Bhanar

Autocracy of Bhanar
Capital	Otavai
Demonym	Bhanarian
Government	Autocracy
Ruler	Autarchess Balerodah (MS 5102–present) or none Autarch Sejanoz (MS 1620–MS 5102)
Formation	MS 1620
Population	350,000+ (MS 5050) 300,000 (MS 5000)
Currency	Ren
Resources	Fish, shipbuilding, agriculture, silver, copper, jadin
Relations	Part of the Mythenish/Tianese nations Vaduzhan (enemy) Chai (enemy, MS 5085)

The Autocracy of Bhanar, also known as the Autarchy of Bhanar, is a Mythenish nation in Southern Magnamund. It was once part of the Vaduzhan Empire, but seceded from it during the Great Civil War in MS 1620, with Sejanoz becoming its ruler and taking the title of Autarch. He remained in power for over 3,000 years, having made a pact with Agarash the Damned. Its capital city is Otavai.

History

Early history

Bhanar was once part of the Vaduzhan Empire. Sejanoz, a great captain of the Vaduzhan Empire, possessed greater ambitions, and formented chaos and blamed disasters on the Emperor and even the Shianti, becoming beloved by the Bhanarians. In MS 1620, Bhanar and other countries rebelled against the Vaduzhan Empire in the Great Civil War, with Bhanar gaining independence, and Sejanoz becoming its first ruler. However, his path to power had made many enemies, and his days were limited.

His wife, Balerodah, secretly a Naarvakim agent and Agarashi Shapeshifter, told him of a way to become what he desired: He constructed a temple in Bakhasa, destroying the forests there. In the temple, he sacrificed many lives, enough to open a link to Agarash the Damned in the Pit of Eternal Pain. There, he made a bargain with Agarash: Agarash would grant him power and immortality, but once Sejanoz became strong enough, he would switch places with Agarash. It is suspected that Sejanoz delayed his part of the bargain for as long as possible.

Autarchy

Now immortal, Sejanoz became unopposed in Bhanar, and a personality cult was made in his name. Sejanoz conquered many lands, with statues of kings kneeling in defeat to Sejanoz being placed in the Avenue of the Defeated Kings in Otavai.

In MS 5083, during the events of Mydnight's Hero, the forests of Bakhasa were stripped once again, this time to build new ships in Otavai. At this point in time, Bhanar was hostile to Siyen, but friendly towards Lunarlia.

In MS 5085, during the events of Vampirium, Autarch Sejanoz dispatched a squad of troops into the Doomlands of Naaros, a decision that puzzled the spies of Siyen, as Naaros was inhospitable after Agarash the Damned's defeat. However, their plans became clear, as Balerodah had told Sejanoz about the location of the Claw of Naar, which was excavated and intended to be used to open a Gate of Doom so that Agarash could be released. Grand Master was dispatched to capture the Claw of Naar and either destroy it or hand it to the Elder Magi for safekeeping. The Claw changed control multiple times in this quest, but Grand Master eventually made it to Pensei in Chai, a friendly country, with the Claw. This only served to prompt Bhanar to begin a full-fledged attack on Chai, during the events of The Hunger of Sejanoz. Chai struggled to defend against this invasion, and Grand Master was dispatched to take its ruler, Khea-khan Xo-lin, to safety in Tazhan. Sejanoz pursued them all the way to Fort Vlau, where he confronted Grand Master, but he was slain by the Arrow of Atonement, an enchanted arrow made by the Elder Magi.

Collapse

Autarch Sejanoz's death precipitated the collapse of Bhanar. Without their leader, Khea-khan Xo-lin rallied the New Kingdoms to defeat the Bhanarian army, driving them out of Chai. However, Chai did not stop there. In revenge, an army led by Xo-lin's illegitimate son, Zha-zhing, looted the city of Yua Tzhan in an event known as the Massacre of Yua Tzhan. The Chai army then occupied eastern Bhanar and destroyed all of its steam-powered engines and weapons of war, whilst the Bhanarian resistance attacked the border forts of Chai in reprisal for Yua Tzhan. Zha-zhing ascended to the throne after both Xo-lin and his remaining legitimate heir (and great-great-grandson), Prince Kamada, died during the winter. Zha-zhing married Princess Myelsha of Mhytan, with the two countries signing the Chai Sea Treaty, blockading all sea access to Bhanarian ships. This suffocated the resistance, and in MS 5087, the Bhanarian resistance finally collapsed. Zha-zhing installed a puppet ruler, Overseer Klutan, on the throne of Bhanar, and withdrew from eastern Bhanar.

Bhanar's misfortunes did not stop there. In MS 5088, Vaduzhan invaded Bhanar from the south-west, with King Kardisa claiming the former territories of the Vaduzhan Empire, and Chai opted not to oppose his Bhanarian claims. Otavai fell with little resistance, with Balerodah opening the doors to her invaders and keeping her garrison intact. This allowed her to retain her title, her forces, and remain governor of Otavai. Overseer Klutan, however, was forced to transfer his seat of power to Yua Klio near the Chai border.

Gradually, Klutan lost control over most of Bhanar. Bhanar's woes were compounded in MS 5101 when Bakhasa was invaded by the Nadziran Zashnor, who was pursuing the Eye of Agarash. Zashnor's pursuit led him to invade Chai, until he was defeated by Grand Master. Vaduhzan took advantage of the chaos in Chai to extend its invasion to eastern Bhanar as well, conquering Yua Klio and deposing Overseer Klutan. By this point, Bhanar ceased to exist as a political entity.

Balerodah's plot

Although Sejanoz's power had long faded, Balerodah remained in relative comfort, possibly due to her being an Agarashi and possessing powerful mind charms. In MS 5103, during the events of The Dusk of Eternal Night, Kardisa announced that he would visit Otavai to acknowledge the allegiance of Autarchess Balerodah, to be crowned the new Emperor of the reunified Vaduzhan Empire. In turn, Balerodah promised she would obtain the surrender of the Agarashi in Bakhasa. At the ceremony, Balerodah presented the heads of the Bakhasa commanders, and the keys to the city, to Kardisa. In her speech, she openly suggested that Kardisa invade Mhytan, despite Mythenish diplomats in attendance, who did not protest due to her mind charms. Balerodah's plot was to turn Kardisa into the new Candidate to switch places with Agarash the Damned with, using her "daughter", Princess Larikis.

Depending on the actions of the player, if the player decides to investigate Otavai to find information about the Naarvakim's plans, in The Dusk of Eternal Night, Grand Master infiltrated Otavai and slew Autarchess Balerodah. Also depending on the actions of the player, they will also find Princess Larikis seducing King Kardisa in her chambers, attempting to sway him towards the side of Agarash, and King Kardisa will be knocked unconscious, and Larikis destroyed, either by the Reformed Tome of Tzu, in combat, or assassinated by Mokitayo. It is unknown what the impact any of these events had on Kardisa's plans and Bhanar's fate.

In the gamebooks

Bhanar is visited in Mydnight's Hero (briefly), Vampirium, and possibly The Dusk of Eternal Night.

In Mydnight's Hero, Grand Master and Prince Karvas ride from Mydnight to Siyen, entering Bakhasa en route. There, they are attacked by Bakhasans, including an enchanted idol of Sejanoz, before escaping towards Jaroc in Lunarlia.

In Vampirium, Grand Master and a troop of Siyen rangers intercept Sejanoz's agents, who had discovered the Claw of Naar in Naaros. The Claw changes hands several times as Grand Master & Sejanoz's agents pursue each other across Bhanar. The chase culminates in an encounter with Sejanoz himself at the border town of Zuda.

In The Dusk of Eternal Night, if Grand Master chooses to investigate Sejanoz's lair in Otavai in order to find more information about how the Naarvakim plan to open a Gate of Doom, they will infiltrate Bhanar. Most of this activity takes place in Otavai. During this subquest, Grand Master will slay Autarchess Balerodah, and dive into Sejanoz's deepest secrets in the Blood Soulsieve to find the information they need. This route is very rich in lore about Sejanoz, Balerodah and Bhanar.