Eshneff'il
"As the Threat in the North grows, the South only cares for its own gains and expansion. That is the foolish law of power in Eshneff'il" - Ehron, philosopher and political critic of Eshneff'il, last words
For 1000 years, the Empire of Eshneff'il has existed, occupying the southern part of The Continent. It is said to be the most powerful coherent force to have ever existed, assuring its stability through the generation long reign of the imperial family. This stability, however, is just a facade. Over the course of its long existence, many uprisings were trampled, and manipulations of Emperors were common, as well as family quarrels and backstabbing. On the outside, the Emperor is absolute and the most powerful person on the entire Continent, some of his predecessors even being elevated to godlike status, but, in truth, he is but a puppet for the court and wizards to play with, or so the rumors say.
Eshneff'il was founded in the Eshneff desert, by a caravan leader and powerful wizard known as The First Emperor, Eshneff I, on the highest dune on The Continent, which would later harbor the city of Southern Peak. Since then, the empire has been in permanent expansion. About 100 years after its founding, the First Emperor decided to move the capital from Southern Peak to Ekonu , a new legends say he constructed with his own hands. The relocalization of all the officials and already massive empire treasures was named the "Great March", with only a few of the oldest noble families staying behind in the historical capital. The reason for the Emperor's brisk decision remains unknown to this day, but he may have seen the booming potential a portuary Capital might have in the future. After the Great March, the First Emperor vanished, never to be seen again, leaving the power to his already middle-aged son. Since then, the Empire has been expanding little by little ever since.
In the last century, the Eshneff'il Empire has seen a halt to its expansion, meeting with other powers such as the Eastern Realms and Western Alliance at definite frontiers such as rivers and hills. However, about 1 year before current events, it was decided that war would be declared on both neighboring factions at once. And so, the Empire of the South goes to war on two fronts, with unprecedented military might and violence. Though the looming threat in the north does not preoccupy the Southern Empire, they did agree in honorable fashion, as is valued in imperial tradition, to meet up at the castle of alliances to discuss with their enemies.
Eshneff'il has built 3 main cities in the past millenia: Ekonu, the capital, Southern Peak, the historic capital, and Offash'el, slave trading port. More cities were not founded, as most rebellions sprout from such organized systems. As such, most of the Empire is still rural or deserted. Furthermore, though the Empire claims the Elven Forest to be theirs, the local inhabitants have managed to gain independence through much bloodshed and war, making the two factions live in relative harmony.
Eshneff'il boast by far the largest army on The Continent, with not only professionals and commoners alike, but with powerful schools of magic serving as officers academies. However, its tactics being mostly focused on attack and invasion, the inside of the Empire is not well protected and troops morale is low as soon as a battle is lost.
Eshneff'il was founded in the Eshneff desert, by a caravan leader and powerful wizard known as The First Emperor, Eshneff I, on the highest dune on The Continent, which would later harbor the city of Southern Peak. Since then, the empire has been in permanent expansion. About 100 years after its founding, the First Emperor decided to move the capital from Southern Peak to Ekonu , a new legends say he constructed with his own hands. The relocalization of all the officials and already massive empire treasures was named the "Great March", with only a few of the oldest noble families staying behind in the historical capital. The reason for the Emperor's brisk decision remains unknown to this day, but he may have seen the booming potential a portuary Capital might have in the future. After the Great March, the First Emperor vanished, never to be seen again, leaving the power to his already middle-aged son. Since then, the Empire has been expanding little by little ever since.
In the last century, the Eshneff'il Empire has seen a halt to its expansion, meeting with other powers such as the Eastern Realms and Western Alliance at definite frontiers such as rivers and hills. However, about 1 year before current events, it was decided that war would be declared on both neighboring factions at once. And so, the Empire of the South goes to war on two fronts, with unprecedented military might and violence. Though the looming threat in the north does not preoccupy the Southern Empire, they did agree in honorable fashion, as is valued in imperial tradition, to meet up at the castle of alliances to discuss with their enemies.
Eshneff'il has built 3 main cities in the past millenia: Ekonu, the capital, Southern Peak, the historic capital, and Offash'el, slave trading port. More cities were not founded, as most rebellions sprout from such organized systems. As such, most of the Empire is still rural or deserted. Furthermore, though the Empire claims the Elven Forest to be theirs, the local inhabitants have managed to gain independence through much bloodshed and war, making the two factions live in relative harmony.
Eshneff'il boast by far the largest army on The Continent, with not only professionals and commoners alike, but with powerful schools of magic serving as officers academies. However, its tactics being mostly focused on attack and invasion, the inside of the Empire is not well protected and troops morale is low as soon as a battle is lost.
Geography
Because of its size, Eshneff'il boasts an incredible variety of terrain. To the very south, Mountains trump at the end of the Eshneff desert, a barren wasteland of sand with only a few oasis. To the East and North-East, above the desert, you can find the Empire's grain stock, most of the its cultivated land being there, profiting from the warm sea and desert climate, as well as the more moderate one of the Woodland Forest. To the West, the independent Elven Forest boasts its own country sized ecosystem with multiple geographies, while the North-West and the Center of the Empire are mostly uncultivated and non fertile swamps and small hills.
Fauna & Flora
As diverse as its geography and ecosystems, so are Eshneff'il's fauna and flora. Ranging from desert blooms to jungle trees, through more weed and of course cultivated grain, the Empire houses specimens of most known plant species, and even rare, unknown ones yet to be discovered. This also applies to its fauna, with animals such as elephants and hyenas more in the desert regions, while snakes and bears inhabit the forests and swamps. Eshneff'il's marine wildlife is not to be underestimated either, as well as its freshwater fauna and flora, with most of these being still undiscovered. However, just like the fauna and flora is various, so are the dangers. Monsters of all kinds find their homes in all these biomes, making Man not always the apex predator anymore.
Natural Resources
While eshneff'il is not the most fertile region on the continent (that would be the Eastern Realms), its incredible variety opens the doors to all natural resources needed to man: Sand for glass, wood for buildings, fresh and salt water, mines with precious metals and gemstones, etc., no other country has as many natural resources and riches. Many ruins also decorate the countryside, some dating back to before the Empire, others to its beginnings or numerous eras.
Eshneff'il stats:
| Population | ca. 4 000 000 |
| Active military troops (incl. enrollments) | ca. 800 000 |
| number of wizard schools (officer academies) | 3 |
| Main religion | Gods, first Pantheon, Effneki |
| Political system | absolute centered monarchy |
Alternative Name(s)
The Southern Empire
Type
Territory
Included Locations
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