Heavenly War of Hangates "And there was war in heaven: the great beasts fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought back."
Two centuries after the formation of the Khas-Kirat Empire, the Khas-Kirati tribes - once bounded to just their homeland Kaski island - had control over a vast territory spreading across the Isles. However, the Khas-Kirat Empire also garnered long-time rivals, in particular, the Holy Empire of Caber.
In the aftermath of the Yakthumba Civil War (1094-1098), Chemjong Hang, the Sixth Mahang of Khas-Kirat Empire, decided to grant larger tribes with their own semi-independent hangates to ease administration. His successor Kulung Hang continued the administrative reforms to keep the Khas-Kirati realm united. However troubles started brewing when Yengdem Hangma was crowned the next Mahang of the Khas-Kirat Empire in 1168.
The Xiangu Hangate of Wellsia had monopoly over trade between the Mesder Sea and the Southern Sea. The Xiangu clans employed Aziri privateers to disrupt trade supply of all other nations, including the other hangates in the Southern Sea. Despite repeated pleas by the rulers of the Kilat Hangate in Samudera, the Kheno-Madu Hangate in Linaviar and the Kachee Sultanate, Yengdem Hangma refused to intervene, knowing that the trade power of the Xiangu clans and use of privateers would benefit the Khas-Kirat Empire overall. Thus, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the history of the Isles began. The Heavenly War of the Hangates, that would involve almost all Isles nations directly or indirectly, and have death casualties of over 2 million began in February 6, 1196.
Working ConceptsAnd the great dragon was cast out, the evil beast that threatened the whole world: the dragon was cast out forever, and his minions were to wander forever these accursed lands.- The War in Xiangu lands - Throughout much of this bloody war, I imagine much of the battles taking place in Xiangu Hangate (Wellsia). This rich hangate positioned between the West (Mesder and other areas) and the East (Southern Sea, Gael, Kajvu regions, etc) was a trade power and it employed pirates - even if that meant destroying ships of others hangates. When other hangates took their complaints to Yengdem Hangma, she refused to do anything and instead said - "Solve it out yourselves" (or something akin to that). The other disgruntled hangates start this war by invading Xiangu lands and the Khas-Kirat Empire's huge army is engaged there. Other nations (Caber, Keomora, etc) are bound to take advantage of the fact and plan their invasions of Kaski island (modern-day mainland Athara Magarat). The Xiangu Hangate changed sides in the middle of the war when their hang was captured and killed and his cousin replaced him. This changed the entire balance of the war for Xiangu Hangate was arguably the most powerful hangate (in terms of military, economy and whatnot); and the Khas-Kirat Empire was forced to seek allies.
- Enter Noronica - On the other hand, a war party of the Khas-Kirat Empire comes in contact with the powerful Noronican Kingdom. The two nations quickly became allies when Queen Magaidh and Emay Hang (brother of Selling Hang, the then Mahang of the Khas-Kirat Empire) were married. The Kingdom of Noronica entered the war as an ally of the Khas-Kirat Empire. Noronican soldiers would take part in campaigns in Kachee and Xiangu lands. However, the Noronicans were to enter too late into the war. Despite being on the side that lost, the demise of the Khas-Kirat Empire meant the gradual rise of Noronica as a great power of the Isles.
- Successor States of the Empire - In the aftermath of the great war that lasted for nearly two centuries, the Khas-Kirat Empire was disintegrated forever. Instead 18 different small hanagtes rose in Kaski island as "direct successors" of the Empire. These hanagtes were always fighting against one another whereas the hangates that had fought against the Khas-Kirat Empire themselves would gradually decline - giving rise to various "indirect successor states" that would still dominate the political situation of the Isles for several more centuries to come - with Linavian Empire and an unstoppable trade giant in the form of Xiangu Hangate (free of paying heavy taxes and trading goods to Khas-Kirat Empire) being the two most prominent examples.
- Really? You fought in the Heavenly War? - Historians still debate over which nations were involved in this long war. While significant battles did take place in nations such as Townside or Negarakita, they were neutral and independent for most of the time. I also need many different kingdoms and states of those times to have been involved in the war directly or indirectly.
- Modern implications - I would really like to know how your nations would see this war today. In modern-day Athara Magarat, it ranges from being horrified of the death casualties to some blaming this war for everything bad that has happened ever since from Khas-Kirati people becoming minorities almost all nations of the Isles to portraying all generals and Mahangs during this 185 years time period as demons who brought nothing but death and destruction. Rarely do they have statues or portraits of Yengdem Hangma and Selling Hang even in Arun Valley - the cultural center of Athara Magarat.
- Refugees with rifles - Okay, not exactly rifles...but the Khas-Kirati tribes, now spread out across the Isles more so than ever due to the instability in Kaski island in the aftermath, would go on to introduce gunpowder, advanced mathematics, astronomy, shipbuilding, etc to places they would call their new homes. This was most prominently visible in Vaenland (modern-day Vancouvia).