The Empire

*The Empire is a large nation spanning from The Crossroads all the way to the Elven Isles.* It is also the biggest nation in both landmass and population wise in the world, and home to Empire City. The Empire has been around since 3000 AC and is still kicking to this day. It is currently fighting against Dwarven and Angmarian forces over the Crossroads.

## History of the Nation

### **Before The Empire**

*Before the Empire was born the landmass that would be it was divided into many independent nations*, each with their own goals and individual ruler. These nations starting appearing around 3000 AC, before this they were a bunch of nomadic tribes wandering the many different terrains of the Empire. They were highly similar to the Orcs, but they weren't as bloodthirsty or anti-social. Eventually these tribes started to learn the secrets of agriculture and many of the tribes started to settle down. Most of the human population in 3000 AC was based in the landmass that would be the Empire, while others settled elsewhere, such as The Crossroads or the Angmarian Peninsula, some even went to the Dwarven Mountains but most of those humans died out.

*The formation of the Empire came about when the many tribes of orcs based on the mainland starting getting agitated for an unknown reason*, unknown to this day. The orcs razed many human towns and wiped at least 3 human nations off the map, then all the remaining nations gathered and convened at what would be the Empire Capital. There they decided that they should form a new nation united called the Empire. They elected their first Emperor, whose name was Varum. With in a couple of months the newly formed Empire exterminated the orc menace.

### **The Empire's rise**

*After driving the orcs out of the Empire they set their eyes on the bigger prize, the elves.* The Elven islands were home to many fine materials and goods, the Empire wanted to control these goods so they can control the economy. In the year 3114 AC, the Human army assembled and set out on the sea to besiege the Elven council. The Elves were caught completely by surprise, they didn't think that the humans would be this ballsy. The Humans won many victories due to their surprise advantage, they gained control of many Elven isles, they were near to the capital, but before they could strike at it the Elven army had finally formed. The Elven army began to push back the Empire to a point where the Empire had only a single Elvish island left. Suddenly a large unnatural storm appeared over the Elvish fleet, this wiped out most of it. Leaving the Elven army stranded on various isles. Meanwhile the Empire had enough boats to make it to the capital, and so they did. On 3115 AC, the Human army marched into the city glorious, at the front of the army was Emperor Varum. This is where he met his end. A Elven rebel shot an arrow straight at the Emperor's heart and so it did meet. This lead to what would be known as the worst day in Elvish history, the Sacking of Elven Culture. The Palace of the Elven Capital which has been around since time began was set on fire, burning much artifacts in there.

*After the death of the heroic Emperor Varum, they immediately crowned his heir, Emperor Sarkas the First.* Sarkas set his sights on the Mountain League, the nation of Dwarves and Gnomes. He knew that the Gnomes would have good technology that the Empire could use to help its own nation, Sarkas knew that the Gnomes would never hand over their technology, so he decided that violence was the only way. Before he committed a full invasion he knew that the Empire would need time to regain its strength...So while he waited he started to take an interest in magic after seeing a black-robed figure bring life back to a dead bird. He then began to dabble in necromancy. It wasn't long until the Church of Karm learnt of this, they frowned on this sort of magic. They gathered their personal knights and a mob and went to the palace to confront Sarkas. Before the mob could get there a unnatural abyss appeared right under the city, sending the palace and the city straight into the abyss. Then it closed as if nothing happened...The palace and a large portion of the city was never seen again, and thus ended the dreams of conquering the Dwarves and Gnomes...

### **The New Rulers**

*In the weeks following this disaster and without a leader the people formed a senate, composed of the lords of the lands, the guilds, the Temple of Karm and Foreign emissaries.* The senate began work on repairing large sections of the city and improving the city in its current condition, in the reign of Sarkas the city suffered large amounts of poverty and disease. By 3161 AC the city's average age had improved from 29 to 38 years of age. The senate gained immense popularity due to their actions, but it wasn't long until it slowly began to drop. The senate started to shift from serving the people to helping themselves. This upset the population of the Empire greatly, so they demanded that a new Emperor be appointed to the empty throne.The senate reluctantly agreed. To pick out a new Emperor they decided that they should give them a trial to pass. They got a sword lodged in a stone sent from the Dwarven Heartlands, and whoever could pull out the magical sword, forged by Karm, would become the king, that was what the senate was saying at least. They requested that the sword be magically sealed in by the strongest magics so no one can pull it out so they may regain their power. Many failed at this trial, it seemed like it would never come out, no one was strong enough. Then a stranger who claimed he hailed from the far south, from the *'Unknown lands,'* appeared in the great city. Everyone thought he was just another simpleton who thought he could pull out the sword, but to everyone's surprise he pulled the sword out breaking the magical seal, everyone was stunned. He told him how the sword was nothing but a plain sword and a decoy for the senate to gain power. He then rallied the populace and marched on *Varum Hill* where the senate was based. He rallied all of the senate up and killed all of them, good or not, with the plain sword. He then told the people he gathered his name, which was 'Roberto.' He was later crowned Emperor the next day in 3223 AC.

*Emperor Roberto's reign was a long and perilous one*, he sought out to expand the Empire into the island of Kaj-Juckduch. Roberto knew that the Orcs were as shattered as a broken vase, so it was an ideal zone to conquer. In the year 3224 AC he personally lead the Empire's armies to Kaj-Juckduch where he set up his military HQ on the Island called 'Fort Roberto.' It still stands to this day as the Human's main point of operation on the Orcish Island. There he began sending out many armies all across Kaj-Juckduch, where in a matter of a couple of months he owned most of Eastern Kaj-Juckduch, including the Orcish Capital City. Then this rampart increase of victories began to slow down for Empire, as Orcish tribes in the west started to unite and press hard against the Empire, but their efforts were futile as the Empire had called in help from their Elven Vassals. The Orcs had no chance against the Elven Navy and skilled troopers, and in a matter of weeks the resistance crumbled, Roberto was victorious, all of Kaj-Juckduch was the Empire's.

*With Kaj-Juckduch under control of the Empire*, it was time to spend time on making the Empire glorious so people may remember Emperor Roberto as the greatest. Here was some of the things he did.

* **Reform the Senate to control the civil and economical aspects of the Empire.**
* **Creating large Highways that spread out all across the Empire.**
* **Exterminating many Bandit Organisations.**
* **Improving most of Empire City.**
* **Putting an end to many necromancers and cultists across the Empire.**

 He did many more great things, but sadly he passed away in 3256 AC, at the ripe age of 87. Then after him a long line of Emperors to this day, with Emperor Brutus ruling the Empire.

### **Present Day**

*Today in 4990 AC*, Emperor Brutus leads his forces at the front at the Crossroads, while the Senate watches over the Empire. Most of the Empire is in shambles, with most of the resources going to the war of the Crossroads and of course the increasingly intense undead invasions from the Greywood in the heart of the Empire. The only hope for the Empire is for the war over the Crossroads to end soon in a victorious state for them.

## Political Structure

*The Empire's political structure may seem complex at first,* but it can be boiled down to 'The senate owns all.' Here's is a deeper explanation as to how it works.

* *The Empire is broken up into realms*, at the current time there is about 50 realms in all of the Empire. These are represented by their Lord who is there to listen to the peasants and deal with their problems and take them to the senate so they may discuss it. They also discuss the economy, civil cases and so on.
* *The Emperor also goes to the Senate when he can.* He can pass any law in the land without the Senate's consent and is also there to make sure the Senate stays in order, so in the end he has the final word over the senate.