Although Aradashe was still made up of kingdoms, chiefdoms, and tribes, the Watia held enormous influence over much of the population. Adazhe remained their ally, even if a little cautiously, the Chukali and Shirutori were still under their shadow from the war 300 years earlier. Salahi was still greatly weakened. The only major regions completely independent of the Watai were Medasi and Taja.

In 307, Uyamara displayed their ambitions by erecting the second great pyramid on the island just off their coast. It was completed in 312. Another large project was the construction of the first major highway road between between Ifera and Lake Yaba.

The Medasi were busy, too. They founded the great city of Zhithora in 378, with a grand architectural style similar to Shekala.

By the mid-300s, the Zadanishas were riding horses, a very significant advancement for these nomads. The nomads of Idenari would adopt the practice shortly afterwards. These two groups would forever be inseparable from horses and gain the reputation for being the finest horsemen in the land.

Trade increasingly defined the development of Aradashe society. As the lands of Useturu and Kuno became stronger, one of the major crossroads of trade was where Mehame and Suhai meet south of the Suyaga Sea, a narrow land bridge called the Isthmus of Pori. Many towns had sprung up there, towns that relied almost completely on commerce. In 467, the king of Kafisi founded the city of Jika, one of the great trading centers of Aradashe.

The Taja Kingdom
Since the Taja swept through and settled Hahane and Useturu, conflicts occurred between them and the indigenous tribes. There were at least eight major tribes between the Kaikazhi Mountains and the southern Suhai coast. Before the invasions of the Taja from the Tarukaiva Plains in the 200s BL, the Eshibara had dominated the region. The Eshibara were pushed by the Taja into two separate coastal areas: Batsuwe and Chadazhe.

The other peoples around them were the mainly agricultural tribes that inhabited the hilly region cut by numerous rivers. They included the Mache, along the Yatezi River, near the west end of the Kaikazhi Mountains; the Ebene, to the east of the Mache, between the Yatezi and Hyakatai Rivers; the Shiveki, on the coast at the mouth of the Hyakatai; the Wotebu who lived to the east of them, just north of the Bezhi Mountains; the Torai, who plied the rich river canyons between the Hyakatai and Zhedamazi Rivers, and who were the virtual guardians of the Daizhu Pass north of them; and the Obeke, between the Inidu and Ekositu Rivers. Beyond the Ekositu were the Raikoba, the original settlers of southern Suhai. In the Kaikazhi Mountains lived the Akirazha hill tribes. These barbarians frequently raided the villages and towns of the farming tribes of the plains and valleys.

The Taja had created a kingdom that attempted to unify the eight tribes, with limited success. The Taja, themselves, had settled in a line from west to east on the Hyakatai and Zhedamazi Rivers. Their locations split many of the feuding tribes, which added a little stability to the region. They also had an enclave on the Bezhi River, on the southern coast. There, they built the city of Sepati in the 370s LE. In 405 LE, the Taja king ordered the construction of the city of Hitseke on the Zhedamazi River. This was their new capital.

Trouble in the Far-West
The numerous tribes of Erizeshu were primitive peoples, who had simple agriculture, augmented by hunting and gathering. They lived in rainforests in villages made up of grass huts.

Among the Aradashean cultures, they were rather quiet for many centuries. Confrontations only normally occurred when travelers wandered into their lands. But by the late 500s some Erizeshu tribes, especially the Likute, Hisha, and Yagutati, were raiding Adazhe villages and towns. At one point, an Adazhe warrior troop fought back, pursuing Likute raiders back to their homeland where a combined force of Likute and Hisha guerrilla warriors ambushed them. The Adazhe were wiped out.

This prompted the Adazhe king, Uraije, to declare war on the Erizeshu tribes. The early results were discouraging for the Adazhe. The Erizeshu were superb rainforest hunters, who easily adapted their techniques to warfare. The Adazhe, though familiar with life in the forests, had mainly fought battles in other lands. The Adazhe were able to raid some villages, but could do nothing to affect the guerrilla warriors.

After three years of fruitless incursions into the dense rainforests, the Adazhe started a new approach. Warriors who had experience in the Erizeshu forests, either before the war or in campaigns, were invited by General Tsaiyute to strategy planning meetings.

Using the invaluable information of these advisors, the tide began to turn for the Adazhe. They used fire and other forces to draw enemy warriors into the open, where the Adazhe had a strong advantage. Water and food resources were ambushed, and families captured as hostages. By mid-639, the Erizeshu tribes had been subjugated one-by-one.

More Military Advancements
By the 600s, two important developments were changing Aradashean warfare.

The most important in the short term was the appearance of the composite bow. Bows had always been an important part of warfare, but mostly in support of infantry armed with clubs or spears. The composite bow, a bow made of a combination of laminated soft wood, hard wood, and bone, doubled the range and power of the previous self bow.

Due to this advancement, the number of warriors who carried bows increased, until almost all soldiers on a field had one as a primary or secondary weapon.

As a countermeasure, the shield became indispensable. Only troops who were archers full time went into battle without some kind of shield. Helmets were also more common.

The second significant development was mounted warfare. Pioneered by the Zadanishas and Idenari, cavalry would play an increasing role in Aradashean warfare. They were especially effective in the early years when opposing forces had no experience with countering them. Still, it took a long time before mounted warfare reached its full potential.

These two developments were also combined for great effect. The horse archer quickly joined the mounted spearman on the field. These were particularly difficult warriors to face, especially if your army had no cavalry of its own to chase them down. However, it would not be until the introduction of the stirrup centuries later that the cavalry archer would come to dominate the battlefield.

Despite these new developments, Aradashean warfare in the 5th Century LE was still very primitive, with two factions of lightly-trained warriors armed with clubs, spears, and cowhide shields battling in a disorganized melee. Combatants fought almost naked or with very light clothing. Armor was almost nonexistent. Although tactical maneuvering was slowly developing, most battles were won by the largest and/or most-intimidating force.

Aradashe in Transition
By the 600s LE, Aradashe social structure had changed from scattered family units, to clans in villages, to tribal chiefdoms in towns, to kingdoms encompassing multiple cities. However, most Aradasheans did not identify with the kingdoms in 600 LE. Above the family, the main unit was the clan. This was a group of related families within a small area, sometimes a city. Most clans outside cities (still 90% of the population), identified with their tribe. The kingdom was an adminstrative entity, and had no meaning for the general populace.

However, Aradasheans spoke several distinct dialects of one language. A traveller could walk from Mikunai, in the far-east, to Erizeshu, in the far-west, and speak with anyone in between, without much difficulty. The main dialectal areas were northern Mehame (Salahai, Kidasa, the Zadanishas), the far-west (Erizeshu, Adazhe), southern Mehame (Yetai, Retomi), central (Shirutori, Kepidai, Zhide, Idenari), Northwestern Suhai (Medasi, Daizhabi), southwestern Suhai (Kuno, Useturu), southern and central Suhai (most of the Taja region, with numerous sub-dialects), and the Awares of the far-east, who spoke both Awaga and their own dialect of Aradashean.

Also, except for the Awares, who had immigrated from a distant island, Aradasheans were racially very similar. No one drew racial boundaries among the natives.

It is important to note, however, that there was no concept of an Aradashean yet. The people had no common identity outside of their tribes. Only a few ambitious rulers dreamed of a unified nation.

The Unification of Aradashe Begins
In 643, the Uyamara Tani council, along with King Turukaiya, decided to unify as much of the land as possible under their aegis, especially southern Mehame. They decided to send two armies eastward. The northern force, led by King Turukaiya, swept around north of the Akatsu Mountains. The southern force, under General Lamoke, went through Retomi to lay siege to Ichido.

The northern army hired Zadanisha mercenaries during their march. Within sight of Lake Kagani, west of Majishi, Turukaiya's force encountered a smaller Chukali army, led by General Kaikale. The Uyamara Tani were victorious in the Battle of the Rustling Leaves, but before the Chukali surrendered, General Kaikale led a group of cavalry around the flanks to attack the Uyamara Tani rear. In the strike, King Turukaiya was fatally injured.

After the battle, the Uyamara Tani marched into Majishi. Turukaiya died there that evening. Because of Kaikale's shrewd tactics, the Uyamara Tani commanders decided to his spare life, make him a general in the Uyamara Tani army, and incorporate his force.

Meanwhile, a southern force, made up of Retomi and additional Uyamara Tani and Adazhe soldiers, crossed the Iraku River into Shirutori. They laid siege to Ichido, the Shirutori stronghold. The siege was long, but the attackers finally took the city after internal sabotage.

Back in Majishi, the northern force decided to continue under command of ally Chekahote general, Tsaiyute from Esahi, who had led the main assault at Rustling Leaves and had earned a good reputation in the Adazhe-Erizeshu wars. The force followed Zhide River, taking all cities and towns along its southern bank. Rather than use Kaikale's force against his own Chukali people, Tsaiyute sent it south to help in a siege of Ichido.

According the original Uyamara Tani plan, the northern army, under King Turukaiya, was to meet the southern force, under General Lamoke, for an attack on the Chukali capital of Jahai. But, the siege of Ichido took much longer than expected, and the northern army arrived in the Zhide region first.

The Final Battle Between Chukali and Watai
King Hakari in Jahai heard of the arrival of Tsaiyute's force and the success of the siege of Ichido. Fearing that the two armies would merge for an assault on his capital, he decided to battle the northern force alone before the southern force could come to their aid. He mustered a huge force of Jahai soldiers, Zhide warriors, and mercenaries from Idenari, Medasi, and Kafisi. They marched up the Zhide River and intercepted Tsaiyute's force near the town of Hoche.

The Chukali army outnumbered the Uyamara Tani force by more than two-to-one. But after careful consideration, the Uyamara Tani generals decided to engage King Kakari's troops. Once this army had been defeated or weakened, they reasoned, it would be much easier for the southern force to take Jahai. The Battle of the Willows was one of the decisive battles of Aradashean history. Using careful planning from his experiences in wars against the Erizeshu, the Adazhe commander routed the Chukalis and cut off their escape with the help of mounted Zadanisha allies. The victory was complete. The Uyamara Tani captured most of the enemy troops with few losses. Only a small group of cavalry managed to escape with Kakari back to Jahai. Once again, Tsaiyute incorporated the Chukali army, including the mercenaries. Only the Medasi refused to join.

After getting word of the victory, General Lamoke realized his army no longer had to rush to Jahai. This allowed the southern force to sweep through Kafisi, subduing the region, before joining the northern army at Jahai.

Once the two forces were brought together, there was some conflict over who would lead the combined Uyamara Tani army. Because his reputation had grown after the Willows battle, most of the soldiers insisted on following Tsaiyute, rather than Watai General Lomoke. Lomoke would not follow the orders of a Chekahote, so he accepted a post as governor of Majishi instead.

The siege of Jahai lasted only one day. The citizens threw open the doors and surrendered the city. It was the end of the 1600-year-old Chukali kingdom. King Hakari left the city by ship to Shekala with his loyal Medasi warriors.

The Uyamara Tani Enter Suhai
Tsaiyute's army then marched across the Isthmus of Pori with no resistence. They entered Jika and Ijesa late in the Fall of 643, at which point all of the developed civilized lands of Aradashe were under Uyamara Tani control except the Suhai kingdoms of Taja, Medasi, and Kuno. The white-clad Uyamara Tani army entered Kuno, threatening to subjugate the land with its 12,000-strong army. Kuno was the last stronghold for Chukali forces. Realizing they had no chance to withstand a siege, Kuno surrendered without battle, on the condition of receiving a little autonomy. This condition was granted.

The Uyamara Tani now had what could be consdiered the first empire in Aradashean history. Under their control was the entire south of Mehame, except Adazhe; all of the former Shirutori and Chukali kingdoms; the Isthmus of Pori; and Kuno.

Western Expansion
When Tsaiyute returned to Uyamara, he was asked to lead an invasion of Adazhe, his homeland. He refused and quickly resigned. He then returned to Esashi in the night, fearing execution or assassination.

Watai king Turukaiya's young son, Hachukaiya, was determined to add Adazhe to the Uyamara Tani list of possessions, so he led an invasion in the late Spring of 644. Tsaiyute led the defense of the first major target, Esashi. Deciding his best chance was a field battle rather than suffering a siege, Tsaiyute met Hachukaiya's 8,000-man army in the lush fields of eastern Adazhe with 2600 troops. Tsaiyute succeeded in drawing Hachukaiya's forces into the forests, where the Adazhe were most adept.

This first encounter held off the Uyamara Tani temporarily, but Hachukaiya, young but bright, chose the field of battle by threatening Esashi itself. Tsaiyute's army was overwhelmed, and Tsaiyute fell in battle. The Uyamara Tani then plundered and burned Adazhe cities and towns. But this invasion came at a high price. The dense forests of Adazhe were full of guerrilla fighters who plagued the Uyamara Tani wherever they struck. The Adazhe were never completely subjugated, but the major population centers were destroyed. Beautiful Mishaja was left in ruins; ancient Esashi was leveled, but later rebuilt.

Once the Kingdom of Adazhe was conquered, Hachukaiya declared the Uyamara Tani as the single, unified empire of Aradashe.

Map

Medasi and Taja Countermeasures
Of course, this unification was still fiction. The Medasi and Taja had watched the unfolding events with increasing nervousness. Allies of the Chukali, the Medasi contigent who had fought under under King Hakari were the only Chukali units that refused to join Tsaiyute's army after the Battle of the Willows.

Hakari, the last Chukali king, had been a friend of Medasi ruler Tepazowa. He sought refuge there after Jahai fell into Uyamara Tani hands. He spent some time in Skekala, and Tepazowa found him very astute and experienced in running a large state. He appointed Hakari governor of Zhithora, one of the fastest-growing cities in Aradashe. He further appointed the Medasi soldiers who had fought under Hakari as the new governor's bodyguard. The descendants of this bodyguard would later become one of the most revered elite military units of Aradashe.

The Medasi and Taja found economic strength through trade with each other and through the Awares to their east. Direct trade between them was difficult because of the geographic barrier of the vast Kaikazhi Mountains. There were three routes for trade between northern and southern Suhai. One was through Kuno. Since Kuno was now under Uyamara Tani control, this was no longer an option.

The most-direct was through the Tarukaiva plains, then the Daizhu Pass. But barbarian brigands, like the Gerigeri, Hachutape, and Fetsari, roamed the plains and the pass was difficult to secure from ambushes.

The best option was by the eastern route, through Aware lands. This meant that the Awares would act as middlemen, a great benefit to them. Trade was also conducted directly with the Awares.

Under this system, partly developed by Hakari, the Medasi and Taja both prospered. And both used this wealth to raise armies in their lands to face a possible invasion from the Uyamara Tani.

Ambitions in Mehame
Actually, Hachukaiya had his mind set on securing the rest of Mehame. This would require facing the barbarians of Erizeshu, the formidable Zadanishas, the Idenari, and the strong-willed clans of Salahi. He decided the best strategy would be a drive straight north through the plains of Zadaneto, using the Zadanisha factions against each other, then conquer the city of Isenara in Salahi. From there, the barbarians of Erizeshu and Idenari would be easy prey.

However, the high priests of Shagatase warned him against his plan. Through divination and oracles, they found such a move at that time to have bad omens. Hachukaiya was beside himself. The timing seemed perfect and the plan sound. He almost embarked on the campaign against the warnings, but changed his mind when his young bride pleaded with him to stay. So, until the omens changed, Hachukaiya was content to remain at Uyamara and build the infrastructure of his empire.

The delay was helpful to former Chukali general Kaikale. Kaikale, the veteran from the Battle of the Rustling Leaves, was a sworn enemy of Hachukaiya. He had been ousted from his post in the Uyamara Tani army because Hachukaiya did not want his father's killer serving him. Fearing execution, Kaikale fled to Kidasa. Kaikale had also become a friend of the general who spared his life, Tsaiyute, and was angered over his comrade's death.

The king of Kidasa had heard about Kaikale, and wanted him in his service. He had given the former Chukali general 1400 infantry and 500 cavalry. Along with another general, Ubizho, an expert marshall of mounted troops, Kaikaye took his new army south into Zadanisha territory to increase his numbers.

Over the next few months, Kaikale and Ubizho made overtures to the Zadanish tribes to unify against the imminent invasion by the Uyamara Tani. They had mixed success, but managed to bring together many factions under their leadership. To keep the army together and healthy, they led raids of Uyamara Tani lands in Senago and Kepidai.

Within a month, after the oracles improved, Hachukaiya entered the Duchite Plain with over 4000 troops. In a wide, fertile valley, Kaikale awaited him with 1000 infantry and 200 cavalry. The northern infantry retreated and drew the Uyamara Tani into an ambush by 2200 Zadanisha lancers and cavalry archers under Ubizho's command. Hachukaiya, whose bodyguard had not pursued the retreating northern infantry, was one of the few to escape.

The Battle of the Dusty Ridges of 645 was significant in that it was the first victory for an army mainly made up of cavalry. The mounted warrior was becoming an element of Aradashean warfare that could not be ignored.

Hachukaiya returned to Uyamara in shame, but Kaikale was unhappy he hadn't killed Hachukaiya to avenge Tsaiyute's death. Upon the return of the king and his royal bodyguard, Hachukaiya's general and advisor, Bathache, asked for some troops to make another attack on the Zadanishas, explaining that the enemy would not expect a reprisal so soon. Hachukaiya granted the request: 3000 soldiers from Retomi and 1300 from Aikinoro. These forces were strong in archery. Hachukaiya and Bathache reasoned that bows were the best remedy against cavalry.

Meanwhile, Kaikale and Ubizho continued to raid Uyamara Tani lands. The new Uyamara Tani host found them west of the Akatsu Mountains. When the forces began engaging, it became apparent that Hachukaiya's choice of strong archers was a good one. They could out-range the Zadanisha horse archers, and were well-protected by a body of spearmen against lancer charges.

The Zadanishas retreated, with the Uyamara Tani in pursuit. Bathache dogged them for two days until they reached a crossroads on the Duchite Plain. There, 1400 Kidasa infantry and 300 Uyamara Tani troops captured from the Battle of the Dusty Ridges waited in formation.

The Zadanisha horsemen circled around the flanks of the Uyamara Tani as the foot soldiers advanced. After the encirclement was complete,and the Uyamara Tani found no escape, they surrendered. Bathache, wounded by three arrows, was taken as a prisoner to Kidasa.

Twice, Kaikale and Ubizho had drawn the Uyamara Tani into traps. Not only had they been the first to stop the Uyamara Tani juggernaut, they had accomplished their victories with very few losses. This was Hachukaiya's last attempt to invade Zadanisha lands. He was not through expanding his empire, but his new methods were economic, rather than military.

Trade Diasporas and Awares (645-956)
The Uyamara Diaspora
Hachukaiya is best-known for establishing the beginnings a the Uyamara Tani trade diaspora. This network of port cities was probably more fruitful to the dynasty than any land acquisitions. His plan was simple; the Uyamara Tani would establish trading centers in either established towns and cities or in port towns built from scratch in strategic locations. No political center would be established in any foreign outpost, but the Uyamara Tani navy would support the trading center from the sea.

The system was tried first in Uyamara Tani lands. The first was in Fuduba, at the boundary of Yetai and Adazhe, followed by Arisha, near Erizeshu in western Adazhe. The tiny fishing town of Achaigo became a member of the diaspora, and grew 20-fold in ten years. The most-important trading center created in Mehame was the former minor city, Umage, between Kafisi and Otogo, on the Dujiko Bay coast.

Centers were founded in established large cities, as well, including Ifera, Aikinoro, Tsikuyo, and Jika. Kuno would profit most from the system. It advanced from a frontier fortress town to a thriving economic center due in large part to the Uyamara Tani diaspora. This relationship between the central Aradashe government and Kuno would prove to be mutually beneficial for many years to come.

By the time of Hachukaiya's death, the Uyamara Tani were establishing stronger ties with the Medasi for a possible expansion of the diaspora into the Suyaga Sea. There were also plans to create outposts along the Suhai southern coast, in the land of the Taja.

The Awares Unify
The Awares for centuries had been on the periphery of Aradashe. The first settlements were in the 2000s BL via ocean-going reed boats from Dekai, off the eastern tip of Aradashe. These people were Awagas, the dominant tribe of Dekai. As they interbred with native Aradashean peoples, they became known as Awares.

For most of their early years in Aradashe, the Awares were fairly isolated from the great kingdoms west of them. The only large tribe to encounter them were the Raikobe, who migrated along the southern coast of Suhai, until they settled adjacent to Aware villages in Tobetsune.

For over 2000 years, the Aware lived rather quietly in Mikunai and parts of Marava. Their only major conflicts were fighting off barbarian raids from the Tarukaiva Plains. New waves of Awagas made the long sea journey to Mikunai and Marava to enjoy the fruitful lands there.

The first time the Awares had much contact with the major Aradashean civilizations was when they began trading with the Taja and Medasi in the 600s LE. This new trade brought a lot of changes to the Awares. Their societies became more prosperous, and the merchants became middlemen between Aradashe and Dekai. But it also brought instances of racial conflict.

Although Aradashe was made up of many cultures and peoples, they all resembled each other closely, with only minor superficial variations in features from region-to-region. The Awares, on the other hand, were quite distinct with their straight hair and round eyes, and faced some racism in their dealings with natives, who considered them inferior.

Until the 600s, the Awares still lived only in tribes under chieftains. They had no major cities and no standing armies. The Medasi and Taja became aware of this and began to exploit them. The Awares, realizing their weakness, decided to unify. The main problem was choosing a leader. In 689, after many attempts to vote on a single ruler of all the Awares, conflicts broke out among the tribes. After twelve years of tribal wars, one chieftain, Jide Jehu, prevailed and took his seat as the first king of the Awares.

In 706, Jide Jehu made the town of Yefi his capital. Yefi grew to be the first great Aware city with the help of Medasi and Taja trade.

Another Time of Peace in Mehame
One of the biggest short-term benefits of the Uyamara Tani trade diaspora was a period of relative calm in Mehame while the Uyamara Tani were concentrating on developing relationships with their neighbors. But that did not mean that the various city-states were not thinking about security. Ichido, already one of the strongest fortresses in Aradashe, had its defenses revamped with improved walls, towers, fortified gates, and a wet moat. The Uyamara Tani, Isenara, and Medasi were all adopting small units of cavalry into their standing armies.

The Uyamara Tani did indeed eventually establish a trading outpost among the Medasi, in the city of Shekala. Medasi adopted the diaspora idea themselves, setting up trading posts along the northern coasts, including Zhithora, Kidasa, and Isenara. They also established centers in Jika, Jahai, and Umage.

Relations between the Taja and Uyamara Tani did not improve, however. The Taja feared the empire of the West, and remained prepared for possible invasion. Invasion did come, but not from the Uyamara Tani.

In 733, Gerigeri tribes from the Tarukaiva Plain poured through the Daizhu Pass, overwhelming the Torai garrisons who guarded it. They swept into the Torai lands, looting, burning, and abducting women. Next, they pillaged the towns and villages of the Ebene, to the west.

The Taja king was alarmed, and sent troops to stop the raids. But, he had underestimated the Gerigeri. Except for the first encounter, in which the Taja wiped out a raiding party, the Gerigeri overwhelmed the subsequent Taja expeditions with guerrilla tactics and cavalry. The Taja not encountered military horsemen before, and had no ideas had to counter them. Soon the Gerigeri had almost free rein to ravage the countryside.

But the Gerigeri did not establish permanent settlements. The raids were periodic, and usually only in the summer or autumn. The Gerigeri only set up garrisons in the Daizhu Pass to ensure it remained open to them. The attacks continued for decades, and the Taja were slowly learning how to cope with them. In the early 800s, the Akirazha hill tribes added to the chaos by raiding the Obeke and Raikobe. They were eventually beaten back by a Taja detachment.

In 860, the Taja launched an attack on the Gerigeri in Daizhu Pass. Bit-by-bit, they reclaimed the pass, eventually putting the barbarians to flight. Once the Taja had regained their line of defense, they built two towers that guarded the road through the Daizhu.

Concurrently, the Taja began large-scale projects to strengthen the defenses of their cities, especially Hitseke, the capital, and Sepati. The Ebene, Torai, Obeke, and Raikoba were funded to set up garrisons in towers built in their lands. The Torai were given Taja troops to bolster their standing army.

The Usetu and Sekapi Uprisings
But problems were not over for the Taja. In 882, the Usetu, long ago displaced from their homelands, saw the continuing raids and internal conflicts as an opportunity to regain their independence. The Usetu had lived in Kuno on good terms with the Sekapi ever since they had become neighbors. The two tribes worked together to drive the Taja governors out of the Useturu region, and establish their own land adjacent to Kuno. Their power came from a former Chukali military establishment that came under command of the Uyamara Tani in 684. These garrisons had eventually became completely manned by Usetu and Sekapi warriors.

Once they had secured their lands, they appealed to the Uyamara Tani and Kuno to support them. They embraced the establishment of an Uyamara Tani trading center. Not only did the council and king in Uyamara agree to help, they also founded a new city on the site of a Taja coastal fortress in 884. This city was named Madoyasi.

However, these events did not threaten the survival of the Taja. The Gerigeri raids had a solidifying effect on the Taja kingdom. The Eshibara, Ebene, Wotebu, Torai, Obeke, and Raikoba tribes all sought support from the Taja, and drew together to form an alliance stronger than ever before. The coastal Shiveki, on the other hand, formed their own alliance with neighboring Madoyasi, which later absorbed them. The Mache, to the northwest and never victims of Gerigeri raids, became independent.

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The Salahi League, Part Two
In northern Mehame, the conflicts between the nomadic Zadanishas and agricultural Salahi never ceased. Ever since the 30s LE, when the Zadanishas made a concerted invasion of Salahi, the settlers of the Kamaju Valley, very vulnerable to the periodic raids from the south and east, had to try to fend off the barbarians independently.

In the late 800s, the tribes of the Kamaju Valley had a council, wherein they decided to reform the Salahi League. The new league was a success, and the Zadanisha raids become less common. And like the first league, this one was eventually ruled by one leader. This leader was Uchave, a chieftain from the banks of Lake Ureki.

Uchave became so popular that he had support to overthrow Dashina, the lord of Isenara, who had been negligent in providing protection of the lands that fed his city. In 891, Uchave marched on the city, but the citizens supported Dashina. Fighting broke out in the streets for three days. On the evening of the third day, exhausted Salahi warriors entered the palace and killed Dashina. His family was given as slaves to the Zadanishas.

Uchave then declared the new Kingdom of Isenara.

The "Aware Plague"
About 920, a plague struck eastern Aradashe. It was noticed the Aware capital of Yefi first, sparking accusations that the desease was brought to Aradashe by Awares from Dekai. It spread quickly to Zhithora and Hitseke, then to Sepati. Shekala tried to close off contact with Zhithora, but was too late. The plague appeared in their city in 921. In turn, the cities of Mehame closed their doors to contact with Shekala and the East. This slowed the spread, but only temporarily. By 925, all of the major urban centers of Aradashe had been affected.

The effect was devastating. Some cities lost half of their populations. From the start, Aradashean natives blamed the Awares for the disease. But, they were afraid to enter Aware lands for fear of encountering the plague again. Then, in 952, when it appeared that the plague had completely passed, a war was declared on the Awares. On the vanguard were the various armies under the Medasi and Taja.

The Aware tribes put up a valiant struggle, but had little organization and no horses. They won one major battle against the Taja, the Battle of the Orange Clouds. In 953, the city of Yefi fell; and by the end of 956, all of Mikunai and Marava had been overrun by the Medasi and Taja. The remaining Awares sought refuge in the Hokage Mountains. Tens of thousands of Awares were massacred. Many were enslaved. This was the first instance of large-scale slavery in Aradashe. The Medasi took control of Marava, the Taja took Mikunai, with Yefi as a bonus.

For centuries, the Awares would be shunned, and they feared being seen by native Aradasheans. Some lived among the natives in slavery until its abolition in the 1400s. Right up until the 2400s, many Aradasheans wanted the Awares to be eradicated from the land completely. With the exception of one attempt to develop a full-fledged city in the 1500s, the Aware tribes of lived on in the seclusion of the Hokage Mountains.

The New Millenium (957-1280)
Better Days
Although the "Aware Plague" was a tragic event, it was followed by years of prosperity. The rural people who had escaped the mainly urban epidemic were attracted to new opportunities in the cities. Within 20 years, the cities were larger than ever. Trade was very strong, and spread new ideas and discoveries.

The Urudaiha priests estabished schools, for the first time, in Salahi, Kidasa, Medasi, Daizhabi, Useturu, and Hitseke and Sepati. New temples were built in Umage, Ezhira, Zhithora, and Madoyasi.

Esashi, burned to the ground during the Uyamara Tani invasion, was rebuilt at this time. The Taja developed the city of Yefi into a major trading center, and renamed it Methalaya. Soon afterwards, a new temple was constructed there.

In 1000, celebrations were held all over the Uyamara Tani lands to mark the thousandth year since the founding of Ifera. Of course, the largest was in Ifera itself. Huge processions of dancers, conch-shell blowers, and drummers marched throughout the large cities.

In this period of high hopes for the future, building increased. More cities sprang up, each with its own temple on the Shagatase design. The Three Moon and Thora roads were completed, linking Ifera with Jahai. The Green Coast road was built between Ifera and Uyamara, and a road was cut from Majishi along the Zhide River to Jahai.

Decay Sets In
But disaster struck again in the 1240s. A crop disease hit the central farmlands, then spread into the Taja Kingdom.

The people became increasingly worried about apeasing the nature spirits. Their crops were dying and famine set in. They looked for relief. Sacrifice had always been a minor part of Aradashean ritual, but as desperation set in, the people increased their sacrifices. Soon, instead of offering a single animal, they killed a captured enemy, then multiple enemies. At its worst, the sacrificial ceremonies included hundreds of members of the tribe itself. The agricultural disease diminished, but the Aradasheans took this as a sign that the sacrifices were effective. This was especially the case around the Zhide River and the Taja Kingdom.

In the 1260s, numerous small wars broke out among the tribes in Taja lands. Many of the battles were to capture prisoners for sacrifice. Such conflicts were slowly tearing the Taja Kingdom apart. The Taja tried to stem the civil war, sometimes with success, but eventually their resources were spent.

The warlords of the Uyamara Tani and Medasi could see an opportunity to subdue the Taja, and organized separate campaigns to invade southern Suhai. However, as the campaigns got under way, fighting broke out among the warlords, especially those of the Uyamara Tani. Under the empire, the local barons had been given too much power in the form of grants from the Uyamara Tani rulers. They became so powerful, they could raise formidable armies of their own. The unification brought by the Uyamara Dynasty was falling apart. What followed was over one hundred years of constant warfare.

The central governements of Uyamara Tani and Taja fell back to strengthen their bases. The Uyamara Tani solidified their defenses in the Yetai area. The Taja in Suhai desperately tried to hold on to the three river valleys, the Yatezi, the Hyakatai, and the Zhedamazi, and the cities of Hitseke and Sepati. First, they lost the Yatezi Valley to Madoyasi. Then, in the 1290s, the Ebene and Wotebu separated from the kingdom. The Taja kept their alliances with the Torai, Eshibara, and Obeke. The Raikobe also became independent.

One interesting event during these wars was the Battle of the Blustery Drizzle in 1284 between the Useturu city of Madoyasi and the Taja. The Madoyasi were under the leadership of King Shokedaiye, who understood the importance of morale and intimidation. His army was extremely well-disciplined and shook the battlefield with shield banging, foot stomping, and drum beating. They chanted and shouted in such powerful unison that the intimidated enemy withdrew without any conflict at all. This bloodless victory expanded the Useturu lands up to the Shiveki, including the Yatezi River Valley. Subsequently, Madoyasi and the Shiveki formed an alliance. It was also an insight into the Madoyasi army of the future.

The biggest blows to the Taja was the loss of two important cities. In 1286, Sepati locked its doors to the Taja and became its own city-state. This came as a big surprise and shock to the Taja king, Gukeru. Sepati had been founded by his ancestors. Sepati was immediately attacked by the Wotebu tribe, but fought them off. With the loss of the Raikobe, communication was severed with Methalaya. They, too, became independent of the Taja Kingdom in the 1280s.

In Mehame, the tribes of Shirutori, Kafisi, and Otogo fought amongst themselves through the late 1200s. Ichido became isolated from the Uyamara Tani in 1291. Even Retomi, a long-time ally of the Watai and Uyamara Tani, became independent. The tribes of Retomi remained unified, and shored up their defenses against the surrounding tribes.

In the west, Adazhe separated from the Uyamara Tani in 1288. The following year, they invaded and subdued the Likute, Hisha, and Yagutati tribes in Erizezhu, gaining control of the entire far-western cape.

In spite of these developments, the Uyamara Tani were still strong. A Chafa chieftain named Daiketa attempted to throw off the dynastic yoke, but was defeated by soldiers from Uyamara in 1295. An army from Ifera suppressed rebel chieftains in Senago. These victories were partly due to a new weapon that was beginning to dominate flatland battlefields: the chariot.

Chariots Enter the Battlefield
Chariots were first used in the 1100s by Zhithora against the barbarian Hachutape tribe in central Suhai. The new weapon spread to Medasi, Kuno, Jika, Shirutori, Zhide, and Kepidai. The Uyamara Tani began using it on the frontiers, then created a unit of chariots for use in Yetai and Senago. Chariots were basically archery platforms. The accuracy of a bow was much better from a chariot than from a horse, which were ridden without saddles or stirrups in that age. It was the Uyamara Tani who impoved the chariot by lightening it for maneuverability.

The chariot was, for many years, almost unstoppable. Infantry could not catch them, and cavalry was not yet developed enough to counter them. Only the Zadanishas had any success against them. Chariot-born archers had the freedom to assault infantry at will. Their only worry were other chariots.

But Chariots were only effective on open, flat ground. Retomi, Adazhe, Erizeshu, Tarukaiva, Otogo, Imatera, Chafa, and the entire Taja region had no use for them. Although Madoyasi had plenty of suitable land to employ them, the city-state never had much interest in chariots.

Barbarian Invasions (1260-1350)
The Yevari Expand
"Barbarians" are basically tribes or clans that live outside the sphere of cities and large agricultural settlements. Aradasheans call them yevari. The Yevari live mainly in the central regions of Mehame and Suhai. These areas are usually dry and suitable only for grazing animals. Thus, most yevari are pastoral nomads. The regions that host yevari are parts of Salahi, Zadaneto, Idenari, the Tarukaiva Plains, and parts of Marava. The Mehame pastoral nomads are the Zadanishas and Idenari. The Tarukaiva Plains and Marava are home to the Gerigeri, Hachutape, and Fetsari.

The Erizeshu, including the Likute, Hisha, and Yagutati tribes, are also considered yevari, but live in the rain forests of the far-west. They live off tiny farms, hunting and gathering, and fishing. Most live in villages. Other groups of hunter/gatherers live along the northern coasts of both Mehame and Suhai. These are semi-nomadic peoples who mostly date back to the earliest migrations of primeval Aradashe. In northern Erizeshu are the Chuke. The Menatagi occupy the coast between Salahi and Kidasa. Along the Idenari coast live a diverse group of clans collectively known as the Sina. On the Marava coast there are peoples known as Aisajus. And the Awares lived among a hunter/gatherer culture called the Jikashi on the Mikunai coasts.

All through Aradashean history, the yevari, especially the nomads of the central plains, raided their wealthier argricultural neighbors. These raids dropped when times were good, but increased during times of drought and other natural events that affected livestock grazing. The crop disease and resulting famine of the 1200s impacted the nomads as well as the farmers. Since the collapse of the great kingdoms, the local landlords and towns had little defense. The pastoral nomads took the opportunity to plunder the wealth of these former kingdoms.

In the central Suhai highlands, the Hachutape replaced the Gerigeri as the dominant tribe. They began making raids into Tobetsune and Mikunai in the 1270s. In 1287, in one major attack, they broke through the Daizhu Pass. The Torai appealed to the Taja for help, but the Hachutape overran their lands before any Taja assistance could reach them. The Hachutape then swept into the lands of the Obeke and Raikobe from both sides. The Ebene were defeated next, and the Taja were forced out of the Hyakatai River Valley in 1290.

The Hachutape then moved in on the Taja capital of Hitseke. King Ichake, son of Gukeru, fled with his family and some of his retainers to Methalaya. This flight in 1292 signalled the end of the Taja kingdom in southern Suhai. But Ichake became the ruler of a new kingdom, centered on Methalaya. Ironically, Hitseke survived two months of siege, and emerged as an isolated city-state. Of the former Taja kingdom, only the Eshibara, Wotebu, and Akirazha managed to avoid falling to the Hachutape, the latter two being firmly rooted in the hilly landscape.

Pastoral nomads also began to intensify raids in Mehame. After 20 years of clan conflict, a warlord named Chuveki emerged to unify most of the Zadanisha clans. Chuveki believed in discipline and order. His genious was that he not only unified formerly warring clans, but he molded them into a cohesive fighting force. His main force were spearmen and axemen also armed with composite bows. They were supported by skirmishers and horsemen.

Chuveki went on a rampage in 1302. First his warriors invaded the Salahi valley of Kamaju, defeating every army in their path. At the Battle of the Hot Winds, The Salahis League deployed 100 chariots among their troops, and defeated Chuveki. The next night, the Zadanishas invaded the Salahi camp, and massacred them. They went on to sack Isenara after poisoning the water supply.

Turning south, Chuveki invaded the Duchite Plain and Senago. The clans in these regions had become independent of the Uyamara Tani, and suffered for it. Alone, they were no match for the Zadanishas, who eliminated them one-by-one. Chuveki avoided the hilly region of Retomi, where his cavalry were less-effective. They skirted the northern slopes of the Akatsu Mountains.

The Idenari could be divided into three groups. One was the hill tribes of the Machunada Highlands in north-eastern Mehame. Another was a pastoral nomad group of the Idenari lowlands. The third group were the pirates of the Sayaga Sea. The lowland Idenari saw an opportunity during the this time to raid the Zhide region. In 1303, they began a series of attacks along the Zhide River. These attacks were only successful until local warlords mobilized and fought them off.

The pirates were more successful. Their small ships plagued the Medasi and Jihai shipping routes. Gaining strength and numbers, the pirates soon expanded to coastal raiding.

Other than the Suyaga Sea raids, Medasi stayed relatively intact during the barbarian invasions. They shored up their defenses and the clan leaders remained unified.

The Founding of the Masade Sect
The groundwork for the Masade sect of the Aradashean religion was laid in Adazhe in the 1290s. Expanding from there, the movement gained many adherents during this time of upheaval. The sect grew so strong the Urudaiha outlawed the practice in 1298. In response, the Masade set up a network of secret monasteries throughout southern Mehame.

In 1336, they laid the foundation for the spiritual city of Kijekuya in the Yalamahi Mountains. The city would provide a community for monks, former monks, and their families. The location was extremely difficult to find and approach, on cliffs above the rainforests of Adazhe. Construction took many decades. By 1340, a huge complex was taking shape.

In 1356, urudaiha of the former Uyamara Tani laid siege to Kijekuya. The siege was nearly successful, and in response, the Masade built defensive structures and formed a standing army. This would become the renowned Keshi. By the late 1400s, Kijekuya was an impressive city, built on many levels with stairs and bridges in between. There were strong walls and defensive towers. The entire complex was surrounded by forest and cliffs.

The Changing Map of Aradashe
By the mid-1300s, the political map of Aradashe had changed considerably. The Uyamara Tani, no longer an empire, was effectively reduced to Yetai, Imatera, and Chafa. The Zadanishas had laid waste to all of central Mehame. Warlords around Shirutori and Zhide warred with each other and the Idenari. All of Erizezhu was in Adazhe hands. The Taja tribes had set up a new kingdom in Methalaya. The former Taja Kingdom was in ruins at the hands of the Hachutape. The city-states across Aradashe effectively closed their doors to outsiders, and isolated themselves. Chimachi, Esashi, Isenara, Kidasa, Tsikuyo, Achaigo, Ichido, Umage, Majishi, Jahai, Shekala, Zhithora, Jika, Ijesa, Ezhira, Madoyasi, Sepati, Hitseke, and Methalaya all became city fortresses, locked to strangers.

However, there was light on the horizon. Harvests improved, and prosperity once again flowed in Aradashe. This created a new situation, with strong indepedent cities controlling most of the wealth. The first evidence of this independence was Zhithora breaking free of all Medasi rule. Aikinoro followed suit and broke from the Uyamara Tani.

Some still dreamed of a unified Aradashe. With the strong, independent city-states, each ruled by a king, this dream seemed more distant than ever. But one of the advocates was the Hatimaka himself. The Hatimaka appealed to the kings of Aradashe to come together and form a nation of affiliated cities. The Urudaiha of Ifera promoted the Hatimaka as the central ruler of the land. All kings would answer to him, but would have enough autonomy and power to determine most of what occurred in their city-states.

In 1400, at a huge banquet held at Shagatase Temple, the Hatimaka made the announcement. At first, the kings in attendence thought that the issue was for debate. Most agreed that the idea had merit, but balked at the idea when they had to consider subservience to a distant ruler in actuality. But the Hatimaka was making a declaration, and rose tall, angered at the responses. He reminded them in a powerful voice who he was. The kings were stunned, and most left for their respective homes.

The few who saw the benefits of the Hatimaka's declaration stayed. These were mostly kings of the weaker city-states who were attracted to the protection a centralized empire could provide them against aggressive neighbors. These were the kings of Chimachi, Kidasa, Tsaikuyo, Achaigo, Nijesa, and Hitseke.

Two weeks later, after long, confrontational debate among the nobility, the king of Majishi, Okiraiye, sent a message submitting to the Hatimaka's rule. As a reward for this acquiescence, the Hatimaka declared that Majishi would someday be the center of the new empire.

Zaikas Emerge
The Rise of the City-State
The threat of war was building all over Aradashe. Battles had been fought for the last 100 years by cities and various feudal barons, but now the major city-states were gearing up with the benefit of their greater wealth and resources.

City-states, called zaika by Aradasheans, were autonomous urban centers with strong trade, their own military forces, and a defensive structure. They all controlled surrounding agricultural land that sustained them. Landowners received military protection and some services in payment for supplying a percentage of their commodities to the zaika, plus military service by the landowners.

The first step was to reclaim the lands lost to marauding yevari. This was a relatively easy task. The yevari were generally disorganized and couldn't raise much resistance. During these battles, the zaika found themselves vying over valuable land. This was particularly true of the cities close together along the southern coast of Mehame.

By this time, Aradashe was more urban than ever before. Since the 600s, many minor city-states arose. In southern Mehame, the blossoming period was the 1000s, after the millenium. Wegosi, between Ifera and Uyamara; Waicheza, on Lake Porasha; Hasaki, on the Retomi coast; and Zhuwanu, near the Isthmus of Pori, were all founded in that century. Hyanodake, west of Umage, and Chebu, in Adazhe, followed in the 1100s.

After the famine of the mid-1200s, more cities appeared. Dakichi, in western Shirutori was founded in the1230s, Kechuwa, on the north bank of the Zhide River in the1240s, and Zinaishu, on the northern coast between Isenara and Kidasa in the1290s. During this same period in Suhai, Becho was built between Ezhira and Jika, Chaga and Etsumaiya sprang up along the southern coast, Gaichibe grew up along the Hyakatai River, and Sata was founded at the mouth of the Ekositu River.

As the empires broke up through the 1300s, city fortresses were built on town sites and developed into minor city-states. In these years were founded: Kuragaiya, at a crossroads in Zadaneto (1340s); Tsaiku, north of Ichido (1370s); Maichedu, south of Ichido (1360s); Ugemohe, east of Kidasa (1380s); Chinumete, between Becho and Jika (1310s); Dakuchane, on the Suyaga Sea northeast of Shekala; Kahochepe, on the Yatezi River (1310s); Ruke, on the Hyakatai River (1330s); Une, at the confluence of the Zhedomazi and Awi Rivers; Datehako, at the mouth of the Inido River, and the Raikoba founded their own city of Aninori along the southeast coast of Suhai (1350s). In northern Suhai, Veki appeared south of Zhithora (1300s) and Supuyache was built in Marava (1380s). In the early 1400s, Jozaiya, Chaga, Etsumaiya, Jedonasa, and Zhekudai were all founded in southern Suhai.

Mehame Map

Suhai Map

During the yevari raids and invasions, the zaika remained mostly in isolation. There was trade between them, but relations were weak. Each zaika was supported by outlying villages in their radius of control. Once the yevari invasions had weakened, they could no longer raid villages without serious resistance from their protective zaika. By the early 1400s, most yevari had to restrict themselves to raiding outlying lands. Eventually, they fought among each other more than against the villages and the barbarian invasions ceased.

At this time, a new urban aristocracy developed in the zaika. In the past, the nobility were landowners. By the early 1400s, a class of nobles rose with business ownership. Under the kings of the zaika, they prospered, owing military service as their return. This population of influential urbanites were a new class of noble warrior, who usually wore uniform in battle supplied by the king. This was, perhaps, the first widespread use of military uniform in Aradashean history. The most famous of these elite zaika warriors were the Zhithora Guard, descendents of the Medasi soldiers of Hakari's bodyguard after the fall of the Chukali.

With the end of the invasions, the zaika became more ambitious. They vied for territory or trade routes, sometimes individually, sometimes in leagues. The 1400s were times of struggle between the city-states.

The two hotbeds of these struggles were Yetai/Adazhe and the Zhide River/Suyaga Sea regions. The cities of Yetai had been in alliance since the unification by the Watai in the 600s BL. However, in the early 1400s, Uyamara went to war against Tsaikuyo for control of the Three Moon Road that ran along the Mehame southern coast. Ewaha challenged Ifera for the Awasuru River. Ewaha could not resist the power of Ifera, but Taikuyo defeated Uyamara in a pitched battle.

Although warfare was not entirely absent, the former Taja region, now known as Tajahai, was relatively quiet. In the 1360s, Madoyasi fought some battles against the Mache and in defense of the Shiveki against the Hachutape. The ferocity and discipline of the Madoyasi warriors was so great that other zaika in the region tread lightly. This may have had a stabilizing effect on the region.

Despite all of the warfare, the zaika remained relatively stable. One reason was that city defense had surpassed siege technology and tactics. Citizens of zaika could feel reasonably secure within their walls. Almost all decisive battles were fought outside the cities on the battlefield.

However, towards the middle of the 1400s, the siege tower was improved. This was a mobile high platform from which archers could rain arrows upon the besieged. The most effective were taller than any city walls of the time. Concurrently, better rams were devised for pounding on doors or walls.

One of the most-valuable pieces of real estate in Aradashe was the geographic and commercial crossroads of the Ithsmus of Pori. Three zaika lay on the isthmus: Zhuwana, the temple city of Nijesa, and the prosperous trading city of Jika. King Esaiya of Jahai coveted Nijesa and Jika, and launched a campaign in 1446 to take possession of them by marching 11,000 soldiers and 400 chariots along the Suyaga seashore. The attack on Nijesa came as a surprise to its inhabitants, the first time in history anyone had attacked it. Though Esaiya had brought siege equipment along, it was not necessary. His warriors stormed the city and defeated all resistence.

Nearby Jika then took measures to defend itself. Once a Jahai governor was put in place at Nijesa, Esaiya continued south to lay siege to his top prize. One of the measures Jika had taken before Esaiya's arrival was to ask long-time ally Ezhira for help. Ezhira obliged by sending 9000 warriors and 1300 chariots to break the siege. In one of the major battles of the 15th Century, the men of Jahai were routed. They tried to fall back on Nijesa, but were intercepted by Jika marines, who had landed on the Suyaga shore to cut off their retreat. Only a few Jahai warriors were able to seek refuge in Nijesa. Before the Jika and Ezhira troops could reach the temple city, it was abandoned by Esaiya.

One month later, Jahai found itself surrounded by warriors from Jika, Ezhira, Zhuwanu, Nijesa, and Becho. The siege was terrible and bloody. The attackers used the finest siege tactics and tools of the time. Finally, the walls were stormed on two sides. The enemy warriors poured in to sack the ancient city. Fires raged out of control all through Jahai for days. The demolition was complete. Jahai burned to the ground. One of the oldest and most-powerful cities in Aradashe, former capital of the great Chukali civilization, suffered a tragic death. Esaiya was captured and hanged. The general who led the siege, Ruchege of Jika, was himself heartbroken at the level of destruction, which he found himself unable to control. He wrote a classic poem on the futility of warfare and resigned his kingship to a trusted advisor, Chanihe.

This event, more than any other, prompted the Hatimaka in Ifera to take control. He decided to attempt unification of Aradashe again with greater resolve. He traveled to Majishi and charged the ruler there, Nagatene, to unify Aradashe and bring stability to the land. Of all the leaders, Hatimaka trusted Nagatene the most. He was the grandson of Okiraiye, the Majishi king who had submitted to the Hatimaka after his first call for unification in 1400. Majishi was among the few zaika powerful enough to fulfill the objective, and the Hatimaka judged Nagatene an effective leader.

Another Quest for Unification
Forming an Alliance
Nagatene's first act was to begin preparations for extended military expeditions. Then, the Hatimaka called the kings and some nobles of all of the zaika to Majishi for a banquet very similar to the one 47 years before. Almost all of the invitees appeared. Only representatives of Chebu, Ugemohe, Une, Supuyache, and Kijekuya were not present.

The affair was huge and lasted four days. There was much eating and entertainment. Warriors proved their mettle in sparing and archery contests. There were horse races and wrestling. Finally, on the last day, the Hatimaka announced the renewed effort to unify Aradashe—not the creation of an empire like the Uyamara Tani, but the establishment of a single government for the entire land.

Reactions were mixed, mostly shock. Some leaders sat quietly and watched. Most displayed outrage. After a few moments of chaos, and realizing there was no joke, some members turned and left with their retainers. The Hatimaka sat with his eyes closed. Nagatene noted the reactions of several of the kings, especially those from nearby zaika.

After conferring with their advisors and retainers, some kings actually agreed to the proposal. The first was Uyanata of Shekala. Thuteki of Ezhira also supported the idea. Hote of Nijesa and Chanihe of Jika added their agreement before the evening was through. Bichushele, the king of Ifera, had already known and approved the plan, and Achaigo and Tsiakuyo, two of the zaika who had complied with the first attempt, accepted again.

One of the most disappointing reactions was from Jiyedane of Uyamara, who declared that his zaika would resist any attempts against the sovereignty of the zaika.

The following morning, almost all of the guests left Majishi. Before he rode out, Sukage, the king of Becho, approached the Hatimaka with his approval. Raitu of Ichido also showed signs of compliance.

Also that morning, military conscription was instituted in Majishi.

Within weeks, announcements supporting the proposal arrived from Fuduba, Wegasi, Hasaki, Dakichi, Tsaiku, Isenara, Zhuwanu, and Dakuchane. Almost no zaika in Suhai consented to the unification. Tainuye of Kidasa agreed at one point, then changed his mind.

Most who agreed did so out of loyaly to the Hatimaka. Nagatene was angry that so many other nobles had turned against the demigod spiritual leader. Luckily, most of the zaika that joined the union were in the heartland of Aradashe. This belt contained much of the richest land and busiest trade routes on the continent, perhaps a legacy of King Hachukaiya's Uyamara Tani trade diaspora. This was a definite advantage for Nagatene.

The Conquest Begins
There was full-scale military build-up in both Majishi and Ifera. Jika raised a huge army. Nagatene made many deals with both the Zadanishas and Idenari. In the early spring of 1447, Nagatene walked alone to Chakutase Temple in Majishi and prayed with the words "For future peace." He then mounted his chariot and rode out to his army.

Nagatene's first target was the Zhide River city of Kechuwa. King Wemakai had developed a fine independent zaika with strong trade. He opposed falling under imperial rule, as his ancestors had under the Chukali. The day of the Battle of the Singing Grass, the Majishi army outnumbered the Kechuwa three-to-one. Despite the odds, the warriors of Kechuwa tried valiantly; but their center collapsed, and they were flanked by Majishi chariots. By midday, they had all surrendered or run from the field.

Those who opposed unification also began building their forces. Uyamara conscripted commoners from the outlying areas, as well as the zaika elite warriors. Madoyasi, which always retained a standing army of 7000 jadoyasi (medium warriors armed with javelins and bunai short spears), geared up and increased the activity of discipline schools. Zhithora raised a huge contigent of spearmen and jadoyasi.

In Salahi, Isenara agreed to the unification as a larger extension of the Salahi League that had worked so well against Zadanisha invasions. But anger arose among the clans of the Kamaju Valley. Banding together, these clans threatened Isenara with rebellion if any self-determination was lost to Majishi. King Owena gave in to their demands, but secretly continued negotiations with Majishi. One request was for military support from Majishi against a possible rebellion.

Before the assistance reached Isenara, the Kamaju clans discovered the backroom deals. Angered, they marched on Isenara under command of a chieftain named Teranaida. Owena sent an army to quell them, but the Kamaju defeated them in the Battle of the Twin Ponds. Next, Isenara itself was surrounded.

The Majishi contingent, actually warriors from Dakichi, arrived to attempt to break the siege, but the Kamaju met them in battle. Again, the Kamaju, under expert generalship of Teranaida, won the battle, forcing the Dakichi host to retreat. At that point, smoke rose from the marhet center of Isenara. Agents inside the city had set fires. In the confusion, they also managed to open the gates of the city. Teranaida's forces poured in and fought in the streets. After two days of house-to-house battle, the zaika fell to the rebels. Owena managed to escape among fleeing civilians.

The Dakichi army was shut out of Isenara. They camped outside to await reinforcements from Majishi. Scouts reported to Teranaida that more troops were on the way, so he decided to attack the Dakichi force first. After two days' rest, half of the Kamaju Valley clans emerged from the city and routed the Dakichi. The following day, the Majishi reinforcements, mostly Idenari mercenaries, arrived Teranaida met them with the other half of his force. The Idenari retreated.

Seeing that there may be a crisis in the North, Bichushele of Ifera sent 6000 of his warriors, along with a host of 3400 from Fuduba, to put down the rebellion. 1300 Cavalry from Tsaikuyo joined them just outside Mechaki. The entire force continued on towards Isenara.

Teranaida decided to meet the southern army in familiar territory. They set up for battle in the Kamaju Valley, where they could best utilize their cavalry and captured chariots from Isenara. On a hot, dry day, the two armies engaged in the Battle of the Lonely Tree. In an upset, the 5700-strong Kamaju force defeated the Southerners. Unfortunately, Teranaida was critically injured in the battle. His sister, Havatika, took over command, and brought the army into Mechaki. Teranaida was taken back to his home near Lake Ureki.

The zaika of Mechaki was sympathetic to the Kamaju cause. King Jugewa had opposed the Unification as strongly as any at the banquet. Havatika decided to continue the rebellion with Mechaki's aid.

Forming Alliances
Meanwhile, the zaika of Aradashe made mad rushes for alliances.

In the far-west, the cities of the forests of Adazhe and Erizeshu formed one such bloc. Uyamara, Aikinoro and Waicheza negotiated to defend the Muyazi Peninsula. The zaika of northern Mehame: Isenara, Mechaki, Kuragaiya, and Zinaishu, rallied behind General Havatika. Maichedu and Hyanadake attempted to ally with stronger Umage, but King Yujitega of Umage could not make a decision about the unification.

The unification question brought numerous old allies back together in the region of the former Taja Kingdom (Tajahai). Ruke, Gaichube, Etsumaiya, Sepati, Jedonasa formed one bloc; Une, Hitseke, and Zhekudai formed another.

Almost all of the Suyaga Sea zaika saw the economic advantages of the Unification. Only Heva wanted to hold out. Zhithora was strongly against any talk of unifying. With such a powerful "big brother", Heva felt confident in resisting Majishi. The zaika of Veki also sought Zhithora's protection.

The next step in Nagatene's campaign was to sow the seeds of disunity in the alliances and fence-sitters. He sent one agent to Kidasa, which had agreed to the 1400 unification announcement, and to Hitseke, which had also agreed. Hitseke was particularly key, as its conversion could break up an important Tajahai alliance.

The efforts in Kidasa had an immediate effect. Although King Kaichume did not agree outright with the unification, he promised to remain neutral and join the Majishi Tani if his neighbors did likewise.

The case of Hitseke was more challenging. Although King Veshava could see the advantages of unification, he was surrounded by zaika strongly opposed to the Majishi Tani. He knew that joining Nagatene's cause would cause conflicts with his neighbors. Nagatene's envoys and agents continued to work on him.

In 1455, Nagatene met with the Hatimaka, saying he felt the time was right to declare a new dynasty. The Hatimaka agreed. A month later, before an assembly of kings, advisors and representatives from the united zaika, he declared the beginning of the Majishi Tani.