Imperial history
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recored as YE for "Year of the Empire" and BE for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few Highguard historians stubbornly cling to the numbering SL for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.
The distant past
According to historians among the Navarr, Urizen and Winterfolk, the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known, is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.
When the first waves of human colonization began, most of the initial inhabitants were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the Suaq and the Kallavesi to the inhospitable north, the Ushka huddled around their camp fires, and the Feni lurking in their swamps. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.
Formation of the nations
Three waves of colonization brought people that founded new human nations. The Highborn are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, the forebears of Dawn and The Marches landed in the east and the Steinr and Vard appeared in the north leading to the creation of Wintermark and Varushka respectively.
These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
Foundation of the Empire
Year Zero
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the First Empress began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of Urizen declined to join, but sufficient folk from The Brass Coast, Dawn, Highguard, The League, The Marches, Navarr, Varushka and Wintermark accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.
(1 AE - 5 AE) Consolidation
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first egregores were created through a ritual created by the Hakima of The Brass Coast to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.
The most significant conflict is in Varushka where the Imperial forces engage those of the corrupt boyar Alderei the Fair who threatens to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the Volodny magicians, his armies prove to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralise the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general Tom Drake although his body is never recovered.
(6 AE) The Senate, The Synod and the Militay Council
The Empress and her advisors lay the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the Senate was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the Military Council of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The Synod was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.
(22 AE) Death of the First Empress
The First Empress lead her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against an orc barbarian tribe on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the Necropolis at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.
(22 AE - 34 AE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni the Peacemaker
After the death of the First Empress, Emperor Giovanni of Tassato is chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni is a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He sets about ensuring the Empire has the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act is to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building is built on the site, and it is declared Imperial Territory.
Giovanni approaches the people of Urizen with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accept. In addition to helping Giovanni to offer their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helps to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the manpower of the civil service helps Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.
The Urizen work with the Empire to create the Imperial Conclave, inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodya, and the Senate is keen to ensure that this does not happen again.
Giovanni also lays the foundations of the Imperial Bourse, and works with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he establishes a single currency based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni dies in 34AE but his legacy is at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earns Giovanni the ephithet "Peacemaker".
(AE 30) Tragedy of the horses
- The last horse dies
Precisely why horses died out is unclear. They are known to have existed, and the first Empress is always shown on a horse. By year thirty, however, there are no more horses. Never numerous, it is believed that horses are not native to the Empire but were imported by some of the original settlers. They do not prosper in the Empire, and are largely unknown among the Foreigners with whom the Empire deals.
Consolidation
(74 AE) Westward expansion
- A campaign of expansion pushes the Empire west
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire takes the Mourn from orcs, and secures Mitwold to the sea giving the Empire a western coast.
Stability
(200 AE - 209 AE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar "the Mad"
- Urizen Emperor Nicovar elected and expands role of civil service
- Increasingly unstable Emperor burns universities and libraries across the Empire
- Civil War threatens
The first major “wobble” in the Empire occurs during the reign of Emperor Nicovar. Elected in the year 200, the Urizen Emperor is initially a competent administrator and expands the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually causes him to descend into madness.
He becomes increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appear paranoid to others. He begins to see conspiracies under every bush. His increasingly unpopular policies divide the Senate and the Synod, and there are rumbles of Civil War. He begins to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it becomes increasingly clear that he is not in his right mind.
Things come to a head in 209 when Emperor Nicovar sends his troops to burn down universities and libraries. Using Imperial Troops against their own people threatens to destroy the Empire. There is a revolt, which culminates in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor is executed by the captain of his own guard, the Navarr Thorn Isaella, who then immediately hands herself over to the Judiciary. The Synod calls for clemency, but the fact remains that she has murdered the Emperor. She takes full responsibility, and is executed as a traitor, while simultaneously being lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty and a hero of the Empire.
The destruction of the libraries leaves a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls are lost. While records exist, there are many gaps and those that remain are fragmentary. Over the next hundred and seventy-five years scholars try to recreate the books and records they have lost, but with mixed success.
(265 AE) Setting the borders
- A period of stability
- The Empire stops growing
The Senate decrees that the Empire is now “big enough” and argues that further expansion is counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the General Staff and the Synod. Prosperity follows. Trade routes with various Foreigners are established, and peace treaties are signed with various barbarians. Bregasland in the Marches is added to the Empire by treaty at this time.
Some barbarians continue to threaten the borders, but the army is forced into a defensive role. Some territories change hands several times over this period.
(300 AE - 304 AE) The Orc Rebellion
- Orc slaves revolt
- Imperial Orcs join the Empire
There have always been orcs in the Empire, but they are not classified as people and so have no rights. Slavery and squalor are their lot outside of the most enlightened nations. During this period an orc hero arises among his people, leading them in armed revolt that sees them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people is brought before the Senate. The motion passes by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.
(324 AE - 328 AE) The Freedom Heresy
- Heretical priests preach freedom across the Empire
- Briar freedom movement ends in disaster
A briar priest preaching the heretical virtue of freedom ultimately inspires an attempt to secede from the Empire. When the rebellion is defeated by Imperial forces, the priest leads her followers into the barrens where they attempt to found a rogue state; the kingdom of Mountain. In 328 AE the heretics are destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329 AE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.
Decline
(331 AE) The Decline begins
- Stagnation leads to decline
- Successive weak emperors allow territory to be lost to barbarians
- Discontent grows in Empire
In 331AE the territory of Spiral is lost to Urizen. This is usually marked as the start of the period called the decline. The period of stability slowly devolves into a period of decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned about its internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supports two successive “average” emperors and a third catastrophically incompetent ruler. The Synod is mostly concerned with internal disputes and begins to lose sight of its mission.
In 351AE the territory of Holberg is lost to the barbarians. This triggers a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories are lost, leading to more defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals are ineffective.
Resurgence
(374 AE) Coronation of the Young Empress
- A vibrant young Empress comes to the throne
- Hailed as a reincarnation of the first Empress, she galvanizes the Empire
- Some territory is reclaimed by the orcs
The new Empress, in the wake of the disastrous previous Emperor, takes up the sword and shield and challenges the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She demands and receives powers for herself and the Generals, and begins to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.
A popular and charismatic figure, she unites the people of the Empire behind her and deals ruthlessly with her enemies. The Empire begins to drive the barbarians back.
(376 AE) Death of the Young Empress
- The new Empress dies on campaign, creating a power vacuum
The Empress is killed on campaign. The first event of the year takes place some short time after her death. It is possible her body has yet to be recovered and will make part of the plot for the first year.