The Marches history
The ancestors of the Marchers began as yeomen in Dawn. WWhen the Dawnish began to create their own kingdom, they blithely assumed that everything would continue as it had in their original nation across the sea. The forbears of the Marchers had different ideas. They refused point-blank to continue with the ideas of tests of mettle and noble houses. They wanted a different way of living. When nobles in Dawn disagree, they are free to leave their noble houses and form new ones; the Marchers did the same thing, but on a dramatically larger scale.
Yeomen unhappy with their two-tiered society picked up their families and their possessions and joined together with others. There were several armed clashes, but in the end a large force of yeomen marched westward, out of Dawn. They had few real weapons or pieces of armour between them. and the Dawnish fully expected them to all die or at least come running back during the first harsh winter. Instead, the Marchers took their improvised weapons and arming jacks and carved out a kingdom for themselves, slaughtering the orc tribes they encountered and driving them before them with grim determination.
After their initial show of unity, the Marchers quickly splintered into rival households. While they were capable of co-operating, especially to fend off outside threats, their history is littered with internal conflict; skirmishes and even occasional battles between housholds. One of the few things they all agreed on is that there would be "no lords." Nobody would set themselves up as having authority over their fellow yeomen.
There are clear contrasts between the yeomen of the Marches and the inhabitants of Dawn. Their priests eschewed the bright clothing and privileged station of the Troubadours, embracing hard work and spirituality. Over time groups of magicians organised themselves to become the first Landskeepers, focusing on the fertility of the fields and the safety of their nation rather than self-aggrandisement.
Over the next several centuries there were numerous clashes between the Marchers and the people of Dawn. Occasionally one or the other would attempt to expand into the neighbouring nation's territory. To this day the easternmost parts of the Marches and the westernmost parts of Dawn are scattered with battlefields and (largely abandoned) castles. There were occasional skirishes with the folk of Wintermark to the north, and regular battles against opportunistic orc hordes to the west.
The First Empress did not come to the Marches. One of her advisors, a Landskeeper called Brigit of Dourfen, spread the word of her first gathering to the Marcher Lords, and while several attended the majority did not. After hearing the Empress speak, the Marcherfolk who were present debated for several days and a number of them who were mostly interested in joining approached the Empress. On hearing their words, the Empress refused them. "I will take all of you, or none of you." she said, and walked away.
Initially flabbergasted, wise Brigit explained what the Empress probably meant - that the Empire had no use for a divided land. It would not take some of the Marcher Households, and let the others squabble among themselves. If the Marchers were serious about joining, they would need to be united in doing so.
Historians sometimes debate whether the Empress should not simply have used her nascent army to unite the Marches herself, but it is generally agreed that doing so would have been a disaster. The Empire could not afford to become bogged down in a Marcher civil war, with soe many other enemies to fight; and the Marches traditionally are very hard to conquer for any period of time. Their dogged determination and ability to hold grudges would have meant that the Empire would have to have established a military dictatorship in perpetuity to keep the place under control.
The Marchers returned to the Marches, and a civil war ensued. Those Marcher Households and Landskeepers who sided with the Empress and her vision of a united mankind used diplomacy where they could, and force of arms where they could not. In the end, the forces of those who sided with the Empress were triumphant. The remaining Households drew up on the fields to the west of Dawn and the Empress marched out to meet them on foot with her standard bearer, and asked if they were prepared to join her Empire.
BREAK
Marchers from Upwold were involved in the first campaign of the new Empire. Tom Drake of Redston, Warden of Upwold,led his household and the territory's Landskeepers to Varushka. They fought through unfamiliar forests, alongside all those who opposed Alderei the Fair and brought Varushka into the Empire. Some say it was Tom who killed the boyar-king, the Redston folk just point at the broken crown on their livery and let that speak for them.
Entry to the Empire brought some changes. Pious Marcher folk returning from pilgrimages to Highguard founded the monasteries which now dot the landscape. Friars have become an important part of most Households and few powerful Marcher households do not have one or more of these learned folk by their side. Imperial writ created the market towns, outside the control of the households. Yet the traditional beliefs that give the Marchers their strength have endured every transformation brought by the Empire.
The Marches has gained more than most from the rule of the Empire. At foundation, it was two territories and an obvious base from which to expand. Early campaigns west from the Riding added the Mourne to the Marches land. In the time of the Empire's glory, they struck north and west and reached the sea to bring Mitwold into Empire and gain themselves a coast. Bregasland fell next, granted to the Marches by the Senate. Dawn may proudly boast that it's never lost a territory, but the Marches has gained much, much, more than its older neighbour.