The Sylvan Ascendance

After the consolidation of the Empire of Great Mountains, the Cult of the Trinity was enjoying its newfound power over world affairs. All Intelligent Races, save for the Dracons, Tengu, Ogres, Satyrs, and Goblins had embraced the Cult and life was good for the Augus. However, the continent of Oriens had proved a tougher nut to crack. While most on the continent had converted, attempts by the Cult's ecclesiarchy to further their influence within the Elven courts, which still distrusted the Cult, had been frustratingly rebuffed.   However, things would soon turn around for the Cult. By the year 233, the throne of the Kingdom of Aldenwald had long been passed down to Isebrand von Griefklaue. Unlike many of his forefathers, King Isebrand was ambitious, and when he heard that the Dwarven House of Ter-Chambadzor had come to rule three-quarters of Sahul, he desperately wanted his house to reach the same power. He was not the greatest friend of the Cult, but he recognized that Augus and his Apostles could be manipulated into handing the House von Griefklaue near-total control over not only Elvendom but the continent of Oriens.   King Isebrand called for a ship, and in a few months, he had been ferried down the Nereid Sea and the River Aurelia into Histria. For his first few days there, he made a visible effort to look as though he was the perfect Trinitist, giving money to the poor, attending mass, and even self-flagellating in public, a very extreme practice. On the third day of the King's trip, he was welcomed into the Histrian Citadel, where he made his case to the men inside. He spoke at length of how the beautiful continent of Oriens longed to be seen as equals to Sahul, but as of it right now, they were looked down upon. The reason for this, Isebrand told them, was because the good people of Sahul had a great Empire protecting them and spreading the faith. Oriens had no such thing, but Isebrand believed he was up to the challenge. It took much thought, but in the end, his request was approved, as the conversion of the Satyrs was a priority, and they were sure that the foundation of a new continent-wide Empire backed by the Cult would increase the clergy's influence on the continent. And, perhaps, it could smooth the transition into the worldwide Trinitist Empire the Augus dreamed of.   This new state, the Sylvan Empire, was to unite the Elven Kingdoms. The Nereids, Reynards, and Dryads were to be exempt with the hope that the Elves would mop them up after their own affairs had been established. While the ever-independent Petty Kings of Elvendom complained audibly about this, the word of the Augus was law, and Isebrand would assure them that this was little more than a ploy to strengthen the Elven position against the Cult's. The Augus and the Apostles would follow Isebrand back to his home Kingdom of Aldenwald, now the center of the Sylvan Empire. There, he would be crowned Isebrand, Emperor of Sylvania. All the nobles of the land, including the Kings (who would keep their titles), swore loyalty to him on that day, for fear of ex-communication and hoping to keep their own powers, and the ground was set for the rise of the Elves from their lowly position to one of great hegemon.