Imperium

The Imperium, also known as *Novus Imperia*, was a human empire on Syv Nova that spanned the central to upper reaches of the continent. At its zenith it exerted power over the entirety of the continent and to some extent, Syv Augur and Basted. Considered the first "Great Human Era" until the emergence of Pax Novana, the Imperium's legacy has been a lasting testament to both the inspiration power of the human spirit and the terrifying effect it can have upon those around it. It is the predecessor to the kingdoms of Bastion, Volantris, and Schwar.

### Foundation

Prior to the Imperium, humanity on Syv Nova was dedicated primarily to survival in small, localized clans. Unlike the Or'Kati who were more ferocious or the Mynos and their immense strength, humans were blessed with few advantages save their high sociability. Their initial contact with the dwarves had seen them gain some semblance of understanding in regard to societal and cultural building, but they were largely reactionary and did not cultivate much that could be considered of higher forms of social cooperation.

This began to change when the Bastii, an ethnic group in the north of Syv Nova, began to interact with the Schwarin of the West. Now the people of Syv Nova began to identify themselves geographically and as a result, saw their differences as well. This is considered the beginning of the Vassal State period that continues to this day, though then it was a matter of amassing force against one another. The Bastii and Schwarin had come to represent the largest cultural groups in their regions, so their eventually conflict led to smaller tribes and clans aligning with one or the other.

Unbeknownst to these two groups, the Volantii had made contact with the Taivan elves and were rapidly gaining technological advances in exchange for protection from outsiders. Thus, as the Schwar and Bastii went to war, the Volantii stockpiled what would become their greatest resource: knowledge.

#### The War of Two Kings

The Bastii and the Schwarin had reached a point of relative autonomy and sought to subjugate one another. Taking on the titles of "kings," their leaders amassed what forces they could which were often lesser clans forced to the front as their personal guards led clashed. These battles were often indecisive as neither side wished to engage wholly and risk surprise attacks from Or'Kati, Mynos, Dylosians, or Langri. Furthermore, as the Bastii and Schwarin held their power through might, fear that a decisive battle might turn against them meant that they resented the idea of being weakened amongh their moots.

As this occurred, the Volantii had begun to develop the first major walled human civilizations in Syv Nova. In truth, the Dowe'i of Syv Augur and the Syn of Jia had already begun this process, but the Volantii mixed Taivan knowledge with their industry. This led to laborers being trained and work being allocated between skilled and unskilled laborers, as well as mandating farming be undertaken by a class within the society. Without Taivan advisors this would not have occured, but as a result it quickly placed them economically ahead of their peers.

#### Intervention from the Volantii

Mindful of what was happening with the other two human powers, the Volantii began to orchestrate means of reducing their power and working toward the sort of system they'd seen the Taivans use with their kingdom. Borrowing the title of prince from the High King of Skyvale, Mesrin Lotharil named himself the head of House of Volantris, from which the kingdom would later take its name. With his position of power, he sent advisors to the Bastii and Schwarin, causing them to often overestimate each other's strength and begin to see the hopelessness of continued war, while at the same time spreading rumors of insurrections among the Vassal States.

This level of spycraft doubtlessly had Taivan support, likely as the Taivans felt a strong ally would make their inevitable clash with the Drow a more fortuitous encounter. This, if it was the case, proved to be a wise investment.

Eventually the Schwarin and Bastii began to see the futility of their conflict and chose to instead merge their territories through a marriage, ensuring that the descendent would be capable of amassing authority over not only the Vassal States, but also project their power into the heart of Syv Nova.

This was precisely what the Volantii had desired.

#### The Imperium's Creation

While the Schwarin and Bastii had mastered war against one another, they were not prepared for a surprise attack from Volantris. Moving with lightning speed and lightly trained, though numerous forces, the Volantii swept into the region and defeated the war-wearied forces that amassed against them. Rather than seize power directly though, Prince Mesrin demanded that the heir to the Schwar-Bastii alliance wed his own child, which in turn would unite their three kingdoms as one.

From this single stroke, the Imperium was born.

##### Rapid Reformation

By absorbing the foes into a singular entity, the Imperium suddenly saw their fortunes triple. The Schwar had long had poor dealings with the Sikvar, who routinely sailed along their coast and abducted people to take back to the Brumal Path. With a single host however, they were able to repel the Sikvar and further turn the energy they had placed into combating their foes into conquering the remnants of non-human activity in the region. The Bastii, likewise, were able to push the Or'Kati from their land and deeper into the Bramble, which would become their primary role to the modern day: barriers against the untamed north.

The Imperium's creation was rewarded by High King Valtreus, who referred to the Prince of House Volantris as a "king," and thus legitimized the descendants of the union within the eyes of those that had been their lessers prior. By meeting with the King of the Imperium personally, the High King had gained a lifelong ally in the humans that were rapidly reforming the political structure of Syv Nova.

##### Wars of Expansion

There were still many peoples on Syv Nova that did not fall under the direct influence of the Imperium. The Bumi, who inhabited the wilds of the south, were largely apolitical and though not opposed to their actions, did not immediately reflect on them as being positive. Likewise, the Dwarves were initially hesitant to see this upstart race amass so much power at the hands of Taivan influence, yet they saw the value in their friendship and humans had always seemed a distant cousin, albeit a hairless one, to their collective. This group would become in many ways reflective of those that stood together against the Dread Tumult.

Conversely, there were those that were immediately hostile to the increase in human power. Unlike humans though, they had not built social structures that allowed for an ease in alliance and so the Sikvar, Or'Kati, Mynos, Goblins, Mukmuk, and Dylosians were often defeated when battle was joined. The Dylosians had by this point lost their power and descended into madness, causing the only likely power structure to challenge the Imperium to become a figment of the past. Of those that were defeated, though, none were so thoroughly suppressed as the Mynos. Unlike the Sikvar who could retreat back to the Brumal Path, the Or'Kati who possessed the Bramble, the Mukmuk and Goblins and their subterranean fortresses, or the Dylosians and their dark caverns, it was the Mynos that were left with nowhere to flee to. As a result, they were constantly shattered when they rose in numbers.

Eventually, the Imperium incorporated the Mynos as "beasts of burden." Branding and beating them, it was even whispered that they performed some of the rituals that the Dylosians had to subjugate their slaves and prevent them from utilizing their ancestral fury.

Under the Imperium, Syv Nova was this sculpted to reflect much of what it does to the modern day. Dynastic changes occured within its borders, but the blood of the Lotharil was always the mandate to which one might rule.

#### Fall of the Imperium

There was not a single moment that demonstrated the Imperium's fall, so much as it collapsed as it grew larger than it was capable of maintaining. As the ethnic groups that composed it had intermingled yet held to their traditions, the Bastii, Schwar, and Volantii were still identities that existed within the collective. Officially, the Dread Tumult is considered the end of the Imperium as following it Bastion, Schwar, and Volantris referred to themselves by their modern titles, but the last king had become more of a moderator than a monarch in many ways.

With the expansion of sea trade and developments in agriculture, the three core ethnic groups of the Imperium also began to rely less on one another than they did on outsiders. Basted traders were known to have closer relations to Schwar than Volantris at times, and repeated attempts to penalize regions for seeking advantageous contracts outside of its boundaries led to distrust. Zubia and Bastion were often in contact with one another and the Eternal Kingdom of Syne's fall saw Volantris and the Kingdom of Kin'u become closer allies, which caused hypocrisy to be leveled against the central opponent to international relations. Many felt that Volantris had "become" the Imperium and this resentment saw the dissolution of ties occur all the more quickly. In fact, had it not been for the Dread Tumult, it is possible that Bastion and Schwar may have simply left the tenuous coalition.

During the Dread Tumult, however, when the Drow pressed their offensive against Skyvale, the ancient pact was proven to be worth every moment of consideration as the Imperium sacrificed many to protect their ancestral allies. This bound the three in service, though ensured they would be separate thereafter.

#### Modern Usage

Not surprisingly, even as Pax Novana continues, there are those within Syv Nova that long for a return to the Imperium. They believe that a single, mighty human kingdom will be able to crush not only those that threaten the continent, but expand to the world at large and place their power firmly upon those that would otherwise darken their skies once more.

This modern Imperium movement, known as the Imperialists, are a small though growing faction in Bastion's senate. They are advocates of war.

#### Controveries

Certainly no single act mars the Imperium more than its treatment of the Mynos.

The Taivans, who had long been supportive of the Imperium's strength, could not help but notice the similarity between Mynos slaves and the many races the Drow kept as slaves. They reasoned that to hold another in bondage was to effectively reduce oneself to the state of beasthood. These words were politely declined by the Imperium's rulers, who had come to rely on Mynos strength and in many ways saw them as loyal companions to their expansive empire. However, this was not a mutual feeling.

Eventually, the Mynos rose in rebellion against their overlords in what was a short, though devastating insurrection. Likely one of the major cracks in the system of imperial might, it required legions from Schwar to be deployed into Bastion and Volantris to suppress the rebels. As Schwarin did not utilize Mynos due to their own concern with Mikanja and their forested domain, they were the only legions available to readily answer when the other parts of the Imperium fell to revolt. This was a mark of distinction for the Schwar, who were rewarded not only being seen as saviors of the Imperium, but a marriage between the noble house of Albrecht and the Lotharil who later become the keystone behind Schwar's push for autonomy.

Ultimately, the defeated Mynos were nearly erradicated in Volantris as the embarassed king saw fit to remove them from his society. They were too numerous to be simply set free, he determined, as they had been bred for generations to become powerful they were too dangerous in any number. He chose to free a small number and culled a considerable number, often choosing children and women as the victims of his onslaught. The cultural imprint this left on male Mynos remains.

Bastion attempted to handle the concept of their slaves with more charity and allowed them to serve in the military on the frontier until they were freed. Their belief was that these Mynos would come to love Bastion and wish to remain though many fled into the Bramble. Some however, did remain and a small population can be found in the region, although it is extremely clannish.