The ancient history of the Regil Plains only gingerly steps out of the fog of myth into events we can actually corroborate. The earliest records we have are those of Kanaši merchants working out of their treaty port of Venóšatz, situated at the future Čal entrepot of Eīlissan. They tell of numerous competing city-states divided between two squabbling branches of a greater people, the Ker and Anaşa Salanja. As records improve, we learn more and more of the statelets' names, including a moderately-sized (for the region) city sitting on the banks of the Regil River itself, Kitran, which thought quite highly of itself. We can begin reading her own records shortly thereafter, as her peaceful absorption of the adjacent city of Saşém gave her a liking for expansion. Perhaps the definitive event in its early history was the defeat and annexation, following a long struggle, of the rival proto-state of Konjéwo; this also prompted Kitran's ruler to rename the city, to Arahél (city of greatness). Its ambitions soon outgrew its nursery along the Regil, and reunification of the sundered Salanjan peoples became its goal.

Kitran/Arahél's armies were early commanded by her nobility, who had proven their aptitude at command time and time again. The commands quickly became hereditary, which would have been problematic if the nobles had not made sure their most capable offspring inherited, but the tactical brilliance was passed down the families quite well. Humility and sense of duty, however, were not. Subsequent generations of nobles became more careless and wrathful in how they treated those who they defeated, but still maintained their fighting edge. This trend came to a head during a major campaign to take several Ker city-states, chief among them the bustling trade city of Teršelai. The generals had expected a quick victory, but the Teršelene militia held out for nearly three months, unheardof in a people more known for their creative works than martial prowess. So they ordered an example made of the city when it was finally taken. They were required to send reports to the city and people of Arahél by custom, which they doctored to hide the truth of the end to the siege.

Enter an outspoken noblewoman, Meihou Janoutsé. She knew the commanders, having dealt with them in the hubub of Anaşali court intrigue over the years; she knew their arrogance, and was thus not terribly well-disposed towards believing them. But even this did not mean she could believe the rumors which reached her, that the campaign against Teršelai had gone terribly wrong. She set out herself to find out the truth; once she did so, she produced the following speech, presented here in its written, disseminated form.

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I grieve as I put these words to ink, Anaşali. If I had thought before of this task I now take up, I would have exclaimed I would never take part in it. But since I learned what I have learned, I could never allow myself not to. A veil has been drawn hastily in front of our eyes, Anaşali, hiding a blasphemous truth from them. The truth of Teršelai.

I have been there, my people. I saw what remained of Teršelai. I spoke to the few Teršelene women I could find. They told me that their council had called up the men for a militia, as any good Salanjan would when faced with a foe, even their own brethren…and they fought well, for over 5 zehesi even! Even though they are but Ker, they still made Nurhas proud with their persistence. But they were no match for the skill of our brave soldiers, and we broke through their lines. Yes, I do not disagree with the basic matter, Teršelai is now ours, but what was ordered after this was no redeeming to the Teršelai, it called foul Şerau to the field of battle and the culled city. The stench was revolting; pools of blood and gore stewed in her once fair lanes. I beheld the sight of many, so so many good Salanja cut down...this sent a lance into my soul, my people. And set my blood aflame.

You will recall that I spoke of only finding women, this is not because I did not look for or speak to men, I tried in vain to do both; I could not find any males over 10, and the women said they had all been put to death. I spoke with some of our soldiers, who dared retribution from the moneyed layabouts commanding them but spoke with me all the same, showing their valorous courage; they grimly confirmed what the women had told me. It went against the essence of being Salanja, but because they are above all else Anaşali, they followed their orders. I do not call for action against them. The blame must fall on the arm that holds the rod of command.

Of course the Teršelenes should submit themselves to our rule as Nodelo decreed, but they are still Salanja! Quarter must be given! Nothing can justify this heinous act. And they, those self-loving nobles who sit at the heads of our great armies, what did they say in their public notices which they sent back to us? Lies about the Teršelene bellicoseness, lies about how immorally they fought , and lies about what they ordered done to the city! I can only imagine that our emperor does nothing because they have no doubt managed to deceive him as well. We cannot stand for this, my Anaşali!

The honor and standing of Anaşali is at stake. We, Anaşali, must act to remove those who threaten our birthright, our rise to greatness, our very being. If we do not avenge our brethren's murders, Salanja will be undone! When we finally shuffle out of this life like the cattle we would be, Nurhas will look grimly upon our shameful souls. Ješmante will weep and shall not weave us our cloaks. And should any of us survive the remaining journey, Nodelo will judge us harshly, and cast us all from the from the clouds into the unending nothing. And our brethren will go unavenged. We cannot allow this to transpire.

I hope that each of you are asking yourselves, as Anaşali, 'what can be done'? There is but one thing we can do: purge their gluttinous forms from our majestic city, so they may never sully our honor again. Grant vengeance to the wrongly-dead. Restore spirit to our soldiers. Reclaim the rod of command from those who have most greivously abused it.