The Holy Empire of Illium
This once shining beacon of civilization has fallen upon dark times. Its citizens are often weary and unwashed while its rulers feast on opulent banquets.
Structure
Patrician Order
The Patrician Order is the leading governing body of the Empire. Its Senate, a holdover from when Aenia was a city-state, writes the laws of the Empire and with the approval of the Emperor they are enacted.Emperor
The Emperor of Illium has the finally veto in matters of state, determining whether a proposed bill will be enacted into law or not. He can also propose bills to the Senate. those bills proposed the emperor, Once the senate has voted, pass immediatelySenate
The Senate is the main law making body of the Empire. Bills for new laws are proposed and once they have met a majority they are sent to the Emperor for the final veto.Praetor
Praetors are an elected position among the Consuls who see to the management of their province. Often working with Senators to ensure the law is upheld not only in word but in spirit. Praetors also direct public works, collect taxes, and rally Legates in times of war or civil unrest.Senator
Senators are an elected position. Once enough Citizens and Administrators petition for a Senator that person then joins the Senate. Often this is a well known individual within the local community that then gains notoriety abroad. The role of senator is a rather dangerous one as many die either from assassins or from other dubious meansConsul
Consuls act as Senators on the city level. While Consuls do not have a seat in the Senate nor can they effect policy within other cities, Consuls can write laws for their own city and enact them by majority rule so long as they do not conflict with imperial decree.Administrator
Administrators are select by Consuls and see to the daily city operations. cities boast several administrators whose duties range from overseeing trade, education, public works and etc.Citizen
Citizens are the common folk of the empire. They are the craftsmen, traders, and general laborers and can petition for new Consuls and SenatorsSlave
Slaves are the lowest class within the empire. Even the poorest citizen owns at least one slave. the carry out much of the farming and general labor of the empire. Criminals that cannot pay their fines instead become slaves and are sold at auction where they are branded with a stylized capital "I" and their back. Sentences usually range from five to ten years while severe are life time sentences. If a slave has a child then that child is considered a citizen. Some masters see to these children as if they were their own but most often these children are left at the church or poor house and forgotten about. Since they are almost completely without a support network most turn to crime and repeat the cycle of their parents. With the exception of training academies and fighting pits, who use Slaves as living targets and fighters, extreme abuse of slaves such as torture is punishable by law and abuse in general is often frowned on.Myrmic Order
The Myrmic Order is the military branch of the Imperial government. It's top generals enjoy a seat within the Senate. More information at Imperial MyrmidonSolar Order
The Solar Order pays taxes and supports the Emperors rule while seeing to the needs of the masses. More information at Church of Sol ImperiousHistory
The Aenian Empire
In ages past, Aenia was much like any other city-state in the Nedean Peninsula. After the Myrmic Reforms, Aenia became the center for higher learning in science and the arcane arts and with its new government Aenia began to expand. Eventually Aenias influence covered all of Nedea and an empire was formed. The Aenian Empire continued to expand. First eastward into Nyztal then west across the Azure Sea into the lands of Syrus. After bringing Syrus into the fold, the empire crossed the Etru Mountains and took the land of Lankia. With their province of Lankia the empire went on to conquering the Vael and Elba. Nearly all of Lallonis was under Imperial domain. But when the Imperial Fleet sailed into the Mists of Enes only one ship, bearing one survivor returned. For a time imperial expansion halted. rebellions among the newly conquered lands broke out and were quelled. These troubles were laid at the feet of the Fey (the nonhumans) by the Emperor Atrian and he began to institute proscriptions against the Fey. Many of the faithful prayed to Za'ar begging for a champion against the Empires enemies. Then Sol came to answer their prayers and in a show of fealty Atrian renamed himself Solar. As Sol waged war on the Vana of the Norr mountains, Emperor Solar penned an edict to purge all Fey from imperial lands.The Shattering
After Sols defeat at Aman the Imperial sages began to work on a spell that would lend their strength to Sol. After fifty years they completed their work. Gathering at Aenia, the sages began to chant and weave their spell around Sol. Power flowed into Sol and lifted him high above the city. The sun darkened as light shone from Sol. A great wail was heard over all of Aerra as many of the mortal races felt their souls destroyed by the death of their gods. As the spell reached its zenith it began to claim the souls of the Imperial sages and fed into Sols power. This power grew to be too much even for a god. Overcome by the spell Sol plummeted to Aenia with such force it shattered all of Nedea. It was in that week of darkness known as the Bale Night the Aenian Empire scrambled to maintain control. When the sun finally rose the Aenians finally saw what their spell had done. Nedea was no more. What was once a peninsula was now a collection of scattered islands. the few town still standing were heavily damaged. What remained of the Aenian Senate gathered at Illium to discuss how best to rebuild the empire. At Illium as the Aenian senate began their counsel Sol appeared. Claiming he would no longer be needed as humanitys protector he would rejoin the stars and leave the fate of humanity within their own hands. Leaving as quickly as he appeared the Senate went into an uproar. While some called for unity, others (particularly those of the remaining Nedean cities) call for an accounting of the destruction of their homes. Eventually it was decided that those of the remaining Nedean cities would form their own government and broke away from the Empire. Those that remained gathered their new resolve to rebuild their empire and renamed it The Holy Empire of Illium.A Withering Empire
The new empire reached out to its provinces. Elba, Lankia, and the Vael were nearly overcome with the walking dead. Syrus was in the midst of a Harai revolt after the destruction of their obelisks. Nyztal faced attack by the Khagan Nomads. The empire now without a navy to speak of sent legions of Myrmidons into Lallonis and Nyztal to reestablish order leaving Syrus on its own. The empire was able to fend off the Khagan and reassert itself in Lankia but the fighting in the Vael and Elba never ceased. when the Spongepox came the empire withdrew from Elba leaving a few of it's citizens and troops to fend for themselves as the bulk of imperial forces went to Lankia and the Vael to deal with the effects of the plague. It was at this time the Schtadt began to cross the mountains to the north and invade imperial lands. at first troops were taken from Nyztal but when their commanders saw the decadence and corruption of the heart of the empire the Nyztalene withdrew from the Empire. This loss lead to the Empire withdrawing its troops from Lankia and the Vael to defend against the oncoming Schtadt and in act of desperation the empire blocked off the mountain passes from Lallonis and the Northern Realms. Since then the "empire" has been little more than a province. Any progress has been hindered by the successive decadent emperors and the corrupt senators.A note for Players and GMs
Playing an Illian Imperial Aerra is based on a homebrew setting using D&D 3.5 edition rules. Humans born and raised within The Holy Empire of Illium follow these rules in place of the standard rules for Humans. Imperial Schooling: Like the Aenians before them the Illians use a standardized education system. Because of this all Imperials are literate and have access to a bonus language at character creation. Higher Education: after primary schooling all citizens enroll in apprenticeships of their chosen fields. there they learn the secrets of their trade. because of this at character creation all Imperials have a +2 to Craft, Profession, and Knowledge of a specific field i.e. Craft (blacksmithing), Profession (smith), Knowledge (metallurgy) Militia Training: Imperial fighting styles and tactics focus heavily on group coordination. Because of this all martial classes gain the feat Phalanx Fighting at character creation for free.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Demonym
Imperial, Illian
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Dictatorship
Economic System
Mixed economy
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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