Empire of Ava
The Empire of Ava was a short-lived theocratic state that controlled the territory of the modern day Avartina. Founded by its God-Empress, Ava Sarahelli, it rose to prominence in the final years of the First Solar Republic, controlling 16 star systems and constructing many incredible megaprojects and vast temples dedicated to their living God. It collapsed in the early 23rd Century following the death of the Sarahelli, with only her faith remaining as an ever-present, ever inquisitorial cult spread out across the worlds of the Avartine.
History
Prior to the official founding of the empire, Ava Sarahelli was considered a normal human. Born as the heir to the Sarahelli wealth and estates of Elysium, Mars, at some point she became convinced of both her divinity and of her mission to lead her followers to establish their paradise. She lead the Children of Elysia to become a sizable cult on Mars, funding a colony ship and heading off towards their supposed 'Divined Destination'. They arrived to find Elysia, a gaia world. Their Goddess had delivered what she had promised, and this saw a massive influx of people towards the newly christened Ava's Star, settling the region that today is known as Avartina. The Empire was born as the First Solar Republic began to collapse, having stretched itself too far, too fast, and now plagued by insurrections and independence movements. One such movement was the Avartine, who banded under Sarahelli and began consolidating territory in Avartina. This also marked a decisive change in her philosophy, now the God-Empress of Elysia. There would be One Faith, One God, and One Empire. She began raising mega temples and nonsensical buildings on a vast scale across many planets under her control. She empowered the faith, leading through blind zealotry and fear of her inquisition army. To call it feudal would be incorrect, as there were no lords, no manors, no aristocracy. Just the God-Empress and her faithful. It was a firmly theocratic dictatorship, one in which all institutions and resources were focused on the worship of their living God. Of course, things get difficult when your 'living God' dies. Nobody is quite sure how it happened, or why. Everyone who bore witness to the God-Empress's death were sealed within her tomb, along with her most trusted leaders, priests, and just about anyone who could administrate an empire. Her army, her commanders, her politicians. There was nobody left to even raise a flag, or take a crown. Instead, the faithful kept preaching, the inquisition continued its zealous campaign, and the Empire of Ava slipped away into the Great Rot. The Great Rot has lasted until the present day, with no forms of government, no trade, no interplanetary travel. It is impossible to overstate the level of collapse that Avartina underwent. A brief attempt at Elysian recovery was firmly destroyed as the last holdouts of the empire succumbed to the Conquests of Wang Min as his armies razed through the Roanoke Zone. All that remains of the ancient empire are its bones. Only the faith continues, as it has for what feels like an eternity.Hope among the Hopeless
It has been a great many years since the passing of the Sarahelli, and despite the faith's instance that she will return, it is only the eldest of the priestly class that remember her rule, and even then, they were children at that time and thus spared the empire's spiritual decapitation. The people know that their suffering is wrong. The people survive in spite of the oppressive faith that keeps them here. Even the faithful have had enough inquisition. As legends of the Sarahelli travel back into the Human core worlds, so too do tales of suffering and misery. The United Nations of Sol-Aligned Systems is watching Avartina with interested eyes, as independent explorers and aid workers find themselves at the forefront of a religious nightmare.
2172 - 2223
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Location
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Comments