The Ruvian Empire

The Ruvian Empire was once the greatest polity known to the mortal races. Today, those outside its borders disdainfully refer to it as "The Northern Provinces", or more generously, "The Northern Empire". Though it's decline has been drastic, it is still a force to be reckoned with if stirred to action. The Empire originated from Ruvia, an island in the Southern Sea. The island was poor in resources. Early Ruvians became first raiders, then conquerors. A policy of patient (but firm) assimilation created an immense and powerful Empire situated around The Southern Sea. Today, the Empire is still fabulously wealthy and powerful. The most esteemed magic schools are based there. Banking and trade is highly developed. The artisans of its major cities are world renowned. And the Emperor nominally commands an army more than a match for any other. The Empire simply lacks the ability to act as one entity anymore. It continues on mostly through inertia. Centuries of crumbling social/political institutions mean that public service is often entered to enrich one's self. A soldier's primary loyalty is rarely to the Empire. Instead, they look first to the generals who pay and feed them. Armies will gladly follow their generals into civil war, as long as the promised rewards are rich enough. Originally a meritocracy, the Empire's leadership stagnated into plutocracy, and eventually kleptocracy. As political rivalries and factionalism grew, it became more and more costly to retain the loyalty of the Empire's various power centers. Generals demanded larger payments from the treasury to "maintain their armies", and not turn rogue against the state. A once unified religious community splintered, losing unity of focus and instead struggled to advance individual cults. Central control shrunk as distant governors slowly became rulers in their own rights. Failed expeditions to conquer Ecan, a major disaster , and the growth of Eiduani raiding stressed the Empire's time tested institutions past their breaking point. The once conquered Elves now live free on their peninsula, and fiercely defend their borders. The Eastern parts of the Empire broke into petty kingdoms. The North continues on, much diminished from its glory. The Empire's former settlements in the Besdu Plains have fallen to Eiduani invaders, and only the establishment of a buffer realm has stayed their advance. Ruvia itself lies in ruins. It’s political power long since distributed to the provinces. The current residents live amongst crumbling monuments and scavenge unused infrastructure for building supplies.