Eb-Evehlem

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"Empire of the Reef" redirects here. For the last High-Judge of Old Ngkoradelba, see Evehlem.

Eb-Evehlem (/æbæⱱɛ:ɬæm/; 3175 – 4232), also known as the Empire of the Reef, was a major political and cultural power in southern Tanvoma. Its former name comes from Evehlem VI of Gebel who, as High-Judge of Ngkoradelba, conquered the Gharghaj and founded the Empire that would later bear his name. The Eb-Evehlem generally adopted the architecture, art and religious beliefs of the Delvang, but due to refugee influxes from the north, they also assimilated a lot of Athalassan and Sihanouk influence too.

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History

Origins and Establishment

The origins of the Empire lie with Ngkora, a colony of Nbahlari situated on the delta of the Agora river. Whilst its original purpose was to supply grain to the north, with the Dissolution of Nbahlari during the Miecalism outbreak of 2813-2863, demand disappeared overnight.

Free from Northern influence, the Hlavang settlers gradually began taking on more of the native Del-Del's traditions, as evidenced by their shift in worship and art. It was around this time that construction of the Ziggurat to the All-Mother began, taking almost a century to complete (2941-3130). Another civil work, the Obem Bridge, linked Adelpha and Ngkora physically, but it wasn't until 3121 - with the Marriage of Nadita VI's sons to Adelpha's temple priestesses - that the two cities became one; Ngkoradelba.

Nadita VI ruled peacefully until his death in 3136, but the choice of heir - his fifth wife, Avaishana - started a conflict between his sons and her that would continue until 3152. Defeated in the Battle of Etgebelagora, Avaishana was exiled by Nadita's sons, Atal and Ehleno. Ehleno took control of Gebel and the river, whilst Atal controlled Ngkoradelba and the Magnolia Fleet.

Conquest of Andaa

Main article: Conquest of Andaa

Sacking of Gharghara and Iruki's betrayal

Ehleno's firstborn, Evehlem, seized control of Ngkoradelba in 3164. He reformed the Government, basing it off the Kritarchy that'd been common in Nbahlari before its dissolution, and thus divided the city into 6 districts. A judge was chosen to rule each district, and efforts were made to begin explorations and excavations upriver. Upon finding Tin near his homeland of Gebel, Evehlem led the Magnolia Fleet to seize control of Gharghara's copper mines. Ancestor Klidashas writes of his triumphant return,

"He presented the Gharghaj King atop his mast, beaten and bloody, salt-white with defeat. He then took him to the Temple of Judges, and he strangled him, and he cooked him, but his body was spiced with treachery - for you see, Iruki, Evehlem's trusted cook - had poisoned the meat, and so all those who partook suffered greatly, and a great many died -- Evehlem among them."

Estimates for the number of people killed by the poisoning range between 10-100, but more importantly, it included all Six Judges of Ngkoradelba. Evehlem's nephew, Aliba VI of Gebel, seized control of the newly formed Empire (3175) before another civil war could erupt. By all accounts he was a fair and just ruler, although recent findings could indicate a darker side to his rule. His Sixth Dynasty ruled peacefully until 3350, when unpopular religious reforms sparked a revolution.

The End of the Sixth Dynasty

In Gharghara, as well as in Ngkoradelba, the de facto religion was Larko, a monotheistic Gharghaj religion based on worship of the All-Mother. Among the ruling Hlavang class, however, it was seen as improper, although it wasn't until the rule of Abatuki VI (3332-3352) that it finally became illegal. Coronated after his father Banash VI's (3292-3349) assassination, Abatuki was only 17 when he took the throne. He believed the assassination to be a plot by Gharghaj dissidents, and so ordered the Magnolia Fleet to sail to the island to seize control of Gharghara. Unable to smelt bronze quickly enough to supply the army, Abatuki VI ordered the bronze face of Asor - a sacred Larko monument, and exceedingly popular symbol of Ngkoradelba - to be melted down and used as "Spearheads, fit for running through those Gharghaj dogs". Unfortunately, this move proved so unpopular that Abatuki VI was run through by his own men instead. After the coup, the generals invited Gharghara's ruler - Ragras - to take control of Eb-Evehlem, marking the start of the Second Era of Judges.

Second Era of Judges

Keen to defuse religious tensions, Ragras met with representatives from all faiths, so as to construct a syncretic religion from all of them. During these meetings, now called the Nikmanga Summit, Ragras met and befriended an Eb-Mlida Elehwa called Owoda. Ragras became increasingly close with Owoda, with some even suggesting they might've been engaged in an extramarital affair. Regardless, once Ragras's holy book was complete - a tome than contained Mlida's parables, Hlavang animism, Larko Truths and the Deisaem Preah, among many other books - and was made the state's religion, contemporaries were quick to note Mlida's overrepresentation in the canon. As Ancestor Aradash writes,

"Ragras, have you forgotten your promise, your promise to seek the truth in all religion? Why then, may I ask, have you relegated the Deisaem Preah and Hlavang religion to the latter fraction of your tome? Why then, may I ask, are Mlida's teachings the lions share of this book? Perhaps we should call this religion what it really is; Mlida-Evehlem!"

Ragras distributed the works throughout the Empire, relying upon his own copper mines to cover the financial cost. The first Delvang coins were minted there too, as Ragras had learned of Asoritan knife-money during the Nikmanga Summit.

Era of Happiness

COMING SOON -- TIME TO GET BACK TO A MORE PERSONAL VIEW OF LIFE IN EB-EVEHLEM ;)