Shadaki

Not to be confused with the Shadakine Empire, from which Shadaki was a major part of; or Shadaki City, its capital, sometimes also named "Shadaki".

Empire of Shadaki
Capital	Shadaki City
Demonym	Shadakine
Ruler	Wizard Regent Grey Star
Population	850,000
Currency	Noble
Resources	Fishery, agriculture, shipbuilding, timber, iron ore, gold, copper, bronin, silver, rare gems, horses, spices
Relations	Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund (enemy) Darklands (ally, under Zagarna)

The Empire of Shadaki, commonly known as Shadaki, is an empire in Southern Magnamund famous for its rulership by Shasarak the Wytch-king. Under his rule, Shadaki became the eminent country within the Shadakine Empire, one of the largest empires to have ever stood in Magnamund. Shadaki itself was founded by nomads of the Sadi Desert, and its capital, Shadaki City, was built to celebrate the unification of the Vassa and Sadi peoples.

History

Rule of Shasarak

Shadaki was formerly a collection of remote city-states, called Jazer. The first emperor of Shadaki, Jublazh Khyr, built a grand citadel in Ghol-Tabras. In MS 1961, the Holy Fathers of the Truth were driven from Siyen and northern Shadaki, and exiled to what would become Valerion.

Jazer was later invaded and conquered by Sadi Nomads. Under the rule of Shasarak the Wytch-king, Shadaki grew, and a new capital was built, Shadaki City, as a celebration of Vassa and Sadi cultures unifying as one, as well as the fall of Jazer. Shadaki began amassing a fleet, intending to conquer the south. In MS 4650, Shadaki and the Sadi Nomads signed the Great Alliance, where the Sadi Nomads would pledge their strength to Shasarak's cause, in exchange for land and riches later. Shadaki and the Sadi Nomads then waged the War of the Winds on the south, conquering Lara, Korli, Andui, Forlu, Suhn, Karnali, part of Lissan, and de facto the desolation of Taklakot, creating the Shadakine Empire. Forlu signed a treaty with Shadaki, only to be betrayed during the War of the Winds; Suhn capitulated rather than fight. Around this time, the Darklands also took an interest in Shadaki, and sent both the Shadakine and Vassagonian Empires aid. Shasarak later betrayed the Sadi Nomads, breaking his promise of land and riches, leading to the Sadi Nomads waging war on Shadaki in MS 4860. However, Shasarak was too powerful, and the Sadi Nomads were bent to his cause. In many of the countries the Shadakine Empires conquered, Shadakine Wytches, loyal to Shasarak after being given powers and artifacts.

Elated, Shasarak declared war on their distant Vassa relatives: The Vassagonian Empire. In the Battle of the Tentarium, Shadaki was defeated in devastating fashion. This began the slow collapse of the Shadakine Empire.

In MS 5034, a ship was wrecked in the Sea of Mists, and the newly-born Grey Star was shipwrecked on the Isle of Lorn, on the very day that Shasarak was crowned Overlord of the Shadakine Empire. The Shianti, who had watched Shasarak's growing power but had unable to intervene due to their vow with Ishir, sensed an opportunity to help Magnamund without breaking their vow. They taught Grey Star the magic of the Shianti, and prepared him for a quest to overthrow Shasarak.

In MS 5050, during the events of War of the Wizards, Grey Star began his quest to defeat Shasarak. He was sent to retrieve the Moonstone, and along the way, he fought various agents of the Shadakine Empire. During the events of The Forbidden City, he met Sado of the Long Knife, who was part of the resistance against the Shadakine Empire in Karnali. Grey Star's aid unwittingly sparked the start of a revolution in the Shadakine Empire, with Karnali being the first nation to rebel.

Around this time, Shasarak discovered Shadow Gates in Southern Magnamund left behind dimensional perturbations that weakened the Material Plane of Aon, and that by detonating Sun-stone shards close to where one used to be, he could rip the fabric of of Aon altogether. In doing so, he managed to communicate with Agarash the Damned, trapped beyond the Pit of Eternal Pain. Agarash proposed a bargain: He would give Shasarak the power of the Zadakar Demons, who had helped conquer Southern Magnamund for him during the Age of the Eternal Night, but if Shasarak failed, he would switch places with him in the Pit. Shasarak, in his arrogance, believed that defeat was impossible, and accepted. The Masbaté of Lissan had held out against Shasarak until this point (since MS 5044), forcing Shasarak to unleash the Zadakar Demons in MS 5057, who helped him conquer the remnants of Lissan, devastating the Masbaté who had stood steadfast against Shasarak until this point.

Shasarak's plan, however, was foiled by Grey Star, who had recovered the Moonstone and returned from the Daziarn. Grey Star used the power of the Moonstone to close the portal that bound the Demons to the Material Plane, causing them to vanish. This was the start of the end for Shasarak, as Grey Star lured the non-Zadakar Demon horde pursuing him into the Shadakine army, and the Masbaté sealed off their retreat. From here, Shadakine forces were put on the backfoot, with the allies of the Freedom Guild pushing them back to the Sadi Desert where they had first invaded from. Furthermore, Grey Star continued his pursuit of Shasarak, eventually confronting him as he attempted to enter the Pit of Eternal Pain to seal his bargain with Agarash, preferring eternal damnation over death. Agarash dragged Shasarak into the Pit, but despite his efforts to prevent him, Grey Star used the Moonstone to seal the Gate of Doom, trapping both of them inside.

Later history

With Shasarak's fall, Grey Star was proclaimed the Wizard Regent of Shadaki, and made its ruler. He was joined by Tanith, who had accompanied him on his quest, and the two were married. Also at some point around this time, Shadaki joined the Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund, the confederation of states that had emerged from the collapsed of the Shadakine Empire, and was aligned with the forces of Light.

In MS 5083, during the events of The Buccaneers of Shadaki, Grand Master journeyed through Shadaki, en route to the Isle of Lorn to deliver the Moonstone to the remaining Shianti there.

In MS 5086, Zultan Zedoli seized the throne of Shadaki in a bloody uprising, and the empire left the Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund. Grey Star was exiled to the Port of Suhn, where he remained the Wizard Regent of the Free Alliance. In MS 5089, Shadaki declared war on Korli and Forlu in response to the construction of a Kai Monastery on the Isle of Lorn; The Free Alliance and the Order of the Kai came to their aid, and in the Wwar of the Sea of Winds, Shadaki was soundly defeated, and forced to relinquish all its territorial gains. Zedoli was assassinated before the end of the year, and Ulonga, an evil Kitaezi Shaman and necromancer, seized control of Shadaki with the help of Sesketera. Despite the end of the war, skirmishes still occurred between Shadaki and Korli, which ceased in MS 5091.

In MS 5102, an army of Sadi warriors and undead attacked Lara from the Sadi Desert, forcing the Kundi to take refuge in Korli, where they were pursued. Grey Star undertook a daring mission to attack Shadaki City, triggering the downfall of the Kitaezi Shamans and driving the Sadians back to the Sadi Desert. Shadaki returned to the Free Alliance, but the cities of Tiklu, Zharloum and Nhang rebelled and seceded from Shadaki, joining the Imperial Shadakine Confederation, sworn enemies of the Free Alliance. Their first action was to seize the city of Kitaezi after a brutal assault led by Sesketera. The Free Alliance sieged Tiklu and blockaded the Kitaezi Strait, but were soundly defeated at Ghol-Tabras.

Geography

Shadaki is a vast empire on the eastern coast of Southern Magnamund. Its major neighbour is the Sadi Desert to the east, bordered by the Shada Mountains. Shadaki also posseesses a small border to Siyen and Lara.

Off the eastern coast lies the Koltanian Ocean, as well as a bay The Koltains to the south. To the north lies the Gulf of Tentarium, which leads into the Tentarias.

Shadaki is largely made of up forest. Four rivers flow through the empire: The Rivers Loga, Ocka, Rau and Ito. Two secondary mountain ranges jut from the Shada Mountains into Shadaki. The Ralzuha Jungle lies to the north of Shadaki.

The wasteland of Hol-da-kiem lies to the north of Shadaki, beyond a smaller mountain range.

Politics

Shadaki has had many rulers and governments throughout the ages. Due to its size, it is seen as an empire, rather than a country. Much of its documented history involves the dictatorship of the Shianti renegade Shasarak the Wytch-king, who led Shadaki into becoming part of the Shadakine Empire, one of the strongest empires Magnamund has ever seen. After Shasarak's fall, Grey Star became its Wizard Regent and ruler; however, his power was not absolute, with many individual figures holding near-absolute local power. Shadakine pirates continued to prey on vessels from Suhn, and Sesketera ruled Ghol-Tabras as his personal domain.

List of known rulers of Shadaki

• Jublazh Khyr (unknown)
• Shasarak (c. MS 3280–5057)
  • Also Overlord of the Shadakine Empire (MS 5034–5057)
• Wizard Regent Grey Star (MS 5057–5086)
• Zultan Zedoli (MS 5086–5089)
• Ulonga (MS 5089–5102)
• Wizard Regent Grey Star (MS 5102–present)

Economy

Shadaki is one of the wealthiest empires in Magnamund. Its resources include fishery, agriculture, shipbuilding, timber, iron ore, gold, copper, bronin, silver, rare gems, horses, and spices. Its currency is the Noble.

Demographics

Shadaki's native population is derived from the Shadakine peoples. In addition to humans, it is home to the Shadakine Wytches.

Despite the name, many of the Shadakine Warriors are not actually from Shadaki. These warriors were taken from the Tianese nations of Southern Magnamund, as well as the Sadi Desert, and inducted into Shasarak's control through rituals.

Culture

Despite Shadaki having a significant history aligned towards evil, not all people of Shadaki are evil. Its citizens are also seen as skilled in crafts and trades.

In the gamebooks

Shadaki is visited in The Buccaneers of Shadaki. The player, as Grand Master, journeys through Shadaki en route to the Isle of Lorn, to deliver the Moonstone to the Shianti. The player largely travels along the coast, although they will also enter Ghol-Tabras, where they are imprisoned by Sesketera.