Einsiedeln

= The Fallen Empire of Einsiedeln =

Early History:
Einsielden was an old great Empire. A bastion of prowess, scholarship, and architecture. It was ruled by an Imperial Family house, known as the House of Ascania. Having come into power after winning a civil war known as “The War of Imperial Regalia”.

The Empire was divided between vassals, noble houses, and duchies managing over their lands and commerce. Einsielden was host to fertile lands and large rivers allowing for a thriving agricultural society to form. Under the House of Ascania, it was at its golden age.

The Capital City was known as Fereldien. The largest in the Empire. A city of science, culture, arts, military prowess, and the seat of the royal family. Grand feasts and festivals were held to honor Einsielden and the victory within the Civil War.

War of Imperial Regalia:
Before the ascension of the House Ascania, they had to win a civil war between the old ruling house, House Ostricia. House Ostricia had been the ruling house for the past century within the Empire. Their rise to power began through a union of marriage between the old King Anderius III and Resia of House Ostricia. Anderius III died in his sleep leaving their child, Vivian II of House Ostricia to take the throne. This began their century-long reign.

During the Reign of King Mecedies, he appointed Hans of House Ascania to become his Royal Adviser. Hans lasted 3 years in the position of Royal Advisor, as he was discovered by the Spymaster to be having an affair with King Mecedies wife. Once their forbidden love had been discovered, the two eloped and ran away together to the furthest corners of the Empire. King Mecedies was outraged by the betrayal of his closest friend and wife, and without the ability to punish Hans himself, he ordered the execution of Hans' eldest son, Vinlitch. Vinlitch was beheaded within the capital in a public display. Vinlitch’s younger sister, Petra, was distraught and furious with the display of tyranny by Mecedies. She raised the banners of her house and openly rebelled against House Ostricia. Beginning the War of Imperial Regalia.

Petra raised her family's historical allies within the Empire and slowly pushed from her territories in the West to the prosperous East. Petra suffered early defeats by the hands of the Empire’s Warmasters and Generals. However with a silver tongue and quick thinking she either converted or defeated the Empire’s best. Eventually she marched on the Ferelden. The siege would last for 5 years. Which only ended when King Mecedies was betrayed by his Spymaster and assassinated. His head raised on the walls of the Capital for House Ascania to view.

Petra and her husband ascended the throne and became the new ruling family of the Empire.

The Solemnity:
The Solemnity is the name prescribed to the event that corrupted and decimated Einsiedeln. It occurred 50 years into the House Ascania reign of Einsiedeln. Petra and her husband had passed away, leaving their eldest son King Yeilden to assume the throne. King Yeilden was one of the most ambitious kings Einsielden had ever seen. He was obsessed with the old Great Kings of the nation, and aspired to be like them.

He had a fascination for the arcane arts. Which was underdeveloped during Einsiedeln’s existence. He believed to attain his position in the canals of history forever, he needed to tap into the arcane arts to pursue his agendas. He poured funding and funding into Royal Magicians and other studies. Until suddenly the fruit of his labour became ripe for the taking.

A ritual was conducted to create super soldiers loyal only to the Royal Family and could be used to finally subdue the houses and in fighting within the Empire. To finish the ritual, a sacrifice had to be made. So King Yeilden murdered and sacrificed his Eldest Son.

Once the ritual was complete. They had tapped too far into the mystical powers, and created an eruption of arcane power and energy. The initial explosion obliterated King Yeilden, his wife, and three eldest kids in an instant. The surrounding villages and landscape around the initial eruption were decimated a few minutes afterwards. The explosion was not the worst to come. The ritual had succeeded in creating creatures born from magical prowess. However they are wild, untamed, and powerful. They poured from the Solemnity origin point and ransacked the Empire. Any attempts and raising levies and armies to put down the threat failed, as they murdered all within their path. With the heads of House Ascania dead, the capital burning and overrun by monsters, the Empire dissolved.

The Fallen Empire of Einsiedeln:
The Vestiges of Einsiedeln was saved by one of the most unlucky of sources. Princess Emelia, the last remaining member of House Ascania. She survived the Solemnity since she was exiled to her manor in the far corners of the Empire. The same manor that Hans had fled too in his youth. Using her territories she holds onto the last remains of her family's legacy.

Those who survived the Solemnity have either been corrupted by the eruption of arcane energy or have scars and physical disabilities. Princess Emelia had her arm ripped apart by the vestiges of magic that flooded her town, replacing her limp with a spectral arm that she’s still growing used to. Her eyes are permanently damaged too as she’s now blind. Wearing her crown as a blindfold.

As it stands, Einsiedeln is without a King or Queen as Emelia refused to take on the titles until she believes she has earned the respect of her family, her fellow nobles, and reclaimed core territories lost during the Solemnity.

Culture:
Einsedeln culture was forever changed after the Solemnity, many people became fearful of magic and its uses. Princess Emelia outlawed it in an attempt to repair the damage already afflicted to her people. Magic is seen as heretical and dangerous, anyone found caught practising magic would be killed or exiled from the nation.

Monsters created from the Solemnity are referred to as “Marons”, they come in several different categories, sizes, and forms. Their only purpose appears to be to feast on all living creatures they can find. Making the areas around civilised towns and small cities dangerous to travel through.

Life in the Fallen Empire of Einsiedeln is hard, with very few fertile land and small villages remaining, food shortages are common, plague often makes waves and civilians go missing from Maron encounters. The levies and armies the Empire could once raise are only a shadow of their former selves, often barely even geared or able to hold a sword against each other. Small scale civil wars are common with the remaining house fighting for power within the vacuum.

Nobility Culture:
Noble houses survived the Solemnity, although with many of their family members and heads either dead or scarred.

Noble Houses are powerful landowners that rule over villages, cities, towns, or any land under the jurisdiction of the Royal Family. They act as vassals to the royal family, however are given a fair amount of autonomy. The ability to rule their lands how they feel fit, build their own armies, and conduct their own internal politics. Although they pay tax and must donate a percentage of their levies to the Crown if called upon.

Internal fighting between Houses are common and tolerated by the Crown, as it’s better to have the nobles fight each other then rebel against the Royals.

Nobles tend to live a life of luxury, however there are differences between minor and major noble houses. Depending on their loyalty to the Crown, and the amount of land they own and can tax.

During the time when Ostrica was the ruling house, they set up a court to rule the nation. Titles form this court can still be obtained, although it is entirely symbolic now.

Government:
The Government of the Fallen Empire of Einsiedeln follows a feudalistic structure. With vassals swearing loyalty towards the King and Queen.

The King and Queen remain as the heads of Einsiedeln. An absolute monarchy with power uncontested. Under them is the Royal Court/Council. Made up of a Spymaster, Stewardship, Chronicler, Royal Adviser, and Head Marshal.

The Spymaster handles the internal workings of the Empire, constructing a spy network and handling internal diplomacy keeping the nobility in line and pushing down rebellions before they get violent. The Spymaster has near Royal Authority to carry out their task in any way seen fit, meaning they can act outside the laws on most occasions.

The Stewardship handles the economics and infrastructure of the Empire. Responsible for the finances of the crown, their budgeting whilst also handling developmental plans such as roads, public infrastructure, and build projects.

The Chronicler handles the transcription of history and events. Documenting them into history books and is responsible for the recollection of historical documents. OOC: Makes wiki pages.

The Royal Adviser is the closest thing the King and Queen have to a right hand. They act as their closest friend and guidance through thick and thin. One of the highest and most trusted positions within Einsiedeln, they can handle diplomacy and internal functions on behalf of the King or Queen, and take the throne temporarily if they are unable to.

The Head Marshal is responsible for the raising and training of levies, and can create and promote knights within Einsiedeln. To become a knight, one must be of royal descendants, and portrays suitable battle skills, enough that the fate of a region can be trusted within their hands. Once achieved, the Head Marshal may present them to the King or Queen, to which they are knighted.