Shar, Hidden Empire of

The Hidden Empire of the Shar, ruled by the enigmatic Korenth Zan, is a secretive and ruthless society devoted to Suloise supremacy. Operating from the Tilvanot Peninsula, the Scarlet Order employs spies, assassins, and monstrous creations to manipulate and conquer the Flanaess from the shadows.

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History

The full history of the Scarlet Order is unknown to all but a few of its highest-ranking leaders. Outsiders can only guess at its broadest strokes. The Order was founded in 5091 SR by Kevelli Mauk, three years before the Rain of Colorless Fire brought about the ultimate fall of the Suloise Imperium. Since then, the Order has survived through secrecy and subterfuge, making its way to the remote Tilvanot Peninsula, where it drew Suloise refugees and colonists into its growing ranks.

Using the name Shar as a cover for its hidden realm, the Order maintained the illusion of being little more than a collection of minor trading posts along the Azure Sea. Behind this veil, its leaders gathered intelligence for their millennia-long plot of vengeance and conquest. For centuries, their spies have crisscrossed the Flanaess, reporting back to their secretive masters. The Order finally revealed its existence publicly—though not its true mission—in 573 CY, when emissaries presented themselves to the courts of the Iron League, offering gifts, knowledge, and counsel while embedding their agents in positions of influence.

Politics and Society

The Scarlet Order, also known as the Monks of the Scarlet Sign, controls the land from the Great Swamp to the westernmost tip of the Tilvanot Peninsula, where their closed and secretive plateau lies. The city of Kro Terlep remains a fortress of secrecy, with few outsiders ever granted entry—and even fewer returning should they trespass. The Order has insinuated its agents into many courts of the Flanaess, subtly influencing rulers and guiding policies to serve its own ends.

The ultimate goal of the Scarlet Order is Suloise supremacy; they see themselves as fulfilling the destiny of the Suel people to rule the world. Their society is rigidly hierarchical, divided into three castes: monks at the pinnacle, followed by assassins, and finally a network of rogues and spies who serve as informants and operatives.

The enigmatic Korenth Zan, the Father of Obedience, rules the Order with absolute authority. Rumors abound regarding his true nature: some claim he is a red dragon, once a consort of Tiamat, trapped in human form; others whisper that he is a man who has lived since before the Twin Cataclysms, his lifespan prolonged by unnatural means. Regardless of the truth, all within the Order obey his commands without question.

Religion

The Scarlet Order venerates only the Suel deities, reinforcing their supremacist ideology. Their temples are heavily fortified and strictly controlled, with religious doctrine used as a means of maintaining obedience and discipline. Among the most revered deities in the Order are Wee Jas, Beltar, Syrul, and Pyremius. Their most sacred and secretive rites take place within the hidden city of Hesuel Ilshar.

Military

The Scarlet Order prefers subtlety over brute force, using espionage, assassination, and extortion to achieve its aims rather than open warfare. However, when military action is necessary, they are prepared. All officers are dedicated members of the Order, trained in unarmed combat and deadly precision. The bulk of their army consists of slave conscripts taken from Hepmonaland and the Amedio Jungle, as well as beyond into the lands of the Touv people. These conscripts form poorly trained infantry, serving as expendable forces for the Order’s larger schemes.

The true power of the Order’s military lies in its war beasts and engineered monstrosities. Their breeding programs, sanctioned by Korenth Zan himself, have produced terrifying hybrid creatures to serve as shock troops. Reports speak of giant war apes, serpentine horrors, and humanoid abominations, all bred to be utterly loyal to the Order.

Notable Locales

• Hesuel Ilshar – The hidden capital of the Scarlet Order, a fortress-monastery where the Order’s most elite monks train and where their supreme leadership resides.
• Kro Terlep – A closed port city where foreign vessels rarely land uninvited. It serves as a major center for trade, deception, and indoctrination.
• Lof Brosok – A secretive island where the Order conducts its monster-breeding experiments, isolated in case their abominations escape containment.
• Temple of the Scarlet Sign – A fortress-monastery and walled stronghold, home to Korenth Zan and the highest echelons of the Order. It is rumored to be guarded by monsters, enchanted warriors, and hidden horrors, all awaiting the moment they are unleashed upon the world.

Conclusion

The Hidden Empire of the Shar is a land of secrecy, deception, and ruthless ambition. Its leaders see themselves as the rightful rulers of the Flanaess, orchestrating their ascent to power with precision and patience. The Scarlet Order, under the enigmatic Korenth Zan, has infiltrated the highest levels of society, biding its time until the day it can openly declare its dominance. Until then, it remains an ever-present shadow on the horizon, weaving its web of control across the lands of the Flanaess.

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Proper Name: Great and Hidden Empire of Shar

Ruler: Father of Obedience Korenth Zan (human?)

Government: Homelands appear to be governed by feudal plantation lords, who in turn are managed by ever-present red-robed monks

Major Settlements: Hesuel llshar; Ekul, Kro Terlep

Resources: Rare woods, fruits, spices, gold, gems (I, III, IV)

Population: Human

Law: LE

Allies: Spies and assassins placed covertly in courts throughout the Flanaess.

Enemies: All other nations of the Flanaess (secretly)

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