The Empire

History
"My Ancestors crafted a single and united Empire and I intend to keep it" -Emperor Fredrick Alexander III

Birth of the Empire
The Empire was crafted in the year 1026 Second Fall (SF) by Emperor Aleric Alexander I the son of the Crusader-Saint Alesia. After hearing of Alesia's fall to the great necromancer Vecna, the nobles of what would become the Empire proclaimed that they would not let Alesia's dream of a united human kingdom die and they crowned her infant son Emperor of the North.

For over eight hundred years the heirs of Alesia ruled over The Empire until the suecession crisis of 1853 SF when the Queen Joanna wife of Fredrick II gave birth to quintuplets. During his lifetime Emperor Fredrick II was able to keep the peace and he planned that each of his children would govern a different part of The Empire while his chosen would be crowned Empror. But when he died and named his youngest son his successor all did not go well and his eldest Fredrick Alexander II attempted to take the throne by force pushing the Empire into a bloody civil war.

Imperial Civil War
Fredrick (the eldest) held on to the territory of Imperios and the Imperial City itself. His sister Theresa (second eldest) claimed Tyria and renamed the famed White City of Edra to Peloria to show her piety. Conrad gained the loyalty of the merchant city of Merchantos after promising it's powerful merchants guilds that he would give them a republic and thus the Republic of Merchantos was born. In the south Stephon claimed the rural territory of Barakan where he had gained the loyalty and love of the common people. Leopold the youngest who was the chosen heir was forced to retreat north to the territory of Darian after his brother's betrayal.

With the Empire in tatters the northern cities declared independence en-masse and the northernmost cities joined together in what would eventually be called the Kalmar Union. The conflict dragged on for a hundred years and by the time it had come to an end none of the claimants were alive to see peace. When the smoke cleared Fredrick Alexander III was crowned by the High Proselytizer of Pelor as the new Emperor of a smaller but united Empire.

The Empire of Present
In truth though the Empire of today is anything but united, there are many that see Fredrick III as a usurper and traiter and many who fight his reign. Although his greatest threat lies in the powerful merchant guildhalls of Merchantos whos people have tasted freedom and want it back.

Imperios / The Imperial City


The Imperial City is the seat of both the Emperor and the Church of Pelor it is the most populous city in the world and home to many important organizations and people. While the Emperor may rule from the White Throne most day-to-day activities are handled by the Council of Nobles who under the Emperor's supervision handle most of the Empire's buisness.

Merchantos / Merchantos
Merchantos is the primary port city of the Empire and the home to the powerful Imperial Merchants Guild. Merchantos was formerly a republic before it's subjigation by the Empire and former members of the Merchantian Senate have formed underground criminal groups closely tied to the Merchants Guild that oppose Imperial rule. The port of Merchantos is home to denizens of all over the world as Merchantos is the primary trading hub and along with it's formidable trading fleet Merchantos is also the home of the Imperial Navy. To appease the citizens of Merchantos Adam Marbrand, Imperial Admiral and Governor, has allowed the Merchantian Senate to continue to exist though it's members are forced to swear allegiance to the Emperor. It's largest parties are the Merchant's Guild Party ( Pro-Independence ) and the Imperial Party ( Pro-Imperial ).

Tyria / Peloria
Peloria is the Empire's 3rd largest city in the province of Tyria they were brough back into the Empire when their Queen Theresa died along with her infant son in a tragic earthquake. Peloria was formerly known as the white city of Edra until the Succession Crisis. It's people are by far the most pious and it is the home to many religious orders and clerical monasteries. It contains the White Palace at it's center and the Chapel of Alesia, where St.Alesia was said to have heard the voice of the god's telling her of her destiny, is the citys greatest pilgramige site.

Barakan / Berishan
Berishan is the hub city surrounded by the vast countryside that is the territory of Barakan. Barakan is the breadbasket of the Empire along with the location where most of the Empire's iron and lumber originate and all of those resources flow through the city of Berishan. The rural people of the area are ruled from Berishan by Duke Varron Drenn, a cruel and oppressive lord who is as corrupt as he is oppressive. In the woods a rebel king naming himself King Baran Berik leads a band dedicated to the protection of the people and the restoration of Stephon II as the King of Barakan.

Darium / Darian
Darian was once the Empire's second city until the siege which marked the end of the succession crisis in which Emperor Fredrick II had the city burned to the ground. slowly the city has been rebuilt but it now stands as a glorified refugee camp full of hovels and shantys. The city resides in the territory of Darium a sparsely populated countryside that remains largely outside of the Emperors scope of vision. The city is still under martial law under the command of Militant Commander Drake Valishan who rules the city with an iron-fist. Evading Drake's grasp is the ever resourceful Robber-prince Johan Jirashi who leads a vast criminal organiztion throughout the city and countryside to oppose Imperial rule.

Demographics

 * Population: ~30 Million            Religion: All ( Predominantly Pelor, Diana)


 * 75% Human                            Government Type: Feudal Absolute Monarchy


 * 10% Half Elf


 * 5% Dwarf


 * 2% Half-Orc


 * 8% Other

Religion
The religion of the Alesian Empire revolves around the worship of Pelor who many Imperials recognize as the patron God of the Empire and of Alesia herself. The Church of Pelor is led by the High Proselytzer ( Currently Arcturas Vorrenthal ) who rallies the faithful in times of need. There also exist many cults of Alesia that worship the saint as a God. Though these cults are looked on as heretical they are tolerated though some have gone to extremes and found themselves banned. Worshippers of other gods can usually find churches in the major cities and shrines in smaller towns to many non-evil gods.

Religious Celebrations in the Alesian Empires

 * Festival of the Sun: 1st Pelia (Last Seed Solstice) - celebrated as the longest day of the year and held in reverence by the faithful of the Pelor. Celebration occur throughout the daylight hours included solemnity and revelry. At sunset the Sun is sent off with offerings and prayers to be carried to Pelor and the night is cursed and told to wait so that the celebration can continue.
 * St. Elysia’s Day: 15th of Aurifia - Celebrated throughout the Empire along with many southron human kingdoms as the day when the great St. Elysia won her decisive battle against the forces of Umbra and defeated the Great Necromancer Vecna for the first time.
 * Harvest Day: 30th of Umberleen – A day in which people feast and revel with their families at the same time many cities set up festival areas where the less fortunate can partake in a good days meal
 * St. Cuthbert’s Day: 20th of Kordeen – Celebrated by humans as a day of Justice where every man is obliged to go about his day with honesty and solemnity. Grand sermons are given throughout the streets and every man is pushed to seek wisdom
 * Brewfest Week: A week in which many celebration are held during the second week of Dammaria- It includes Olidamma day a day consisting of pranks and where children wander the streets with masks demanding treats and committing pranks while adults drink the night away
 * Soldiers Day: 1st day of Therizudon – Celebreated especially by the faithful of Heironeous in which soldiers of both the city and of fortune are celebrated it includes parades and it is said that if a soldier or veteran pays for a drink that night anyone with a full belly or who is drunk will be cursed with having cowards for children

Foreign Relations
Without a doubt the Empire is the dominant force in the North of the continent and it uses it's size and power to dominate the surrounding regions usually having influence with all of it's neighbors. To the North the Empire maintains the Pact of Shield and Hammer with the Dwarves both pledging to come to each others aid in mutual defense. To the East relation are kept up with the elves although there exists no binding pacts or treatise as the elves are wary of foreign entanglements. To the Northwest the Free Cities and Kalmar Union stand wary of an again united Alesian Empire and while they maintain cordial relations they build up their strength should they need it in defence. Out in the Western Sea the Emperor and his councilors keep a watchful eye on the growth of the Dracoviri Empire wary of the day they may have to fight the terrifying Dracoviri legions.