The Sunken Boreal Empire

## Background

The Sunken Boreal Empire was a minor superpower in ancient days that existed alongside The Old Western Empire. Records of it’s existence exist only in obscure myths as their conquered peoples do not remember them fondly. They are remembered as cruel and oppressive conquerors by the former tribes of The North. While it is unclear how long it stood for, it’s fall coincides with the founding of Irinoslwen under Kornoln Illuvein, placing it’s ultimate fall to around 2000 years ago from the modern day. This empire is credited with being the reason The Northern Tribes were always a bit behind technologically as years of oppression stunted progress.

## Geography

The Sunken Boreal Empire ruled from the great city of Elarea. It is about a hundred kilometers North of the Mouth of Nolstell from the Sea of Fangs. Elarea was built on a massive glacier that was surrounded by frozen sea much of the year. This explains why they took so long to interact with ancient cultures, as the fact that the sea is constantly frozen made ships completely impractical. However, something unknown caused a path in the ice to emerge, and lead travellers to Elarea. It is unknown if this path was natural or magical in nature.

Because of their challenging geography, it is clear to see why The Sunken Boreal Empire never secured territory that was too distant from The North. At the empire’s farthest reach, their borders would include modern Shrivipahit’s colonies on the Mirror Coast. In addition to challenging geography, the empire’s expansion was also hindered by fierce resistance and brutal attacks from conquered tribes the likes of The Ancient Nolghas and Ancient Othenians.

## Mystical Advancements

The empire was unique in that its capital city was built upon a glacier. It is unknown what kind of people were capable of such a feat, as the original race that constructed this empire are believed to be extinct. The main theory is that they were wiped out by their conquered subjects and the sinking of the Capital City.

Speaking of the Capital City, it was a marvel of magic rivalled only by the floating city of Uspire. The city was built upon a glacier that rested on some mountainous underwater terrain. Most buildings were reported to have been constructed of stone and unmelting ice. It is said that the ice was sculpted such that they reflected the stars in the night sky as well as the majestic Auroras in the North. The stone seems to be enchanted too given the seemingly impossible architecture described in ancient texts. When the city sunk, many buildings crumbled, but some withstood, and now great twisting pillars of stone lurk just beneath the surface of the Arctic seas.

While their mystical architecture is certainly their greatest feat, it is not the only form of magic these people have mastered. In the myths of Irinoslwen, the people of The Sunken Empire could communicate without speaking it even knowing the other individual’s language. This telepathic communication helped the Sunken Boreal Empire to secure their lands by commanding the appointed governors of each land without needing to actually learn another culture.

Other minor forms of magic possessed by the empire seem to be incredible fire magic, heat and light manipulation, minor telekinesis, and physical enhancement. All of these factors made the Sunken Empire vastly superior to their tribal subjects of the time. Perhaps the only reason the tribes stood a chance against this Empire was the apathy of the emperors and the craftiness of ancient peoples.

## Chronology

### Origins

The Great City of Elarea was founded likely centuries before the Empire came to be. The founders of Elarea are lost to time, but they must have either been a people extremely acclimated to the frozen wasteland or incredibly skilled mages. Either way, somehow these people achieved an unmirrored feat of magic: creating a functioning civilization on a glacier. The ancient imperials likely had a diet consisting of Arctic seafood like shrimp, Lordwhales, and perhaps even Sea Serpents. The city of Elarea seemingly thrived during the period of time before it was an Empire, evidenced by the advanced technology described by future explorers.

### The First Explorations

The Old Western Empire is credited with being the first continental peoples to interact with the city of Elarea in centuries. Trade with The Old Western Empire brought the existence of a land beyond the sea to the attention of some Northern tribes, specifically pre-Irinoslwen Nolghas. The Old Western Empire’s ships going back and forth between Elarea and Grand Calai eventually peaked some Nolghas’ curiosity enougn that they slaughtered a sleeping crew save for one member, and promptly demanded to be taken to The Land Beyond the Horizon via body language. After 3 days of travel, the Nolghas came to a place they called: The Port of Goloënwen, which is how Irinoslwen appears to remember the Sunken Empire. In Nolghashin, this literally means: The Nameless Land.

The Nolghas were promptly thrown in the dunegon as it was clear what had happened to the late crew for these strangers to have taken their ships. During this time, they learned about Elarea from a young boy who wished in return to learn of the world beyond his city. The last survivor from The Old Western Empire *hopefully* lived out his remaining days in oeace within the city of Elarea, as there is no record of his return to The Old Empire. The king’s advisors debated fiercely over what to do about these strangers, but the King ultimately made a decision that would cause a century of bloodshed. After a month of captivity, the King of Elarea himself came to speak with the Nolghas, and he offered them a deal. They would show his people to their lands and in exchange they shall have their lives and their freedom. The Nolghas readily accepted this offer.

After seeing the sun once more, the Nolghas boarded the ship they had arrived in and set sail for home. They were followed by a small fleet of about 6 ships from Elarea. After some time sailing through ice and danger, they arrived at the Mouth of Nolstell. It was there that the future imperials began their conquest. One man, likely the leader, is reported to have planted a banner made from the hide of a whale deep into the earth, and claimed the land for Elarea. This was the beginning of the Sunken Boreal Empire. This was the beginning of a dark age for the tribes of the North.

## Interactions with Contemporry Cultures

The primary attitude towards the Sunken Boreal Empire within Northern Tribes was an extremely antagonistic one. Im addition to having to deal with Imperialism from The Old Western Empire, the tribes now had another imperialist force on their other end. The reign and impact of the Sunken Empire was brutal on the Northern Tribes. The Nolghas in particular hated these people as they took a large amount of the early cruelty. Other people like the Grimnå also suffered under this Empire’s rule, albeit they were conquered at a later point. In modern Irinoslwen, these ancient conquerors are known only as the Goloënghas. In Nolghashin, this literally means “The Nameless People”.

It appears that The Old Western Empire was cooperative with The Sunken Boreal Empire and frequently traded with them.

## The Sinking of Elarea

(The entire reason these people exist. This will be filled out shortly)