Western Empire

Information

Location Tier	Region
World	Eraedal (Air-eh-dall)
Region/Continent	Current
Governing Power	Three-way Civil War
Regions	West Kighfalton / Upper Kighfalton / Koerdian Mountains / Lower Barraduk / Vequerrel Woodlands / Kighfalton Plains / Middle Kingdoms / Scarlet Mountains / Tarldet Plains / Old Kingdom Frontier / Sea of Scarlet Waters / Bay of Ptolus

Image Credit: Art by Will Ervin

📍 Overview

This empire stands as the oldest and most powerful human civilization within its world. Geographically, it is situated on a prominent peninsula wedged between two treacherous seas. Despite its immense influence, the realm is notorious for its deep corruption, extreme decadence, political intrigue, and treacherous nobility.

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🗺️ Points of Interest

• Ptolus (The Holy Capital & City by the Spire)
  A monumental coastal metropolis of 75,000 perched atop the jagged sea-cliffs of the Tarldet Plains and the Bay of Ptolus. Declared the Holy Capital of the Western Empire in 702 IA by Holy Emperor Rehobath Ylestos following the catastrophic fall of Caer Itom. Towering beneath the ancient, three-thousand-foot Spire, the city is guarded from the citadel of Dalenguard by Commissar Igor Urnst, while thousands of delvers plumb the depths of Dwarvenhearth and the cosmic ruins slumbering below.

• Dalenguard
  A monolithic Prustan fortress towering over the historic bluffs of Ptolus. Originally constructed over five centuries ago as a lone imperial frontier outpost, it now serves as the administrative seat of Commissar Igor Urnst and the headquarters of the 800-strong City Watch, garrisoning seasoned Imperial Janissaries and sealing the iron Dungeon Gate against subterranean abominations.

• Bay of Ptolus
  A sheltered, deep-water embayment carved into the eastern bluffs beneath the shadow of the Spire. It connects the eastern frontier to the Inland Sea and serves as the primary imperial naval gateway for trade with Bizantium, the Eastern Territory, and southward channels into the Sea of Scarlet Waters.

• Sea of Scarlet Waters
  A volatile, geothermal inland basin situated south of the Scarlet Mountains. Renowned for its boiling undersea vents, sunken ruins, and thick blooms of crimson toxic algae, it serves as the contested maritime barrier between the Western Empire, the Baalgor Wastelands, and the jagged peaks of Mount Nimro.

• Vequerrel Woodlands
  A massive, ancient forest highly prized by the Empire for its incredibly valuable exotic hardwoods. However, imperial logging operations and settlements here are constantly under siege due to the ongoing “Faerie War”—a bitter, deadly conflict against the woodland’s highly aggressive fey and magical inhabitants who violently refuse to let their home be harvested.

• Koerdian Mountains
  A rugged, coastal mountain range that is treacherous by land and deadly by sea. It is infamous across the realm for sheltering the “Pirates of Koerdian”. The sheer cliffs, jagged peaks, and hidden coastal coves provide the perfect, lawless strongholds for corsairs and outlaws looking to strike at the Empire’s wealthy shipping lanes.

• Scarlet Mountains
  A jagged, imposing mountain range that dominates the eastern geography. Rather than being fully tamed by the Empire, these peaks are treacherous and largely wild. They serve as a massive, monster-infested natural barrier that overlooks the Sea of Scarlet Waters.

• Ophid Grasslands Colonies
  Located along the northern expanses, this sweeping plains region represents the Empire’s relentless, bloody push for territorial expansion. It is a harsh, colonial frontier where imperial settlers and military outposts constantly clash with the indigenous barbarian tribes and centaur hordes that roam the deep grasslands.

• Yin-Sloth Periphery
  The sweltering, oppressive southern borderland where the Empire’s cultivated land abruptly gives way to the untamed Yin-Sloth Jungles. Geographically, it is a humid, miserable frontier plagued by strange jungle predators, brutal slaver operations, and the encroaching, untamed chaos of the deep southern wilds.

• Old Kingdom Frontier
  The highly militarized eastern borderland facing the ruined continent. The geography here is stark, scarred, and heavily fortified by the Imperial Legions. It acts as the ultimate shield, built to prevent the monstrous hordes, orcs, and ancient horrors of the fallen Old Kingdom Old Kingdom from spilling over the mountains into the Empire proper.

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Timeline of the Empire

Faq

1 IA: The Lion-Guarded Throne proclaims Imperial control over the lands around the Western Empire. The Age of the Imperial Order begins.



110 IA: Despite magical aids, Delian Von Tessel, first Emperor of the Lion-Guarded Throne, dies.



386 IA: Following the assassination of her husband, Empress Addares (Von Tessel) X makes it illegal to own a firearm without an official Imperial dispensation.



413 IA: Ptolus, home to the Dalenguard, named after fragmentary facts from the distant past discovered by the loremaster Gerris Hin—is founded as a small port city on the edge of a large bay off the Inland Sea. It is built near the fortress of Dalenguard and eventually will encompass it.



500 IA: The mysterious Raguel arrives in the world with a demonic host. They find a home with the undead-loving Forsaken in the Dark Reliquary of Ptolus.



560 IA: The Edict of Deviltry is issued, adding strict laws prohibiting arcane magic to the Vast Imperial Codex.



562 IA: The First Inquisition terrorizes the Empire. The “Days of Blood” begin.



564 IA: The First Inquisition ends.



598 IA: The Second Inquisition begins, in particular looking for a group of arcanists called the Inverted Pyramid.



609 IA: Despite tortures and horrible massacres, the Second Inquisition ends in failure. The Edict of Deviltry falls into disfavor. The “Days of Blood” end.



615 IA: The leadership of Ptolus declares the city a safe haven for arcane spellcasters.



641 IA: The Edict of Deviltry is officially overturned.



682 IA: In a surprising move by the Imperial Church of Aroden, the Prince of the Church takes up permanent residence in the fairly remote city of Ptolus.



700 IA: The mysterious and ornately armored Urthon Aedar begin to appear in Ptolus, prophesying doom.



702 IA: Caer Itom is overrun by the Cyclopean Vanguard including barbarians and Coyle hordes from the Ophid Grasslands. Holy Emperor Rehobath of the Imperial Church of Aroden declares himself the true Emperor and flees to Ptolus to stay with the Prince of the Church, his son Kirian. He declares Ptolus as the Holy Capital of the Western Empire.



704 IA: Lord Skluud Ne’Klosh declares himself Emperor Ne’Klosh from his fortified citadel Caer Kurgas in Upper Kighfalton He is holding back the Cyclopean Vanguard to his west while the barbarian hordes move freely among the middle kingdoms.
705 IA: The Empire is in chaos, with three different people claiming the LionGuarded Throne. Empress Lasha Itomas attempts to move the capital to Caer Glaverius in the Yin-Sloth Periphery, her current safehaven and home. The Western Empire is severely fractured with the Middle Kingdoms in open rebellion in addition the the fractured claims to the throne.



713 IA: Explorers plumbing down into ancient Dwarvenhearth discover great treasures and begin bringing them to the surface.



714 IA: The barbarian and Coyle hordes continue to roam the middle kindgoms. Large swaths have become their domain. Emperor Ne’Kosh enters into talks with the Vequerrel Woodlands and what remains of the Ophid Grasslands Colonies. Restarts finiancial and Military aid to both.



717 IA: Ptolus becomes the center of much attention as more and more would-be treasure-seekers plumb the depths below the city. Activities of so-called “chaos cults” increase. The potential for both greatness and danger has never been as intense.



721 IA: Today.