Zekloon

Zekloon is a republic on the Southern side of the Dragon Isle. It was founded by Allean Settlers on a fertile river delta. It ascended into a regional power after a federation of tribes was absorbed during the Zekloon-Henebald Wars. Zekloon is also the ancestral homeland of the Teklion of Tabard.

History
Zekloon was founded in the 3rd century b.Z. by Allean settlers looking for new fertile places to settle. Allea at the time was a Republic but Tyrants often ruled the island and many republicans and political opponents of these tyrants fled to the newly established city. It quickly became the greatest colony of the Alleans and gained a dominant role in the region it was founded, trading and sometimes warring with local tribes. Ties with Allea remained open for long, all be it slightly rocky due to the many political opponents fleeing to the colony, but during the 1st century b.Z. a shift in the winds and climate made communication impossible and the colony got isolated. It had already created its own cultural identity with many tribal influences but this process was gradually sped up with the influx of new settlers stopping. Unlike its Northern sister-city of Karinea Zekloon did not fight these foreign influences and became a unique and distinct culture. It became the center of trade and commerce on the entire island and its neighbours looked in envy as the Republic established colonies of its own to secure strategic locations and trade wares. A unique expedition left the Dragon Isle and created the city of Tabard which would become a major power on the continent of Adonatus a century later. In the meanwhile Zekloon became immensely rich, but conflict from within threatened to destroy the republic. A faction of populist leaders stirred up the lower classes in the city in a great revolt. Their leader Empolous was successful in driving out the oligarchs in 56 b.Z. and became a tyrant. He reigned for 10 years before being ousted by another group of populists who claimed that a true republic could be the only way to rule Zekloon. The old Pardarion, the old ruling body of the oligarchs, was replaced by the New Pardarion which included equal representation of all classes. This gave the lower classes a voice in the ruling body but allowed the oligarchs and aristocracy to form an alliance to practically ignore the commoners. Another violent coup followed in 42 b.Z. and the New Pardarion was now split 50/50 between the lower classes and the aristocracy and oligarchs. This system did stick and stability finally followed. The population and wealth of the city grew again and it became the dominant player in Dragon Isle politics for the next 40 years. All this changed in the year Zero when a barbarian king by the name of Henebald united the many tribes in Zekloon's direct area in a federation. For almost a century now the Zeklon had pushed these tribes around to do their bidding and this had made them unpopular. Many had tried to create a coalition against the city but these attempts either failed to gain popularity or where thwarted by Zekloon. Henebald was a charismatic and intelligent man however and he did what the Zekloon had feared. On top of all this he was a brilliant commander, using a combination of diplomacy and warfare to unite the tribes. A battle was fought in front of Zekloon and the republic was easily beaten, their army destroyed with the exception of a group of Karinean mercenaries. The city had to break down its walls and pay a huge sum in tribute to Henebald. 5 years followed in what the Zekloon call the years of Humiliation but in 5 a.Z. the mood had changed. A popular leader called Herepheion managed to unite the lower and upper classes and convinced them to stop the tribute. When word of this reached Henebald he gathered another army and marched upon the city again. The second battle of Zekloon did not go as well for him as the first however and he was beaten by a Zekloon with new-found confidence and termination. The barbarian king offered peace but Herepheion convinced the Pardarion to continue the war and go on the offensive. A group of small victories was scored against the king but the Zeklon were halted when they moved up further North. A stalemate ensued and negotiations were opened. These failed however and in 7 a.Z. a new campaign was launched. Under the leadership of Herepheion himself Henebald was beaten at the battle of Grekonar. The king died a few days later due to wounds he had suffered on the battlefield. With this central figure dead his empire quickly tumbled and Zekloon used this power vacuum to absorb all the tribes into their empire. in 9 a.Z. the last remains of the federation were conquered and Zekloon was now not only the dominant mercantile power but also the number 1 military and hegemonic power of the island. This lasted until the year 15 when contact was re-established with Adonatus. The old colony of Tabard had established multiple outposts on the Dragon Island on a quest to expand its power and to find its ancestral homeland. The two countries came to blows but war would only come in the year 20.