Illiyor
Illiyor was a short-lived new project by Orion in early 2015. Nevertheless, it had an interesting development in that short period of time, which is archived here. The project failed due to conflicting interests with the Island Federation of Gong and Jingdao.
A Brief History of Illiyor
Illiyor began several thousand years ago with the settlement of the Lyrican people on the two small islands known as Estilliyor and Vestilliyor. The two islands marked the greatest westward expansion of the Lyricans, but also meant that the nearby Grand Duchy of Jaris and the Free Republic isolated them. With the collapse of the Lyrican Kingdom the islands passed into the hands of Jaris, which ruled them as a part of Shireroth until 2488 ASC, when the Republic of Antica took over the region. The Anticans ruled for over two thousand years until 4937 when the republic collapsed. After that the islands alternated between periods of anarchy and varying overlords as several minor powers fleetingly grasped for control of the area. It wasn’t until 5168 that the Jingdaoese arrived and established the Kingdom of the Six Islands. Vestilliyor became the seat of their power, and the settlement of Rollins Piek soon exerted its influence over vast territories as the Siseran armies swept over the land. Yet seemingly just as quickly the Jingdaoese departed (in 5427), lost in religious fervor. Again Illiyor relapsed into a period of apathy, and its small fishing villages resumed the day-to-day routine of rural life.
Around 5600, nearly 150 years after the last Siseran departed, Illiyor had rebounded enough that the population of both islands began to increase dramatically. Illyrikos, the main settlement on Estilliyor, had grown into an important trade center, replacing the major ports of old, such as Nafticon and Rollins Piek. Both Jingdao and Antica had brought modern industry and technology to the islands, thus they were far more capable of an economic rebound. Fisheries were at peak production, tourism was increasing, and the digital age provided a source of additional jobs. With this growth came the need for a centralized government.
In 5635 the Illiyorans chose the form a provisional government in Illyrikos. People from both islands gathered in the capitol to cast ballots from a long list of candidates. After several successive votes to narrow down the candidates to just two popular choices, they elected Philip Crumb as the first President of the Illiyoran Commonwealth.
Timeline of Illiyor
- 366 ASC: Illiyor founded by Lyrica.
- 912 ASC: Jaris/Shireroth takes over islands.
- 2488 ASC: Antica takes over islands.
- 4937 ASC: Antica collapses. No central government.
- 5168 ASC: Jingdao begins colonizing islands.
- 5427 ASC: Last Jingdaoese leaves Illiyor.
- 5635 ASC: Illiyor establishes independent state.
- 5712 ACS: The project is cancelled.
Map of Illiyor
Symbols of Illiyor
The Flag of Illiyor
The flag is a representation of the ancient colors of Lyrica and the Great Oak of Illiyor. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen prefectures of the two islands.
The Arms of Illiyor
The heraldic arms of Illiyor represent the Great Oak of Illiyor and the Harp of Lyrica blazoned on a golden shield.
The Great Oak of Illiyor
According to legend, when the city of Illyrikos was founded, the first settlers planted an acorn at the top of the hill that overlooked the harbor. The acorn grew into a tall oak, and continued to thrive for centuries, growing into an immense tree that could be seen even by ships far out to sea. The acorn's provenance is unknown, but common belief is that it was brought to Illiyor by the Lyrican pioneers from among the sacred groves surrounding the lakes of Hurmu. Hurmudan oaks are said to contain magical properties, and to grow to especially large sizes; the great oak was no exception. It grew so large that it dominated the center of the city and port, like a giant skyscraper stretching into the clouds. For two thousand years the tree grew and was recognized as a symbol of Illiyor. But in the machine war that resulted in the destruction of Antica, the tree was destroyed, burned by robotic fire. As a result the Illiyorans now revile machines, and the oak has become an ever more sacred symbol. Despite the destruction of the tree, its roots were not completely destroyed, and a new sprout emerged from the stump. The Great Caretakers are now nurturing this sprout in the hopes that it will regenerate into another great oak; alas this will take centuries. The heraldic arms of Illiyor represent the Great Oak of Illiyor and the Harp of Lyrica blazoned on a golden shield.
The Harp of Lyrica
In ancient times the Lyricans were revered as musicians throughout the known world. Courts as far away as Shirekeep and the Flying Islands paid exorbitant amounts for Lyrican singers to fill their palaces with sweet melodies. Ladystarr was the stage name of the most renowned of Lyrican singers - and she also happened to call Estilliyor home. Her real name has long ago been lost to time, but her stagename lingers still today. Performing upon hundreds of stages, Ladystarr wowed audiences with her voice and the harp that she so skillfully played. The harp therefore became a symbol of the Illiyoran people.
The Many Ills of Illiyor
There is also a story written about Illiyor, called: The Many Ills of Illiyor.
