The United Empire
This Empire has not stood for a thousand years only to be torn apart by a bunch of damned pirates! Rally our forces, raise taxes, and build more defenses! We will begin conscripting from the populace to increase our military power, and we will crush Rogar and his pesky shadow fleet."
-Emperor Frederic Vorth, 3 months before his untimely death at the hands of Rogar the Terrible
Structure
The United Empire is lorded over by an Emperor, typically a position passed down the Imperial family. Countless military and political advisers assist the current Emperor in decisions but they have the final say in all matters pertaining to their Empire.
Public Agenda
Maintain a safe, prosperous, and just living condition for the citizens of the Empire.
Assets
The Empire taxes it's citizens, allowing for an ever existent flow of available money and resources. However, aggressive pirating of the Empire's primary shipping lanes has caused a significant decrease in available funds. This has called for an increase in military funding and presence. Conscription is commonplace, with men of age often sent to serve their Empire aboard airships loaded with cargo armed with only a cheaply made sword and a couple weeks of training. This allows for the bulk of the Empire's fully enlisted soldiers to be available for reinforcement.
History
The United Empire began in 114 FD, when existing colonies of mixed races established contact with others on different skylands. What started as trade deals and helping hands allowed for the 11 colonies to grow over the next 20 years, going from ramshackle villages made from salvaged materials to well built cities, made from harvested resources such as stone and clay.
In 134 FD, on the 20 year anniversary of the 11 colonies unification, the leaders of the colonies met and signed the Treaty of Imperial Unification. The United Empire was born. For 200 years, the Empire grew and prospered, expanding to other skylands, discovering other outposts of people, and creating new technologies.
In 346 FD, the first Imperial airship was brought down by an unknown source. Ships continued to go missing for months before the reason was discovered; bands of raiding creatures such as orcs, goblins, kobolds, and various other miscreants, had joined together to form an army of seemingly endless numbers. The 11 leaders, hailing from the City-States that were once the original 11 colonies, couldn't agree on what to do. One fateful council meeting, a shouting match became bloody. One of the leaders, a younger man named Relic Kyvar, who believed that the Empire's only choice was open war, drew his ceremonial sword and decapitated the leader of the opposing side mid-sentence. The silence afterwards was broken by Relic's statement: "Clearly, an Empire must be ruled by an Emperor."
War between the United Empire and the Coalition of Goblinoids raged for 16 years before the superior technology and tactics of the Empire won them the war. The Coalition disbanded and became, once again, roving bands. No discernible leader was ever discovered, despite Emperor Kyvar's best investigative teams looking into it.
Shortly after the end of the war, Emperor Relic Kyvar was assassinated in a political power move and the throne was taken by his adversaries. This move set the tone for the Empire for the next 1000 years. Nearly every new Emperor during this team was appointed such through killing the last, usually in a politically savvy way. The constant change in leadership, with every new Emperor bringing a different agenda than the last, brought the advancement of technology to a grinding halt. Those 1000 years were the darkest time of the Empire, with many city-states near the borders of the Empire's reach seceding and returning to their independent roots. This resulted in a weaker Empire, with less available resources, causing mass famine across the outlying skylands. Pirating became a common occupation, as whatever Emperor was in power tended to prioritize his well-being over the peoples. That made the airships loaded with what little goods could be gathered from the few useful city-states still pledging allegiance to the Empire, who's only stops were the Imperial Capital, prime targets for a crew of starving raiders.
In 1371 FD Alexander Vorth, a Human male of resounding capability, claimed the throne to the Empire. Though a struggle, he managed to reclaim order of the seemingly doomed Empire. He proved his capability to run the Empire with grace and justice, treating all fairly. Smart rationing and funding towards social and technological development became top priority, and soon the city-states which had declared their independence became allies, trading freely with the Empire they had once despised. Alexander lived his whole life, with only two failed assassination attempts occurring through his entire reign. His throne was passed down to his son, Frederic. This was the first instance of an heir acquiring the throne in the history of the Empire. Despite Alexander's just reign, and Frederic's capable imitations of his father's rulings, the public responded to the passing of the throne poorly. Many believed that this was a selfish act, and that meant the Imperial family had only themselves in mind. After several years of his successful reign, the majority of the people put their faith back in the Imperial family, despite their original misgivings.
In 1382 FD, the first recorded attack of the Shadow Fleet occurred. The Shadow Fleet, a massive fleet of airships crewed by pirates, was brought together by Rogar the Terrible, an orc raider of massive stature. His prowess in combat was unmatched by any he faced, and he led his fleet with savagely smart tactics, striking hard and fast against Imperial targets. Emperor Vorth declares war against Rogar and his fleet. 3 months later he is killed by Rogar himself in a stealth raid into the Imperial Capital. While Rogar the Terrible celebrated his kill, as he was about to claim his throne of power, he was swiftly beheaded from behind, by Frederic's younger brother Corrum. Corrum claimed the throne, after wiping Rogar's blood from his sword using Rogar's headless body.
Territories
Amora and surrounding skylands, Sawahi, and parts of Asmarah.
Military
The Imperial Army protects the people of the Skylands, while the Imperial Navy protects it's skies.
Founding Date
134 FD
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
The Empire
Demonym
Imperial
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Imperial Coin
Location
Official Languages
Related Traditions
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Species
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