The Empire of Heilig-Maan

## Overview

The **Empire of Heilig-Maan** is the largest canine faction on **Carid'wel**, built from a collection of old canid tribes under the rule of the Dire Wolves and their wolfish supporters. The modern iteration of the Empire was founded following **Ebergotth**'s usurpation of **Abith II the Shamed** and the organization of the remaining dire wolf people. The Empire of Heilig-Mass is a proud nation built on intense pack loyalty, mutual respect and trust, strict organization and a kratocratic philosophy. The Empire largely cultivates an attitude of canine, especially wolfish, superiority and their isolationist, prideful way of thinking often leads to significant aggression or distrust towards the **Dayplagued** non-canines and **Wolf Mimics.** Much of the interaction between modern Imperial races is dictated by social caste systems and an anti-miscegenation philosophy. Despite some disagreements in recent years between the traditional **Moon Druids** and the seemingly more liberal imperial ruling class, a large portion of Heilig-Maan's population worships the moon and heeds ancient teachings of Moon Druidism, fiercely respecting nature, the moon and the preservation of the natural world.

## Pre-Imperial Era

A long time ago, in a world much different than the present, there were tribes of wolves and various other canines that dotted the landscape. This is the earliest documented appearance of the wolfish and canine people. Wolf tribes were generally quite similar in culture, with only a few small differing details in their ways of life. They were a druidic and shamanistic tribal culture with strong pack loyalty, revering the moon and the lands they lived on. Their tribes were fearsome hunters, devout druids and guides to many other beings that lived within the forest. Packs were led by the **Al-Fhearr**, the greatest of the tribe, who often reached their position by besting the previous one in a trial by combat and using similar methods to put down any other challengers. These packs of wolf people were highly territorial. Seeing that other developing races frequently abused the life and nature around them with reckless abandon, the protective, wolfish people quickly would quickly take control of land. If they could not peacefully teach the trespassers the errors of their ways, they would resort to brutal warfare to drive away the threat.

As these tribes grew in strength, number and territory, they would find themselves intermingling with increased frequency. Due to their kratocratic culture and desire to grow their packs, wolf tribes started to annex one another rapidly, starting a series of conflicts, negotiations and political movements that would come to be known as the **Struggle of a Hundred Packs**. The name being a nod to the number of tribes, packs and factions that would become involved in these annexations, conflicts and series of alliances. Alphas would challenge other alphas for the complete rule of one another's packs. A few mutually beneficial alliances were created and maintained, but tribal interaction usually ended in the complete annexation of one by the other.

Due to mutual respect, trust and amity shared by wolfish warriors and hunters that transcended their packs, full on warfare and massive bloodshed was infrequent. The wolves were usually quite civilized in their conflicts. Fighting usually only occurring between their leaders or only select few soldiers. As time went on, these frequent annexations would result in a sort of megatribe forming. This "pack of packs" comprised of multiple tribes, each with their own individual leaders. There was a short lived council of several packs, each with their own alphas. However, the wolves weren't accustomed to having so many leaders at once and would find this council more of a hinderance that caused frequent infighting and power struggles. Eventually, a more organized and hierarchical society would prevail, with one single "pack alpha" who presided over the lesser leaders and would organize them based on the greater tribe's needs.

## Discovery of Dire Wolves

Due to their territorial nature which often led to conquest campaigns, the wolves had annexed more than just other wolf packs. At first, things like foxes and other canines were considered demons, mimic wolves. Canines were not blessed by the full power of nature and the moon and were considered spiritually inferior. Thanks to certain opportune alliances against various threats, or mutual help between the wolves and other races, some were afforded more leniency and treated better than others. Coyotes, traditional trespassers on wolf territory, thieves, barbarians and bandits with little pack loyalty, for example, were relatively despised. The jackals that the wolves occasionally allied with when entering hotter, more arid lands, however, gave the wolves a better impression of them. These sorts of historical interactions would eventually determine wolfish hierarchy when they annexed or conquered other canines. Some races largely became slaves or “prizes of war”, while others were sometimes gladly accepted among the wolves and considered “members of the pack” by more open-minded wolves.

At this time, however, the supertribe was still largely comprised of wolves, even if they had a few races under the wolfish rule. The wolves would slowly transition into a race of conquerors, their warrior and hunter blood allowing them to grow their lands at rapid numbers. Throughout it all, this tribe of tribes still held honourable combat in high regard, as well as the proper treatment of nature during warfare. Wolfish warfare, while it may have been terrifying and brutal to face, was always honourable and dictated by a strict moral code. During the wolf people campaigns, their range of influence would expand to the border of the chilly tundra of Tarandrusiya. Scouts and forward parties would be sent into the mountain ranges. Here, they found something that would change their history forever.

Deep within the Tarandrusiyan mountains, a culture of large, brutish, strong and menacing-looking wolves was discovered and identified by the wolves. These were the first known dire wolves. Upon discovery, these larger, more fearsome wolf-folk were barely managing to survive. Battered not only by the harsh conditions but by constant wars with other inhabitants of the tundra and bloody and brutal infighting between their people. A majority of the dire wolf population was dead, lost or had long left this land behind. The wolfish leaders were shocked by the discovery, believing this to be a sign of the gods. To them, they had found a holy race blessed by the moon, it must have been a sign from the gods. The united wolf tribes would approach the dire wolves and offer not only their aid but hand over significant control of their packs to the dire wolves, hoping to provide this divine race with more followers that they could make use of. At this moment, ravaged by famine, war and weather alike, many of the dire wolves were simply happy to find allies that could help them through this tumultuous time.

Many dire wolves gladly accepted the wolfish offer and would follow them back to wolfish lands, leaving their ancestral, war-torn land behind. They enthusiastically learned about the wolfish way of life, which wasn’t so different from theirs, although the wolves did focus more on pack unity. The dire wolves, led by a war hero and benevolent alpha named **Abith the Gracious**, were courteous to the wolves that took them in. Despite being spoiled rotten and handed so much power, they felt a responsibility to not let it go to their head. Largely by Abith’s example, the dires treated their smaller, more numerous brethren with constant fairness, gratitude and kinship. Few usurped the power structure and challenged the wolfish alphas, even with normal wolfish folk pushing them to do so. Dire wolves were just as humble and dutiful a people as they were powerful and violent.

Many of the dire wolf joiners would go on to further strengthen the wolfish tribe’s warrior bands, becoming fearsome hunters and warriors. The wolves themselves started imposing anti-miscegenation laws on their kind that they should not create halfbreeds with the dire wolves, fearing they may taint the blood of this new race and cause the already low numbers of pure-blooded dire wolves to dwindle. Large portions of the dires would become spiritual leaders, scholars and war heroes. Many ancient thinkers and philosophers from this era were dire wolves and their descendants. It would be a dire wolf pack leader and prominent druid who would end up finishing the work the wolves started during the Struggle of a Hundred Packs and standardize much of the wolves' teaching and build on them, bringing their druidic practices into the new era. The commandments were called The Principles of Night’s Blessed Pack. This evolved wolfish code would soon spread to all packs, creating one, cohesive and unified culture for the wolfish people, defining how the wolves would live as druids and hunters for the coming centuries. Even in the modern day, these principles are still held and taught by druids across Carid’wel.

## Rise of the Modern Empire

Modern Imperial rule was a slow buildup. With the dire wolves within society, things were looking great. By the time of Abith II, dire wolves were fundamental to the wolfish culture. **Abith II** continued her ancestors’ work, striving hard to be a benevolent, spiritual leader, huntress and warrior. She was benevolent and loved during her rule, with no wolf or dire wolf thinking to challenge her position, not that there were many who could stand to rival her prowess in the challenges to become alpha. The dires had been given much, their own land and territory, power over their own packs, new technology and great spiritual influence. In return, they maintained their pledge to not abuse their power, follow the wolfish ways and use their great strength to the benefit of the people who so kindly took them in. This was a golden age for canine folk, especially the wolves, who experienced progress like never before. It was only interrupted by the appearance of a stranger dire wolf, a blood pup, a term used for wolves born under a blood moon. The name of this beast of a man was **Ebergotth**, a complete stranger in these lands alongside only a few other dire wolves.

Up until that point, it had been assumed that the dire wolves left in their ancestral home were likely dead or missing. Many had assumed the only dire wolves left were those that had joined the wolf packs. The old dire wolf lands were almost completely forgotten by then. But there seemed to have been at least one pack left. Hailing from a family exiled from the ancestral dire wolf home long before the dire wolves had ever been discovered, Ebergotth (then known as Ebergotth of Ravage) was a violent, musclebound warrior. He had simply marched into dire wolf territory one day and invoked their right as a dire wolf to challenge the pack alpha for their position. Before people could even process the face that other dire wolves still existed, Abith II was dead. Killed during a duel with Ebergotth, her broken and heavily defiled corpse was dragged by the dire wolf usurper through wolfish territory as a warning and symbol of his new conquest.

Abith’s family and supporters were promptly killed or forced to flee into the general wolf population, hiding their identity. This marked the end of this spiritual golden era. Under Ebergotth’s new, much more authoritarian rule, the dire wolves started taking a much more active and dictator-style position in wolfish culture. Under his influence, more dire wolves who previously held back from challenging wolf alphas would usurp other wolfish packs' leadership, challenging the current leaders. Under the first Dire Wolf Emperor, the wolves immediately launched campaign after campaign into neighbouring lands, conquering new races and killing those who wouldn’t fit as allies, slaves or servants. Ebergotth was a brutal and a warlike conqueror, but he was not unsubtle and unintelligent. His violent and barbaric tendencies were balanced with benevolent gifts to the wolf and dire alphas most loyal to him, who would soon become nobles and politicians in his new empire. He gave conquered lands to those who deserved it the most and he would honour the culture and beliefs of the people, at least to the public eye. To increase his popularity, Emperor Ebergotth would capture a long-lost religious wolfish site that had been long lost to several bear-folk clans. While the corpses of the previous owners of this land were still fresh, he would declare this spot the new **capital of the Empire of Heilig-Maan**. Many wolves, despite their adoration for Abith the II, now known as Abith II the Shamed, denounced their previous alpha for this stronger and more ambitious warrior emperor. Over time, starting with Ebergotth’s rule, the dire wolves that once lived among the wolfish people would be elevated to high noble status, far above any other wolfish alphas. Many dire wolves that chose to remain among the wolves would begin to disappear, to the great confusion of their friends, families and neighbours. Soon, the only dire wolves left were those in the positions of royalty, nobility and spiritual leaders.

The imperial rule would bring the wolves into the modern age. Organization, government systems, modern infrastructure, political reform, and new technology. The Empire of Heilig-Maan gave its people much, elevating the wolfish and dire wolf citizens above many of the other races within its borders thanks to elitist infrastructure, anti-miscegenation laws and increased services tailored towards their “true-blooded” citizens. Even so, many would benefit from the strength and rapid progress within the Empire, being given improvements and lives that they could have never of dreamed of before. While many rules of **Maancuraith** culture were previously unspoken and only enforced by the alpha and on the social level, the Empire would begin implementing more laws and strict codes of conduct within its borders. Maancuraith rules, previously built on social taboo, mutual respect and personal responsibility, would be the basis for these rules. In an attempt to lower the number of challenges for leadership positions, the Empire would create rigorous systems and vetting processes for military and political leaders, keeping up with the kratocratic wolfish views, to ensure that every one of their leaders was not only capable, but the best possible candidate. However, with rapid progress and the dire wolf ruling class becoming more and more liberal with its values and standards, came more and more cultural schisms with the traditional wolfish identity. The new rules claimed to build upon wolfish tradition, but it became harder and harder to truly follow the ancient Maancuraith teachings in daily life. The Empire would begin to expand with more and more disregard for the natural world, building massive infrastructure over previously untouched and respected wolf lands. While never completely forsaking morality and wolfish spirituality, the new Empire would do quite a few things that were in stark contrast to the peaceful, dutiful wolves of the past. Quite a few traditional inhabitants of Heilig-Maan, usually the most devout druids and naturalists, fearing what might come next, would break off from the greater empire and set up druidic circles all over the continent. From this schism, factions like the **Full Moon’s Coven** in **Malian** territory would be formed, taking it upon themselves to spread the ancient druidic teachings and heal the land from the wanton destruction caused by many factions’ dangerous lust for progress.

## Culture

### Ancient Times:

In ancient times, when tribes and packs of wolves and other canines dotted the landscape, their culture was practical. While tribes varied in location, size and cultural quirks, all generally valued the same things. They revered the natural world and sought to develop a bond with it through strict hunting and gathering practices and being a good guest on the land lent to them by nature. Nothing was more revered than the wolf not only for its aesthetic similarities to them but for embodying much of what they valued. Their bestial, four-legged kin would walk closer to the ground and was considered to have a stronger bond with nature. The moon also referred to as Mother Moon, was also seen as a godly entity that had blessed them and the wolves of the wild as its chosen champions. In their traditional languages, wolfish people used the term Maancuraith or “the moon’s chosen/blessed” to refer to themselves. To partially nocturnal beings, the night was often a time of peace and hunting, when prey items, rivals or predators slept or were at a significant disadvantage, making the wolf’s jobs much simpler.

The moon cycle was strongly linked to wolfish culture. Many superstitions and traditions existed which were associated with the time of day, especially around what time of day and under what kind of moon children were born. Tools of hunting and survival were blessed by shamans and druids, respectful hunting and honourable combat were integral to their way of life. Their traditional garments were practical for battle and survival and made of at least several pieces of hunted beasts. Much of modern wolf fashion is still dictated by hunting and the “beast of the season”, even if it’s lost some of its spiritual value. In both ancient and modern times, however, it is still considered taboo for anybody but a spiritual leader or alpha to wear the poached fur of a wolf. Back since the very first wolf civilizations, kratocratic views dominated wolfish philosophy and the leader of the wolves was considered the strongest and most capable of their entire pack. In their traditional language, “greatest”, “leader” and “alpha” all translate to the same title, Al-Fhearr. Their leadership was based on a strong sense of “might is right” and alphas were usually determined by whoever was the strongest fighter, with duels or deadly challenges being used to determine a pack's leader. A good wolfish leader was almost a god on earth, proving to have the necessary skills that they could use to safeguard their people. If they started straying from tradition, losing their strength and mental prowess, or suffering too many humiliations/defeats, they often found challengers lining up. They had to be competent and powerful head as, once they were leaders, their word was taken as gospel and everybody else depended on them. If an alpha who was not the best possible candidate stayed in power, they were considered to be risking the lives of their pack.

### Principles of Night’s Blessed Pack

The Principles of Night's Blessed Pack are an ancient set of rules and guidelines written by dire wolf philosophers and thinkers soon after the discovery of the dire wolves. These guidelines finished the work that started within the Struggle of a Hundred Packs. As all the wolfpeople started to work closer and closer together and annex many other canine species within their ranks, the process of the standardization and evolution of their religious beliefs would begin. Finally, these new, simpler principles of Maancuraith spirituality would appear in the form of The Principles of Night's Blessed Pack. They focused on the three most important aspects of Maancuraith culture: their laws concerning leadership, dominance and power struggles (Principles of the Greatest), their laws concerning spirituality and worship (Principles of Mother Moon) and their laws concerning the unity, the treatment of the pack and true, four legged wolves (Principles of the Pack).

## Relationship with Other Races

The wolves were not always an isolationist, racially organized society. In early druidic days, they considered the other sentient, deep-thinking species an extension of nature. While considered themselves a spiritually superior species, believing that wolves were the highest manifestation of the moon’s powers balancing themselves with nature, they saw other races as a necessary piece of the circle life and they considered it their responsibility to guide, help and protect them just as they did with nature. However, this sentiment is long gone. After the loss of land, nature and hunting grounds to expanding civilizations and bloody clashes with other races, the future imperials were left with a bitter taste in their mouth. As close, tight-knit tribes, they all suffered when their kind was killed or when an expanding faction uprooted their traditional hunting grounds. Many wolves preaching an open mind or tolerance died for their kindness and beliefs, killed and betrayed by the very people who they tried to help and welcome with open arms. This left behind only the isolationist and protective wolves, developing xenophobic behaviour and distrust of outsiders as a byproduct of this grim natural selection. While this wake-up call may have been necessary to keep their people surviving and thriving, this sentiment would never truly leave wolfish culture.

The following are historical interactions between Heilig-Maan and various races. The list dives into stereotypes, common beliefs and general attitudes towards various races within the Empire, however they are far from applying to everyone.

#### Dogs

Everybody likes dogs… to an extent. They’re loyalty is respected, and their species comes from descendants of wolves. But they are considered largely a discounted, weaker version of wolves. Usually smaller and not as geared for leadership and combat, dogs often treated as if they're lamer or weaker than the average wolf. In normal society, they’re quite normal to see and suffer no ill-will or hate, if not considered a tad bit more incompetent. A capable dog, while surprising, is still respected and can find a place in Imperial society, even if they're considered to come from lousier blood.

#### Jackals

These canines are relatively respected and tolerated for non-wolves. Throughout history, wolves and noble jackals mostly left each other alone. The wolf people preferred forests, mild weathered or chillier areas with plenty of nature and cover while jackal folk lived in more arid, barren areas. The two people historically interacted only when they required each other, giving the wolves a favourable impression of these wolf mimics. While jackal folk didn't have such strong pack-focused ideals as the wolves did they maintained strict loyalty to those they did happen to ally with, something the wolves respected. They served as a useful allies whenever the wolves ventured into deserts or had business in the hot and arid lands of the jackals, acting as guides and helpers. These two species remain quite a bit separate in modern times. While most jackal folk are technically part of the empire, few live in the wolf territory, preferring their traditional desert homes or to wander the world. They serve as incredible desert troops for the wolves and are trusted as much as any non-wolf could be, as long as they remember to stay in their lane. As desert dwellers, jackal folk are forced to scavenge often, something the wolves consider dishonourable and disgusting, but rarely share enough meals with them to care.

#### Coyotes

Traditional intruders on the growing wolf lands, the coyotes were responsible for border raids and often acting as bandits, raiders and pesky thieves. The much more family and tribe oriented wolves despised the rowdy, disloyal, too individualistic nature of the ancient coyote people. To them, coyotes formed bands and packs not because of loyalty or mutual bonds, but only because more arms meant they could carry more stolen items and attack from more cowardly angles. Even nowadays, coyotes are considered much less obedient and problematic by imperial citizens. There is disproportionate coyote-folk hatred in the Empire, and frequent coyote traitors, troublemakers and deserters make the other imperial citizens feel more founded in their beliefs.

#### Foxes

Wiley and cunning, the foxfolk of history were never for direct combat. Any clashes with the wolves they had were minor, and had severely restricted fighting. While they shared much territory with the wolves, these quick and nimble people were silver tongued, big picture thinkers from the get go. The fox people of western Carid'wel avoided direct conflict with dangerous opposition if they could help it, finding other ways to placate people like the wolves. They were one of the first races to be annexed by the wolves, entirely on their own terms with no need for conquest. Approaching the wolves to offer their services, they built a good relationship with the future Empire. Nowadays, foxes are as ingrained into wolf culture as any non-wolfman could be. Even more well regarded than Jackals, many fox families form lesser noble houses, mercantile families and are frequently active in the politics of Heilig-Maan. Foxes, considered by many, as well as themselves, natural cowards when it comes to head on combat does not hinder them, as their race's wits and natural charm have earned much of their race a good life under wolfish rule.

#### Hyenas

Hyenas do function in packs, something that the Empire can respect and use. They are also quite useful in arid conditions and are considered larger, individually stronger and more brutish than their jackal counterparts. Instead of people, however, hyena men are treated as trained beasts and savages. Living a bit closer to the wolves, bordering on deserts and savannas, they historically clashed more with the wolves than the jackals. Hyenas served as a strong catalyst for wolf and jackal alliances, as the two sides often found themselves working together to fight back the more violent, brutish animal-folk. Organized and violent, ancient hyena barbarians left quite a bad taste in wolfish mouths, but the pure brutality and strength made them valuable allies once annexed and “loyal” to the wolf cause. The hyena people are historically both hunters and scavengers, and their less refined nature than the jackals means that they’re less subtle about being scavengers, something that many imperial citizens consider disgusting. More hyenas are found in major wolfish cities and, unless useful or in the military, tend to be pushed out of sight where their bad table manners won’t be seen by the rest of the "dignified imperial citizens".

#### Canine Hybrids/Mutts

Generally, considered a step below whatever their parents may be. Hybrids are considered worse than the sum of their parts due to the belief and implication that they’ve been created by bottom of the barrel canines which were not good or capable enough to find mates in their own circle so they had to find and deceive another species into having children with them. With the strong focus that wolves put on family ties and pure blood, a child of bad parents who go against social convention will be the same, if not worse. Quite shockingly, most wolfish and dire wolf hybrids are usually at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to hybrids, as they're treated as a waste of good blood. The worst by far being dire wolf hybrids. Dire wolf people are already in such low numbers and considered so important to the values of Heilig-Maan that "breeding the race out of extinction" is a strong fear of many imperials.

#### Bears

For non-canines, bears don't suffer much hatred. They’re considered dirty, brutish, unstable and self indulgent. However, the amount of independent, sellswords and mercenary bears that exist mean that wolves frequently work with them. With the existence of quite a few bear-person naturalists and survivalists who have a good relationship with nature, a few religious wolves often common ground with the bears and it's not unheard of for bearfolk to be accepted into historically wolfish druidic covens. The Empire will often seek out clans or independent bear workers depending on their needs. They’re tolerated but not especially liked by the general population, especially due to several brutal conflicts that took place between wolfmen and bears throughout history, leaving them equally worse for wear and bitter. The might of bears as warriors is respected, but their way of life is generally shunned and they’re considered inferior, even for the battle hungry wolves. While the two share cultural common ground, the wolves consider the bear clans to be not nearly as developed or respectable. While it's not uncommon to find general distaste for bear-folk in Heilig-Maan, the wolves generally choose not to sabotage relations with the more useful and strong bear sell swords. Quite a few positions within the wolfish military are also filled by bear warriors, some of them even finding themselves in leadership positions and among elite soldiers if they earn the respect of their superiors and peers.

#### Other races

Non canines and other races are largely considered inferior in Heilig-Maan society, many of them are branded as **Dayplauged**. To the wolves who worship the moon many of these other creatures, especially those who are not nocturnal, are considered to be cursed and spoiled by the sun. While other races such as rats, stoats, birds and the like are found within Heilig-Maan, they are a small minority and are often victim to much discrimination from many people from all previously mentioned groups. Individual stereotypes may still apply to various races, but all of the dayplagued are considered weak, spiritually and mentally inferior and worthy of no attention, if not complete distain.