Government
Draconic Advisor
The Orrin Empire, a human dominion formed in the wake of the War of the Ancients, showed gratitude towards other races, including elves and dragons, for their assistance. However, as the empire was established by
Achille, it was decreed that humans would be the sole rulers, with other races playing advisory roles.
Dragons, known for their wisdom and guidance, held influential positions and advisory seats within the empire to help guide it in the right direction. Despite their significant roles, the ultimate authority always rested with the humans.
After the downfall of the Kingdom of Eldrida, the dragons chose to withdraw from the empire. They believed their counsel had been disregarded in recent years, and their presence had become a source of discord and tension among the mortal kingdoms. This departure marked the end of their active involvement in the empire's affairs.
Culture
The Orrin empire was only to be governed by humans, despite the multitude of races that existed, the first people of the empire believed that the empire was created by a human, and that it was only right for one to rule them. Orrin's emperor held a very important place in the empire, as well as dragons.
Draconic Influence
This civilization lived in a very different
Time than ours, before dragons were feared and hated as they are today. On the contrary, dragons were full-fledged members of this civilization, and often important ones. Humanoids worshipped dragons, these absolutely powerful beings, offering them protection and knowledge in exchange for their worship, and in exchange for their offerings, a mutually beneficial relationship was in place between the
Dragon subspecies that enjoyed human contact, and the humanoids that worshipped them.
Dragons, even if refused the title of emperor, were worshiped, and revered as wise advisors, each emperors were known to receive the advice of at least one dragon.
During the emperor's funeral, cremation was practicied in the tradition of the ancesotrs, their funeral pyres were lit with dragonflame.
In the present day, when these majestic creatures are extinct, it is difficult to imagine a time when dragons were common, roaming the skies freely. Some subspecies were of course more hostile to humanoids, but lived in more isolated places, avoiding conflict. In addition, it is important to note that dragons are immortal creatures and have a very slow growth. Thus, dragons at that time were not all as ancient and powerful as today, and therefore not as gigantic.
Diplomatie
History
Origin
Achille, was the first to unite mankind, seeding the idea of a large scale human union. He was also the first ruler of mankind. The humans, united by Achille against a common threat during the
War of the Ancients, later becoming the first emperor of the newly created human empire.
Blood Emperor
The Orrin Empire was thrown into turmoil when the infamous
Magnus Hart, known as the Blood Emperor seized power as the 3rd successor to the throne. He was never meant to wear the crown, but he ruthlessly eliminated his siblings to claim it by force. During his coronation in 3093 BD, he placed the blood-stained crown upon his own head, a grim display of his brutal rise to power.
News of the Blood Emperor's ascension spread, causing neighboring kingdoms to question the legitimacy of Orrin's claim on their lands. In response, they launched an attack on the empire, sparking an intense conflict known as the
8 Year War. This war lasted for 8 years, during which the Orrin Empire managed to conquer parts of
Eldrida's kingdom.
Nexus Overflow
3048 BD
It is sure that the Orrin civilization was very advanced, whether from a magical or scientific point of view, for example, skeletons of what could be considered
Warforged were found in one of the few explored ruins. Due to this incredible mastery of
Magic of this ancient civilization, some tend to believe that they mastered perhaps spells of that we don't even know about nowadays, like 10th level spell, nevertheless, this theory is not the subject of a consensus among the scientific community.
Many spells used today, and constituting the solid bases of the most common magics, have been reconstructed from extracts found in excavation sites, the walls covered with runes explaining the handling of the
Weave. Similarly, some monstrosities that now populate the land are artificial creations (notably the manticores). We think that these creations were experiments of the Orrin, freed after the disaster, they became wild, reproduced and constituted new species.
This great scientific and magic evolution is mainly dated after the
Nexus Overflow in 3048 BD, the incident allowing an easier access to magic.
2835 BD through 2831 BD
The
Kingdom of Whiteshore was established to address Northlander independence demands but soon rebelled, leading to the
War of the White Gold. After their father, the king
Olva, is killed by Orrin Empire soldiers and their older brother
Hakon Olvason is captured, siblings
Harald Olvason and
Esther Olvadottir flee south, hiding in the Orrin Empire. They work undercover as handymen and are eventually hired by
Leonardo Troubleback, who introduces them to various jobs.
Ambroise Hart, the new emperor of the Orrin Empire, celebrates his ascension with a ball, but Harald, disguised as a noble, is implicated in a murder orchestrated by another noble. Esther and Harald are summoned by Ambroise, who confronts them about their involvement.
Catherine Hart, widow of the true emperor
Alexander Hart, intervenes, saving them from execution and assigning them the task of killing a monster.
After slaying the monster, they discover Hakon imprisoned. Their plea for his release is denied, leading to their own imprisonment. Catherine and Leonardo help Esther escape, and they set out to find Alexander. During their journey, they rescue a
Fairy named
Azaela and evade Whiteshore soldiers. Eventually, they reach the
Frosthold mountain range and the
Golden Five, where Alexander agrees to pursue peace.
Esther faces her brother Harald, now possessed by a
Dao and turned into an earth demon. She reluctantly kills him to end the threat. Alexander reclaims his throne and has Ambroise executed. Esther becomes queen of Whiteshore, with Leonardo as her advisor, and her child marries Alexander and Catherine’s child, solidifying an alliance between their realms.
1215 BD to 1207 BD
The war between the allied Orrin Empire and the
Kingdom of Lórien against the Horde, led by Gul'dan , was triggered by the orcs’ increasing aggression, manipulated by Gul'dan and the
Demonlord Baphomet. After corrupting the orcs with demonic influences, the Horde launched a series of devastating raids on Human and elven lands.
In the early stages of the conflict, the Horde clashed with small forces of knights from the Orrin Empire, resulting in several bloody skirmishes. Despite occasional victories, the humans struggled against the overwhelming numbers of the orcs. The Horde's raids ravaged the empire’s countryside, causing widespread panic.
The war escalated when the orcs surrounded the capital of the Orrin Empire. However, the Empire received aid from the elves of Lorien, who flanked the orcs, forcing them to retreat in a crushing defeat. This was the first major setback for the Horde. Despite this, the orcs continued their raids, and the empire and elves strategized a retaliatory guerilla campaign.
The next major confrontation saw the Horde's defeat when the Empire and elves launched a coordinated attack, destroying the orcish outposts and freeing the enslaved survivors. However, Gul'dan's thirst for vengeance led to further bloodshed as he pursued the elven queen, Lireesa Windrunner . His attack led to her Death , escalating the conflict.
As the war progressed, the Horde's morale crumbled. The orcs, now leaderless after Gul'dan's betrayal, lost their will to fight. The combined forces of the Empire and Lorien, crushed the remaining
Orc forces. The war ended with the Horde’s defeat, and Gul'dan was slain by his own people, who turned on him after his failure and pursuit of vengeance.
Emperor betrayal
1207 BD
In the aftermath of the Orc War,
David Lionheart, an influential nobleman, grew dissatisfied with the emperor's reluctance to conquer the cursed land of the orcs. Despite lacking any right to the territory, David desired to claim it for himself. He confronted
Khadgar, the court wizard, over the issue, but they reached an uneasy agreement to avoid violence. Over time, David became convinced he should rule the empire, leading to his orchestration of the emperor's assassination.
After
Arthas Hart, the emperor, was killed, Khadgar, seeking vengeance for his fallen leader, became the new emperor of Orrin. He tried to reunite the empire, but the forces in Greenearth declared themselves the independent
Kingdom of Alterin in 1188 BD. Learning the truth behind the assassination, Khagar declared war against David's newly formed kingdom. The resulting
Conqueror's War weakened both factions and split the populace into "royalist" and "Imperialist" groups, leading to ongoing conflict even after the war ended.
Crusade
1169 BD through 1132 BD
In 1169 BD, with the Death of her beloved father,
Vivienne Heigaari became the empress. A just and wise ruler, she favored peace and unity over the conflicts of past generations.
However, in 1154 BD, news of the powerful
Lich Tezzeret Thuzad reached the empire. The lich had taken over the neighboring kingdom of Alterin. Seeking to prevent the evil lich from expanding its territory and banishing evil from Toriel, Vivienne launched an assault on the kingdom of Alterin. Her armies conquered the kingdom swiftly, and she left behind some nobles to form a temporary government.
Months later, Vivienne's biggest mistake was revealed, as the lich's phylactery wasn't destroyed, and the evil wizard had seized back control of the kingdom. This time prepared for an attack from the empire, Vivienne was met with a horde of undead that thwarted any attempt to march toward the kingdom.
In 1132 BD, a small group of elite soldiers was sent instead to get rid of the lich once and for all, and Vivienne participated in this operation as one of the elite soldiers. The operation was successful, but the elite group suffered heavy casualties, including Vivienne herself.
Last ruler
1132 BD through 1070 BD
The second son of Emperor
Khadgar Heigaari, ruler of the Orrin Empire, Kalah was never intended to lead. However, when his older sister died, Kalah, who possessed neither the inclination nor the aptitude for rulership, suddenly found himself crowned as the new king.
He showed little interest in his position until he met a poor seamstress named Isolde. So taken was he by her beauty that the young king offered her his hand in marriage, and thus, one of the most powerful rulers of the age was wed to a peasant girl.
Their romance was enchanting, and Kalah, who had rarely shown interest in anyone other than himself, devoted his life to her. The two were inseparable—he scarcely went anywhere without Isolde, always lavishing gifts upon his queen, and his attention could seldom be broken when she was present.
Kalah’s allies fumed. Unable to interest him in governance, and with the nation beginning to unravel under his questionable rulership, some plotted in secret to end their new king’s reign before it had begun. His nation’s enemies, meanwhile, saw an opportunity to strike, and the vipers began to circle.
Thus did an assassin’s poisoned dagger one day come for Kalah. But the king was well defended, and the dagger did not strike true—instead grazing Isolde.
The toxin worked quickly, and Isolde fell into a ruinous torpor, while Kalah could only watch in horror as his wife’s condition grew ever more serious. Overwhelmed with fury and despair, he spent every last coin within his coffers trying to save her.
But it was all for naught. Isolde perished in her bed, and Kalah was consumed by madness.
His search for an antidote became desperate and crazed. Unable to accept his wife’s death, he sacrificed every treasure of the kingdom—every scrap of wealth—to his quest to bring her back to life. As the land fell into disarray, Kalah hid himself away with Isolde’s body, becoming hateful and violent.
Then came the day he learned the secret of the Philosopher's Stone and its power to break past the limit of life and death. With the wealth of a country, he employed scientists, mages, and wizards to study the creation of a Philosopher's Stone, slaughtering anyone refusing to work for him or who stood in his way until the answer was finally revealed to him. The sacrifice of his people... of the world itself would be necessary for him to attain the power he sought to revive his dead wife. She would return to him, no matter the destruction he wrought. No matter the cost.
Kalah clinged to his last hope of bringing Isolde back to life. And for just one moment, she did return. Yet the world crumbled under him—the great extinction.
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