Write-Up: Twilight Empires - First Draft

[Megamanfan]

This may not go here but posting my notes in The Crusades section got NOTHING, so here I am. Please read and offer suggestions for what to add or explain more and areas you think need more work. If need be, feel free to move this post to a more proper venue. Thanks!

~MMF
Twilight Empires
The First Age

None, save for the gods, know when The First Age started. It is the time when the world was first forged upon the Great Anvil from the bones of a Star Phoenix who died so long ago that even the remaining gods have forgotten it's true name. Still a hot, molten ball hanging in the infinite skies of forever, no life resided and it's difficult to say how long it took for the world to cool. When it did, The First Age came to an end.
The Godswar

As the planet cooled, it was clear that this new world would soon be populated by beings who would worship and bring power to whatever god would control it. Soon, the gods and goddesses came from the heavens and attempted to lay claim on this newly birthed planet. At first things were civil but, as is often to case with gods, egos and pettiness lead to open war in the ether above the world.

Slashes of godly blades cut rivers and canyons; brutal hammers and clubs smashed hills and mountains into the planet and wild, untamed magics tore apart the continents while the blood of deities filled oceans. However, as the heavens raged with slaughter for untold eons, the combination of magic, godly blood and the very origins of the planet all made a strange alchemy. The tiny sphere glowed brighter than the light of infinite suns and that light engulfed the warring deities. In an instant, the light subsided, leaving behind a blue and green world as the ashes of countless gods formed a massive ring around it.
The Elf/Dwarf Wars

From the new fertile soil of the world came the Elves. Immortal and gifted in the ways of magic, they flourished within the forests across the globe and worshiped the very earth that gave them life. Soon after, Dwarves began to appear in the mountains of the world and soon both races would meet. The first encounters between the two races were good, trading magic and the secrets of forging amongst them. Eventually, the two races covered the globe and formed their own massive empires and relations began to break down over lack of resources, land and religious differences; war was inevitable.

By then end of the age, both races have suffered major losses, having their respective populations reduced by over eighty percent and scarring the land with Elven and Dwarven magics. As the two peoples called for peace and retreated to their homes, another race began to take rise: humanity. Over many ages humans spread and settled across all corners of the globe faster than the the longer lived Elves and Dwarves ever did.
The Age of Endless Night

Without warning, the Elves of the world disappeared or died out; no one truly knows but they left their many artifacts and items of wonder and power scattered throughout the world. Humanity was still thriving, though they suffered much drudgery and war as city-states began to form on the ruins of ancient Elven territories. Dwarves came out of their seclusion to guide the more lawful of these city-states in the hopes of serving the Light. Their help would be short lived when Dwarven mages seeking further power uncovered an ancient Elven artifact. Something went horribly wrong the Dwarves began to experiment on it with their magics. Suddenly and without warning the Dwarven people were struck by a magical disease they dubbed The Wasting.

The Wasting is a magical disease that robs a Dwarf of his strength to the point of death and it nearly killed the entire race. Some Dwarves, instead, became twisted and changed into what are today called Gnomes. In modern times Gnomes are born as any child, not warped during life. These former Dwarves are reviled to this day and are pushed out of Dwarven society for they remind the Dwarven people of a dark chapter in their history. A Gnome is weaker than a Dwarf but they are more intelligent and creative and are generally more friendly than their gruff cousins.

Eventually the most powerful of the Human lands began to conquer other city-states and formed the Kree Empire; the world's first human empire. The Krees were a brutal and corrupt people and the massive territories they controlled were kept under an iron hand and without Dwarven support for more lawful lands, the Krees easily took over all that they surveyed. It wasn't until a hero known as Keldan fought back against the empire by uniting the common people and, through decades of slowly liberating town after town, eventually shattered the Kree Empire. Sadly, Keldan was struck down in the final battle but so strong was the belief of him in the by the people that he became deified and is worshiped to this day as a warrior, a sage and a paragon on how one's life should be lived.
The Age of Discovery

As the remains of the Kree Empire crumbled, it was replaced by The Republic of Kel and Gnomes began to flood into the newly free lands and began tinkering, creating and innovating. Combined with ancient magics being found all the time by brave adventurers and genius sages alike, life improved dramatically and many of the modern conveniences of the modern age were devised in this time: aqueducts, running water in homes, sailing technologies and other military improvements.

This was also a time of discovering new lands such as the exotic island nation of Tengen, The Khalarian Emirates in the far southern deserts. The Felinae, a race of horned cat people were also discovered but not much is know about them even in the modern age as they're a fairly reclusive people. To the north, past the mountains and through the wilderness lived the barbarian nations and the Inushen, nature warrior-protector wolfmen. In the east, the Wastes and many evil humanoid tribes of Orcs, Trolls, Goblins, Gnolls and others were also discovered. By the end of the age most of what comprised the modern world was, for the most part, mapped out.
The Era of Expansion

As the population of the Republic grew and resources became more and more scarce, the Senate passed a sweeping expansionist plan. A very unpopular draft was put into place to swell the ranks of the army and soldiers were sent to the four corners of the world. The wars in the east and the south were routed by monstrous, evil humanoids and the Khalarians, respectively. The northern and western border wars with barbarian tribes and lizardmen were partially successful but, ultimately, an unpopular bid by the Republic to expand it's borders. While they were successful, the wars weighed heavily on the people, many of whom were drafted into service and died in battle. As the body count rose, the people eventually had enough.

Corruption and greed within the Republic had brought many of it's territories to threaten secession over the years. By 67BC it finally happened and a number of of the Republic's territories broke away but Republic forces tried as best they could to make certain that they were defeated. Civil war raged across the territories and over half the Republic was either openly or subtly hostile. In 63BC the Republic turned over power to a rich, charismatic merchant-lord named Deron Thaleesia. The senate was left in existence for little more than a figurehead which is all it had truly been for many years.

The Republic was renamed an empire in his name and some territories were even eventually brought back into the fold. By the end of hostilities in 27BC, however, four of the former territories remained free lands and still do to this day. Seven years after the end of the civil war, the Empire was back to a more normal and stable existence and the coffers, drained from war, had begun to be replenished. The aging emperor Deron's eye turned once more to the north, where the vicious barbarian tribes resided. The campaign of conquest began in 13BC but Emperor Deron would not live to see even a single battle as old age took him in the fall of that year.

After months of celebration, Deron's son Gallus took the throne and renewed his father's war plans for the north. Steady advances were made to expand the Empire's boundaries but as Thaleesian troops reached the Great Wilderness, a thick, harsh, arboreal forest ideal for guerrilla warfare and home to the Inushen; a specialty of the barbarian tribe of the far north. By 10BC Emperor Gallus had given up on any further expansion into the north. By the end of the era there was relative peace, despite skirmishes on nearly every border from barbarians and Inushen, humanoids from The Wastes and formal rival Republic nations.
The Golden Age

The Golden Age is a time that has lasted 137 years, right up to today. During this time the Empire enjoyed a time of relative peace and progress in all areas of life. Gnomes began migrating further into the empire and many were employed directly by the state to devise new technologies. Their crowning achievement has been the Cloudskimmer; an airship that eventually led to the formation of the Thaleesian Air Command. During this period the senate regained much of it's power as a series of benevolent emperors sought to gain favor with the people.

The age is also marked with social reforms. Gnomes went from second class citizens to honored members of human society. Women gained near equality with men, save for the upper classes, and conquered territories were given a much fairer status within the empire and are now considered just as Thaleesian as those living in the empire's capitol. Infrastructure was dramatically improved, with road being built across the empire, making travel to all by the most remote corners of the empire safe, while aqueducts and public sanitation improved and extended lifespans.

When the great emperor Lianatus Mezna passed away of old age in 4BC, it seemed obvious that his son Menlaus, a great man in his own right, would take the throne but as the coronation drew near Menlaus was suddenly and mysteriously nowhere to be found. Without him, the Senate was forced to crown Mephrita Mezna, wife of the former emperor, as ruler of the Empire. Shortly after her crowning with help from key senators and clergy, empress Mephrita dissolved the Senate and took absolute control of Empire, renaming it The Holy Thaleesian Empire. While the empress bathed her power grab in the cloak of benevolence and divine provenance, those who voiced any dissension have been silenced or have simply disappeared.

Two years have passed since the empress took power and the people have been worked hard and taxed harder, all while taking in the constant encouragement and reasoning from the empires propaganda ministers. To the east, rumors of an orcish warchief named Thragg uniting the savage rages of the Wastes means little to the ears of those residing in the capitol, but those living on the eastern borders are most certainly concerned. Some say that if the Golden Age hasn't already ended then it is most certainly on it's proverbial deathbed. It will will be up to historians to mark the next age and for brave heroes to either save the Empire...or damn it to the ashes of yesterday.

[old school gamer]

Looks good. I would play in it. One question though, what about halflings?

[Megamanfan]

I currently don't have any plan to use The Hin, but there's plenty of unexplored places in the world so if someone really wanted to, it could happen.

Also, as an update, I have an awesome old-school map made in the Gazetteer style.
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4300/t ... estext.png