Principality of Cavrasta

The nation of Cavrasta first got its start as a tribal nation in the valley of Ishtin, now along their southern border. A moderately wooded area, it was less hilly than the surroundings, and was therefore a reasonable place to settle, maintaining decent living standards for decades. The arrival and formation of Cavrasta is somewhat mysterious, but it is known that in 1883 the first proper state was established. According to Cavrastan oral histories, after unifying the valley in 1883, the ambitious Stefan Ibrinovich would declare his holdings as the Rynaz of Cavrasta which is also the first time a state of that name appears of elven maps, thus corroborating the story. For several decades, despite their ruler's ambitions, Cavrasta remained an unimportant local power, bullying surrounding tribes but never really making much of themselves. Small raids would occasionally test the neighboring marches of the Enclave of Evenswon, but the small trade in furs proved more lucrative. Still, the state was generally weak and unable to assert itself apart from a few small gains.

Cavrasta would soon find itself accompanied by several other petty states in the region, such as Vucediklar, which emerged as the most powerful by the mid 1900s thanks to their conquest of the easternmost Fjallan halflings. This conquest meant that the Vucediklar surrounded Cavrasta on the east and south, while the far more powerful Evenswon occupied their west, leaving just a small outlet to the north, where the nation of Sjret was. All three emerging states would have the title of prince (Ryniz in their language) granted to them by Evenswon in order to pacify and recognize their rise above simples tribespeople. Evenswon hoped that forging better relations with the locals would discourage raiding, but in fact the Cavrastans and Sjreti used their increasing control over the tribes to stage larger raids. Even Vucediklar would send parties in from the south, when they could get away with it.

In the end, Cavrasta coming out on top was less genius war tactics and ruling by great princes, but rather simple luck. It began with the end of Dragan Ivar', far to the south. During the 1960s, tribes formerly under his control began fleeing through the passes of Thrûdn, which were at the time in the hands of weaker tribes whose members were largely fighting alongside Ivar'. Easily passing though, these tribes would wreak havoc on the northern regions, with certain tribes even pushing into Vucediklar lands, forcing the Vucediklar to withdraw from their halfling lands and leaving them as a rump state. Cavrasta would take advantage of their weakness to force their submission in 1967, protecting their borders in exchange for tribute, an arrangement that would later be formalized as a proper subject.

Using their newfound strength, Cavrasta was simply able to overpower Sjret; though unlike Vucediklar, Sjret refused to surrender and their ruling family was totally wiped out. This placed Cavrasta in the perfect position to take advantage of the next lucky break- the collapse of the Evenswoni marches. With the toppling of the nation of Miþwa in the late 1900s, Evenswon was caught by a wave of refugees and raiders from that nation, all fleeting south. The resulting war saw Evenswon emerge victorious, but left them drained and unable to move onto the offensive. It also left the eastern marches lightly defended, easy prey for the Cavrastans, whose raiding parties were able to roam free and eventually managed to secure control over the region in the absence of a proper defense.

Now, in 2000, Cavrasta is more powerful than it has ever been, yet the nation has many flaws. Sure, raiders have ranged far into Evenswon, but the elves are stronger and without major defensive efforts it seems doubtful Cavrasta will hold the borders for long. To their south lurks the more powerful Voivode of Etrulium, which will surely seek to contest any Cavrasti efforts to secure control over the halflings. Their east is impenetrable, and the forts of the dwarves which live in the mountains seem unlikely to fall except by their own hand. Finally the north, though inhabited by the weak nation of Samydne, is marshy, and a prolonged war would destroy the Cavrastan armies, leaving them an easy target for Evenswon. Still, morale in Cavrasta is high, and it is unlikely they would give up without a fight.