A History of the Eiterbian People--an Isaacadian perspective

A History of the Eiterbian People
(An Isaacadian Perspective)
The War and its immediate aftermath:
The causes of the War have long since been lost in the passage of time—its details, and even conclusion—a matter of debate and speculation. Of what is clear: the war involved the whole armies of the original Four (Ritzhovenia [now Ritzistan], Isaacadia, Dustinia, and Raugustia), the Raugustinians capitulated to and allied to whoever happened to have massive amounts of troops nearby, an awful mess was created, Dustinia and Ritzhovenia both claimed victory, and the Eiterbian Empire was formed by its conclusion. Of what is unclear, but held to be true by the Isaacadian people: The Isaacadian citadel never fell, though besieged and assaulted by the armies and siege weapons of the other three tribes. There may have been an alliance between Dustinia and Isaacadia at some point, and possibly between Ritzhovenia and Isaacadia at another, or no alliances whatsoever. Isaacadia called a truce only when defeated by the heavy horses of the Ritzhovenians, and rumors has it not until Sir Wendel sat on Sir Kyle and nearly cessated his breathing. Yet rumor is only rumor.
In the talks that followed, Isaacadia, for love of peace, agreed to acknowledge Wendel as Emperor, in exchange for Wendel acknowledging the Archbishop Kyle as the Patriarch of the Wholly Reformed Eiterbian Orthodox Church and accepting the Wholly Reformed Eiterbian Orthodox faith. Archbishop Andrew of Raugustinia was acknowledged Pope of the Eiterbian Catholic Church, and pledged allegiance to Emperor Wendel. Thus the two theocracies were united together with Ritzhovenia. The Dustinians, however, refused to acknowledge the Emperor’s rule (although according to Ritzhovenian records they at first did, and were therefore traitors—Isaacadian historians make no record either way) and declared themselves to be an independent nation.
Early Period of the Empire:
The early period is marked by war between the Holy Eiterbian Empire and the Dustinian peoples, who called themselves “the Independent Nation.” At this time, the Eiterbian Empire viewed the Dustinians as stubborn, boorish dissenters and traitors, and waged relentless war against them. In one of the greatest battles, Isaacadian forces captured the Dustininian flag of Independence. The Isaacadian People remained fiercely loyal to the Patriarch, who, in their opinion, only co-operated with the Emperor when he deemed it morally acceptable to do so. The Isaacadians also remained loyal to the idea of a united Eiterbian Empire, but not an Empire that had one tribe preeminent over the others, and yet Isaacadia would fiercely defend Ritzhovenia and the Emperor from attack, due to their pledge. However, what would happen during a Ritzhovenian attack on someone else became less certain as time progressed. Moreover, the Isaacadian people, who rankled under the rule of a Ritzhovenian Emperor, soon began to feel pity for this proud and stubborn people, and began to grow very lax on pressuring the Dustinians, finally re-interpreting the Emperor’s commands of attack into friendlier, diplomatic discussions—entirely justifiable, as the same end—unification, was intended. This shift was the hinge to the middle ages.
Early Middle Ages of the Empire:
Isaacadian dissatisfaction grew, as power struggles between the Patriarch and the Emperor grew more and more, until finally breaking out in open civil war when the Patriarch declared the Emperor “temporarily insane and unfit to rule at present” and seized the Imperial crown (for safe keeping), and the Emperor made the same charge on the Patriarch and stole his hat. The war that ensued became famous for its maneuvers (for there was remarkably small losses to either side)—the Isaacadians, knowing they could not meet the Ritzhovenian’s heavily armored knights in a full frontal assault, used their superior “manuverality” to harry the Emperor’s army and play a massive game of cat and mouse across the Empire. The Emperor at this point was nearly driven insane by the constant skirl of bagpipes and sudden attacks here and there and mad, fruitless chases this way and that as the Isaacadians refused to give open battle, but attacked supply trains, flanks and rear—rather like a terrier besetting a great bear.
Finally, one evening after a long chase the Isaacadians gave battle in the open plains of Kitchenlund. When the forces finally engaged each other head on, Emperor and Patriarch met on the field—and the Emperor, beleaguered by the furious speed and distance of travel—due his heavy amour—had a fit of asthma, and called for parley and truce, which the Patriarch of course obliged. It was then agreed that neither Patriarch nor Emperor was superior in essence to the other, but equal if different in function—the one head of things civil, the other of things spiritual, giving deference to each respectively. As these things often overlapped, this by no means solved every difficulty—but the ideological hang up was removed—The Patriarch was not under the Emperor—he worked together with the Emperor; Isaacadia was not under Ritzhovenia—they together made Eiterbie, along with Raugustinia. (Technically, Malimosia and perhaps Michaelsanyaia were also apart of the Empire, but their allegiance to the Empire was but lip service (about all they ever did was refer to the Emperor as General and salute when he visited, or they passed through Eiterbian territory. These tribes also had vastly different culture and goals and soon separated, they were never considered Eiterbian by anyone in Isaacadia, Raugustia, or Dustinia). This agreement saved the Empire from permanent fracture, and marked the next turning point in Eiterbian history.
Additional events and happenings worthy of note in this period: Isaacadian Scholars are uncertain if it was in this period, or the Early, when the quests for Saint Peter’s Sword were revived by the Wholly Reformed Eiterbian Orthodox Church.
Raugustia had to be repeatedly saved from Dustinian influences (and military forces, occasionally). The Patriarch and the Pope joined to denounce a planned raid (or something along those lines), as legal and moral means were available to acquire the needed resources, and the Emperor was obedient to their holy admonition. The Imperial Eiterbian churches were united, with the Patriarch having primacy.
Latter Middle Ages of the Empire:
This period was marked by peace and harmony—the Patriarch, having long since seen that the Dustinians would probably first burn and destroy every one of their own buildings, fields, forests, and scrap of infrastructure, salt the earth and commit mass suicide before ever acknowledging a Ritzhovenian as their emperor, refused offensive military action against them, and strove to establish peaceful relations, with hopes of one day having some sort of peaceful and agreeable unity, and convinced the Emperor of this peaceful approach. Besides, Isaacadia was too busy building the Eglhsia Agia Fwtia to bother with war.
One day, Emperor Wendel decided to go on a glorious quest, and made the Patriarch Emperor in his stead, on the condition that the New Emperor would be kind to any descendent of Wendel that should return.
Overall, the Isaacadians found Wendel to be an excellent ruler who did not play favorites but treated all loyal tribes equally—his only faults—besides perhaps being over hasty and a warlord—was that he wasn’t Isaacadian. For this Isaacadians refer to him as Wendel the Basically Great.
The First Age of Light (or the Exile)
After the Ritzhovenian Emperor left, a massive migration of smelly orcs pushed the Eiterbians from the Eiterbian homeland, and although a fight was prepared, such good lands were discovered in the South, that the dark, damp swamps of Old Eiterbie were quickly shunned and foisted onto the unwitting orcs, and the Eiterbians settled in the Bright Lands of Light.
The Patriarch found himself in an interesting situation—Overseer of the Church and ruler of the Empire. Much debate ensued within Isaacadia on whether or not to dissolve the Empire immediately, but fear that the sentimental Ritzhovenians would make a bloody and violent bid to power in order to save Wendel I’s legacy led the Isaacadians to hold the throne, while making secret deals and alliances with Dustinia and Raugustia—hoping for a united and jointly ruled Eiterbian future.
During this time the Upland Matians and Lowland Matians joined Eiterbie, although they did not acknowledge Imperial Eiterbian rule, and the Isaacadian Emperor could hardly blame them.
During this time Dustinia “liberated” Raugustia, and proclaimed that Lord Andrew had declared the Raugustinians an Independent nation. Seeing this “liberation” as nothing more than an annexation under military duress, The Emperor immediately invaded the Dustinian puppet nation of Raugustia with the entire Isaacadian army and seized complete control. Upon restoring order (which was swiftly done) the Empire held a referendum, in which the Raugustian tribe voted to remain in the Empire, and assured the Emperor it was what they truly wanted, and the presence of Issacadia’s military might had not persuaded them. Even still, they were greatly doubted, even by the Emperor.
The Dustinian people joined the Wholly Reformed Eiterbian Orthodox Church (upon the Patriarch’s changing his title to “Care Leader”), admitted that they were apart of the Eiterbian culture, and allies of all the Eiterbian tribes. After a further secret alliance (Nations United For the Ensurance of Liberty—NUFEL—often pronounced New-Fell) wherein Isaacadia, Dustinia, and Raugustia promised to ensure that no one person gained control over the tribes, the Emperor dissolved the Empire. The Imperial Government had too many ties to the old Ritzhovenian Establishment (having built its throne on blood and its cruel oppression of the Dustinian people) and so stood in the way of true and lasting Eiterbian unification. It was felt that the only way to unite the tribes was for the Empire—with its one man subjugating all others—to die.
The Second Age of Light
This union did not come as soon as expected. In fact, it came long after the introduction of the Saby Tribe (led by the Aaron, defender of Maidens and Bane of Hell Hounds), after the Marriage of High Lord Kyle and Her Majesty Natasha, Princess of Major and during the Stag Hunt of High Lord Wendel, just before his Marriage to Her Majesty Princess Debra of Spence. After fighting trolls and giants, and claiming a lake, High Lords Dustin, Wendel, and Kyle agreed to reform the Empire under a triumvirate—and true unity—the long hoped for dream of Isaacadian diplomacy--was achieved.

Proposed Eiterbian Flag

The background is based on Isaacacian records of the Dustinian Flag (long since lost), and so represents Dustinia. The Griffon represents Ritzistan (formerly Ritzhovenia), and the White Lion represents Isaacadia. The Hockey Sticks represent Raugustia, as the only time Raugustia ever actually went to war and fought was in attempt to ensure the safety of a hockey match.

Isaacadia motions that this flag is adopted as the official Flag of the New Eiterbian Empire.
--Sir Kyle of the Holy Imperial Triumvirate of the Holy Eiterbian Empire.

Ritzistan motions that the flag should incorporate all the current tribes, and that the Raugustian symbol be a book. (faery tale)

Isaacadia withdraws its motion. The book is a good idea... and should be considered. Another version (with hockey sticks) has been devised to represent all the tribes. Plus, an alternate flag of Swords has also been presented.