Tenelea
The land mistreats us, just like our once elven brethren did. The land is unforgiving, just like our once elven brethren. We have every reason to despise our land, but we make it our home anyway, because in it our fate shall live on.
~ Wulfick Civilius ~
Westerin's Fist
Scarred, cracked, and devastated, the world was left to sift through the remnants of the once great duergar kingdom when the Cosmic War finally came to a close. Glorious monuments were toppled. Families were killed. Those who remained were survivors in these new lands. The inevitable reign of the Teneleans date all the way back to these days, to an elven province once part of a larger concord. To a community forced into exile.
When calamity came to the world, the elves who had foreseen its disaster were ready. Through use of the world's legendary portals known as Prolithian Gates, the masses escaped to the safe and distant Prolithian Planes when war began. Though they would return centuries later, creating a powerful provincial civilization, Endolin, their own conflict would soon follow. Teneleas, a man from Zantot province whom everyone adored, a man who secretly manipulated them. In his quest for power, it ultimately ravaged their land in civil war. A civil war that left Teneleas dead and Zantot exiled to the lands east of Endolin.
Endolin believed the exiles would die out in the wilderness, but on the contrary, the great empire's tales begin here. Heartbroken and wandering, Zantot did all it could to survive the grave wilds. There was no future they could see, except one. The powerful elf, Hastios Potitus saw great opportunity in everyone's brokenness. Vehement toward that nation, Endolin, he rallied them all to his cause, speaking wonders of the man Teneleas, and curses of the Endolish elves. Instilled with mutual hatred, the people joined under Hastios' banner. Weapons were constructed, land was claimed, and the nation named Tenelea was born.
But, Hastios' rule would come to a close. With more land and more strength, his abuse of his despotic power grew with it. Wealth was garnered in his court only, men and women alike were ignored, and useless violence was commonplace for him. Over time, the last sliver of loyalty Hastios' people had was gone. Instead, the people looked to a new man who spoke of better rulership. This man still saw a future for Tenelea, though it would not bear fruit while Hastios reigned. His name was Wulfick Civilius, and heading a major rebellion, Hastios was thrust from power. A monarchist government was set, and Wulfick Civilius became the first elven king of Tenelea.
With Wulfick's rule came many things. Borders expanded, production skyrocketed, and more settlements were enacted. At its close, Wulfick appointed his son, Wulfick Civilius II as the next king. Their land continued to expand and it was during his reign that Tenelea discovered the hill giant tribes of Forokia to their east. With their vast quarries, trade agreements were put in place which greatly increased the resources at Tenelea's disposal. Good relations were sparked between Wulfick and Forokia's chief, Gantan, leading to a stout military alliance with the two. However, early into his three-hundred and fifty-first year, Wulfick Civilius II succumbed to a deathly illness, leaving his only son, Wulfick Civilius III to carry on his legacy at a young elven age of one-hundred and one. Despite his young mind and awkward habits, Wulfick Civilius III grew Tenelea nearly double its size, and with the efforts of the land's great builder, Itaius Enendale, the Civilius Cathedral was constructed within their first settlement Spurcis in honor of the family line. In response, the settlement was renamed to Enendale and declared Tenelea's capital. However, the throne grew all too tiresome for Wulfick III. Convincing his elder sister, Zara Civilius II became the land's first queen. Great monuments were erected in Tenelea's cities. Festivals grew extravagant, and the queen prioritized culture above all else. She saw the Cosmic Warrior, a god their people had worshiped since even long before their exile, as distasteful and a distortion to the culture they could gain. So, during her reign, the Cosmic Warrior was renounced as Tenelea's official god. She birthed a great five children in her time, and succeeding her, Wulfick Civilius IV became the next king. He picked up where his mother left off, leading Tenelea into a cultural golden age.
But, everything changed when his daughter, Zara Civilius III became the next queen after him, for he only birthed daughters. She looked upon the lands, realizing it had forgotten all of what Tenelea had been bred for in its genesis. Culture was ill-suited for a land destined to conquer. As a result, she instituted major reforms of Tenelea, disguised as culture innovations to keep the people's trust. The Cosmic Warrior became the sole deity of the nation once again, declaring Tenelea's destiny to unite the land through conquest. Military became the dominant culture as wyverns from the southern islands were captured and tamed as mounts. Even ears began being cropped as a show of ill-content to the elves of Endolin. Under empress Zara Civilius III, the Tenelean Empire was born. But, in a sudden twist, the empress was assassinated. The land mourned, but the fruits of her labor paid off in her only son's footsteps, Wulfick Civilius V. Raised to be a hard emperor, he wished for a greater military, but to do so would require more resources. Beginning the War of Turmoil, tremendous land was conquered in effort to accomplish it. Forokia was annexed completely and land was gained from Endolin, Ravenna, and even the Silver Piece Collective. Because of future war exhaustion and Tenelea's forces being spread too far apart, bitter peace was negotiated. Though a promise of no future Tenelean aggression was put in place, Wulfick bides his time to this day, infiltrating the neighboring lands until the opportunity to conquer all of Westerin in one fell swoop arises.
With Wulfick's rule came many things. Borders expanded, production skyrocketed, and more settlements were enacted. At its close, Wulfick appointed his son, Wulfick Civilius II as the next king. Their land continued to expand and it was during his reign that Tenelea discovered the hill giant tribes of Forokia to their east. With their vast quarries, trade agreements were put in place which greatly increased the resources at Tenelea's disposal. Good relations were sparked between Wulfick and Forokia's chief, Gantan, leading to a stout military alliance with the two. However, early into his three-hundred and fifty-first year, Wulfick Civilius II succumbed to a deathly illness, leaving his only son, Wulfick Civilius III to carry on his legacy at a young elven age of one-hundred and one. Despite his young mind and awkward habits, Wulfick Civilius III grew Tenelea nearly double its size, and with the efforts of the land's great builder, Itaius Enendale, the Civilius Cathedral was constructed within their first settlement Spurcis in honor of the family line. In response, the settlement was renamed to Enendale and declared Tenelea's capital. However, the throne grew all too tiresome for Wulfick III. Convincing his elder sister, Zara Civilius II became the land's first queen. Great monuments were erected in Tenelea's cities. Festivals grew extravagant, and the queen prioritized culture above all else. She saw the Cosmic Warrior, a god their people had worshiped since even long before their exile, as distasteful and a distortion to the culture they could gain. So, during her reign, the Cosmic Warrior was renounced as Tenelea's official god. She birthed a great five children in her time, and succeeding her, Wulfick Civilius IV became the next king. He picked up where his mother left off, leading Tenelea into a cultural golden age.
But, everything changed when his daughter, Zara Civilius III became the next queen after him, for he only birthed daughters. She looked upon the lands, realizing it had forgotten all of what Tenelea had been bred for in its genesis. Culture was ill-suited for a land destined to conquer. As a result, she instituted major reforms of Tenelea, disguised as culture innovations to keep the people's trust. The Cosmic Warrior became the sole deity of the nation once again, declaring Tenelea's destiny to unite the land through conquest. Military became the dominant culture as wyverns from the southern islands were captured and tamed as mounts. Even ears began being cropped as a show of ill-content to the elves of Endolin. Under empress Zara Civilius III, the Tenelean Empire was born. But, in a sudden twist, the empress was assassinated. The land mourned, but the fruits of her labor paid off in her only son's footsteps, Wulfick Civilius V. Raised to be a hard emperor, he wished for a greater military, but to do so would require more resources. Beginning the War of Turmoil, tremendous land was conquered in effort to accomplish it. Forokia was annexed completely and land was gained from Endolin, Ravenna, and even the Silver Piece Collective. Because of future war exhaustion and Tenelea's forces being spread too far apart, bitter peace was negotiated. Though a promise of no future Tenelean aggression was put in place, Wulfick bides his time to this day, infiltrating the neighboring lands until the opportunity to conquer all of Westerin in one fell swoop arises.
We were exiled. Thrown away to fade into nothing. But now, we stand at the brink of our redemption. We hold the future of our people in the destiny the Cosmic Warrior has promised us. To empire!
~ Wulfick Civilius V ~
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The Emperor
The ruling figure over the Tenelean Empire. With absolute authority, the next heir can only be chosen by the preceding emperor/empress.-
The Court of Civilius
The nine-person court of advisors and officials under the emperor, divided equally into their respective courts.-
Court of Humanities
The three-person court responsible for the upkeep and excellence of the empire's church and economic state. -
Court of Conquest
The three-person court responsible for the army and navy's maintenance and deployment in times of war. -
Court of Houses
The three-person court responsible for the development of scientific and material inventions as well as diplomatic gatherings in and outside the empire.
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Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Unitary state
Subsidiary Organizations
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Myths
Court of Tenelea
Despotism
Absolute Monarchy
Autocracy
My people! For many years we have lived in the hope of a greater life. Under my rule, I shall show what it was always fated to be!~ Zara Civilius III
Tenelean Grit
Only a fool ever doubts the determined grit of a Tenelean. The bulk of the empire's history is wrapped in conquest, survival, and fatigue, making even a single gallant a dangerous opponent who seeks to carry on his land's legacy.
The empire is extremely militaristic, fueled by their belief instilled by Zara Civilius III that the Cosmic Warrior declares it everyone's destiny to conquer Westerin. As such, amenities and culture are terms synonymous with combat and military momentum.
New and weaponized inventions hit the proving grounds of the empire every day. The espionage group, the Inquisitors discover lost ancient artifacts left and right. The Imperial Wall stands along the Tenelean-Endolish border as a reminder for Endolin to stay out, but also as a way to prevent them from seeing what the empire does.
All of it is carried out in the dream of a grander, better trained, and unstoppable army.
Diplomacy for that empire goes like this. Archery is their quill, blood is their ink, and swordsmanship is their handshake.~ Jamesyn Mendago
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