History of The Empire

With the events of The Schism, and later AngelDeath, the mortal races inhabiting the world quickly realised that they would have to adapt and invent in order to create the arms and armor to defend themselves with. For a time, humans were only able to find wooden and stone tools, and whatever divine artifacts they could scrounge, to defend themselves, which led to utter devastation against the beings of chaos and evil that attacked them. While the scattered remains of the mortal races were being purged by the demonic invaders, the infighting between the invaders would allow time for the first Bloomeries to be created.

The invention of Bloomeries took place around 31 B.F. , and is widely regarded by historians to be what turned the tide, and allowed for the founding of the Empire. As the bloomeries became more advanced, and techniques evolved, men and women were able to be armed with sturdy iron weapons and armor, that they used to great effect to take back their land. While Gondor Lionell was armed with divine weapons and armor, the armies of the First Crusade  were fed by iron and charcoal.

The days of the first crusade were perhaps what the Empire was truly made for. Surrounded by heretics, demons, undead and those that desperately needed help, the crusading armies of the Empire, fueled by the inhuman zeal and bravery of the Emperor, cut a swath through the evil and unholy forces that ruled the lands. It was a time of battle, glory, and some say that crusades are the true function and purpose of the Empire. A large part of Tolhera was taken into the Empire, but large parts still remained in the clutches of evil. However, having exhausted its fervor and servants, the war machine slows down, and begins to look inwards for conflict. In a time without a concentrated force of enemies to fight against, how will the Empire fare. Can nation built on war, death and blood survive in an era of internal conflict and complicated schemes ?

The Years of Smoke were the darkest days for the Empire. As the first Emperor died, like wolves on a herd of sheep, all the conflicting factions that were united by the Emperor descended hungry for power and used to having their power unchallenged. It was a time of civil war between factions, with the recently united populous being collateral damage. As this was happening, the remaining enemies outside and within the Empire saw a moment of weakness, and unleashed whatever power they had to bring down the recently formed nation. Countless villages were razed, soldiers of the Empire and the outside forces would pillage, rape and kill civilians, and all were hoping for a divine miracle to come down from the heavens and save them, but would never come. Instead, the Inquisition tightened its grip around its members, and their allies forming a new fanatical core, similar to the days of the First Crusade. Purging the unclean and burning the heretics became their calling cards, but it was necessary at a time where friend and foe were mixed, and nobody was safe from roaming groups of mercenaries, powerful unaligned wizards, and demonic cults trying to bring their dark masters to the material plane. From the rubble, the Inquisition would gain the upper hand, however it would be a harsh one, and one that the people would never rally behind without a significant force pushing them. To that end, the son of Gondor Lionel was put in the throne, and the remains of the Empire were once again unified with a singular purpose. Additionally, the surrounding foes were weakened and the landscape was ready for a new Crusade.

Before the founding of the Imperial Mint, there were multiple currencies being used, coins for each powerful leader who wanted to control their economy, but that all changed when the Imperial Mint was founded. There are many legends on how the Imperial Mint was founded, and many figures tied with money. Artis, Empire God of Trade has a powerful connection with money, and it is no secret that Mammon, Lord of Avarice also is closely linked to money. What is certain however, is that in the year 91 post founding, Ferdinand I Lionel, the Peacemaker, in his wisdom and foresight, saw that in order for the almost century-old Empire to function through time, and be stabilized, she had to maintain a stranglehold on the economy. To accomplish that, he founded the Imperial Mint, and outlawed all forms of currencies that did not bear the Imperial Sigil. The first Coinmaster was a ruthless dwarf by the name of Coinmaster Brafim Goldborn, who wasted no time in destroying and make examples of anyone using and minting coins that did not come from him. While some at the time resisted the change, Ferdinand was beloved by the citizens, and the prosperity that soon came with having a unified currency silenced all the critics.

Most recently, the invention of the Blast Furnace has shocked the world, and increased potential production of metals exponentially. While bloomeries were slow and could not fully melt metal, with bars having to be imported from the dwarves, Blast Furnaces can run continually for years, and while fuel and ore is shoveled in, keep producing molten metals with unrivaled efficiency. While their adoption has been slow, and mired in political turmoil, they are steadilly expanding, and being refined. This is heralded by some as the end of dwarven hegemony over metallurgy, allowing even alloys such as steel to be produced cheaply, but many are not so certain. One thing is for sure, if this continues unimpeded, the industry of the Empire will explode in the coming century.