Holy Miedrean Empire

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The **Holy Miedrean Empire**, commonly known as **Miedrea**, known in the Miedreic language as the **Ehtris Miedrei Ikratorei** is a state and nation that has been present on the continent of Theasdron since the Miedrean Exodus of Ahnmuras and the arrival of Fenthras in Theasdron. The Miedrean nation arose out of the ashes of the Miedrean Exodus, though it would be some time for the state as it is known today to formalise. What we now know today as the Holy Miedrean Empire only really emerged under the reign of the Prophet-Emperor Aodh dei Aureal I, the son and heir of Fenthras. The birth of the Aneroseian Faith in Miedrea and the crowning of Aodh as a divine monarch officially began Miedrea down a theocratic and imperialist path.

## Etymology

The official state name of **Holy Miedrean Empire** is the closest Common Tongue translation of **Ehtris Miedrei Ikratorei** which could also be read as **Sacred Miedrean** **Realm**. The Miedrean state, being as autocratic and theocratic as it is, derives all power from the **Holy Emperor**, the **Ikrator**. This title is different from the word used for other, foreign (and non-holy), 'Emperor's in the Miedreic language, elevating it as the highest title in the world, and therefore the most significant individual from the Aneroseian and Miedrean worldview. The title itself is believed to have been bestowed upon the Prophet-Emperor Aodh dei Aureal I, the progenitor of the Miedrean Imperial House, by the Aneroseian God, Aneros. It is therefore believed because the Miedrean monarch and head of state is God's viceroy on Earth, and that the Miedrean state is fully personified in the figure of the monarch, that the state itself is sanctioned by God and Holy.

For this reason, the Miedreans consider their state to be the sole true claimant to the Common Tongue word of "Empire", and this is why there is a differentiation in their own language between the Miedrean Empire and other "Empire"s of the world.

## History

The history of the Miedrean state is inseparably tied to the Miedre race, an ethnic group drastically distinct from the native peoples of their now home continent of Theasdron.

### Prehistory

The ancient history of the Miedre is wrapped in suspicion and epic history, solely being recorded in the ancient Poetic Scrolls, an account of their time on their ancestral and historic homeland on the obscured and mythical continent of Ahnmuras. The name of the Miedre is believed to come from one of the first Poetic Scrolls, which recounts the story of an Ahnmuran native named "Mied" who slayed a frost dragon and established a territory in the icy and barren wastelands of that continent siring many sons with a female ice giant, who would go on to be the Miedre people. It is said that he is the one that established the ancient law of the strongest ruling, and this was said on his deathbed as his sons surrounded him asking who was to reign in his stead. While most Miedre believe this story and take it as a founding myth, scholarly investigation into ancient Miedre and Ahnmuran languages has discovered similar words to Miedre spread throughout the rare non-Miedreic Ahnmuran accounts brought to Theasdron which call them the "men of the ice".

While many histories were lost in the Miedrean Exodus, it is believed that Miedrea was once a vast empire on the continent of Ahnmuras, and created innovations such as climate adapted aqueducts, and magma heated roads to connect their territories. Unfortunately, while many ancient Miedrean secrets have been lost to time, it is provident that the accounts of the rise of Fenthras among the Miedre and his spearheading of the Miedrean Exodus are among the latest of the Poetic Scrolls.

#### Fenthras and Exodus

The rise of Fenthras as the High King (or Paramount Chieftan) of the Miedre, a position afforded only to the strongest individual in Miedrean society, is detailed in the final Poetic Scroll which describes Miedreic heroism in the face of an unstoppable enemy and their exodus to Theasdron. It is stated that Fenthras rose from a Miedre Altus (noble) household, and by holding to the ancient laws of his people in which the strongest and smartest rule, rose quickly up the hierarchy of their society. In the sacred Anerosei religious text, the Chant of Creation, the Miedrean God Aneros claims to have lifted Fenthras up to perform great deeds, and hastened the downfall of the original Miedrean civilisation to bring forward the birth of Fenthras' son, Aodh.

While it is not detailed who, or what, brought forth the downfall of their civilisation, it is made clear that Fenthras' rulership over the Miedre is the only thing that allowed them to survive the onslaught of their crumbling society. He organised the foremost warriors and nobles into a vanguard force called the Band of the Wolf, and embarked from Ahnmuras ahead of the civilian fleet towards the little known continent we now know as Theasdron, where he would quickly subdue the natives and allow the Miedrean civilian fleet safe passage into their new homeland.

#### Miedrean Aehrelarei

The Miedre were not long in Theasdron before quickly surpassing the primitive natives in organisaiton, who were organised around disconnected and distrusting tribal societies led by the high priest of a local religion, as Fenthras proclaimed a new Miedrean Kingdom claiming its legitimacy from the prior fallen empire on Ahnmuras. To further legitimise his reign, he married into native nobility, marrying the only daughter of the High Priest of the Cult of Flame, the local religion and pantheon, with whom he would have a sole son, Aodh.

Prior to Aodh's Divine Revelation at the hands of Aneros, Fenthras focused on the construction and development of the Kingdom, the establishment of infrastructure between the young cities, and heavy development around the capital - which at the time was called Londringen - in the Miedrean Crownlands known as the Astara. It was on the final day of his son's Revelation that Fenthras saw a dream of Aneros, the One, and devoted himself to the Aneroseian cause, sending missionaries out into the rest of the Kingdom, while his son continued to develop the theology and doctrine of the Faith. Fenthras only reigned for five more years following the Revelation before dying of natural causes, handing the crown down to Aodh.

### Aodhannan Period (5 - 21 PR)

The Aodhannan period unofficially started five years prior to the the crowning of Aodh as the Miedrean monarch, following his Divine Revelation, Aodh spent time building up Aneroseian theology and doctrine and shadowing his father learning the art of statecraft. Fenthras died in the year 5 PR of natural causes, and soon after Aodh was crowned as the Miedrean monarch.

The Chant of Creation, the Aneroseian holy scripture claims that during his coronation Aodh once more saw a vision of Aneros, who proclaimed him as "*Ikrator - Divine Sovereign - of this Miedrea*". This is the beginning of the Imperial Age of Miedrea, as Ikrator is often translated into the Common Tongue as "Emperor" or "Holy Emperor", and being a state sanctified by the Miedrean God, the Miedreans believe this state to be sacred and above all other things in the world, apart from the Chantry.

#### Ire Aodhanna (5 - 18 PR)

The "Ire Aodhanna" - Miedreic for "Aodhannan Peace" is the period in which Aodh ruled as the Emperor of Miedrea while at peace. This time lasted roughly thirteen years, and saw the renaming of Londringen to Aetheras, the construction of the Aneriad and the foundation of many of the important central buildings of the city of Aetheras today, including the Golden Palace. This period saw the first cultural flourishing of the Miedrean nation since their arrival on Theasdron and many of the most famous paintings, architecture and other art was produced or inspired from this period of peace and prosperity.

During this period cities outside of Aetheras began to be constructed in the Miedrean Crownlands, the Astara. Aodh married Kalista, a Penitent Sister, one of the branches of the Aethereal Chantry, and had a son, Kaelin.

#### First Aethereal March (18 - 21 PR)

At the beginning of 18 PR pagan native Theasdronic tribesmen crossed into the boundaries of the Empire and began pillaging small town steads around the Miedrean countryside and disrupting the roads between major cities, heading directly for Aetheras. At the gates of the city the barbarian pillagers were repelled by the display of powers in Aodh's Staff, given to him by Aneros, retreating out of Miedrean territory back to their tribal villages beyond the veil of civilisation.

Following this incursion Aodh had witnessed another vision from Aneros calling for action and forceful conversion of the barbarians who attacked the sacred state, and so in front of the Aneriad Aodh proclaimed the first Aneroseian Crusade, known as an Aethereal March. Aodh called for the Miedreans to transform their scythes to weapons and to take up arms for the sake of their God, and so embarked on campaigning beyond the borders of Miedrea to expand the Faith and the Empire.

From 18 to 21 the numerous campaigns of the First Aethereal March were successful, expanding the territories of the Empire, converting tribes in these new territories and beyond, and establishing fertile ground for further proselytizing into the world, yet unknown to the Miedreans, beyond the north of Theasdron. It was then that the Chant of Creation describes Aodh foreseeing his death and betrayal at the hands of one of his religious proteges, the Disciple Lucaros.

At the end of the campaigning season of 21 PR, Aodh sought refuge and isolation from the rest of the Miedrean warcamp in the relative quiet of the Veardante forest, now part of the Eradaia region of Miedrea. It was here that the Chant details his temptation at the hands of the Machinists, who he refuted, and then his betrayal at the hands of Lucaros, who sold the Emperor out to the warriors of the Eradii tribe. Aodh was then scourged and burnt at the stake in the modern city of Eriah, after which he descended to the Flammeum where he shackled Malacar to the depths, and then ascended to the Aether and the Golden City. His ashes were collected by the remaining loyal Disciples and returned to Aetheras alongside the campaigning Miedrean army in mourning.

### Kaelinian Period (28 - 73 PR)

At the time of his father's death, the young Ikratorling Kaelin was eleven years old, and so while he finished his education under the tutelage of the remaining Disciples, particularly the Disciple Aedoni, his mother, the wife of Aodh, Kalista, took up the regency of Miedrea, ruling alongside the Ikratoral Council which was expanded to hold the Disciples who were to follow in the steps of their master in forming the Aneroseian religion - gaining them the title of the Chantry Fathers.

Kalista effectively held the Miedre together during a dark period in their history, and relinquished her regency upon Kaelin's 18th birthday in 28 PR, when he was coronated as the Ehtris Ikrator in the Aneriad. Towards the end of the regency and into the early Kaelinian Period while the Chantry Fathers were still known simply as the Disciples, they gathered the First Aethereal Council, recalling all of the Disciples from across the lands to meet in Aetheras to discuss theology, doctrine and to set firm foundations for an official Chantry organisation. This Council was attended by the young Kaelin whose arguments for a strongly centralised and Ikrator-controlled Chantry were bolstered by his extensive theological training at the hands of Aedoni. By the end of the First Council it was set in stone that in the near future the Chantry would officially be organised by Kaelin into the Aethereal Chantry of Aneros, and that the Aetherean Creed was to be the foundation of all Aneroseian Faith alongside a final publicised version of the Chant of Creation by Kaelin.

In the year following his coronation in 29 PR, Kaelin followed the example of his father and married a woman from the Penitent Sisters called Adalina. In 32 PR after extensive coordination and prior organisation, the Aethereal Chantry was officially established and organised around the Prelacy and Primacy systems, with the first appointed Prelate being Aedoni (taking on the Prelacy of Aetheras), who was additionally made the Primate of Theasdron. The heart of all Chantry activity would be around the Aneriad, the main Aneroseian temple in the capital of Aetheras which is attached to the Golden Palace. Alongside the establishment of the Chantry, other organisations such as the Penitent Sisters and the Aneroseian Tribunal were officially brought under the purview of the Chantry.

In the year following the foundation of the Chantry the first child of Kaelin and Adalina was born, the heir to the throne Talarin. Throughout Kaelin's reign equal focus would be placed upon the religious and state affairs of the Empire, as both were equally balanced. Kaelin embarked on further expansionism, expanding the Empire's territories greatly and subduing the Eradii, the tribe that killed his father, forcefully converting them and establishing the city of Eriah as a pilgrimage site for the Aneroseian Faith. Kaelin established numerous development programs incentivising the establishment of Miedrean towns and villages across the countryside, he additionally ensured that each Miedrean settlement would either have a proper Chantry building or an adequate shrine or place of worship and continued the cultural kindling of his father, encouraging the production of works of art and furthered the building of the capital of Aetheras through prisoners captured in his many campaigns.

After turning 18 in 51 PR, the Ikratorling Talarin married the Penitent Sister Kelseya, although the couple had fertility issues which would mean that the birth of their first child, Andralis, would not happen until 66 PR. Kaelin continued effectively ruling and governing his realm until 70 PR - when he was 60 - after which he left the governance of the state in the hands of his son and the Ikratoral Council, preferring to spend time in prayer and with his family, particularly around his grandson, the four year old Andralis. Kaelin would die three years later in 73 PR of natural causes surrounded by his family in the city of Aetheras which he has greatly developed and which had began blossoming as a metropolis on Theasdron.

### Talarinian Period (73 - 95 PR)

Talarin had effectively been ruling the Empire for the three years prior to his father's death, and so in 73 PR at the age of forty his crowning as Ikrator saw a change in the priority and focus of the Miedrean state away from the Kaelinian status-quo. Talarin excelled in the military education portion of his tutelage, and was always popular among the - at the time - armed forces, the Aethereal Host, and so it was of little surprise when Talarin turned the focus of the state away from religious matters towards state and military affairs and the further expansion of the Empire.

Talarin focused on establishing institutions, passing laws and codifying traditions. He famously created the Miedrean military honour system, and indeed the modern Miedrean Legion - putting the power over guarding the home nation of the Chantry out of the hands of the somewhat unreliable Aethereal Host which had ballooned into including warriors from many other nations and tribes beyond Miedrea. While the double-headed golden wolf had been the de facto symbol of the Empire since the coronation of Aodh, Talarin officially adopted it as the flag of the Empire and the symbol of the Imperial Dynasty, the dei Aureal Dynasty, taking inspiration from the prophecy which foretold a double-headed golden wolf (Miedrea) being ridden by the Chose One (his grandfather Aodh) across the world, and is the namesake of the dynasty.

In 84 PR the Ikratorling Andralis came of age and married the Penitent Sister Elianor, and two years later in 86 PR they had their first son, Regulius. At the age of sixty-two in the year 95 PR Talarin died of an infection in a wound from campaigning. While the campaign that Talarin had been waging had been waged to completion, he was quickly rushed back to Aetheras where he subsequently died.

### Andralisian Period (95 PR - Current)

Andralis quickly took up the Miedrean Crown to stabilise the situation in the newly conquered - and now needing pacified - Province of [NAME]. While this pacification is still on-going, Andralis interests in governing differed from his father and were more akin to his grandfather's. Since his crowning Andralis has increasingly focused on syncretism between the Chantry and the Imperial State, using religious justifications for the implementation of new laws and winning over people through faith and debates instead of force and swords.

## Politics

Like all things in Miedrean society, politics is highly hierarchical. With the Holy Emperor ruling with absolute authority from the top on all matters on the state, military of religion going all the way down to the lowliest Otressan Peasant.

#### Ehtris Ikrator (Holy Emperor)

The Holy Miedrean (or Aneroseian) Emperor is the Miedrean head of state, faith, military and government. They are an absolute and divine monarch sanctioned by Aneros Himself, the God of the Aneroseian Faith as proclaimed through the Chant of Creation by both Aneros Himself and by the Prophet Emperor Aodh. Each Ikrator is a direct descendant of Fenthras and Aodh and therefore considered sacrosanct and their authority absolute in all fields. The Emperor is referred to with the prefix of "His Aethereal Majesty" and resides in the Golden Palace connected to the Aneriad in Aetheras alongside the rest of the dei Aureal Dynasty.

#### Ikratorling (Prince-Imperial)

The heir to the throne of Miedrea is known as the Ikratorling (best translated as Prince-Imperial or Crown Prince) and following Miedrean law of primogeniture is the eldest son of the reigning monarch of the dei Aureal Dynasty. The Ikratorling undergoes significant training and education in the early part of their life including a theological, military and political education respectively. They are bestowed the title of the Ascendant Apostle within the Aethereal Chantry, and are rferred to with the prefix of "His Aethereal Highness".

#### Ikratoral Adverai (Imperial Council)

The Imperial Council acts as the legislative and advisory body to the Emperor, with the Councillor within it acting as Ministers of different governmental bodies or direct advisors of the Emperor

##### Adevestris (Chief Advisor)

The Chief Advisor acts as a chairman over the Council in absence of the Emperor or deputy to the Emperor in governmental affairs. they are typically a close relative to the Emperor such as a brother or cousin, and oftentimes they are often the Grand Prelate of Aetheras and Primate of Theasdron within the Aethereal Chantry.

##### Lecator (Legate)

The Legate is the operational head of the Miedrean Legion. While the Emperor is the official Supreme Warlord, and often takes direct command during campaigning, the Legate acts as the leader of the Miedrean Officer Corps as the most senior officer within the Legion. They also occasionally act as the Emperor's personal delegation to the soldiery.

##### Anadreisai (Ambassador)

The Ambassador is the personal diplomat of the Emperor and the mouthpiece of Miedrea to other nations. While this position is traditionally held secularly by any Altus nobility, during the reign of Andralis dei Aureal I the position has become synonymous with the Chantry position of Prelate-Secretary, marking the distinct syncretism typical of the Andralisian Period.

##### Ehlrassai (Steward)

The Steward is also sometimes known as the Imperial Treasurer, as they oversee the financial departments of the Empire particularly the Imperial Treasury. However, the Steward also oversees the development of cities, roads and otherwise. They are also entrusted by the Emperor to promote an environment which incentivizes the production of art and other forms of culture.

##### Arkheisai (Archivist)

The Archivist is the overseer and collator of the Imperial Archives and the various information hubs throughout the Empire such as libraries.

#### Arelos and Praetrai (Duke and Governor)

The positions of Duke and Governor have the same amount of authority, the only difference between the two is the type of administrative region. A Duke - who is a Miedrean Altus nobleman - presides over a Duchy, which is considered an officially pacified, Miedresised and civilised province of the Empire. A Governor - who is often an Altus, but can potentially be an Otressan - presides over a Province, which is often times a recently acquired territory of the Empire which needs military administration and pacification before being Miedresised and given to an Altus Clan.

##### Antehros and Milehros (Landgrave and Margrave)

Within each Duchy there are smaller sub-divisions ruled by local nobility and depending where these are they could be either Landgraves or Margraves, which are similar to Counts. Landgraves oversee a County which is surrounded by safe, friendly and civilised Miedrean territories and they are often simply local Altus Clans which are lesser in influence than the ruling Altus Duke. Contrarily, Margraves are more trusted Counts and are stationed in borderland territories either with other nations or tribes or simply wilderness, they are entrusted to guard the border and are usually more military-minded than the Landgraves - having to abstain from the Great Game and often station Miedrean Legion soldiers or be an officer within the Legion themselves (this is not to be mistaken as a military district such as a Province).

##### Ehros (Lord)

Even more minor nobility which are often limited to simply a castle, or overseeing a specific village, town or one of the rare few Imperial Free Cities, a Lord answers to their superior which is typically a Landgrave or a Margrave (except in the instance of an Imperial Free City).

#### Aerelairan (Citizenry**)**

Imperial Citizenship is bestowed upon birth to any Miedre Human or to the child of any Citizen of the Empire. Citizenship of the Empire can be earned by non-Citizens, but this is rare considering the xenophobic and foreign-unfriendliness of Miedrean society. Miedrean Citizenry follows the social classes hierarchy with Otressans, Midaisri and Altus classes being firmly rooted in institutions.

##### Altrares (Altus)

The Altus class are considered the nobility and richest class of the Miedre. They are direct descendants of the warriors who founded ancient Miedrea and survived through the Exodus, and so are separated by a number of different families or clans as they can trace their lineage directly back thousands of years. The Altus are extremely proud of Miedrea as a nation and culture, believing in the superiority of their people over the other peoples of the world, who they see as less pious, hard-working and inferior. The Altus embody the stereotypical piety of the Miedre, being firm believers in the Anerosei Faith. Members of the Altus class typically stay in their home territories alongside their family, usually in a castle or a city which they rule over, though often make trips to the capital of Aetheras for religious activities or participation in other social activities. War between the Altus is common, as the so-called “Great Game” is played between the different Altus clans in a never-ending struggle to assert dominance over their neighbouring Lords.

##### Midaeres (Midaisri)

The Midaisri class are a bourgeois class raised from the common Otressan class. Their origins can be found in the profession of a landlord,  from which many Midaisri families originated, and developed their businesses further into trading enterprises or larger mining, woodcutting or agricultural corporations. They hold common Otressan surnames, and do not have the distinctive “dei” of the Altus class, but can be seen more commonly wearing finer clothes than their Otressan counterparts. The wealth of the Midaisri often allows them to pay them and their families ways out of their local Lord’s levying for participation in the Great Game, and so the class largely stays neutral within the context of the Game, although they are known to be profiteers of military goods to different clans. They hold many of the same convictions as the Otressan class, but are more adaptable and willing to speak and trade with foreigners.

##### Otreseres (Otressan)

The Otressan class are the peasant and working class of the Miedre, being common farmers, miners, and lumberjacks more often than not. They live simple lives often dominated by two things: worship within the Chantry, and working or fighting for their local Lord. The culture within the Otressan class has largely characterised Miedreic society, being xenophobic to outsiders, family-oriented, pious and hard-workers. Most Otressans can only speak Miedreic, and do not bother to learn the Common Tongue, as they believe it a trade language and do not wish to interact with foreigners, whom they often see as intrusive and nosey. The Otressan desire for the isolation of the nation from the intrigue and power of outsiders has largely informed the similar views of the other two classes. While it is impossible for an Otressan to rise to the status of Altus - marriage between these classes is forbidden -, they can rise to the status of Midaisri either through marriage or making of wealth.