Plague of Primitives

The Imperial Era is considered the high-water mark of civilization in Esha, for no time otherwise was the world bound beneath such ordinance of government. Empires reigned across every reach- Everos to the Corgastodmar, Othos to the Eurobasar, Neyas to the Axodraharik, and Etal to the rightful Etayen. This is to speak nothing of the imposition of Eshanic dyansties in Voryndal which brought much of that half of the world to heel. It was dreamed that within mere decades all Esha might achieve a new golden age without ignorance or strife. However, this was never to pass. The most visible sign of this shortcoming was the stubborn endurance of primitive races who, against all judgement, continued to live in measurably inferior ways. They were the Karthuuzar of Everos, the Vestinar of Othos, the Neyasi of the remotest islands, or Adashi or the Semyr. Why did they resist? Was it ignorance or spite? It does not matter, suffice to say that the survival of such resistance ensured the continued weakness of the olundi race in Qadal. This shared identity binds these people together regardless of the distance.

In Everos, the Karthuuzar suffer the constant incursions of the Corgastodmar neighbors to the south. With them comes civilization, at least in the manner they contrived.     Eastward in Othos, the Vestinar resisted the Eurobasar of Lyseros out of cultural pride. They rejected the Eshanic lessons of Euboa and despised the weak spirits of western peoples.     The Neyasi of Nevan were once the foremost bastion of their race. Their identity was forged through the fires of resistance against the horrible campaigns of the Qazunari. They build for themselves a warrior culture renowned for raids upon land and prowess at sea alike, such that what could have been a massive Eshanic threat was hemmed onto Loseya. Yet, they were unprepared for the sudden arrival of the Axodraharik in the 1400s and their deal with Aebaster and Mesian to stay. On the one part they could rest easy knowing that a new Eshanic power was fighting in the region against their ancient enemy. On the other part, this new Eshanic power was DIFFERENT than themselves and possessed a foreign agenda. Indeed, the Axodraharik chose to remain in Neyas and became its new overlords.     Neyasi people did not simply disappear when the Axodraharik took hold. They simply adapted to the new regime as best as possible, paying token tribute as necessary and keeping in their own communities. In general they made no attempt to worship Orduza and Syhlshei, and despite knowing the limitations of their own traditions kept to their cults of water and wind. For this continued faith they became a primitive nuisance. Why? The Axodraharik desired their worship to empower Orduza and Syhlshei against the other Eshan who occupied and competed for power in Qadal- Corgastor, Aebaster, the Ezontach, and Mesian among many lesser others.     In the Semyr, the Adashi strive to maintain the culture which was once stripped from them. They fervently rejected the traditions of Atun at great peril, for the Etayen were thorough in destroying the ancient temples, burning the old holy places, and making mocking examples of the ancient totems.     When all these races are considered together, a certain reality becomes obvious. The impetus of their resistance is not ignorance or stupidity, but a hatred of the powers which modernity upholds as supreme. Indeed, if modernity means being a Corgastodmar, the Karthuuzar reject it. If civilization means adopting Eurobasar laws, the Vestanir destroy it. If order means the destruction of tradition, the Old Neyasi refuse it. If the price of prosperity is enslavement of your race, the Adashi escape it. Whatever the context, those who remain “primitive” are those disadvantaged by civilization. No military campaigns can crush that spirit. No legal yokes can bind them.