History of Rissland

The history of Rissland covers important events of Rissland, a country in Anaria.

Foundation

The foundation of the Riss starts with the invasion of Dhonowlgos during the Helreich-Wolgos War in 7456-7460. The accounts of the entire invasion is unclear as reports of the ordeal miss entire sections and angles to the conflict. At the start of the invasion, it is known that overwhelming air and naval forces overcame Wolgos forces of the island's southern shores. Beach landings progressed and a bitter fight for the island proceeded for the following 14 months. At the 14 month mark, records of the conflict become significantly patchy and incomplete. During this time, Wolgos forces broke their lines and ordered a full retreat and evacuation of the island. It is known that the population of Dhonowlgos before the conflict was roughly 12 million, but reports by The Bind report only 4.5 million were evacuated, another 4 million Wolgos perished while 3.5 million Eokoesr were freed.

At the end of the conflict, Häverist forces stopped near the east coast and halted their advance as the Wolgos took a last stand. Ferocity of the defenders at this point of the war have been told in stories by survivors of the war. At this stage, the Hellish navy blockaded the eastern coasts of the island and started bombarding the coast, all while maintaining a siege of the surrounding lands. With food supplies being cut off or destroyed, the remaining Wolgos lasted six months before food supplies ran out, leaving the remaining Wolgos too weak to be effective in combat. No surrender was made by the Wolgos. All lands gained by the Häverists were now firmly under their control and was further on known by the name, the Riss, which in Stoldish means "the fissure".

Under the orders of the newly created Stolvic Häverist Commonwealth, the lands of the Riss were to become a Commonhold within the Commonwealth. Direktors were then and on forward chosen to rule the colonists that brave the choice of settling of the lands of the Riss.

Emancipation of the Eokoesr

The establishment of Rissland after the fall of Dhownolgos marked the beginning of a complex and challenging era, particularly in the integration and rehabilitation of the emancipated Eokoesr slaves. This period was characterized by immense hardship, cultural reconstruction, and the formation of a new societal identity.

Rissland inherited a land deeply scarred by war and the scorched-earth tactics of the retreating Wolgos. The destruction was all-encompassing: infrastructure was in ruins, agricultural lands were barren, forests were razed, and rivers were poisoned. Amidst this desolation, the Häverists faced the daunting task of rehabilitating the land and integrating over three and a half million emancipated Eokoesr slaves.

The Eokoesr, having endured centuries of oppression, emerged as a people devoid of direction and cultural identity. Their lives under Wolgos rule, marked by deprivation and inhumane treatment, left them without social cohesion, culture, or skills beyond basic labour. Many were physically mutilated or disabled, hindering their ability to communicate and function independently. The magnitude of their suffering and the loss of their cultural heritage were profound.

Initially, the Häverists were appalled by the Eokoesr's behaviour, which mirrored the savagery they had experienced under the Wolgos. However, understanding the deep psychological impact of their oppression, the liberators adopted a compassionate approach. They provided basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing, and started to teach the Eokoesr the basics of self-sufficiency and community living.

A pivotal development in the rehabilitation process was the introduction of Hellish sign language. This initiative facilitated communication between the Eokoesr and their liberators, fostering understanding and cooperation. The Hellish personnel also played a crucial role in teaching the Eokoesr to form families and communities. These new social structures were formed pragmatically, as tracing lineage was impossible. The process of building families and communities from scratch was a testament to the depth of cultural erasure the Eokoesr had endured.

Over time, the Eokoesr, familiar with Wolgos culture, began to adopt aspects of it in their daily lives, such as clothing styles, language, and cuisine. This mimicry was initially problematic for the Häverists, who endeavored to integrate the Eokoesr into Hellish culture. The result of these efforts was the emergence of a hybrid culture, blending Hellish and Wolgos influences. The Wolgos language, enriched with Hellish elements, became a symbol of this new cultural identity.

Wolgos question

The aftermath of the invasion of Dhownolgos presented significant challenges for the Häverist forces, particularly in dealing with the remaining Wolgos population. This period marked a complex and ultimately unsuccessful attempt at rehabilitation and integration, highlighting profound cultural and psychological differences.

In the wake of the invasion, hundreds of thousands of Wolgos were left behind as their brethren retreated. The Häverist forces, in an effort to control and manage this population, interned them in secluded valleys. However, they soon realized that the Wolgos were unlike any other population they had previously encountered or occupied. The Wolgos' resistance and cultural distinctiveness presented unique challenges for the Häverists.

Aiming to transform these Wolgos into Häverist citizens, the Häverist command, supported by academics, initiated rehabilitation programs. However, these efforts were met with stubborn resistance and outright rejection from the Wolgos community. The Wolgos' strong cultural identity and resistance to outside influence made the task of rehabilitation particularly arduous.

In a controversial move, the Häverist authorities decided to separate Wolgos children from their parents, intending to break the continuity of Wolgos culture. This decision was based on the belief that re-educating the younger generation would be more effective. However, the upbringing and re-education of Wolgos children proved to be a failure, largely due to a poor understanding of Wolgos psychology by the Häverist. The children often displayed behaviours such as deception, violence, and cruelty, which deeply troubled and demoralized their Helish caregivers.

The re-education programs inadvertently raised a generation of maladapted Wolgos. Despite superficially adopting Hellish morals, many of these individuals were deeply troubled and posed a significant danger to society. The period was marked by numerous disturbances and crimes committed by these individuals, causing widespread concern and scandal.

After two decades of effort and significant resource expenditure, Helreich finally permitted its Wolgos population to leave for the Bind. By this time, however, the damage was substantial. Many Wolgos had died, and the attempts at integration were widely regarded as a failure.