Perrenland History

The Coming of the Great Kingdom

In the uttermost east the Flanaess, the Oeridian tribe of the Aerdi was about to change the history of a still nascent country. The Aerdi had settled down centuries before and forged a kingdom. Centuries passed and the Kingdom of the Aerdi had become an Empire. The Empire grew, conquering almost all the continent. And about four hundred years ago the Empire reached the area that would become Perrenland.

The initial result was a quick domination of the region by the Empire. The years and then centuries that followed however, were marked by a state of almost constant revolt. While the local Flan and Oeridians might have lacked the unity to prevent the incursion of the Empire, the Empire in turn lacked the soldiers and resources to consolidate its gains. Perrenland was a border province many thousands of miles from the capital of Rauxes, and the Empire had bigger fish to fry.

In spring and summer the Empire would send its tax collectors and bailiffs into the Clatspurs and Yatils to collect their dues. In autumn those same persons would retreat to their walled towns while the local Flan and Oeridians reasserted local control. As one area was pacified by the Empire, another would rise in revolution.

The Aerdi at this time were generally honest and fair rulers, but simply could not understand the continual opposition from the local Flan and Oeridians. The Empire brought civilization, roads, security, and education. What more did the locals want? The local Flans and Oeridians had very firm ideas - they wished to rule themselves.

So the Empire tried a different tack. It wasn't prepared to institute a pogrom against the locals - such a move would have made them seem like the Suel in their own eyes. Instead it conscripted local Oeridian and Flan to fight the Empire's other enemies, the Bakluni of the steppes and other independent Oeridian tribes. The Viceroy of Ferrond was a particular proponent of this policy. Ferrond was the local administrative capital for the Empire and needed troops urgently. The troublesome folk of Perrenland would be well paid by the Empire and the Empire in turn would solve a thorn in its side.

The results didn't exactly go according to plan. For many years the policy appeared successful. In reality, the Empire was training the local Perrenlanders in the co-ordination necessary to mounting a successful rebellion. It also impressed on the otherwise independent Perrenlanders the necessity of unity for any rebellion to succeed.