The Empire of Olm
The history of the Forbidden Isles can hardly be mentioned without the huge and still pronounced influence of the Olmese empire, even centuries after its collapse. Having almost United the entirety of the islands under its rule, the original empire of the west grew in power from being the First Nation in the west to use iron and steel instead of bronze, ensuring cheap and effective weaponry on all levels of the army and allowing them to outcompete and incorporate their rivals. From here, the city of Olm, founded in the banks of the Ol river, grew into a great sprawling metropolis with networks across the isles.
Structure
Based off a line of ‘Empurs’ or emperors of a supposedly divine bloodline, the power structure of the Olmese government certainly had religious undertones, seeing their leader as a figure of divine wisdom, leadership and even blood. Therefore, managing by the state, especially in the early days was highly top-to-bottom. As the empire expanded, city governors and princes were granted more power to assist in ruling, a system that loosely inspired the Governate structure of the Dominion and the clans of Vunk.
Culture
Representing a predecessor to the many civilisations of the Isles, the Olmese culture was highly influential over their development as well as local traditions. The formerly nomadic Philharts certainly syncretised a lot of Olmese features as they became the Phurzics, and while Olmese culture proper is dead, remnants of it carry on in Phurzia.
Disbandment
The last emperor of Olm engaged in a war with the island nation of Huyuuun in the far north, hoping to gain many jewels, supposedly including a fragment of the Great Crystal of the Ancient Ones. However, during the great invasion, the enormous volcano under Hyuuuj erupted and destroyed the island civilisation and invading fleet alike. The Fires only lasted a few weeks, but the ash released into the air caused a winter lasting more than a decade.
The empire, with its military gutted and now facing ecological catastrophe, was bought to its knees. Famine, ash fall, harsh winters, limited sunlight and plagues.
Territories
Except for the isles of the Yamachai and the southern tip of of the Scythe Peninsula at times of weakness, the Empire controlled virtually all of the Forbidden Isles, holding a great army and navy to maintain power. It is even said that the power to maintain such a large empire was through the work of fragments of the old Crystals of mythology, but these rumours are unconfirmed.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
-1251 - 6
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Alternative Names
Olm, the Western Empire
Successor Organizations
Training Level
Semi-professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Olmese
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Economic System
Traditional
Location
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