Ancient History

The Birth of the Empire

Before the Empire, there was an ancient, syncretic civilisation built upon an overabundance of goods. As population grew, however, resources started to strain, ingroups started to form, and outgroups started being discriminated against. The strongest of these divisions was age, and being the young stronger, and in more numbers, it became a stigma to be old. Frowned upon. Old people were soon seen by the masses as a burden upon society, shunned by their families when they were too frail to work, and broadly despised.

Thus a few of the richest, most powerful within the longest-lived age, the Elves, started experimenting with ways to elongate their youths. In doing so, they became more and more able to blend into society as they aged, and along their long lives, accumulate connections, power, wealth, and rise into a new high society of, eventually, immortal elves.

Goblins were also long-lived and few in number. However, their researchers remained focused onto their usual interests: exploration, adventure, crafting, and a general fulfillment of one’s impulses. They released too late that the Elves were experimenting on them with the pretense of “shared research”. By the time they did, their bodies were sapped of their natural longevity. Their mind still bound to its original lifespan, it yearned to fill that curiosity which requires centuries of life to be satisfied within their now diminished 15-20-year-long lives. As the Elven Empire finally arose, those few remaining Elder Goblins were lost trace of, as their race and lineages scattered around the continent in search of satiation.

As the Immortal Elves gained power, they reshaped society to be ruled by them. With their practically limitless resources, they imposed a new Theogony justifying their eternal rule. A geriatric, agesist rule, ordained by divine mandate, so they’d never be scorned again.

That is, until the last of their imperial lineage, Anhaern, would shun their throne.

To this day, not all elves are immortal. In fact, most aren’t. But some are, maybe because one of their ancestors belonged to the original lineage, and their boon is to see as their friends, children and siblings die, and can’t tell why they won’t. These generally become forlorn.

Mortal elves within the empire enjoyed little more benefits than normal denizens. They were part of the pool for forced conscription, for example. Being still longer-lived, they were generally richer from accumulating influence over their longer lives, however.

As the original Syncretic Order broke, enclaves of other races formed, as they fled the burgeoning empire. Dwarves flocked North, for example. Thus began the age of the Empire.

Quickly, the empire conquered the surface, which it then ruled for centuries. It rewrote the history of the societies it conquered to match their Theogony and theology.

Until the rebellion sprung to overthrow it, and lead to the world as it is. The Alliance was fragile and hinged on the Gestalt to survive. Now, it’s come tumbling down after the Sforzo. What will you make of this hot malleable metal of a world?