Empire of Escharia

Overview
The Empire of Escharia, also known as the Eastern Empire (or now Nova-Soleannan Empire) is an influential state that exists in the Eastern areas of Rathnir dominated by the Aspach (Aesperii) Family. The Empire has had a single capital for most of its existence, which has been the city of Lileanen. Lileanen holds the seat of the Emperor, and the castles Archerus, Schwarzstein, and Falkenstein. The Empire is currently run by the regent Debi d'Bianci-Aspach, while their spouse Siegfried I von Aspach has disappeared. The Empire's dominant and only accepted faith is that of the Soleannen Faith.

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 Cesare 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 Schwarzwald, an army of Soleannans met the retinue of the Escharian chiefdoms in a now lost location in the Schwarzwald 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 2474 ASC the son of a Niede Chieftain was born. This son named Alfrikr 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 now known as Kaitsehstal.

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.

Siegfried I Alphonse von Aspach would ascend to the throne in the year 2976 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, as well as new land in the form of Tessel province. Eventually he would patronize the refounding of the Auroran Order, and rebuilding of Arce Gentumar. Siegfried is the current Emperor, but has since gone missing and his spouse is ruling in his stead.

Government of Escharia
The Escharien government is an absolute government that highly relies on its caste system of nobility. The system has remained largely untouched since the days of Dietrich's establishment of the positions.

Emperor: Has supreme authority over the nation and is accountable to none, rules from the capital Lileanen.

Princes: Princes rule major domains in the empire and have high authority over the other nobles and citizens. They are required to participate in the diet and may knight citizens.

Dukes, Counts, Margraves: Counts are owners of lesser realms, they are the owners of settlements outside the empire and have authority over all those below them. They are subservient to the Emperor and Princes, but may govern their own land by right. Diet attendance is necessary.

Lords (Barons): Barons are any landowners in the realm who have been appointed by the emperor to manage it, they may not appoint knights and cannot make laws for their land. They should still attend the Diet.

Knights: Knights are citizens who have shown potential and have been awarded an honorary position as one who may work in the Government with a minor role.

Free Citizens: Tradesmen and Craftsmen, an honorary role that shows the dedication of the citizen to our nation.

Citizen: Anyone who is an Imperial by birthright, and is recognized by the government.

Provinces of Escharien ruled by the nobility, have high local autonomy but must comply with direct orders from the central government.

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

Escharians value Honor very highly and this is reflected in their collection of artifacts and texts. The speech of Emperor Siegfried 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 Emperor Siegfried von Aspach)
 * Ceremonial Sword of the EmperorEtscharien9262020.pngDynamapEMPIREProvincesMap.png

Military
While the Empire does not have a formal military structure for the army, relying on volunteers, the Kaiserliche Marine under Admiral Johannes von Sudenwald is one of the foremost naval forces in all of Rathnir, operating two vessles: a Sylene-Class Frigate and an Aezenfjord-Class Corvette-Escort, with several more under construction.