The Waiirin empire

**The last bastion of order within the pale seas**

It was once said that the Waiirin Empire stretched far beyond the passage of the fleetest ship. Though children still tell tales of the great lands of old, Waiirin, as it is now is but a fleeting shadow of what it once was.

1500 years ago, the first council met at the site that now houses the magisterial dome. They met under the watchful gaze of the individual that is known as the Emporer, of whome no other name is known. Each member representing a free island, they joined their power and resources to tame the sea itself. Such was the Waiirin Empire founded.

As is reckoned by the ancient scholar, they expanded for the next 461 years, at their height controlling all the lands within the pale sea. Then, in the year 462 came the reckoning. Internal strife and pirates from beyond the pale seas broke upon the empire like so many oncoming waves. Unable to contain or hold back the tide, it foundered. One by one its many fortresses and cities were severed from it; it now being a husk of its former self, although it is still great in power.

Such are the tales told by learned folk. In the current year, the Waiirin Empire is largely cut off from the surrounding seas. What islands still lay within its zone of control, though few, are greatly prosperous. There have been murmurs of renewed efforts to reunite with its long lost cities, to extend to loving embrace of the Emperor to his long lost children: to protect them from the storm of piracy that grips the seas. These are, however, just murmurs.

In the year 1501, the Emporer set forth the conquor the seas. With the aid of the cruel Riptide Pirates, the empire release a wave of destruction and chaos across the world, the ripples of which will be felt for millennium to come.

**Core Islands**

There are three core islands to the Waiirin empire: Lit, Straigren, and Wishfell. Lit is the location of their capital and the regional centre of power. Straigren is the great port city, from where the great warships of old were made. Wishfell contains the grand marketplace; the center of commerce, and the imperial barracks.

**Life within the empire**

Very few are permitted to pass beyond the limits of the Ordained seas. Those within the empire are strictly schooled in line with the magisterial teachings. Those from without the empire are permitted to enter only select islands, and those who wish to stay are confined within said island for the rest of their lives. Those born into the empire want for little. Food, shelter, and education are supplied by the central government. Strict religious teachings are instilled into Waiirin citizens, departure from which is swiftly punished.

Life between each island is varied, some live as effective royalty as imperial bureaucrats or administrators, while others live as farmers or mechanics. The average person has limited social movement. One is born into the citizenry of a specific island. Individual opportunities are limited to the needs and resources of ones given island. Movement between islands (and as an extension social classes) is possible, but permits for such are scarcely distributed and dearly bought. Those who do leave the Ordained seas, either by magisterial permit or by illegal escape results in the effective banishment of the individual. Their citizenship is revoked and though they may maintain status as an imperial protectee, the likelihood of reentry is unlikely.

Around the empire, all waters magically flow outwards, making attack very difficult.

The Empire is broken into five religious sects known as the five families.

All citizens belong to one of the sects although they live mixed throught the empire. Only the godborn (aasimar) may actualy bear the name of the families there are about 600 aasimar, loreli is 400th in line of succession.

             The godborn are children of the emporer (the grand magistrate) or their children.

The five families are each led by a patriarch or matriarch:

**Gottlieb**: Those that enforce: they are the enforcers of imperial law.

                            Douse the flame of hope: destroy the hope of the enemy

                            Rule with an iron fist

                            Strength above all

                            Never look back

                            Violence begets violence

             This religious order has many paladins, knights, and judges

             Lead by Aerdwin, of the final word.

**Rayshen**: the imperial eye: those that know: They seek new knowledge for the growth of the empire

                            Discovery before all

All things will be known

                            Secrets bring suffering

                            Purge the clouded mind

             This religious order focuses on telekinesis and psychics. Many mages. Seek knowledge beyond all else.

             Their symbol is a grey eye.

             Lead by Sacrasent palevaine

             **Scriviners:** Those that teach: tasked with managing what people know and learn

                            A wise mind brings prosperity

                            But a mind must be guided

                            All must learn the right path

             Many scribes and inquisitors. Highly learned. Magic based off of anime mage writing spells “glyphs”.

             Symbol is a burning book.

             Lead by Perline, Maidan of fire – Ascended to the higher relms

             **Agrin:** Those that make: They manage production and work in the empire.

                            A divine hand guides the market.

                            And through it a divine hand guides us.

             **The emporers host:**  the top administration of the empire. Unknown membership.

             Lead by: the emperors firstborn. Depictions of whom or discussions of whom is punishable by death

The dead belong to the empire, and thus all its citizens are rendered down to be made useful to the empire after death.

Cultural sensitivities within the empire vary, although the belief that all found things are gifts from the emporer has dominated the empire for the last 200 years. This has lead to a heavy focus in the arts surrounding the idea of "found", weather it be sculptures of repurposed materials, found poetry, and the re-creation of forgotten but resurgent music.