The Dead Empire of Rhemus

After the Chaos Age, the elves were the first to build a meaningful civilization in the Empire of Rhemus. Run by mages, the Elves of Rhemus were some of the first to figure out how to tap into the energy of Iota and use it as a source for magic. The history of this empire was lost after the Second Shift, when hordes of demons invaded Illyrica at the beginning of the Second Shift. These Elementals were pushed back by a force of Heroes who, upon defeating the demon threat, were elevated to divine status by the Faith of the people of Illyrica. They, along with some others, formed the First Pantheon, and their worship carries on today. The elevation of these deities is probably the most important legacy of Rhemus.

Structure

The Rhemus Empire was ruled from the top down by a single Magi Modus, that is, Head Sorcerer. This position was passed down along family lines, but succession was based on magical aptitude, not birthright. Under the Magi Modus sat a council of scholar-philosophers who advised the Magi on matters of domestic and foreign import. Within the empire, regions were given fairly autonomous rule under provisional governments. Each of these governments was made up of locals who were elected or appointed as that province saw fit. Each of these provinces also had a governor, a lesser member of the royal family whose role was to see that the province received any special military support from the Empire as well as made good on their obligations to the Empire. These obligations were only to pay taxes and provide soldiers for the Rheman military.

Assets

The Rhemans were renowned for their ability to use a special forging technique to magically reinforce their brass weapons and armor. This technique made their weapons stronger and more durable than the iron or stone weapons used by their neighbors, and is one of the primary factors in their military domination. This process was lost to time, along with much of their history.
In addition to their forging techniques, the Rhemus empire also advanced the field of artificery. Many magical creations of the Rhemus persist in myths and legends today, and some have been found over the centuries. These artifacts are incredibly powerful and are often fought over by factions almost every time they are discovered.

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Alternative Names

Rhemus, Rheman, The Empire of the North

Demonym

Rheman