History of Mejakepai

Sentient settlements around the modern-day sea of the Mejakepai, the Bay of Talakabang, the Bay of Kada, and the island of Kada have existed for tens thousands of years. The region has seen the rise and fall of many unique civilizations and races during its long journey through time.

Precursor Era
It's not exactly known when or where the first inhabitants of Kada, the Javepakata, first came from. Much of their past is unknown and unexplored due to their oral traditions failing to preserve their history through time. It's likely that the first tribes of Javepakata started to appear on Kada around 150,000 years ago.

Yuta Civilization
The first records of civilization on Kada was written in multiple tablets. These were namely of the Yu people, in a script that is referred to as the Yuta script. The script has not been deciphered yet to this day. However, through the varying paintings on their palaces and temples, to find more insight into their ancient civilization, namely their original styles of dress.

The Yu people were portrayed to have worn interesting and bizarre clothing, even showing their legs openly around the bottom areas in addition to their tops, much like ancient Javepakatans.

Batake Civlization
West of Kada, a large continent, called Astariosa by its native inhabitants, is predicted to have existed. This continent was inhabited by the previously underground fungal based society, known as the Batake, or the Indigo-skinned people, as the Javepakata called them.

Emerging from their subterranean homes, they established multiple colonies on the surface for still unknown reasons. Early Batake civilization and culture as well as language was lost, and therefore, not much is well known or recorded about them, but it's likely their first civilizations were roughly first established 6,000 years ago.

Nine Cities Period
Left-over records state that the Batake were well ahead of most people in the world around 3,000 years ago. They were one of the first to discover copper and tin, creating bronze. This advancement allowed their civilization to grow in size, eventually forming the powerful nine city-states that came to dominate the region.

One of these city-states, known as Kunuva, would see themselves experience a technological boom following the discovery of an ancient magic, simply known as "Bronze Magic". With this, bronze was able to be shaped and bent to the will of the Kunuvan peoples. The magic created a more advanced society, in which the Batake cities would evolve and grow to proportions that could not have been seen in the world up until that point.

Kunuvan Imperial Age
By 2,300 BKS, Kunuva had the other Batake city-states subjugated, and formed the formidable Kunuvan Empire. This empire would then begin to colonize other areas in the region, including Kada. Their empire would stretch throughout the Sea of the Mejakepai. Their civilization was, however, largely isolationist, and did not see much trade with other nations. The Kunuvans usually believed that foreigners were beneath them.

Late Imperial Period
The late transcripts of the Kunuvan Empire reveal that in this period, they somewhat opened up to the rest of the wider world. Their trade routes throughout the isles and along the coasts can be traced through the currency and goods that flowed around multiple locations in western Kylorne. Traces of Kunuvan settlement could also be found throughout these areas, which likely served as trade outposts, rather than actual settlements.

Interestingly enough, despite their advanced society, and supposed belief that most major civilizations partook in slavery, the Kunuvans did not use any obvious slave collars or chains throughout their existence.

Great Fissure
According to murals and records that were recovered from this period, around 1,200 BKS, there was a massive catastrophic event known as the Great Fissure.

While some sources claim that it was a series of tsunamis and a volcanic eruption. Others claim there was a massive earthquake, followed by an appearance of a great beast that would ravage the central core of the Kunuvan civilization, devastating them to the point of sinking most of their empire into the sea. Other documents also reported a series of famines; and disgruntled Kunuvan rulers, as well as native inhabitants declaring independence. One account even tells of a "technological terror" that caused the Great Fissure.

The true cause of the Great Fissure, and the validity of any of the theories laid out above, is still debated to this day. This period is largely undocumented due to the fact that much of the Kunuvan records from the Great Library of Kunuva were waterlogged, and thus, unreadable and highly fragile to even move. Much of their bronze and copper tablets that were etched in had also either been destroyed, or had weathered past the point of readability.

Koravi Invasion
At around the same time, the arrival of a Sun Elven people known as the Koravi, would start to wreak havoc upon the remnant states that tried to rebuild themselves. Much of the Kunuvan Empire was looted and pillaged, and the last nail in the Kunuvan Empire's coffin had been nailed in.

The final Kunuvan state, Occiandes, fell to the Koravi in 1237 BKS. By then, many of the remaining Batake population found themselves under Koravic rule, under which they were enslaved. The Koravi would settle on the western isle near the shattered fallen empire, and would call their new settlement Salatana.

Koravic Period
Much of the former influence of the Batake is a distant memory in this period. Much of their technology had also been lost from the Great Fissure, and was chipping away underwater. This time would also be known as the Koravic Period, as the Koravi states would start raiding coastlines of neighboring nations, returning home with large amounts of wealth.

Though, with time, infighting would begin between them. Salatana eventually fell into a civil war, which caused many Koravi to flee eastward and even out westward into the great ocean beyond.

Kadan Dark Ages
At this time, the Javepakata on Kada started to grow. The previously hundreds of unique tribes began forming larger kingdoms and princedoms. This period would see many Javepakata warlords fight each other for control, and some co-existing as separate states. It was also at this time that the Koravi began migrating to Kada. They settled in the southwestern part of the island. The Batake would also settle on western Kada in 450 BKS, where they would live amongst the growing factions of Javepakata and Koravi.

Chaos was rampant in this period, and no state was truly safe. The Koravi often waged wars against Kada's native Javepakata population; using scavenged Kunuvan technology, along with their own raiding prowess, to conquer much of the island's independent states in the southwest.

Kingdom of Taka
One of the states often besieged by the Koravi raiders was a small kingdom named Taka. They broke the cycle of violence between Javepakata and Koravi by accepting and allowing the settling of Koravi raiding parties in their lands. The new alliance with the Koravi population gave Taka the ability to begin conquering neighboring states and stabilizing the region.

Queendom of Nevurusari
On the other side of the island, in the east, the state of Nevurusari was exceptionally safe from the ongoing chaos in the west. The strategic placement of their capital city, Peiklaten, had also helped them rapidly absorb the eastern and central regions of Kada.

Kadan Unification Period
By 164 BKS, most of Kada's factions had perished, leaving only the more prominent ones on the isle. They were the Queendom of Neruvusari, the Kingdom of Sanadra, the Kingdom of Avaser, the Kingdom of Taka, and the Queendom of Malaka. This period was no less peaceful than the Dark Ages that came before it. The intermittent conflicts that were frequent in this time are known collectively as the Kadan Unification Wars.

Sujatasa I's Reign
Out of these major factions, the Queendom of Nevurusai had the advantage, due to the rise of the Sujatasas. Sujatasa I was regarded as a benevolent ruler, who guided her people well; and diplomatically kept her Queendom from being attacked, while building up their forces. Trade expeditions and varying diplomatic ventures would occur under her rule. With this, she would also spread the Nevurusarese culture to all corners of Kada, and through trade with neighbors.

Sujatasa II's Reign
Sujatasa II also known as Sujatasa the Conqueror waged war against mostly the other rising threat of the Malaka and Taka.

She would make Malaka a vassal state following the Battle of Gerun Forest; and Interbang a vassal state to counter Taka. She established light tributes on them to ensure their loyalty. Sujatasa II would oversee multiple construction projects, and would also allow Koravi and Batake to live on her territory. She would also be the one who'd convert to Tulukatva, and spread the faith to her people, thus, making Tulukatva the official faith. She would attempt to eradicate the old beliefs, making all other faiths illegal, and beginning their persecutions.

Sujatasa II would be the longest reigning ruler of any Javepakata ruler, having been in power for over 78 years since her ascent at the age of 16. She had over four sons and two daughters. The throne passed down to her eldest daughter, Sujatasa III, after her passing in 41 BKS. Many Nevurusarese view her as a heroine, though Matakans and varying other rival factions viewed her as a scheming Machiavellian villain who was brutal, with her being often associated as a tyrant. It would also be the inspiration where her successor, Sujatasa III had gained her greater ambition to rule Kada.

Sujatasa III's Reign
Sujatasa III or Sujatasa the Reformer due to her more ambitious dreams coming to light. She first annexed all of her subjects under the Nevurusai banner, conquering much of the island as well. This left only Taka as the remaining independent state on Kada next to Nevurusari.

She introduced multiple reforms that allowed minorities, such as the Koravi and Batake, to participate in her new governmental system. This system included a more representative government among the conquered kingdoms and minor tribes that would be the baseline of her future plans of an empire. She named this dream state the Empire of the Mejakepai, which aimed to unite the thousand isles that surrounded the entire region, and to promote further unity and strength amongst not just the Javepakata, but the other Kadan races as well.

Despite her prosperous reign, Sujatasa III was assassinated by her sister, Surata, in 20 BKS, for then unexplained reasons. Her plans were later revealed to include grooming the dead queen's daughter, Sujatasa IV, to become her own puppet queen, and usurp power from the planned empire that she also had knowledge of. This assassination triggered the early ascendance of Sujatasa IV as the new Queen of Nevurusari in 19 BKS.

Rise of the Mejakepai
The beginning of Sujatasa IV's reign coincides with the beginning of the Kylorne Tribal Period, and the first arrivals of new races to the area, mainly humans.

She would be bent on finishing her mothers goals. Before she could do this, though, she dissolved her entire royal court, including her mother's advisors, and her own family members. She put Surata on trial as a traitor to the Queendom, having her executed despite Surata feigning innocence. She would then change the system to a more meritocratic one, forbidding any close family members from ever having any power within the government; and allowing lower classes and mixed races to serve in her royal court. This at first caused controversy among the political elite, but after several secret purges quickly changed their minds, her decisions were approved.

Following her mother's plan, she invaded the infighting Taka, destroying much of it in the process. Finally, a Takan commander named Taladah, surrendered the kingdom, claiming that he overthrew the Takan royalty, who fled the island. With Taka's fall, Sujatasa had all of Kada under her control. Following her mother's steps, she offered Taladah a place in her future government. Coinciding with the end of the Kylorne Tribal Period, Sujatasa IV released her Proclamation of The Mejakepai, officially ending the Kadan Unification Wars, and the end of the Kadan Warring States. This marked the beginning of the new Empire of the Mejakepai. The chaos of the old queen's assassination, along with the devastating effects of the Unification Wars, had left the island in a state of desolation, but more importantly, peace. For the first time, the island was not infighting amongst itself, but could focus purely on growth. She would become known as Sujatasa the Great.

Sujatasa IV herself would also show herself to be a kind ruler, but unlike her mother, she would be cruel to those who have wronged her, and the situation behind closed doors, namely toward her family was indeed a different story. Having no trust her family or kin, she was reported to have plotted to execute her whole clan, only to have been stopped multiple times by her close advisors who understood the threat they imposed. Though, lack of evidence means this cannot be truly proven.