Vatian Empire

Emperor/Empress: Since the founding of the empire, the emperors and empresses of House Aurelius have brought prosperity and ruin to the empire for thousands of years and are a pivotal part of governing it.   Imperial Senate : A significant power in the governing of the empire, and is rivaled only by the emperor himself in matters of politics. But with so many members, it has led to factionalism and corruption.   Imperial Houses : Many noble houses exist across the empire, both great and small, that have the power to control resources and political influence to have some say in the empire and what happens inside it.   Imperial Administratum: A crucial part in the control and regulations of the empire's territories through governors, representatives, and administrations to ensure that resources and prosperity could be achieved.

Being a Member

  It seems that you have found yourself in one of the most tremendous powers that the world has ever seen. In the empire, true power and wealth reside in the Western Lands. Of course, how you want to live depends on where you are born and to whom. As a Vatian, you can access many things, such as knowledge and resources to aid you in everyday life. Even those of the lower classes can have a decent living, thanks to the services the empire has given them, and better opportunities to live. It has become a symbol of order and progress at a scale not seen in many other parts of the world. Along with great cities made of stone and marble to deal with their ever-growing population, vast libraries of knowledge to improve their way of life faster than ever, and industry that can produce the resources to sustain themselves in large quantities.   Of course, those who are not are often treated like lesser people who are given less than those who think they are better than them. They are frequently either slaves or second-class citizens who will usually expect to obey the whims of their master or suffer from the consequences of their master. Though it is not easy being an Vatian either as politics in the higher orders of the empire of its governing branches tend to have people lose their heads as they often fear the power they might hold over them as much as the corruption that chocks the life out of those they take advantage of. Causing the balance of power in the empire to tilt out of their favor. Leading to a state in its death throes as it destroys itself from within and slowly be surrounded by its enemies from all sides to see it burn to ash.  

What People Think of You

  The Vatian Empire is considered something to fear by those ruled under it and those who often have to deal with it. With its vast amounts of resources and its military might, it has been a great power for thousands of years. Its ability to survive this long when many other states have fallen off baffles some people, as it has faced countless wars, both internal and external, and has survived thus far and mainly remained intact. It has made many enemies all around them over the years due to its policies and harsh rule over those who are not Vatian and considered inferior to them. Taking advantage of them has often created many forces that wish to destroy the empire that has walked over them for so long. However, people notice that the empire is weakening and corruption spreads across many parts. It is only a matter of time before it dies and the scavengers feast upon its carcass.

The Empire believes it is destined to reunite humanity under one banner, just like its predecessor, the The First Kingdom of Men, which collapsed thousands of years before the Empire was formed. In doing so, they must eradicate all traces of a culture considered inferior to their own, make their citizens prosper, and keep those they consider inferior under their feet until they are worthy to stand by their side.

Provinces: The empire, being so large, has developed much of its territory into various provinces of lands that they have conquered over the centuries, dividing them into manageable regions to control and maintain. This has allowed them to control the native populations from posing a threat to them and making it better for their people to live in.   Military Supremacy: The empire's military is one of the main reasons for maintaining its dominance for centuries, with much success. Its highly trained armies combat foreign and internal threats, following strict codes of discipline and organization to match any force they face.   Advanced technology: As the empire expanded, so did its wealth of knowledge, integrating technologies for conquered states and improving upon them to suit their needs. Along the way, they made discoveries, allowing them to transform into a scientific and engineering powerhouse that few can rival.   Slave Trade: The slave trade is extensively used within the empire, seeing it as a way of life in maintaining a large labor force beyond its normal citizenry. They also profit from selling criminals and prisoners of war that they manage to acquire to other groups interested in them.   Tremendous Wealth: The wealth of the empire is one of the most vast and influential in the known world, with many foreign powers preferring the use of Imperial Crowns over their own currency. However, the wealthy elite and various government bodies covet much of the wealth, leading to a significant gap between them and the ordinary citizenry.

Rise to Greatness Through Ruination

  An empire built on the fears and tragedies of others, the Vatian Empire made itself one of the greatest nations that Humanity has created on the face of Terus. But before there was ever an empire, the Kingdom of Vatia had existed for centuries as it grew in power, thanks to its engineering and scientific advancements, to gain the territory it needed to survive its surroundings. It would soon grow in power as its military would be seen as more capable than many of the barbarians and city-states surrounding it. Through them, they could properly expand and defend their lands so that their people could sustain themselves properly. However, they would only take what they needed, not to gain their neighbors' ire, and adequately protect their borders from all threats. For a time, the kingdom prospered as they knew peace and comfort and began to build and improve their ways of life to become more advanced. But from this comfort, it would blind them to dangers beyond the borders of their domain.   Despite offering peace and trade with their neighbors, they had other plans, as barbarians and rival nations would continually raid their lands. Despite the best efforts of the kingdom's legions holding back many of these threats, they were outnumbered, and gaps were soon exploited as their lands were sacked for anything of value. But their greatest tragedy was that their capital and their people's birthplace, Vatia, was eventually sacked. The city was mostly ruined, with very few places being unscathed by the brutality it suffered. It would later be known as the "Raping of Vatia" instead of sacking it had violated the Vatian's very being and such an act could never be forgiven no matter how much time had passed nor offerings were given to them. From here, an entire people would rise in anger to seek vengeance against those who had wronged them. From here, mercy was no longer given, and something greater would come into the world through blood and fire.  

Glory and Terror

  No one knows how long it lasted or how many perished from the devastation that the Vatians inflicted on everyone who had ever wronged them, one thing was sure, it was something no one would ever forget as it would be etched into the minds of many and the stories and songs would forever be told as these horrors would be said as a glorious triumph. Entire cities were burned to the ground and enslaved, and armies would be crushed, with those who survived put to the sword. Food and resources were plundered wherever they could be taken. All those who would dare defy the might of Vatia would be destroyed before they were even given a chance. No one was spared by the atrocities that were committed across the land. The conflicts would forever be known as the Charred Earth Campaigns, for that was what they truly were, as nothing but ash and ruin would remain wherever the legions went. When all was said and done, the empire would be born from its want and destruction.     The territory it had gained from its conquest would give it so much that it could never imagine. It was from here that people would rebuild their new lands, but those who would truly do this would be the countless thousands they had enslaved to be worked to death for their gains. With it being said, their bodies would be used to make the land's soil fertile once more until none remained. Though they were not satisfied by all that they had gained from their spoils of war and sought to achieve greater glory than ever before, to control all of the Western Lands that lay before them, as they believed they were destined to do so. Many more wars would be started to achieve this dream as century after century went by, as the empire's might became something to be feared and admired by many around them. It brought progress and order to a land teeming with conflict and held many dark things from centuries ago. Many different people were soon forced under their rule as they were conquered by them and forced to obey them and their laws.   They would not be treated as citizens, as that was only given to those who were Vatian and only truly earned that title. No, they were treated to be beneath them as they were stripped of their heritage and their ways of life for that of the empires. Those who submitted to this were allowed to live and serve the empire, while those who rebelled did not live for long, with many facing a fate worse than death. Though it's Imperial Legions, the empire would have a tight grip on the lands that they had conquered and always remind those that live in them that the empire was always there, for it ruled over them. More future conquests would come, but most of the work was done for them as the rest of the nations across the land would be torn apart by one power over another. Of course, even the empire would suffer from time to time, and civil wars would tear the empire from within, often altering the empire forever. They would never truly learn from those mistakes and continue on their chosen path, no matter the choices they had to make and were willing to make.  

A Gilded Cage

  As time passed, so much power would be given to the empire, even as they faced some of the greatest threats to the West from many dark and foreign forces that would almost lead them to ruin. Events such as the Night War, Aztar War, Barbarian Wars, Warlock Wars, and the Great Raid, to name a few, and they would endure them like they had done countless times before. It did not matter what they faced and how many there were, the empire endured because it knows pain and suffering and learns from these events, for what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and they have taken that to heart for a very long time. From this, they have learned to improve and rebuild more than ever before as their civilization has grown into a marvel and the envy of the world. Its recent rise in industrialization has proved that it can reproduce more resources than ever and lead the world into a new age. That is far from it if one looks hard enough at the many cracks that have finally begun to show, and people are also starting to notice it.     Despite their culture is one of the most dominant in the world amongst the other Human nations and their language of Vasili being used by almost everyone in the Western Lands its begun to show weakness within its society, most notably in its government having a long history of civil wars dividing it and triuvirates formed to maintain it. Corruption has taken its toll as its leaders and representatives have begun to only think of themselves and what will benefit them. Even the Imperial Senate, once a bastion of reason and cooperation, has now become a den of snakes and vipers that only want to appease their desires and turn their back on the people they swore to serve. This caused turmoil between them as groups began to see reform in the empire or leave it entirely if they did not get what they wanted. What's more, those they have forced under their rule have begun to notice this as well and have started to make their plots to break free from the chains of their oppressors once and for all. But greed has placed the empire in a far more vulnerable state than ever before.    

Era of Turmoil

  The invasion of Ardania which was declared by the Imperial Senate as the final step in reuniting the Western Lands of the Continent of Kinath under one banner as it once did thousands of years ago under the The First Kingdom of Men. Doing so would be a momentous triumph and perceived as a prelude to greater expansion outside of the West and into another part of the world than ever before. When in fact it was nothing more than a scheme to enrich the senators and the wealthy as they divided up the lands of Ardania amongst themselves and profited from the spoils of war. It was initially believed that the Kingdom of Ardania would fall in a matter of weeks under the might of the empire only of it to turn into years as the War of the Raptors raged on and claiming tens of thousands its Legionaries. By the time it was over and they had won, the region was torn apart, and their military was significantly weakened, leaving gaps in their forces to protect their territories.     Leaving them more vulnerable to rebellion and attack by foreign troops, by those who see the opportunity. Their new province has also become a problem for them, as rebel groups have caused them to keep sending forces to put them down and pacify them. This caused even more political trouble for the empire, with many looking for more radical actions to end the threat, leading to a crisis not seen in centuries. It seems that all the world has shited their gaze upon them and holding their breath on what outcome will decide its fate. It is only a matter of time before the empire finally digs itself into its own grave and finally brings an end to its power.

The exact population of the whole empire is difficult to assess due to its large territory, but most imperial records believe that its total population was at least fifty million people.

The empire itself has recently gained control of all of the Western Lands of the Continent of Kinath. But it is still dealing with chaos in the newly acquired lands of Ardania. The land was conquered only for a few years, and the empire tried to assimilate the population as soon as possible.

The empire military is divided up into two groups, the Imperial Legions and the Imperial Navy the ensure that its territories and assets are kept under control.   Imperial Legions: The might of the empire legions has always been a part of how it has maintained its power for so long, as they are the ones that enforce the peace and strike down its enemies.   Imperial Navy: A force that deals with all threats on the waters and coasts of the empire and beyond. Their ships are as feared as much as the discipline of those who man them.

Over the centuries, the empire has driven itself to improve itself and the lives of its citizens. Stone roads make travel faster, windmills to mill grain, water pumps, sewers, medicine, forges, and much more.

The Exalted: The empire's main religion is the Exalted, which is controlled by the Luminarium of the Exalted, which dominates almost all of the Western lands of the Continent. This has made them very fanatical when it comes to faith and makes them look down on other religions. Those who follow their god are either converted or eliminated.

The empire tends to be hostile or passive toward different nations and groups. When it wants something, it takes it by force, and when it can't, it trades and negotiates with them instead. But the empire is not as greedy as you might think, and it stops at a certain point when it feels appeased.

The empire itself is mostly known for its wide range of farmland that feeds the masses. With much of the Empire’s farming industry making up twenty-five percent of the population. Making it highly necessary to have farmers farm the fields. The rest industry involves quarries, forges, pottery, mining, and construction. All of which goes to its great factories that have only been in existence for a few centuries now that mass-produced more products than ever before seen in its history.

All trade is done by the Merchant Guilds across the continent by merchant ships to trade in the Jatani City-States where exotic goods and important resources and across the great stone roads of the imperial highways. Most products that come across these highways are ore and grains that are transported into the cities and overseas.

Education is only available to those who can afford it; those born into farming, mining, masonry, and metalworking are considered not required for education due to their vital roles in the empire, along with the very few of the poor being able to afford to send them to school. Much of the middle class sends their children to learn to follow their duties when they reach adulthood. At the age of six, children are first sent to public school to learn about the history of the empire and indoctrinated to alienate all other societies, believing them inferior, along with noncitizens, in the process. At ten, they are educated in the teachings of The Exalted and any other religious texts. This is to make their faith unshakable and fully committed to their one and only savior. At twelve years, boys and girls are separated to fulfill their duties to society.   Boys are sent to different schools or academies to learn the skills required for their chosen job for adulthood. Most schools allow competition between students to help them reach their full potential. Those who wanted to enter military service had to wait several months to take the military exam. It is standard for men to train for years to prepare for the big day. Girls were taught to be good housewives and raise children, among other skills necessary for a good wife. By the time they reached the age of sixteen, they would graduate and become adults ready to contribute to society. Nobles are often privately taught by tutors or close advisors to the same family. They would teach the same way as children in public schools, but when they reached twelve, they would be taught in politics and subterfuge to advance their social standing. They must also learn horseback riding and join a noble society to gain social standing with their future peers.

The empire has built and improved its infrastructure for centuries to improve daily life. The road networks of the imperial highway make travel much faster than any dirt road, with bridges to cross impassable rivers. Sewers and aqueducts are in every city for sanitation, walls, and defense structures. Public buildings such as bathhouses, libraries, courts, and schools can be found in every settlement. Defenses are not a problem either; they were heavily fortified across the provinces, with a series of forts and fortresses across the empire and garrisons and checkpoints in every province.