Protean Empire

## The Protean Empire

The **Protean Empire** (also referred to as the Empire of Protus, or simply Protus) is a militaristic expansionist empire based on the continent of Occidore. This ancient nation is largely comprised of humans and those that they've conquered in various wars over its long history.

## History

### Foundation

During the First Era, as humans spread from the jungles of their birth, they settled in nation states across the continent of Occidore. However one of the more ambitious groups spread their authority and took control of neighbors until becoming an empire. United around a single culture of military service to the state, and advancement through military service, the Protean Empire remained a strong and growing power on Occidore since the early first era.

The capital city of Prota was founded along the northern coast of Occidore in the early days of the first era, and started out as not much more than a fortified fishing village. over time, and through many victoritous conflicts the village grew into a town.

### Early Years

After its foundation, Protus expanded and fought many wars against neighboring powers. for generations it struggled against other nations and groups on Occidore and eventually was able to claim ownership over its closest neighbor. using the added manpower and resources it grew more powerful, and offered a path to citizenship for its newly conquered subjects through service to the state. this encouraged those that were conquered to aid the Proteans in expanding further and faster. with each victory and conquest, it's armies swelled.

### Path to Dominance

After securing its position in Occidore as a preeminent power, Protus turned its eyes to the other powerful nations around it. first was the Island chain of Pyrgos to the northeast. These people had remained largely insulated from earlier conquest due to being separated by a body of water, however once the Proteans had handled its closer rivals on land, it prepared a large scale invasion of ships to sail to the nearby archipelago and add it to its own holdings.

The Pyrgese were a strong and independent people who had since time immemorial been fighting each other from their own fortified city-states. So when the Proteans came to conquer them, they put up a surprising resistance to the invaders. They went so far as to set aside their own differences and form a defensive league lead by a chosen king. the Pyrgese held out for generations of hard fighting against the foreign threat. However, they were eventually defeated with the advent of war wizards from the Protean academies of arcane arts.

These newly discovered magics and utilization of the battlefield catapulted the Protean military and lead to a century of conquests and victories that lead its legions across the Isthmus of Golgothia and into Obeddore. through military victories, and diplomatic successes the Proteans spread east all the way to the nation of Vil, until eventually coming into contact with the Kin-Tau Empire.

## Military system

The army of the Protean empire is highly organized and broken down into legions. Each one is controlled by a legate, and each legion has a special battle standard that grants it a power during battle.

* Legion I - The Lions of Prota
* Legion II - The Masters of Sea
* Legion III - The Crows of Battle - This legion is currently stationed northeast of Algusti.
* Legion IV - The Thunder Horses
* Legion V - The Viscous Snakes
* Legion VI - The Falcon's Spears - This legion is currently stationed between the cities of Durgost and Raven's Nook.
* Legion VII -
* Legion VIII - The War Dogs - this legion is currently housed at the Broken Tower Fort south of Parthenay.
* Legion IX - Slayers of Boars - this legion resides in Coriobrixus in western Coudray.
* Legion X
* Legion XI
* Legion XII - The Keepers of the Gate - This legion guards the official eastern border of the Empire, they are housed at Castellum Orientem at the western entrance to the Isthmus of Golgothia.
* Legion XIII - Marcus' legion - Struck from official records following the events of the Deadlands creation.