Gradoslavl got its start as a loose alliance of petty clan chiefs that allied to consolidate their control over the trade routes along the rivers. As the power and wealth of the alliance grew so did their control of the rivers but their newfound wealth brought the attention of their neighbours and other marauders. To whitstand this the petty chiefs formed a proper confederation and began to consolidate their control inland. Harmony however would not last, as the leaders of the confederation bickered amongst themselves for wealth and control Gradoslavl fell to strife and civil war. It was during these troubling times that the chief of Novostronjo fell in a skirmish and as was custom in the region the wealthiest and most influential people came together to elect a new chief. They made a very controversial choice because no one wanted their peers to get the position and they wanted to expand their trade overseas which required a navy, so they decided to invite the Vesansian admiral Ammirateus to be their leader. Ammirateus accepted and immediately set about building the navy, as the local ships were optimized for rivers and coasts, fairing poorly on the open sea. When the navy was sufficiently strong Ammirateus set about plundering the coast and trade routes out on the open sea as well as sending trade expeditions to faraway lands. Initially, the people of Novostronjo were quite positive to their new chief but their perception of him soured when he gave key positions and responisbilites to his original Vesansian crew members and when the prominent citizens of Novostronjo brought this up Ammirateus made it clear that he was setting them up as an aristocracy and that they would just have to deal with it. Having enraged the locals to a dangerous degree Ammirateus soothed their wrath by having his men marry into the prominent families. He chose the most beautiful (and rich) bride, Dragoslava for himself. One could say it was the shortest marriage in recorded history, for when Ammirateus awoke the next day his bride was gone. Dragoslava had saddled up during the night and simply left for Dubrovo, leaving her husband to stew in his fury and vow revenge on everything between heaven and earth. Arriving in Dubrovo, Dragoslava sought sanctuary in the name of Mikula and when the brave people of Dubrovo heard her plight they swore to protect her by arms if neccesary.
Meanwhile, in Woldar, Ammirateus searched high and low but found no trace of Dragoslava. Every day he grew more resentful, so much so that he had his father-in-law arrested under the accusation that he was hiding her somewhere. When no answer could be extradited from him, Ammirateus turned to a traveling soothsayer for answers and through cruel magic Dragoslavas location was revealed. Ammirateus told the people of Gradoslav that his wife had been kidnapped by Dubrovo warriors and was sure to remind them of the innocent tax collectors that they had robbed and beaten to death. So it was that lies sent the warriors of Gradoslav against Dubrovo. There are many great legends about the battle and the warriors of renown who fought on both sides. Just as the army returned to Woldar in disgrace Ammirateus received news about a civil war in Vesans. He almost immediately declared for the strongest side and went with his ship to lend his support. His plan was to achieve a quick victory and with support from the armies of Vesans crush Dubrovo once and for all. While he was away however, Dragoslava had raised an army consisting of Dubrovi bogatir, Gradoslavi survivors of the previous battle (who gladly joined her side once they heard her side of the story) and other volunteers. While on the march towards Woldar the army had to cross a bridge over a river, but Dragoslava halted them to let an old man cross from the other side first. The old man thanked her and told her that she could march as many men over the bridge as she wanted but without the aid of Svarog she could not win. Thinking the man wise she asked him how she would gain this blessing, and he told her to throw away her sword and spill no blood. Without hesitation she took off her belt and threw the sword, scabbard and all, into the river. The old man then gave her his staff and bid her farewell. The people of Woldar was terrified when the call of banners on the horizon came from the watchtowers. They barred their gates and organized a desperate defense as they were sure this army was come to massacre them in retribution for the attack on Dubrovo. Dragoslava rode up alone to the gates and bid them open, but she received insults and stones. Word spread quickly inside the city that a champion was challenging them at the gates and thinking that perhaps this could be settled with one death instead of hundreds they sent out a warrior to champion Woldar. Dragoslava was surprised at first as she believed the gates to be opened for her but instead facing a charging challenger, javelin in hand. The spear flew but Dragoslava knocked it to the side and beat the warrior to the ground. Her men took the champion captive and again she bid the gates to open. So they did and again a champion appeared, at full charge with couched lance. Dragoslava outmaneuvered the rider who lost the speed of the charge and then she grabbed the shield of the champion who was beaten with the staff and captured. A third time she bid the gates to open and yet again a champion appeared, but not riding, as no horse could bear the weight of such a massive man. With a great axe he fell Dragoslava's horse from under her and in the ensuing fight cut her staff down to the size of a cane. Someone from her ranks threw a sword to her, which she caught in the air, and implored her to strike the giant down. The third champion charged at her with his axe held high and Dragoslava would have pierced his heart but she remembered the words of the old man and threw it aside. Just then, the champion stepped in an old rabbit's burrow and fell with such force that his axe broke and his helmet went flying. Dragoslava pounced on him and beat him about the head with her cane and so the final champion was captured.
Certain that their massacre was at hand the citizens again barred the gates and with heavy hearts set themselves to defend the walls, so Dragoslava revealed herself to the three champions and together they rode to the gates where the champions told the citizens to open the gates. This time they did. Once inside, Dragoslava was recognized by her people and they celebrated her return and peace with Dubrovo. After freeing her father and rounding up the remaining cronies of Ammirateus, Dragoslava called upon the cheifs of Gradoslav and would have them swear their loyalty to her. This sparked much ire and she was rebuked as a would-be tyrant who brought foreign troops to seize power, but she rebuffed them by reminding them that she was still the wife of Ammirateus and thus the law was on her side. The church of Svarog also gave their support to her and the opposition soon melted away. The civil war in Vesans did not pan out for Ammirateus, who it turns out had backed the wrong side. When his fleet returned to Woldar he found the port closed to him and his wife telling him to get lost from a high tower. With weary men and damaged ships Ammirateus did not have capacity to assault the port and he was forced to retreat, but not before he had sworn to return one day and reclaim power. It is said about Ammirateus, in the following years when he plundered and raised an army, that a salty witch prophesied that he would conquer Gradoslav and all of Triman, if no one of his blood were there to oppose him. So he had his cousins, two yoghurt makers living in the countryside, murdered and thus thought he had dealt with destiny.
Not long after Ammirateus was exiled from Gradoslav there came word that a large navy from Vesans was incoming, intending to seize Ammirateus. A messenger was dispatched to tell them of his exile but returned with grave news: the navy did not care and would burn Woldar to the ground anyways. Dragoslava, heavily pregnant with child, refused to leave the city, even though the chances of victory were few. Most of the citizens fled, however many armed themselves and swore to defend Dragoslava to the end. They were blessed by the sages of Svarog and swore the bogatyr oath. The overconfidence of the Vesansians, the bulwarks of Woldar and the grace of Svarog all combined to a glorious victory for the defendants. In the heat of victory and before all the people of Woldar, Dragoslava had the chiefs and prominent citizens swear their loyalty to her unborn child as her heir, thus ensuring her dynasty and laying the groundstones for monarchy. To reward the bogatyr that helped Dragoslava defend the city, they were given the honour of being the house guard of the Gradoslavian kniazi for all generations to come.