Aesperium Niedea

The Aesperium Niedea (Formerly the Soleannen Empire of Escharians) is a group of states located on the continent of Nieden. It is largely populated by Niedene and those who believe in Soleannen, containing a large chunk of the Escharian Empire's former territory. The name Aesperium came from the surname of Saint Arminius who ruled over Escharia (SikkeOst), while Niedea came from the continent of Nieden.

Geography of Aesperium Niedea
Escharia, Suderen, and Soleanna: Old Escharia's home region is dominated by volcanic mountains, lush fields, and towering forests. The country had a large animal population, especially in wolves and sheep which can be found over. The northern reaches are dominated by swamps inhabited by many creatures such as wolves and boar. The forests of Escharia sport a high population of foxes which led to a lack of rabbits in the country. The Oceans off of Lileanen and Litoci are very warm but this changes when one heads south towards Rieds and Mladupol. The plains of what used to be Vorpedorf, Pferdburg, Junea, Litoci, and Neurun are very fertile which allowed the nation to host a very good food production. In contrast to this, the country experienced harsh falls and winters with blizzards often ravaging the land. In summer the country was known to possess a lot of precipitation due to large cold fronts from the east clashing with the warm west. There are many volcanic pockets and hot springs such as the caves outside of Litoci (Castrillo) which accustomed to be a popular tourist spot for old Escharian citizens.

Nieden Valley and Argentor: As one advances to the north, they encounter a much colder region dominated by chilly forests in the Vale'du'nor (Nieden Valley) with cold swamps joining them. In addition to this the fields around Welhafne (Wealthhaven) possess chilly autumns with mild summers, though noticeably chillier than in Soleanna or Escharia. This however contrasts to the warm plain around Huwaldorf which has a climate more similar to Escharia as a whole.

Egalia: When one gets to Egalia, the climate remains similar to the Vale'du'nor as it is bordered by a cold sea and hemmed into colder mountains and forests like the Nieden Valley. The mountains at the border with the Nieden Valley are incredibly cold often having severe storms in the area. This area is not as Volcanic as the Eastern part of Nieden and generally as cold as northern Nieden, which makes the soil less fertile but still productive nonetheless when the Thadians give their hands up to the job. Southern Egalia is often Warmer than Nieden due to bordering the warm sand of Theionikos. The area by Alexandria has the most productive farms.

Tessel: The climate of Tessel demonstrates cold highlands in the west, and a warm eastern forest.

History of Escharia
In the days before the Soleannan Empire there were many Niedene tribes spreading out from their homeland in modern day Soleanna. The Niede, Riede, and Hocii tribes moved into the region of Escharia and began making the place their home. These tribes followed the ancient variation of the Soleannen religion, constructing stone circles and other worship sites which can still be found to this day. The tribes specialized in different things such as the Riede in shipbuilding or the Niede in farming.

Eventually the Soleannen Empire began to rise out of a small hamlet in the southwestern part of Nieden, in the homeland of the Niedene race. It is here that Kaisar Svaerus lead an army to the forests of Escharia where they faced heavy resistance and even lost several engagements to the guerilla tactics of the tribal Escharians. Often now called the Battle of Zatrewal, an army of Soleannans met the retinue of the Escharian chiefdoms in a now lost location in the Zatrewal forest. The battle started with the Escharians ambushing the marching Soleannan army at around sunrise. The Escharians attacked with spears and fire magicks against the Soleannan heavy infantry who attempted to counter using their superior armor and discipline. The Escharian chieftain Hemmeri Eise perished at the hands of a stray arrow, causing the Escharian morale to shatter and the Soleannans to win a decisive victory. The Soleannans went on to subjugate whatever tribes remained after the battle and incorporate the lands into the provinces Escharia Superior and Escharia Inferior. Under the Soleannan Empire, the people began to continue life as normal but the normal tribal domains began to develop into more centralized domains with infrastructure being built and villages consolidating into small town such as Rieds. In this time the Soletsch people began to emerge as Soleannan settlers intermingled with the natives. The Soletsch remained a tiny fraction of the population while the Niede began to grow slightly faster then the other populations, and the Riede split into the southern Neriede while the northern remained the Altriede.

Eventually the empire began to decline and the region was less and less under the influence of Soleanna in the West. The people began to abandon Soleannen for the false idols brought out by false prophets such as Emmer the Mad who began a temporary cult of the Fox. As the Empire lost control over the region of Escharia, there was factions and tribes that rose up to fight each other for many years until in the year 1298 ASC the son of a Niede Chieftain was born. This son named Alveri I Aspakh would grow up and inherit the tribe that was left to him. His first actions were to subjugate the Hocii and Niede which several of their tribes flocked to his banner, however a coalition would go to oppose him. Alfrikr converted to Soleannen and adopted the new name Auberon I Aesperii. Auberon would meet the army of his enemies on the Neichs river where the Battle of the Neichs resulted in a decisive victory for Auberon who would go on to build a new capital on the site, which was named Lileanen after the Lilies of the area. Auberon let the sons of defeated chieftains govern their lands, promoting a decentralized tribal confederacy lead by the Niede of Altiste Town in Lileanen. Auberon would eventually go on to die of an Ogre while on a hunting trip in the lands far to the south, where his body was taken to the mountains near him and entombed in a place then known as Kaitsehstal, modern day Flammastahl Temple.Dietrich II was the son of Auberon, born Wulfdietrikh he followed his father in converting to Soleannen. Dietrich upon taking the throne began to centralize power and created many of the institutions of Escharia known today such as the Imperial Diet, and he worked on projects such as the Misurian Way and Falkenstein Castle. Dietrich lead the country's conversion back into Soleannen, and expanded the borders to encompass the rest of the Escharian peoples. After his death a blighted army struck southern Nieden and northern Sparwood, where his successor brought an army to fight the demons but lost. It was at this point the refugees and a fresh army rallied at Mount Gentumar, lead by Saint Miri, defeated the blighted army. This lead to the founding of the Auroran order. The Auroran order served as the Emperor's hand and expanded influence into the south, but was abandoned in years following. Albrecht II took the throne and began to establish contacts with the neighboring Niedene Kingdoms before being assassinated.

Severie I Alphonse von Aspach would ascend to the throne in the year 1584 ASC (0 BSS) and begin to expand the Empire and developing lower Lileanen. This would lead Escharia to expand greatly and reconquer most of its land from other states. In the reign of Severie, the Turtlonian Wars occurred which resulted in the defeat and utter annihilation of the Turtlonian people. The Auroran Order was reforged by Severie, he sent the Order under the command of Aurelian resettled the island leading to the settlement of Iron-Spire, which was abandoned following the March on Urnu-Arrak. The short Escharian Civil War waged in this period as well, which lead to a pyrrhic Imperial Victory. After all of this, Pax Escharia begun which was a time of Escharian growth and peace. This period lead to many new towns being established such as Locet, Mladupol, and others. The Empire took in refugees from Naverechniya, which lead to the founding of Mladupol. During the Werewolf Epidemic the Auroran Order rebuilt Gentumar under Cardinal Ortwin Aurelius. In the days of Colonialism, the Escharians fought for rights to mine and colonize the Mesa during the Tlahatl Summit. The Imperials would go on to become isolated by an aggressive Yimmu-Audal and Valdreach Alliance, but this was eventually circumvented by the Trillium Alliance. Valdreach would be eclipsed and eventually died as an entity with successor states popping up. Many Valdreachers left to Escharia due to their ethnic backgrounds. Soon after Escharia would take in Reyllea and Aezenfjord (Siegdorf/Eisenford) as protectorates. After this the Trillium Wars would lead Escharien to destroy the the Audalidae army at the Battle of Cahuarn and annex the country. Escharien would then go on to have a period of great prosperity as they reforged the Soleannen Empire which lead to the next era, Pax Soleanna.

The Empire would come to an end because the Ascension lead to their people to return home instead of having to fight a multi front war against the Silver Coalition and Bardonia. This was partially because the Emperor was unable to handle the idea of his people being subjugated to foreign powers so shortly after achieving Niedene unity.

Pax Niedea Era
The Aesperium Niedea was formed uniting the Estates under Imperator Aesperii Zelorm who later took the name Imperator Valerian | Aesperii, After the death of Cardinal Jol, following the traditions of Escharia Valerian, appointed Samael SoulEater as Cardinal of the Church who pushed for more unification and strengthening of bonds between the Church and Aesperium at this time Aesperium was also declared as the true Soleannen State and the Successor to the Soleannen Empire, there we some troubles, after the death of estate prince and grand chancellor of the Aesperium Athel, his Estate tried to declare war on Floramia and was swiftly crushed by United Aesperium Forces lead by Valerian The End of Unterrech was carried out and peace was truely restored to Nieden, with the Church in safe hands, Valerian having stopped and removed any opposition and Niedea being the true Soleannen State, it was the start of a golden age for Niedea. Aesperium Niedea was officially renamed the Soleannen Empire of Niedea by Emperor Valerian, opening a new age in for the nation.

The Second Trillium War
At the beginning of the Second Trillium War, the Emperor would express his support for Bardonia against Southern Invaders, due to Niedea's Membership in the Allium Alliance.

It was at this time it is believed that Emperor Valerian communed with St. Arminius, envoy of Borealis, the god of war, who said- My Children, I speak for Ivoras, God of War. The Escharians have fought in the same situation as you, we stand with you from the Luminarium. You are as Escharian. You will fight for our homeland so that the Niedene may be free another day. This is a Holy War! You will join us one day, but before you join us make sure you send as many of the enemy as you can to the Immerium. You will show the world who the Niedene are and you will bleed our Niedene blood so we may keep and retake our occupied Niedene lands. Ave Niedea, Ave Selt-Escharia! This announcement would lead to the the nation officially renaming to Soleàn Irastre de et Escharii (Common: Soleannen Empire of the Escharians)

However, the vast degree of toxicity from Third Rathnir Coalition, combined with a lack of incentive, led to the Empire issuing a joint statement with the Huitca Federation announcing both state's withdraw from the conflict. While some citizens did participate in The Battle of New Dorasterrock, they had been given orders from both Imperial and Military leadership to withdraw from the city before the conflict began.

Religion and Culture
The people of Escharia were almost always of the Niedene Race and the Soleannen Faith.

Escharians valued Honor very highly and this is reflected in their collection of artifacts and texts. The speech of Emperor Severie von Aspach during the Turtlonian Wars titled The New Dawn speaks to Honor, Loyalty and Glory.

Artifacts of Escharien are spread throughout Rathnir:
 * Blade of Escharia (currently held by Valerian of Niedea)
 * Ceremonial Sword of the Emperor (Destroyed in the first Yimmu Audal war.)
 * The Imperial Soleannan Standard