Ekluzaganu with the help of the King of Zanšap. But in 925, the gnolls had enough of his actions and began to unite to crush the rebellion. Around 926, he instructed his son Dasma to flee east for he had a vision of a holy land in the east from where the Light could be sheltered. With his elite men he fought as long as he could against the gnollish packs but was captured and tortured.
Nonetheless, the Maqeti rebellion managed to flee east into the Harra oasis. They met with several Mašnsih of the szal-Erol tribe who knew the ways of the desert. Knowing that gnolls were still on their tracks, Dasma continued his walk across the desert, losing hundreds of men, women and children to the sand dunes. Eventually he reached the sea, following the coast until he found good land. There, in 930, he massacred the gnolls that inhabited along the river, freed their slaves and established his kingdom, which would be known as Dasmazar. He would reign until 976 when he was buried on the holy island of Dasmatuš by his son Idras.
The Millenial Sun[]
This period also saw the rise of several sects within the Sun Cult, especially in the western areas. These sects, denominated Surkaniš cults, believed in a coming fundamental transformation of society, marked by the return of Surakel in corporeal form, to lead the Bulwari into a new age of Light and prosperity. While active since the end of the Imperial Era, the Surkaniš would become more active in the 10th century AA. Some scholars indeed believe that a Surkaniš cult was behind Maqet’s rebellion who was the main rebellion against gnoll rule in Bulwar before the Landing.
The apparent failure of Maqet convinced many of the Bulwari new sects that they were living in the Age of Darkness, the end times, and that Surakel would return during their lifetimes. The political instability, oppression from gnolls and harpies and general incapacity of human rulers to protect their own people sowed the seeds of several sects within the cult, some more widespread than others. While most members of these groups were part of the peasantry, there are known members within the ruler class, such as the Grand Maraš Asor of Brasan, the king Hussaam of Bahar or the king Bavar Pasha of Zanšap.
When Jaher landed in Brasan, the first ones to recognize him as Surakel Reborn were members of these sects, while the Sun Cult orthodoxy, represented by the priesthood of Eduz-Vacyn rejected those claims.
