Empire of Etheria

> *"The Empire of Etheria? Nimbus gave me a history book and I read about them. They started the wars."* - Cozmata Cumulus, Chapter 1 Page 3
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### **Foundation**

The Empire of Etheria was officially created in 1347 A.E (After Expansion) when more and more small colonies started being helped and annexed by it. As the Empire grew bigger, it started to become stronger, until it was the strongest superpower in the Known Galaxy.

The Empire annexed many planets that actively fought against its occupation, but were ultimately defeated and terraformed to shelter Etherian colonists.

### **Culture and Caste System**

Originally composed of several different empires, the planet of Etheria was thrown into disarray when these old governments fought each other to annihilation, plunging the planet into an age of anarchy and chaos, almost leading them to extinction. Out of these ashes and against all odds, a new government called Etheria Primus rose up, and unified the whole planet.

The planet was united as a whole after Etheria Primus took it over entirely, absorbing and assimilating every different tribe, village, government and culture. This way, the planet was united under a single name: Empire of Etheria.

The Empire, in its early years, invested in the development of technology. As they progressed, they noticed the resources in the lake areas, where most cities were condensed, was scarce in resources to produce this tech. They then sent thousands of etherians to the southeast, near the Hazard Zone, to obtain resources and produce them for the lakes area, which was in charge of developing/inventing new tech, as well as agriculture and education. As the generations passed, a social divide between the lakes area and the workers' area grew ever larger. The lake etherians started to think of themselves as smarter than the workers, and the higher ups refused to educate the worker children, as to keep them in their position for many generations. They started to obtain better and more rights as the years went by.

They didn't invent planes first because sandstorms severely crippled their flying capabilities using wings and/or rotating axels. Their first flying machines were balloons, which later developed into zeppelins which used a flying mechanism similar to the insects they eat, with rapidly flapping lightweight wings for powered flight along with gas to lift off the airships. They develop fixated and mobile cities, the latter being used in later years for mining and industrial action in the danger zones of the planet, where meteorite rains are frequent and the sun doesn't shine as much. Settled cities are able to survive and thrive through the vast underground water veins and large lakes that allow for the supplying of crops and the population.

   Their space developments started out as a way of bringing meteorites to earth without them breaking in atmospheric entry, therefore amassing much more resources. Eventually, however, one of the Emperors decided the space age was the future. Investing hundreds of millions into space technology, in a couple decades they were able to fully leave their atmosphere, eventually starting a campaign for conquering other worlds. This took hundreds of years and amassed thousands of worlds, all under the belt of the Empire of Etheria.

Their technology, due to the enormous gravity of their planet given its huge size, is considered some of the best space tech in the Known Galaxy.

The Empire of Etheria has many traditional entertainment activities, such as tail sparring, side to side dancing and sandworm hunting, along with dune surfing.

One of the things treasured most in current Etherian society is family and order. As long as all are safe and their families are well fed, the etherian people are happy. Before the collapse of the Old Empires, it used to be power at any cost. Etheria Primus, being born out of people with different beliefs, cultivated this new and more peaceful way of life.

Astronomers are very important people in Etherian history since they can predict when and where the meteorite rains will fall, which are their main source of mineral resources. They are widely known as being very wealthy and close to the emperor.

Their cities are made near mountains and ravines, where they can easily access fiberglass and mineral wool supplies, both of which they use abundantly in their architecture due to its thermally neutral nature. Their cities also possess several "shade spots" where they go to regulate their temperature.

The primal culture of Etheria was always on a base of the stronger dominate the weak, with most communities having hierarchies based on strength. After this mindset almost rendered the race extinct, violence in between Etherians and fruitlessly violent attitudes or appearances are looked down upon due to this. The people are split in between two types of Etherians: The ones with fangs and the ones without fangs. When you're born with fangs you are immediately looked down upon and with bigotry, because you look violent and wild. The "fanged" Etherians suffered many years of bigotry on behalf of fangless Etherians and even the government itself. Due to this structured "fangism", it is actively much more difficult for fanged Etherians to be successful in life, with the higher classes being composed of almost exclusively fangless Etherian families.

Even though violent attitudes are frowned upon, they are widely accepted if they are for the greater good of society, instead of the whims and vendettas of kings and monarchs. This is why there was support for the Federo-Etherian War to maintain Etherian governing and sovereignty in the galaxy.

Slavery was a great aspect of their society after their expansion. Most Etherians did not recognize aliens as intelligent beings, seeing them as mere cattle and beasts of burden. There were multiple slave revolts resulting from their loss during the Federo-Etherian War, but they were swiftly calmed down. Slaves are still a very prominent part of Etherian society, from domestic slaves to industrial ones and even conscripts.

### **After the War**

After the Federation stumbled upon the same planet as the Empire, tensions arised. That started the everlasting tension between the two superpowers and the mutual distaste between them. Long time after, in 5042 A.E, a war finally started between the two. It was the bloodiest, most destructive war the galaxy had ever seen. It is known as the Great Galactic War, or the Federo-Etherian War. The Empire was not ready for a war with a government that was able to fight back against it on a level playing field, leading to a series of defeats in the hands of the Federation. After the war, the Empire got a huge economic debt and it fell into a great depression, with it's currency being worth less than 50 Federation Pennies. After 12 years, the Empire's monarch, Johan-Sho III, is killed along with the rest of the Imperial family during a coup enacted by dissatisfied army men and generals and led by Grand General Hitsa-Mago. The government was reformed to a military-led regime, commanded by its first-ever elected chancellor: None other than Hitsa-Mago.

This change in regime led to much tension from the populus, who calmed down after being told that the royal family had been exiled, not killed, and that it would be a temporary measure. Some months afterwards, the military declared that the royal family had been killed in an asteroid impact, and silently assumed total authority. Hitsa-Mago, making full use of his powers as chancellor, brought the Empire back to its former glory, investing into interstellar exploration and gathering of resources, plus the exploration of all possible sources of income in the hold. This economical growth makes the Federation feel threatened, and it starts a Cold War against the Empire, which generated many moments that could have ended on a Second Federo-Etherian War.

Hitsa-Mago left the position in 5069 A.E, and lived happily with his wife and children until the end of his days. His successor would be Kartha-Nerrae.

### **Governmental Structure**

The Etherian governmental structure before the Federo-Etherian War was comprised of a monarch of absolute authority, followed by a Senate that discussed the issues and projects necessary for the government. This was no more than a show, however. The monarch held all power and had all of the authority for everything.

After the coup, the structure was altered to give more power to the senate and eliminate the position of monarch, being replaced with a censitarily elected chancellor. The chancellor, in reality, possessed just as much power as the emperor. The difference being that the government was now being led by the military instead of the royal family.

### **Planets Under Etherian Territory**

* Etheria
* Daluria Moons
* Vidipla
* Quattapodia

### **Mentions**

* Everdream: Stars Hold no Boundaries - Chapter 1

* Everdream: Stars Hold no Boundaries - Chapter 2
* Everdream: Viva La Vida