Astran League

Founded with the Armestice of Pinst in 502 PCA the Astran League is a federation of 5 states with Suhder as the center of political power. While each of these states enjoy relative autonomy this sovereignty has slowly been diminished over the nearly two centuries of the League's existence.

History

The history of the Astran League is closely tied to the history of Suhder as its capital and victor of the Century of War. Suhder profits from a combination of factor unrelated to its divine origins; its geography allows for easy access by water on all sides while its location shelters it from major storms. Throughout the year the weather is fair and the fertile soil allows for many different types of agriculture.

Right after the Crepuscular Annihilation most of Vayan was either in shambles, chaos, or both. One of the very few places that was not, however, was Suhder. Having been the citadel of the Astral Alliance it was right at the very heart of their war effort, and well protected from attack. Even with the gods having left the prime material plane the mortals living within the city would soon realize exactly what had happened and using their relative prosperity soon found themselves at the heart of the most prosperous city on this side of the world. The Council of the Faithful was established to take charge in the first year PCA. The city flourished and became a hub for trade and refugees, which allowed it to expand economically and in number of inhabitants.

Over the next four centuries Suhder would expand its territory and political influence, fight wars and sign alliances, and establish itself as an autonomous city state ruled by its god-fearing clergy. Its geographical location meant it was an important hub for trade between north and south - with access the Lunarest Bay on the North and the Inmer by way of the Furiael river. This put it in a unique position where war with Suhder would mean most enemies would suffer a shortage of whatever supplies would be shipped through the Suhder controlled waterways. With its pacifist doctrine being codified in its Law of the Gods in 328 PCA the Council expected an increase in trading activity through the city state leading to a decrease of size in its active military.

The Century of War

Having been content to keep to itself and surrounding areas for the first few centuries a number of factors coincided to create the circumstances for what would become the Astran League around the 4th century PCA:

• Economically and culturally Suhder had stagnated for decades, and as a result a growing lower class of people had consistently been poor and mistreated.
• A social hierarchy that had existed since before the Crepuscular Annihilation, and a lower caste that was not only growing in numbers but was also rigidly set to remain as it was. While this social hierarchy had been unofficial before the gods left, it was codified as part of the Law of the Gods some years after the Council had formed.
• Suhder's neighbors had continued to grow and had started to encroach on its borders, with minor conflict and skirmishes already having occurred. The Bazition Kingdom to the east, the Trepun Hegemony to the west, roaming bands of barbarians to the south, and the Mohnian Coalition to the north were exerting military, economic, and political pressure on the once mighty city state. Its pacifist doctrine did not allow for retaliation.

On the 26th of Pelir, 402PCA a coup was successfully lead against the Council by the Ptarian General Hrak. Acting under what he called the blessing of Bahamut Hrak marched into the Council Palace, arrested the Council on grounds of treason against the gods by allowing enemies of Suhder to claim its sovereign territory. Hrak then replaced the Council with new members, handpicked by him while adhering to the criteria of the Council's traditions. This council appointed him with a single directive; to protect Sudherian sovereignty by whatever measures he thought necessary.

While the existing standing army of Suhder was small, Hrak was in many ways the perfect one to lead the charge. Besides being a skilled fighter and master tactician, his charismatic demeanor and decades long call to end the oppression of the classless had made him very popular amongst many people. With a promise to put and end not only to the enemies of Suhder, but also the Castes Hrak gathered himself an unusual army consisting not only of the traditional Ptarian caste, but also commoners, serfs, and classless. This breaking of tradition was seen by many of the upper castes - including a number of high ranking Ptarians - as treason to the gods themselves, but by many of the lower castes as fulfilling the promise of ending the castes once and for all.
To understand why this decision was so controversial, it is important to know that under the Castes only those of the Ptarian caste were allowed to serve the military as fully recognized soldiers with all the benefits that came with it: a large salary, formal training in fighting, magic, tactics, history, and more, and a piece of land after twenty years of service. Being of lower caste while serving the military often meant being uneducated, unpaid, and not allowed take any form of command, let alone being granted land ownership. The lower caste did fight, and would be instructed in the use of their weapon and maintenance of their gear, but was never instructed in use of tactics beyond following of instructions and would serve as the first wave sent into battle or padding of the ranks. These lower caste fighters would be called Loadbearers, rather than Ptarian or Soldier, as they would carry the equipment of the army while it was on the move.

The Furiael Clash in 409 PCA was Hrak's first major victory in the war, and for many this marked the actual start of the war. Suffering minor casualties he secured the strategic position of the Furiael peninsula from the armies of Bazit. This victory was followed by a number of skirmishes and larger scale battles and by 429 PCA Hraks armies had secured the land stretching from Sun Throne Peak to the northern Sheercliff Plateau. By now, however, many of those who followed him on the promise of losing the shackles of the castes had become restless. Yes, they had been paid during their service but they had not been given what they were promised, and Hrak agreed. On midwinter of 429 PCA he marched into Suhder, where he not only demanded the Council to formally and publicly denounce the Castes, but also ratify this change by including social equality for all into the Law of the Gods.

The Council of the Faithful disagreed and rejected his demand. Hrak ordered them arrested, brought to the Daybreak Plaza, and summarily executed under thundering applause of his troops. Here he delivered the now historic speech known now as the Archon's Eulogy where he called onto the gods, and specifically Bahamut, to deliver a worthy leader that would deliver Suhder and its people into a new age of prosperity and equality. While some doubt the divine legitimacy, the high priests of Pelor, Selune, Lathendar, Oghma, Mystra, and Bahamut elevated Hrak to the position of Archon only a few days later on the 4th of Selir.

Archon Hrak made a number of sweeping changes:

• A new set of laws was drafted to replace the old Law of the Gods, including the abolishment of Castes.
• A set of ministers was appointed, representing the guilds, temples, military, and more.
• The Ptarian order was founded, an order dedicated to protection of Suhder and its territories separate from its military, modeled after the Ptarian Order of ancient dragons founded in the first era.
• Wealth was seized from formed Celestials, Radiants, and Ptarians and redistributed more equally among the rest of the people

This made Hrak only more popular amongst his already large following, but also created many more enemies and much social unrest. In the following years, several unsuccessful coup and assassination attempts were made. During this time, Hrak continued his campaign around the Inmer.

Castes

Celestials (Councilors) Radiant (Clergy) Ptarian (Military) Commoners (Merchants, etc) Serfs (Slaves, workers) Classless

Summary

Established a mere 43 years after the Crepuscular Annihilation as an agreement between the followers of 8 different deities in Suhder it has since expanded to encompass half the continent of Vashora and over three-quarters of the mortals living on it.

Its core tenant is to bring harmony to those who live within its influence. This is brought about by enforcing what is seen as fair and just, where one should not take advantage of another for their own gain.

The League’s foundation rests on the absence of the gods in Vayan, and an effort of those left behind to do good by how they interpret the words of those deities they follow. While the League doesn’t limit who can be worshipped only a small number of deities and their followers are in places of political influence, namely: Pelor, Lathender, Selune, Bahamut, and Arven. Regardless, the followers of Nehzen do enjoy a special place as the guides to the recently departed, and followers of Mystra often fulfil a stronger role as ambassadors to the Spirelink Alliance.

Suhder

The capital of the Astran League and the largest city on the continent, known also as the “throne of the gods” or “Jewel of Varosha”. It is situated on the northern part of the continent where the Inmer Waterway connects to the Lunarest Basin.

Founded long before the Crepuscular Annihilation Suhder is said to have been the home to both Pelor and Selune in the second and third era. With that in mind the city and its denizens are the center of the ever decreasing worship of the gods.