The Occidere Empire

The Occidere Empire was one of the newest empires on Aether. Founded by a band of former ADL supporters that fled Aramoor after the events of Guild’s betrayal in the old palace. The band was led by a half-orc called Rosta Athan, a stout believer in ADL rhetoric. Rosta was known for her great shield with the skull of a great beast fixed upon it. She claimed it was the skull of the dragon hatchling slain in the old palace.

To survive the band worked as professional soldiers earning their keep by participating in skirmishes, protecting merchants, and acting as personal guards. As the band traveled they made do with what little they were paid earning glimmer, respect, and even some recruits as they bounced around the scales.

Keeping a distance from Aramoor in fear of being recognized they fell in with the Oushivia Tower. Paid to gather specimens for research and scout out dangerous areas. The Oushivia had no concern for how the group acted as long as the job was done. Looting and pillaging as they saw fit on top of the Oushivia glimmer made for heavy purses among the band.

As the band worked with the Oushivia their relationship grew stronger and an agreement was designed between the two. The band would become Oushivia’s army and in return, they would be paid moderately and never had to look for work again. The agreement was signed.

With the signed contract with the Oushivia, the band’s numbers grew exponentially. At first, the band was disorganized and undisciplined, something the Oushivia weren’t too happy about how the band represented the Oushivia and its interest.

This all changed with the death of the band's leader Rosta, murdered by a young man called Kasneer, he took her shield and proclaimed himself the new leader. With new leadership, the band became an organized and disciplined army of soldiers loyal to Kasneer. Kasneer claimed to be the grandson of Vanrir Warlos, the Second King of Aramoor and after what happened to Vanrir he agreed that no humanoid should be in such a position of power. Official Aramoor records don’t say that Vanrir ever had any children, regardless Aramoor disputed these claims.
Kasneer stoked anti-Aramoor resentment amongst the group and his recruits. Despite meeting the Oushivia they were non-committal in going to war with Aramoor no matter what Kasneer brought to the table. For him this was enough, he voided the contract with the Oushiva and led the band away from the Oushivia Tower.
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Kasneer and his army marched away from the Oushiva Tower into a corner of the gorge and began to build their empire. The proclaimed grandson of Vanrir had a knack for leadership and an almost fervent following amongst his soldiers. Historians are unsure where the idea of slaying great beasts originated from among the Occidere. Most agree that early life in the gorge would have required such a feat to survive and the Empire became more defensible and stable and the necessity turned into a sport.

Kasneer ruled under the titles: Emperor of The Occidere, Supreme Commander, and Dragon Slayer. The empire was a Stratocracy, a nation administered and run by its army. The whole culture of Occidere venerated martial prowess and victory in combat, all humanoids once reaching 16 had to partake in 2 years of national service in the army. You were not considered a citizen of Occidere until you had served in the army.

In the early days, the Occidere made territorial gains through aggressive expansion. A common trick was to hire themselves out as protection detail for a town or village then hold the village hostage, integrating it into the empire and establishing Occidere rulership. Most were not peaceful takeovers resulting in the murder of town councils, village elders and other individuals in leadership to be replaced by those loyal to the Empire.

The Occidere Empire believed their path was their own; magic was willingly sought out here, but whereas the Oushivia Tower accepted and sought out all types of magic, the Occidere Empire was focused greatly on combative magic. Focusing on the one place they couldn’t counter the skies.

As time moved on in the Occidere Empire, the stories of how their first leader had killed a young dragon in Aramoor had been applied to Kasneer and spread. The people claimed the dragon could wipe out a forest in a single fiery breath, or how its wings blocked out the sun. These stories made dragons the most prestigious prey.

The Occidere Empire’s army created many famous slayers over the years such as;

* Lubuk the Orc capable of killing a werewolf barehanded

* Makie Craey, the spear and shield user who took on Glow Raptors

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**Created by MrBiscuits and TrueFlame**

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