Valkarisches Imperium

> **"This is the fate of the Externii. Subjugation or extermination! We will free you from the shackles of your own limit, in the name of the God Emperor! May the rabble serve and bask in the Emperor's glory, and be protected under the light of the Western Orchidn."**
>
>

> **Excerpt from Duvenarius Domikus' speech, before the attack on Rørland**
>
>

## Valkarisches Imperium

### Regionen

Athercollis,Casus Delta,

The Heartland,

Limes Mountains

The former super power of the Eternal Empire once spread across half of the Known World. But events of the last Era, like the Crusade and the rise of the Mihqueh Dominion, shattered the Empire, now only a shadow of its former self. Led by their God Emperor and a caste system inside their society, the Empire now tries to lay the years of rivalry with other nations aside and to reconnect with the Known World's community, as international trade increases and the Industrial Revolution threatens, to leave the Empire behind, if they do not adapt quick enough.

## History

### Rise of a God

The Race of the Valar first appeared in 2:600, according to imperial records, in north-western Dormus. At first, they like in small nomadic tribes and communities, mostly gathered around the Aethercollis and the Marshlands. But, when a man named Regus climbed to the top of the Aethercollis, following a voice he heard in his dreams, he met the Arch Dragon Imperax on the peak of the highest mountain of the Known World. The ancient being taught Regus the power of Magic and instructed him, to unite his people and forge them into a mighty civilisation, that would rival the power of the Gods themselves.

Empowered by the arcane, Regus forced the scattered Valar into submission, uniting them and riding them of their ancient deities, they once worshipped. Information about these Lost Gods has been swiped from history, as the new *Emperor Regus* pronounced himself the new God of the Valar, thus becoming the first God Emperor.

In his time, he also gathered students around him, who he taught Imperax's lessons to. The became the ancestors of today’s Princeptii, still being the loyal servants and disciples of the God Emperor.

With the Valkar united under one banner, the newly formed Empire at 3:200 started to expand over Dormus, taking almost all the Land north of the Limes Mountains. Despite his elongated life, Regus died as the Empire took its first baby steps, despite his so-called Godhood. But his Princeptii came to the believe, that his eldest son would not only take over his throne, but also his powers, therefore becoming the 'reincarnation' of the God Regus. The Imperatori Deus found its form in this time, believing each Emperor to be a more powerful demigod, until ascension into true godhood is achieved.

### Expansion and Apex

Under the second God Emperor, they *Empire* started to expand on Dormus, mostly scouting south into the wild lands of the T'ashk Tribes. Literally digging a pass through the deadly Limes Mountains, they appeared in Xolal, sending their Legiones, supported by Princeptii Magi, against the 'southern barbarians'. The T'ashk held their ground valiantly, gaining the respect of many soldiers during that time due to their physical strength and stamina. But they primitive weapons and shamanistic magic could not hold against the steel and arcane of the *Empire*. Xoxal became the Empire's 4th Province, beside the Heartlands, the Marshlands, and the outposts of the northern Hinterland.

Impressed by the T'ashk's might, high ranking generals suggested the enslavement of this Race, to support the *Empire*' growing economy and therefore labour-needs. At 3:300, the T'ashk were officially enslaved by the *Empire*, starting a tradition of slavery that last to this day.

But the *Empire* and the third God Emperor, longed for more. Expeditions were sent eastwards over the Misted Sea, eventually discovering new land, inhabited by a foreign Race. The begin of the following conquest of the continent named Vona, was the official begin of the Fourth Era, as the first Legiones’ ships made landfall on the island of Rørland, taking it and establishing the first imperial outpost in Human territory.

The divisions between the several northern nations made it easy for the *Empire* to pick them apart one by one. Even though valiant effort to stop the imperial advance was made by a United Army of the North, they eventually fell to the Legiones and a brilliant young strategist at the time. Only the bulwark of the people of Bergenfall hold the push, giving the *Empire* time to reorganise its 5th province. At 4:60, the Empire held dominion over Vona, sending valarian citizen overseas to help the conformation process of the 'eastern barbarians'. In return, many Humans were sailed west, to serve as new Slave labour for the heart of the *Empire*. This was the greatest expansion of the *Empire* and its peak in power in all the *Eras of Mortality*. There was never a grander empire, than the fittingly called *Eternal Empire*.

### Downfall of an Empire

Not too long after the victory over the Northerners, the Human Kingdoms to the south of the new province called for a so-called Crusade against the imperial troops on Vona. Around 4:112, the southern warriors fell upon the unsuspecting Legiones, who adverted their efforts from conquest, to holding order in the land. Fuelled by religious fanaticism, the Crusaders cut through the eastern parts of Vona, murdering Valkar citizen and matching the discipline of the Legiones with brutal fervour and hate against their Race. Even the Princeptii found their matches within the Magistra of the Church of the Divine Right.

Despite valiant effort of the Legiones, when their leader died, the Legiones failed and were pushed off Vona by the Crusaders. Returning in defeat, the war was not over yet though. The Humans followed them by ships, besieging the Capital of the Empire in a show of power. When they rushed the imperial Palace and forced the God Emperor to kneel before them and their pagan Goddess, the *Empire* was dealt a horrible blow. Contempt with their message to the *Empire*, never to return to their lands, they left Dormus and the *Empire* shook to its core.

Over the rest of the Fourth Era, the Empire crumbled. Legiones inside the Marshlands defected and became rebels against imperial rule. Thaska slaves fled south, forming rebel cells against the *Empire*, eventually forming the Mihqueh Dominion, and re-taking their homeland with horrible new weapons. And, when the fourth God Emperor committed suicide due to his perceived failure towards his Regus and the *Empire*, the fall from grace was completed. The *Empire* was at a tipping point, with its future unsure and discontent spreading among the populous.

But, with the end of the Golden Era of the *Empire*, the eldest daughter of the late God Emperor surpassed her younger, male sibling. Instead of her brother, she took the imperial throne, becoming the fifth God Emperor and first God Empress. Although there are many political groups of Princeptii against the divisive Empress, and she had yet nor received the blessing of Imperax, she gathered the support of the Sengatii and even negotiated a truce between the *Empire* and the Dominion, who threatened the last remaining Province. She has become the saving grace, that either pulls the *Empire* from the brink of collapse or is the last nail in the coffin of a dying society, that is being surpassed by 'barbarians' to all sites.

## Culture

The world of the Valkar is divided into clear castes, that are given upon birth. They can also be changed by special achievements or failure, but most have to life according to their birth right. At the top of this system sits the Imperial Family and the ruling God Emperor, descendants of Regus. Underneath them are the Princeptii, who function as an administrative noble caste inside the *Empire*, constantly busy in the imperial court with their politics and furtherment of arts and Magic.

The middle body of the *Empire* are the Sengatii. The common Valkar make up the crafters, merchants, soldiers, and the mundane citizen of the *Empire*. Itself is separated into different classes of importance and social status, not unlike Human society. But the bulk of the work forces of the *Empire* are based on the cheap labour of the Servii. These slaves, compromised of different Races, are found anywhere inside the *Empire*. Some less fortuned than others with their given task, some almost harbouring high status in their master's household due to their skills and uses. But most slaves work on farmland, inside workshops or as servants for higher ranking Sengatii and Princeptii families.

Through their history, the Valar have developed a sense of superiority over other Races. They often find it hard to follow the lead of other nationalities or ethnicities, looking at other cultures with either disgust, or with quaint amusement. Despite the hard times the *Empire* has fallen on, many still hold onto their old believes and slavery, despite the modern trends going away from such stances. But what is truly the different between an imperial slave, or an underpaid worker in a Human factory?

## People

* Valar
	+ Sengatii
	+ Princeptii
* Servii
	+ Humans
	+ Thaska
	+ Profugii

## Politics

The *Empire* functions as a total monarchy. The ruling God Emperor is not only the leader of the *Empire* and its Legiones, but also the religious figurehead and the subject of worship inside the Imperatori-Deus. The Emperor is the unchallenged top of the pyramid.

Underneath him, or since the Fifth Era her, are the Princeptii Valkar. They function as the imperial court, and direct servants and councillors of the Emperor. The different Princeptii families work similar to Human royalty, generally hold positions of power inside the *Empire*, answering either directly to the Emperor or higher ranking Princeptii. They often also follow their own agendas, often discussing topics inside the imperial court, trying to gain the favour of the Emperor.

Citizens outside this caste, normally do not partake in political member. The highest position a Sengatii could achieve inside the *Empire*, is either a high-ranking bureaucrat or General inside the Legiones. Both are still underneath the common Princeptii. This creates a chain of command in form of a power pyramid, with the only thing underneath the common folk being the Servii.

## Regions

* Aethercollis
* Casus Delta
* The Heartland
* Limes Mountains