Jistka Imperium

Jistka Imperium

(Nation)

Capital

Mirnura

Ruler

An Inperantike

Government

Monarchy

Demonym

Jistkans

Adjective

Jistkan

Languages

Jistka

Source: Lost Kingdoms, pg(s). 34ff. (1E)
World Guide, pg(s). 50 (2E)

A Jistkan behemoth golem, a fiendish automaton.

The Jistka Imperium (pronounced JIHST-kuh) was the first human kingdom to establish itself in the Inner Sea region after the centuries of darkness and devastation caused by Earthfall. It lasted from approximately -4120 AR until -2764 AR, and at its height controlled an area that covered what today is southwestern Cheliax and northwestern Garund. Its citizens spoke a nearly forgotten language called Jistka, whose alphabet became the basis of the alphabets of the modern languages of Skald, Varisian, and Taldane.

History

The Jistka Imperium ca. -3600 AR spanned from the modern regions of southwestern Cheliax to the southern reaches of Rahadoum and Thuvia.

The Jistka Imperium ruled over north-western Garund from the early years of the Age of Anguish (ca. -4120 AR), through the first 700 years of the Age of Destiny. At is height (in ca. -3500 AR) it dominated all of northwestern Garund and also parts of southwestern Avistan. This is evidenced in the Chelaxian cities of Westcrown and Corentyn, where some of the deepest and oldest ruins are clearly of Jistkan design.

One of the first documented sightings of a Spawn of Rovagug, the festering Ulunat, was recorded in -3729 AR in the Jistka Imperium. Accounts tell that six of Jistka's finest legions were sent to combat "a sky-filling darkness that flies on four hellish wings, vomiting always death". The fate of these legions is unknown, although they certainly did not destroy the monstrosity.

Around -3490 AR, mages of the Jistka Imperium began tapping into now forgotten magic that allowed them to bind and control genies, greatly enhancing the Imperium's power.

Weakened by raids of desert nomads and attacks by powerful outsiders from ca. -3300 AR onwards, and the lack of a strong eastern trade route, led to the slow decline of Jistka. The newly-risen kingdoms of Ancient Osirion and the Tekritanin League were simply easier for Jistka's eastern trade partners to reach.

In addition to the economic pressure put on Jistka by its eastern neighbors, came their eventual military push for expansion. Osirion, then a burgeoning kingdom under the control of the powerful Pharaoh of Forgotten Plagues pushed westward, forming an alliance with the Tekritanin League. Together, they overthrew already weakened Jistka, and the Imperium was plunged into numerous succession wars around -2764 AR, from which it was never again able to recover its former political, military, and economic power. Because of this military and economic defeat, the important cultural, magical, and technological advances of the Jistka Imperium were largely lost and forgotten.

Culture

Little is known of these truly ancient people, as time has erased most remnants of this once great culture, although it is assumed that they were of the Garundi ethnicity. At their height, the people of the Jistka Imperium were known for their great mechanical aptitude, which they overwhelmingly used to conquer other, less advanced, peoples. As the first human civilization to reemerge during the Age of Anguish, they brought the advances of culture back to the primitive peoples of Garund and Avistan, showing the way for others to follow.

They are known to have used magically controlled bulettes as part of their armed forces. After the decline of the Imperium, these creatures simply reverted to their wild state and still plague that land.

Jistkan ruins

Little remains of this truly ancient empire, having been lost to the passing years, the sands of the desert, or by adoption by other cultures. Few actual ruins remain, although most that do can be found in the modern nation of Rahadoum. They carry such names as the Hanging City of Teskra, Lost Yemal, and the Tomb of Emperors. Ruins in Avistan are extant but less common, and include the remnants of the ancient temple-forge Rachikan in southwestern Cheliax at the delta of the Maiestas River, and the coastal ruins of Nicyruse near to the modern city of Hinji.

Modern-day influence

When Aligois Thels reorganised the Hellknights, he based their ranks and organisation on the legions of Jistka.

References

Paizo published a chapter about the Jistka Imperium in Lost Kingdoms.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.