Launched by the Xaftaan buur (king), Daagulen-Tam Dinga, looking to expand his kingdom north across the sea and south into Daehan lands. This was also the time of the first and only ma'andjan (tall-king) of the Seven City-states, Adama Dio.
For eons the northern continent of Mbor lay tied to its southern twin, Gaabar, by a sliver of land. It was on this sliver that the mighty nation of Xanjarnou once sat. But then the seas heaved, raising the waters of the east high above amber-crowned towers and bulging eyes. The land exploded and cracked under the weight of charging waves. Screams faded into the thunder and crash of the world tearing underfoot as two continents chasmed to the slaughter of Xanjargaas and their empire.
Many years faded since the Baa-Xar (Great Tear) and the sinking of Xanjarnou, before the Xaftaangaa tribes began to expand from the north of Gaabar, conquering the many tribes that survived the devastating upheaval. But the south was not enough for the elevated heirs to empire.
They coveted Mbor, the rich land of the north. With its fertile hills, roaring rivers, and mountains dotting the lands. Its valleys and plateaus bearing iron ore, grain, and beast for the feasting. But first, the Daehan ambitions must be blunted. These were the people of the raven manes and lean eyes, ruling the lands south of the Xaftaangaas. They lived and traded with Xanjarnou before the Baa-Xar, exchanging ideas and secrets, creating a great merchant empire with their northern peers. But after the disaster, they held sway as the only empire and navel power in the southern most region of Gaabar. Daagulen-Tam Dinga, the Buur of Xaftaan, decided to change that.
He commanded all the surviving Xanjargaa scholars and Xaftaangaa artisans to build a navel force and in the ensuing years created a military to rival the Daehans. The Xaftaangaas quickly adapted their still evolving military into a maritime force and attacked Daehan lands and vessels.
This unprovoked war forced the warrior caste, still in conflict with the barbarians of the Battle-Steppes, to repel two nations. Xaftaan in the north and east, nomadic reavers to the west. And after five crimson years, the iron will of the Xaftaangaa giants prevailed against an ancient empire in decline. The Xaftaangaas were able to consolidate captured lands and subjugate the Daehans to an amicable treaty. And with the south pacified Buur Daagulen-Tam Dinga set upon the lands of the Asuah and the Dens in the northwest.
The Asuah led a closed existence, allowing only merchants from the Den cities of Da Zazza and Da Daura, and the occasional emissary to enter into there jealously guarded lands. The Dens on the other hand were the descendents of the Bafour tribes who warred with the Zarma in faraway north for land and livestock before the Baa-Xar Calamity. But were scattered in defeat and became the Kajanjuden, "Sons of the Battle-cry", barely surviving in the western wilderland of brutish beast and ancient atrocities. Some escaped over mountain barriers and yawning chasms, defying the odds traveled south becoming the Sonkoden. But the "Sons of Quarrel" fought amongst themselves and drove out their unwanted kin, who trekked further south to the Asuah, becoming blood kin with their daughters. But many wished to create their own land and the princes of the kingdomless ma'an (king) broke ties with their father and traveled south again, taking all who would follow. They were the Manden, "Sons of Kings" and they built villages and towns, which grew into the seven city-states, named after the great Simbon heroes of their time.
This Manden brood of the seven city-states, flourished on Mbor's southwestern peninsula, leaving the interior to their wilder brothers, the Sonkoden and the Kajanjuden. Nations who still lived in scattered villages and relied on raiding and hunting. But, they became heirs to the Bafour and were renowned as great warriors able to match blows with any nation or beast. Their independent blood forever separated them into warring city-states. The Xaftaangaas knew this and moved to strike them first with deceit and fiction.
They sent spies to orchestrate discord and confusion within the courts and clans, forging mistrust and dissension within the city-states, and as they quarreled amongst themselves the Xaftaan fleet landed. First laying siege to Da Fabba and ravaging the countryside. Da Famadjan was too far to assist in the resistance and Da Zazza had already closed itself off to the ambassadors of the beleaguered city-state. Da Fabba was the first of the Manden city-states to fall to the southern wave. When the outlying towns were subdued, the Xaftaan army swept through as a brushfire in the sun seasons.
The news of the invading host from across the sea did little to bond the warring clans and cities. Da Boura would never trust Da Djera, and Da Daura held little faith in the arms of Da Zazza's champions.
But, from the northern realms descended a warrior of great charisma. A son of a Kajanjuden noble clan who came with fire and steel, assaulting the city-state of Da Traore and then Da Djera, quickly bending them to his iron will. The Da Bourans, hearing the whispers of destiny, allied themselves with him and so began the binding of the divided city-states into one kingdom. Before he even reached Da Famadjan the people, believing the ruling ma'an weak and ineffective, rose up and gave the holy city to him.
Word spread rapidly of the ascendancy of this conquering usurper who called himself Adama Dio and talk of a unified Manden empire rose up from the throats of djelis, heroes, craftsmen, and merchants. The cry for armed resistance from the invading Xaftaan host gained support, spreading from the eastern mountains of the Fouta Juma to the western boundaries of the Asuah.
The Xaftaan general, Birayma Tase, now in possession of Da Fabban ports trampled thru the land and devised a strategy to take Da Famadjan by sea and land, cutting off the Daaba River. But, as he marched through the Sansandirou Mountains to the southern city a force of Da Traorans, Da Djerans, and Da Bourans stopped his advance and drove him back to Da Fabba. The djelis dubbed this the Battle of Sansandirou Vale. The Da Famadjan fleet, with equally experienced seaman fought a bloody battle at sea with the Xaftaan mariners. This was dubbed the Battle of Daaba Berth. And thou their victory was costly they were able to destroy half of Buur Daagulen-Tam Dinga's fleet.
Adama Dio, learning that the Xaftaan were once again at war with the Daehan Empire, invaded Da Fabba, wiping out the occupying army and sending back the survivors with the heads of their fallen comrades and generals. Birayma Tase returned to Xaftaan with thirty thousand heads, seven crewmen, and limbless.
Ma'andjan Adama then set about rebuilding city defenses and reconstituting trade amongst the once separate territories. Alliances were made with the northern neighbors, insuring peace among the Northern Dens and the Asuah. Public works projects were implemented throughout his newly won domain. The new ruling council even went so far as to proclaim the whole of the Manden held peninsula Da Dio (The Make of Dio).
Fourteen years of relative peace existed throughout. The northern tribes slowly resigned themselves to trade with their brothers in the south and east. And news of the unexpected death of Satybuur Daagulen-Tam Dinga triggered festivals and celebration throughout Da Dio. But the years of Den unification were doomed from the start, for the sons of Adama Dio could not hold that which their father had seized.