Conference of the Isles
The Conference of the Isles was held in Riolani, Florencia on 21.VIII.1684, attended by rebel leaders from the Iridian Isles, Isle of Benacia and Florencia. The focus of the conference was to exchange experiences and agree on a way forward for the young rebellion. The meeting was hosted by the Florencian guerrilla leader Pasquale Paoli.
Background
The Kalirion Fracture in 1671 upended the geopolitical landscape of Benacia in general and the western parts of Shireroth in particular. The many years of benign neglect from the nominal sovereign of the islands, Shireroth, had fostered a spirit of independence and self-sufficiency in the islands. Weary of outsiders and mostly content to get on with fishing and trade, the Fracture put the settled character of the islands on its head. Instead of the largely absent Shirerithian overlords, the islands came under the control of the Unified Governorates of Benacia, a military government formed to govern the civilian population of the Shirerithian islands, Lachmeren, Lywall, Malarboria, Mishalan, and New Blackstone. As the new military government sought to exert increased control over its fledgling territory, military bases with troops foreign to the islands cropped up. Coupled with this came increased calls for manpower, taxes, and coordination from the central government. The resistance to all of these measures grew over time, and came to a point in 1684. After seeing draft after draft for new soldiers to fight the distant wars of the Unified Governorates, increased taxes to pay for those drafts, and the heavy-handed and insensitive coordination efforts towards indigenous society, the pressure finally saw its release in the rebellion in Florencia in VII.1684. This was then followed by uprisings in the Iridian Isles and the Isle of Benacia. With the Black Legion detachments being made up of foreign soldiers, and the insurgents enjoying strong support amongst civilians and a knowledge of island geography, the rebel forces made great initial progress against sluggish response from the authorities. The Massacre of Fuconara on 13.VIII.1684 solidified rebel support across the islands and also garnered widespread condemnation from the wider international community.
Conference
The conference took place over three days starting on 21.VIII.1684, in the western Florencian town Riolani. It was attended by the Florencian rebel leader Pasquale Paoli, Iridian Isles leaders Palo Prags, Tlato Mengs and Bongo Trals, and the Penna leader from Naudia'Diva, Ihaia Te Kirukamira. The first day was used for introductions and setting the agenda for the following days, as well as exchanging experiences fighting the Black Legions. The following two days was used to formulate a common plan of action in the struggle for self determination. While the Iridian and Benacian leaders were initially reluctant to agree to any concerted efforts, Pasquale Paoli convinced them of the pressing need to gather international support for their cause, especially while the Massacre of Fuconara was still fresh in people's minds. Paoli was therefor elected the international spokesperson of the group. The initial conversation had also eschewed discussing what would happen after the goal of self determination had been reached. On this issue, it was the Iridian leaders that convinced both Paoli and Kirukamira. Recognising that the islands together would be stronger and more prosperous than each island by itself, the Iridian leaders vehemently argued for a common polity encompassing all the islands. With the independent spirit of the islanders in mind, the conversation quickly turned to a loose confederation. With time almost up, the men agreed to continue the discussion after the war was won.
