Synoppeian Empire

The empire centred on the city of Synoppeia. It separated from The Empire as a reaction against The Church of the Holy Celestial Pantheon and in particular what was seen as the heresy of clerics wielding powers granted from the Celestial Pantheon .
The Emperor  claims descent from the line of the Old Emperors. Indeed, citizens of the Synoppeian Empire consider theirs to be the true descendant of the Old Empire . The city of Synoppeia itself had been the winter capital of the Old Empire.
When The Church of the Holy Celestial Pantheon seized power in the Anarchy that followed the Ruination, the Patriarch named himself as The Celestial Pantheon's representative on Erdde. To many (especially among the High Elves ), this was heretical. Only the Emperor could claim audience with the gods.
Opposition to the Patriarch centred on Portreeve Polzuss of Synoppeia . He denounced the Patriarch, kept Synoppeia outside of the the New Empire and installed a distant relative of Empress Zariel as her 'successor'.
Synoppeia's fortunes have waxed and waned over the centuries. The city controls a large territory southeast of The Empire as well as possessions all around The Celestial Sea. There has never been outright war between The Empire and Synoppeia, but tensions have often been high.