Published on August 30, 2025
Iluskan is a nation formed one hundred years of the third age.
Iluskan can trace its origin to the city-state of Luska. A small petty kingdom among a sea of many, Luska greatest attribuet was small amounts of fertile land and access to the Vadun sea. Infamous for being a mrchant state, the kingdom was a access point to enter and trade with the petty kingdoms of Paldatan.
For hundreds of years this land changed hands in small petty wars.
This all changed following the Great Alliance war. When Vecna attempted to rise to power, untold number die and vast lands were devestates by foul magic.
With the devestation of the nations of Alhorne and Dadrun at Vecna’s hands there was a massive influx of refugees. Having been opponents to Rodannin taleover, many of these groups of people refused Rodan’s terms to be integrated and tens of thousands fled south.
In this period, the states of Turami and Aralstin, launch an invasion of the kingdom of Nymos. The Kingdom, split into a civil war between loyalist forces and those backed by Turami, weakenee by the war agaisnt Vecna. Nymos capitulated within weeks of the invasion. With Turami and Aralstin disagreeing on how the land should be split, war was threatened and many more fled.
Vast numbere of Nymos population fled North, the two pronged exodus was welcomed and invitee by Luska’s leadership. Who saw the opportunity. Hundreds of thousand fled, and leadership elements including Nymos royal empress and Alhorne’s Former Princess. Deciding to unify in and increasingly hostile land, they fomed a nation of refugees.
Iluskan was also declared a free state, banning slavery so commonly practised in the world at that time, making it the perfect place was slaves from all over Allurian, especially its neighbours to flee to.
With this the Accord of Iluskan was founded, creating the Nation of Iluskan.
The creation saw Iluskan far outrival many of the many petty kingdoms in neighbouring Paldatan and the new growing nation was immediately under attack. First the neigbouring petty kingdoms invaded, attempting to block access to the refugee streams and crush the nation.
Iluskan in its first year of formation fought of numerous attacks. Following that up with attacks to crush said petty kingdoms.
Paldatan petty kingdoms responded by forming a grand alliance. However, despite intially being stronger and more organised on paper, Iluskan proved to have a more determined well led group whose number only swelled.
Many petty kingdoms were smashed and destroyed, its people falling under Iluskan and its leadership destroyed. A peace duty brokered by Rodan saw a peace treaty.
Iluskan quickly grew. Using its strategic position to act as a trade hub of the Vadun sea. Exporting rare minerals and exotic item for great profit. Open minded, and without restructions or tariffs, Ithiskar became the most popular trading destination in Iluskan.
Arcane crysals, deeply ancient was discovered in vast cavens under Iluskan and they were mined in small controlled amounts, boosting Iluskan’s economy further. Iluskan expanded west to the borders of Aethis Myr, and penetrated the wild south territory to expand further. Forming a pact of defence with the holy city of Aethis Myr, Iluskan helped greatly with its development and sustaintment. Iluskan also recruited aggresively mages and scholars to help accelerate infastructure and intellectual developments. For this reasom Iluskan soon rivalled the great nation of Rodan its infastructure, building vast irrigation networks, sewage systems.
Iluskan success would soon be a cause of hostility, more than a few Paldatan petty kings were absorbed, some willingly, others not so much. Iluskanian trade had sucked away much of the trade that once travelled through the Sadirian River to Turami and Aralstin.
Seeing Iluskan as a nation of people who should have been theirs. Turami and Aralstin cut land trade routes to Iluskan and began to plan to destroy the nation.
Paldatan was an ideal staging ground and plans were drawn up for an invasion. As diplomatic solution failed and tensions rose, the vast Turami and Aralstin forces swelled in Paldatan, threatening an invasion. Paldatan was only to happy to host and join in
With Turami and Aralstin terms unacceptable for thaey determiner huge percentage of Iluskanian trade. Iluskan launched a massive surprise attack.
The relatively untested Iluskan military surged forth and smashed through the combined forcee of Paldatan, Turami and Aralstin. In Eighteen days the Iluskanians achieved stunning victory, smashing Paldtan’s military strength and taking over much of its richest land. To this day, the Iluskanian victory, against a force that outnumbered it four to one is widely stufied as one the greatest military victory of all time.
Enraged by such a defeat, Turami and Aralstin would join with the remaining Paldatan forces fifteen years later. Launching a second attack, one that despite intial success saw Iluskanian military forces win against overwhelming numbers. Smashing them in numerous battles, most famously holding the now infamous crimson valley, smashing the three nation host.
Paldatan lost much of its lands, it’s many states collapsing admist a devestating Iluskanian counter attack. It was only by Rodanin pressure and military deployment threatening Iluskan new nothern border of the Doran Heights was Iluskan brokering a ceasefire.
Peace was remain though occasional skirmish broke out with Iluskan slowly removing petty kings who pverly hostile.
It would be another two hundred years before another war broke out. Paldatan had unified under a King, something that quickly tipped the balance.
Despite initially struggling to gain support from Turami and Aralstin, Paldatan was given discreet Rodanin support and began to plan to retake lost lands.
A compromise was proposed, Paldatan inability to have central leadership was one of the reason why reaching a peace deal had been impossible. Yet Paldatan demanded land under Iluskan control be returned. A solution deemed unacceptable.
When negotiations broke down, the broder violence escalated. Paldatan grew more organised, no longer a mess of a hundred states, Iluskan grew worried as Aralstin and Turami could easily add its forces.
A flashpoint occured when an Iluskanian border village and fort was attacked and burnt, leaving hundreds desd or captured and enslaved. Furious, Iluskan launched an immediate invasion.
Paldatan had been dveeloping and growing its forcee, but against Iluskan military they proved no match. Turami and Aralstin token forces were sent symbolically, but the result was inevitable.
Paldatan was forced to surrender and a peace deal was brokered, turning Paldatan into a shell of its foemal self with Iluskan occupying the land.
Iluskan now holds a semi occupation of Paldatan, occupying most of its lands and restricting movement to the rest. Paldatan continues to resist in some areas, and the fall of Paldatan and its rich resource has made a it a hotspot for criminal, freelancers and smugglers, causing ruckus on Ilsuakn’s eastern border.
“They had eight to one superiorty in infantry, four to one in calvary, four times more artillery pieces, hundreds of elephants and twice as many spellcasters. Yet by day thirty we had smashed them on every front. Such as the difference in leadership, quality and morale.”
Iluskan is regarded to have one of the best militaries in Allurian for its size. Widely regarded as an army that has never lost a war, while technically a half true, it is true that Iluskan’s military has never lost an open war.
Iluskan introduced the concept of national service, a concept later copied by the Eladari. While most nations raise large levies out of its lowborn civilian population while a few maintain large standing armies or have large reserves. Iluskan was created with the knowledge it was in a hostile land, and it needed a large defence force despite its intial small population, and needed a highly skilled force.
Taking inspiration fromm Nymos and Alhorne’s former military doctrine and experience. Iluskan conscripts every men and women at the age of eighteen to serve a minimum two and a half year period in the Iluskanian Security Command(ISC).
These servicemen and servicewomen are not just any conscripts. These soldiers are drilled and undergo rigerous training and are well equipped. They can easily match professional military forces.
Many when their duty is finished move on to civilian life, passing on to reserve formations. Others however go on to specalised units, many of which are some of best in the world.
Iluskanian military follows the Rodanin example and maintain a professional officer corps as well as large numbers of non-comissioned officers drawn from national servicemen. For this reason Iluskanian forces are exceptional well led and organised to even the smallest unit.
Iluskan maintains a military exchange and partnership with the Eladari, having been the nation who secretly assisted in the militarisation of the Eladari. For this invaluable and life saving effect, the Eladari trains hundreds of Iluskanian archers yearly, and also provided invaluable magical training.
Iluskan also boast some of the best light artillery with excellent range as well as heavy crossbowmen. This is as they have a longstanding partnserhip with dwarves who were great friends of Alhorne.
Iluskan also maintains devestating core of battle mages, using the plenty of crystals. Many of whom were trained by the Eladari and in recent times, the Shurinese. This gives Iluskan a unique blend of arcane warfare and doctrine which combined with their large number of spellcasters has made them formiddable
Iluskan military doctrin emphasises the usage of well drilled infantry to protect long range artillery pieces and large amounts of heavy crossbowmen and light archers who have tend to equipment and training drastically outrange their foes. Iluskan also boast an sizable calvary core, specalised in mounted archers and hard hitting charges. Iluskanian calvary is used to haress and exploit, rather than head on charges the heavy knights many in the world use.
Rounding out Iluskan’s forces is its large and imoressive fleet of Griffin Riders. Having been tamed and befriended during Iluskan’s forming. Iluskan boast a substantial fleet of such riders. Iluskan uses the unique air power as substantial force mutiplyere, firing bombs or fireballs from the sky
The Iluskanian fleet is relatively small, relying on fast attack frigates and a handfull of war galleys to protect its shipping lane. Augmented by spellcasters ans griffin riders, this small force certainly can punch above its own weight
The most powerfull arguably of Iluskan’s security command is the Iluskanian Strategic Security Defence Agency. Iluskan’s premiere intelligence and special operation depertment. Widely regarded as one of the best intelligence agency in the world.
Iluskan’s military is comprised of the followng:
Iluskan Ground Command: The primary fighting force oper
Iluskan Naval Command: Operate the variety of ships used to defend Iluskan’s seas
Iluskan Air Command: Operates Iluskan’s fleet of griffin riders
Iluskan Strategic Security Defence Agency: Intelligence and special operations department. In charge of external intelligence, operations of cover units and managing spy network.
Iluskan Border Security: Manages the borders, customs and occupation zones. Works with naval and ground command.
Internal Security Department: Manages internal security.
Iluskan economy relies heavily on trade. In its lands are rich deposite of gold, silver, iron and other exotic metals such as obsidian and those of even more unknown origin.
Arcane Crystals named Vardium crystals are found in vast desposits underground and these are carefully minded and controlled. Ensuring no overmining, for these crystals come from deep ancient mines and ruins.
Iluskan host some of the world’s most succesfulll buisenessess and merchants and they help faciliate the Iluskanian economy as well as providing jobs.
Iluskan is also a center for arcane and technological research. While not the foremost, Iluskan remains a frontrunner.
Iluskan is widely considered one of the wealthiest countries on a size basis. Very few of its people live in poverty and this is reflected in low crime rates and high housing rates
Iluskan is a nation infamously tricky diplomatically. While it welcomes many friends, Iluskan maintains a cautious approach. It controls the export of crystals in carefully.
Iluskan is also a nation that puts it security first and foremost and its action in pursuit of that has ruffled more than a few feathers.
For this reason Iluskan maintains many allies, but many of these relationships are shacky and Iluskan deems them false friends who are there for Iluskan’s wealth.
Iluskan’s existence also makes it many enemies. It’s high tiefling population has made it a heart of conspiracy theories. Paldatan also claims its lands, and the wars with it and the Sadirian states have only festered hatred. Rodan and the Sadirian states both see Iluskan as made from people who they believe should be under. While the former maintains diplomatic and economic ties, the latter flatly refuses to recognise Iluskanian rule.
It’s relationship with its now vassal state, Paldatan is equall highly complex and hostile. Parts remain occupied, while others Iluskan surrounds, controlling its resource supply in an effort to prevent it from fully becoming a threat.
Iluskan maintains a close friendship with Cadmir, being helping the island nation with trade facilitation. This friendship dates back to even pre-founding times for Iluskan once hosted an Cadmirian trading outpost and thus is deeply rooted.
With Rodan Iluskan holds a highly complex. Rodan spends millions of gold every year to trade small amounts of crystals. Yet Rodan has threatened ro conquer Iluskan on numerous occasions and small fights have broken out. Iluskan have resisted the Rodanin sphere of influence in an effort to remain firecly independent.
It is with Estaril the nation of Ithiskar holds close friendship to, being extremely close the island nation. Which has earned it a valuable trustworthy allyZ
Iluskan also maintains excellent relationship with the Mountain Dwarves and High Elves. They have always been sensitive to the former, backing and assisting them politically and economically. To the latter, it is said the Eladari military was build by Iluskanians, and the elves have repaid that debt tenfold. Both nations thus share their rich treasure, technology and secrets otherwise gated to other factions.
Iluskanian people are defined generally by being highly creative, blunt, humorous, informal and adaptable. Iluskans ditches the heriachy enforced by so many nations in favor of practising merticracy.
Iluskanian culture is thus open, a melting pot of culture from all over Allurian. All of the people from which they are descended from each have a national holiday and are widely celeberated.
Iluskan has a culture of openess, things that are seen as vulgar, lewd, unprofessional or even barbaric are practises in Iluskan.
Iluskanian food reflects this. Food is a uniqur cultural blend. Nymos Southern curries fixed with Alhorne style flat bread, salted baked fish from the sea. Meats is usually roasted, baked, stewed or curried. Chicken and Turkey are most common but lanb, beef, pork, and came are common. Camel milk, coconuts, sugar cane are common supplements to water. Camel and goat cheese including a plethora of spices are also seen.
Fruits and vegetables are also a stapple, salad is eaten in all 3 meals. Citrus fruit farms are almost in every household, oranges, grapefruit, lemon and lime are some of the most common. But pomelo, lychee, graps, promegrantes and nectars are also preseny.
Iluskan’s dress simply to reflect the hot weather. Simple tunics and skirts are popular. There is no dress code in Iluskan, and few basic laws regarding it, rare among the nations of Allurian.
Iluskan’s goverment is a strange mix. It is ruled by a figure they only know as the Lady of Iluskan, one of the founding member of Iluskan. Her exact nature is unknown for she has ruled since Iluskan’s founding. Some rumor she is a demi-goddess, or someone who found immortality, others whisper she is a dragon. What is not in doubt is her commitment to Iluskan for in past war, she herself has stepped out to fight battles for Iluskan. She appears rarely in public as a browned skinned women with dark brown hair with delictae features and piercing reddish eyes. Her involvement in daily Iluskan affairs is little and only in crisis do senior Iluskan leadership ask for her advice
Direct goverment is made by the cabinet, half are picked by the lady of Iluskan, half are picked by the parliment of Iluskan. They are made up of ministers who dictate key policy, and lead the nation, led by a prime minister elected by the parliment.
Parliment is made of Iluskanian elected representatives elected by Iluskanians. Though some seats are reserved by specific groups such as military , merchants, workers unions, certain noble houses and other groups. They are the ones who dictate, propse and vote on local policy and laws, though foreign policy is strictly for the cabinet.
Iluskan however internal securitu maintains a low key but strict presence, and anyone who is suspected of not being loyal to Iluskan first is closely watched, and it is not unheard of for disssidants to be imprisoned. Questioning goverment policy is encouraged in most areas, but when Iluskan security and integrity, no one is immune to the internal security forces.