The Imperial Families: 101
The Twelve Imperial Houses:
From the twilight of the Age of Blood to the height of the Age of Divinity, the Twelve Imperial Houses have shaped the course of human civilization. Descended from the legendary Twelve Generals, who forged a divine covenant with the Nymerian Pantheon, these noble families were granted the divine right to rule, their bloodlines forever entwined with the fate of the Imperium of Avanor. For centuries, these houses have dominated human-centric politics, wielding influence over governance, military affairs, and religious institutions. Though their power has waxed and waned through history, the names of these great houses remain synonymous with authority, duty, and the sacred mandate to lead.History
The Exalted Generals
During the Age of Blood (-1296/0), the Exalted Alliance, a coalition of dwarves, elves, and gnomes, initially led the defense against the orc invasion. However, when demonic planar rifts tore through the continent, the situation drastically changed. The alliance, though powerful, lacked the manpower needed to hold ground against the overwhelming forces of demons and orcs. In this dire time, a dwarf commander proposed an unconventional strategy—enlisting human tribes from the remote enclaves of the continent to bolster the alliance's forces. These humans, once secluded and tribal, were transformed into the first human legions. These legions, raised in specially constructed military citadels, were trained, equipped, and bred for war. They soon became the backbone of the alliance’s forces. As the decades passed, the human legions grew in size and importance. Their relentless campaigns against the orcs and demons brought them success, eventually culminating in the closing of the last demonic rift in -5. During this time, the human legions were molded not just as warriors but as the dominant military force, leading to a shift in the balance of power within the Exalted Alliance.The Human Revolt
The human generals, having been integral to the alliance's survival, began to demand recognition and sovereignty. Seeking to secure land and full membership in the alliance, their request was met with resistance from the elves and gnomes. The elves, in particular, were still deliberating the issue, while the gnomes argued that human soldiers had already initiated expulsions of gnomish communities from the contested lands, worsening the situation. As diplomatic efforts broke down, the human generals declared their independence. They expunged other races from the lands they had fought to secure, particularly in Darion, forcibly relocating them to the distant continent of Amaranthia. Despite this, halflings were an exception, having long been viewed favorably by humans due to their shared agricultural knowledge, reinforced by the divine favor of Tariel, the Goddess of Agriculture.The First Nymerian Divine Covenant
At the heart of humanity's declaration of sovereignty, the gods descended from the heavens. The twelve generals, now the undisputed leaders of the human legions, were granted a sacred covenant by the Nymerian Pantheon. The gods offered a profound symbol of their bond: they drew upon their own divine blood and bestowed it upon the twelve generals. This act, immortalized in a mural crafted by Zenthai, sealed humanity’s fate. The gods’ divine words were clear:"This shall also be a token to you of our joined pledge of faith. As long as the covenant remains unbroken, you and your descendants shall hold sway over mortal law and governance, where our domains do not interpose with others."This divine pact granted the 12 Imperial Houses—the descendants of the Exalted Generals—absolute authority over human governance, forever intertwining their rule with the divine will of the gods. The Imperium of Avanor was thus born, marking the beginning of human dominance in the continent, with the 12 families forever shaping the course of history.
The Founding of the Imperium of Avanor
The Imperium of Avanor was founded after the Exalted Revolt, when the Exalted Generals broke away from the Exalted Alliance and declared human sovereignty. The government was structured as a military republic, where only those who served in the legions had the right to vote. Power remained firmly rooted in the military, with soldiers influencing political decisions. However, the highest positions of power were always reserved for the Twelve Imperial Houses, the descendants of the Twelve Exalted Generals. These noble families were granted divine right to rule through the First Nymerian Divine Covenant, which bound their bloodlines to the will of the gods. Priests were also granted special status, with their own assemblies separate from the legions, though their influence was secondary to that of the military and the Imperial Houses. This system ensured that while soldiers held the right to vote, ultimate control of the Imperium lay with the Twelve Imperial Houses, shaping the empire's direction and its growing influence across the continent.The Andaria Rebellion
In 620, Andaria, a former leader of the capital's police force, led a rebellion aimed at decentralizing the Imperium of Avanor. The empire, once unified and powerful, had grown too vast and unwieldy for its centralized, absolute rule. The capital, though still powerful, struggled to govern its distant provinces, and the empire was bogged down by centuries-old laws that no longer served its needs. These laws, passed down over six centuries, were originally crafted during an age of constant war. They were intended to bring order and stability, but over time, they became increasingly tyrannical and outdated. Despite widespread knowledge that many of these laws were no longer relevant, they were regarded as sacred, tied to the divine covenant that had established the Imperium. One such draconian law, born during the chaotic age of the Exalted Generals' earlier struggles before the Imperium’s founding, was the Law of Decimation. During their time as a client race under the Exalted Alliance, the human legions, shaped by constant war, adopted this law to enforce strict discipline. If a legion failed to achieve victory, retreated, or showed cowardice, decimation was enacted—one soldier out of every ten was executed by their comrades, chosen by lot or officer’s discretion. The Exalted Generals, having witnessed entire armies fall during the Age of Blood, believed failure was unacceptable. This brutal law was meant to maintain order and resolve, ensuring no one would falter, no matter the cost. Andaria, recognizing the crippling stagnation that had taken hold of the empire, believed that the only way forward was to decentralize power. She argued that local provinces needed the autonomy to govern themselves, allowing for more efficient and flexible management of their regions. However, this desire for change ran headlong into the deeply ingrained structure of the empire, where the laws were seen as inviolable. The central authority had too much control, and the ruling families had grown complacent in their power. The Andaria Rebellion did have supporters among the Imperial families, though they were few in number. Most of the heads of the Twelve Houses were staunchly opposed to her, not only because she was a rebel but also due to the sacred nature of the empire’s structure. However, there were a handful of Imperial families who secretly sympathized with her cause. These families had long governed distant provinces, where they had faced the persistent failure of outdated laws and an increasingly disconnected capital. The ancient laws, forged during the Age of Blood, made it impossible for them to address the real needs of their regions, leading to economic decline and social unrest. While many of these families were privately supportive of Andaria’s push for decentralization and reform, very few were open about it. The fear of reprisal from the ruling elite and the sacred nature of the laws kept most of them silent. The few who did publicly support Andaria risked everything—alienating themselves from the core of Imperial power. Despite their numbers being small, these supporters recognized that the empire needed change to survive, and they saw in Andaria’s rebellion a chance to break free from centuries of stagnation. In an effort to force reform, Andaria seized control of the capital and broke the sacred Nymerian Covenant mural. This symbolic act shattered the divine bond that had anchored the empire's governance. Her rebellion was not just an attempt to challenge authority but a desperate push for modernization in a stagnating empire. Though it led to chaos, the Andaria Rebellion highlighted the deep need for change and ignited conversations about how to adapt the empire's governance to its modern challenges.The Second Nymerian Divine Covenant
After Andaria’s rebellion and the destruction of the sacred mural that symbolized the divine covenant, the gods descended to pass judgment on her actions. The divine assembly held a momentous gathering, and the conclusion was both an act of punishment and reward. A new covenant was formed, and a second mural was constructed to replace the shattered one, though this time, the Twelve Imperial Families were not directly linked to the new agreement, marking a significant shift in the empire's relationship with the gods. While the gods saw the necessity of Andaria's rebellion to initiate change, they could not ignore the chaos she had caused by breaking the divine bond. As part of her punishment, Andaria was transformed by Archanatyr, the God of Civilizations and Oaths, into a demigod. She was granted a divine embuement—a complex and uncertain gift that granted her immense power, but at a great cost. Her new demigod status was not a straightforward ascension. Andaria was given domains tied to the concepts of Liberty and Compassion, but these domains were not entirely hers to command. They were borrowed from the gods, and her ability to govern them was contingent on her success in fulfilling the divine mandates set by the Pantheon. From that moment on, Andaria became the spokesperson of the Pantheon, tasked with balancing her dual role as a mortal leader and divine emissary. Though this transformation was seen as a reward by many, there was an underlying and more complicated truth. If Andaria failed in her mission to fulfill her divine duties, she would not ascend fully to godhood. Instead, she would die in the process, her mortal self ending as she attempted to claim her place among the gods. The intricacies of her demigod status were poorly understood by most, but the weight of her responsibility was immense. She was now tasked with guiding the empire in a way that balanced liberty and compassion, and the outcome of her efforts would ultimately determine her fate. Thus, Andaria's journey was not just one of political change, but also a trial set by the gods themselves—one in which her success or failure would shape not only her own destiny but the future of the Imperium of Avanor.The Schism in the Pantheon
The aftermath of the Andaria Rebellion not only shook the foundations of the Imperium of Avanor but also created a rift within the Pantheon itself. This schism was born from the gods' differing views on Andaria's actions and the consequences of her transformation into a demigod. The lawful gods, led by Archanatyr, the God of Civilizations and Oaths, believed that Andaria's rebellion required punishment. They saw her actions as a challenge to the established divine order and the authority of the Pantheon. However, Archanatyr’s response was both a reward and a punishment—granting her the power of a demigod, but burdening her with the responsibility of fulfilling the domains of Liberty and Compassion, which were vital to guiding the empire's future. This decision raised the question: did Archanatyr, in elevating Andaria, give up his position as the head of the Pantheon, or was she merely a secretary of sorts, tasked with carrying out his will? The chaotic gods, on the other hand, saw Andaria's rebellion as a symbol of change and freedom, and they viewed her transformation as a reward for her daring to challenge the old order. The conflict between the lawful and chaotic factions of the Pantheon reflected a deeper power struggle, where Archanatyr's authority was threatened by the rise of a new voice in the form of Andaria. As a result, the Pantheon became divided into three distinct factions. The Andarian Followership This faction is believed to have supported Andaria during her revolt, siding with her desire for change, liberty, and compassion. The gods in this group are seen as the proponents of free will, love, and the need for a more compassionate world:- Amor (God of Love and Passions)
- Athras (God of Heroism and Sacrifice)
- Cynthia (Goddess of Hunting and Challenges)
- Jhunal (God of Knowledge and Teaching)
- Selene (Goddess of Stars and Serenity)
- Helios (God of Suns and Ambition)
- Andaria (Goddess of Liberty and Compassion)
- Archanatyr (God of Civilizations and Oaths)
- Archon (God of War and Duties)
- Letus (God of Death and Mourning)
- Lustitia (Goddess of Justice and Mercy)
- Raven Queen (Goddess of Fate and Memories)
- Zenthai (God of Trade and Prosperity)
- Veros (God of Magic and Enlightenment)
- Damona (Goddess of Rivers and Virtue)
- Fortuna (Goddess of Luck and Hope)
- Tariel (Goddess of Agriculture and Harmony)
The Fragmentation of the Imperium
Following the Andaria Rebellion and the Second Nymerian Divine Covenant, the once-mighty Imperium of Avanor could no longer sustain its vast and centralized rule. The bureaucracy, burdened by outdated laws and inefficient governance, struggled to manage distant provinces. Recognizing the growing unrest and the unsustainable structure of the empire, the ruling elite made a drastic decision: rather than risking prolonged internal conflict, they initiated a controlled dissolution. This process, later known as The Great Dispersion, granted independence to numerous provinces under a set of Imperial Conditions designed to maintain religious and cultural unity. Some provinces fought to retain their Imperial ties, while others were eager to break away. Many territories were outright abandoned due to their economic strain on the central government, seen as more of a tax burden than a strategic asset.
Type
Political, Family
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
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