The Empire of the Isles: A History

The Empire of the Isles is the foremost constitutional monarchy in the known world, encompassing the Isles of Gristol, Morley, Serkonos, and Tyvia.

Formed at the end of the War of Four Crowns in 1625, with the crowning of Emperor Finlay Morgengaard I on 2nd Day, Month of Nets, 1626, the Empire, aided by the Imperial Navy, became the primary hegemonic power across the Isles. It was later supported by its prodigal religious body, the Abbey of the Everyman. Ruled by a hereditary Emperor or Empress, a legislative Parliament helps curb possible excesses of the monarch, and a long line of aristocrats and other influential members of high society largely dominate its political affairs.

## Territories

The Empire encompasses four large islands and several smaller ones, which make up the Isles.

* Gristol — Home to the Imperial capital of Dunwall and half the population of the Isles. Gristol is a large, centrally located Isle known for its farming, shipping, whaling, and mining, and is a proud supporter of the Imperial Navy.

* Morley — Isle in the Empire known for its poets, musicians, philosophers, and food.

* Serkonos — Southernmost Isle in the Empire known for its hardworking people, exotic climate, and as the preferred retreat for the nobility.

* Tyvia — Northernmost Isle in the Empire known for its cold, harsh climate, independent people and valuable ores.

### **Pandyssian Continent**

The Empire has repeatedly tried to colonize the Pandyssian Continent, attempting to build a port city there to rival the Imperial capital city of Dunwall. Despite these efforts, all colonization ventures have failed.

Known as the 'Far Continent' and more simply as Pandyssia, is the largest known landmass in the world. It remains unpopulated by the people of the Isles and the citizens of the Empire believe that there is no civilization on the continent. Similar to Dunwall, the continent was once inhabited by ancient civilizations that built temples and shrines, and possibly practiced the use of magical charms and runes. Much of Pandyssia's population, as of today, is presumably far more primitive than the industrialized Isles; the Abbey of the Everyman believes that the people of Pandyssia are nothing but brutal subhumans that engage in strange and heretical rituals.

The wildlife of Pandyssia is also bizarre and has bewildered even the most esteemed natural philosophers of the Isles. Anton Sokolov made note of strange fish with poisonous quills that jump out of the water during an expedition to the continent, and there have been reports of large flying serpents in the area as well. Another, more infamous example is the Pandyssian Bull Rat, swarms of which can consume an individual in seconds. These rats act as the primary carriers of the rat plague.

As of now, the continent is undergoing a slow process of exploration by expeditions from the Isles. However, the journey is difficult, even with the new technologies, due to the great distance involved. Similarly, a strange and violent ecosystem, as well as inhospitable terrain, have virtually prevented colonization. The bulk of the continent is unexplored stretches of lethal desert and jungle. The Academy of Natural Philosophy believes that the rat plague may have originated there, which was all but confirmed by Hiram Burrows, who introduced the plague-carrying rats to Dunwall in an attempt to end poverty by culling the poor. A poem translated from Old Serkonan also makes mention of a deadly "disease from the East", further solidifying this theory and suggesting that knowledge of the plague has existed for decades, if not centuries.

## Calendar

The calendar year for the people of the Isles consists of thirteen months of 28 days each with 24 hours, in total 364 days, as well as a three day period which follows it, named the Fugue Feast. A New Year only begins once the astronomical clock is officially reset by the High Overseer of the Abbey of the Everyman.

The months of the year are as follows:

1. The Month of Earth
2. The Month of Harvest
3. The Month of Nets
4. The Month of Rain
5. The Month of Wind
6. The Month of Darkness
7. The Month of High Cold
8. The Month of Ice
9. The Month of Hearths
10. The Month of Seeds
11. The Month of Timber
12. The Month of Clans
13. The Month of Songs

## Timeline

### **Foundation (1626)**

The Empire of the Isles was founded after the end of the War of Four Crowns in 1625. On the 2nd Day of the Month of Nets 1626, Finlay Morgengaard I was crowned Emperor. In the same year, the Parliament was formed in Gristol on the 26th Day of the Month of Timber, officially designating the Empire as a constitutional monarchy. Morgengaard's dynasty lasted 43 years before he was succeeded by the Rhydderch family who subsequently ruled the Empire for 9 years. Hurien Morgengaard came to the throne in 1678 and was the last Emperor of his name.

### **The Rise of the Abbey (1700 - 1800s)**

The Abbey of the Everyman founded by Benjamin Holger gained influence during the reign of Hurien Morgengaard in the late 17th century. Holger's successor, John Clavering, ordered the construction of the Abbey in Dunwall in 1701, then initiated the Rectification War in 1705 in order to purge the region of those deemed followers of The Outsider. During that same year, the coronation of Yefim Olaskir took place. In 1708, the completion of the Abbey led to many Overseers gathering for the Siege of White Cliff, which marked the end of the war with their victory following the 'purging' of those deemed heretical by the Abbey. Following these events, the Abbey of the Everyman was named the official state religion in 1711.

### **The Morley Insurrection and the First Regency (1801-1803)**

The Olaskir dynasty was the longest in the Empire's history, spanning over 96 years. However, it was marked by a major crisis. On the 1st Day of the Month of High Cold, 1801, the Isle of Morley started a violent uprising against Gristol and the Empire. Warfare between the two nations was largely naval, which led to the fortification of Kingsparrow Island to protect Dunwall's maritime entrance. However, the city's poorly maintained sewers allowed rebels to access important locations, which led to the assassination of Empress Larisa Olaskir on the 8th Day of the Month of Clans, 1801.

With no time to name a proper successor to the throne, a regent was elected by the Parliament ten days later to rule the Empire through the crisis. The war ended with Gristol's victory on the 15th day of the Month of Seeds, 1802. The victory was due in part due to the superiority of the nation's naval fleet, but also with the efforts of the acting Royal Spymaster. This position, held secret since the foundation of the Empire, became public knowledge after the insurrection.

The Regency lasted one more year and ended with the coronation of Euhorn Jacob Kaldwin I on the 3rd Day of the Month of Seeds, 1803. A few months later, the Morley Famine was officially declared on the 13th Day of the Month of Winds, forcing some natives to settle in Karnaca, Serkonos.

### **The Industrial Age (1800s)**

Euhorn's reign was marked by industrial advancement for the city of Dunwall. Under his rule, the City Planning Department reinforced and expanded the sewers beneath the city to prevent deterioration. The Emperor also commissioned the construction of a large bridge spanning the Wrenhaven River, Kaldwin's Bridge. It was also during his reign that the City Watch was formed to protect Dunwall, the 1st Day of the Month of Timber, 1809. Finally, the work of the natural philosopher Esmond Roseburrow led to the creation of new whale oil-powered technologies, such as electric lampposts. In 1820, Roseburrow came into acquaintance with Anton Sokolov, who brought new ideas to the production and exploitation of whale oil. Sokolov was named Royal Physician and Head of the Academy of Natural Philosophy in 1822, and his new technologies initiated an industrial and economical boom across the Empire in 1825.

Euhorn died the 19th day of the Month of Darkness, 1825, and was succeeded by his daughter, Jessamine Kaldwin I, crowned the 1st Day of the Month of High Cold. During Jessamine's time on the throne, '...political intrigue and minor conflicts created cracks in the Empire, undermining unity across the Isles.'

In 1830, Hiram Burrows was appointed to the position of Royal Spymaster and sponsored the development of new technologies for the City Watch, such as the arc pylon and the wall of light in 1833, and tallboys later in 1836. Burrows also developed a network of informants called the Responsible Citizens Group, dedicated to reporting on any suspicious activities, particularly in regard to criminal organizations and foreign spies.

### **The Plague Crisis (1835 - 1837)**

Many new whale oil-powered technologies soon became lethal tools of repression, focused particularly on impoverished areas. Following his own agenda to eradicate the poorest citizens of Dunwall, Burrows secretly introduced Bull Rats, a species from the Pandyssian Continent and carriers of the rat plague, into the city's poorest districts.

The rat plague first struck Dunwall during the Month of Clans, 1835. The disease quickly spread out of the intended impoverished districts to the rest of the city, leaving Burrows' agents unable to control its spread. As districts were abandoned due to infection, gang activity increased, leading to street warfare between Dunwall's various cartels and the City Watch. Eventually, this chaos led to the clash of Drapers Ward during the Month of Songs, with the Dead Eels and Hatters gangs warring over the now-decimated territory. In addition, the thriving Rudshore Financial District was flooded in 1836 due to poor levy maintenance, becoming known as the Flooded District.

The plague's infection rate continued to increase despite the introduction of anti-plague remedies such as Sokolov's Elixir and Piero's Spiritual Remedy, which were often too expensive for the average citizen. Reluctant to use extreme methods to deal with citizens suffering from the disease, the Empress requested aid from the other Isles, sending Royal Protector Corvo Attano to petition for assistance on the Royal Spymaster's advice. Concurrently, the Empress ordered Burrows to open an inquiry into possible causes of the outbreak.

Burrows used this opportunity to plot the assassination of the Empress and the abduction of her daughter Emily Kaldwin, to avoid the exposure of his actions. With the complicity of various members of Gristol's nobility, he offered the contract to Daud, an assassin known for his efficiency and supernatural abilities. The plot was to be carried out on the 18th day of the Month of Earth, 1837 at Dunwall Tower, two days before Corvo was scheduled to return.

However, Corvo arrived in Gristol early to inform the Empress that the other nations of the Empire had ordered a blockade of Dunwall's harbor to keep the plague from spreading to the rest of the Empire. Following a struggle with the Royal Protector, Daud and his men carried out the assassination and kidnapping as planned, leaving Burrows to frame Corvo as a providential culprit.

The former Royal Protector was confined to Coldridge Prison and tortured for six months to elicit a false confession prior to his execution. Meanwhile, Hiram Burrows was elected Lord Regent by parliamentary vote, due in part to the influence of various Lords on the majority block. He deployed repressive measures in Dunwall in order to control its citizens and contain the rapid spread of the plague. Sokolov technologies were put to regular use, and Burrows ordered the fortification of strategic locations such as Dunwall Tower and Kaldwin's Bridge. He also initiated the construction of a monumental lighthouse on Kingsparrow Island, equipped with the latest technologies to be used as a safe house. Finally, he granted civil authority to the Overseers led by Thaddeus Campbell, giving them the power to persecute religious crimes.

During this time, a loyalist conspiracy was formed, headed by former admiral Farley Havelock, Lord Treavor Pendleton, and Overseer Teague Martin with the aim of returning Emily Kaldwin to the throne. With the help of Piero Joplin, a rival inventor and scientist to Anton Sokolov, they orchestrated Corvo's escape from Coldridge Prison on the day before his execution was set to take place. They then tasked the Royal Protector with rescuing Emily and eliminating each of Burrows' allies, weakening his power base.

The Lord Regent soon lost his hold on the Overseers, majority support in Parliament, and the means to continue financing the City Watch. Eventually, Corvo neutralized Burrows himself, returning the seat of power to Emily. However, the Loyalist leaders in turn eliminated their accomplices in order to conceal their conspiracy and seize control of the Empire for themselves, leaving Corvo for dead.

Havelock was then appointed Lord Regent until Emily came of age to rule the Empire, and took refuge atop the lighthouse on Kingsparrow Island. However, Havelock's reign was short-lived, as Corvo recovered from the attempt on his life and rescued Emily from his former allies. Emily Drexel Lela Kaldwin was crowned on the 1st day of the Month of Timber, 1837. The Rat Plague ended some times later after these events, thanks to a cure developed conjointly by Piero Joplin and Anton Sokolov.

### **Reign of Emily Kaldwin (1837-1852)**

Following the deposition of both Hiram Burrows and Farley Havelock, Emily Kaldwin presided over the Empire, guided by Corvo Attano, who had been appointed as both Royal Protector once more, as well as Royal Spymaster, following a merging of the two positions. It was during this time that Dunwall would be re-opened to trade with the other nations of the Empire, following a period of restoration and gentrification in the city. Despite the threat of usurpers, such as the fanatical Regenter faction, which attempted to restore the oppressive methods used by Lord Regent Hiram Burrows into Dunwall, the Empire maintained a semblance of stability until around Emily's early adulthood, in the years 1850-1852.

By 1852, the Empire was slowly being frayed apart by criticism towards Emily Kaldwin's reign. Notable aristocrats and nobles from Dunwall, such as Ichabod Boyle, had openly criticized the Empress for perceived economic sanctions on the nobility. In what seemed to be a response to these protests, many of Kaldwin's most notable critics were violently silenced in what was known as the 'Crown Killer' murders. These served to further fear-mongering against Empress Emily, as well as her Royal Protector/Spymaster, Corvo Attano, with some suspecting that Emily herself or Corvo was behind the grisly murders.

Internal strife and civil discontent within the Empire came to a head on the commemoration of the late Empress Jessamine Kaldwin's murder on the 18th day of the Month of Earth, in 1852, when the witch Delilah Copperspoon took the throne in a coup from Emily, with the compliance of Duke Luca Abele of Serkonos, Dunwall City Watch Captain Mortimer Ramsey, and various treacherous members of the Grand Serkonan Guard and the Dunwall City Watch. With the Empress frozen into a statue and her Royal Protector now framed for the Crown Killer murders, Delilah took the throne, assuming the name Delilah Kaldwin, claiming to be the true heir to the Kaldwin dynasty.

### **Reign of Delilah Kaldwin (1852)**

Under the short, chaotic reign of Empress Delilah Kaldwin, tensions within the Empire rapidly increased. Delilah already had the backing of Duke Luca Abele and therefore Serkonos, and she dissolved parliament to strengthen her grip on Gristol, but the governments of Morley and Tyvia both questioned the legitimacy of her claim to the Imperial throne. This dispute pulled the Isles to the brink of a civil war for the first time since the Morley Insurrection. Civilian dissent against Delilah's reign was not unheard of, as publications and newspapers such as the Silver Spike in Karnaca openly criticized Delilah's reign and the oppressive nature of her allies. Military unrest also unfolded; while members of Karnaca's Grand Guard backed the Duke and Delilah, infighting was seen within the Dunwall City Watch as loyalists to Kaldwin openly fought, to no avail, against supporters of Delilah.

Delilah's ascension also weakened the Abbey of the Everyman. Although the Oracular Order issued missives encouraging the Abbey to formally recognize the new Empress, High Overseer Yul Khulan, who narrowly escaped Dunwall Tower during the coup, was suspicious of her intentions and chose to remain neutral in light of rumors that she was involved in witchcraft. Eventually, when Delilah's occult activities became obvious, Khulan rallied every Overseer in Dunwall and marched on Dunwall Tower to depose her, but the assault was in vain. The Jindosh clockwork soldiers Delilah had brought with her from Karnaca easily defeated the Overseers, and Khulan was killed in a brutal fashion. It later emerged that the Oracular Order had been unknowingly manipulated by black magic performed by Delilah's coven, which meant a witch had come perilously close to attaining control of the Abbey.

The citizens of Dunwall became so fearful of the Empress that they abandoned and barricaded the Tower District in an attempt to contain her, but this did nothing to impede her preparations for her master plan: using witchcraft to reshape reality itself so that she could become the universally beloved, absolute ruler of the Empire for all eternity. Meanwhile, Delilah's powerbase in Karnaca, consisting of Duke Abele, Grand Inventor Kirin Jindosh, Breanna Ashworth, and the Crown Killer, was systematically incapacitated by Corvo through various means. In the end, Empress Delilah was denied her final victory and deposed.

### **The Rise of Corvo the Black (1852 Onwards)**

Delilah had been defeated, and the Empire torn from her grip. But it was no cause for celebration. Emily remained a statue of stone in the throne room, an ever present reminder to her father of his loss and failure. Having lost everything dear to him, Corvo became a shadow of the man he once was. Before parliament could decide on a successor, Corvo took the throne by force. As the deadliest man alive, none would argue against his move, lest they become one of his victims. And so it was that Corvo Attano became known as Corvo the Black, Emperor of the Isles.

## Government

Despite Gristol's political influence over the other Isles, each island was mostly autonomous with their own heads of state. A king reigns in Morley, Tyvia is ruled by a council known as the 'High Judges', while the title of marquis exists in some capacity within the Empire, and the nation of Serkonos is noted as having a duke. That changed however when Corvo came to power. Establishing his rule as an absolute monarchy, he demanded that all other nations submit to his authority, sparking off several civil wars in the process.

Before Corvo's ascension to the throne, the Emperor (or Empress) was the head of state and government of the Empire, holding a great amount of political power. Each island in the Empire had its own lesser monarch, and diplomatic and trade relations between the nations varied. In situations where a ruler was too young to assume the throne, or a proper successor could not be determined, a Lord Regent was chosen by Parliament to act as a temporary head of state.

The legislature of Gristol was comprised of the Parliament, headed by a Prime Minister of which the Emperor or Empress was dependent upon to pursue his or her governmental policies. Parliament was formed in the year 1626, on the 20th Day of the Month of Timber. An aristocratic and heredity body, members included influential members of society and other important figures, with membership in Parliament based on holdings, inheritance, and special dispensation. As voter priority was determined by the size of members' holdings and land, important families in Parliament established voting blocks that could have a greater influence than those of individual members and lesser aristocrats. This system was again removed once Corvo established the Empire as an absolute monarchy.

## Positions and Ranks

There are a number of positions of note that served in the royal court of the Emperor or Empress. The Royal Protector acted as the bodyguard to the Imperial head of state and his/her family. The Royal Protector kept constant company with the Emperor or Empress and as such acted as a court figure, given enormous latitude by the demands of their position. However, as Corvo used to serve as Royal Protector, and is in turn still one of the world's most infamous assassins, he chose to not assign himself a single protector.

The Royal Spymaster, a formerly secret position that became public knowledge following the Morley Insurrection, is in charge of espionage operations throughout the Empire. Although the Spymaster officially serves as an adviser to the Emperor or Empress and his position is under the authority of the monarch, in practice the position is highly autonomous and therefore not accountable to the head of state. This autonomy allows the Royal Spymaster to act without the ruler's approval or knowledge. Following the events of the rat plague and the Regency of Hiram Burrows, the positions of Royal Spymaster and Royal Protector were partially merged.

The Royal Physician serves as a medical practitioner to the Emperor or Empress. While the specifics of the assignment are unknown, it appears to be tasked with matters of public health, as Royal Physician Anton Sokolov was charged with finding a cure for the rat plague by Empress Jessamine Kaldwin.

Other positions of recognition, though not as notable as the stated above, are the Royal Interrogator, who interrogates and executes criminals in Dunwall Tower and Coldridge Prison, and the Royal Tailor, who is at the Emperor or Empress' disposal in subjects regarding clothing.

## Military

The Imperial Navy, led by the Grand Admiral of the Fleet, is the Empire's naval force, and protects the port city of Dunwall, as well as seafaring vessels from pirate incursions. It held much prestige among the population of Gristol, and some families continue the tradition of enlisting at least one boy from each generation. The Fleet is best known for its substantial role in claiming victory for the Empire over Morley during the Morley Insurrection. As of recent, the Navy has been used to subjugate rebellions around the continent, following uprisings against Corvo's rule.

The Empire also maintains a standing army commanded by the Supreme Commander of the Combined Armies of the Empire and his generals, and its soldiers guard high-profile locations in Dunwall alongside the City Watch. The Overseers of the Abbey of the Everyman also serve in a military capacity, but are a separate group, and neither the City Watch nor the Overseers cooperate professionally.

Once Corvo claimed the throne, he also established his own private agents, naming them the Justiciar. Serving him as highly skilled bodyguards, military officials and assassins, they carry out his work and answer only to Corvo directly.

## Law and order

During the rat plague, Dunwall was ruled over by martial law: curfews were strictly enforced, nearly all supplies were rationed on pain of death, and the City Watch acted with impunity when enforcing the Lord Regent's decrees. It was also ruled that hampering production in critical industries (such as whaling) was a high crime under Burrows' government. As of Corvo's takeover, martial law is once more in effect over Dunwall.

In addition to secular law, the citizenry must abide by the state-sanctioned religious laws of the Abbey.

## Religion

The Empire's state religion is the Abbey of the Everyman, run by the High Overseer. Under Burrows, the Overseers had the judicial right to arrest and prosecute any citizen accused of worshipping The Outsider or participating in other occult practices, such as collecting runes or bone charms. Followers abide by seven core tenets, called the Seven Strictures, and draw teachings from their holy text, Litany on the White Cliff. The Abbey itself is located in Whitecliff, and the Office of the High Overseer stands in Holger Square in Dunwall.