Isca Star System

Isca Star System

Major Holdings – General Information

History

As set down by Witch Lord Bertwin Gisking Bearspear for Beorn.

Isca is a stubborn star and a hungry one. Where its worlds vein with Starmetal, kings and captains are drawn like iron to a lodestone, and few depart unblooded. The Galan of the Drucos Nebula were first to bind Escan with roads of ore and oath. The Feyans fortified what they found, aye, and made it greater, for Isca and the Dungar sector are one of the few true fonts of Starmetal in all the Settled Worlds, and empires are smelted upon such ore.

In 24,546 AA, trade was struck between Isca and the far-off Feyan Star Republic. It was a warning bell, though few heard it. In 25,355 AA, General Thais Duccius Jewelclad, later known as Emperor Thais the Rebuilder, rolled the Dominion’s banners across Belgar, Scir, Durn, Iniswitrin, Isca, Kynancear, and other systems. In 25,356 AA, Isca bowed to the Feyan Star Dominion, by 25,378 AA, the Dominion raised the Starhold of Toppes, with Finngall added later, to protect the system and it’s valuable trade.

But in 26,880 AA came the Furse into Feyan space, and with them the Long Fall, the Dominion’s occupation of Isca and Drala broke, although with half of their empire. Out of that breakwater rose many claimant realms, Feyan-Galan crowns lifting themselves from the surf of defeat. Isca, swollen with ore and defiance, learned to wear a crown among them. So too did the Glessum Furse refugees press in, fleeing the Wergh and making conquests of their own. More than one newborn star-kingdom found its charter torn upon the Glessum Furse spear.

Escan became the heart of the Star Kingdom of Dungar, and for a time its voice carried. Yet Gewiss took her in turn, Gewissan kings ruled “largely in name,” as the clerks like to write, which is to say they took the taxes on Starmetal and sent appointed hands of iron to keep the ledgers straight. In 27,400 AA, the Dralan Furse conquered Isca, and the record speaks of House Medgar Dreadborn taking the system from Feyan-Galan holders.

War never strayed far from the world of Escan’s sky. In 27,464 AA, King Cwenhild the Warlord of the Old Ways of Angul led an assault upon Escan. Local lords and their Star-Bands held grimly until King Myrddin Kintosh Cragborn came up with reinforcements of the Star Union of Feni. The arrival of Feni’s strength forced an uneasy alignment of aims. Not long after, Cwenhild of Angul and Myrddin of Feni rose together in wider defiance against King Wulfgar the Great of Umber.

27,516 AA set the tone that followed. At Sulis in the Iniswitrin System, King Leonhard the Wyvern Claw of Gewiss and allied lords broke the Feyan-Galan strength of Iscaand Dungar. In 27,520 AA Gewiss raided hard and often, by 27,564 AA the minor systems of Isca’s reach had fallen to Gewiss and King Garmond the Flaming Wyvern. The last true Dungar sovereign, King Tigernach Cadoc Bogborn, Tigernach the Fleet Owner, was fought across four great actions ending at Sedge in 27,620 AA, with battles of Isca and Sedge both recorded. Tigernach fell, so ended the Feyan-Galan kingship of Isca.

In 27,630 AA, the Feyan Faith received holdsteads and dignities upon Escan. The Pontiff of Isca was seated, and the white-winged statues took their watch. Yet crowns still contested. In 27,643 AA, at Botmen in the Mawgansan System, King [name lost] Medgar Dreadborn of Isca, fighting beside King Merrick the Lawgiver of Gewiss was defeated by a coalition under Mawgansan and Kynancear. It was the third Feyan-Galan victory in four years and left Dungar’s Feyan-Galan core stubbornly independent for centuries more, down to 30,028 AA, by the tally of temple clerks.

Rebellion proved a crop that would not fail. King Astrid the Wide Ruler of Gewiss campaigned in 30,024 AA to put down risings in Isca, again in 30,044 AA. In 30,064 AA, the Dralan Furse beat back a combined Feyan-Galan and Skane host over Escan, yet raids gnawed at the marches all the same. In 30,104 AA, System-lord Sigeferth Medgar Dreadborn died, Viggo Medgar Dreadborn took the system-lord’s title. In 30,136 AA, King Oswald the Noble Counsel of Gewiss raised a Feyan temple on Escan himself.

Then 30,141 AA, the Battle of Calleva in Bearroc. Oswald, his brother, Crown Prince Osgar the Great, Viggo of Isca, Sewine of Bearroc, and their fleet met the storm of the Great Savage Crusade, Rowana the Half-Raven, Beowulf the Raven in the Eye, King Ragnar the Raven Blade of the Star Holds of Freis, and a harsh company of warlords besides. The Gewissan fleet was broken, Sewine of Bearroc fell and was borne in secret to Deora for burial while Oswald, Osgar, and Viggo escaped with remnants of their force.

In 30,142 AA, Gewiss struck and suffered by turns. A first battle saw victory without the king’s dereliction, a second battle soon after saw defeat. At Ulward in Bearroc, the Skane crushed the Gewissan line, King Oswald was wounded, King Corlyn Artle Wallborn and his five system-lords slain with many Belgar nobles. Retreating to safety, Oswald named and confirmed Crown Prince Osgar as heir before the council and Viggo of Isca, and had him proclaimed King of Gewiss. Soon after, Oswald succumbed to his wounds.

30,143 AA made System-lord Viggo a King’s Thane on Osgar’s small council. In 30,152 AA, Osgar opened talks with the rebel King of Isca and set about rebuilding the system’s defenses. The Starhold of Barum was raised, lesser forts were seeded in surrounding systems, too small for the dignity of starhold, but stout enough for their charge. Wulfrun the Elder later added to these works. In that same press of years, Warlord Oughtred the Old Umbra Netherspell seized Escan. Osgar entered parley with King Ayden Cadoc Bogborn, Ayden the Drowned, a Feyan-Galan claimant ruling from the minor systems in rebellion.

In 30,153 AA, Osgar, Viggo of Isca, and allied fleets besieged Oughtred upon the world of Escan in 30,154 AA, they drove the Skane out of Isca and ordered the old Feyan world fortified. The next year brought a greater thunder. 30,156 AA, the coming of King Ragnar the Raven Blade with 1,300 star-fleets into the Dungar Sector. Viggo raised his star-fleet and the fyrd. Osgar struck Ragnar’s ally Oughtred with raids out of Sedge. Then the choice came. Alfhildr Asher Axewolf of Scir and Alkmund Wahner Seaborn of Morigena went over to Ragnar, while Viggo of Isca, Sigebehrt Sigebehrt Undolfen Cliffborn of Nansarnek, and Ermingard Asher Axewolf, forever known as Ermingard the Loyal, stood fast.

The loyalists withdrew to the minor world of Itcis, joined by King Uarraig Cadoc Bogborn of Kynancear, King xx Eown Caerborn of Carnbrathan, King xx Cadoc Boghowl of Mawgansan, 808 Star-Bands, and thirteen Dungar Outcast Knights star-fleets. Ragnar came on with 1,800 fleets. At the Battle of Itcis, a loyalist fleet of 1,221 met them and shattered the greater 1,200 star-fleets of Ragnar. King Ragnar was slain in a flagship duel by Viggo of Isca. Alkmund of Morigena killed, King Uarraig fallen, his heir Morwyn the Beautiful succeeding. Alfhildr fled to Oughtred. Spoils were great, including the Banner of Rothgar the Fearless, the Skane’s proud relic.

In 30,157 AA, Viggo, Sigebehrt, Ermingard, and many banners joined Osgar at Sedge. Over Leohtmona in the Scir System, 3,000–9,000 Gewissan and allied fleets met 6,000 under Oughtred and Alfhildr. The Gewissan side prevailed, breaking the Savage fleet and capturing Alfhildr, delivered into judgment by her own kin Ermingard. Osgar then besieged Oughtred. Peace followed, remembered as the Peace of Osgar & Oughtred, and the war’s balance shifted.

In 30,186 AA a Skane warlord besieged Isca. High King Osgar the Great advanced and in 30,187 AA the Skane fled his coming. 30,188 AA saw a battle in-system ending the matter in the king’s favor. 30,200 AA saw the raising of a thriving galactic market on Escan. In 30,204 AA, System-lord Sigeferth Medgar Dreadborn died and another Medgar Dreadborn took the torque. 30,254 AA, King Osmund the Glorious expelled many Feyan-Galan nobles and trouble-makers from the system. In 30,264 AA he built another Feyan temple upon Escan. In 30,272 AA, King xx Cadoc Bogborn and the Feyan-Galan of Combrogi were defeated first at Escan and again in a nearby minor system as they fled.

The Medgar Dreadborn blood wound itself deep into the Star Commonwealth. In 30,312 AA, Sector-lord Athelweard Rethe Grimborn, Athelweard the Lord of Iken, wed Orra Medgar Dreadborn, daughter of System-lord Skoglar. In 30,324 AA, Skoglar witnessed royal charters while in 30,328 AA, King Humbert the Peaceable granted him the Sector-lordship of Dungar and took Orra to wife as his third queen. In 30,342 AA, System-lord Sicga Medgar Dreadborn of Mawgansan died and was entombed with his father Skoglar upon the ancient hollow world of Kusari in Isca. Beornwulf Medgar Dreadborn then climbed in swift order, Highlord of Escan, System-lord of Isca, and Sector-lord of Dungar.

In 30,348 AA, Beornwulf founded the Feyan Temple on Kusari, the stones there are old, Kusari is a mined-out relic used, so our elders say, to hide treasures from an elder race. 30,362 AA brought Skane reavers again. King Oswald the Ill-Advised confirmed the Kusari temple founded by his uncle Beornwulf. 30,394 AA, King Harwyn Forkbeard of Skold, Warlord Sigfast Ulric Geat Moonborn, Sector-lord Ecgwynn the Fast of Skatha, Lord Egil the Iron Rune, Meredith Runeborn, Edith the Raventail, Prince Lathgertha of Skold, King Arthfael Cadoc Bogborn, Ardghal Cadoc Bogborn of Kynancear, and many more lords and fleets struck Isca and removed the Dralan Star Guards. Tun-lord Braden Gollach Druidblade and others joined their Dungar rebellion.

The Star Commonwealth answered with bargain and blade. In 30,398 AA, Beornwulf was stripped of his dignities, Warlord Sigfast Ulric Geat Moonborn received Highlord of Escan, System-lord of Isca, and Sector-lord of Dungar from King Oswald the Ill-Advised, swearing loyalty. Under Lord Moonborn, Escan prospered, and the Star Commonwealth’s coffers grew fatter for once-troublesome Isca.

The Skane were not done. 30,402 AA saw Kunibert Sturm Platinumborn raid deep into Gaint, Durot, and Dungar, hitting Isca. An assault on Isca was repelled when Dungar’s banners arrived, Sigfast Ulric, his wife Edith the Raventail, Marshal Elwyn Geat Moondawn, Thane Dagnar Geat Moonreaver, Thane Morrighan Larnach Palfreyborn, and others. Denied at Isca, the reavers seized Carnbrathan, only to be beaten out at the Battle of Carnbrathan when the sector banners formed and counter-attacked.

In 30,403 AA, Kunibert struck Escan again. Sigfast Ulric held the defense with Raventail, King Arthfael of Kynancear, Thane Boudia Gollach Druidblade, Ardghal of Kynancear, Dagnar One-Eye, Morrighan Palfreyborn, and the gathered banners of Dungar and Kynancear. The Skane were thrown back. Against orders, King Arthfael pursued and was defeated before reinforcements could come up, even so, the loyalists arrived in time to keep his ruin from becoming annihilation. The reavers sacked the Dungar marches, but the inner system held. In the aftermath, Arthfael swore a binding oath of loyalty to Sigfast Ulric. Quietly, the sector-lord acknowledged Arthfael as King of the Feyan-Galan of Dungar, with a promise, unhurried but spoken, that one day that high seat might be rightfully reclaimed.

That same year came the passing of Orra Medgar Dreadborn, widow of King Humbert the Peaceable, mother to King Oswald the Ill-Advised, and grandmother to Star-Marshal Osmund. The web of our houses is long and tangled.

In 30,404 AA, King Oswald the Ill-Advised paid Kunibert and his fleet off. 24,000,000,000,000 trillion credits, the ledger claims. A scribe’s flourish, perhaps, but it tells you the scale of the king’s weariness with fire at his borders.

So stands Isca. Escan and Finngall are both mantled in Feyan world shields, and the Feyan-Galan houses of Dungar keep their holdsteads upon Escan even when their power lies elsewhere, trading, spying, petitioning, and plotting, as lords must. Above them all hangs Kusari, hollow as a bell, older than our quarrels and heavy with the secrets it keeps.

If you would rule such a place, Beorn, remember, Isca does not bend; it bargains. Its ore makes crowns, but its history breaks them.