History of the Zoraï, Keepers of the Wild

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2194

The Zoraï meet the Karavan who spread the word of Jena, the mythology of the Dragon and the Prophecy. Contacts are rare with the Karavan who struggle to find the Zoraï in the impenetrable jungle.

The Zoraï are particularly discrete and live in tribes relatively close to each other in the depths of the jungle. They share their territory with the Gibbaï, in a surprising harmony.

The Kamis observe the Zoraï, quickly realizing that they are the most promising of the homins, but hesitate to contact them fearing to frighten them definitively.

2199

The Zoraï begin to gather around a common philosophy suffused with nature veneration and mysticism. The Zoraï associate Jena with the creation of the world they already call Sphere.

They settled in numbers south of the Ti-ain river in an area of difficult access that they call Zoran.

Zoraï watchers observe Matis mektoub-riders slaughtering the Momos. Horrified, the Zoraï begin to think of a way to preserve their borders. Some people put forth the idea of a large wall, but given the extent of the task, the project is dropped.

2201

A gigantic wildfire breaks out to the north-west. The smoke is visible from the northern edge of the jungle. Many Kamis take refuge in the jungle to regenerate after their fight against the fire. The contact becomes inevitable and the encounters multiply.

A tribal chief named Cho understands the desire of the Kamis to come closer to the homins for fighting threats to nature: the one recently observed in the Northwest Territories, but also a mysterious disease that has recently appeared and that affects fauna and flora indiscriminately. A very strong bond is created between Kamis and Zoraï, which leads to the foundation of the first cult dedicated to the Kamis, incarnations of the pure energy that created the Sphere. The first temples are built in the name of the Kamis, the largest being located in the City-Temple of Zoran. The Kamis create the mask of kinship for the Zoraï, as symbol of this link.

Cho becomes the first Zoraï dynast.

2202

First contact with the Trykers on the west border of the jungle. The Zoraï first take them for children and show patience towards the merry newcomers. However, timid trade exchanges are thereafter undertaken between the two peoples.

2207

After several unsuccessful attempts to divert the Zoraï from the Kamis, the Karavan impart them the secret of magnetism and electrostatism in order to bring them back into the light of Jena. Although they still assimilate Jena to the Supreme Kami, the Zoraï begin to argue over opposing visions of their beliefs, especially about the cult of Jena.

2210

Infuriated by the adamant refusal of the Zoraïs to break up with the Kamis, the Karavan set up a punitive expedition against a village. The Kamis step in to discourage the Karavan and the two parties end up keeping their distance after a brief conflict. Following this violent episode, the Zoraï overwhelmingly choose the side of the Kamis. The cult of the Kamis develops more in the form of multiple religious orders but many grey areas remain and the name Jena is still widely used.

The Kamis begin to teach magic to the Zoraï, who are particularly attentive and become very able in this new exercise which perfectly fits their beliefs.

2218

The exchanges have multiplied and villages have been founded to the north beyond the Ti-Ain river. The Zoraï are increasingly witnessing things that they dislike or hearing news that gradually lead them to withdrawal (especially the Fyros and Matis wishes of conquest). The elders begin to talk about the wall that has become possible and construction starts.

2227

Death of Cho. Mon becomes the new dynast and takes the name of Cho to perpetuate kinship.

The Karavan take the opportunity to reaffirm the worship of Jena, and teach writing to Mon-Cho in exchange for his support. This one, seduced, accepts but is quickly brought back on the path of the Kamis by the Sages who adapt writing so that it becomes the reflection of the zoraï and kamist philosophy.

The Great Library of Zoran is founded.

In response, the Kamis begin to teach magic to the Matis and the Trykers.

2228

The end of the construction of the Great Wall coincides with the growing interest in the magic of the Matis, who meet the Zoraï for the first time on this occasion.

Merchant trading posts are set up outside the Wall to allow commercial and cultural exchanges between Matis, Trykers and Zoraï to continue, while maintaining peace and harmony within.

2246

Trade becomes flourishing and is now organized around the dappers invented by the Trykers.

2287

Rumors of conflict between the Fyros (whom the Zoraï have yet never encountered) and the Matis about water supply are spread to Zoran by the merchants. The Zoraï do not pay attention to them for the moment.

2289

The War of the Aqueduct breaks out between the Fyros-Trykers alliance on the one hand and the Matis on the other. The Zoraï try to stay aloof and start construction work to improve their defenses by adding watchtowers along their Great Wall.

2326

Lin-cho becomes dynast.

2328

The Fyros make a foray into the jungle in search of a way to bypass the southern Matis front. They attack the Matis trading posts along the Great Wall. The Zoraï, fearing an attack against them, counterattack. The Fyros are mistaken, thinking that the Zoraï are allies of the Matis, and then turn their gaze towards the south. Thanks to their firearms, they quickly manage to breach the Great Wall and rush into the jungle in the direction of Zoran that they besiege. The surrounding terrain is particularly craggy and labyrinthine, and the accesses to the city are protected by well defended ramparts. The siege lasts a few days, mainly using artillery which pounds over the Zoraï defenses, setting fire to the hit buildings. Fortunately the Fyros finally get tired and decide to give up and set out again to the north where lies their primary target.

The Great Library, which is already a century old, is utterly destroyed at the end of the siege. Thousands of volumes dealing mostly with the kamic worship but also other various subjects are lost forever.

Work is underway to strengthen the Great Wall. A new library is to be founded in Tai-Toon farther south, but the Sages wish to find another way to preserve knowledge and they organize a contest for this purpose.

Hari Daïsha, a young Zoraï from Din-Tin, wins the contest by inventing the cube of amber.

2329

The Great Wall is reinforced and henceforth closes all the borders of the jungle. The Zoraïs complete the construction of the Great Temple of Zoran which combines the knowledge taught by the Karavan and the Kamis. But the Temple is dedicated only to the Kamis who are more than ever an integral part of Zoraï society. The Karavan ask the Zoraï to modify the plans to celebrate the glory of Jena, but the Zoraï do not understand. For them Jena is the Supreme Kami, creator of the Sphere of the world.

2364

Foundation of the Company of the Eternal Tree by Maï-Loo-Kai.

2380

The Fyros take Karavia. A period of calm ensues and trade resumes. The first exchanges between Fyros and Zoraïs are timid. The Fyros, having learned their mistake of the past, redoubled in diplomacy.

2422

Min-Cho becomes dynast.

2433

Birth of Fung-Tun.

2435

The Fire of Coriolis spreads its fury and plumes of smoke far to the northwest. The Water Route is cut and Aniro III takes advantage of it to invade Trykoth and take over Karavia. All commercial exchanges cease and the Zoraï who anticipated the events barricaded themselves behind their Great Wall. They now refuse to open their doors to anyone even to the Trykers who desperately seek asylum, fleeing the Matis.

2436

Treaty of Karavia. Trade is gradually resuming.

2447

Birth of Hoï-Cho.

2481

Trykers rush in terror at the gates of the jungle begging for assistance and asylum. Monsters are on their heels. The Zoraï understand nothing of that and as a precaution keep their doors closed. This will also be the cause their own doom in the wake of the Great Swarming of kitins.

2483

Resurfacing from the Prime Roots shelters after the Karavan have assured that kitins are no longer a threat.

Occupation of the Jungle and exploration of the Witherings.

The great Sage Fung-Tun tells Hoï-Cho, the Zoraï chief, the path to a land of strong magnetism where the capital Zora is erected in memory of all those who died in Zoran, the devastated capital of the Old Lands. Zora, without those walls that cruelly stood in the way of the Zoraï when they tried to escape the kitins' mandibles in Zoran, is built in the hollows of the Bark, thus allowing a better defense in case of a kitin attack.

The Karavan seal the entrances to the Prime Roots and prohibit their opening. Taking advantage of the tumult, they try to impose their teachings.

Renewal of the sacred communion with the Kamis. Hoï-Cho institutes a week of fasting in memory of those who died in the Old Lands and, too, in commemoration of the years spent in the Prime Roots which deprived them of the enlightenment of the Kamis. Since then, the Remembrance Week, during which the Zoraï fast between sunrise and sunset, opens six days before each winter solstice.

Reforming of the Company of the Eternal Tree, an ancient pro-Kami tribe.

Reconstitution of the former multiracial guild of the Atrium Keepers.

Hoï-Cho’s encounter with Ma-Duk, the Lord of the Kamis.

2484

Exploring of the Cities of Intuition's area, which is cleaned up of the Goo and made relatively safe.

Refusal of Hoï-Cho to suscribe to the teachings of the Karavan.

Intervention of the Kamis when the Karavan try to punish the Zoraï for fighting against the Goo instead of collecting raw materials for them.

Reconstitution by Hoï-Cho of the Guild of Cho, an ancient pro-Kami guild, to spread the word of the Kamis.

Reforming of the tribe of the Icon Worshippers.

2485

Altars of the Karavan are banished from Zoraï cities.

At the request of the Kamis, the Zoraï tribe of the Sacred Sap settles in the Fleeting Garden to watch over the Kami circle.

2487

Arrival of the first refugees from the road of the Exodus from the Old Lands.

Establishment of a reception structure to promote the integration of the Zoraï into the new society.

Act on Integration allowing the homins to join their respective civilizations.

Creation of a Safe Zone: establishment of Qaï-Lo, Men-Xing, Sheng-Wo, Koï-Zun and Yin-Piang settlements to welcome and train Zoraï refugees.

Foundation of the village of Jen-Laï in praise of Jena.

2488

Reduction of the flow of refugees on the road of Exodus.

Foundation of the villages of Hoï-Cho and Min-Cho, named after spiritual leaders of before and after the Great Swarming.

2489

Arrival of the legendary fighter Leng Cheng-Ho, coming from the Old Lands with new methods of combat. He had shared the Exodus road with great fighters from other nations known together as the guild Force of Fraternity.

2490

Establishment of the first outposts.

Detection of a kitin presence in Aeden Aqueous, then in Maiden Grove.

Signing of the Pact of Mutual Assistance (PMA) by Hoï-Cho, Yasson, Leanon and Mac'Darrell in order to fight together against the kitins.

Establishment of Zoraï contingents on each continent.

Campaign (until 2492) of the guild Force of Fraternity, composed of homins of all races, in order to eradicate the New Lands from any hostile kitin presence.

2491

Delimitation and opening of new trade routes in foreign lands.

Formation of the Guild of Transporters.

2492

Return to the country of the members of Force of Fraternity after two years of campaign against the kitins.

Beginning of the exploration the Prime Roots.

2493

First signs of higher Gibbaïs in the Void region.

Leng Cheng-Ho is killed by kitins during his attempt to rescue the young matis prince Yrkanis in the Savage Dunes region.

2495

Hoï-Cho officially rejects the theory that sees Jena the Supreme Kami. He begins to write the story of his meeting with Ma-Duk, the true Lord of the Kamis. The multiracial Guild of Elias is gaining popularity in homin territories. Reappearance of the kitins that are kept in check thanks to the new methods inherited from Force of Fraternity.

2496

The Guild of Elias, depicted as a sect opposed to the Church of Jena, is banished by the Karavan. Bandits and mercenary tribes stir up rivalries for their own benefit. Widespread feeling of insecurity in border areas. Discontentment of the Matis about what they consider an occupation of the Fleeting Garden by the Zoraï. Zoraï-Matis summit. Hoï-Cho signs a commercial treaty with the Matis king.

2497

Fyros-Trykers Trade Agreement.

2498 Revocation by the Matis of the Edict of the Four Peoples (signed in the Prime Roots in 2481). Establishment of tolls on commercial routes under Matis authority. The Fyros use the Zoraï routes to avoid having to pay the passage through the Matis territory. Agitations against the encampments of Fyros merchants installed along the trade routes of the Whiterings. Hoï-Cho, accompanied by Mabreka, son of Leng Cheng-Ho, leaves for Pyr to negotiate a better control of the Fyros presence in the Whiterings. Signing by Hoï-Cho and Leanon of a Pact of Alliance on behalf of the Kamis.

2499

Autumn War between the Trykers and the Matis in the Lagoons of Loria. Dexton leads a Fyros contingent through Zoraï territory with the intention of strengthening the Tryker front. Mabreka warned him of the danger of war.

2500

Capture of Dexton by a Matis tribe.

2501

The young Mabreka Cheng-Ho offers his help in honour of his father who sacrificed his life for Prince Matis Yrkanis in 2493. Mabreka orchestrates the liberation of Dexton. Signature of a Treaty of Peace at the Watergate Border Post, in the Lagoons of Loria, by Hoï-Cho, Yasson, Leanon and Mac'Darrell, relating to the Lagoons of Loria, which become a free zone.

2503 Establishment of a camp of the tribe of Master of the Goo in the region of the Void.

2504

Disorder following the death of Hoï-Cho who has no heir. End of the Cho dynasty.

The old Sage Fung-Tun becomes the leader of the Zoraïs despite the growing popularity of the young Mabreka Cheng-Ho who refuses to see the dominion of the Kamis as Jena's instrument. Fung-Tun reinstates Jena as Supreme Kami and banishes Mabreka who seeks refuge in Pyr. First installation of the tribe of the Hamazans of the Dead Seed in the Whiterings to fight the worshippers of the Goo. Slavery is allowed in the Witherings in order to fight the Goo.

2505

A surtax is imposed on Fyros goods routed through the Verdant Heights.

The Fyros pass through the Zoraï lands to carry on their trade with the Trykers. A wildfire caused by Fyros travelers in the Zorai territory leads Fung-Tun to order the closing of trade routes. Installation of a camp of the tribe of Shadow Runners in the Whiterings. Fung-Tun is infected by the Goo.

2506

Fung-Tun goes mad. Skirmishes between the Fyros and the Zoraï at the border. Mabreka fights in the ranks of Dexton to repel the Matis attacks in the Sawdust Mines. Mabreka returns from Pyr with a proposal for a peace treaty. He is acclaimed. Fung-Tun dethroned, Mabreka is elected spiritual leader by the Council of the Sages. Mabreka takes the name of Mabreka-Cho to reconnect with the spirit of the Cho dynasty. The Fyros and the Zoraï sign a pact of alliance in case of Matis attack.

2507 Activation of the pro-Karavan tribe of the Black Circle.

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