The Azarinthian Cohort

"Fear us, for we are the breath of a dragon. Dread us, for we are the unyielding expression of war. We march under the azure banner, riding on the backs of bahamuts children. We are the chosen of Odin, our empress is the goddess of war. We are the storm that rips your men of their feet, that tears your fortications out of the eart and set ablaze your fields. You will yield, for we are the Immortal Azarintian Cohort."

Lord General Embrandts answer, upon hearing the City of Langred had refused to surrender to his army.

The Azarintian Cohort is the military superpower to the north of Gaia, reknowned for their fierce loyalty to their Empress, Katarina the Immortal. Known to fly the Azur banner depicting Bahamuth, this is a empire that lives and dies by the sword. Every citizen of the Cohort is made to serve at least 4 years in service of its every active armed forces. Most of the time, this duty means working within logistics and similair backline support units after a few months of guard duty. In times of war, such as the The Expansion War, this would mean mandatory frontline service instead.
The Azarintian derive their name from "Azar Su-Ren", a Au-ra warrior who was chosen by Bahamut to fight alongside Him and the other gods and their champions in [url=]Primordial Conflict. When Azars fight was over and the north was won and the primordial evils had been cast down into cosmic prison that is The Nexus, Azar settled at the feet of the Azure Peak. There he met Ilya, Odins chosen and the wto would unite their people under one rule. As both were very driven and warlike, their people would be united trough bloodshed and a constant drive to expand for the glory of their champion King and Queen.
Even though they are united as a people, their internal history is bloody. It is however, something of a controlled bloodshed. The Empress or Emporer can only rise to the throne trough one of one combat with the sitting regent. And only then if they have bested his three champions before hand. And yet still, they need to have the blessing of one of the Gods. Currently, Katarina the Immortal sits on the throne, having slain the previous Emperor in a 2 day long duel that earned her the title of Immortal. She is the chosen of Odin, so only a chosen of Bahamut may challenge her. She have to date been challenged twice, but only lost a single champion. Meaning she herself have yet to have to step into the arena to fight a challenger.
Over the decades that followed, the various people of the continent would one by one fall in with or be conquered by the Azarinthians. It was only whne crossing the ocean in an attemp to invade the Emirate of the Sun, they would eventually face defeat. And only then due the direct meddling of Warden of Nexus himself; Alexander.
The Cohort has spent peace time silently amassing their forces within thier external colonies, perhaps expecting a new Expansion War to break out. Their Empress Katarina has been said to personally visit their Evalian allies on occassion, seemingly helping them rebuild their army personally.

Demography and Population

Mainly Human and Au-Ra populate the Cohort. Although a sizable number of Wildwood Elezen have found their rigid society and fanatical meritocracy very appealing.

Territories

Wesalia; A Evalian kingdom, chiefly run by Wildewood Elezen. Wesalia was in a state of civil war upon the arrival of the Azarite, who backed the local king in quelling the rebellion. The king is but a puppet to the Empress at this point, but the Wildwood Elezen of Wesalia look very favorably upon the Odins Chosen.
The Andrean Shores; Occupied by the very elite of he Azarinthian Guard and one of the Empress three champions. This is what claim of Sundra they managed to keep hold of. It remains a useful staging ground for naval raids.

Foreign Relations

The Sun Emirate: Mortal Enemies. The Azarite were originators of the conflict with the Emirate, wanting to claim the Aether rich north eastern part of Sundra of which the Emirate had little control over due to its massive monster population. The Azarite think the Emirate is to weak to hold such a region. This disdain has doubled with the Emirate making claims on Evalia.
The Free Cities: Their relations are strained, as the Free Cities armada have threatened to blockade Azurite Aether trade on multiple occassions. But the Azarite at very least respect them for their martial might and their determination to remain independent.

From Fire, clarity, From Steel, Truth.

Alternative Names

Blue Bloods, Dragon Huggers

Training Level

Elite

Veterancy Level

Decorated/Honored

Demonym

Azarinthian.

Government System

Despotism

Power Structure

Feudal state

Judicial Body

Military Courts oversee pretty much everything.

Official State Religion

Immortali

Controlled Territories

• Azure Peak

Neighboring Nations

• The Free Citys Alliance
• The Sun Emirate