History of the Orian Empire

## **Current State of Oria**

The Yoshioka Shogunate was the last direct descendant of the old Orian empire, and last of its old clans to remain loyal to its emperor. While the shogunate claims Oria as its rightful land, it was only until recently that they have settled back the land, returning from their refuge out west. In the light of their success of taking back their land and the death of Shogun Yosai did the Shihon Imperial State and the Empire form.

## **First Orian Empire History**

### ***Fall of the First Orian Empire & The rise of the Yoshioka Shogunate***

From before Orian records began, it’s believe the empire kept many stable, prosperous years, expanding and eventually controlling most of Oria, current Yohiokian scholars call this age the “Mythical” era, for how it's often described as supernatural or as home to myths by old writings on the time. Little is known about the period before the decline, only that it came to an end when the Golden War, as well as the “Bloody” era, began. Spurred over a newly discovered source of gold, the Orians quickly took over the area, driving out those in the area to have more space for miners and soldiers. However, those living there had been nomads apart of an unknown horde nation, who attacked as soon as news reached them of the take over. With horse archers, the shieldless Orian samurais were slaughtered in battle. The Orians were only able to stop the advance once the horde took over about a third of Oria. From backhanded dealings, fear of the horde or losing faith in the emperor, most of the clans of the Orian empire turned against the emperor and joined the horde, or fled. One clan however, the Yoshioka clan, stayed with the emperor, making a blood oath to stay loyal to the empire, even if it meant death. Seeing the end in sight, the emperor gave the Yoshioka clan the position of shogun, and ordered them to lead the remaining servants and peasants loyal west, away from the horde, making a promise to one day come back, and conquer what is rightfully theirs.

### ***Refuge and Life in the West***

Life in the west was hard for the Orian people. While the emperor and his government settled in harsh mountains, the people struggled to make any use out of the land, with such little farmable land. The empire resorted to a mostly nomadic lifestyle, following herds of animals to hunt and ranch for food, and raiding their neighbors for about every need. Over time, becoming just like the horde that defeated them.

### ***Returning East***

Each passing year and decade, many a sailor and fleet went back east, the empire too poor to send parties out via land. And each passing year and decade, the sailors would return telling of the nomadic occupation, or never returning at all. Until, only years ago, these sailors came back to report the land being more and more empty. For whatever reason, the horde was disappearing. Becoming desperate, the emperor ordered the Shogun Yoshioka Yosai, as well as trusted samurais and workers to go and colonize the land once again, to set up a city, farms, a manor and some defenses before the emperor returns to the holy destined land once again. The Shogun set off with his group and landed back in Oria safely, setting up the city of Shihon.

## **The fall of the Shogunate and return of the Empire**

### *The May-Chi Restoration*

With the return and successful resettlement of Oria by Shogun Yosai and his death, the Emperor returns back to Oria after many many years since the collapse of the first Orian Empire. Upon the arrival of the Emperor, his displeasement of the current state of the government began the transition of power from the Yoshioka family back to the Imperial family. The hours that followed his arrival brought mass arrests and seizures of the Shogunate government by the Imperial army. One of these arrest being the new showing, son of the late shogun. With total control by the Imperial forces, the Emperor announced and signed a decree known as the May-Chi restoration which end the Yoshioka Shougnate and brought forth the Imperial State of Shihon and the Second Orian Empire or known as the "Empire of Ryū".