Knights of Tezoth

The Age of Fire and Metal

The times when the south was ruled not by the mighty kingdom whose subjects we are today, but by a group of independent city-states. With a powerful neighbor in the form of the Tysian Empire, sooner or later they would have fallen, one by one, becoming part of that giant. However, as we all know, fate had other plans, and the unification of the southern lands was undertaken by a humble blacksmith, now known to us all as Eidos the Iron.

Among historians, heated debates about the events of those days continue to this day. A number of skeptics believe that the mission entrusted to Eidos by Kanamia was nothing more than a fabrication and an attempt to justify conquest campaigns with noble intentions. They claim the story of the foreign woman from overseas doesn't add up, and the Tysian Empire would have found it much easier to unite the continent under its rule. In my opinion, the events of the Age of Darkness not only perfectly illustrate why Kanamia did not turn to the empire for help but also serve as a good argument in favor of her prophecy.

While the personality of the first queen is largely shrouded in mystery, we know quite a bit about the founder himself, and he can best be characterized by a popular saying in Forum: "Perfection requires dedication." It was probably this commitment to his chosen cause that once drew Kanamia's gaze to Eidos. After all, what else could drive a man to unlock the secrets of steel, if not the desire to surpass his former self? Eidos could be called Steely no less than Iron. But, I suppose, the latter nickname became more widespread due to its better euphony.

To unite the south, the future king used both his personal qualities, which made people rally under his banner, and this very discovery. As the people like to say, "Strike while the iron is hot." Only Eidos forged not iron, but steel. There is an opinion, not without foundation, that it was the unparalleled weaponry of the unifier's armies that gave his troops the advantage needed to overcome the brave warriors of Grimm. It is no coincidence that steel gave its name to this era.

Through the efforts of Eidos, during this period the future Tezoth incorporated the aforementioned Grimm and Forum, as well as Flowers, Lunia, Bright, Albus, and Duskwing. Also built in this era were Lorelei — at that time an outpost for the conquest of Lunia, which in modern times became the capital of one of the regions and the center of the kingdom's military industry — and Kanamia, the capital of the new, then still Kanamian, state.

The foundation of the new power was laid by the ideals of its founder, which over time became part of its national mentality, the key points of which were a combination of humanism and responsibility. According to these ideals, it was assumed that the state and its citizens would live in a harmonious symbiosis.

The Age of Magic

Where Eidos laid the foundation of Tezoth, uniting neighbors by sword and word, Silvia the Benevolent consolidated her grandfather's successes by taking up the development of these lands and strengthening the state economy. If the discovery of steel revolutionized the former approach to warfare, then the magical theory of the first Deus not only affected all aspects of everyday life but also changed the approach to philosophy. Overnight, it turned out that the phrase "With the right outlook on things, a person can move mountains" carries far more truth than one might have previously thought. A number of theorists have even suggested that the magic of the Sith also stems from their particular outlook on things. Fortunately for Tezoth, no confirmation of the latter thesis was found.

Perhaps, of all the rulers of Tezoth, I find her the most inspiring. Even an ordinary person sometimes finds it difficult to love this world, with all its hardships and possible deprivations, yet on Silvia's fragile shoulders was placed not only the heavy burden of governing the state but also the continuation of Eidos's mission. And all this against the backdrop of inevitable comparisons with the great predecessor. But Silvia did not break, did not become embittered, and did not despair. If this says anything, it is about an unyielding core within. She not only lived up to the expectations placed upon her but surpassed them.

Inspired by her example, some political scientists even considered the idea of a magocracy, where positions of power could only be held by adherents of the principles established by Silvia. An interesting thought, albeit somewhat naive.

The most momentous event of this era is the war with Tysia, which finally encroached upon the southern lands. Specifically, upon Cortina, which bordered the empire and whose ally Kanamia became. The true motives of Silvia have long been lost in the centuries, but in my opinion, the future Deus was driven by an understanding of the threat emanating from such a large neighbor. A giant greedy for territory would not have stopped at Cortina alone, and therefore the moment of confrontation with it was only a matter of time. However, in the current situation, Kanamia had an ally. Had Silvia hesitated then, had she decided not to intervene in the conflict, the war would have been much more difficult. It cannot be ruled out that the history of the kingdom might have ended there.

It is generally accepted that the result of the war, which lasted nearly a quarter of a century, was a draw. Technically, it was a draw, but Kanamia gained far more from this conflict than the Tysian Empire. It not only incorporated Cortina, which had suffered in the conflict, but also established itself as a force to be reckoned with. To some extent, it can be said that it was the aggressive policy of Tysia in those times that became the catalyst that transformed Kanamia into Tezoth and made Silvia its first Deus.

Also founded in this era were Kabocha — now the most important supplier of food in all of Tezoth — and Snegolits, which has now become the heart of Sordgard. It is hard to deny Silvia's foresight in this decision — through the ages, Snegolits has served as a faithful shield of the kingdom, protecting it from an enemy far more dangerous than the powerful Aphaseria and Tysia of that time.

The Age of Luxury

Silvia the Benevolent went down in history as a wise, benevolent, far-sighted, and administratively gifted ruler who gave Tezoth a golden age of peace and abundance. Thanks to these talents, the kingdom continued to prosper even after her natural death — when power passed to the next Deus.

For some, Ceres is an example of an ideal ruler who did not interfere in the lives of his subjects and did not try to fix what wasn't broken. In all his spirit and essence, the Mysterious One embodied the freedom of the wind and resembled not a monarch vested with power, but an epic hero and adventurer. This is what immortalized his image in the hearts of romantic youth, some of whom try to emulate the second Deus to this day.

But there is another view, especially among older generations, alien to such romanticism. If his predecessors laid a solid foundation for the future, even at the cost of difficult decisions, the contribution of the new ruler against this background seemed modest and was limited, for the most part, to the founding of Dentsets and the supposed prevention of war with Tysia. He showed no attempts to continue the unification of Tezoth, in accordance with the Kanamian mission.

One of the hottest debates on this topic is related to Ceres's adventures in Aphaseria. The argument goes that a responsible ruler would have agreed to marry the king's daughter, bringing the two states closer and potentially uniting them under one banner. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with this position for several reasons. First, there was no guarantee that a joint child would inherit both thrones, due to the different institutions of succession in Tezoth and Aphaseria. It would not have been without intrigue, but that same intrigue could have led to the risk of a bloody civil war. Second, such an ally, confident in its strength, could have dragged Tezoth into a long and exhausting conflict with Tysia, weakening all three states before the tragedy of the year 150, which is known to us all. Would humanity have stood firm then, in the face of the great threat?

At the same time, I do not think Ceres was guided by pragmatism when he refused the marriage, although his true motives are hidden in the annals of history. I would suggest his love of freedom as the true reason, especially if the rumors about the Mysterious One's exploits in Tysia contain a grain of truth. The presence of bastards in the lands of an ambitious neighbor is a considerable threat to the stability of the state.

Had Ceres the Mysterious come to power in less peaceful times, he would undoubtedly have shown himself from a different side. The second Deus's ability to quickly master new skills leaves no doubt that with due diligence he would have succeeded in matters of governing the country. It was not for nothing that he was chosen as the heir. Alas, the reign of the second Deus fell upon a period of deceptive calm.

The Age of Darkness

Perhaps one of the most controversial rulers in the entire history of Tezoth, Satanid the Malevolent remains to this day the most discussed of all the kingdom's rulers. Some adherents of the third Deus justify his actions as foresight. In their opinion, Satanid did not forget the promise made by Eidos and knew more about the coming threat than has been preserved in historical sources. Some of them even suggest that he inherited a portion of Kanamia's prophetic gift. While I can still accept the first option as possible, I cannot agree with the second. If the third Deus had known the future in advance, it seems to me that he would have acted somewhat differently.

It is difficult to deny his talents and contribution to the defense of Tezoth. Satanid was a talented administrator and master of logistics, the likes of which the kingdom had never seen before or since. Under his rule, Tezoth functioned as a single entity. The selflessness of the third Deus cannot be doubted either — his intentions were good. Unfortunately, the price for this was the controversial actions and philosophical views of the new ruler, which not everyone could agree with and which contrasted too sharply with the familiar way of life of past eras.

If the ideals of Eidos stated that mercy should be shown to the weak, then in Satanid's eyes, they were to be treated with the same strictness as the strong, and failure to meet the new ideals was punishable by exile to Phaedgia. The same applied to people who were deemed "hopeless," such as the elderly and the terminally ill. Overnight, it turned out that a person had to live solely for Tezoth — otherwise, there was no place for them here. Even if you were a patriot to the core, who had shed sweat and tears for the kingdom's well-being, if you became "useless" and there was no one to take care of you — there was only one path for you. There was a sad truth of life in this — our world is ruled by strength, no matter how you look at it, and the weak can only rely on the mercy of others.

The situation was aggravated by harsher morals, grueling training, and restrictive measures regarding the people's usual entertainments, while the numerous spies of the third Deus also struck at people's trust in each other. The people feared their new ruler and were in despair — such was the price of new strength. Satanid gave the people of Tezoth a future, but took away their hope. It is generally accepted that the events of the year 150 only worsened the situation, instilling despair in the hearts of many citizens of the kingdom. A number of theologians believe that it was then that the cult of Iphilla first arose in the lands of Tezoth.

It is difficult to say how history would have turned out had the Crater of Regret not appeared precisely during this period. Had a war with Tysia occurred instead, would the embittered people and lords desiring independence have risen against their Deus? Would this have been the end of Tezoth? I suppose we will never get an answer to this question.

In our days, Satanid's beliefs resonate in the hearts of many people, especially those who face the spawn of Iphilla day after day, while the inhabitants of the central regions enjoy a worldly existence bought with the blood and sweat of others. They dream of times when Tezoth's resources were used to fight the true threat, and not in attempts to multiply one's own wealth. And modern man is too weak and soft for them — if the year 150 repeats itself, he will not be ready for such a threat.

As someone who also engages in guarding the peace of the kingdom, I can understand them. At the same time, I cannot agree with all aspects of the third Deus's policy. In some places, a difference in philosophy plays a role, but even apart from that, some of the measures he took do not seem effective to me. In particular, Satanid's restrictive policies primarily hit the economy and led to the development of a gray sector that found workarounds. In my opinion, there is a more effective, albeit more costly, measure for maintaining the health of citizens in the form of mandatory annual medical check-ups. Harmful habits are not limited to tobacco, alcohol, and sweets alone — a person can ruin their health with a diet abundant in meat, or, conversely, by refusing it. Therefore, a more comprehensive and thorough approach seems to me the best option.

But the biggest mistake of Satanid the Malevolent, in my opinion, was his lack of a strong successor who could maintain power over the kingdom in his own hands. Too much was tied to the personality of the third Deus, and therefore many of his achievements turned out to be short-lived, while the bad memory became entrenched in the popular consciousness of that time.

The Age of Blue Blood

A period of fragmentation that replaced the authoritarian era of Satanid the Malevolent, during which many modern regions were born. Had it not been for the events of these years, I would not be sitting here now writing this essay.

The well-oiled state machine, with developed logistics and efficient resource distribution, was replaced by complex diplomatic games, where the well-being of the inhabitants of a particular region was determined not only by the character and policies of their sovereign but also by his relations with his neighbors. Some regions became impoverished against this background, deprived of the support so critical to their economy, while others flourished and thereby raised the standard of living of their citizens. It is for this reason that if you ask a person for their opinion on this era, it will largely depend on their native region.

Against the backdrop of power struggles and loud celebrations meant to drown them out, the memory of the Great Tragedy was also lost. Even realizing the danger that was still brewing on the border, people tired of the struggle wanted to forget it like a bad dream, to return as quickly as possible to their familiar way of life. This was a broken Tezoth and a purposeless Tezoth. A Tezoth that had forgotten its roots.

Velmechtra the Brilliant, the fourth Deus of the kingdom, like Ceres the Mysterious, was more of a symbol than a ruler, but there the similarity ended. Where the second Deus was a free bird, with a prosperous and self-sufficient Tezoth, the fourth Deus was akin to a bird in a gilded cage, lacking even a fraction of the same strength and power.

The Age of Discovery

Being a man full of contradictions, Renavan the Pious was simultaneously engaged in the search for both immortality and himself. A thinker by nature, he could not find a philosophy to his liking. The example of his predecessors? That would mean following a path laid out for you by others. Mysterious and mystical deities? Distant entities whose worldview is alien to mere mortals. Fabrications that are understandable and familiar. And in his attempts to understand himself, the fifth Deus took up the pen, producing many works that have now become classics. To some extent, it can be said that by doing so he achieved immortality in human memory.

But true immortality inevitably slipped from his grasp, or came at too great a cost. But would it have made this learned man happy? As long as there are no other immortals nearby, this path is a path of loneliness. With each era, the world you know will die off piece by piece, until the once native culture becomes completely alien to you. It would undoubtedly suit some — those same people who are wholly devoted to their chosen craft or the knowledge of the universe. Or someone who has decided to take on the role of protector of their native lands, sacrificing ordinary worldly life.

But immortality does not mean invulnerability. An immortal could end up with their head on the shelf of a mad hunter or their body exhausted and buried under a thick layer of sand. And a timeless protector will not necessarily succeed in their mission. If their kingdom burns in dragon fire and their countrymen perish by the swords of invaders, they will be left with only an unfulfillable duty to their lost homeland. That would not be an invincible protector at all, but a guardian of dust and ashes — a legacy of a bygone era that has no place in the new world.

Thus Renavan, having achieved his goal, would have had every chance of outliving Tezoth. But did he really want that? Wouldn't such an existence have become tiresome after a century or two? And wasn't this an attempt to fill the void in his soul that so oppressed his thoughts? So many questions that the fifth Deus himself must have pondered. It is not impossible that these heavy thoughts prompted the ruler to his final decision.

Undoubtedly, the search for a truth close to his heart also prompted Renavan the Pious to found the city-region of Oshi, designed to preserve and study the diverse faiths and beliefs that fill Tezoth.

The most momentous event of this era is rightfully considered the appearance on the surface of guests from the mysterious sky city, whose true motives still trouble the minds of some thinkers, and these concerns are easy to understand. Why did they arrive and reveal the truth about the crater only seventy-five years after its formation? Why did they decide to help only now? Why do they ask for nothing in return? The Akonians, with each of their appearances, position their gifts and new knowledge as the "mercy of Akonia," but what state, even a flying one, would want to share such dangerous technologies without getting anything in return? Some believe that with such gifts they are trying to convert the inhabitants of the surface to their faith. But these visits are far too rare to have any effect. Others suggest that for the Akonians, the inhabitants of the surface are nothing more than objects of study. But the truth is hidden somewhere in the bright rays of the sun, which are currently impenetrable to us.

The Age of Ambition

They say that stars shine brightest just before they go out. Koimaji the Majestic can rightfully be considered the brightest star in the Tezothian sky. His reign was brief — only nine years. But in that time, the sixth Deus managed to achieve what another ruler could not in a lifetime, but he had no intention of stopping.

During this period, two island regions were incorporated into Tezoth — the Archipelago of Raging Waves, which became a springboard for the new Deus's expansion, and Phaedgia. It was then that my sovereign set out on his long-term expedition, and in Oshi, a cult of followers of Kanamia was born, whose forces make an invaluable contribution to the fight against the spawn of Iphilla to this day.

The tragic death of Koimaji the Majestic and the rapid return of the situation to the status quo became an event that drove many people into despair. Together with the Deus, the crater swallowed up a series of his triumphant victories and many long-awaited reforms, and the preceding nine years turned for many into a fantastic and sweet dream, now so far from reality. But in the hearts of some people, even despite this, the sixth Deus instilled hope. By his shining example, he showed the inhabitants of the kingdom what a united Tezoth is capable of. And this example inspires people even to this day, and his sad fate only adds humanity to his ideal image.

I want to believe that someday the inhabitants of the kingdom will cast aside regional strife and once again stand shoulder to shoulder against the true enemy that dwells in the very heart of the continent.