CURRENT: Mass Effect AU: Turian Hierarchy

The Turian Hierarchy is the third nation of the Citadel Territories, and the latest to receive a place on the Citadel Council. Commonly known for their martial prowess, they earned that seat putting down the Krogan horde invasions of the 7th Century. The defeat assured by the utilization of the Phage Curse created by the Salarian Alchemy and Enchanters Guilds, which virtually sterilized the Krogan and sent them into a decline. The Turian Hierarchy then took up the mantle as the Citadel’s main military force, and is considered the sword and shield of the council.

The Turian people originate in the Apien Basin, an area offering an ever-changing landscape of high mountains, rocky shores, semi-arid steppes, coastal wetlands, sandy beaches and a myriad of islands of various shapes and sizes dotted amidst the Apien Sea. The Basin extends into the Silean plains in the north to the temperate climate Kite mountains in the south. While also being bounded by the Apien Crest Mountains in the east, and the Skyllian Ocean in the west.

The Courts of Dekuun, the Citadel, and the Asari Republic lay in the North. The Traverse City States and the Terminus frontier lay to the East, while the Batarian Hegemony and the Triumvirate Territories lay to the south.

The Turian Civilization is an old one, spanning thousands of years before the founding of the Citadel Council, and taking on many incarnations. The most impressive being the Palaven Empire, which ruled for over 500 years, and at it’s height encompassed the entirety of the Basin, the Kite Peninsula in the south along with the Silean plains and parts of the Traverse City States.  Ruled through a myriad of Emperors and Military Senates, the decline of the empire began with the Batarian Rebellions, who at the time were a subject kingdom. Centuries of subjugation and slavery had turned the Batarians resentful, and after a severe epidemic of plague swept through the Empire, the Batarians Slave Rebellions began. Soon after the rebellion’s success, the Traverse City States united and pushed the Turians back into their traditional territory. After a series of succession crises, accompanied by civil wars, the Empire fractured into the seventeen Turian Kingdoms.

The current form of the Turian Hierarchy took five hundred years to bring about, with the Unification Wars. The Palaven Kingdom sought to gain it’s former glory, and through it’s continued military prowess brought each of it’s rivals back under the fold. By the time the Citadel Council made contact, the Turian Hierarchy had maintained stability for over two centuries and was able to put down the Krogan Horde Invasions effectively.

This was mainly accomplished through the usage of technology uniquely developed by the Turians. Known as Black Powder, it is utilized in most Turian weaponry, and can fling metal objects at devastating speeds. While Mages are powerful, and capable of blocking such things, few are quick enough to do so, which spelled the downfall of the incredibly skilled mages of the former Krogan Military. While magic is still utilized, Turians focus on enchanting armor, weapons, steeds and ships.

For the most part the Turian Hierarchy has been a force of peace throughout the Citadel Territories, with one notable exception, it can be held almost directly accountable for the hostile relations between the Citadel, and the Triumvirate. The Triumvirate itself is a fairely new power, founded 200 years ago by the Acts of Reconciliation and Restoration, signed by Quarian Caravan Council, the Geth Primus, and the Faelish Archons. While new, it’s rapid rise to power and influence has made it a force to contend with, specifically considering it’s first interaction with the Citadel.

Ever since the Morning War that began the Quarian Diaspora, the Quarian people have been treated with disdain, considered beggars and thieves. Regulated to the Terminus Frontier and the Traverse City States, the four great Caravans were often either attacked or firmly asked to leave under no uncertain terms. Then in the 19^th Century, after the massacre of the 4^th Great Caravan by Terminus raiders, there was a massive buildup of Quarians near the City state of Kosh, near the lands between the Traverse and the Terminus Frontier. The Praetor of Kosh, a Turian with close ties to high level Hierarchy generals, set out to disperse the main camp with over 300 City Guardsmen.  When they arrived, they found that the entirety of the 1^st and 3^rd Great Caravans, tens of thousands of people, had gathered there and where waiting for the 2^nd to come from the north. No reason was known It was there that the Praetor first encountered the Faelish, a people yet unknown to the greater world of Herah. The demand to disperse was made, and an argument ensued. Accounts vary, but for whatever reason, the Guardsmen were ordered to form up and attack the camp. Of those 300, only the Praetor and his personal guard of 12 returned.

Desperate not to lose face in front of his rivals, the Praetor petitioned the Turian Hierarchy specifically to deal with the problem. What followed has now been named the Sunset War, as it was signaled as the end of perceived Turian military invincibility. While only lasting four months, the toll was heavy, the Turians losing thousands, and the Citadel, losing face, as the actions taken by the Hierarchy were not agreed upon by the Council. Diplomacy pushed by the Asari and Salarion councilors thwarted the danger of a wider war, but animosity remains to such a degree that a silent conflict has been waged through influence, espionage, and economics. The Triumvirate was territories were established soon after the conclusion of the Sunset War.