Eldar Empire

The **Eldar Empire** is an empire that established in the Polar Steppes, and one of the Eldar Kingdoms, being the most powerful of the Eldar nations. A powerful millitaristic nation, based on war and conquest, the nation has a long history of alliance with the Mytherid Empire. It is sometimes referred to as just Dartamir, after the name of its capital.

## History

According to the Eldars, their species started out, first called Prim'eldars, as servants of the Eldar God Daeran. As such, Eldars were left to themselves, and they settled on the fields and steppes, evolving to be High-Eldars. These Eldars built cities-states, that gradually overpowered others. Eight cities grew to be powerful enough for their rulers to be referred collectively as the Octarchs. Due to Eldars' close links to the essences of Order, the Imperial Eldars became close to the Diamond Gemforce.

In 14000BF, an Eldar lord named Vaerian, using the Diamond Gemforce, unified the eight cities under his control, later stories identifying him with a reincarnation of Daeran, or more likely, one of the remaining Prim'eldars. To avoid rebellions, Octarchs were allowed to keep their titles as Kings. The Empire was often at odds with humans from the North and the Northers. Instead of making an existing city its capital, Vaerian ordered the foundation of a new city, called Dartamir. After Vaerian, his son was chosen to succeed. And an Imperial Dynasty was born. Around a century after its foundation, while Vaerian's son was ruling, the Great City of Impa discovered impaelite and started to trade it, making it the most important ressource of the Empire, above mythril. The latter was put to stock and rarely, if ever, used again, to the point that most Eldars had forgotten the name they gave to the mineral.

As the Human Empire collapsed after the disastrous First Divine War, the Middle-East was back at its tribal governments, fighting against each other and defending as the Principalities of Northeria attempted to conquer them. Eventually, the Tribe of Ahb came to be ruled by Myther of Ahb, known by history as Myther the Conqueror. Though trades with Eldars was always common in the region, since it was located in-between the Eldar and Human people, Myther developped trades way above anything that his predecessors did before, notably buying all of the Eldar Empire's stock of mythril, giving the metal its name. The Emperor at the time was Darion the Lost.

Having unified his lands, Myther founded the eponymous town of Mytheryne and sent his thanks to the Eldar Empire, that answered by offering an alliance, sealed with the marriage of Myther and of Sanaa, a daughter of the Eldar Emperor. Thus, Myther and his wife were crowned Emperors of Mytherine. After this, Darion went east of the Eastern Mountains never to be seen again. Sanaa's older twin sister inherited.

Geographically, the Elder Empire didn't suffer much from the Flood, losing some of its coastal lands but losing important conflictual borders with other powerful foes, such as the Forest Eldars' main border. However, politically, the Flood was very hard to handle, and deprived the Emperor of all titles, becoming no more than a figurehead, while the Octarchs achieved quasi-independence. It survived, notably due to its ties with the Mytherid Empire, and because the Octarchs at the time helped each other. When the Orcs, unified by Gorvakknum, conquered the Vecres Peninsula, a contingent of Elves, led by Bel-Nirin, helped humanity, with their leader losing an eye. Currently, the Emperor is Bel-Nirin, known as "the One-Eyed", for his loss of an eye during the Orcish-Human War. Having been chosen to success the Vaerianids after the Siege of Terenai. Bel-Nirin is determined to bring back the Octarchs into line.

## Government and Politics

### Power Structure

The Eldar Empire's government is officially ruled by a single absolute monarch who held a majority of the power within the government. Below the monarch are the multiple advisors who helped advise and manage the nation's economy and domestic or foreign affairs, led by the primary advisor, who presides over the cabinet of advisors. Due to its good relationships with the Mytherid Empire, most of the ministers are Half-Eldars.

Below the ministers are the Octarchs, or eight Kings, extremely powerful lords who managed the militaries and economies of their individual province, and were seen as autonomous rulers. Below the kings were the dukes, charged with ruling a region of the province, then the earls, charged with ruling over a town of each region in the duke's stead.

Each position within the government, safe for the advisors, is a hereditary position whose titles would be given to the closest possible heir. It is however known that Earls and Dukes could be removed of their titles if they proved to abuse their powers. As is usual for Eldars, women were allowed to be a part of government affairs and they now are able to be in positions of power as high as the office of Prime Minister. The Eldar Empire follows a cognatic succession, accepting heirs of all genders. The succession depends on age.

After the Flood, Octarchs grew to be more powerful than the Emperors and rule over their province in a quasi-independent way, not listening to the whims of the Emperor.

### Military

The Eldar Empire's millitary was a very strong one, and the Eldar Empire was a very strong Empire, deeply influenced by Mytherids in their armies. The commanders and generals were chosen based on skills, although it was not rare to see people of noble birth in it. Their military commanders were charismatic. Standard Eldar footsoldiers were taught to typically wield swords and spears in combat, although bows or magic staffs were not uncommon. The most commonly used material for weapons was impaelite, and the bows were made of Darna wood.

Trained in both magic and weapons, the army is mostly used for self defense and attacks, as the Eldar Empire is quite isolated, and mostly keeps relationships with Mytherids. It is prepared for any attack, and the human marches serve as borders for them as well. Many soldiers are Half-Eldars, notably among the warriors. The strongest millitary city is Tareliste.

### Economy

After its formation, the Eldar Empire adopted a feudal system, with peasants of an earl's territory required to farm the fields for the nation's agriculture. In exchange, the peasants can keep a portion of what they farmed, and the Dukes and Earls were tasked to make law and justice prevail. Among its primary crops were the Elda Fruits, and the reputated Mannus Hearts, although Eldars don't call them that way.

Coinciding with its agricultural aspects, the empire's economy is open to trade, notably with their longest allies, the Mytherid Empire. It also allows merchants to settle and run businesses within its borders. With enough endowments paid to the state, the government can promote a rich merchant in the empire, granting them prestige and influence that could help grow their business and help stimulate the nation's wealth and growth. Currency in the Mytherid Empire is called Elarin , and is divided in golden Elarin, silver Elarin and bronze Elarin. Every Elarin is equivalent to a hundred times the lower grade, with a golden Elarin being 100 silver Elarin and a silver Elarin being 100 bronze Elarin. Due to it, the most commonly used currency was silver Elarin, with golden ones usually being reserved to royalty. It is notable that Elarin and Mythe are equal in value, which is probably to help Mytherid and Imperial Eldar traders to trade without having to do conversions. The strongest financial city is Relan, although Impa is also very rich.

## Society and Culture

The Imperial Eldars are a proud and independent people, accepting half-eldars. Imperial Eldars had a very good view of Mytherids, that they consider as siblings. They also have good ties to the Eldar nations to the east. Most Human nations however, have bad relationships with them, although it tends to be better after the coronation of Bel-Nirin, due to his service with humans.

As part of their culture, Eldars typically did not adopt a unique surname to coincide with their first name, using nicknames such as "the elder" if there are more than one person with said first name. Although Octarchs sometimes used the name of their castle, or the capital city as identification, it was not common. As such, even among Eldar nobility, nicknames were used.

Having chosen Eldar Paganism as the official religion, the Octarch of Raedis is recognised as one of the Archbishops of Eldars, the only of the Archbishops that is not the highest layer of the nation they live in, this being because Raedis was always a religious city. It serves as a place of safety for half-eldars, and has a high Eldar population, due to its close ties with Mytherids. Slaves are very important to their society.

Due to common contact with Mytherids, most Eldars are at least knowledgeable in Eldarin and Common. Many nobles are taught in both languages.

## Geography and Climate

The Eldar Empire is a country, in the Polar Steppes, located directly west to the Kingdom of Atheria and the Principalities of Northeria, above the Elda Sea, and west of the Eastern Mountains. The country was mostly made of grassy fields, albeit cold ones, intermingled with steppes, with the east being mountainous, and the south being a forest.

## Octarchy

The Octarchs are the most powerful lords of the Eldar Empire, and are composed of eight city leaders. These eight cities are:

* **Devereth:** The biggest political city and the most influent. It's there that many Emperors were once raised. The city remains today a paragon of wisdom and prestige, but lacks ressources, compared to Impa or Relan.
* **Aluath:** The biggest farming city. Located in one of the few very fertile regions of the Eldar Empire, it's there that the country's most important food distribution comes from, being sent everywhere. It is still a cornerstone of Eldar life.
* **Raedis:** The biggest religious city. It was there that the Eldar Emperors recognised the Imperial Archbishops. Having always been very religious, its Octarch is the Archbishop of the whole Eldar Empire. It today lost most of its influence as, while Eldars can be religious, they tend to be motivated as much by religion as by the fame and glory of fighting for their Octarch.
* **Tareliste:** The biggest millitary city. It's there that the millitary is trained and the most powerful army is kept there. Although harmed a little as the army trained isn't from everywhere in the Eldar Empire, it's still a very powerful city with a strong millitary. It has a sharp rivalry with Arda.
* **Arda:** The biggest philosophical city. It's there that Eldar philosophy was first thought about and theorised, then grew to be a powerful city of conquest by influence. It has a strong navy, although nowhere near as good as Malum. It has a sharp rivalry with Tareliste.
* **Malum:** The biggest marine city. Built near the coast of the Elda Sea, it's there that Eldars grew their navy. As powerful as Tareliste in millitary training, Malum is known for being a big partner of the other Eldar Kingdoms. It has a poor land army however.
* **Impa:** The biggest minerial city. It's there that metals and minerals were mined. It's not the wealthiest city, for it is Relan that makes the money but it's the most secure and a very influential one, since Impa trades most of the materials needed for money making.
* **Relan:** The biggest economical city. It's there that money was made when the Emperors still ruled over all Imperial Eldars. Today, it's the wealthiest city but depends on trade with Impa to build more Elarin.

## Trivia

* The Eldar Empire is loosely inspired by the Kingdom of France, or the Holy Roman Empire in their peaks. Other inspirations include the Akkadian Empire, small inspirations from Russia, and the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, as well as the Kaldorei Empire from Warcraft.