Glossary
Bastet
Country
Est. Population: 2 million, including Southern Bastet Settlements.
History
The history of the Bast people date back beyond the country’s founding in 1700, after the settlement of Hope. Whilst most of humanity fled from what is now Tanor to the lands of Barbaria during the War of Mages, the people of Bast could only reach the forests of Northern Tanor. Fleeing from the Southern Bast Desert, it had taken them too long to flee, and so after Anahita defeated the Nephalim at Fren, they settled in the Forests. The land of Fren was a minefield of twisted land, looped back so it radiated the madness of the Nephalim who had died there. By contrast, Tanor was a new land, full of grand bounties.
The expansion was typical of all the communities formed after the War of Mages, slowly growing into several towns within the Forest. The people took to mining the hard bedrock, and learnt to form it into beautiful structures that still last today. By 1350 YA, around 70,000 people lived within the forest and it’s towns. It was only when the newly formed nation of Tanor, founded by the three families of Durian, Teshire and Rossek after several years of battles for the new lands bounty, took notice of them that trouble began.
The two people were wary of each other from the start, the Bast surprised by the speed with which these white devils had absorbed the new land beyond the forest. Even after a thousand years in Tanor, the people of Bast still retained the dark brown skin of their desert ancestors, and the Tanorians were wary of such strange looking folk. Whilst trade began well, the Tanorians began to pressure the Bast for more wood, more bedrock, and more workers to build the new settlements. The campaign worsened, especially under the rule of Rossek kings, known for their dark influences.
Finally, the people of became angry at their treatment, and rallied behind Corin Ashana, a young Chief who campaigned for the people’s freedom from the oppression brought by Rossek. In 1684 YA, Corin had the support of nearly all his people, and so they traveled from the Forest, south towards Rossek the majority of it’s enslaved people. Around 100,000 people ended up joining him, a figure that equaled Tanor’s entire population at the time. They could have challenged the King himself and brought the country to its knees, yet Corin knew that would only lead to bloodshed. So he led his people on an deadly Exodus through the ravaged lands of Fren, south to their once desert home. Here, he founded the grand city of Hope, a symbol of man’s greatest motivator.
Whilst the sandstorms ravaged above, the people took to mining once more, carving out settlements into the bedrock of the desert. After the creation of Hope in 1700 YA, Corin sent the people out to found more cities, towns and villages. Grand towers of stone marked where they sheltered, as the people moved across this hardy land.
By 1982, several grand cities had been founded beneath the desert, despite the hardships contained within. Hope, the shining glory. Corinth, the capital and Corin’s resting place. Solcoto, Kano and Sagitar to the East, Lere and Nare to the south. It traded with the desert nomads south of Nare, who had survived since the end of the War, and grew to an Atlanten-strong population. Yet the shadow of Tanor still fell on them, and when Apollyon rose in that year, the people of Bast seized the chance to secure their children’s future. Where a nation had fled 300 years past, an army returned to join forces with Durian and Teshire. Rossek’s influence fell as Tanor pushed him into the Ruins of Fren, where the Bastet army decimated his followers and peppered King Julian with arrows. As his body cooled, withered by magic usage, a Grand Alliance was formed between the new King Bukam Tern II and High Chief Epsilon Faber-Castell. The alliance was a bold move between old foes, yet the threat of destruction was useless against Bastet, and the country needed the produce it could trade for the jewels of Kano, the silks of Nare, and the stone that rebuilt Tanor.
Since then, the country has grown further, resisting threats from the South and enjoying the bounties that Tanor has brought them. It is only since Tanor became insular and cut all links with all nations that Bastet has faced the hardships of its founding, yet it has succeeded in trading with Atlantis, and is aiming for links with Mazda. It is also hoped that the marriage of Princess Zana Faber-Castell and Prince Reginald Rossek will re-establish the broken links with Tanor in several years time.
Government
The country is governed by the High Chief, who is advised by the Scalers, representatives of the various cities, towns and villages across Bastet. They tell him of the troubles within the land in the Cavern of Truths, and advise him upon the proper action, although his is the final decision. Interestingly, it is similar to the Tanorian-style government of King and Damners, although the Scalers have more power to influence small events.