Long before the rise of modern trade routes and lake festivals, the vast continent of Iwela was shaped by the rhythms of water and the whispers of ancient peoples. Known across early civilizations for its immense rivers and sacred lakes, Iwela's geography dictated the course of its history. Towering mountains lay to the west, feeding rivers that carved valleys below. To the east, an endless rainforest canopy stretched into the misty horizon. Wetlands and floodplains dominated the south, while open coasts shaped the north into a haven of trade. In the center lay the Iwande Heartland, cradle of civilization and culture.
Iwela was defined by its Five Great Lakes — Zundé, Nyoro, Tuwe, Kambala, and Olembe. Each lake was the spiritual and practical heart of a region, and each region gave rise to a powerful civilization that left its mark upon Iwela's memory.
Wandela Heights and the Kubell
To the west, where jagged mountain chains rise skyward, lies Wandela Heights, home to Lake Nyoro. Here lived the Kubell, an ancient civilization of stone-builders who carved cities into cliffs and terraced mountain slopes. From 5000 AE to 10000 AE, they thrived, constructing aqueducts that carried snowmelt and sacred waters from Lake Kambala, which they revered as the Eye of the Sky. The lake's surface was believed to reflect the spirits of the ancestors who dwelled in the clouds above.
Kubell shamans were sky-watchers, climbing sacred peaks to perform rites under the stars, interpreting lake reflections as omens. Their remarkable preservation of records through carvings and cliff art has provided invaluable insight into their world. However, after 10000 AE, they vanished. Whether they migrated to distant continents or succumbed to unknown causes remains a mystery. Traces of their presence beyond this time have been found, but only as fragments — scattered, yet stubbornly preserved.
Elwela Canopy and the Lodiar
To the east lies the Elwela Canopy Rainforest, dense, vibrant, and home to a civilization in harmony with its towering trees: the Lodiar. Suspended high above the forest floor, the Lodiar built elevated settlements among the treetops, connected by rope bridges and guarded by watchtowers. They lived in delicate balance with the rainforest, gathering dew, mist, and rain in leaf funnels.
Lake Tuwe was believed to be the resting place of the First Rain, a spiritual epicenter only approached by the most trusted shamans. Lodiar oral traditions speak of tree spirits emerging from the lake's mists during monsoon season, guiding or warning the people. No written records survive, and much of what we know comes from the traditions passed down among their descendants who still inhabit Elwela today. Truth and myth blur, and what was lost to time through oral decay can never fully be reclaimed.
Lowuma Basin and the Ehti
South of the continent lies the Lowuma Basin, a sprawl of wetlands and floodplains dotted with floating communities. The ancient Ehti people flourished here from 4000 AE to 9000 AE, building floating reed islands and homes of papyrus. They were expert fishermen and navigators, crafting maps from knotted reeds.
Lake Nyoro, to them, was The Great Mirror, believed to reflect the very thoughts of the world. During the Rising — the annual flood — ceremonial dances were held on floating stages, a celebration captured in surviving paintings. Their ingenuity in adapting to the seasonal floods made them a people of fluid strength and grace.
Nayela Shores and the Akuq
The Nayela Shores in the north provided fertile ground for trade and expansion. The Akuq, seafarers and merchants, ruled the region from 2000 AE to 14000 AE. They constructed swift ships of coastal wood and plied both ocean and river, forging routes that linked the heart of Iwela to distant lands.
They believed Lake Tuwe was home to the Salt-Born Spirits, a bridge between fresh and salt water. Their tide-temples honored both river and sea gods, and they built bustling ports, exchanging fish, pearls, shells, rainforest spices, and metals. Some historians claim the Akuq may have been the first humans to reach the distant continent of Iasatoris, though definitive evidence remains elusive.
Iwande Heartland and the Rise of the Cico
At the center of Iwela lay the Iwande Heartland, surrounding the fertile banks of Lake Zundé, also known as The Breath of Iwela. Here rose the Cico, a people of great unity and innovation. They constructed cities along the lake's shores, bridged by stone causeways and floating pontoon temples.
The Cico were master irrigators, and their Four Rivers — seen as the Fingers of the World — carried fertility, healing, fire, song, and knowledge across the land. Today's lake festivals and cultural hubs in the Heartland trace their roots directly to Cico traditions.
It was from this people that a legendary figure would emerge: Emazu.
The Conquest of Emazu the Unifier
Born around 12000 AE, Emazu came into the world during a storm so violent it reversed a river's flow. Raised by monks, he traveled the continent as a youth, studying the lakes and rivers. Eventually, he united an army of Cico men and began a campaign of conquest. With the Kubell long vanished, Wandela Heights fell easily.
He used diplomacy, rather than warfare, to sway parts of Elwela Canopy, rallying corrupt Lodiar leaders and igniting a rebellion. In the Lowuma Basin, the fragmented descendants of the Ehti — the Sons and Daughters of the Ehti — fell swiftly. The Akuq, however, resisted. After years of war, they were defeated. Some were enslaved; others fled, never to return.
Crowning himself on a floating obsidian platform on Lake Zundé, Emazu declared himself King of Iwela and founded Zubwela, the Lake of Crowns, as his capital. He would reign for centuries — or so the stories say. His death and lineage are shrouded in mystery.
The Emazid Dynasty
The first known descendant, King Emazu V, appears in records from the late 13000 AE. He was succeeded by his nephew King Temaru VI, followed by King Zaremu III, and then King Kemazu IV, whose son was King Emazu VI.
From Emazu VI onward, the Emazid Chronicles begin. He ruled for 35 years. His son, King Omzaru V, reigned for 15 years before dying of illness. With no male heir, his daughter Queen Tamasu became the first ruling queen of Iwela. She ruled for 10 years but was later imprisoned and executed. Her daughter, Queen Nazima, reigned for 50 years and was succeeded by Queen Tamasu II, who died of illness after 15 years. Her son, King Zaremu IV, reign for 30 years before perishing in battle.
His son, King Kemazu V, was called the Great, and reigned for 45 years. The line continued: King Yumazu III (20 years), King Emazu VII (40 years), King Mazaku II (25 years), King Mazaku III (34 years), King Temaru VII (17 years), King Yumazu IV (42 years), and King Thazur IV, known as the River King (27 years).
Finally came King Emazu VIII, who reigned 21 years — a weak ruler. Upon his death, his empire fractured.
The Emazid Quarrel and Collapse
King Emazu VIII's four sons divided the empire: Mazaku IV ruled the Heartland, Eralzu III took the Shores, Kemazu VI ruled Wandela, and Omzaru VI held Lowuma Basin. The Lodiar descendants kept Elwela to themselves. This sparked the Emazid Quarrel, a decade of bloodshed.
Kemazu VI and Mazaku IV killed each other in a duel. Eralzu III and Omzaru VI followed suit. Their children all died shortly after, victims of a terrible plague: the Salt Drowning, which caused dehydration and skin agony.
Thus, by 14000 AE, the Emazid Dynasty — forged by conquest, unity, and blood — came to its tragic end.