New Empire

## Geography

   The lands claimed by the New Empire lie to the south of the Badlands and the Principality of Masgarth, and stretch to the Southern Ocean. The weather is temperate and the terrain mostly plains between the former Manacalon Empire settlements.

Along the eastern border runs the River Falafyn, the only route to the sea and trade routes for Masgarth and Gallivan, the neutrality of which is maintained by the elves of the Colthannin also claiming ancestral rights.

Though the land is as rich as any other in the Eastern Realms, the cultivation and raising of livestock is looked down upon as a mundane issue, while magic and the arcane arts dominate. Other races are plentifully represented in the New Empire, but it is uncommon to see them in positions other than as slaves or serfs to their High Elf masters.

## New Empire

The elves of the Manacalon Empire had called themselves *Sitherna*, meaning “lords” or “exalted” in their language. In the common tongue, it is generally translated as “high elves.” They consider themselves superior to all other races, including their sylvan cousins. They take great pride in the purity of their blood, their mastery of arcane sorcery, and their self-appointed position as the rightful rulers of Solasta. The New Empire was born from the only former Imperial province that managed to keep the old ways. Its high elves dream of restoring lost glory and still follow most of the ancient customs aimed at bringing civilization to all races. Then Cataclysm tore the heart out of the Empire, and what was once Aer-Elai became twisted beyond recognition into the Badlands.

Alone of all the Imperial governors, Lerithir Imradir managed to keep control of his province in the wake of the Cataclysm. He crowned himself the first Emperor of the New Empire, vowing that he and his successors would reconquer the lost provinces and establish a new Imperial age. Some elves refused to follow the way of Empire and civilization. These "followers of the old ways" (*dilynwyr henfyrd* in the elvish language) used their magical heritage to grow closer to nature and strive for harmony rather than civilization, as they felt it should have been for all elves. These elves moved far from the lands of the Empire, settling far to the east in the forest of Colthannin. In the millennia that followed, these sylvan elves effectively became a separate race from the high elves.

The New Empire is founded on the same harsh rule as the old, with high elves in charge and all other races reduced to servitude. This does not mean that other races are not represented numerously in the New Empire, but it is unusual to find them in positions of influence or power. The New Empire and its subjects (by implication, high elves) tend to have a bad reputation. Some decry them as slavers, others as subtle manipulators, and yet others simply consider them untrustworthy. However, that does not stop anyone from enjoying popular New Empire liquors.

## Arcaneum

Arcaneum, created within the Manacalon Empire, still stands strong in the New Empire, its wizards dedicated to acquiring magical knowledge and artifacts. The Arcaneum, which sends representatives to the Legacy Council, is also regarded as the best school of magic in the world.

## Silent Whisper

The dreaded agents of the Silent Whisper, a shadowy spy organization, gather intelligence and arrest those who step out of line. Not much is known about the inner workings of this organization, but it seems to be led by the First Whisperer. We know that it survived the fall of the Manacalon Empire and still operates for the benefit of the New Empire, albeit at the fringes of the law.

Operatives of the Silent Whisper prefer to work unseen, their favourite tools of trade being deception, infiltration and guile. They communicate in ciphers and hidden messages. The Dust of Disappearance was first created for use by their agents.

## Sources

General credit to https://solastacrownofthemagister.fandom.com/wiki/New\_Empire

1. ↑ https://forums.solasta-game.com/forum/solasta-dev-stream-july-27th-kickstarter-goodies-update
2. ↑ CotM Lore Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBlTmFEJSCs
3. ↑ Dev Diary 29 https://www.solasta-game.com/news/29-the-elves-dwarves-of-solasta-4000-backers
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dev Diary 47 https://www.solasta-game.com/news/47-lore-chronicles-the-eastern-realms