Monarchy Overthrown

Revolution

Tasa takes control of the Kingdom of Kíathandí

Tasa was the youngest son of the lord of Nalan on the southern-most island of Farath. Nalan is the largest town on the island, surrounded by only a few smaller villages. It wasn’t very prosperous, serving mainly as a port for the little trade between the island and the mainland. Their family struggled to keep everyone happy as money was scarce and the king often didn’t listen to their requests and demands for financial aid. This was mostly due to the fact that for three consecutive years, there was a poor crop yield because of wetter and colder summers. This led to a fall in the amount of available food. Nalan faired reasonably well due to its remote location and small population.   Tasa’s father, the lord, understood this, as did his older brother. However, Tasa thought this was highly unfair. Tasa discovered he had a natural talent for magic when he was fourteen after sending a servant flying across the room during a temper tantrum. His father immediately found someone who could tutor him and help him master his talent. However, his teacher had a preference for dark magic and corrupted young Tasa by turning him against the king.   At the age of sixteen, Tasa had developed a talent for mind control and learnt of the ancient and evil practice of binding dragons. He asked his mentor about it and he told him that very few had been successful. Tasa went to the remote eastern end of Farath to track down a wild dragon. The dragon tried to fight back, slashing him with her talons but ultimately Tasa succeeded. He flew home on the dragon and greeted his father.   The lord was at first delighted that his son was bonded to a dragon but once he found out the dragon was bound, he was horrified. He immediately demanded that he release the dragon. Instead, Tasa ordered the dragon to attack his father. Tasa’s older brother who he admired greatly tried to defend his father and was killed instead. His father then banished him from Nalan on pain of death as he wept over his favoured son’s body.   News spread quickly of what the youngest son of the lord had done. People who were also against the king sought out to join Tasa who was living in a remote village. His followers quickly multiplied as many felt ignored by their king. Tasa trained his followers in basic combat and he also managed to bind two more dragons. He then began to take control of nearby villages. Most surrendered but the larger towns had royal guards who fought his forces. Soon Tasa had control over the majority of the island with his sights set on Nalan.   At this time, Tasa was a rising threat to the stability of the kingdom and the King was aware of what he was doing. King Paeoní sent a small battalion of his army to defend Nalan. Tasa invaded and took heavy casualties but with the aid of his three dragons was victorious. He imprisoned his parents in the cells as he wanted them to see what he could become.   After the defeat at Nalan, Paeoní requested help from the Riders of Ynrae. The southern cities were all stationed with ten dragons and riders as well as an increase in the number of soldiers from the royal army. Tasa, content with his progress for now, focussed on securing his hold on the southern island. He tightened the regulations on which vessels could dock at Nalan and increased his following. As most of the population of Farath were farmers, there was enough food for everyone although anyone who crossed Tasa was executed. The island became somewhat of a totalitarian state.   After almost a year of increasing his power, Tasa had a small army consisting of a number of magic users to whom he gave a few dragons to control. Tasa then decided to start the second stage of his plan. He took control of all ships and ordered his army to attack Ausdí, the small city opposite Nalan. After a long battle, the riders were defeated along with Paeoní’s soldiers. Ausdí was now Tasa’s.   Tasa continued to radicalise people who were unhappy with Paeoní’s rule and spread north along the west coast, avoiding the Ardenka basin and Enar in the east. Within the year, he had conquered towns and cities all along the west coast and had bound the majority of wild dragons and put them under the control of magic users. Some had as many as twelve under their control.   Paeoní’s soldiers were beginning to lose faith in their leader as they had only won a handful of battles, many of which were lost the second time. The riders had sent as many of their dragons as they could afford without compromising the safety of Ynrae. Any who opposed Tasa kept quiet about it or else his soldiers would execute them for treason, despite Tasa not being their king.   Tasa eventually set his sights on Hefra, Kíathandí’s capital city and home to King Paeoní. Tasa ordered his army to attack. His dragons tried to tear down the walls and allow the soldiers in. The southern wall was compromised and the lower city was quickly taken. The castle at the centre was much harder to defeat as the Riders defended it against the bound dragons, sadly killing them but also allowing them to be released.   However, after two days of fighting, Tasa gained entry to the castle and fought his way to the king. He defeated him and imprisoned him in the dungeons. He declared himself King and defeated the rest of the riders. He lost the majority of his dragons and followers in the attack but still had enough to remain in control. He had all the previous council members and the king’s son rounded up and imprisoned along with their king.   Not a week later, a small group of riders attempted to infiltrate the castle and free the prisoners. However, they were caught and only the king, his son, all but one of the dragons and one rider escaped. The rest of the group were imprisoned and were going to be executed along with the remaining council members but they managed to escape, unfortunately leaving the council members behind.   Sadly, the captured dragon was used as an experiment for Tasa to see if he could bind an already bonded dragon. He made Adara, the dragon, believe her rider Sestau was dead and broke her heart. Sestau was blocked from communicating her by cursed chains around his wrists. When the riders escaped, Adara was set to attack them. She was mortally wounded before Sestau could save her. Her mind was released from Tasa’s control and she said goodbye to her beloved rider.   Tasa sent out a search party to find the king but within the week he had been taken to Ynrae where the riders could protect him. The council members left behind were executed publicly to make a statement to the people of Kíathandí, that Tasa was the new king.   Tasa had lost sight of his original goal of making the south stronger and instead began rebuilding the kingdom to be the most powerful, planning on one day invading Dagdír. He ordered his soldiers to squash any resistance and to gather slaves to work as cheap labour to save resources, forgetting his heratage as all the K. He wanted to mine the magical crystals growing in the depths of the mountain range which split the island in half. This would give him access to more power.   The people of the south and east were yet again unhappy. All promise of Tasa’s reform had been dashed once the people realised he was mad for power. The people in that region managed to gather a small army of loyalists and were able to hold back the new royalist army for just over five months before the last city was taken. Tasa’s rule was now widespread across the kingdom. The lords who remained loyal to Paeoní swore fealty to Tasa in the hope of surviving long enough to see the true king reinstated. This included Ranor, Lord of Enar, father of Sestau and grandfather of Kassaran.   Everyone was afraid of Tasa and any dragons. Before all this, dragons were known to be civil creatures, not attacking unless attacked. Now the knowledge that Tasa controls the majority of wild dragons, they are feared and are often killed. This has led to a sharp decline in the numbers of fire dragons. Only riders are trusted somewhat but not much. The people in the north have benefitted from Tasa’s rule somewhat as they now have better infrastructure. However, for everyone else, life is much harder.   The majority of people who are not involved in Tasa’s army in some way still hold on to the hope that one day Paeoní or his son will return to the throne.