WTFBT Expanded: The Autumn Uprising

The Autumn Uprising, led by Lord Kedar Pandey, was a rebellion in the Summerlands from 12 to 13 SM. It resulted in the extinction of House Summers, which had ruled the Summerlands since the eighth century of the Empyrean Ascendancy Era.   

Background

Descent of the Sun

For over five hundred years, House Summers had ruled the Summerlands. Sunahiri Summers became King of the Summerlands in 1183 EAE and built the Sun Palace, plunging the crown into debt. To balance the budget, King Sunahiri approved massive tax hikes, which angered many within the Summerlands. In 10 SM, Ayaan Summers murdered his siblings, Ramesh and Indyra, in an attempt to inherit the throne. This event threw the Summerlands into disarray when Dashra Summers, a young and sickly girl, became next in line. Heartbroken, Sunahiri renamed the rivers near Alyzum after his deceased children and sold Ayaan to become a gladiator. 

House Pandey’s Rise

Lord Temur Pandey was an ambitious man who utilized marriage alliances to help his house flourish. He married Lady Syeva Nores, with whom he had several children. With his firstborn son, Kedar, Temur defied tradition by establishing a marriage with the rising House Ashmire, upsetting the Great Summerland Houses. Although Lord Temur sought to marry his children into the Great Summerland Houses, he succeeded in marrying only one of his children to House Naidu. He also secured marriage alliances with House Kanath, House Dogar, House Malik, and the Tamaran Family. By 8 SM, House Pandey had emerged as a significant power in the Summerlands, rivaling the ruling House Summers.

Important Pandey Marriages

During this time, House Pandey created several important alliances through marriage. These marriages were:

• Kedar to Lady Ersa Ashmire

• Summer to Lord Ascar Malik 

• Se've to Lord Mithun Naidu

• Jochi to Lady Rehka Kanath

• Oren to Lady Leyla Dogar

• Aruni to Naveen, from the Tamaran Family. 

The Autumn Uprising

Rumblings of Revolt

In 11 SM, discussions of peasant revolts arose throughout the Summerlands, alarming the ailing King Sunahiri Summers. Collaborating with his closest friend, Lord Karam Thoren, King Sunahiri created a marriage between his daughter, Dashra, and Karam’s son, Rolind, a man ten years older than Dashra. Although Sunahiri initially opposed the marriage due to the age difference, he recognized the need to secure his family’s protection at that time and believed this was the best solution. Dashra Summers and Rolind Thoren wed, and by the end of the year, Dashra was pregnant. 

Throughout 11 SM, Lord Kedar Pandey consistently met with his allies, agreeing they could manage their cities better without House Summers’ interference. With the crown and the other Great Summerland Houses in disarray, Lord Kedar seized the opportunity to strengthen his troops and form an army, being the first non-ruling highborn house to do so. He claimed that the army was intended to eliminate any Arcs in the vicinity of Sandwick. However, by 12 SM, his army had incorporated troops from his other alliances, now known as the Defectors, rivaling the House Summers’ forces. 

March on Alyzum

During the late summer of 12 SM, Dashra Summers gave birth to her only child, Brahice, at the age of fourteen. A few weeks later, King Sunahiri died, and Dashra became the Queen of the Summerlands. Lord Kedar saw this as the perfect opportunity. He marched his army on Alyzum, easily overtaking the city before the other Great Summerland House troops could arrive to support House Summers. Queen Dashra Summers relinquished the throne, not wanting to fight. Desiring to be seen as a merciful king, Kedar Pandey took the throne without bloodshed and promised to spare Dashra and her family’s lives. 

A New King in Town

Kedar Pandey crowned himself King of the Summerlands during the New Year of 13 SM, dismantling House Summers, which had ruled for over five hundred years. He granted Sandwick to House Summers and renamed Alyzum to Pande.  

Although Kedar promised to spare Queen Dashra’s life, forces from House Dogar executed the young queen, her husband, and their baby, angering many. In response, several highborn houses opposed House Pandey’s new rule and refused to pay taxes. While the houses that formed the Defectors were wealthy, they struggled to meet the costs required to sustain the Summerlands.

Aftermath

In 25 SM, the Great Summerland Rebellion against House Pandey broke out, leading to years of bloodshed. By 27 SM, the Great Houses deposed King Kedar and voted to make Saika Thoren the new King of the Summerlands.