The Diaspora

[Novus Parco]

While Astapor was quite civilized compared to the barbaric tribes of the south and the nomadic herders of the north, they could not match near as much in numbers. The only thing that was keeping the barbarians at bay was the great superiority in technology. While the tribesmen and nomads had bronze and crude stone, the Astapori warriors had chariots and steel weapons. The disparity between the barbaric rafts the tribesmen used compared to the magnificent galleys the Astapori used was monstrous. Belligerent tribes did not last long on the coasts of Astapori Bay.

Sensing the dire need for more land because of the burgeoning population, Byokora Bomani was building more galleys to gain hold of the other islands and the coasts. He issued a new decree allowing slaves to be free if they had two boys fit to be a part of the Byokorani, which would no doubt increase the size of Astapor’s armies.

[Novus Parco]

A flotilla, some 30 odd transport ships full of Byokorani warriors, loomed at the edges of the northern edge of The Astapori Bay. After heading off a rough storm that pounded the flotilla for days, the ships made anchor a mile or so off the coast of the Petraea tribe's homeland. Small boats capable of holding a company at a time were slowly lowered into the glimmering emerald sea. The Byokorani warriors carefully climbed down into the small transports, their bright steel breastplates and mail glimmering under the brutal autumn sun. Spearmen were dousing the head of their weapons with poision, the swordsmen were using whetstones to get the nicks out of their swords, and the carefully constructed transports for the chariots and horsemen were full of whinnying stallions and their riders comforting them before the impending battle.

A breeze began to blow, and the Astapori transports quietly sailed their way to the east of the barbaric village. All the warriors were ready by the darkening of the sky, their officers going over the strategy of the absolute slaughter that was about to ensue. A few hours after the beginning of the new day, the march began.

[Novus Parco]

The wailing of the conquered Petraea could be heard for miles on end from their smoking husk of a village. Hundreds of dead Petraean where piled high out by the crude dock. Many of those dead were not identifiable due to the lack of body parts. Those that were not already killed had been placed in shackles waiting for whatever cruel destiny lay ahead of them.

Besides the smoking village, there was only one fire. A funeral pyre had been set up for the 23 Byokorani that had died in the slaughter of the village. These men, however, were not killed in true battle, but by a cowardly act of burning pitch thrown on them. The attackers that had done this were slowly dipped into naphtha and tar, slowly cooking them in a very painful death.

The next day, after the Petraean barbarians had been shipped off on a slaver's galley, the village was cleared of all buildings. The Byokorani collected rocks and timber near the village and constructed a crude barracks, showing any passing tribes or nomads that this area was now under control of almighty Astapor.

[Novus Parco]

Shortly after the battle, the military garrison developed into a new Astaporian village. A tax collector's residence, a blacksmith, a bakery, etc.; all had been added to the quaint village that was previously the site of a slaughter. The Astaporians grew to like the land in which they dwelt, becoming more fond of it than they're island in the sea. This phenomenon lead the local governor to ask the Byokora to lead a further expedition into the barbaric wilderness and desert that lay ahead.