Holy Marcadian Empire

"Senatorum Populaque Marcadia" -SPQM, the people and senate of the Holy Marcadian Empire

## Summary

The Holy Marcadian Empire (or just Marcadia) is an autonomous nation in the West of Cerrellus, and a part of the Iron Paladin Commonwealth. It is an absolute monarchy and a Pyrusian state cult.

## Before Marcadian

During the Age of Heroes, the region of Marcadia was the home to the Iglan people, but only in coastal areas. As the Age of Heroes advanced, the Iglan were removed quite suddenly by the Gharans. The Gharans took control of Tolovita, Ghara, and Marcadia. Different "Oz"s were appointed to different regions, and like the later Imperial model, had "subis-imperis" over their own region. Oz Huite was the leader of the Marcadian region, as well as the areas of Tolovita that were past the Tolovitan canal (which, at the time, did not exist). When the Tolovitans arrived, Oz Huite fought a valiant battle against them, holding them off at the Piago-Rino crossing. Marcadia was then under the control of the Tolovitans for a many years, who had subjugated the Gharas and begun colonizing them. However, the size of the Tolovitan Empire resulted in them getting noticed by the Dyankin Empire, which too was spreading at an alarming rate. It was inevitable that the two empires would clash. When they did, the Marcadian peninsula became an important staging ground for the Dynakin offensive, which maintained a powerful forward momentum and resulted in a decisive victory for the Dynakin empire.

## Early Imperial

In the early days of the Imperium, Marcadia was still the property of the empire. Over the course of Swennica and Fyrek's reign, the lands were slowly returned to the Tolovitans as reparations. There was relative peace during this time in Marcadia. The land was known as *Le Grisse Montagne Regionne* or The Grey Mountain Region, because its notable geographical feature, the one small grey mountain. The rest of the countryside was unspoiled, and beautiful blue flowers grew everywhere. The Tolovitans saw The Grey Mountain as a land of unspoiled beauty, and chose not to disturb its calming vistas.

## During Marcadian

However, this peace did not last. Maius Marius Marcadian was made the Third Imperator, and his first act was to begin construction of a second, smaller Capital on the Grey Mountain- A gift to the people of Tolovita. This greatly angered the Tolovitan people, who did not understand why Marcadian was ruining their landscape's natural beauty. Capital opinion of Tolovita was not positive, seeing them as worshippers of the Death God, and a backwards, uncivilized people. However, unprovoked war would also be very unpopular. Thus, Marcadian very elegantly found a solution, and created a false flag attack against the Second Capital, claiming the attackers to be Tolovitan terrorists. This immediately had the Imperial public in full support of a war, and a war there was, with Marcadian taking control of the Grey Mountain peninsula. During this war, the city upon the Grey Mountain was built larger and larger. This was no longer "The Grey Mountain". This was Marcadia, the greatest city in this or any age. The city was key in locking down the troublesome Tolovitans and tribal Gharans in their corner of the world, especially with the many divine gifts the Empire had been imparted with. The city was paved with gold, and the blue flowers became the symbol of the Empire.

However, towards the end of his reign, opinion of Marcadian was beginning to sour. He was neglecting his duties in the Capital, and instead devoting his time to his 'pet project' of Marcadia, the Golden City. This came to a head when Marcadian properly declared his city to be "The True Capital". This resulted in the first and last impeachment of an Imperator, and many claiming him to be the fabled "Traitor-Imperator", predicted by Dynakus. Marcadian was exiled from The Capital, which suited him just fine, since he just stayed in his new Capital.

## Arrapus

When Andros Carus Arrapus was made the Fourth Imperator, Marcadia was treated as part of the Greater Cerrellan Alliance, but NOT the *true* Capital. Marcadian continued to build his city, but was given an Imperial Order preventing him from expanding his city beyond the province. Marcadian obliged, not wishing to anger Arrapus any more, and instead suggested that Marcadia be recognized as the "Subis-Imperis" Capital- the lesser Capital. Arrapus agreed, and began construction of the Arrapus Way, a gold-paved road that connected the two Capitals.

Yet all was not well in the Empire. An ego-bloated governor named Swolass began causing trouble in Ghara, and Arrapus had no choice but to request Marcadian's help. Marcadian agreed, on the condition that his exile be rescinded, which Arrapus agreed to. Swolass was defeated by the two Imperators, and this is commemorated in two golden statues in the great city of Marcadia.

## Succession Crisis

When Maius Marius Marcadian died, a violent civil war broke out over the throne. The succession crisis lasted for only one week, but one quarter of the entire population of Marcadia died in the conflict. This conflict would have continued further, had Vacturia Karnumn not intervened. Vacturia used her powerful magics to instantly pacify the warriors of Marcadia. Having their full attention, she declared Marcadia "A City of Gilded Fools", and installed seven simulacrums of herself to be arbiters of the Marcadian Succession. The Seven Sages declared Neron Marius Marcadian the heir, and then Vacturia left, irritated by the disturbance from her studies.

## List of Imperators

* Maius Marius Marcadian
* Neron Marius Marcadian
* Livia Demphimus Marcadian
* Quintillia Neron Marcadian
* Otho Neron Marcadian
* Livia Demphimus Marcadian II
* Trajulus Otho Marcadian
* Pontia Clovia Marcadian
* Verticus Maius Marcadian
* Trajulus Otho Marcadian II
* Livia Demphimus Marcadian III
* Caligulon Falconian Marcadian
* Caligulon Falconian Marcadian II
* Maius Marius Marcadian II
* Trajulus Otho Marcadian III
* Demphima Neron Marcadian
* Maia Marius Marcadian
* Sittica Falconian Marcadian
* Caligulon Falconian Marcadian III
* Pontia Clovia Marcadian II
* Trajulus Otho Marcadian IV (current)

## The Vampire War

With Reventide declared the Traitor, all previous resentment towards Marcadia was forgiven. The Marcadian Empire was an extremely powerful ally of the Capital, with 10 Elite Marcadian Guards being able to wipe out an entire squadron of vampires. Nothing unites two nations better than warring against third one.

## New Dorne

Project Dreifel had succeeded. The dust settled, and the Capital was gone. The Marcadian Empire realized immediately that this was a world-shattering event, and had to act fast to secure the safety of realm. Within mere minutes of the Capital's fall, the Marcadian Empire had allied with the Vjorknordian Royal House to declare all territory spanning from their two capitals to be part of their alliance. The boy-king, Barnabus Ironlight, was nudged into agreeing by Saint Venus, an ex-Marcadian Guard. The Iron Paladin Commonwealth had just been forged.

## Sub-Factions & Colonies

### Marcadian Guard

The Marcadian Guard are the elite protectors of the nation.

### Aecorus Abuniccus

Aecorus Abuniccus (now Freeport) was slave colony belonging to the Marcadian Empire. It was liberated by The Founder.

### Solarum Senatorum

An extremist group of Pyrusians, the Solarum Senatorum were exiled from the Marcadian Empire for heresy. They believed that the truth of Pyrus can be divined through individual prayer, not the word of the Imperator.

### Voxane Pyrronic

The Voxane Pyrronic are a strange group of Marcadians who seperated from the mainland, initially as part of a mission to create a colony in The Badlands. However, their time away from the Imperator caused them to develop their own religion, which was based on the "Voice of the Sun".